Jeffrey S. Ettenger concentrates his practice in the area of labor and employment law, assisting employers with their day-to-day employment needs, as well as all areas of employment litigation.

Employment Counseling

Mr. Ettenger focuses on helping small to mid-size businesses, providing cost effective and pragmatic advice to employers to assist them in operating their business and avoiding litigation. He counsels companies on a broad range of matters, including:

  • Wage and hour laws
  • Labor laws
  • Employment policies and procedures
  • Employee handbooks
  • Employment, non-compete and confidentiality agreements
  • Internal investigations
  • Legal training for human resource departments and managers

Employment Litigation

A skilled trial attorney, Mr. Ettenger has substantial litigation experience defending state and federal law unpaid wage claims involving collective and class actions, as well as New York State and Federal Department of Labor investigations regarding alleged unpaid wages.

He also litigates employment discrimination cases in both state and federal court relating to gender, age, disability, national origin and race discrimination. He has vast experience in litigating these types of cases from inception through trial and has successfully tried cases to verdict in both state and federal court.

General Litigation

Mr. Ettenger has handled a wide variety of litigation claims, including commercial litigation matters, insurance coverage, labor law and personal injury claims. He has over 15 years of active experience litigating cases in New York Courts.

Notable Cases

  • JRC Beverage v. KP Global, (2nd Dep’t NY 2024)
    In this landmark case, the Appellate Division, Second Department, NY, in 2024, reversed a lower court’s decision, granting a significant victory to our client, JRC Beverage. The court recognized the protections afforded by New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, ruling that the beer distributor could not be terminated from its contract without proper compensation. This precedent-setting decision underscores the legal safeguards for beer distributors, ensuring fair treatment and compensation within the industry.
  • Stardom Brands v. S.K.I. Wholesale Beer Corp, (2nd Dep’t NY 2019)
    Jeffrey Ettenger successfully defended client S.K.I., a New York beer distributor, in a breach of contract lawsuit where the plaintiff, Stardom Brands, alleged oral agreements for the purchase of two shipping containers of beer. Mr. Ettenger demonstrated that the defendants had only agreed to purchase one container of beer, contradicting the plaintiff's claims. Additionally, he effectively countered the assertion regarding storage, showcasing that S.K.I. had acted in good faith to accommodate the plaintiff's needs. As a result of our robust defense strategy, the court ruled in favor of S.K.I., dismissing the plaintiff's claims, and safeguarding our client's interests.
  • Torres v. Louzoun Enterprises (2nd Dep’t 2014).
    The Appellate Court affirmed the decision of the lower court granting our client’s, the employer of Plaintiff, the motion to dismiss.  The Appellate Court determined that the Plaintiff failed to submit sufficient evidence to meet the essential elements of an employment discrimination claim.

Publications, Speaking Engagements and News

Education

  • Hofstra University School of Law - J.D.
  • University of Maryland - B.A.

Learn more about the firm's Employment Law practice.