COVID-19

FHA Enhances COVID-19 Loss Mitigation Programs

February 17, 2023 by Vincent J. Averaimo

On January 30, 2023, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that it would be “expanding and enhancing” its loss mitigation options that were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. For our clients servicing FHA loans, the enhancement allows it to use…

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Ending Certain COVID-19 Regulatory Waivers for Skilled Nursing Facilities

April 27, 2022 by Sheri L. Pizzi and Greg Vanden-Eykel

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued Memorandum QSO-22-15-NH & NLTC & LSC (Memorandum) announcing that certain staffing, treatment, and life safety regulatory waivers applicable to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and in effect during the COVID-19 state…

FHA Adds Additional Modification to Assist Homeowners in Home Retention Despite Being in Default of Their Obligations

April 26, 2022 by Vincent J. Averaimo

As reported in DSNews,[1] the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) currently offers a number of home retention options to qualified homeowners who are in default of their mortgage obligations. These include the COVID-19 Advance Loan Modification, COVID-19 Recovery Standalone Partial Claim…

New Jersey Extends Statute of Limitations for Special Education Compensatory Education Related to COVID-19

April 5, 2022 by Christopher A. Barrett

On March 3, 2022, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law legislation that extends the statute of limitations for filing a due process petition regarding the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of a child with a disability, or the…

Education Alert: Open Meetings Act

March 29, 2022 by Matthew R. Plain and Michaela Bland

On February 24, 2022, the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General completed an investigation into an Open Meetings Act (“OMA”) complaint filed against the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education (“Council”) and issued a decision finding the Council violated…

EEOC Issues Updated Guidance on Accommodating Employees’ Religious Objections to COVID-19 Vaccines

March 24, 2022 by Christopher A. Barrett

On March 1, 2022 the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the “EEOC”) issued new technical guidance (the “March 1 Guidance”) for employers on how to address an employee’s religious objection to COVID-19 vaccinations and requests for accommodations. The March…

NY Education Update: Staff and Student COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Requirements

January 6, 2022 by Jaime A. Fernand and Paul T. O'Neill

With COVID numbers rising as many charter schools are returning from winter break, questions have been raised regarding adding a booster requirement to staff vaccination policies, and whether it is permissible to require students to submit to a COVID test or…

Education Law Update: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Ends Wolf Administration’s School Mask Mandate

December 11, 2021 by Patricia A. Hennessy and Adam Alaa Attia

On Friday, December 10, 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court effectively ended the school mask mandate implemented by the Acting Secretary of Health of the Wolf Administration. Local school leaders now have the authority to determine the appropriate COVID-19 mitigation measures…

Understanding the Impact of OSHA’s New COVID-19 Policies on Employers

November 19, 2021 by Eric Davey and Greg Vanden-Eykel

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its long-awaited Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring employers to implement policies for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination or weekly COVID-19 testing. The ETS applies to private employers with more than 100 employees. While the…

Pennsylvania Education Law Update: Commonwealth Court Determines Mask Mandate in Pennsylvania Schools Will Expire December 4, 2021

November 17, 2021 by Patricia A. Hennessy and Adam Alaa Attia

On November 16, 2021, the Commonwealth Court ordered the school mask mandate to expire on December 4, 2021. Although the current mask mandate is to expire on December 4, 2021, the opinion by the Commonwealth Court leaves open the possibility…

Emergency Temporary Standard: Understanding the Impact of OSHA’s New COVID-19 Policies on Massachusetts Charter Schools

November 15, 2021 by Eric Davey and Greg Vanden-Eykel

Massachusetts establishes COVID-19 emergency paid leave law

June 2, 2021 by Greg Vanden-Eykel

Effective June 7, 2021, a new law will go into effect requiring all Massachusetts employers, regardless of size, to provide COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave (“emergency leave”) to employees. The law also establishes a $75 million COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick…

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #33 – COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination: A Guide for New York Charter Schools

May 5, 2021 by Glenn

With vaccination and testing requirements constantly changing, Paul O’Neil and Jaimie Fernand join us to provide a guide for New York Charter Schools.

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #31 – Legal Considerations of Proposed MA COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Law

April 9, 2021 by Glenn

Massachusetts is poised to sign into effect a new COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave law. Greg Vanden-Eykel joins us to discuss the details of the proposed legislation and its impact on employers and employees in the state. Barton Gilman,…

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #30 – Crisis Communications Strategies for Schools

February 24, 2021 by Glenn

From severe weather to technology breakdowns, even in a non-pandemic world schools can face challenges that, without a plan, can turn into a full-blown crisis. Today, we are joined by public relations expert Gregg Perry and education attorney Matt Plain…

Legal Alert: Important Reversal of New York COVID-19 Student Testing Rule

February 17, 2021 by Paul T. O'Neill, Jaime A. Fernand, and Lisa J. Holtzmuller

On February 16th, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) issued guidance (NYSED Guidance) establishing a new rule that public schools in New York cannot require students to consent to COVID-19 testing in order to attend in-person classes. The guidance…

Massachusetts Guidance on Insurance Coverage for COVID-19 Business Interruptions

January 26, 2021 by Kevin M. Hensley

A recent Massachusetts Superior Court decision provides guidance on insurance claims for loss of business income caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The guidance is not unexpected, but it is not good news for business owners. In the decision, Verveine Crop….

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #28 – IP Considerations for Charter Schools

November 17, 2020 by Glenn

As schools utilize, implement and enhance their distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic it has raised some concerns about the legalities of some tools being used in these new virtual classrooms. In this episode, Alex Chiulli joins us to discuss…

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode 27 – COVID-19: Legality of Home Schooling and Learning Pods

November 6, 2020 by Glenn

With the advent of distance/remote learning brought on by COVID-19, many families have been seeking alternatives to educate their children. In many cases this includes homeschooling and learning pods. In this episode, Matt Plain is joined by Pat Hennessy, a…

Employer Update: First Published Court Decision Concerning Reasonable Accommodation Request Related to COVID-19

October 13, 2020 by Greg Vanden-Eykel

The United States District Court (D. Mass.), appears to have published the first decision concerning a COVID-related reasonable accommodation request under Federal and Massachusetts law. In the case, Gabriel Peeples v. Clinical Support Options, Inc. (Case No. 3:20-cv-30144-KAR), the Plaintiff,…