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Massachusetts has amended its list of “COVID-19 Essential Services” and provided some additional guidance on its “Frequently Asked Questions” page.  The changes seem intended to clarify more businesses may remain open especially if they are important to the continued operations of an existing COVID-

While the April 15 deadline for filing federal and state tax returns has been extended, the April 10 deadline to pay California property taxes without penalty will stand for most California counties.

In this webinar, members of Arent Fox’s COVID-19 Task Force provide an overview of Force Majeure and Related Common Law Principles. This includes analysis of the enforcement of force majeure, issues surrounding neutralizing key clauses, and critical bankruptcy questions.

Turf magazine

On April 1, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a press release announcing its publication of a Final Rule on the paid sick leave requirements and family leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

Personal jurisdiction has always been a thorny and fact-specific topic in civil procedure. But the increasing complexity of transactions – development and manufacture of products across many borders, complicated chains of distribution, and the sale of products or services anywhere over the internet.

On April 3, the Small Business Administration issued two additional rule updates affecting the Paycheck Protection Program.

The BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD) announced April 2, 2020, that it has launched a new fast-track challenge process called the Fast-Track SWIFT (short of Single Well-Defined Issue Fast Track) process.

To facilitate the importation of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies responsive to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID–19) pandemic, the government continues to waive some tariffs, but balks on broad relief.

Under California’s Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), an employee may sue his or her employer to recover civil penalties for the alleged violation of Labor Code provisions.

In the true spirit of Arent Fox, we are working to be Smart in Your World as many of us are doing the best we can to stay safe in our own communities (i.e., social distancing).

What is the DPA? How has the administration used it in response to the COVID-19 crisis? What is the impact of the Administration’s DPA-related orders and memoranda? What about enforcement? What does it all mean for exporters?

In part two of our discussion, we talked with Aaron Jacoby and Oliver Spurgeon about how the new legislation is helping practitioners, including those on the frontlines fighting the pandemic.

This updates our prior Alert regarding the importation and distribution of respirators and other masks to be used to meet the significant US health care challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turf magazine

Like new cases of COVID-19, the number of business interruption suits appears to be increasing exponentially. In the last few weeks, dozens of plaintiffs in at least six lawsuits across four states have sought insurance coverage for business losses associated with the COVID-19 outbreak.

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) employers with 499 or fewer employees are responsible for providing employees with paid sick leave and paid expanded family and medical leave under certain circumstances related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  

On April 2, the Small Business Administration published an Interim Final Rule intended to amend certain existing regulations in order to assist lenders and borrowers in advance of the April 3 opening submission opportunity for the newly established Paycheck Protection Program.

On March 30, 2020, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey affirmed an award of spoliation sanctions, forensic audit, and attorney’s fees in favor of Arent Fox client Sabinsa Corporation.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides, among other things, immediate eviction relief for certain residential tenants, but does not address relief for commercial tenants.

We previously reported on Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order which put in place mandatory stay-at-home restrictions except for workers in “essential businesses” as part of an effort to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

With businesses facing reduced hours or closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic, business interruption coverage is top of mind. In today’s episode, we talked to James Westerlind about the types of coverage and policy exclusions that can impact your ability to make a claim.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the US Treasury Department published a final rule on April 2, 2020, modernizing labeling and advertising regulations for alcoholic beverages.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

On March 31, Health & Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced the creation of a new FDA program, the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (“CTAP”), designed to speed up the development of life-saving treatments that have the potential to be both safe and effective.