Legal Alerts

New guidance released by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) on October 13, 2021, discusses vaccine mandates and employer incentives for vaccination.  The new guidance also discusses employer requests for vaccine confirmation and confidentiality of employees’ vaccine information. Attorney Katherine L. Wood advises on this guidance.

Since the beginning of October, Hurwitz & Fine’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee has been collecting personal hygiene and household items across the firm’s multiple offices to benefit the Buffalo United for Afghan Evacuees organization.

On October 19, 2021, Governor Hochul signed legislation to amend the Open Meetings Law. Specifically, documents to be discussed at open meetings are to be made available to the public upon request or on an agency’s website at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. 

The Commissioner of Health has extended the designation of COVID-19 as a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health under the New York Health and Essential Rights (“HERO”) Act until October 31, 2021. The New York State Department of Labor released updated Information & FAQs on the HERO Act and updated the Model Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan.  This alert summarizes these recent developments.

For a recent Inside P&C article, Hurwitz & Fine Attorney Ryan Maxwell provided insight into the current appellate landscape confronted by insurance carriers and policyholders alike in ongoing COVID-19 business interruption litigation.

Labor and Employment Member Joseph S. Brown, Esq. was featured in an interview with Buffalo Business First for his input on various labor employment law scenarios related to mental health in the workplace.

Hurwitz & Fine President/Managing Partner Jody E. Briandi was honored as a 2021 Woman of Influence by Buffalo Business First in the Corporate Executive category. 

Determining whether to grant a particular accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) can be a tricky area for employers to navigate.  Adding COVID-19 considerations to the discussion has complicated matters even further.  Labor and employment attorney Katherine L. Wood examines a recent lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) that should be taken into consideration when analyzing whether to grant or deny telework accommodations.

The law firm is the only Western New York law firm to participate in the national certification process.

Anastasia M. McCarthy, attorney in Hurwitz & Fine's Child Victims Act practice group, answers questions recently received in regards to the close of the Look-Back Window and the next steps in CVA cases. 

Insurance Litigator Lee S. Siegel was featured in a Law360 article, "Pandemic, Cyberattacks Fuel Demand for Insurance Attys," on his take on the recent demand for insurance attorneys.

On September 9, 2021, the White House issued Path Out of the Pandemic: President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan.  The Plan sets forth a six-pronged approach aimed at reducing “the number of unvaccinated Americans by using regulatory powers and other actions to substantially increase the number of Americans covered by vaccination requirements.” Attorney Joseph Brown discusses how this plan may affect employers in the coming weeks.

Labor & Employment attorney Joseph S. Brown offers insight on what New York employers need to know about implementing their workplace safety plans.

Hurwitz & Fine Corporate Paralegal Janet Beamer has been appointed to the Daemen College Paralegal Studies Advisory Committee.

News for those who serve on the boards of municipalities, IDAs, public authorities and other public entities: Governor Hochul has signed legislation to amend the Open Meetings Law, which authorizes board meetings to be conducted remotely. 

Labor Law § 200 isn’t flashy, it doesn’t rely on an archaic set of regulations that hasn’t been updated in years, it’s simple and straightforward, yet it repeatedly trips up attorneys who aren’t paying it the respect it deserves.  Labor Law § 200 matters, and in this article, we tell you why it matters and what needs to be considered when defending a claim under this statute.

Hurwitz & Fine has been honored as a finalist in the small company category (10 - 100 employees) for Buffalo Business First's 2021 Healthiest Employers. 

Hurwitz & Fine Attorney Edward C. Robinson was recognized by The Daily Record as a "Power 20" Trusts & Estates Attorney. 

28 attorneys from Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. have been selected to the 2021 Upstate New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.