Executive Order to OSHA regarding COVID-19
President Biden has issued an Executive Order focused on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) and the Mine Safety and Health Act’s (“MSHA”) approach to managing the COVID-19 crises in the workplace. The President directed OSHA to revisit its overall strategy for regulating and enforcing issues associated with workplace spread of COVID-19. Soon after,
New York City Enacts Just-Cause Termination Requirements for Fast-Food Employers
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought economic hardships for many industries. However, none have been hit quite as hard as the restaurant industry, including fast-food. In most industrial sectors in the United States, employees are subject to at-will employment contracts, meaning that employees can be terminated without cause. However, this will no longer be the case
LaPorta v. City et al – 7th Circuit Appeal WIN!
Congratulations to the trial team at Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC. Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit reversed the high-profile judgment against the City of Chicago in the amount of $44.7M. We agree with the Court – this case is tragic. But, the City should not have been held responsible for
What you need to know about Second-Draw PPP Loans
If your business received a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan from the government’s stimulus efforts in 2020, the CARES Act, you may still be eligible for a second PPP loan. On December 27, 2020 a second stimulus package was signed into law, making significant revisions to the CARES Act and authorizing “Second Draw” PPP loans
New Protections for Trademark Brand Owners
Among the provisions of the recent COVID-19 Economic Relief Bill, signed into law December 27, 2020, was the inclusion of the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 (“TMA”) which includes important changes to trademark law. The TMA helps clarify the standard for brand owners seeking injunctions and introduces a more efficient mechanism for removing trademark “dead
Changes in Chicago Law in 2021
As the year 2020 has officially come to the close, we look to 2021 with hope for better days ahead in the new year. But with the new year also comes changes to laws in Chicago. Among these are changes to the minimum wages, shared housing, extension of business relief, vehicle fuel and cloud tax,
The Specialized Knowledge of Construction Engineering Firms and their Duty to Disclose Conditions
Construction engineering firms should be aware of a recent ruling regarding a firm’s duty to disclose housing conditions to purchasers. In the case 21 Kristin Condominium Ass’n v. Pioneer Engineering & Environmental Services, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court reversed a circuit court’s dismissal of a complaint that alleged negligent misrepresentation on the
Lightfoot’s New Budget Includes Property Tax increase
The Chicago City Council voted to approve Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s $12.8 billion budget plan, including a $94 million property tax increase. The budget was passed on November 24th, which was followed by the property tax levy that then passed by a 28-22 vote. The property tax increase goes into effect in 2021 and includes an
Strategies to Combat Truck Driver Shortages
The freight industry has experienced a massive pendulum swing this year, beginning with an all-time high of 471,000 drivers in February 2020, to an eight-year low of 440,000 drivers by October 2020. The drop in the number of drivers is a product of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic effects. Among these effects was
Momentum Grows For Change In Law Firm Ownership Rules
There is a growing list of states considering a change to their legal system rules that would allow non-lawyer entities to own law firms. New York, Illinois, Connecticut, Florida, and North Carolina are all exploring the possibility of making substantial ownership changes they hope could potentially make civil legal services more affordable to middle class