Every passing day brings stark new reports of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and increasing numbers of cancelled conventions, concerts, and other major events. Both the hospitality and travel industry on the one hand, and organizations that are canceling events on the other, are scrambling to understand the legal consequences of these costly terminations. 

On March 4, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memo to State Survey Agency Directors regarding the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in nursing homes.

On February 13, 2020, Madison County, Illinois-area representative Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) sponsored House Bill 5044, which would abolish the doctrine of intrastate forum non conveniens.

Last week, in Frlekin v. Apple Inc., the California Supreme Court held that employees must be compensated for employer-mandated exit searches of packages, bags, and personal technology devices. In arriving at this conclusion, the Court developed a new four-factor test to be used when analyzing on-site, employer-controlled activities.

On February 10, 2020, the Central District of California denied a request for preliminary injunction filed by Uber and Postmates to block enforcement of California Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5). AB 5, which took effect on January 1, 2020, is a controversial bill that makes it harder for workers to be classified as independent contractors.

On February 19, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a long awaited opinion in the matter of Roverano v. John Crane, Inc., No. 26 EAP 2018, No. 27 EAP 2018 (Pa. 2020). The Court’s opinion is a must-read for anyone involved in asbestos litigation in Pennsylvania.

On February 26, 2020, the Texas Supreme Court will hear an insurer’s argument that it should create an exception to Texas’ "eight corners rule" in Loya Insurance Company v. Osbaldo Hurtado Avalos et al.

In October 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 673 into law, broadening the scope of California Labor Code (Labor Code) section 210 to permit recovery of statutory penalties for late wage payments by affected employees.