Employer Alert: CDC Updates Definition of “Close Contact” for Spreading COVID-19. Workplace Procedures and Policies Should be Updated.
On October 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) updated its definition of “close contact” with an individual infected with the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19″). Under its previous guidance, the CDC defined “close contact” as 15 minutes of continuous contact with an individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19. The CDC’s updated definition […]
Employer Alert: Minnesota Supreme Court Affirms the ‘Severe or Pervasive’ Standard in Workplace Harassment but Indicates Standard Must Evolve To Reflect Changes in ‘Societal Attitudes’
On June 3, 2020, the Minnesota Supreme Court in Kenneh v. Homeward Bound, Inc., affirmed the “severe or pervasive” standard, which employees must establish in workplace harassment or hostile work environment cases under the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA). This standard has been used and applied in Minnesota under the MHRA for over 30 years; […]
Lenders and Borrowers United Against COVID-19: Unexpected Allies Must Join Forces to Preserve the Financial Services Industry
The Great Recession pitted lenders against borrowers in a financial crisis that produced an estimated 3.8 million foreclosures between 2007 and 2010. There were no winners. People lost their jobs, their homes, and their creditworthiness. The financial services industry was decimated by non-performing loans, bad publicity and the cost of litigation. This can’t happen again, […]
Can He Really Do That—At Least Without Paying For It? Constitutional Claims Against State Government in Response to COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders
As we are all well aware by now, Governor Tim Walz issued Emergency Executive Order 20-20 on March 25, 2020, and that order has just been supplanted, as of April 8, 11:59 P.M., by Emergency Executive Order 20-33. Order 20-33 adds a few exceptions to the stay-at-home rule stated in Order 20-20, and more may […]
Three Ways to Shore up Your Business during the COVID-19 Crisis
During this pandemic, I want to encourage all business owners to adopt a new mantra: Is i magen It’s a Swedish phrase meaning “ice in the belly” and (roughly translated) reminds us to keep our cool in the face of crisis. This is especially important in the case of businesses with physical locations that customers […]
Know Your Written Notices!
In 2018, residential rental properties face an environment of increasing regulation at all levels of government: local, state, and federal. After 15 years around multifamily rental properties, even I find it difficult to keep track of the growing patchwork of laws, statutes, ordinances, and rules. One critical aspect of successfully operating or managing, and now […]
The Genius of Gratitude
Recently, I helped settle an incredibly contentious, emotionally-charged family dispute. It took, as predicted, a proverbial “courthouse steps” event to finally convince one psychologically-cruel family member to abandon his bullying to avoid seeing his abusive house of cards disassembled under oath. My clients were understandably shaken up over the trauma this dispute visited on multiple […]
Riddle v. Geckobyte: Court Rejects Non-Compete as Unreasonably Broad
Non-compete agreements are standard in employment contracts, particularly when the employee obtains an ownership interest in the company. However, as the case of Riddle v. Geckobyte.com makes clear, these agreements are not fool proof.1 Employers wishing to enforce non-competes should make sure these agreements are drafted carefully to avoid a similar result. Jeffrey Riddle was a computer programmer […]
Seeking Paths to Lawyer Well-Being
“Physician, heal thyself,” is a maxim as old as the bible. Although we are not doctors, self-healing is also expected in the legal profession. After all, we are typically fantastic when it comes to solving our client’s problems, as well as serving as a combination psychologist and trusted advisor. The ubiquity of email, text and […]
Outside the Bricks, Mortar and Numbers: Multifamily Property Due Diligence
In my previous career as a real estate broker, I used to advise clients there are three legs to a multifamily property valuation stool: Physical – the physical structure and mechanicals. Financial – the income and expenses. People – as financial assets or liabilities. This article addresses the third stool, the people in the property. […]