An update from Goodman McGuffey associate, Alyce Ogunsola, whose
focus is primarily on representing employers in a wide array of employment
matters including discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, Family Medical
Leave Act, and directors and officer’s liability.
Georgia employers, if the COVID-19 pandemic has forced your
business to close or to reduce hours for staff, you are required to file
partial unemployment compensation claims on behalf of your employees. The
Georgia Department of Labor has issued new which can be found:
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the new unemployment compensation mandate. This can be done by filling out the contact us form located under the Contact tab on our website. If your inquiry is urgent, please contact any of our offices directly.
While courts may be limited, our team here at Goodman McGuffey is still available and have full contingency plans in place to ensure our clients and cases are being taken care of. We are taking the precautionary measures as a firm in regard to the spread of the Coronavirus/COVID-19. However, we understand the need to provide our clients with steady and undisturbed legal services, communication, and trust, so we wanted to update you on our plan to function throughout the ever-changing situation with COVID-19.
We have always stayed abreast of the latest technology which provides us the ability to support our clients throughout this critical time.
For the sixth time, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton has extended the Statewide Judicial Emergency Order until Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. All Georgia courts shall continue to operate under the restrictions set forth in that Order as extended; the provisions of this order below are identical to the August 11 extension order except for Section I, which has been substantially revised, and a minor corresponding revision in Section II (A) (1). Where this Order refers to “public health guidance,” courts should consider the most specific current guidance provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), and their local health departments.
More information is available HERE. Chief Justice Melton’s Sixth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency filed September 10th, 2020, means recalculation of deadlines is imperative.
Our team here at Goodman McGuffey has compiled a short series of relevant Judicial Orders for the state of Georgia pertaining to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We will be continuously updating as we learn more information. They are available here:
The Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation posted a notice on its website in response to the Honorable Harold D. Melton, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, issuing a Fourth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency which extends the judicial emergency through August 11, 2020. Consistent with the Chief Justice’s order, the State Board of Workers’ Compensation hereby issues this order with directions and instructions for Board proceedings. https://sbwc.georgia.gov/
ATLANTA, GA – Governor Brian Kemp has issued a new executive order that goes into effect at 12 a.m. Tuesday, June 16 and lasts until 11:59 p.m. June 30, for the fight against COVID-19 within the state of GA. The executive order outlines the following:
Starting June 11, 2020: • Gatherings of more than 50 people in a single location are allowed if six feet of space is maintained between each person. (This rule does not apply to critical infrastructure entities, incidental or transitory groupings, or cohabiting individuals.) • In restaurants and dining rooms, there is no longer a party maximum for the number of people who can sit together. There is no longer a limit on the number of patrons allowed per square foot. Workers at restaurants, dining rooms, banquet facilities, private event facilities, and private reception venues are only required to wear face coverings when they are interacting with patrons. Additional guidelines and requirements on restaurants and private event facilities are available here. • In a bar, 50 people are now allowed (increased from 25) or 35% of total listed fire capacity – whichever is greater. Additional guidelines and requirements are available here.
Starting June 16, 2020: • At indoor movie theaters and cinemas, there is no longer a limit on the number of people who may sit together in a party. Additional guidelines and requirements are available here. • Walk-ins are now allowed at body art studios, barber shops, hair salons, their respective schools, massage therapy establishments, and tanning facilities subject to specific requirements. Additional guidelines and requirements are available here.
You can access more information about the most recent executive orderHERE.
Here are the current extensions of time for North Carolina courts (subject to change):
District and Superior Courts: Chief Justice Beasley issued an order yesterday, April 13, 2020, further extending filing and other court-related deadlines. The order states that documents due to be filed from March 16 to June 1 will be deemed timely filed if received before the close of business on June 1, 2020, and that any actions required to be done during that time can also be postponed until June 1, 2020.
Business Court: Pursuant to an order issued today by Chief Business Court Judge Louis Bledsoe, the Chief Justice’s order also applies to pending actions in the North Carolina Business Court.
Important note: The extension of time order does not extend deadlines (filings or statutes of limitation) for administrative proceedings (e.g., Industrial Commission).
North Carolina May 2020 Cases Continued (Except Medical Motions): In order to protect public health and safety, and in light of Chief Justice Beasley’s April 2, 2020 Order requiring local courts to schedule or reschedule most cases in district and superior court for a date no sooner than June 1, 2020, all Deputy Commissioner hearings scheduled to be heard in May 2020 will be continued to be reset on a future docket, with the exception of hearings on medical motions arising under G.S. §97-25(f). All Full Commission oral arguments are to be conducted by conference call as are all informal telephonic hearing conducted by the Executive Secretary’s Office.
In Florida, Judge Langham and The Florida Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims has ordered all state workers’ compensation mediators to conduct mediations telephonically through March 27, 2020 while the conduct of hearings remains at the discretion of the assigned judge. Accommodation for telephonic appearance or continuance must be sought from the assigned judge. Rule 60Q6.115. More information is available here: https://e-jccupgrade.blogspot.com/2020/03/covid-19-all-ojcc-mediations.html
The South Carolina Supreme Court has issued Orders so far postponing all jury trials in Richland County and putting limitations on attendance at hearings. The Supreme Court has postponed all trials. Hearings may still be held. There is not a time limitation stated in the order. The SC Workers’ Compensation Commission issued this Notice today. All hearings remain on. More SC court information can be found here: https://www.scbar.org/bar-news/covid-19-information-and-resources/
We are keeping a close eye out for any upcoming announcements from the Supreme Court on possible statewide court closures or limitations.
We are continuously monitoring
the decisions of the courts and the CDC’s Guidelines to ensure the safety of
our staff and clients across all offices and states.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.
Stay safe and stay well.
Attorney Teri Zarrillo will be presenting at the State Board of Workers’ Compensation Annual Mediation Seminar on Wednesday, March 18th at the State Bar of Georgia Bar Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Teri’s presentation, “Ethics In Mediation”, is a part of the ADR in The Workers’ Compensation Arena program offering 6 CLE Hours to attendees. This seminar includes 1 Ethics hour, 1 Professionalism hour, and 5 Trial Practice hours. Registration is available through the ICLE GA Courses website.If you are interested in registering or want more information: Click HERE
Goodman McGuffey partners Robert Luskin, Teri Zarrillo, and James Hankins pictured enjoying the 2020 National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach, California. This three-day conference educates industry leaders and professionals on the latest trends and topics ranging from workers’ compensation, claims investigation, employment practices and many more.
Goodman McGuffey attorney Thomas Pratt enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Loews Ventana Canyon Resort out in Tucson, AZ during the American Bar Association’s 2020 Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar. This three-day conference educates professionals about the latest developments in insurance law with round-table programs and networking sessions.
Goodman McGuffey, LLC Partner, Teri Zarrillo, has been nominated to run for the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association Board of Directors. Teri has participated in NRRDA’s Workers’ Compensation Committee and believes her previous experience of three years as the Education Chairperson on the Board for the Atlanta Claims Association, as well as her numerous years of experience on the Board of Directors for the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, will be used to ignite growth for NRRDA in the direction the organization is pursuing.
If you want more information about NRRDA Board of Directors or the election process, you can visit
Goodman McGuffey Associate, Kyle Timmons, was recently sworn into Georgia’s two appellate courts by Justice Ellington of the Georgia Supreme Court and Judge Dillard of the Georgia Court of Appeals. Kyle joined the firm in November of 2019 and can now defend clients both at trial and on appeal.
Goodman McGuffey Partner, Teri Zarrillo, presented at the 5th Annual Workplace Health Symposium 2020 on Friday, February 21st at Savannah Technical College. Teri’s presentation, “Employee Mental Health and Psychological Claims”, was one of many topics covered by speakers at the CLE conference for Human Resources, Workers’ Comp and Safety Professionals in Historic Savannah, Georgia.
Attorney Samantha Mullis attended the networking happy hour for women litigators of the Georgia Defense Lawyers’ Association on Tuesday, February 18th, 2020. According to Associate Sam Mullis, “This is a time to meet other women on our side of the bar, swap war stories and provide help information about what has worked in our practice areas.”
Attorneys
Wade McGuffey, Robert Luskin, and Peter Muller at Goodman McGuffey have been
recognized on the Georgia Super Lawyers list as being among the top attorneys
in Georgia for 2020. No more than
5 percent of practicing attorneys in the state are selected to be listed by
Super Lawyers. Congratulations and keep up the good work!!
