Publications — Page 20 of 50 — Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C. Firm News & Events

COVID-19 News: Postponements of Tax Return Filing and Payment Dates

Published on: May 21, 2020 | by Anne Marie Robbins

Federal Law. On April 9, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-23, amplifying earlier Notices 2020-18 and 2020-20. Notice 2020-23 indicates that because of the COVID-19 emergency, the due dates for filing federal tax returns and payment of taxes due on or after April 1, 2020 and before July 15, 2020 have been postponed to July 15, 2020. The postponements are automatic; taxpayers are not required to take any action, such as filing an extension request, in order to qualify for the relief.

The Notice confirms the grant of additional time to file individual, corporate, partnership, and estate and trust income tax returns to July 15, 2020. Estate, gift, and generation-skipping tax returns and payment due dates have been similarly postponed.

The Notice also clarifies that not only first quarter estimated income tax payments due April 15, but also second quarter estimates due June 15, have a new due date of July 15.

Karolina Dehnhard Interviewed in Polish Publication about How Trade Relations Look Between the U.S. and Poland

Published on: May 20, 2020 | by Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C.

Karolina Dehnard, Managing Director of the International Transaction Group at Lindabury, and President of the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce in the Northeastern USA, was interviewed by Polish publication White Eagle about how the world of business has changed over the past few months and how trade relations between the United States and Poland look today. The interview is available here.

Karolina Dehnhard Interviewed by 60 Million Kongress, An Organization Uniting Polish Business Leaders Worldwide

Published on: May 20, 2020 | by Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C.

Lindabury Divorce & Family Law attorney and Managing Director of the International Transaction Group, Karolina Dehnhard, was interviewed by 60 Million Kongress, an organization uniting Polish business leaders worldwide as part of their series of influential Global Polish leaders discussing both international divorce and business development in Eastern Europe during the pandemic. You can view the interview here.

Get Back to Work! Guidance for Reopening the Workplace after Stay at Home Orders are Lifted

Published on: May 13, 2020 | by Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C.

I. When Can America Go Back To Work?

As employers and employees increasingly chafe at the bit to return to the workplace, businesses must look to state and local stay-at-home directives to determine when they can reopen. It is anticipated that this will occur in phases and will likely depend on the nature of the business and jurisdiction where it is located.

New Jersey: New Jersey’s Stay-At-Home order was initially expected to expire on May 8, 2020. Although Governor Murphy has permitted state and county parks and golf courses to reopen on May 2, 2020, the Governor announced that the stay-at-home directive will remain in place indefinitely until the following six principals in his plan entitled The Road Back are sufficiently met:

Business Challenges You May Encounter in Bankruptcy

Published on: May 13, 2020 | by Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C.

Businesses need to prepare for the short and long term challenges that await as COVID-19 continues to impact the economy.

Lindabury is collaborating with Spector & Ehrenworth, a well respected New Jersey bankruptcy and creditors’ rights law firm, to assist clients with challenges they may face, including customers and vendors unable to meet their financial commitments, as well as cash flow or liquidity concerns.

Below are some issues you may encounter and with which our team can assist. Please contact us with any questions you may have.

The DOL Releases Updated Model COBRA Notices To Address Medicare Eligibility and Expands COBRA Deadlines

Published on: May 7, 2020 | by James K. Estabrook and Elizabeth Engert Manzo

The Department of Labor (“DOL”) and other federal agencies released updated model COBRA notices and expanded COBRA deadlines in an effort to reduce the risk of participants and beneficiaries losing benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Updated Model COBRA Notices

Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), an individual who was covered by a group health plan on the day before the occurrence of a qualification event, i.e. termination of employment or a reduction in hours that results in loss of coverage under the plan, may be able to elect COBRA continuation coverage upon that qualifying event. Under COBRA, group health plans must provide covered employees and their families certain notices explaining their COBRA rights. The first is a written notice of COBRA rights, called a “general notice,” which is given to an employee and spouse at the time of commencement of coverage. A group health plan must also provide an employee and spouse with an “election notice” upon a qualifying event, which outlines how to make an election under COBRA continuation coverage. The DOL has created model notices, which plans can use to satisfy these requirements under COBRA.

Second Chance at Paycheck Protection Program Loan: An Overview of Program Application and Loan Forgiveness Requirements

Published on: May 5, 2020 | by James K. Estabrook and Elizabeth Engert Manzo

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), signed into law on Friday March 27, 2020, introduced the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) with the intended goal of preventing job loss and small businesses failure due to losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP was designed to support small business and employees by providing forgivable loans to employers if they maintained their employees and payroll. It was initially funded with $349 billion on a first come, first serve basis. Initial applications from small businesses and sole proprietorships opened on April 3, 2020 and all of this initial funding was exhausted within 13 days, or by April 15, 2020.

On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, the Senate passed an “interim” coronavirus relief Bill, titled the “Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act” (the Senate Bill). The Senate Bill amends the CARES Act to (i) increase the amounts authorized for the PPP in accordance with Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act, increase the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL loans), and increase emergency grants under the CARES Act, and (ii) authorize additional funding for hospital and provider recovery and

coronavirus testing.

Scenarios For COVID-19 Related Leave in New York

Published on: May 5, 2020 | by James K. Estabrook and Elizabeth Engert Manzo

As part of Lindabury’s work with the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York, James Estabrook and Elizabeth Engret Manzo have authored guidance on COVID-19 related leave under New York state law.

You can download a copy of the guidance here.

New Jersey Delays Effective Date of WARN Act Amendments and Extends the Exemption for Layoffs Due to Disasters and National Emergencies

Published on: April 17, 2020 | by Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C.

Since the onslaught of layoffs and furloughs caused by the COVID-19 crisis, many employers found themselves caught in the crosshairs of the onerous severance and notice obligations imposed by the January 2020 Amendments to New Jersey’s Millville Dallas Airmotive Plant Job Loss Notification Act (“NJ WARN Act”), slated to go into effect on July 19, 2020.

To alleviate the consequences for businesses already struggling with the effects of the pandemic, on April 14, 2020 Governor Murphy signed into law a bill that delays the effective date of the NJ WARN Act amendments until 90 days after the lifting of the COVID-19 state of emergency, currently expected to expire on July 7, 2020. Unless the Governor extends the state of emergency to a later date, the NJ WARN Act amendments will not go into effect until October 5, 2020. The new law is effective immediately and is retroactive to March 9, 2020.

As we discussed in a prior publication, the NJ WARN Act was amended to significantly expand employee rights in the event of a plant closure or mass layoff. Among other things, the amendments

Community Associations – Practical Guidance During the Coronavirus Shutdown

Published on: April 17, 2020 | by Blake C. Width

New Jersey residents are now one month into the statewide shutdown, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt nearly every aspect of our daily lives. At this time, property managers and boards have developed practices to provide for social distancing and routine cleaning, however there are a host of potential issues on the horizon that communities should be aware of, and prepared for.

As a primary matter, associations need to stay informed of the ongoing executive orders, as well as state, and federal legislation. Relevant laws are being issued on a rapid and ongoing basis. Although Governor Murphy’s most significant Executive Orders, No. 107 and 108, issuing the directive to stay at home, and invalidating conflicting local ordinances, there are a variety of other orders and laws that present issues unique to community associations.

FINANCIAL IMPACT – FLATTEN THE CURVE