Alerts

Our Task Force has a summary of the Short-Term Working Capital Loans to Support Small Businesses and The Hospitality and Restaurant Sectors.

To address COVID-19’s rapid spread in Washington, DC and across the region and the nation, Mayor Muriel Bowser has issued a stay-at-home order for the District of Columbia. The Order, which goes into effect on April 1, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., parallels orders that Maryland and Virginia issued yesterday.

Below is a summary of the Mid-Size Business Loan Program, which is included in the Coronavirus Economic Stabilization Act of 2020.

Comparative safety claims can be a powerful advertising tool, especially when regarding products consumers cannot test themselves. For this reason, it is imperative that these claims are made with sound proof.

Stay at home orders. Social distancing measures. We talked with Mark Bloom and Andrew Ross about the impact state and local orders are having on the construction industry. The top question on everyone’s mind: can projects move forward right now?

Today, Governor Larry Hogan has taken his most aggressive measure yet to protect public safety and prevent COVID-19’s spread. Effective at 8:00 p.m., today, he has ordered everyone who resides in Maryland to remain at home.

On March 16, 2020, United States Attorney General William Barr issued a memo directing all U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the detection, investigation, and prosecution of COVID-19-related fraud, amid reports of scams, malware, and other fraudulent efforts designed to capitalize on the pandemic. 

Over the past weekend, the FDA issued yet another Final Guidance to relax the rules governing medical devices.

As part of its ongoing effort to address the critical shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed to address the COVID-19 pandemic, FDA has issued an Enforcement Policy to help expand the availability of surgical apparel for healthcare professionals, including gowns and gloves.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread reports of price gouging on hand sanitizer, protective masks, gloves, and other essential supplies.

Governor Ralph Northam, like his Maryland counterpart, today issued an Order that requires people in Virginia to remain at home. 

In some of our previous Legal Alerts concerning insurance coverage for coronavirus related issues, we have highlighted some of the types of coverage that could apply to a COVID-19 related loss, such as business interruption, contingent business interruption, civil authority, and event cancellation.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact employers’ business operations, employers with unionized workforces are faced with making business decisions while fulfilling their obligation to bargain with their employees’ collective bargaining representatives.   

As part of its effort to address the shortage of medical equipment needed to address the COVID-19 pandemic, FDA has issued a new Enforcement Policy announcing flexibility in some of the regulatory requirements for ventilators, accessories, and other respiratory devices.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, dealers are handling complicated health and business issues. We talked with Aaron Jacoby about the impact of FMLA amendments and how they are designed to provide relief for employees and employers. 

With consumers attempting to navigate quarantine and “shelter-in-place” orders, businesses that sell basic necessities are facing overwhelming demand.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

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

Teva Pharmaceuticals filed suit against the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alleging that its glatiramer (Copaxone) falls under the revised definition of a “biological product” and should be transitioned to the system established by the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCIA).

On March 24th, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued its first round of guidance regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

In recognition of the impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on every facet of life, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a temporary enforcement discretion policy to excuse certain civil violations occurring during and due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After initially accepting requests from importers in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID–19) pandemic to defer payment of duties—a means of relief that the Trump Administration had reportedly been considering—US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued guidance withdrawing this option.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides $2 trillion in stimulus in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consumers are stuck at home. How does business continue? We talked with Aaron Jacoby and Russ McRory about the impact of state and local “Stay at Home” orders in California and New York and how dealers and manufacturers can navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arent Fox is counseling clients on the business loan programs included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).