Welcome to the Larkin Hoffman COVID-19 Resource Center. We have been advising our clients on a wide variety of matters affected by the pandemic. On this page, you will find many of our alerts, notices and posts regarding the urgent business and legal challenges being faced by many companies. We hope this information will be helpful to you and urge you to call your Larkin Hoffman attorney should any matter require immediate attention.

Our COVID-19 Resource Center is regularly updated.

Firm Operations

• An Update on the Minnesota Governor’s Stay at Home Executive Order

• A Message from Larkin Hoffman President, Paul R. Smith Regarding Our COVID-19 Response

Insurance
Larkin Hoffman represents property-casualty insurance policyholders in insurance disputes—never insurance companies.  The losses stemming from COVID-19 have and will raise complex issues not only under property and business interruption policies but also liability policies.  Claims are already arising against directors, officers and employers relating to the sufficiency of steps taken to protect employees and others.  As businesses see governmental orders and illness affect their supply chains and employees, the ability to perform under contracts can be affected.  We frequently review the specific circumstances of property-casualty policyholders’ losses and advise on options for recovery. For more information, click here.

• Was Your Business’s Property Damaged during the Civil Unrest? Ten Things You Can Do if Your Property Has Been Damaged.

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Paul Smith and Chris Yetka Discuss Why Covid-19 Losses May Well Be Covered under Your Business Interruption Insurance Policies

• Bisnow Town Hall: Insurance and Liability Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• COVID-19, Business and Insurance: Three Things You Should Do Now to Protect Your Business

• Insurance and COVID-19: Are We Covered?

Employment and Remote Workforce

• The COVID -19 Vaccine is Here! What’s Ahead?

• Department of Labor Brings Some Clarity to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

• The Minnesota Employer’s Guide to Navigating Workplace Issues During COVID-19

• PODCAST BRIEFING: To Require Vaccines or Not: That is the Question

• Required COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for the Construction Industry

• Manufacturing Guidelines: New or the Same?

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Phyllis Karasov and Dan Ballintine Discuss Re-opening a “Safe” Workplace: OSHA, ADA and More

• Webinar Recording: Phyllis Karasov Partners with Peoples Spark Consulting to Record Two Webinars on Reopening a Business During COVID-19

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Phyllis Karasov and Dan Ballintine Discuss Re-Opening A Business the Right Way: Tips to Avoid Pitfalls

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Unemployment and a Returning Workforce: How the CARES Act Can Increase Unemployment Benefits with Phyllis Karasov and Alex Beeby

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Phyllis Karasov and Mary Komornicka Discuss Employee Benefit Features in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

• Is Your Workplace Following OSHA’s COVID-19 Guidelines?

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Phyllis Karasov and Dan Ballintine Discuss Difficult Questions Facing Employers Under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act

• Webinar Recording: Navigating Employee Layoffs & Unemployment

• COVID-19 Unemployment Compensation Updates 4/10/20

• DOL Regulations Governing Documentation Requirements for Employees Taking Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave

• DOL Finally issues “Major” Temporary Rules Under the FFCRA for Small Businesses (Under 50 Employees)

• What the Paycheck Protection Program Offers Nonprofit Organizations and Small Businesses

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) Model Notice, New Effective Date and Amnesty

• Department of Labor Guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

• Employer's New Obligations Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

• Unemployment Compensation and COVID-19

• Coronavirus Guidance for the Employer

• The New Reality – Employees Working From Home

Finance/Small Business

• Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants Available

• Todd Freeman Explains New SBA Enhancements on Loan Forgiveness for Most PPP Borrowers

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Todd Freeman and Dan Kadlec Discuss How the Recent PPP Flexibility Act May Affect You

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Todd Freeman Explains the Favorable (along with some troubling) Updated Guidance from the SBA on the Forgiveness of PPP Loans

• Webinar Recording: Christopher Yetka Moderates Bisnow Town Hall: Insurance and Liability Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Small Business Reorganization – Bankruptcy Protection For Small Businesses

• Planning For Business Owner Incapacity

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Tom Flynn and Patrick Cole Discuss Bankruptcy and Business Contingency Planning

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Todd Freeman and Dan Kadlec Provide Guidance on Managing PPP Proceeds to Maximize Loan Forgiveness

• FAQs on Minnesota's Small Business Emergency Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Programs

• Paycheck Protection Program: Q&As For Small Businesses

• Small Business Emergency Loan Program

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans Now Available in Minnesota

Franchise

• The Franchise Newsletter - Special COVID-19 Issue

• Supporting the Franchise System During the Next Phase of the Pandemic

• FPRs in the Time of COVID-19 – You May Be Required to Amend Your FDD – NOW

• Business Interruption Insurance Coverage: Report Your Claims

Health Care

• Federal Health and Human Services Announce New COVID-19 Resources for Medicaid Providers

• Governor Walz Issues an Executive Order Allowing Reopening of Medical, Dental and Veterinary Clinics for Elective Surgeries and Procedures

• Privacy and Compliance Considerations for Health Care Providers during the COVID-19 Emergency

• Urgent Message from Gov Walz to Minnesota Companies: PPE Inventory Deadline 7p.m. Today (March 25, 2020)

• Non-Essential/Elective Surgeries and Medical Procedures in Minnesota Indefinitely Postponed

Government Relations

• CapWatch PODCAST: Still No Deal after Second Special Session; Legislature Looks Towards August Primary

• CapWatch PODCAST: A Summer of Special Sessions: Is July’s Special Session the Last Chance for a Deal on Bonding, COVID-19 Relief & Police Reform? 

• How Far Can the Governor Go On His Own? Part 2

• How Far Can the Governor Go On His Own?

• CapWatch PODCAST: Minnesota’s Special Session Begins Without an End in Sight

• Restaurants and Bars Allowed to Re-open—sort of

• Shelter in Place: Take It or Leave It?

• CapWatch News, May 18, 2020

• CapWatch May 11, 2020

• CapWatch News, May 04, 2020

• PODCAST BRIEFING: Navigating State and Local Governments During a Pandemic: How Continuing Government Action on Major Issues Can Impact Your Investments

• CapWatch News (April 20, 2020)

• CapWatch News (April 10, 2020)

• Lawmakers Pass $330 Million COVID-19 Package

• Governor Walz Directs Minnesotans to Stay at Home (Effective March 27, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.)

• Price Gouging Prohibited During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

• Emergency COVID-19 Funding Bill

• CapWatch News (March 20, 2020)

• CapWatch News (March 16, 2020)

Real Estate and Construction

• Is Your Construction Site Following OSHA’s COVID-19 Guidelines?

• PODCAST BRIEFING:  Bill Griffith and Tim Rye Discuss Land Use and Real Estate Issues Affected by the COVID-19 Crisis

• What Happens to Minnesota’s Zoning Shot-Clock During a Peacetime Emergency?

• We May Soon Find Out What “Force Majeure” Means

• Minnesota Property Tax Update

• How Will COVID-19 Affect Real Estate Values?

Regional Executive Orders

• Minnesota - Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 

  • 20-36 Directing Salary Reductions for Certain Officials

  • 20-35 Extending the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency Declared in Executive Order 20-01

  • 20-34 Protecting Minnesota's First Responders by Directing the Commissioner of Health to Share Information with the Department of Public Safety, 911 Dispatchers, and First Responders

  • 20-33 Extending Stay at Home Order and Temporary Closure of Bars, Restaurants, and Other Places of Public Accommodation

  • 20-32 Ensuring that Healthcare Providers Can Respond Quickly and Safely During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-31 Providing for Relief from Regulations to Certain Motor Carriers and Drivers Operating in Minnesota

  • 20-30 Providing National Guard Assistance for Spring Flood Response and Protection

  • 20-29 Amending Executive Order 20-05 to Expedite State Unemployment Insurance Benefits During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-28 Allowing Out-of-State Mental Health Providers to Render Telehealth Aid and Permitting Certain Licensing Boards to Provide License and Registration Relief During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-27 Providing for Emergency Relief from Regulations to Motor Carriers and Drivers Operating in Minnesota

  • 20-26 Ensuring Continuing Operations of the Medical Cannabis Program during the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-25 Authorizing Peace Officers, Firefighters, and Security-Related Licensing Boards to Modify Requirements During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-24 Providing for Emergency Relief from Regulations to Motor Carriers and Drivers Operating in Minnesota

  • 20-23 Authorizing Minnesota Health-Related Licensing Boards to Modify Requirements During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-22 Authorizing the State Auditor to Temporarily Suspend Reporting Requirements During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-21 Clarifying Application of Executive Order 20-07 to Allow for Coverage of Employees of Constitutional Officers

  • 20-20 Directing Minnesotans to Stay at Home

  • 20-16 Directing Non-Hospital Entities to Inventory and Preserve Vital Medical Equipment During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-15 Providing Immediate Relief to Small Businesses During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-14 Suspending Evictions and Writs of Recovery During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-13 Authorizing National Guard Assistance to COVID-19 Response

  • 20-12 Preserving Access to Human Services Programs During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-11 Securing Federal Authority to Continue Human Services Programs During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-10 Combatting Price Gouging During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-9 Directing Delay of Inpatient and Outpatient Elective Surgery and Procedural Cases during COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-7 Providing for State Workforce Needs During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-5 Providing Immediate Relief to Employers and Unemployed Workers During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-3 Protecting Residents of Minnesota Veterans Homes during the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency

  • 20-1 Declaring a Peacetime Emergency and Coordinating Minnesota's Strategy to Protect Minnesotans from COVID-19

• Wisconsin

  • Emergency Order #12 Safer at Home Order

  • Wisconsin COVID-19 Information