As California continues to advance its reopening efforts, the state’s retailers are grappling with rapid changes to the law surrounding their operations and the management of their workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continue Reading California Passes New COVID-19 Sick Leave Requirements for 2021
The CPSC recently announced its first civil penalty of 2021. Cybex International, Inc. agreed to pay $7.95 million after the workout equipment manufacturer allegedly failed to immediately report to the CPSC the defects in two of its products.
Continue Reading Recall Roundup: February
Signed into law on December 27, 2020, the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 (TMA) provides amendments to existing federal trademark law that will assist US retailers and other businesses with branding decisions. Congress passed the TMA as part of the COVID-19 relief and government-funding bill.
Continue Reading How Does the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 Help You Protect Your Brand?
Commercial tenants who are unable to pay their rent as a result of COVID-19 shutdown and capacity-limit orders have, thus far, found little relief from courts, who have by and large rejected their common law defenses seeking a discharge of lease obligations. One recent Massachusetts case, however, sides with a commercial tenant, albeit under narrow circumstances, approving of the often-unsuccessful “frustration of purpose” defense.
Continue Reading Massachusetts Court: COVID-19 Closure Order Partially Discharges Commercial Rent Obligation Under “Frustration of Purpose” Doctrine
In response to industry and consumer demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic, ASTM International (ASTM) has released a new voluntary standard for the design, labeling, testing, and performance of face coverings.
Continue Reading ASTM Releases New Voluntary Safety and Performance Standard for Face Coverings
During his 2020 campaign, now President Biden promised to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, something progressives have long been proposing. The Democratic-held House of Representatives introduced and passed the Raise the Wage Act in 2019, but the bill never reached a vote in the then-GOP controlled Senate.
Continue Reading Proposed Federal Minimum Wage Raise and its Effect on Retailers
Disputes between restaurants and third-party food delivery services—such as Grubhub and Uber Eats—have made headlines over recent years. This tension has only been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continue Reading Regulating Third-Party Food Delivery Services during COVID-19
Congress has passed a law mandating nationwide compliance with California’s flammability standard for upholstered furniture.
Continue Reading National Flammability Standard for Upholstered Furniture to Take Effect in June 2021
Corporate executives are optimistic about M&A activity in 2021, with 53% of U.S. CEOs in a recent PwC survey stating that their companies planned to increase M&A activity in the coming year. Despite the economic challenges faced in 2020, in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, other factors, such as record low interest rates and significant amounts of corporate cash reserves and private equity capital, mean that some strategic and private equity buyers are in a strong position to engage in deal making.
Continue Reading US M&A Outlook for 2021 Appears Positive, Driven in Part by SPACs
The CPSC recently posted guidance on its website for consumer products related to COVID-19, including personal protective equipment.
Continue Reading Recall Roundup: November