What is the Impact of COVID-19 on Personal Injury Cases?
New York has been the nation’s hardest hit state with cases of COVID-19, and the state has seen tremendous changes in recent weeks. Though this worldwide pandemic has changed the world we live in, New Yorkers remain #NewYorkTough as citizens do their part to flatten the curve and get us all through this difficult time together. Challenges are nothing new for our residents, who’ve weathered other world-changing events in recent times.
As part of the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus, Gov. Cuomo issued a PAUSE on all non-essential businesses statewide, closing all in-office personnel functions, including law firms.
However, we at the Law Office of Michael S. Lamonsoff are fully functional and remaining safe at home while litigating your cases remotely.
How has the PAUSE order impacted law offices?
As point #14 of Executive Order 202.6, states: “Lawyers may continue to perform all work necessary for any service so long as it is performed remotely. Any in-person work presence shall be limited to work only in support of essential businesses or services; however, even work in support of an essential business or service should be conducted as remotely as possible.”
In accordance with this, The Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff was one of the first firms in New York to seamlessly transition to a fully functional remote operation allowing all services to continue uninterrupted while following the “shelter-in-place” order. We have continued to aggressively litigate all clients’ cases.
Offering an array of virtual consultation services, online chat 24/7 and representatives available by phone, we can ensure that any personal injury case is relentlessly litigated no matter the circumstances. You are now able to do this from the comfort and safety of your home. You will be able to speak with Michael S. Lamonsoff and his attorneys by telephone or video conference via your mobile phone, laptop and home personal computer. We will be continuing to communicate with everyone who wants to talk to us about a potential new case.
New York Courts — Now Handling Additional Pending Cases:
The Honorable Lawrence Marks, Chief Administrative Judge of the New York State Court System, issued a notice on 13 April, that virtual courts have now been expanded beyond the earlier limited categories of “essential and emergency matters” and will now start hearing other pending matters.
The expanded guidelines mean New York’s courts will also start handling those pending cases that make up the vast bulk of trial court caseloads, including:
- Asbestos
- Commercial
- Estates
- Felony
- Matrimonial
- Tort
- Trust
- Family and other cases
“Starting today, judges will begin remotely scheduling and conducting conferences and hearings to address discovery disputes and other outstanding issues, advancing progress and facilitating resolution in pending civil and criminal cases that fall outside the limited scope of essential and emergency matters. These are preliminary−but significant−steps forward as we strive, in these challenging times, to carry on the vitally important business of the courts,” said Chief Administrative Judge Marks.
These proceedings will be heard virtually. The ban on new court filings remains in effect for now.
New York’s court system has taken extraordinary measures to keep both the public and its staff safe from COVID-19. Having successfully completed establishing a virtual court system — and one which is now hearing more than essential and emergency concerns — our attorneys at the Law Office of Michael S. Lamonsoff can still help victims by evaluating their cases, conducting investigations and research, initiating out-of-court proceedings, building strong cases that can be filed as soon as emergency restrictions are lifted, and fighting for rights in pending cases that will now be handled by court.
While these restrictions may impact or delay certain injury cases, especially those with upcoming hearings, trial dates, or filing deadlines, they do not mean justice will be halted. Michael and his team of lawyers will use all of their extensive resources, technology available to ensure that every case is litigated to the best outcome possible.