As life slowly begins to return to normal and restrictions on business activities are lifted, many businesses may be concerned about a COVID-19 lawsuit.  What if a customer gets sick with Covid-19 after shopping in a store or eating at a restaurant?  Can the store or restaurant be held liable?  To date, there have been… Read More

New York Forward: The 4 Phases of Business Re-Openings The four-phase New York plan to reopen businesses, “New York Forward” (the “Plan”), is underway, with Phase Two of the Plan commencing in Western New York (“WNY”) on June 2nd and in several other NYS regions on May 29th.  This alert sets forth: (i) the regions… Read More

Partner attorney Jamie Batt and the rest of our Business Law team provide a brief overview of the Main Street Lending Program the Federal Reserve has established to provide financing opportunities for certain American businesses that were unable to receive funding under the Paycheck Protection Program or need additional financial support after receiving the previous… Read More

On April 3, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the New York State Child Parent Security Act (the “Act”), which reverses New York’s decades-long ban on compensated surrogacy.  The Act, which will take effect on February 15, 2021, is a landmark bill that will provide many New York residents legally protected access… Read More

New Title IX rules are here. Jill Yonkers and our Campus Disciplinary Defense Team have been waiting for this day to come. The wait is over.  Today, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) released the long-anticipated final version of its Title IX rules governing how schools must respond to allegations of sexual harassment.  Although there… Read More

Do you have questions about how COVID-19 will affect your construction business? Construction law and partner attorney, Dan Sarzynski along with Drew Miller from Webster Szanyi provided an informative webinar on the topic of “Navigating Construction Projects during the COVID-19 Crisis” on Thursday, April 30th, 2021 for the Construction Exchange. Before the Coronavirus pandemic hit… Read More

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

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

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