HIPAA is not a difficult law to understand but it is one of the most misunderstood laws, often resulting in unfortunate consequences. If you’ve ever wondered whether someone is misusing HIPAA and incorrectly preventing the disclosure of health information, you may be correct.
As businesses reopen and employees return to the jobsite, a pressing question for employers is whether they can legally require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. A recent court case in Texas answers this question as “yes," which indicates a court in Maryland, DC, and Virginia likewise would allow COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
COVID-19 has significantly impacted both landlords and tenants alike, and the full effects are still not yet known. Our blog contains important information about the effect of the pandemic on commercial leases, reviews remedies that both landlords and tenants might have, and suggests strategies in response to the pandemic.
We hope that you are well. We know this is a challenging time for all of you—personally as well as professionally. To help you navigate the unique issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve identified three action items all small business owners should be taking. We hope you will find them useful in this complex and rapidly changing environment. Like many of you, our attorneys and staff are now working remotely. If you need any follow-up assistance on these or any other matters, we’re just a phone call or email away. Our contact information is at the end of this communication.
We hope that you are well. We know this is a challenging time for all of you—personally as well as professionally. To help you navigate the unique issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve identified three action items all small business owners should be taking. We hope you will find them useful in this complex and rapidly changing environment. Like many of you, our attorneys and staff are now working remotely. If you need any follow-up assistance on these or any other matters, we’re just a phone call or email away.
If you are a small business owner, at one time or another you have probably considered buying an improved property to house your business. The idea of no longer having a landlord to deal with or imagining a grand investment may make it seem enticing, but there are important legal considerations a small business owner should evaluate before purchasing property.
Starting a new business requires not just a great idea; it also involves an understanding of the maze of licenses required before a business can open its doors. With some careful attention to licensing requirements, business owners can operate successfully and profitably without running afoul of licensing requirements.
It seems that every week there are new and salacious reports of sexual misconduct, which have sparked the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements. A common thread in the news reports has been that the misconduct occurred in the workplace, with higher-ups demanding sexual favors of employees and creating a hostile work environment.
Sexual harassment not only subjects the wrongdoer to potential criminal or civil liability, it also poses risks for employers who may have looked the other way and tolerated unlawful behavior. NBC is a good case in point; it has come under fire for its handling of the multiple sexual harassment claims brought against news anchor Matt Lauer.
Companies can, and should, take steps to prevent their workplaces from becoming the type of environment where sexual harassment festers.
Electronic signatures, also called e-signatures, are becoming commonplace. According to P&S Market Research, the global digital signature market is expected to reach $2.9 billion by 2022. E-signatures can help to close deals quickly and efficiently, but if you think that all e-signatures are alike and have the same enforceability in the event of a contract dispute, think again. It is essential that businesses choosing to forgo paper signatures understand the ins and outs of collecting e-signatures.
Press, Dozier & Hamelburg, LLC is expanding. We welcome attorney Ray M. Aragon to our firm.
