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COVID-19 Construction Site Job Safety Stand-Down

April 14, 2020
Jeffrey R. Margolis  |  Construction, Coronavirus Pandemic, COVID-19

Vlog: Coronavirus Pandemic: How Businesses Should Track and Document Their Losses with Insurance Team and Forensic Accountant Jake Parsons

April 7, 2020
COVID-19, Coronavirus, Insurance

How Businesses Should Track and Document their Losses

Your Covid-19 Guide to Divorce and Co-Parenting

April 6, 2020
Hugo E. Acebo  |  COVID-19, Coronavirus, Divorce, Marital Law, Divorce Law, Co-Parenting

As if going through a divorce is not stressful enough, you are now asked to navigate the dissolution of your marriage during a worldwide pandemic. The key is to remain calm, be patient and recognize what can reasonably be done. The most important thing you can do for yourself and your family is to heed the CDC suggestions.

Impact of SBA Affiliation Rules on Eligibilty for Paycheck Protection Loans and EIDLs under the CARES Act

April 5, 2020
Mark Wisniewski  |  COVID-19, Coronavirus

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “Act”) (P.L. 116-136) on March 27, 2020, to provide – among many other things - emergency financial relief for eligible small businesses (and certain not-for-profit and veterans organizations) disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Small Business Administration (SBA) received funding and authority through the Act to establish a new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program, and the Act created and enabled

Real Estate Closings During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Title Insurance Gap Coverage

March 31, 2020
Jeffrey R. Margolis  |  Real Estate, COVID-19, Coronavirus

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many clerk and recorder’s offices have announced closures. Some offices are closed to the public, while still allowing mail-in and electronic filing, and others are closed for all filings.

Construction is Designated an Essential Business, Allowing Construction Sites to Remain Open During COVID-19 Pandemic

March 30, 2020
Jeffrey R. Margolis  |  COVID-19, Coronavirus

While many businesses have been ordered closed to try to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Department of Homeland Security, as well as state and local officials in many jurisdictions following federal guidance, have designated construction as an “essential” business. This includes both Miami-Dade and Broward Counties as well as the City of Fort Lauderdale and the

Estate Planning in Times of Uncertainty

March 30, 2020
Robert S. Beraha  |  COVID-19, Coronavirus, Estate Planning, Wealth Management , Wealth, Will

We are currently living though a crisis without precedent. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an overwhelming effect on global financial markets and its full impact has yet to be determined. Beyond the uncertainty we are feeling about our financial well-being, we have been forced to confront the vulnerability of not only our health, but the health of those we care about the most. Even as we experience the upending of our everyday lives, it is important to maintain a balanced perspective, be prepared to the extent possible and even consider availing yourself to opportunities that emerge during troubling times.   
 

DBPR Clarifies that Emergency Powers are Available to Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations

March 29, 2020
Jeffrey R. Margolis  |  COVID-19, Coronavirus

My March 16, 2020 post explained that it was not clear whether the emergency powers available to condominium and homeowners associations were applicable to address matters related to COVID-19 given the language in the statutes limiting their applicability to matters “in response to damage caused by an event for which a state of emergency has been declared.” 

The Florida OIR Encourages Insurance Carriers to Work with Policyholders during COVID-19 Pandemic

March 29, 2020
Madelyn Rodriguez  |  COVID-19, Coronavirus

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”) has issued additional guidelines for insurance carriers and other regulated entities during this time of uncertainty. OIR notes that actions taken in accordance with these guidelines, and implemented in a non-discriminatory manner, will not be considered unfair trade practices or violations of underwriting guidelines. 

COVID-19: Cyber Readiness for Remote Access Workers

March 26, 2020
Gavin C. Gaukroger  |  COVID-19, Coronavirus

With employees abiding work-at-home directives and IT departments adding resources, buying equipment, and generally transitioning to full-scale remote operations, the propensity for exposure to cyber risks is heavily magnified.  In the last week, clients, competitor law firms, and certainly many other businesses within and outside of Florida have been struck by cyber attacks, spoofed email accounts, and ransomware demands. These attacks create additional strains on already stretched IT departments, including the

UPDATE: Can Development Orders and Permits Be Extended as a Result of COVID-19?

March 24, 2020
Jeffrey R. Margolis  |  COVID-19, Coronavirus

Prior to July 2019, Florida Statutes provided for an unconditional automatic extension of development orders and state and local permits when the governor issued a declaration of a state of emergency. The tolling and extension applied in any circumstance. During the 2019 legislative session, the legislature placed a limitation on the extension of development orders and permits, ending unconditional automatic extensions of development orders and state and local permits during a general state of emergency. Effective as of July 2019, Section 252.363, Florida Statutes, provides that the

Fair Use and Distance Learning in the Time of COVID-19

March 24, 2020
Heidi Howard Tandy  |  COVID-19, Coronavirus

Copyright laws in the United States were created when nearly all duplication of content was done by corporate entities, schools or government offices in specific locations. While laws protecting creative works have been modified over time to envelop the Internet age, most primary and secondary educational institutions (and many colleges and universities) have not had to consider a scenario where all students attend classes remotely, through synchronous virtual classrooms and videoconferencing technology.