Early in the morning on March 25, 2020, the Trump administration struck a deal with Senate Democrats and Republicans on an historic rescue package that tees up more than $2 trillion in spending and tax breaks to bolster the hobbled U.S. economy and fund a nationwide effort to stem the coronavirus.
To read the full text of this blog post by Duane Morris partner Brad Molotsky, please visit the Duane Morris Project Development/Infrastructure/P3 Blog.
On March 22, 2020, New York’s Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts issued Administrative Order AO/78/20 providing that, until further notice, no filings―paper or electronic―would be accepted by New York courts, except in “essential matters.” This order prohibits any new cases from being filed―and any open cases from going forward―unless they fit the narrow list of “essential matters” annexed to the Administrative Order. This means that, absent a compelling showing of a need for emergency relief such as an injunction, routine business litigations―including breach of contract, employment disputes, corporate disputes, etc.―are on hold indefinitely. The court system has since clarified that, consistent with a prior Administrative Order, discovery can continue in ongoing cases where the parties agree that the discovery will not present any health concerns.
To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.
In response to pressing questions from institutions, on March 5, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) offered guidance permitting temporary flexibility and clarifying how higher education institutions whose activities are impacted by COVID-19 can continue to comply with Title IV of the Higher Education Act and its implementing regulations (“Title IV”) . Read our client alert on the guidance.
To read the full post by Duane Morris attorney Tanvi Shah, please visit the Duane Morris UpdatED Blog.
During a press conference on March 20, 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) discussed plans to assist state-level COVID-19 relief efforts. USACE support will include the conversion of existing, underutilized buildings such as hotels, college dormitories and potentially large spaces into ICU-like treatment facilities. Specifically, state governments will nominate and lease facilities, USACE will award construction contracts for building modifications, FEMA and/or HHS will provide necessary supplies, and then state governments will provide staffing.
To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.
In the face of these unprecedented and uncertain days of COVID-19, financially stressed borrowers are expected to take every measure available to them to keep their businesses afloat. For borrowers with revolving credit lines, this has included drawing down unused availability to ensure immediate, and sometimes future, access to needed liquidity. In ordinary circumstances, a revolver provides a borrower flexibility to address changing cash flow needs on a cyclical or seasonal basis. Today, an untapped revolver may be a lifeline for a business struggling with the loss of cash flow.
To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris partner Rick Hyman, please visit the Duane Morris Banking and Finance Law Blog.
Earlier this afternoon, March 24th, the Department of Commerce and Economic Development updated their List of Life-Sustaining Businesses.
To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris partner Brad Molotsky, please visit the Duane Morris Project Development/Infrastructure/P3 Blog.
Florida is noticeably absent from the list of high-density states that have implemented stay-at-home orders due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (including New York, California, Illinois and others). Still, the state and localities have issued a number of orders and advisories aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. In addition, the state has relaxed a number of specific business restrictions in an effort to both encourage adherence to limitations on business operations and to counteract the detrimental economic effects of business closings.
To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.
On March 21, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy issued Executive Order 107 mandating that New Jersey citizens stay home and that nonessential businesses close, with limited exceptions, until further notice. Governor Murphy also issued Executive Order 109, indefinitely postponing all elective surgeries and invasive medical procedures as of March 27, 2020. These restrictions are the state’s latest measures to curb the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.
As of March 23, 2020 at 3 p.m., access to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Civil and Orphans’ Court E-filing System has been restored. All writs of summons received through the E-filing System will be considered docketed when acknowledgement of receipt is sent by email. However, Orphans’ Court and Civil emergency petitions must still be filed over-the-counter in person as specified in Emergency Administrative Order No. 10 of March 17, 2020 (“Order No. 10”). Continue reading “Critical Updates on the Status and Operations of the Philadelphia Courts Amid the Covid-19 Crisis”
We previously wrote about the growing likelihood that insurance companies would face claims for business interruption and contingent business interruption insurance claims as their insureds looked to cope with the broad effects of the novel coronavirus outbreak and response. Heating Up: New Orleans-Based Oceana Grill Seeks Insurance Coverage for Coronavirus-Caused Business Interruption. Now, state and federal governments are beginning to consider ways that they might compel such coverage.
To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris attorney Daniel Heidtke, please visit the Duane Morris Insurance Law Blog.
