Biz Interruption Goes to Trial

Although it clearly remains to be seen how the final verdict will play out, a federal judge in Missouri has allowed a COVID-19 business interruption lawsuit to proceed to trial. Judge Stephen Bough of the US District Court for Western Missouri continues to swim upstream on the issue of COVID-19 business interruption claims as most…

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Missouri Expands Leave, COVID Liability Provisions

Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed the Victims Economic Safety and Security Act (VESSA) into law earlier this summer with it becoming effective on August 28. On that date, Missouri joined a number of other states in extending unpaid leave to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. VESSA applies to all employers in Missouri with…

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Independent Joe #67 April/May 2021

McDonald’s has been a model of consistency for most of its six decades of dominance in the quick-service restaurant world. Burgers, shakes and fries, prepared quickly – always tasting the way you expect, no matter where they are purchased – and at a price that’s easy to swallow. With the exception of its famous flops,…

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Reversing Course on Liability Shields

Well, this item might not affect our smaller business subscribers, but it’s worth taking note of nonetheless. As businesses across the country continue to push for adoption of liability shield legislation relating COVID-19 lawsuits, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo this week signed legislation repealing liability protections he granted health care facilities just last July! You…

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DeSantis Signs Liability Shield Law

Florida became the most recent state in the nation to enact a liability shield law for businesses when Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 72 earlier this week.  The legislation, which is the first concrete action taken by the legislature this session and the first signed into law by DeSantis this year, sets a high legal…

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Independent Joe #66 February/March 2021

New Dunkin’ owner Inspire Brands is not only one of the largest restaurant companies in the world, it also wants to be a leader in the collection, analysis and use of data. To that end, Inspire’s CEO Paul Brown recently created a new corporate position. Navin Sharma, a senior executive with Inspire since 2018, is…

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Alabama, Indiana Enact Business Liability Shields

When Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed SB.1 into law last week, the Hoosier State became the most recent to enact a liability shield law to protect businesses from lawsuits regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The new Indiana law provides protection from frivolous lawsuits for businesses, schools, health care providers, governments and other entities from lawsuits alleging…

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Boston Café Wins Rent Reprieve in Court

A Massachusetts Superior Court judge has ruled that a London-based Caffe Nero chain café cannot be forced to backpay rent for the months during the early days of the pandemic when they were shut down by a state mandate. Judge Kenneth Salinger ruled that the café, which closed permanently in October, was still legally bound…

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Independent Joe #65 December 2020/January 2021

 There’s a story that many of us in the Association Management profession hear when we first enter the field. It is generally told to underscore the importance of volunteerism and illustrate that associations need to rely on the engagement of their members to ensure their success. It goes like this. There were four people…

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Independent Joe #64 October/November 2020

Smack in the middle of the COVID-challenged 2020 NFL season, Inspire Brands sealed the deal to acquire Dunkin’ Brands International for the phenomenal price of $11.3 billion. Congratulations to all the players on these two (soon to be one) teams. A new owner is taking over an established and successful franchised brand. What could possibly…

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