Expert Witness

We offer restaurant industry expertise in lawsuits, disputes, and insurance claims.

Do you need a restaurant expert witness? If you have a claim pertaining to a slip, trip, or fall or a premises liability matter involving a bar, restaurant, hotel, or hospitality venue, you will need an expert in the food and beverage industry. We are knowledgeable of restaurant operations and regulations and offer unbiased, professional opinions. Our team can determine what constitutes reasonable and customary actions and/or measures to take within the restaurant, bar, and hospitality industry.

Restaurants are ripe for disputes, lawsuits, and insurance claims. The opinion of an industry expert like The Gilkey Restaurant Consultant Group can lend much needed expertise to help in these cases. Restaurant experts analyze facts and create reports based on industry best practices, in depth research, and other pertinent information. Having an in-depth knowledge of the industry and relevant studies helps support credibility in a lawsuit.

The testimony of a restaurant expert witness is an objective viewpoint based on known facts and inside industry knowledge. This can help support or refute a claim in a lawsuit against a bar, restaurant, or hotel food and beverage operation.

Some areas where you might need the services of an expert witness include:

• Injuries to customers
• Premises liability
• Accidents and/or injuries to employees
• Partnership and franchise disputes
• Alcohol liability
• Economic and financial issues
• Discrimination claims
• Feasibility and impact
• OSHA and ADA matters
• Sexual harassment claims
• Customer harassment
• Safety and security issues
• Employment and labor issues
• Workplace violence
• Slip, trip, and fall claims
• Industry standards and best practices
• Food, beverage, alcohol handling
• Trade disputes
• Management neglect
• Worker’s compensation claims

If you’re looking for a high quality, well-respected restaurant expert witness, The Gilkey Restaurant Consultant Group is a wise choice. With over 30 years in the food and beverage industry consulting with restaurant, bar, and hotel food and beverage hospitality operations of all sizes, our team of experts is knowledgeable in all aspects of the restaurant industry. Contact us today!

What is a restaurant expert witness?

A restaurant expert witness is a hospitality professional who provides objective, fact based opinions in lawsuits, disputes, and insurance claims involving bars, restaurants, and hotels. Drawing on years of real operational experience, this expert evaluates whether a business followed reasonable and customary industry practices, then explains those findings clearly to attorneys, judges, and juries. At Gilkey Restaurant Consulting, our team of seasoned executive chefs and operators brings over 30 years of food and beverage experience, lending credibility and unbiased analysis that helps support or refute a claim.

When do you need a restaurant expert witness?

You may need a restaurant expert witness whenever a legal matter hinges on industry standards or operational judgment. Common situations include slip, trip, and fall accidents, premises liability, alcohol liability, employee injuries, OSHA and ADA issues, and partnership or franchise disputes. If the central question is what a reasonable operator should have done, an industry expert adds essential context. Our team analyzes the facts, researches relevant best practices, and produces reports grounded in genuine restaurant operations expertise, giving your case credible, defensible support.

How much does a restaurant expert witness cost?

Restaurant expert witness fees are typically billed hourly, with rates depending on the expert's experience, the complexity of the case, and the work involved, from initial case review and research to written reports, depositions, and courtroom testimony. Most experts also distinguish between consulting time and testifying time. Because every matter is different, we do not quote a flat fee up front. Instead, we scope each engagement to the specific needs of your case and provide clear terms before any work begins. Contact our team to discuss your case and request a quote.

How does a restaurant expert witness evaluate a slip, trip, and fall or premises liability claim?

In slip, trip, and fall or premises liability cases, a restaurant expert witness examines whether the venue maintained safe conditions and followed customary safety procedures. That includes reviewing floor maintenance, spill response, lighting, signage, staff training, and documentation against accepted industry norms. The expert then determines whether the operator acted reasonably or fell short of standard practice. Gilkey draws on deep quality assurance and safety standards knowledge to assess these claims objectively, producing clear reports that help attorneys understand what truly happened and why.

How does a restaurant expert witness help with alcohol liability cases?

Alcohol liability and dram shop claims often turn on whether staff served responsibly and followed proper procedures. A restaurant expert witness reviews service practices, training records, and venue policies to determine whether the establishment met industry standards for responsible alcohol service. This analysis can either support or challenge claims of overservice or negligence. With extensive bar and beverage program experience, our team provides unbiased, well researched opinions that clarify complex service questions and strengthen your position in litigation or insurance disputes.