Under normal circumstances, protesting is a constitutional right in New York and every other state. However, due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio made the controversial decision to ban the right “peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Though the decision raises considerable […]
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Can New York Employees Refuse to Work Over Fear of Covid-19 Exposure?
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, people in New York are sheltering in place and everyone but non-essential employees have been told to stay home or work from home. However, for employees whose jobs still require them to leave the house for work the fear of infection may understandably seem very real and they may wonder if […]
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Can I Break My Lease in New York Over Coronavirus Concerns?
Due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and mounting financial difficulties in places where rent is high but unemployment is rampant, many renters in New York City and other densely populated cities are wondering if they can break their lease and move to more remote areas or move in with family. Some landlords are accommodating […]
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Strategies to Create an Estate Plan During Covid-19
The ongoing pandemic has caused many people to start thinking about putting their affairs in order if they did not already have an estate plan in place. There is no better time than now to get your estate plan together and up to date. As people move to finalize documents they may have avoided signing […]
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What Are My Job-Related Rights if I Contract Coronavirus in New York?
The highly contagious nature of Covid-19 and the large number of essential workers in New York City raises the issue of what protections employees have if they call in sick or are required to quarantine or self-isolate. The large number of state and federal laws can be confusing, so here are the current protections and […]
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Do New York Tenants Have Special Rights During the Coronavirus Pandemic?
With the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York, many people with landlords or mortgages face reduced hours, unemployment, and financial uncertainty. To mitigate the fear of losing your home as a tenant from of abiding by the current shelter at home guidelines, New York has issued orders changing the usual laws related […]
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How Do Landlords Properly Notify Tenants They Are Being Evicted in New York City?
Everyone knows New York City is a town predominantly filled with residents who rent or lease the place they live. However, not everyone knows what happens when a landlord decides they’re ready to be rid of a problematic tenant. Recent high-profile cases of refusal to pay rent in the city put a spotlight on the […]
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Who Isn’t Covered By New York’s Minimum Wage Requirements?
As of January 1, 2020, New York’s laws on minimum wage changed for many employers and employees. According to the New York Department of Labor, this is part of an annual increase that will continue, ending December 31, 2020 with the minimum wage statewide set at $15 per hour. Though there are different hourly rates […]
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Making the Best of a Bad Situation with Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in New York
With all the economic uncertainties, business disruptions, and massive layoffs happening right now, it’s common for businesses, corporations, and individuals to seek a solution for existing debt and a sudden lack of income. The full scope of COVID-19’s impact is not yet clear, but extensive quarantines, social distancing practices, and business closures have already hugely […]
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Force Majeure Defenses to a Contract in New York
When negotiating a business contract, smart companies try to include all possible defenses in the contractual language to excuse nonperformance through force majeure clauses. In situations such as the unexpected outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), companies find themselves unable to do business as usual, produce as promised, or deliver on agreed upon deadlines. New York’s […]
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