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This week the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of Seattle’s First-in-Time ordinance. The First in Time ordinance – believed to be the first in the country – was passed by Seattle City Council in 2016. After initially being declared unconstitutional by King County Superior Court Judge Suzanne Parisien, it was appealed directly […]
USCIS has made several public announcements regarding COVID-19 measures: As of March 18, USCIS temporarily suspended routine in-person services through at least May 3. However, USCIS has been accepting online and paper-filed applications and petitions. The suspended services include Biometrics appointments, INFOPASS appointments, interviews and Naturalization ceremonies. See here for full release. USCIS announced that […]
On Tuesday, April 13, 2020, the Seattle City Council passed Council Bill 119766, relating to commercial tenancies involving small businesses or nonprofits. The ordinance would temporarily place a moratorium on rent increases for these tenants and would require landlords to negotiate payment plans for overdue rent. As of this writing (April 16, 2020 ), the […]
Washington allows real estate documents to be executed by e-signatures rather than wet-ink signatures. However, many real estate related documents require notarization. The ability of individuals to properly execute deeds, deeds of trust, long-term leases, easements, covenants and other real estate documents requiring notarizing, has become increasingly difficult under the COVID-19 social distancing orders and […]
Yesterday, Governor Inslee issued his newest COVID-19 related order – Proclamation 20-46: High Risk Employees – Workers’ Rights – protecting high risk employees (defined as older adults and people of any age who have certain chronic underlying health conditions) by requiring the following of all public and private employers in Washington State: Utilize all available […]
On April 9, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission published a FAQ regarding the impact of COVID-19 on equal employment opportunity laws enforced by the agency, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Below are some highlights: For purposes of protecting the rest of the workforce, what information may employers ask […]
We recognize families may face issues and concerns related to parenting and other family law matters during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Our family law team is here to help navigate these matters and try to alleviate stress. Nothing Governor Inslee has released, thus far, including the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, are intended to prevent […]
The Treasury Department has issued Notice 2020-23, an update to Notice 2020-18 (and Notice 2020-20) which provided additional relief for taxpayers affected by the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. The Notice provides an explicit list of Federal tax payment obligations and Federal Tax or other Form filing obligations due dates that will be given automatic extension. Under […]
On April 2, the Secretary of Labor filed temporary regulations for the implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Signed into law on March 18, FFCRA creates two new leave opportunities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSL) and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act […]
On Friday April 4, 2020, the Small Business Association (SBA) issued guidance regarding the availability of the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loans authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security (CARES) Act to faith-based organizations. That frequently-asked-questions (FAQ) sheet offers us some guidance and can be found here. The FAQ clarifies that religious entities […]