SS+D COVID-19 Response Team: Federal and State Update – COVID-19 Update March 24, 2020

FEDERAL UPDATE – PRESIDENT ISSUES ORDER PREVENTING PRICE GOUGING AND HOARDING OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES
Yesterday, using his powers under the Defense Production Act, President Trump signed an Executive Order that prohibits the hoarding and price gouging of certain medical supplies. The Department of Health and Human Services will have the authority to designate which supplies are covered by the Order. President Trump stated that items subject to the Order likely will include face masks, hand sanitizer, and personal protective equipment, among other things. The Department of Justice and the Attorney General in each state are tasked with detecting, investigating, and prosecuting hoarding and price gouging.

STATE UPDATE – ALL COURTS IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST MAY 1, 2020
The Chief Judge of the Northern District of Ohio, Patricia A. Gaughan, announced today that all courthouses in the Northern District (Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown) will be during a “continuance period” lasting until at least May 1, 2020. The order suspends most gatherings at public courthouses, directs most employees to telework, and requires certain hearings to be conducted by telephone or videoconference.

For more information, see our summary accompanying this update.

INSURANCE UPDATE – EVALUATING PANDEMIC-RELATED COVERAGE SCENARIOS UNDER YOUR COMMERCIAL INSURANCE POLICIES
For an in-depth discussion of potential avenues for seeking pandemic-related insurance coverage, see our summary accompanying this Update Titled Commercial Insurance Policies and COVID-19: Is there Coverage?

If you have questions regarding your policies, please contact the SS+D lawyer with whom you usually work or Toby Henderson, Head of SS+D’s Insurance Claims Practice, at 937- 222-2508

STATE UPDATE – PROPOSED BILL WOULD SUSPEND “STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS” FOR CRIMINAL, CIVIL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
The Ohio General Assembly recently proposed new legislation that, if enacted, would effectively extend the time period (the statute of limitations) for bringing civil, criminal, and administrative actions until Governor DeWine’s emergency declaration has been lifted. The bill also seeks to toll filing deadlines and other requirements for civil and administrative matters during Ohio’s state of emergency.

As of now, this bill has only been introduced by the Ohio General Assembly. More information will be provided should this bill become law.

ABOUT THE SS+D COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM
The SS+D COVID-19 Response Team was formed to provide clients, colleagues, and friends of the Firm updates for the foreseeable future on COVID-19 issues facing businesses, executives, and employees. Please let us know if there are any items/issues you would like for us to track or summarize.