https://www.legalexaminer.com/wp-content/claris-images-uploads/covid-gavel@medium.jpgThere are more than 7-million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States alone and more than 35-million worldwide. People are moving through their days, mindful of mandates set up by the government while taking care to protect themselves and loved ones. However, some individuals don’t. Once they test positive, they choose not to use caution and isolate. Instead, they go out in public, exposing others to the deadly virus. News outlets have documented multiple incidents, including a woman in Carrollton, Texas, who recorded herself walking through Walmart, claiming she wanted to infect others with coronavirus. A student in Attleboro, Massachusetts, who tested positive with COVID-19 on a Friday, still went to school the following Monday. … [Read More...]
Colo. Meat-Packing Plant Fined for Failing to Protect Workers from COVID-19
https://www.legalexaminer.com/wp-content/claris-images-uploads/raw-beef-factory@medium.jpgThe U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a Colorado meatpacking plant for failing to properly protect its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 300 employees were infected with the virus since March 2020 and six have died. OSHA has proposed over $15,000 in fines for the plant. Meat-Packing Plant Fined for Violation of a General Duty Clause The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in July 2020 that among 23 states reporting COVID-19 outbreaks in meat and poultry processing facilities, over 16,000 cases— including 86 COVID-19-related deaths—occurred in 239 facilities. The agency noted that meat-processing facilities “face distinctive challenges in the control of infectious diseases” as outbreaks among workers can “rapidly affect large … [Read More...]
Stem Cells Could Offer Treatment For COVID-19 Lung Damage
https://www.legalexaminer.com/wp-content/claris-images-uploads/covid19-lungs@medium.jpgIt was back in early January when Dr. Michael Matthay and his team at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) began delving into a clinical trial to study how stem cells could help treat acute respiratory distress syndrome. Known as ARDS, the syndrome causes a person’s lungs to fill with fluid, preventing normal oxygen from flowing and causing respiratory failure. Although there is no cure for ARDS, doctors know it is caused by one of three things, a trauma (including a near-drowning accident), a bacterial infection or by a viral infection – like COVID-19. In the last nine months, times have drastically changed. In early 2020, COVID-19 was not officially identified in the U.S. Now, … [Read More...]
COVID-19 Relief Bill—Want the Truth?
https://www.legalexaminer.com/wp-content/claris-images-uploads/us-capital@medium.jpgRecently, the Republican-led Senate tried to pass what Senate leaders called a COVID-19 relief bill. Most of those who pushed the bill forward knew it wouldn’t pass and why. Still, they gleefully took the opportunity to blame Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Dems of obstructionism and not wishing to deliver a victory to President Trump’s re-election. He called the bill “an important economic lifeline.” Democrats called the bill a “purely partisan and paltry effort.” Republican Senator Martha McSally of Arizona said that the vote demonstrates why people are frustrated with Washington. One side must be lying, right? So . . . who’s telling the truth? The first thing you need to know is … [Read More...]
Pure Michigan Campaign Urges Safe Tourism
https://www.legalexaminer.com/wp-content/claris-images-uploads/mackinac-bridge@medium.jpgIn an ordinary year, Michigan – the Great Lakes State – has a robust tourism-based economy. Even during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in our state, the Governor’s executive orders allowed Michiganders to get outside for fitness and recreation. And now that Michigan begins to cautiously reopen, residents and businesses are eager to take advantage of the state’s unique natural and historic resources. Tempering this enthusiasm is concern that increased travel may cause COVID cases to spread from areas of higher concentration to the touristy areas of Northern Michigan, which have fewer hospitals and other medical resources necessary to contain an outbreak. These fears are not unfounded, as pictures from around Michigan over the 4… [Read More...]
How COVID-19 Could Affect Legal Malpractice
https://www.legalexaminer.com/wp-content/claris-images-uploads/shutterstock_1154521519@medium.jpg2020 has been nothing if not unpredictable. The new coronavirus has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and sickened millions of people worldwide, and the ensuing shutdowns and business closures have devastated the U.S. economy. COVID-19 has had far-reaching, surprising consequences, and if you’re suing for legal malpractice, you may be surprised to learn that you could be affected by the coronavirus pandemic. We Might See An Uptick In Malpractice Cases The coronavirus pandemic is causing a historic recession, and there are unfortunately no signs of things getting better anytime soon. How does a struggling economy relate to legal malpractice claims? When people are left without money unexpectedly, they may become desperate to recoup … [Read More...]
Sign On the Dotted Line: Our New World of Covid-19 Liability Waivers
https://www.legalexaminer.com/wp-content/claris-images-uploads/waiter-mask@medium.jpgAs businesses start to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, some companies are taking steps to try to protect themselves from liability. You may be asked to sign a waiver before entering an establishment promising that you won’t hold them responsible if you contract COVID-19 after patronizing the business. Are these waivers enforceable, and will they hold up in court? Can you sue a company if you get sick after visiting? While the waivers don’t necessarily release a business from liability, that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be able to bring a lawsuit. Keep reading to find out more about COVID-19 and liability law. The enforceability of waivers Even if you did get sick while patronizing a business, … [Read More...]
4th of July Safety Tips
Although 4th of July celebrations may look a bit different this year, it is still important to keep safety tips in mind. COVID-19 Precautions As communities begin to reopen, many are experiencing their first break from cabin fever in months. Unfortunately, the virus is still a serious concern, so the CDC shared some tips on how to stay safe in public settings: Continue to stay 6’ away from others, especially if you are at a high risk for contracting diseases. Continue wearing face coverings, especially indoors with poor ventilation or anywhere, even outdoors, where social distancing is difficult. Wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Avoid crowds and mass gatherings. Stay home if you or … [Read More...]
Trucking Safety Laws Suspended for COVID-19
For the first time in history, trucking safety laws that have been around since 1938 have been temporarily suspended at the federal level due to the COVID-19 virus. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a national emergency declaration in March suspending hours-of-service (HOS) laws for commercial truckers delivering certain medical supplies and other consumer goods. The declaration is intended to help keep medicine, supplies and food moving during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, these laws have been lifted at the local and state levels during natural disasters, such as floods and hurricanes, but this is the first time the FMCSA has suspended the laws at a national level. The FMCSA’s national emergency declaration applies to truckers providing direct … [Read More...]
As Illegal Sideshows Continue During COVID-19, So Do Car Accidents and Pedestrian Injuries
Illegal sideshow activity is still happening, even with a worldwide pandemic happening and stay-at-home orders in a place. Nothing seems to deter this extremely dangerous activity that continues to plague California streets. A sideshow is an impromptu social gathering where drivers perform car stunts like donuts and figure eights. Sideshows, which are an illegal activity, often bring large crowds out to watch. They are often held in vacant lots and public intersections and sometimes block major intersections, bridges or highways. They primarily happen in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay area, but they occur in other areas of the state as well. Multiple sideshows have popped up over the last few weeks with total disregard for California’s stay-at-home orders. Around 300 … [Read More...]
More Clarity on the Paycheck Protection Program for Small Businesses
By now, you’ve likely heard about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a loan that acts as emergency relief as well as an incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will forgive a small business’s PPP loan if all of its employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the loan money is used for business expenses including payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. While the launch of this new program was good news for businesses around the country, questions keep coming up about using the funds, guaranteeing forgiveness, and more. The program only seems more confusing as the procedures evolve. So, we’ve collected what we know … [Read More...]
Most Americans Believe Business Owner Immunity from COVID-19 Lawsuits is a Bad Idea
There is no doubt that every community across the United States has been economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Salaries have been cut, businesses have had to permanently close their doors, and retirement accounts have taken an irreparable hit. However, a recent poll from Hart Research Group has concluded that most Americans are prioritizing health and safety over rushing to reopen businesses and hopes Congress will do the same. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued what he called the GOP’s “redline” in future negotiations with Democrats stating that Republicans won’t agree to a new legislative package to fund states and cities unless Democrats agree to protecting business owners from lawsuits related to COVID-19. Senator McConnell warned that the failure to protect business owners from such … [Read More...]