Scamming, phishing, pharming, vishing -- people in the business world are well aware that hackers and other fraudsters have developed a myriad of schemes designed to obtain sensitive personal information and money. Every year, these schemes cause businesses to suffer significant financial losses. The FBI estimates that in 2020 business email...
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Against Insurance Coverage for COVID-19 Losses
On June 1, 2022 the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously found that the Plaintiffs – a group of bars and restaurants led by named Plaintiff Colectivo Coffee – did not have insurance coverage for the financial losses they suffered from the COVID-19 shutdown. This is the first ruling on COVID coverage by our Supreme Court. Colectivo and the group of...
Small Business Bankruptcy: What Do You Need to Know?
After the last two years, dealing with bankruptcy issues is probably the lowest priority on any business owner’s mind. Perhaps you have been able to survive the unprecedented market trends and uncertainty, and now times look to be stabilizing. Having a basic understanding of what’s been called “Sub 5” or “Subchapter V” can help you navigate any...

CMS Reinstates Per-day Fines for Noncompliance in Long-term Care
By: Alec Dobson Long-term care facilities face increased potential for daily fines for non-compliance, rather than single fines, under recent action by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Daily fines had been more common until the Trump Administration, in July 2017, instructed regulators to typically impose civil monetary penalties...

7 Options for Resolving Partnership Disputes
By Heather J. Macklin Like all human relationships, business partnerships have their ups and downs. When things are going well, everyone is happy, and business usually booms. When things are not going well, however, even little disagreements can blow up into major disputes and business will often suffer for it. What are formerly happy business...

CDC and CMS Issue New Guidance for Testing, Indoor Visitation, Dining, and Communal Activities at Nursing Homes
New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) eased some testing requirements and social distancing measures for nursing home facilities in light of a large number of residents and employees being fully vaccinated. These changes should alleviate some of the...

CDC Updates COVID Guidelines for Nursing Homes
The federal government this week issued updated guidelines to nursing homes for COVID-19 prevention and control, including new recommendations regarding visitation, physical distancing, and quarantining. In issuing the updated recommendations on March 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stressed that even as nursing homes relax...
CMS Eases Guidance for Nursing Home Visitation
With millions of COVID-19 vaccinations having been administered to nursing home residents and staff, the federal government is now encouraging in-person visitation in nursing homes. On March 10, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its guidance to facilities regarding in-person visitation. Importantly, the updated...

Companies Should Not Overlook the Importance of Their Contract Terms and Conditions
Sales are negotiated and consummated between companies every day. What can often get overlooked in transactions are the terms and conditions within the variety of documents being exchanged between the contracting companies. At minimum, a purchase order and a sales order are likely to be exchanged and typically include terms and conditions....
COVID-19 Waivers: Can They Reduce Your Business Risk?
By: Lisa Kleiner Wood and Ethan C. Geis As states begin to reopen and loosen restrictions on public gatherings and business closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, business managers, event coordinators, and property owners are seeking to get back to a semblance of normalcy. However, at least in the near term, it appears that business will...