4/8/20
By: Tom Ward On March 30, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order that applies to the plan review and inspection requirements for the construction of hospitals, ambulatory health care centers, nursing homes, jails, penal institutions, airports, buildings or structures that impact national or state homeland security, or any building defined as a high-rise…
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 their testimony, to form impressions of how they will be received by a jury), at mediation…
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 on February 29, an insurer already faces a coverage and bad faith lawsuit over a…
Telemedicine in a Time of Crisis
3/31/20
By: Shaun Daugherty Social distancing has become a new phrase in our lexicon which has specific meaning and pervasive general understanding within the population. Telemedicine seems like the ideal format for delivery of certain medical services during the emergency period caused by COVID-19. However, pre-emergency regulations, restrictions and requirements for qualification and reimbursement to telehealth…
Navigating Insurance Coverage Questions in the Age of COVID-19
3/30/20
By: Katie Cusack It is no secret that concerns about coronavirus and COVID-19 have impacted tens of thousands of businesses across the world. In many industries, its effects are novel, and many businesses are unsure of what their obligations are at this time and whether their insurance policies will cover any losses stemming from the…
3/30/20
By: Greg Fayard The federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law March 27, 2020, includes retirement tax relief for victims of the pandemic—namely victims’ 401(k)s and IRAs. Under section 2202 of the $2 Trillion law (which amends the IRS code), victims under 59 and a half may withdraw up to…
Local Governments Face First Amendment Challenges to Coronavirus Emergency Orders
3/27/20
By: Andy Treese Can the government ban public gatherings, church services, political rallies, or protests during a global pandemic? The question isn’t hypothetical. Federal, state and local officials across the United States are struggling to prepare appropriate emergency orders targeted at slowing the spread of coronavirus. Some jurisdictions have banned gatherings of various sizes altogether,…
3/25/20
By: Renata Hoddinott and Barry Miller On March 23 FMG presented the webinar Navigating Coverage Issues Arising from COVID-19. Presenters Marc Shrake, Erin Lamb, and Barry Miller discussed four lawsuits that already have been filed alleging claims related to coronavirus. A few additional cases bear mentioning, and there will be many more to come. In…
UPDATE: City of Atlanta’s COVID-19 Shut-Down Order Revised to Allow All Construction to Proceed
3/25/20
By: Jake Carroll The Associated General Contractors of Georgia, Inc. reports that a corrected executive order has been issued by The Office of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms designating all construction as “Essential Infrastructure.” The original executive order limited “Essential Infrastructure” to public works construction projects . The revision allows all construction projects to move forward…
City of Atlanta’s COVID-19 Shut-Down Order Impacts Certain Construction Projects
3/24/20
By: Jake Carroll Executive Order Number 2020-21 (“Shut-Down Order”) was issued by Kiesha Lance Bottoms, the Mayor of Atlanta, on March 23, 2020 at 8:49PM. Atlanta’s Shut-Down Order is more restrictive than similar orders seen in Florida (with broader exceptions for construction) and California (allowed some construction to proceed). Key Terms: Jurisdiction: Order only applies…
3/24/20
By: Renata Hoddinott Millions around the world have had their daily routines disrupted and a wide variety of companies are participating in the largest “work from home” mobilization in history. While the ability for professionals to work remotely is key to business continuity in the midst of this pandemic, in doing so, firms and professionals…
Business Continuity Plans in the Age of Coronavirus
3/23/20
By: Jennifer Weatherup As the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has caused unprecedented disruptions, including a precipitous decline in the stock market, it is increasingly important for broker-dealers to prepare plans which will allow them to fulfill their responsibilities to customers and continue operations under difficult circumstances. More specifically, broker-dealers should ensure that their business continuity plans…