Tag Archives: Covid-19

Pittsburgh Law Firm @HoustonHarbaugh Announces Formation of #CovidLaw Response Group

Posted on May 19, 2020 by | Comments Off on Pittsburgh Law Firm @HoustonHarbaugh Announces Formation of #CovidLaw Response Group

www.CovidLawResponse.com

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an array of legal issues that many of our clients and peers are suddenly faced with addressing at a rapid pace. At Houston Harbaugh, we have assembled a designated CovidLaw Response Group to assist our clients and relay updates and information as they continue to unfurl (See our COVID-19 Law newsletters and blogs at: www.CovidLawResponse.com). Members of the group can be found below:


Our lawyers in this group are closely monitoring and assisting clients with all COVID-19 related issues in the following areas:

  • Business Litigation
  • Business Loan Programs- EIDL and SBA Loan Programs
  • CARES Act
  • Corporate Law
  • Employment Law including Return to Work Policies and Templates and PA State Orders for Workplace Safety and Health
  • Environmental Law
  • Families First Coronavirus Response Act- Paid Sick Leave and Amendments to FMLA
  • HHS Grants for Medical Practices- EIDL and PPP Program
  • Insurance Coverage including Business Interruption and Civil Authority
  • Intellectual Property
  • Paycheck Protection Program- Forgiveness and Certifications
  • Probate Estates & Trusts Litigation
  • Real Estate Leasing and Financing
  • Retirement Plan Contributions, Distributions and Loans
  • Stay at Home Orders
  • Unfair Competition and Counterfeiting


We are here to help navigate these new and challenging matters and are equipped with the technology to safely and thoroughly consult with our clients. Please reach out with any questions. 

www.CovidLawResponse.com

Tags: CovidLaw, COVID-19, Covid Law Response, Coronavirus, Law Response Group, Pittsburgh law firm

Related Posts: COVID-19 Responses Allow Cafeteria Plan Flexibility, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Denies Request To Exercise “King’s Bench” Jurisdiction Over All State Court COVID-19 Coverage Cases, Coronavirus Workplace Infection Control Policy, Insurers and Amici Resist Application for Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Exercise of King’s Bench Jurisdiction Over COVID-19 Coverage Cases

Comments Off on Pittsburgh Law Firm @HoustonHarbaugh Announces Formation of #CovidLaw Response Group

Posted in Covid, Covid Employment Law, Covid Pennsylvania, Covid-19, Covid-19 Law, Covid19, CovidLaw, CovidLaw19

Tagged , , ,

Redefining Your Business Strategy for Post #Covid – 19: A Free @Simio Webinar Tomorrow May 7, 11:00 AM – #DataSimulation*

Posted on May 6, 2020 by | Comments Off on Redefining Your Business Strategy for Post #Covid – 19: A Free @Simio Webinar Tomorrow May 7, 11:00 AM – #DataSimulation*
How do you plan for today and the future in a time of uncertainties? Do you simply wait out the pandemic, or apply analytics to develop workable strategies that keep your business functional?  

This FREE and short Simio webinar TOMORROW on May 7th, 2020 at 11:00 am ET (3:00 pm UTC) will share insights that will allow you to see how you can apply simulation to evaluate different response scenarios for your business.  
  Tomorrow’s webinar will give a glimpse into data simulation and how it can be used to predict outcomes based on your available options. It will also showcase the importance of data simulation modeling in providing insight for capacity planning and predictive analytics during a pandemic and a post-pandemic scenario. Stakeholders, managers, and decision-makers will learn valuable lessons on advanced planning and resource management using Simio as an analytical tool. This webinar will also help employees across every industry understand why certain decisions are been taken and the importance of resource management.  Regardless of your industry, you will learn how to apply simulation to enhance daily operations and manage complex processes.  
Presenters: 1) Dan O’Neil, Health Systems Innovation Lead at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory 2) Adam Sneath, Application Engineer at Simio.
Click Here to Register Today: or use this link to Simio, LLC in Pittsburgh: https://www.simio.com/resources/webinar/2020-05-07-Simio-Webinar.php

* This announcement is not providing legal advice or is it in any way an endorsement of SIMIO by any lawyer or law firm, but merely a suggestion of a possible resource for businesses and individuals as businesses and health care facilities re-open. Houston Harbaugh and Henry Sneath are not involved in the content development, nor presentation of this program.

Comments Off on Redefining Your Business Strategy for Post #Covid – 19: A Free @Simio Webinar Tomorrow May 7, 11:00 AM – #DataSimulation*

Posted in Business Risk, Computer Technology, Covid, Covid Employment Law, Covid Pennsylvania, Covid-19, Covid19, CovidLaw, CovidLaw19, Technology

Tagged , , , , , , ,

#3M® Sues NJ Based #PerformanceSupply, LLC for #N-95 Mask #Trademark Infringement and #Covid Related #PriceGouging

Posted on April 13, 2020 by | Comments Off on #3M® Sues NJ Based #PerformanceSupply, LLC for #N-95 Mask #Trademark Infringement and #Covid Related #PriceGouging
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/search/?Ntt=n95+masks

Plaintiff #3M® Company filed suit in the USDC SDNY on Friday against New Jersey based Performance Supply, LLC alleging Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition, False Endorsement, False Designation of Origin, False Advertising, Trademark Dilution, NY State Law Deceptive Acts and Practices, and seeking Injunctive Relief and Exemplary Damages. 3M indicates in the suit that any recovery of damages will be donated to Covid-19 related charities. See the Complaint as filed here:

3M-v.-Performance-Supply-LLC-20-cv-02949-USDC-SDNYDownload

3M claims that Performance Supply falsely tried to obtain a purchase order and sell through a quote to the City of New York, millions of #N-95 Respirator Masks to be used in the battle against #Covid-19. Performance allegedly used the 3M marks (including the TM phrase “3M Science. Applied To Life”®) and 3M references liberally in its proposal and sought to confuse and deceive NY City into believing that Performance Supply and 3M were aligned and working together on the offer to sell masks. Further, the lawsuit alleges that Performance engaged in price gouging in seeking to charge NY prices that were 500-600% above 3M’s list price.

3M alleges that its marks are incontestable, arbitrary and strong and have long been associated with safety masks and equipment. They stress that during this Corona virus crisis, 3M HAS NOT INCREASED ITS PRICES and that this marks a strong comparison to Performance which is accused of price gouging and other business torts under both Federal and NY State Laws. Performance, sought a purchase order from NY through a quote sent to NY’s procurement director. In its formal quote, Performance states that “acceptance of the purchase order is at the full discretion of 3M…” This is alleged by 3M to show a false designation of origin and false endorsement by 3M of the quote. 3M is represented by Mayer Brown LLP.

Posted by Henry M. Sneath, Esquire Co-Chair Litigation Practice Group and Chair of the IP Practice Group: Houston Harbaugh, P.C.  401 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222. Sneath is also an Adjunct Professor of  Law teaching two courses; Trade Secret Law and the Law of Trademarks and Unfair Competition at Duquesne University School of Law. Please contact Mr. Sneath at 412-288-4013 or sneathhm@hh-law.com. 

Comments Off on #3M® Sues NJ Based #PerformanceSupply, LLC for #N-95 Mask #Trademark Infringement and #Covid Related #PriceGouging

Posted in Covid, Covid Employment Law, Covid Pennsylvania, Covid-19, Covid19, CovidLaw, CovidLaw19, Lanham Act, Trademarks

Tagged , , , , , ,

#CARESAct Passes Congress: See link here to the Act which is meant “To provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 #coronavirus #pandemic.” #Covid #CoronaUpdate

Posted on March 28, 2020 by | Comments Off on #CARESAct Passes Congress: See link here to the Act which is meant “To provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 #coronavirus #pandemic.” #Covid #CoronaUpdate

Here is the #CARESAct passed this week by both houses in full for easy reference:

CARES-Act-LegislationDownload

#HoustonHarbaugh will be publishing various opinions and guides to the provisions of the CARES Act in the near future.

Comments Off on #CARESAct Passes Congress: See link here to the Act which is meant “To provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 #coronavirus #pandemic.” #Covid #CoronaUpdate

Posted in CARES Act, Covid, Covid Employment Law, Covid Pennsylvania, Covid-19, CovidLaw, CovidLaw19, Houston Harbaugh

Tagged , , ,

#ClassAction Lawsuit Challenges #Pennsylvania #Governor #Wolf’s #COVID-19 #Closure Order

Posted on March 27, 2020 by | Comments Off on #ClassAction Lawsuit Challenges #Pennsylvania #Governor #Wolf’s #COVID-19 #Closure Order
Commonwealth of Pa. Flag

What appears to be the first constitutional challenge to #Pennsylvania Governor #Wolf’s #Covid-19 Closure Orders has been filed in the Pennsylvania Eastern District (Philadelphia) Federal Court. In Schulmerich Bells, LLC et al v. Thomas W. #Wolf (Governor of Pa.) and Rachel Levine, M.D. (Pa. Sect of Health) the Plaintiffs bring class action and declaratory judgment claims challenging the constitutionality of the Governor’s Covid-19 mitigation closure orders which shut down the physical operations of many Pennsylvania businesses deemed not to be “life sustaining”. See the Complaint here:

Schulmerich-v.-Governor-Wolf-Complaint-1-1Download

The Complaint begins with the “takings” quote from the 5th Amendment as cited in Armstrong v. United States, 364 U.S. 40 (1960) that the guarantee that “private property shall not be taken for a public use without just compensation was designed to bar Government from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should be borne by the public as a whole.” Interesting start in this context. The theory appears to be that the Governor has placed the “cost of these closure orders – issued for the benefit of the public – squarely upon the shoulders of private individuals and their families” without just compensation. Schulmerich, from Bucks County, is alleged to be the oldest manufacturer of orchestral quality musical handbells in the US.

Schulmerich repairs handbells and chimes and claims that Spring and Summer are its busiest seasons. Plaintiff’s claim a trickle down effect for their employees, suppliers, performing customers and so on. The company has already laid off 9 workers. The purported class is broad and appears to contemplate inclusion of anyone affected by these orders. Alleged exclusions from the class include inter alia, any persons unemployed at the time of the orders, and any persons working for companies deemed to be “life sustaining”, which were not ordered to be closed. The Plaintiffs claim that the class members could number in the millions. We will monitor this and other similar lawsuits.

Comments Off on #ClassAction Lawsuit Challenges #Pennsylvania #Governor #Wolf’s #COVID-19 #Closure Order

Posted in Business Risk, Covid, Covid Employment Law, Covid Pennsylvania, Covid-19, Covid19, CovidLaw, CovidLaw19, Houston Harbaugh

Tagged , , ,

Covid 19: Health First, Lawsuits Later?

Posted on March 27, 2020 by | Comments Off on Covid 19: Health First, Lawsuits Later?

It would be great if in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, that the world could simply focus on health, safety, family and employee issues, but the lawsuits have started. We will monitor them as they will ramp up. Many state and federal courts are shutting down or slowing down so it is unclear when the Covid related suits will actually see a day in court. In New Orleans, an interesting, (albeit somewhat disturbing in the timing), lawsuit has been filed seeking a declaratory judgement against the Governor of Louisiana and global insurer Lloyds of London. Plaintiff Cajun Conti – Oceana Grill Restaurant is seeking property and business interruption insurance from Lloyds, even before they have apparently made a claim. The suit before insurance claim and denial is odd. The suit may be politically motivated. The lawsuit is attached hereto.

Plaintiff restaurant seeks “property damage” for virus contamination of its restaurant, and “business interruption” coverage for the obvious shutdown brought about by government order. If you subscribe to Law360 there is an interesting write-up at: http://tinyurl.com/qscl9m8 “Oceana Grill, which is in New Orleans’ French Quarter, argued that its “all risk” policy with the Lloyd’s underwriters should kick in under the circumstances, noting that the policy doesn’t contain any provisions excluding coverage for losses stemming from viruses or global pandemics.” (Law360) “In its suit, Oceana Grill noted that its policy with the Lloyd’s underwriters requires the existence of a “direct physical loss” to property for coverage to apply. According to the restaurant, that requirement is satisfied by the coronavirus pandemic, given that the virus can remain on surfaces for days. Both Governor Edwards and Mayor Cantrell cited concerns over possible physical damage to properties to support their restrictions.” (Law360)

Covid-19-Insurance-Coverage-Lawsuit-v.-LLoyds-3Download

Comments Off on Covid 19: Health First, Lawsuits Later?

Posted in Covid, Covid-19, Covid19, CovidLaw, CovidLaw19

Tagged , , , ,

COVID-19: Latest from Houston Harbaugh, P.C. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Posted on March 21, 2020 by | Comments Off on COVID-19: Latest from Houston Harbaugh, P.C. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
High Resolution Covid-19

The latest and best information on Covid-19 should be sought from the CDC. Our law firm Houston Harbaugh, P.C. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania www.hh-law.com remains open and fully functional to serve our clients and others seeking legal assistance during this incredibly difficult time. We are complying with the Pa. Commonwealth’s Governor’s Order that all non-life-sustaining businesses remain physically closed and work remotely when possible. We are fully functional in that regard. See the most recent Pennsylvania Covid-19 Mitigation Orders and Guideline. Our law firm’s employment department Chair Craig Brooks issued some important workplace guidelines which should be helpful to businesses and employers as they struggle with the fallout from the Covid disease and related mitigation efforts in this and other states. Click here to see our website and employment guidelines.

Comments Off on COVID-19: Latest from Houston Harbaugh, P.C. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Posted in Covid, Covid Employment Law, Covid Pennsylvania, Covid-19, Covid19, CovidLaw, CovidLaw19

Tagged , , , , ,