Ready Camera One: Remote Litigation in the Era of Social Distancing
4/7/20
By: Jennifer Adair, Jennifer Markowski and Andy Treese
Evaluating claims to move them towards resolution or trial is the lifeblood of a defense practice. This typically requires direct interaction with a plaintiff and key witnesses, either at deposition (to hear …
Federal Judge Refuses to Enjoin Kentucky Governor from Restricting Interstate Travel
4/6/20
By: Barry Miller
A federal judge has refused to halt enforcement of an order that directed Kentuckians not to travel outside the state for two weeks because of COVID-19.
Governor Andy Beshear issued the order on March 30. It makes
…
Plaintiffs and Lawmakers Raise Bad Faith Issues in COVID-19 Claims
4/3/20
By: Adrianna Michalska and Eric Retter
Every American is reminded daily that Coronavirus
spreads easily and quickly. So has the impact on the insurance industry. How
fast? Less than a month after the first U.S. death attributed to the virus …
Supreme Court Decides That Discrimination Claims Under Section 1981 Must Plead and Prove ‘But For’ Causation
4/3/20
By: Catherine Scott and David Cole
When asserting race discrimination, many plaintiffs bring claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, which affords “[a]ll persons . . . the same right . . . to make and enforce contracts . . . as …
FMG Responds to Coronavirus Crisis with Multiple Client Resources
4/3/20
We know these are challenging times, but we want our clients and friends to know that FMG remains open for business and is here to help. Our lawyers and staff have worked tirelessly to provide a broad cross-section of capabilities …
Pennsylvania Orders Halt to Construction Projects Other than Emergency Repairs and the Construction of Health Care Facilities
4/2/20
By: Sean Riley
Governor Tom Wolf has issued an executive order closing all businesses in Pennsylvania that are not deemed to be “life-sustaining.” Residential and non-residential building construction, as well as utility subsystem, road and bridge construction are all specifically …
COVID-19: Protecting Those Who Protect Us
4/2/20
By: Parisa Saleki
The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–19)
came into effect over two decades ago with a simple goal: promote volunteerism
by limiting, and sometimes eliminating, a volunteer’s risk of tort liability. The
recently enacted Coronavirus …
Zoom Class Action Raises Privacy Concern with Favored Online Meeting Platform
4/2/20
By: Barry Miller
A class action filed March 30 alleges that the popular Zoom Video Communications platform is rife with privacy concerns.
That story has piqued the interest of the
legal community, as Zoom has become the platform of choice …
Will E&O Policies Protect Attorneys for Claims Arising Out of Remote Notarization During the COVID-19 State of Emergency?
4/2/20
By: Kathleen Cusack
As stay-at-home orders increase in number, duration, and severity across the country, many businesses have moved to remote functions to avoid business interruption and limit in-person contact. Most states, though, require that notaries public acknowledge the signing …
The New “CARES Act” in Plain English- Simplifying the Latest Federal Benefits in Response to the COVID-19 Crisis
4/1/20
While the Coronavirus/COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the health and welfare of individuals throughout the world, triggering shelter-in-place orders and disruptions to normal supply chains and service client relationships, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) |
…
Nursing Homes at Highest Risk, States Respond
4/1/20
By: Shaun M. Daugherty
States across the country are taking every measure possible to fight the spreading deadly COVID-19. One of the most at-risk groups are the elderly, especially those with lengthy lists of other health problems. In those instances …
Massachusetts Sees Tensions Between Municipal Construction Bans and Governor's "Essential Services" Order
4/1/20
By: Catherine A. Bednar, Esq.
On March 17, 2020, Boston became the first city to issue a moratorium on construction projects as an emergency measure to slow the spread of COVID-19. Boston’s order includes exceptions for emergency and essential work, …