CARES Act Payments are Public Assistance and Exempt From Seizure by Creditors and Debt Collectors Under Massachusetts Law

By: Timothy P. Manning On April 13, 2020, the Massachusetts Attorney General issued guidance concerning payments received by Massachusetts residents pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) and the exemption of such payments from garnishment or attachment by creditors or debt collectors. The CARES Act provides cash assistance to …

Surviving as a Tenant In the Age of Coronavirus: A Checklist

With many struggling under a commercial lease as a result of the operational impediments or revenue freefall caused by the Coronavirus, numerous tenants have inquired how to revoke, amend or negotiate relief under their current leases. Every lease, every tenant’s needs, and every landlord’s ability and willingness to accommodate is different, but there may be …

Senate Approves Deal to Expand PPP Small Business Loan Program

On April 21, the Senate approved $484 billion in new coronavirus aid, of which $310 billion will be used to replace the exhausted funds of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The House of Representatives is expected to pass the bill within days, with PPP loan application processing expected to recommence as early as April 23, …

K-1 Distributions to LLC Members and Partnership Partners Constitute Payroll Costs for Purposes of PPP Loan Amount Calculation – Treasury Department Announces in Supplemental Interim Final Rule

By: Matthew L. Mitchell With the $350 billion fund allocated by Congress for the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) exhausted, we are currently waiting to see if and when the PPP funding is extended. Amid these reports, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a second, supplemental Interim Final Rule (the “Second Rule”) that provides further guidance on …

Federal Reserve Bank Unveils $2.3 Trillion Plan to Bolster Economy

By: Matthew L. Mitchell On April 9, the Federal Reserve announced an expansive relief strategy to aid small and mid-sized businesses and municipalities with plans to develop $2.3 trillion in economy-boosting programs. Within this plan, the Fed also announced an intent to fund new and expanded “Main Street Lending Facilities”, a program designed to provide …

USPTO Extends Some Patent and Trademark Deadlines

By: William R. Schmidt On March 31, 2020, the USPTO announced extensions to the time allowed to file certain patent- and trademark-related documents and to pay certain required fees. In brief, some deadlines due between 3/27/20 and 4/30/20 (inclusive) are extendable for 30 days upon submission of a request and appropriate statement attributing the delay …

Zoom Confusion: The Case for Trademarks

By: Stacey C. Friends The recent news about Zoom and the stock market is a perfect example of why trademarks are important, and also why trademark law does not allow similar marks for similar goods or services. Two companies with the same name - Zoom - both offer technology goods or services. Zoom Video Communications is the …

COVID-19 Alert: A Plain Language Guide to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act

By: Joe Hunt, Amanda Thibodeau, and Matthew Mitchell President Trump signed the CARES Act into law on March 27, 2020. With an estimated price tag in excess of $2 trillion, the CARES Act is intended to provide businesses and industries with a broad lending program designed to sustain working capital needs, provide immediate cash relief …

The Virtual Board Meeting in the New COVID-19 World Order

By: John Hession The advent and acceleration of the coronavirus has wrought seismic changes in our world order. Live meetings of ten or more folks locked in a conference room are being discouraged by health care organizations. Business organizations have suspended usual operations and employees are encouraged to work remotely. Industry conferences or smaller events …

UPDATED Client Alert: Recommended Employer Response to the Coronavirus

Read our most recent COVID-19 updates and recommendations on our Employment Law Blog. 3/11/20 - An update based on the Massachusetts State of Emergency can be found here. 3/6/20 - The spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), and its effects on business markets, travel, and public health, are dominating the news cycle. As this public health emergency …