Red Osier Landmark Restaurant sues ex-employees and Snyder companies over trade secrets

Red Osier Landmark Restaurant filed a trade-secret and related business lawsuit on Feb. 3, 2026 in New York Supreme Court in Genesee County against restaurant operator David Snyder, Snyder’s companies DJS II and Snyder Corp., and former Red Osier employees Nicole Granata and Justin Newmark. The complaint, as filed in state court, alleges misappropriation of trade secrets and other business-related claims.

The suit places a small regional restaurant at the center of a dispute that workers and managers should watch closely. Trade-secret litigation in the hospitality sector can affect everything from staff mobility to daily operations, and this case names both individual former employees and business entities tied to a single operator, suggesting the restaurant believes the alleged activity extended beyond isolated personnel moves.

Red Osier’s action comes amid a broader industry focus on protecting recipes, supplier lists, pricing strategies, and service protocols that restaurants rely on to compete. For line cooks, servers, managers, and owners, the filing underscores how workplace documents and operational know-how considered routine on the floor can become the subject of legal enforcement. Current employees may face tightened confidentiality rules, more rigorous exit checklists, and renewed emphasis on noncompete or nondisclosure language in employment agreements.

The involvement of DJS II and Snyder Corp. raises questions about whether the dispute concerns a new venture or a competing operation tied to David Snyder. Naming former employees Nicole Granata and Justin Newmark signals that Red Osier views individual conduct as central to its claims, which could prompt scrutiny of post-employment activity and hiring decisions by nearby restaurants and groups. For employers, the complaint signals a willingness to litigate to protect intangible assets. For workers, the filing is a reminder to review written obligations and to consult counsel when leaving a role or joining a competitor.

Litigation of this type can produce injunctions that limit what former employees and affiliated businesses can do while a case is pending, and it can strain relationships in tight local labor markets where experienced staff are in demand. The legal process will unfold in Genesee County courts, and the pace of proceedings may determine how quickly the dispute affects day-to-day operations at Red Osier or any entities tied to Snyder.

For restaurants and workers in the region, the case serves as both a warning and an example: protect confidential processes and be clear about contractual obligations, but also anticipate that enforcement actions can change staffing patterns and hiring practices. The next steps will be court filings and potential motions that clarify the scope of Red Osier’s claims and whether immediate restrictions on the defendants’ activities will be ordered.