On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act was signed into law as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The CARES Act is an economic relief package that expands unemployment insurance benefits and other relief for individuals and small businesses affected by the economic downturn. One of the particular provisions of the CARES Act is the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation ("FPUC") program. This program provides money to individuals who are unemployed. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The ... Continue Reading
Virtual Mediations: Navigating COVID-19’s Uncharted Waters Without a Map
As one of the fast-rising stars for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Georgia, mediations have become a popular practice for issue resolution and settlement in cases ranging from multimillion-dollar contract disputes to custody determinations. However, with many courts, law firms, and several other legal entities facing strict restrictions and closures due to COVID-19, no one could have predicted the call to action placed on mediators to revive cases that otherwise would face indeterminable delays in a time of normalized social-distancing and postponed court dates. As one of the fast-rising stars for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Georgia, mediations have become a popular ... Continue Reading
Finding the Usual Suspects – Death Benefits Stemming from Third Party Criminal Action Against Employee
When employers are faced with the unexpected death of an employee, they may be held liable under the Georgia Workers Compensation Act. However, for this to occur, the employee's death must result from an accident "arising out of and in the course of employment." Although the claimant bears the burden of proof to establish that the employee for whom they are claiming benefits did in fact die in the course of his or her employment, there exists a presumption that the death meets the criteria for coverage under workers compensation, if the death is unexplained and if the employee is found in a place where he might reasonably have been expected to be in the performance of his duties. Code, § ... Continue Reading