Philadelphia SNAP Violation Attorneys.
FNS retailer cases are federal - the same charge letters, deadlines, and appeal rights apply in every state. Here is how the process works, and where counsel changes the outcome.
Netflix told the story. The defense was ours.
When Shonda Rhimes built Inventing Anna, the defense at its center was Todd Spodek’s - argued for the so-called fake heiress in a Manhattan courtroom long before Arian Moayed of Succession played him on screen. What 320 million hours of viewers watched is the method every client of this firm gets - including the store owner with a charge letter on the counter.
The record behind the retainer.
If you are a SNAP-eligible store owner, it is critical to understand the process involving investigations of SNAP violations. If you have been sent a letter by the USDA outlining accusations of SNAP violations at your place of business, it is absolutely imperative that you get a competent lawyer on your side as soon as possible. Failure to respond to this correspondence will almost always result in your temporary exclusion from the SNAP program, a move that could be devastating to your business.
Hire a lawyer who knows how to fight for your rights
One of the most frequent mistakes we see clients make is to fail to take into account the seriousness of accusations of SNAP violations early on in the process, when the correct actions can make the most difference to the outcome of the case. Unfortunately, if you receive a USDA letter accusing you, your store or your employees of serious SNAP violations and you don't act on it within ten days, you will be at the mercy of USDA bureaucrats, who may decide to impose anything from a small fine to referral of the case to your local district attorney, an action that could see you facing up to 25 years in prison.
Once a decision has been made in your case, it will be difficult or nearly impossible to reverse. Although a competent legal team can sometimes get USDA decisions reversed through the process of judicial review, this route may take years, and such long periods of time, where your business is unable to accept EBT transactions, will often prove fatal to your business.
Getting an experienced lawyer involved the moment you first receive contact from the USDA is the best move that you can possibly make to ensure that your chances of favorably resolving your case are as high as possible. Our law firm has decades of experience handling the complexities of SNAP-related legal cases. We will go to bat on your behalf, making sure that your rights aren't trampled on by overzealous bureaucrats or other government agents who wouldn't think twice about inappropriately sanctioning a law abiding store owner whose only crime was making a minor mistake.
A good lawyer can negotiate a favorable settlement
The truth is that the USDA usually does not want to fight tooth and nail against individual store owners who are well-represented. This is especially true in cases where there is clearly no criminal intent or where the store owner has no prior violations relating to the SNAP program.
Most SNAP-related cases can be negotiated down to the owner paying a small fine. This is far better than leaving yourself at the mercy of bureaucrats, who may decide to temporarily or permanently exclude your business from SNAP eligibility. For businesses relying on the more than $100 billion spent each year by SNAP recipients at the nation's convenience and grocery stores, such an outcome can prove to be the death knell of their business.
You can be held responsible for everything your employees do
One of the most frequent and tragic types of cases we see is the store owner who simply used bad judgement in hiring their employees. Under current regulations, as a SNAP-eligible store owner, you are responsible for everything that your employees do with regards to EBT transactions and SNAP program activities. This means that an employee who engages in trafficking SNAP benefits can ultimately cause his employer to end up in district court, defending themselves against the potential of spending the next 25 years in prison.
As with other areas of SNAP-related law, these are cases where a good lawyer can make all the difference. Even where the owner of the store is technically liable for the criminal misdeeds of their employees, it is usually possible to strike favorable agreements with the USDA investigators or the prosecuting attorney. This will frequently involve the payment of a small fine. But as long as there is no previous history of SNAP violations on the part of the owner, total exclusion of the store from the SNAP program can often be avoided.
If you have become the target of a SNAP-related USDA investigation, give us a call today. We can make a real difference in the outcome of your case.
Facing a SNAP charge letter or disqualification? Start with our full guide: USDA SNAP Violation Lawyers for Retail Stores, or call 212-300-5196 for an attorney, 24/7.
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Spodek Law Group has defended people and businesses against the federal government since 1976. SNAP retailer matters are handled the way the firm handles every federal case: the evidence gets read before anything is filed, deadlines get calendared on day one, and clients deal with counsel - not a call center.
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212 300 5196