Client Alerts

On March 20, 2020, a joint statement released by the Department of Homeland Security announced an agreement with Mexico to restrict nonessential travel to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The restrictions commenced at 12.01 am Saturday, March 21 throughout the US-Mexico land border for a period of 30 days subject to extension upon review. No Federal Register notice has been issued to date.

Butzel Long has assembled a team to operate immediately to answer urgent client questions regarding the governor’s Executive Order 2020-21. Those clients looking for answers as to whether they need to close tomorrow and/or how they need to change business practices should schedule a call with our team. The team is prepared to have calls directly with clients this afternoon and beyond to address those most urgent questions.

Earlier this morning, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order No 2020-21, titled “Temporary requirement to suspend activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life.”  This is also being referred to as the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order. This is in response to the spread of Covid-19, also known as the Coronavirus.

The Michigan Strategic Fund has approved economic relief for Michigan small businesses impacted by COVID-19.

As the number of cases (and deaths related to) COVID-19 continue to spiral globally, local,  state and national governments have taken dramatic steps to try and mitigate the spread of the virus and its potential to overwhelm available health care systems and medical supplies.

The U.S. Department of State which presides over the U.S. Consulates throughout the world advised that all Consular Post routine services have been suspended.  

Yesterday, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This new law helps many American families dealing with the impact of the coronavirus by providing increased funding for food, Medicaid, unemployment assistance, and covers testing for the virus.

Earlier this week, the Consumer Brands Association sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to more actively pursue retailers looking to take advantage of the coronavirus outbreak through price gouging on essential products.

Contact your labor and employment attorney early on in the process as the law and circumstances relating to COVID-19 are changing daily.

As of today, March 18, 2020, all USCIS (“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services”) Field Offices, Asylum Offices and Application Support Centers are closed until at least April 1, 2020.

CMS sent the following information to the states on paying for Medicaid-fee-for-service Telehealth services.

On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Butzel Long issued a Client Alert regarding a new Executive Order designed to curb “price gouging” during the current state of emergency.

On March 15. 2020. Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-8, which temporarily imposes enhanced restrictions on the excessive pricing of goods, materials, emergency supplies, and consumer food items.

As we all adapt and continue to face the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that you, our clients and friends, know that we are taking measures to ensure our continued attention to your legal needs.

As the Butzel Long Non-Compete/Trade Secret group has informed you in the past, there has been a renewed attempt at the State and Federal level to consider whether changes or even outright prohibitions against non-competes should be considered. The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), recently held an “FTC Workshop on Non-Competes” on January 9, 2020. It was reported at the time that the FTC was considering rules related to the use of non-compete agreements for certain workers.

In an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has declared that  travel to and from Canada will be limited at 12:01 a.m. EDT, beginning on March 18, 2020.

By now, you’ve probably heard that the judicial system is scaling back operations during the declared state of emergency over the coronavirus. Much of the attention has been on trial courts, which have been adjourning civil trials and hearings and limiting criminal cases to those where clients are in custody. There seems to be a general expectation that courts will accommodate extensions of time for filing.

Two separate divisions of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (“HHS”) issued notices that further enable healthcare providers to treat their patients through remote technologies that are readily available, rather than through traditional telehealth means.

The U.S. Consulates serve a vital function in administrating the immigration laws of the U.S.  Included among many of the duties they perform, the U.S. Consulates interview visa applicants, process visa adjudications, and, where appropriate, issue visas to foreign nationals so that they may be admitted to the U.S. for a variety of purposes from vacation to business visits to work-related activities. As part of the U.S. Government’s effort to address the outbreak of Coronavirus, we have learned that the following U.S. Consulates will be suspending services.