Consider the following two scenarios resulting in identical losses, but potentially two entirely different insurance coverage outcomes:

Scenario 1: A thief hacks, or gains unauthorized entry, into an insured’s computer system and causes that computer system to execute a bank transfer to the thief’s offshore account.

Scenario 2: A thief utilizes a process called “spoofing,” in which an authentic-looking, but fraudulent, email is created to trick the insured into wiring funds to the thief’s offshore account. The “spoofing” process in essence tricks the ...

On February 23, 2022, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that it would be modifying its Health Officer Order to allow establishments, businesses, and venues verifying vaccination status to make masking indoors optional for fully vaccinated patrons and workers. The modified Order will go into effect at 12:01 am on Friday, February 25, 2022.

Businesses, establishments, or venues that want to allow fully vaccinated customers and workers to unmask while indoors must verify that 100% of customers and workers provide proof of full vaccination or proof of a ...

On February 9, 2022, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 113, approving additional economic relief for the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support, with a vote of 68-0 in the State Assembly and 27-0 in the State Senate.

SB 113 makes federal grants received through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund exempt from state tax liability. This means that businesses that received these grants will not have to pay California state taxes on the grant amounts.

Additionally, SB 113 will provide $150 million in grants to the state's Small Business COVID-19 relief ...

Consistent with last week’s announcement from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, at 12.01 AM today the county lifted the requirement that masks be worn outdoors at K-12 schools and childcare facilities as well as outdoor “mega” events, such as those held at the Hollywood Bowl and SoFi Stadium. The change is due to the drop in hospitalizations for COVID-19, as well as new COVID-19 cases, which have declined significantly over the last few weeks. 

However, unlike most other areas of California and, indeed, the United States, Angelenos will still be required to wear ...

Following Governor Newsom’s announcement that California’s indoor mask mandate would end on February 15, 2022 for all vaccinated persons, the Los Angeles County Department today issued a statement clarifying when the county’s own mask requirements would be eased. Specifically, when COVID daily hospitalizations drop below 2,500 for 7 consecutive days, masking will not be required at outdoor mega-events or in outdoor spaces at childcare facilities and K-12 schools. In addition, the masking requirement for indoor spaces will continue until:

• Los Angeles County has two ...

On February 7, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state’s indoor mask mandate would expire on February 15, 2022, for vaccinated people.

New face covering guidance from the California Department of Public Health (“DPH”) will go into effect on February 16, 2022. Under the guidance, universal masking is only required in specified settings. These settings where masks will continue to be mandatory include:

• Public transit;
• Indoors in K-12 schools;
• Emergency shelters;
• Healthcare settings;
• State and local correctional facilities and detention centers;

On January 31, 2022, FDA released a list of draft and final guidance topics that are a priority for the FDA Foods Program to complete during the next 12 months.

The guidance topics include several focused on plant-based labeling, so companies making these products should pay close attention to developments. Several topics are focused on food safety and risk reduction so are specific to developing guidance on action levels for lead and arsenic in juice and prevention of some specific foodborne illnesses. Other topics could have a significant effect on product labeling and claims.

Some ...

The California Legislature expanded the Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative by passing Assembly Bill 628, which amends Section 14033 of the Unemployment Insurance Code. 

AB 628 builds on the 2017 California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which made programs and services available to assist individuals with employment barriers with finding opportunities to join the workforce. Specifically, AB 628 seeks to enhance racial and economic justice, in addition to promoting employment. In doing so, AB 628 revises the 2017 grant selection criteria requirements, the ...

Q: I am a creditor of an entity that is now in receivership. I have contacted the receiver, and her attorney, a number of times requesting information about what is going on, especially the proposed sale of the entity’s assets. The receiver and her attorney have stated they don’t have to provide me with information and the receiver’s duty is only to the court and the parties in the case giving rise to the receivership. Is this correct? I want to make sure any sale is on the up and up so I get paid, as I don’t trust the owners of the entity, one of which sought the receiver’s appointment.