Client Alerts

While many parts of the economy and the country are beginning to reopen for business, many companies still find themselves shutdown, working at partial capacity, working from home, or otherwise not working at full throttle.

On May 7, 2020, Governor Whitmer extended Michigan’s Stay-Home Order through May 28th.

Today, Michigan’s Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, opened up manufacturing in Michigan as a part of an overall extension of the state’s series of Stay Home, Stay Safe orders.

On April 29, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) along with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued a joint final rule extending specific deadlines affecting COBRA continuation coverage, special enrollment periods, claims for benefits, appeals of denied claims, and external review of certain claims. Simultaneously, the DOL issued guidance in the form of Notice 2020-01 (the "Notice") extending the deadline for issuing certain notices required under ERISA. The joint final rule and the Notice are summarized in this E-News Alert. 

As employers begin to resume or work on plans to resume business operations in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, a critical issue will be the extent to which employees have a legal right to refuse to report for work or to perform assigned work tasks, out of a claimed fear of COVID-19 exposure.

On April 23, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Romag Fasteners v. Fossil Inc. In short, the issue was whether proof of willful infringement was a required element before an infringer’s profits could be awarded. The decision was unanimous, and the answer was no.

Remember the money provided with “no strings attached”? On April 21, 2020, Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General released a proposed rule that would amend the Civil Money Penalties (CMP) regulations to address the 21st Century Cures Act amendment to the CMP Law authorizing penalties and exclusions upon individuals and entities that engage in fraud and other misconduct related to HHS “grants, contracts and other agreements”.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) included $100 billion in Provider Relief Funds (PRF) to healthcare providers, to be released in several phases by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These payments are not loans and do not have to be repaid if certain requirements are met.

The COVID-19 pandemic, in combination with various stay-at-home orders attempting to “flatten the curve” and to avoid new surges, has forced employers and health care issuers to adapt to statutory and regulatory changes to covered group health care plans. 

In a significant recent decision, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears federal appeals in the circuit that includes Michigan, has held for the first time that a basic minimum education is a fundamental right entitling students to due process protection. 

On Friday, April 24, 2020, the U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, issued a statement informing that it had notified Congress that Canada and Mexico have taken measures necessary to comply with their commitments under the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (“USMCA”), and that the USMCA will enter into force on July 1, 2020.

On March 18, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) temporarily suspended in-person appointments at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASCs) due to  coronavirus (COVID-19).

These are turbulent, unprecented times. To curtail the spread of COVID-19, Governor Gretchen Whitmer first signed Executive Order 2020-21 on March 23rd, and extended the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” directive with Executive Order 2020-42 on April 9th.

Despite the fact that many courts are working remotely and under strain to handle priority cases amid the lockdown, as reported by Law360, there continue to be proportionately large numbers of copyright cases being filed. 

Today, Governor Whitmer Issued Executive Order 2020-59 (the “Order”), which includes several changes to the Michigan “Stay Home, Stay Safe” requirements. 

On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation suspending certain persons from entering the United States as immigrants. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the guidance being issued by federal and states officials has continued to evolve and change. The issue of testing is no exception. 

Whether you’re a new manufacturer to the personal protective or healthcare equipment space or you’re shifting gears to ramp up production for COVID-19 specific products, it’s likely that you’re thinking about what happens if something goes wrong with a product.

COVID-19 has led to rapid changes in the way Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) forums operate.

Factory closures in Mexico due to COVID-19 are hurting U.S. defense firms. The Pentagon is urging Mexico to reopen critical suppliers.