During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson & Bell will endeavor to pass along information of interest and, hopefully, benefit to our clients and friends.

Below is a list of developments about the courts in Illinois and Indiana, initiatives aimed at helping business and the economy, and general news of interest to our clients and friends of the firm. Please feel free to share this page with or forward this page to your colleagues.  If you have any comments or would like to share an update that is not posted here, please email J&B Shareholders, Joseph F. Spitzzeri and Garrett L. Boehm, Jr., or Attorneys, Daniel M. Yukich and Adam J. Sedia.

Health Care Institutions and Long-Term Care Facilities – Recent Developments

• In Defense of Nursing Homes: What Executive Order 2020-19 Might Provide
• Cicero Files TRO Lawsuit Targeting Skilled Nursing Facility.  A Harbinger of Things to Come?
• CMS to Halt Routine Inspections of Nursing Homes, Focus on Critical Situations
• Plaintiff Firms Adding Their Own Version of “Flu” to COVID-19 Pandemic
• HHS Issues Liability Immunity Declaration for Measures to Combat COVID-19

Business and the Economy Developments

• Chicago Launches $5M Resiliency Fund
• President Signs PPPFA. New Law Revises Original PPP Initiative.
• Considering Re-Opening? Liability Coverage Concerns and Violating State and Local Stay-At-Home Orders
• SBA Releases Loan Forgiveness Application for PPP Program
• Microbusiness Grant Program
• Paycheck Protection Program Guidance -- "Costs Incurred" and "Payments Made" Requirements
• Illinois Launches Small Business Emergency Loan Fund
• Fed Issues Term Sheet for Main Street Loans to Small and Mid-Size Companies
• Zero Interest Loans Available for Suburban Cook County Businesses
• CARES Act - An Aggressive Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
• SBA's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
• Chicago Launches Small Business Resiliency Fund
• Disaster Assistance Loans Available to Small Businesses
• Business Interruption and Insurance Coverage Issues

Workforce Information and Developments

• The Latest -- Paid Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Not All Good Deeds Go Unpunished
• Illinois COVID-19 Order Limiting Religious Events Remains in Place
• Ensuring a Safe Workplace: Creating Effective COVID-19 Screening and Testing Programs
• IDPH Updates Guidance on Workplace Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic
• IWCC COVID-19 Emergency Rule Repealed
• Illinois Throws Employers a Curveball
• Department of Labor Provides Guidance on Expanded Unemployment Benefits Program and More
• Companies Can't Retaliate Against Workers Reporting Unsafe Conditions During Pandemic
• OSHA Chart Outlining Safety Steps to Take Based on Worker Exposure Risk by Industry
• The Illinois WARN Act -- How It Affects Workforce Reduction Initiatives
• FMLA Extension Overview
• Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act Overview
• Dept of Labor's Press Release - Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act 

General Information

• Illinois Issues "Stay-At-Home" Order. Johnson & Bell's Commitment to Client Service as Robust as Ever

Courts in Illinois and Indiana – Recent Developments

Cook County: As Cook County courts prepare to open on July 6, here is the latest order from Chief Judge Timothy Evans.  The order states that all Divisions and Districts of the circuit court will begin hearing all matters except jury trials on July 6.  The June 26, 2020 order also outlines a number of other expectations.  In the Law Division, Presiding Judge Flannery issue this order outlining how proceedings will go forward in the Law Division.

Lake County: Civil matters - March 16, 2020 through April 17, 2020, all matters continued 28 days. Discovery schedule proceeds as ordered. Emergency Motions will continue to be heard in person, telephonically, or via video conference.

McHenry County: All McHenry County cases scheduled for trial through May 1 will be continued, according to an order signed Friday, March 27 by 22nd Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Cowlin.

Will County: Here is the most recent order.

DuPage County: Law Division - March 16, 2020 through April 17, 2020: CMCs are continued 30-60 days, clerk to notify. Jury trials continued 30-60 days, clerk to notify. Parties may email agreed orders to assigned Judge’s secretary for entry, Judge may modify. Contested motions to be decided without oral argument, unless parties request, and at Judge’s discretion. New motions may be filed with parties e-mailing Judge’s secretary agreed briefing and hearing schedule. Emergency motions shall be e-filed and courtesies sent to assigned Judge, these will be decided without oral argument, unless parties request, then at discretion of Court.  Please visit http://www.dcba.org/covidupdate for the latest information on Courthouse operations.

Winnebago County: Here is the latest order for Winnebago County.  The court is changing its procedure for video remote hearings. They are allowing any party to request a video hearing and the court will decide whether it is appropriate.

St. Clair County: As of March 23, 2020, all CMCs and trials continued 60 days.

Madison County: Here is the latest order, effective June 4, from Chief Judge Mudge.  In addition, recent orders have encouraged as many hearings as possible be conducted via remote means (see Judge Stobbs' order and Judge Threlkeld's order).

Northern District of Illinois:

Please download the Fourth Amended Order, effective May 29, from the Honorable Rebecca Pallmeyer.

Central District of Illinois:

Please download the Fourth Amended Order, effective June 15.

Southern District of Illinois:

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois has issued First Amended Administrative Order No. 266 regarding court operations and the use of video and teleconferencing during the COVID-19 emergency. Original Administrative Order 266 has been vacated. This Amended Administrative Order is available on its website at: https://www.ilsd.uscourts.gov/Forms/AdminOrder266FirstAmended.pdf

Seventh Circuit, US Court of Appeals:

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit will continue to operate under the Continuity of Operations Plan activated on March 18, 2020. See order for further details. (http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/news/COVID-19_order_through2020_Dec31.pdf)

Pursuant to this order, all cases scheduled for oral argument through December 31, 2020, will be argued by counsel either telephonically or by video communications. The clerk's office will contact counsel with remote argument instructions for their specific case. The courtroom will remain closed to the public. Arguments will be livestreamed to YouTube and recordings will be posted on the court's web page.

All other state and federal courts and their respective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, can be found here.

Indiana Courts:

Here is a very helpful overview to download of the changes occurring at the state and federal court level in Indiana.

Update: On March 27, the Indiana Supreme Court revised its order regarding appellate deadlines.  Now all filings originally due between March 23 and April 6 are now due on April 21.  Filings originally due between April 7 and April 21 are extended by 15 days.  Due dates after April 21 remain unchanged.  Here is the order.