Editor’s Note: The State Bar of Texas is providing this collection of important links, blog posts, and media stories to keep its members and the public informed of the latest news and resources related to the novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the legal community.
Important links
State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Legal Resources Page — Texasbar.com/coronavirus
State Bar of Texas Coronavirus Public Resources Page — Texasbar.com/COVIDHelp
Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program Well-being Resources page — Texasbar.com/remote-well-being
The good and bad news: Firms continue to announce cuts, but it’s at slower pace — More law firms announced pay cuts, layoffs and furloughs this week, but the pace is slowing. — ABA Journal
AAML survey uncovers difficulties for family law attorneys during COVID-19 pandemic: A Q&A with Susan Myres — The survey found that even though demand was there, circumstances caused by the pandemic make it difficult for clients to pursue divorce right now. (Subscription required) — Texas Lawyer
Stay-at-home lawsuits are failing, but judges may get impatient — U.S courts won’t block governors’ stay-at-home-orders. At least not yet. — BloombergQuint
Attorney: There are ways business owners can prevent lawsuits involving COVID-19 (video) — Attorney Daniel Hernandez says the best thing a business owner can due to avoid being sued during the pandemic is to put precautions and policies in place that protect staff and customers. — KBTX – Bryan
Commentary: Pandemic forces Supreme Court to change. What’s next for the legal community? — The law is notoriously slow to change, but the coronavirus could lead to major reforms for the foreseeable future, if not beyond. — Fort Worth Injury Attorney blog
Texas COVID-19 cases in immigrant detention quadruple in two weeks, as ICE transfers continue (audio) — Many of these cases can be traced back to immigration transfers, since detainees are being moved to and from different detention facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. — Houston Public Media
SCOTUS refuses to block Pennsylvania order shutting down most businesses — The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to block enforcement of a Pennsylvania executive order that shuts down businesses if they are not “life-sustaining.” — ABA Journal
Neiman Marcus becomes 2nd major retailer to seek Chapter 11 — Dallas-based Neiman Marcus, which operates 43 stores, said it expects to emerge from bankruptcy by this coming fall. — The Associated Press
Texas attorney swept up in political storm over his representation of a jailed Dallas salon owner — Although he’s typically an intellectual property litigtor, Arlington attorney Warren Norred has found himself in the eye of a political hurricane by representing Shelley Luther, owner of Salon A La Mode in Dallas. (Subscription required) — Texas Lawyer
Dallas salon owner released from county jail after defying orders by reopening early — The order followed Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that he was eliminating jail time for Texans who violate stay at home orders. — The Texas Tribune
Fort Worth landlord jailed and sued after cutting grandmother’s utilities when she was short on rent (video) — A Fort Worth-area landlord was charged with contempt and sent to the Tarrant County Jail after ignoring a judge’s order. — WFAA – Dallas
What summer camps in Texas might look like due to the coronavirus impact (video) — Many parents are still waiting to find out if summer camps will be allowed to open. And, if so, how will hundreds of kids practice social distancing? — KPRC – Houston
