Labor & Employment attorney Matt Miller partners with BNP to discuss the NYS Shared Workforce Program and provide direction for business owners who are facing difficult questions: How do I avoid layoffs? How do I retain my trained employees during a slowdown? How do I attract them back during a slow rampup period – especially… Read More
Are you working from home? Don’t get too comfortable in your home office. The switch to remote working can present new cybersecurity challenges. Hackers know that organizations are particularly vulnerable now as many organizations are preoccupied with COVID-19. By way of example, on March 15, 2020 the United States Department of Health and Human Services… Read More
NYS Proposed Prevailing Wage Requirements. The following alert is a follow up to our last alert (initial indicators from the 2021 budget) for Developers and Contractors. On April 3rd, Governor Cuomo signed New York State’s $177 billion budget for fiscal year 2021. The legislation contains provisions to expand prevailing wage requirements for private construction projects where… Read More
Matthew Miller, speaks to Business First’s Patrick Connelly on the legal differences between layoffs and furloughs, in New York State. Though used interchangeably with regularity, there is a legal difference between layoffs and furloughs in New York state. Layoffs “The biggest difference and misconception is a layoff or a termination is intended to be permanent… Read More
Developers, construction companies, and municipalities should be aware of a few initial indicators from the recently passed NYS 2021 Budget. Spending Cuts: Most significantly, the Budget reduces spending by $10 billion and empowers the State Budget Director to develop a plan for across the board reductions and implement a reassessment “as necessary” throughout the calendar… Read More
Despite Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.8 requiring non-essential businesses to reduce in‑person workforce locations by one hundred percent (100%), businesses may find some relief from performance under their contractual obligations. Below are some avenues that may potentially provide relief for businesses: Force Majeure in a Lease. A force majeure provision in a commercial lease allows… Read More
On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed a law that provides additional Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) assistance to workers impacted by COVID-19. This new pandemic unemployment assistance law provides: Please find updated information on what you need to know in the document below: QUESTION: Who is eligible for PUA?ANSWER: Individuals are eligible… Read More
We understand information overload. So we’ve provided you with some COVID-19 resources. If you have any questions on these COVID-19 resources please reach out to our teams who are on the front lines of the ever-changing laws. Labor & Employent Team or Business Law Team New York State Resources New York State Department of Labor… Read More
Over the past week, federal legislators have made rapid strides in expanding the Coronavirus relief aid to be provided to individuals and businesses vis a vis the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). From paycheck protection programs to net operating loss provisions, we have it all broken down for you. Paycheck… Read More
Employer Alert: New Federal Coronavirus Leave Guidance The U.S. Department of Labor has released some guidance for the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) which was enacted on March 18, 2020. The law goes into effect on April 1, 2020. Our labor and employment attorneys are here to break it down for you. The U.S.… Read More
Late yesterday, Thursday March 19, 2020, Empire State Development Corporation (“ESD”) released the guidance required by Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.6 that further defines and specifies whether a business is subject to the 75% workforce reduction imposed by the Governor. Executive Order 202.6 required that, no later than March 20, 2020 at 8 p.m., all… Read More
Coronavirus May Impact Your Business’s Contractual Obligations COVID-19 is affecting every aspect of American life right now and that includes business contracts. Are you wondering if your contract(s) is/are still enforceable, or if this pandemic relieves any party’s obligation to perform within the terms of the contract(s)? Step one; determine if there is a “force majeure”… Read More
COVID-19 has changed so much but one that hasn’t changed, its our beliefs. We believe in a positive mindset, and if there is a silver-lining in all of this, the world is being forced to pause and realize we are all more than our professional title. We are more than just attorneys, we’re parents, care-givers,… Read More
On Saturday, June 27th 2020 Team Rupp Baase is celebrating 10 YEARS with the Ride for Roswell! Join us in raising funds for cancer research and patient treatment plans by riding for Roswell. Registration for the 2020 Ride is now open. Over the past nine years, with your support and dedication, together we have raised… Read More
Civil rights attorney, Tony Rupp speaks to Luke Moretti of WIVB on behalf of his client. James Kistner was having breakfast with his sons at his Buffalo East Side home on New Year’s Day 2017 when he noticed police at his apartment across the street. They finished breakfast before Kistner walked outside to find out… Read More
Our property-litigation practice group seeks an associate with 0-3 years of experience to practice in our Buffalo office in the area of property litigation, subrogation, and antitrust matters. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with excellent research and writing skills, and must have a desire to work in a fast-paced environment. Candidate should (1) have… Read More
Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham has promoted 5 of our attorneys. Two attorneys to the position of equity partner and 3 to the position of partner. Congratulations to business law attorney Jamie Batt and labor and employment attorney Matt Miller for earning an Equity Partner role in the Firm. Their continued leadership and dedication to Rupp… Read More
On November 8, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed into law a new Section 203-e of the New York State Labor Law that bans employment discrimination based on the “reproductive health decision-making” of an employee or that of an employee’s dependents. The law became effective immediately and adds another characteristic to the ever-expanding list of “classes” protected… Read More
WIVB recently spoke to Tony Rupp about his clients illegal search and seizure claims against the Gowanda Police Department. David Yezek was growing marijuana in his Gowanda home. He smoked and sold some to friends. So, it is no surprise that he was on the radar of the Gowanda Police Department. On July 20, 2018,… Read More
As we previously reported in our last client alert, Governor Cuomo signed new changes to the Human Rights Law that greatly increased employers’ duties in the realm of sexual harassment prevention. Recently, New York State updated its guidance on these new changes. Under the new law, all employers must distribute a Notice containing the employer’s… Read More
We are energized, excited and proud to welcome Marc Romanowski to Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham. Marc brings years of Project Development, Land Use and Environmental Law experience to our always growing firm. Marc attended The University at Buffalo for both undergrad and law school. He is admitted in New York State, United States Court of… Read More
Matt Miller, our Labor & Employment leader spoke with Patrick Connelly, from the Buffalo Law Journal, answering questions many people in the business community continually have as mental health and addiction awareness grows. What can you do if you think an employee is dealing with addiction issues? If you suspect that an employee is dealing with… Read More
Every New York employer is required to provide all employees performing work in New York with sexual harassment prevention training. By law, all employees must be trained by October 9, 2019, and at least once a year thereafter. New hires must receive the mandatory training as soon as possible. The training must: Best Practices If… Read More
Our Campus Disciplinary Defense team successfully exonerated three college students accused of using hate speech on and around campus. The private college in New York began an investigation based on an anonymous complaint that the students used inappropriate and derogatory language toward a non-student in an off-campus residence. The college called the three students to… Read More
Partner Jill Yonkers, spoke with Patrick Connelly from the Buffalo Law Journal about the importance of knowing your local zoning rules when renting home space to travelers. How have entities such as Airbnb disrupted the marketplace? Airbnb and others like FlipKey, Homeaway and VRBO have added lodging alternatives to the marketplace. Short-term or transient rentals are… Read More
