For weeks, associations, municipalities, children’s day camps and public swimming pool organizations have been trying to decide if they could open summer recreation facilities such as pools, parks and playgrounds.  The state has only recently released directions on how to open businesses, like construction, in a socially distant way. Going into the Memorial Day weekend, it was unclear whether any of these facilities could be open if a county were in the “yellow phase”…

We can now enjoy professionally-crafted cocktails from our favorite bars and restaurants in the safety and comfort of our own homes and backyards! Of course, this privilege does not come without restrictions… After much anticipation in the hospitality industry (and from those of us who enjoy a good cocktail), Governor Wolf has signed into law Act 21 of 2020, which immediately authorizes licensees to sell mixed drinks to go in Pennsylvania for the remainder of…

The government is doling out more money than it ever has in response to an emergency, and it is doing it faster than ever before. From Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EDILs) to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to federal, state, and local grants through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) – the largest economic stimulus package in history – trillions of dollars are currently being disbursed to individuals and businesses who…

I wrote last week about House Bill 327 that would permit restaurant and hotel licensees to sell mixed drinks to go.  The Senate has now passed that bill, which is awaiting signature by the Governor.  All indications are that he will sign the bill into law. With its passage, restaurant and hotel licensees may immediately begin selling mixed drinks containing liquor to go.  This bill marks the first time the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board…

They are calling it “the flush heard around the world.” I am calling it the “flush heard by the small minority of people who listen to live Supreme Court Oral Arguments.” Whatever it ends up being called, one thing is for sure: during a telephonic oral argument, a United States Supreme Court Justice flushed the toilet, and it was loud enough for everyone listening in to hear. It truly can happen to the best…

One of the casualties of this pandemic and economic shutdown has been the stock market and, with it, the values of retirement accounts. Defined contribution accounts, both private and employment-based, have taken significant investment hits. You may be wondering how this downturn will affect the consideration of plans such as 401Ks and IRAs in your divorce case. Depending on where your divorce is in the process, due to COVID-19, there may be many retirement account…

As Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home restrictions slowly lift, many employers will be welcoming back employees temporarily laid off since March. So let’s go through the unique employment law requirements created by one of Congress’s first COVID-19 responses, the Families First First Coronovirus Response Act. (We’ll call it the “Families First Act,” for short.) What is the Families First Act? The Families First Act is one of several stimulus bills passed by Congress in response to COVID-19. For…