Perspectives on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force

The U.S. House of Representatives earlier today passed H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, in a 417-1 bipartisan vote.

Prop 65 Counsel: What To Know

Accredited organizations should begin to prepare for the resumption of survey activity in a modified form. Organizations that are experiencing a COVID-19 surge or have other challenges may want to reach out to the accrediting organization to discuss the impact of survey activity at this time.

Congressional Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York has introduced a bill, H.R. 7011, titled the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020 (the Act).

Because COVID-19 has caused many tenants to experience significant financial hardship and cash shortfalls, their landlords that are real estate investment trusts (REITs) may experience challenges satisfying tax requirements to maintain REIT status in 2020.

On May 19, 2020, the Council of the District of Columbia unanimously approved the Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (the “Act”), which consolidates the four previous emergency acts adopted by the Council, and includes notable additions and modifications.

In today’s episode, we continue our conversation on “Force Majeure” with Partners Barbara Wahl and Bernice Leber. Our lawyers cover a few of the first COVID-related lawsuits filed, important trends, and ways to leverage mediation to avoid costly litigation.

Tufts University

The FDA has just published a list of certain already-on-the-market serology/antibody tests from commercial manufacturers that should not be distributed unless and until an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is issued for the test.

In what has been considered a huge win for community pharmacists, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) issued an Advisory Opinion on May 19, 2020.

On Friday, May 22, 2020, the USDA and FDA jointly released recommendations to address shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), cloth face coverings, disinfectants, and sanitation supplies in the food and agriculture industries.

On May 22, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and US Department of Treasury released long-promised forgiveness regulations (Regulations) for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

You’ve secured a PPP Loan to help weather the pandemic. Now, the SBA and Treasury have released a Loan Forgiveness Application to help lighten your financial burden. In today’s podcast, Aaron Jacoby, Russ McRory, and Justin Goldberg discuss the rules, application, and impact on the auto industry.

On May 20, 2020, the US Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule that clarifies that payments in addition to the fixed salary are compatible with the use of the fluctuating workweek method under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

On March 23, 2020, Governor Baker issued an executive order closing the “brick and mortar” operations of all non-essential businesses. Nearly two months later, on May 18, he announced his four-part plan to “reopen” the Massachusetts economy. 

On May 12, the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving Restrictions on Pharmacists Ordering and Collecting Specimens for COVID-19 Tests, under the authority of California Governor Newsom’s March 30 Executive Order.

Most California counties and some California cities have issued local orders related to COVID-19.

As New York City businesses prepare for New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to lift the New York State Pause Order and reopen businesses in the five boroughs.

The US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced a final rule to provide a single analysis for all employers when determining whether they qualify as “retail or service” establishments for purposes of the exemption from overtime pay applicable to commission-based employees.

On May 15, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released the Loan Forgiveness Application for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The release of the Forgiveness Application sheds further light on the process that borrowers will use to apply for the forgiveness of PPP loans. 

The Massachusetts economy has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 23, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker ordered the mandatory shutdown of non-essential businesses, curtailed essential business operations, restricted the size of gatherings, and advised citizens to stay at home.

The new bill, which follows April 23, 2020 legislation aimed at opening COVID-19 emergency response funding to cannabis businesses, offers a previously unclear path forward for financial services to the cannabis industry by amending the current restrictive regulatory framework on banking.

Notable developments involving eligibility under the Paycheck Protection Program and the PPP’s loan forgiveness process have occurred in recent days.

Your employees may be “essential,” but do they have to work? The answer is, of course, it depends.