The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 has completely upended all of our lives. What’s worse, we have no previous experience to fall back on when dealing with this current crisis. Because of this, we may be unsure of our legal rights when it comes to coronavirus-related problems that can arise.
We dedicated a page and Practice Group here at Pagliara Law Group to help you with the issues related to COVID-19.
OUR ROAD TO RECOVERY
The Pagliara Law Group’s COVID-19 Strategy Team is advising clients on all aspects of the legal issues and implications of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic including contractual, employment, insurance and healthcare issues. Our attorneys are fielding inquiries and providing advice in a wide range of areas, including human resources, travel and transportation, immigration and border entry, hospital and healthcare operations, medical and pharmaceutical supply, FDA, food handling and preparation, OSHA, ADA compliance, data privacy, HIPAA, environmental and EPA, international transactions, shipping, supply chain and logistics, financial reporting, insurance liability, real estate issues, including landlord and tenant matters, and all types of contracts and quasi-contracts.
Contractual
Contractual and quasi-contractual obligations are thrown into upheaval in the extreme circumstances of a pandemic. An unexpected and/or insurmountable obstacle in any part of a supply chain can have a devastating impact on a business’ ability to deliver on its promises. Well-written contracts can, at least, minimize problems. Poorly written contracts can expose businesses to levels of liability so severe that their very survival might be at stake. Pagliara Law Group attorneys advise clients before, during and after crises to minimize risk, business disruption and disputes.
Employment
Employers are on the front lines of any outbreak, immediately faced with making decisions to simultaneously protect their workforce and their business while still delivering what their customers expect and deserve. Our Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration lawyers advise clients on all aspects of employer planning, sick leave and other policies, operations, liability, domestic and international travel and entry, scheduling changes, shutdowns and quarantines.
Healthcare
Nothing is more important than providing care to the sick and preventing illness in others, but in times of an expanding outbreak, the healthcare system’s ability to treat patients can be stretched beyond its limits. At the same time, hospitals and governments must quickly pivot to minimize a disease’s impact on their communities. The lack of space, staff and essential supplies are just some of the existential threats that healthcare providers face. Pagliara Law Group attorneys have been advising on preparations in the months prior to the pandemic reaching the United States and continue to counsel hospitals, health systems and others daily as the situation rapidly evolves.
Education
Colleges, universities, and K-12 schools are determining how to continue operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Institutions must protect employees, students, residents and the community at large while delivering education in a way that complies with quickly changing federal, state and accreditor regulations. We can advise institutions on transitioning to a temporary distance education model based on guidelines set by the Department of Education and various regulatory bodies, and also other fronts.
Insurance
The level of claims and losses coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic may be unprecedented. From the inability to fulfill contractual obligations to cancellations and closures for the sake of public health, the financial impact―and the insurance industry’s role within that―will be interpreted and contested for years to come. Specific terms, conditions and provisions in policies are immeasurably consequential.
Industry Specific Guidance
Pagliara Law Group’ industry-focused teams have been monitoring the pandemic’s impact in their area and sharing information and providing guidance tailored to the specific needs and concerns of business in those industries, including:
Banking and Finance
Cannabis
Construction and Engineering
Education
Energy
Fashion, Retail and Consumer Branded Products
Gaming
Insurance/Reinsurance
Life Sciences and Medical Technologies
Private Equity
Project Development and P3
Technology, Media and Telecom
Transportation, Automotive and Logistics
Regulatory
In the first few months of the COVID-19 outbreak, multiple regulatory agencies and governing bodies have revised requirements, both temporarily and permanently, in attempts to help the public and minimize adverse situations that will inevitably develop. This will continue to evolve at both the federal and state level. The FDA, USTR, Federal Reserve, FDIC, CFPB, OCC, SEC, CPSC, U.S. Department of Education and others have made changes or announcements that can impact whether businesses are in compliance or are staying compliant. Pagliara Law Group attorneys know the specifics of these changes and how these regulatory bodies operate, and counsel clients on how to prioritize their next steps in this unfolding situation.
Litigation
The COVID-19 pandemic will likely spawn an outbreak of litigation, as the disease impacts and disrupts nearly every aspect of the economy. New disputes will emerge from a wide spectrum of areas, including products liability, mass and toxic torts, insurance coverage, employment, white-collar, securities law, intellectual property, commercial contracts and class actions. The attorneys in Pagliara Law Group’ Trial Practice Group have the industry-specific litigation experience needed to help clients pursuing or facing litigation in the aftermath of COVID-19. We are exceptionally well-suited to large-scale litigation and national coordinating counsel positions having taken the lead in these roles in the past.
For More Information
Covid Related Nursing Home deaths Lawyer CLICK HERE
Covid Related Consumer Issues Lawyer CLICK HERE
PPP APPLICATION Lawyer CLICK HERE
PPP FRAUD criminal defense Lawyer
Business Interruption Lawyer
Coronavirus and Employment Law
All of this has meant a spike in the demands placed on health care workers as well as delivery service, transportation, grocery store and warehouse employees. These, and other essential workers, have been on the front lines putting themselves at risk to provide much-needed services.
Sadly, both essential and non-essential workers have contracted COVID-19 due to a lack of safety protocols and equipment on the part of their employers. Others have been discriminated against and even fired for having COVID-19. This pandemic does not give employers free rein take advantage of their employees, whether they be essential workers or not.
Coronavirus in Nursing Homes
Nursing home residents are at a much higher risk if they contract the coronavirus. Many of these elderly residents also have pre-existing conditions. Contracting COVID-19 can be a potential death sentence for this particularly vulnerable part of the population. Those with loved ones in a nursing home are well within their rights when they expect a nursing home to take extra precautions to help protect the lives of their residents.
Yet we can’t turn on the news without seeing another report about a fatal COVID-19 outbreak at a nursing home. This is happening all over the country. Over 80% of nursing homes in the U.S. had been cited for problems with their control and prevention of infections. Even worse, about 50% of the homes cited were repeat offenders over several years.
Given that terrible track record, it’s no surprise that the great majority of nursing homes were caught off guard by COVID-19 and did not implement the needed safety plans at the beginning of the pandemic. Even worse, staff, visitors and outside vendors were allowed to come and go unchecked. This is believed to have been the spark that caused the coronavirus to spread so quickly among staff and residents.
Once multiple nursing homes around the country were identified as coronavirus hotspots, a lack of protective equipment and supplies caused many employees to quit.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, or you work in such a facility, you expect them to provide a certain level of care and safety. When that doesn’t happen, the consequences can be catastrophic. You and your loved ones have rights and The Pagliara Law Group is ready to fight for those rights.
Coronavirus in Holding Facilities
It would stand to reason that holding facilities such as prisons and other types of correctional facilities would be relatively well protected from the coronavirus since most of the residents don’t leave the premises every day. But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, holding facilities are also coronavirus hot spots, putting both inmates and employees at great risk.
If you or a loved one became ill or died while being held in a holding facility or as an employee of one, the coronavirus attorneys at The Pagliara Law Group are available to help. Call us for a free consultation to go over your case,
What if I Lost a Loved One Due to the Coronavirus?
Losing a loved one is always painful but losing them due to a situation that was completely preventable is devastating. While no amount of money could ever compensate for the loss of a family member due to COVID-19, seeking and finding justice in their name can help bring closure and make those responsible pay for their negligence or recklessness. The experienced COVID-19 lawyers at The Pagliara Law Group can go over your case with you to see how we can help.
According to the World Economic Forum, the professions with the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the U.S. are:
- Retail and grocery store employees
- Cleaning and janitorial workers
These employees don’t have the luxury of working from home. Some of these professions are overwhelmingly represented by people of color. For these front line workers, a lack of safety protocols on the part of their employers is inexcusable. If one of these employees contracts COVID-19 and dies, the employer must be made to answer for their actions or lack thereof.
A loved one can also contract COVID-19 in a nursing home or holding facility. If you have lost someone close to you due to COVID-19, know that The Pagliara Law Group can fight for your right to seek justice in their name.
The Pagliara Law Group Coronavirus Lawyers in Hudson County and Bergen County New Jersey
Throughout this pandemic, The Pagliara Law Group has wasted no time in fighting for the rights of those negatively impacted by the coronavirus. We are working on behalf of those who became ill due to COVID-19 and families who have lost loved ones from the disease. Whether it was a lack of protective equipment or poor safety protocols at a closed facility, we can help. And you don’t have to wait.
- COVID-19 in Nursing Homes and Senior Care Facilities
- COVID-19 and Employment Rights
- Workplace Safety Regulations and COVID-19
- Protecting the Rights of Essential Workers during COVID-19
Helpful Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources
- NJ gov – New Jersey Coronavirus (COVID-19)
OTHER RESOURES
COVID GUIDE
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