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James K. Estabrook

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Heat Stress: OSHA’s Proposed New Rule and What it Means for Employers

On August 30, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published in the Federal Register its proposed regulations for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Settings, delivering on the Biden administration’s three-year long promise to have the agency put forward a rule to protect workers from…

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U.S. Supreme Court Issues Opinion on ERISA Breach of Fiduciary Duty

On Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in the case Hughes vs. Northwestern, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a fiduciary’s duty to monitor investments in defined contribution retirement plans means the plan cannot include non-prudent investments. In reaching this conclusion, the Court recognized that fiduciaries have an ongoing obligation to monitor…

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Workers’ Compensation Presumption Reactivated with New Jersey’s Issuance of New Public Health Emergency

UPDATE:  On March 7, 2022, Governor Murphy once again lifted the COVID-19 public health emergency, and consequently the presumption created by SB2380. In an effort to combat the rapidly spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant, on January 13, 2022, Governor Murphy reactivated a presumption that essential workers’ contraction of the virus is…

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SCOTUS Blocks OSHA Vaccination Mandate for Small Employers but Upholds CMS Mandate for Healthcare Facilities

On November 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring employers of 100 or more to adopt COVID-19 policies, maintain rosters of vaccinated employees, and provide paid time off to employees to vaccinate or recover from its effect. These mandates were to…

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Final “Transparency Rule” Issued for Group Health Plans and Insurers

On October 29, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), the Department of Labor (“DOL”), and Department of Treasury (“DOT”) collaborated to issue a final “transparency rule” aimed at providing greater information to consumers, thereby allowing them to explore different healthcare options and avoid surprise billing for services…

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Lindabury Attorneys Named 2021 Best Lawyers and Lawyer of the Year

We are proud to announce 11 of our attorneys have been named to the 2021 Best Lawyers® list, two of which were named “Lawyer of the Year.” This recognition in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021, identifies each for their leading legal talent in their corresponding practice areas. The following…

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IRS Announces Additional Guidance for Coronavirus-Related Distributions and Loans

On June 19, 2020, the IRS released Notice 2020-50, which provides additional guidance and relief for retirement plan participants taking coronavirus-related distributions and loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”).  Under the CARES Act, “qualified individuals” may take coronavirus-related distributions of up to $100,000…

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The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act Makes Critical Changes to the Paycheck Protection Program

On June 5, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (“PPPFA”) was signed into law.  The PPPFA is aimed at providing borrowers with additional flexibility to maximize forgiveness of loans received under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) established as part of the CARES Act.  The following provisions of…

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The DOL Issues New Rule Regarding Electronic Disclosure Safe Harbor for Retirement Plans

On May 21, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a final rule allowing employers to post retirement plan disclosures online or furnish them to workers via email.  The rule is aimed at reducing administrative expenses for employers and making information more readily available to workers. ERISA-covered retirement plans…

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The DOL Releases Updated Model COBRA Notices To Address Medicare Eligibility and Expands COBRA Deadlines

The Department of Labor (“DOL”) and other federal agencies released updated model COBRA notices and expanded COBRA deadlines in an effort to reduce the risk of participants and beneficiaries losing benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Updated Model COBRA Notices Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), an individual who…