LIEB BLOG

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Showing posts with label COVID19. Show all posts
Showing posts with label COVID19. Show all posts

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Podcast: Interview with Attorney Suing Texas Governor over Mask Mandate Ban

COVID19 , discrimination law
Podcast: Interview with Attorney Suing Texas Governor over Mask Mandate Ban

On episode 205 of The Lieb Cast, We bring on the Attorney who is representing the group of disabled children in Texas suing Governor Abbott over school mask mandate ban.  We predict the unraveling of several lawsuits to follow. Search "The Lieb Cast" on any podcast player. 






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Monday, December 14, 2020

Commercial Eviction and Foreclosure Moratoriums Extended through January 31, 2021

cdc , Commercial
Commercial Eviction and Foreclosure Moratoriums Extended through January 31, 2021
Through Executive Order 202.81, Governor Cuomo extended the moratoriums for the initiation of a proceeding or enforcement of an eviction of any commercial tenant for nonpayment of rent or a foreclosure of any commercial mortgage for nonpayment of such mortgage to January 31, 2021. This means that no eviction or foreclosure proceeding may be commenced against commercial tenants for nonpayment of rent or mortgage until such date.

In addition, New York City’s Guaranty Law, which prohibits commercial landlords from enforcing personal guaranties against natural persons for payments during the COVID-19 period, was extended and now covers payments due from March 7, 2020 through March 31, 2021. The law was recently challenged in the United States District Court in the Southern District of New York for violating the Constitution, but the law was ultimately upheld. The Court reasoned that while the law does substantially impair contracts, the law is constitutional as it advances a legitimate public interest, and the law is reasonable and necessary in advancing such interest.

While commercial landlords may still seek relief by commencing a holdover eviction, landlords may be better off commencing an action in Supreme Court where they can seek damages for breach of contract, removal of the tenant through an ejectment action, and the enforcement of personal guaranties (for non-NYC landlords), if any. Landlords are advised to consult counsel to ensure compliance with the terms of the lease and all landlord-tenant laws currently in place to avoid any delays and additional damages.

There are currently no moratoriums in place for residential evictions. Residential landlords may commence both holdover and nonpayment proceedings. However, for nonpayment proceedings, courts may not grant a judgment of possession and warrant of eviction against tenants in a nonpayment proceeding who raise the affirmative defense of a COVID-19 financial hardship and proves same. Further, tenants who submit a CDC declaration form stating their inability to pay rent, among others, to their landlords are also protected from nonpayment eviction proceedings until December 31, 2020.



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Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Stop Speculating about Mandatory Vaccines. The Law is VERY Clear!

#listentolieb , COVID19
Stop Speculating about Mandatory Vaccines. The Law is VERY Clear!
There is an EXPLOSION of 2 fundamental rights: Personal freedom and societal regulation. On #theLIEBCAST podcast, we review the substantive due process right to personal liberty and public health.

We look at a previous case from the 1905 smallpox public health crisis and discuss religious and disability exemptions. We discuss how the government has historically limited our liberties in regard to the safety of water quality, transportation, sewage and disease control. What does the country need to get herd immunity from COVID19 and get back to a new normal? #ListenToLieb





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Wednesday, September 02, 2020

CDC's Residential Eviction Moratorium - Fines up to $500,000 and Jail - You Better Read This

#liebatlaw , #listentolieb
CDC's Residential Eviction Moratorium - Fines up to $500,000 and Jail - You Better Read This
CDC's eviction moratorium has teeth and the details matter. 

CDC issued an Agency Order, under the Public Health Service Act, to temporarily halt residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 through December 31, 2020. 

The Order applies to residential tenants (not transient or "seasonal tenant[s]") who have provided an executed and sworn copy of the Declaration form, set forth in Attachment A of the Agency Order, to their landlord. 

Such Declaration swears that:
  1. The individual has used best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing;
  2. The individual either (i) expects to earn no more than $99,000 in annual income for Calendar Year 2020 (or no more than $198,000 if filing a joint tax return), (ii) was not required to report any income in 2019 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or (iii) received an Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check) pursuant to Section 2201 of the CARES Act;
  3. the individual is unable to pay the full rent or make a full housing payment due to substantial loss of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, a lay-off, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses;
  4. the individual is using best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as the individual’s circumstances may permit, taking into account other nondiscretionary expenses; and 
  5. eviction would likely render the individual homeless—or force the individual to move into and live in close quarters in a new congregate or shared living setting—because the individual has no other available housing options.
Landlords and tenants alike better get this right as DOJ can bring actions against violators and "a person violating this Order may be subject to a fine of no more than $100,000 if the violation does not result in a death or one year in jail, or both, or a fine of no more than $250,000 if the violation results in a death or one year in jail, or both, or as otherwise provided by law." If the violator is an organization, the fines are $200,000 and $500,000, respectively. 

This does NOT mean that landlords DON'T have rights.

It is expressly noted that "[t]his Order does not relieve any individual of any obligation to pay rent, make a housing payment, or comply with any other obligation that the individual may have under a tenancy, lease, or similar contract." Nor does the order preclude "the charging or collecting of fees, penalties, or interest as a result of the failure to pay rent or other housing payment on a timely basis..." As we just wrote in Dan's Papers - Sue the Tenant for a Judgment. 

Finally, it is noted that the Order does not prevent evictions "for reasons other than not paying rent or making a housing payment" nor does it preclude "foreclosure on a home mortgage."

As an aside, the CDC is justifying this Order by pointing to the "over 174,000 deaths due to the disease" and comparing it "to the peak mortality observed during the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic," while asserting that "eviction moratoria-like quarantine, isolation, and social distancing-can be an effective public health measure utilized to prevent the spread of communicable disease." Perhaps we should stop downplaying this pandemic - it is real per Trump's Federal Agency. 



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Monday, June 29, 2020

NY | How to Reopen Your Business

COVID19 , Employment Law
NY | How to Reopen Your Business
Reopening isn’t just going back to work – there are 5 steps that businesses must take to open their doors if they want to avoid legal troubles.

Step 1. Review the applicable guidance for reopening & affirm that you will comply.

Each industry has tailored guidelines from NYS DOH, which represents the minimum requirements for you to reopen.
Before you open your doors, you MUST affirm that you have read the guidelines at this link.
Guidance for your industry can be located here.

Step 2. Formulate a business safety plan.

Each business MUST develop a written safety plan to prevent the spread of COVID.

The plan must be retained on the premises of the businesses and made available for inspection by DOH or your local health and safety authorities (zoning) upon request.

The sample plan provided by NYS is 7 pages long and includes a daily mandatory health screening assessment for employees and essential visitors, a requirement to record a log of all those physically present at the premises, cleaning requirements, and much more.

Start writing your plan now in compliance with the law if you plan to reopen.

Step 3. Create logbooks to comply and maintain policies.

You need to create forms to implement your plan. You need the health screening assessment developed, a logbook for cleaning, and a logbook for visitors. These can be inspected by DOH and other authorities so they better exist before you open your doors.

Step 4. Floor markings and PPE.

You are required to provide your entire team with PPE so it’s time to start ordering supplies yesterday. Plus, you need to place signage and floor markings throughout your premises to maintain proper social distancing. So, take out your tape and measuring stick to get going.

Step 5. Craft your message.

Your team and your customers need to understand your plan and how it impacts them, or they won’t follow it. So, you need to create a message, start getting it out there via email and make it available to everyone at your business. This message must explain your safety plan and the new policies that you will enforce for the rest of COVID. Getting buy-in is the key to proper implementation and protecting you from suit and negative PR.

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