Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive orders, commencing at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively froze statutory and court imposed deadlines for all manner of legal proceedings. For civil proceedings, at least, that stoppage lasted through Nov. 3, 2020. In the months since, a few courts have had a chance to...
The Chronicle of Higher Education published an article on June 22, 2021 on a recently filed lawsuit against Indiana University for mandating Covid-19 vaccinations for students and employees entitled “Indiana University Students Sue Over Covid-19 Vaccine Requirement.” Indiana University recently issued a policy that students, staff and faculty must be...
We are elated to share that Managing Partner Heidi Reavis has been recognized by The American Lawyer in its inaugural list of Northeast Trailblazers, honoring professionals in the Northeastern United States who have moved the needle in the legal industry and are truly agents of change. According to the publication,...
In further Covid-19 vaccinations updates, Pfizer Inc. and its partner BioNTech SE have requested that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approve their vaccine, which is still only authorized for emergency use. If Covid-19 vaccines get full FDA approval, will more employers take a shot at requiring their employees...
Last year the American Bar Association (ABA) published a report with grim findings on the lack of diversity in American patent law.[1] Building on that report and our own experience of the lack of diversity in the patent law profession, we ask what the reasons behind a largely homogenous patent...
On April 13, Insider’s article entitled, “The failed Amazon union bid has reignited calls to pass the PRO Act. Here's how the labor bill could help freelancers” quoted RPJ attorney Elizabeth Stork on the PRO Act and its potential consequences. If signed into law, the PRO Act would increase federal...
The American Rescue Plan Act (the “ARPA”) became law on March 11, 2021. The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill contains important updates to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), the CARES Act, and COBRA requirements, among other provisions, some of which are set to take effect April 1. Reavis...
Partner Mark Moore was recently quoted in a comprehensive overview of the legal challenges facing colleges and universities published on January 22 by The Chronicle of Higher Education, entitled “The New Risk Management” and authored by Alexander C. Kafka. In addressing post-pandemic litigation over tuition refunds, Mark stated: “Because many...
Late last month congressional leaders finally agreed to offer cultural institutions, including music venues and movie and stage theaters, a coronavirus relief package of $15 billion for “Save Our Stages”, as part of the larger $900 billion relief package, which includes additional categorical relief, such as the Paycheck Protection Program,...
Wrapping up the year on December 31, 2020 (when not inciting riots via Twitter), President Trump signed into law the bipartisan Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act, which provides funding to state and local governments, medical offices, humanitarian organizations, and forensics labs, that respond to migrant deaths on a daily...