News Categories: COVID-19

January 2022

SCOTUS Strikes Down One Vaccine Mandate, Upholds Another

On January 13, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) struck down the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate that was to apply to all large employers. That same day, the Supreme Court upheld the administration’s vaccine mandate that applies to healthcare workers at healthcare facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid.  These

December 2021

FBMJ Attorneys Co-Author Medscape Article – 7 Legal Risks of Promoting Unproven COVID Treatments

FBMJ attorneys Julie Janeway and Brian Whitelaw co-authored, “7 Legal Risks of Promoting Unproven COVID Treatments,” published by Medscape on December 6, 2021. The article cautions healthcare providers of the risks of promoting unproven products, preventives, treatments and cures when treating patients with COVID-19. The article discusses the consequences from state medical

April 2021

FBMJ Attorneys Featured Presenters at MSHRM Event

FBMJ attorneys, Saulius Polteraitis and Carlos Escurel, recently presented “Covid Liability and Impact Medical Malpractice Claims” to the Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Managers (MSHRM) as part of its Webinar series. They were joined by Mike Severyn of ProAssurance on the panel. The presentation covered the anticipated landscape of malpractice claims

December 2020

Michigan Religious Schools: Michigan COVID Regs Violate First Amendment

A group of nonpublic schools has filed suit in Michigan federal court alleging that the state’s Health and Human Services directive that schools remain closed through December 20 violates the First Amendment. The lawsuit was filed on December 7 by the Michigan Association of Nonpublic Schools (MANS), which has since

December 2020

U.S. Supreme Court Invalidates COVID Restrictions on Religious Exercise

Just months after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a California religious group’s challenge to COVID-19 restrictions on group worship, the Court blocked such restrictions on religious organizations in New York. The decision, by a 5-4 vote, confirms that the closely divided court has become somewhat unpredictable as to

October 2020

Michigan Gov. Signs Law Giving Healthcare Facilities Liability Protections

On October 22, 2020, Governor Whitmer signed into law House Bill 6159, creating a Pandemic Health Care Immunity Act to protect health care workers against liability for claims arising out of care provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This law was part of a package of COVID-related bills signed

September 2020

Attorney Anthony Pignotti Authors Article on COVID-19 Executive and Administrative Orders and Their Impact on the Legal System for MDTC Quarterly

FBMJ attorney Anthony Pignotti authored “Summary and Analysis of Executive and Administrative Orders Issued in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Impact on the Legal System” for the September 2020 issue of Michigan Defense Quarterly Volume 37, No. 1 – 2020. The article addresses how COVID-19-related executive and administrative orders

July 2020

Gov. Whitmer Extends Remote Notarization Provisions Through August 31, 2020

Remote notarizations will continue to be permitted through August 31, 2020 under a new order Gov. Whitmer issued this week. Executive Order 2020-158 extended a previous order encouraging the use of electronic signatures and remote witnessing of signatures due to COVID-19 and suspending in-person notarization and signing requirements. NOTARIZATION As with the