By: Gini L. Hendrickson and Mark G. Kmiecik Near the midnight hour on March 25, 2020, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) which includes numerous robust tax benefits to businesses in its $2 trillion aid package designed to assist the economy as it endures the effects of the...
CARES Act Passed Providing Forgivable Loans to Maintain Business Continuity in Trying Times (Updated March 27, 2020)
By: Michael Van Someren and Lawrence J. Glusman The “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” or “CARES Act” was signed into law by the president on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act has a number of provisions meant to allow employers to receive forgivable loans to pay business expenses and permit them to maintain continuity of operations...
Old Fashioned to Go? Alcohol Beverages May Be Ordered on a Carry-Out Basis During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By: Brian C. Randall and Danielle S. Fadel On March 17, 2020, Governor Evers issued Emergency Order #5 to restrict mass gatherings of 10 or more people (as described in this article New Limits on Gatherings and Private Businesses in Wisconsin), which included a mandate that restaurants only offer take-out or delivery services as no in person...

Anticipatory Breach of Contracts May Become More Common in a Time of Uncertainty
By: Timothy J. Feldhausen The term “anticipatory breach” or “anticipatory repudiation” does not come up very often outside of the courtroom, but in this time of COVID-19 and disrupted supply chains around the world, it deserves a closer look. Anticipatory breach occurs when a party to a contract demonstrates, either through its words or its...
Guidance for Businesses Resolving Multiple “Shelter in Place” Orders and Differing Definitions of “Essential Business”
By: Sherry D. Coley and Tiffany E. Woelfel Although California was the first state to issue a “shelter in place” order on March 19, 2020, it quickly became clear that it would not be the last. Since the 19th, approximately 21 states have issued similar orders as they combat the COVID-19 outbreak and try to flatten the curve. Not only are states...
SEC Emphasizes Anti-Fraud Protections During COVID-19 Pandemic
By: Timothy J. Feldhausen On March 23, 2020, the co-directors of the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a statement regarding market integrity during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]. Specifically, the statement serves to remind public companies of their obligations to maintain disclosure controls and...
Community Organizations Create Fund to Offer Grants to Support Northeast Wisconsin Non-Profits Impacted by COVID-19
By: Sherry D. Coley and Tiffany E. Woelfel While everyone is feeling the impact of COVID-19, community non-profits and schools are rallying to provide relief and services—such as food—to those in need, while also being impacted by decreased funds and fewer volunteers. Now, community organizations across Northeast Wisconsin are stepping up to...
Stay-At-Home and Safer At Home Orders Impose Restrictions on Residential Landlords and Rental Property Managers
By: Daniel A. Kaminsky On March 23, 2020, the City of Milwaukee Health Department published the Order of the City of Milwaukee Commissioner of Health Imposing A City-Wide “Stay-At-Home” Requirement To Mitigate The Spread of COVID-19 (the “City of Milwaukee Order”)[1]. On March 24, 2020, the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services...
Are You an “Essential Business” in Wisconsin Under the Safer At Home Order?
By: Mark G. Kmiecik, Abby S. Busler and Ryan M. Spott The State of Wisconsin has joined several other states in shutting down all nonessential businesses with its newly issued Safer At Home Order, which is effective at 8:00 a.m on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, and will remain in effect until 8:00 a.m on Friday, April 24, 2020, or until a superseding...
Landlords and Lenders Encouraged to Consider Creative Options (Updated March 27, 2020)
By: Sherry D. Coley and Tiffany E. Woelfel As more tenants, both residential and commercial, face financial difficulties during the COVID-19 crisis, landlords should try to work with tenants and consider creative options since traditional remedies, such as evictions, are unavailable and may remain so for some time. On March 18, 2020, Milwaukee...