Coronavirus / COVID-19
The rapid spread of COVID-19 has raised a number of serious legal and practical business concerns for our community. At Miller Johnson we believe we can best address those concerns and mitigate the fallout from this crisis by working together with clients, government, community organizations, and other professionals. We practice and live in a community that prizes collaboration, intellect, loyalty, candor, and ingenuity. These will be our daily guiding principles as we navigate these uncharted waters together.
Please use the jump links below for the latest updates from our Coronavirus/COVID-19 Response Team.
- Upcoming Webinars: Daily Briefings on COVID-19
- Webinar Recordings & PPTs
- Client Updates – Business/Corporate
- Client Updates – Employment/Employee Benefits
- Relevant Blog Posts
- Relevant Links
- In the News
- Additional Resources
Upcoming Webinars: Daily Briefings on COVID-19
- Thursday, April 9 – 8am – The CARES Act: Considerations for Health Care Providers
- Friday, April 10 – 8am – Estate Planning Action Items: What You Can Do Now
Webinar Recordings and PowerPoints
Client Updates – Business/Corporate: Information and guidance in client updates was up to date at time of publication. During the pandemic, information and guidance has been changing rapidly. If you have any questions about the information contained in a client update, please contact the author or your Miller Johnson attorney.
- April 7, 2020 – Michigan Legislature Extends Emergency Declaration Through April 30 and Announces Bipartisan Task Force To Recommend Reopening Some Businesses
- April 7, 2020 – Impact of CARES ACT for Charitable Giving During COVID-19 Pandemic
- April 6, 2020 – New Exception for Faith-Based Organizations in SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) “Affiliation” Rules
- April 2, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Issues New Order Declaring State of Disaster and Asks Legislature to Extend the State of Emergency until June 3, 2020
- March 30, 2020 – Resources for Operations and Employees Outside Michigan
- March 27, 2020 – Apply now for Michigan Small Business Relief funds
- March 27, 2020 – IRS Announces Taxpayer-Friendly “People First Initiative”
- March 24, 2020 – Estate Planning Considerations During COVID-19
- March 24, 2020 – Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service Jointly Announce Guidance on Coronavirus-Related Paid Leave Tax Credits
- March 23, 2020 – Forced Shutdown of Businesses in Michigan By Executive Order
- March 23, 2020 – Treasury Issues Additional Guidance on Extension of Federal Income Tax Payment and Filing Deadlines
- March 20, 2020 – Executive Orders Enforcing Lock-Down and Closing All Non-Essential Businesses
- March 20, 2020 – Treasury Announces Extension of Federal Income Tax Filing Deadlines
- March 20, 2020 -Governor Whitmer Issues Executive Order To Allow For Remote Board Meetings
- March 20, 2020 – Steps to take when a tenant’s employee tests positive for Covid-19
- March 19, 2020 – Evaluating Whether COVID-19 Excuses Nonperformance Based on Impossibility, Frustration of Purpose, or Impracticability
- March 19, 2020 – Treasury Issues Official Guidance on Extension of Time to Pay Taxes
- March 18, 2020 – Treasury Announces Extension on Time to Pay Taxes
- March 17, 2020 – Temporary Ban on Large Gatherings Revised to Limit Gatherings to 50 People and Exclude Private Workspaces and Other Essential Public Spaces
- March 17, 2020 – General Business Considerations for Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- March 16, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Issues Executive Order Restricting Access to and Use of Places of Public Accommodation
- March 14, 2020 – Assessing Business Interruption Insurance to Offset COVID-19 Related Loss
- March 14, 2020 – Assessing Force Majeure Clauses in Response to COVID-19
- March 13, 2020 – Executive Order Signed By Governor Whitmer to Mitigate Coronavirus Impacts Businesses
Client Updates – Employment/Employee Benefits: Information and guidance in client updates was up to date at time of publication. During the pandemic, information and guidance has been changing rapidly. If you have any questions about the information contained in a client update, please contact the author or your Miller Johnson attorney.
- April 7, 2020 – Payroll Tax Credits Under the FFCRA and the CARES Act: Determining Qualified Health Plan Expenses
- April 3, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Issues New Executive Order Requiring Workers to Stay Home If They Have COVID-19, Have COVID-19 Symptoms, or Have Been in Close Contact with Such a Person
- April 2, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Cancels Remainder of School Year
- April 2, 2020 – Department of Labor Issues Regulations Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
- April 1, 2020 – CARES Act Suspends Withholding Obligations for Employers on Some Defaulted Federal Student Loans
- April 1, 2020 – Participant Notice Requirements For CARES Act Health Plan Changes
- March 31, 2020 – NOT SO FAST! Why Trying to Solve the COVID-19 Crisis may Exacerbate the Future Retirement Crisis
- March 30, 2020 – IRS Extends Amendment Deadlines for 403(b) Plans and Pre-Approved Defined Benefit Plans
- March 30, 2020 – CARES Act – Enhanced Unemployment Benefits
- March 30, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Issues Executive Order Expanding the Scope of Practice for Health Care Professionals
- March 30, 2020 – Resources for Operations and Employees Outside Michigan
- March 30, 2020 – Health Benefit Plan Provisions in the CARES Act
- March 30 , 2020 – Is Michigan Executive Order 2020-21 a “Quarantine or Isolation Order” that Triggers Benefits Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act?
- March 26, 2020 – U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance Regarding Implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- March 25, 2020 – Insurer Offers Special Enrollment Period Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
- March 23, 2020 – No Cost-sharing for Coronavirus Testing
- March 23, 2020 – Forced Shutdown of Businesses in Michigan By Executive Order
- March 20, 2020 – Governer Whitmer Issues Executive Order Postponing Non-Essential Medical and Dental Procedures
- March 20, 2020 – Executive Orders Enforcing Lock-Down and Closing All Non-Essential Businesses
- March 20, 2020 – Cost Savings Examples of Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plans
- March 19, 2020 – EEOC Okays Temperature Checks During COVID-19 Pandemic
- March 19, 2020 – President Trump Signs Law Providing Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency FMLA Leave for Absences Related to COVID-19
- March 17, 2020 – Medicare and Medicaid Waivers
- March 16, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Issues Executive Order Temporarily Expanding Unemployment Eligibility and Benefits Relating to Coronavirus
- March 16, 2020 – Michigan Supreme Court Emphasizes Public Safety over Procedure, Allows Trial Courts To Implement Emergency Measures
- March 13, 2020 – COVID-19 and Employers: What you Need to Know
- March 12, 2020 – IRS Says COVID-19 Testing and Treatment May Be Covered by High Deductible Health Plans with No Participant Cost-Sharing
Relevant Blog Posts
- March 19, 2020 – Emerging Employee Benefit Issues during the C-19 Pandemic
- March 11, 2020 – Help! My Employees Need To Work From Home Because of the Coronavirus!
- March 5, 2020 – Coronavirus: Key Legal Employment Issues
- January 30, 2020 – Cold, Flu, Coronavirus: Likely Covered Under State Paid Sick Laws, Including Michigan’s PMLA
Relevant Links
- April 8, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Temporary Suspending Requirements Regarding Licensing and Regulations of Emergency Medical Services
- April 5, 2020 – Governor Whitmer signs Executive Order extending temporary restrictions on entry into health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities
- April 2, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Suspending Face-to-Face Learning at K-12 Schools for Remainder of School Year
- April 1, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Expanding COVID-19 Emergency Declaration and Declaring State of Disaster
- March 30, 2020 – Governor Announces New Programs to Increase and Expand Unemployment Benefits for Workers Affected by COVID-19; Benefits increased for all unemployed workers, expanded to self-employed and low-wage workers
- March 29, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order for Temporary relief from certain restrictions and requirements
governing the provision of medical services - March 27, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Changing City, State Income Tax Filing Deadlines to July 2020
- March 27, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Expanding Absentee Voting in May 5 Elections
- March 25, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Temporarily Allowing Employment, Other Administrative Hearings by Video Conference
- March 25, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Easing Restrictions on Pharmacists, Increasing Access to Prescriptions
- March 20 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Temporarily Suspending Evictions
- March 18, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Expanding Capacity for Disaster Relief Child Care Services for Essential Workforce
- March 18, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Extending Tax Foreclosure Deadline
- Proposed Employment Law Changes in House Bill Providing Emergency Paid Leave Hits Snag, Final Law Expected this Week after Senate Negotiations
- March 16, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Expands Unemployment Benefits for Michigan Workers
- March 16, 2020 – Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Temporarily Closing Bars, Theaters, Casinos, and Other Public Spaces; Limiting Restaurants to Delivery and Carry-Out Orders
- March 14, 2020 – The US House passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- March 13, 2020 – Statement by the Department of Defense on Domestic Travel Restrictions
- March 10, 2020 – Michigan Governor Whitmer issued Temporary Restrictions on Entry into Health Care Facilities, Residential Care Facilities, Congregate Care Facilities, and Juvenile Justice Facilities
In the News
Additional Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- World Health Organization
- Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center
- Department of Labor
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- Internal Revenue Service
- State of Michigan
- Kent County
- Kalamazoo County
- Spectrum Health
- Bronson Health