FINRA FAQs Offer Useful Guidance on Members’ Evolving Obligations
May 28, 2020

FINRA FAQs Offer Useful Guidance on Members’ Evolving Obligations

By Joel M. Wertman

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and resulting changes to everyday life has permeated seemingly every facet of society.  Thus, it is not surprising that FINRA is providing temporary relief for member firms from compliance with certain rules and regulations.  The relief is focused solely on specific identified rules and regulations found on the FINRA website.  https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/key-topics/covid-19/faq  […] More

Pennsylvania DoBS Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Cyber and Financial Scams
Apr 30, 2020

Pennsylvania DoBS Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Cyber and Financial Scams

By Joel M. Wertman

As the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has touted through the years, financial fraudsters tend to follow the old Willie Sutton maxim about why he robbed banks:  “because that is where the money is.”  In these trying financial times, increasingly “where the money is” happens to be the hands of consumers adversely affected by the […] More

COVID-19 Employment Law Update
Apr 23, 2020

COVID-19 Employment Law Update

And they’re off – The Plaintiffs Bar has started litigating the March 18, 2020 FFCRA Act! Many laid off employees will be rehired by their former employers as businesses attempt to return to normalcy following the COVID – 19 shutdown.  Despite good-faith bipartisan efforts, it is uncertain as to when the economy might return to […] More

New York State Legislature Enacts Emergency Disaster Treatment Protection Act
Apr 20, 2020

New York State Legislature Enacts Emergency Disaster Treatment Protection Act

In order to shield healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals from potential civil and/or criminal liability resulting from care and treatment rendered to both COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 crisis, the New York State Legislature has included the Emergency Disaster Treatment Protection Act (“EDTPA”) in the state fiscal year 2021 budget.  The EDTPA, […] More

Apr 15, 2020

COVID 19s Effect on Litigation: Court Orders and Updates

As the United States continues to battle the COVID-19 crisis, State and Federal Courts have implemented various orders designed to promote public safety while balancing the rights of criminal defendants and litigants. These orders include, in some jurisdictions, the continuation of jury trials, the suspension of statutes of limitations, and in some instances suspension of court […] More

FINRA Issues Guidance on Disclosure Requirements Related to Loan Forgiveness under the Payment Protection Program (“PPP”)
Apr 14, 2020

FINRA Issues Guidance on Disclosure Requirements Related to Loan Forgiveness under the Payment Protection Program (“PPP”)

By Michael Schwartzberg

FINRA announced yesterday that it will not require the disclosure of loans forgiven under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) in response to Form U4 Question 14K, as long as the forgiveness is consistent with the loan’s original terms. FINRA requires registered persons to affirmatively disclose on their U-4 a “compromise” of a debt to a […] More