News/Events/Blogs

Scott Hervey is quoted in Brian Lowry’s CNN article, Making TV Shows During Coronavirus is Taking More Time — and Money.  Scott moderated a August 5 panel for the Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS), where he is a board member.  The panel, titled “Unscripted,” discussed the logistics of production during a pandemic.

Production is coming back. It’s just going to take a little bit longer and cost a little bit more,

The CDC has issued new guidance for in-home patients diagnosed with COVID-19, including lowering the number of days the patient must remain isolated after being fever-free. The CDC previously recommended that “at least 72 hours” pass since the last fever without the use of fever-reducing medication before ending self-isolation. Noting “accumulating evidence” and ongoing research into COVID-19 treatment, the CDC lowered the recommended isolation to “at least 24 hours.”

Researchers have further reported that people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms remain infectious for no longer than 10 days after their symptoms begin,

The California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) issued its “COVID-19 Employer Playbook” on July 24, 2020 in an effort to provide employers with a comprehensive guide related to COVID-19 as employers reopen their business. According to the CDPH, by following the Employer Playbook, employers will be able to do their part in reducing the risk and spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, and ensure that California businesses stay open. The subjects covered in the Playbook include how to open safely;

Employment attorney Brendan Begley spoke with Sam Boykin of Sacramento Business Journal about the recent SBJ cover article on “ The Office of the Future.”  The in-depth article includes a wide spectrum of voices discussing different aspects of the changing workplace. Brendan addressed some legal concerns that employers may face in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legal protections
Another concern for business owners is legal exposure,

On August 4, Weintraub Tobin lawyers Shauna Correia and Louis Gonzalez provided an overview of the most common types of lawsuits faced by builders and contractors – as well as possible new claims due to the COVID-19 health crisis – relating to employment, workplace safety, and construction contract disputes. This webinar was hosted by the North State Building Industry Association (BIA).

Please keep in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic is a fluid situation and information is constantly being updated.

Unlike the Great Recession in 2008, landlords and tenants responding to the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 health crisis appear to be focusing more on rent relief as opposed to strict interpretation and enforcement.  Both sides seem to acknowledge that this downturn is driven by external, uncontrollable influences, and therefore each side should cooperate to weather the storm. It is the approach we most strongly encourage our clients to take, as it strengthens the relationship between landlord and tenant and avoids unnecessary expenditures on costly lease enforcement.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has established a new program for prioritized examination for patent applications for inventions related to COVID-19 and for trademark applications for marks used for certain medical products and services used in connection with COVID-19.

On May 7, 2020, the Director of the PTO announced the program for patent applications.  The program applies to products and processes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically, to those subject to FDA approval for COVID-19 use,

Landlords and property managers have massive amounts of guidance materials available to them as they prepare to reopen their properties. These materials detail many different things a property owner can do.  In the face of this, the question being asked by many owners is: what are they actually required to do, what is their legal duty?  Unfortunately, the answer is both fact- and circumstance-specific, taking into account the property and its users, as well as federal,

What is the Main Street Lending program, and how is it different than the PPP and other business loans?

On June 30, 2020, Justin Borrowdale and Dan Franklin of River City Bank discussed the Main Street program – what businesses are eligible, unique program features, and documentation needed.

Topics:
• Program Overview
• Borrower Eligibility
• Loan Terms and Documentation
• Borrower certifications,

On June 4, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service published Notice 2020-39 (Notice) which provides relief to qualified opportunity funds (QOFs) and their investors in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Here is a summary, and more details follow below:

• Investors who otherwise would be required to reinvest capital gains into a QOF any time this year on or after April 1 now have until December 31, 2020 to reinvest such gains.