Liquor Licensing and Litigation

In both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the liquor industry is heavily regulated.  The regulatory agencies – the Liquor Control Board (LCB) in Pennsylvania and the Division of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) in New Jersey – oversee every aspect of the liquor industry in their respective states.  Whether the liquor licensee is a restaurant, bar, club, distributor, retailer, hotel or casino, the attorneys of Pietragallo’s Liquor Licensing and Litigation practice will effectively represent the licensee in all matters related to their liquor licenses, from application and renewal to sale or transfer.  We also have the experience and expertise to advise liquor licensees concerning other legal issues directly related to their daily business, including employment matters and insurance coverage.

Liquor licensees are often highly scrutinized by their regulatory agencies.  An application for a liquor license, or for an extension of a license to additional premises, may be denied after the applicant has invested heavily in anticipation of a favorable decision.  A licensee may be cited for a violation of the liquor law or regulations, and that citation may lead to a penalty ranging from a fine to suspension or revocation of the license.  Multiple citations may also subject to the licensee to suspension or revocation.  For many businesses that rely on the sale of liquor to operate profitably, any of these regulatory actions are fatal.  Fortunately, in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, liquor licensees have the right to retain advocates to challenge these regulatory actions.

Our trial attorneys have substantial experience representing liquor licensees, and litigating their licensing and citation issues in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Our attorneys have represented our liquor licensee clients in administrative hearings, trial courts and in the appellate courts.  Examples of our representations in both states include: A liquor licensee who is defending against numerous violations charged by the New Jersey ABC that could result in revocation of the client’s liquor license; and a liquor licensee, before an Administrative Law Judge, successfully defending citations issued by the Pennsylvania LCB’s denial of our client’s request to extend its liquor license.
For more information about our specialty areas within the Commercial Litigation Group, click on the links below:

Commercial Litigation