News / Blog

Governor Mike DeWine approved $125 million of Federal CARES Act funding to provide $10,000 grants to qualifying Ohio small businesses. The qualifications under this new Small Business Relief Grant (“SBRG”) program are provided below. …

As we move through the fourth quarter and companies are planning budgets for 2021, one factor that must be considered is the increase to Ohio’s minimum wage. Effective January 21, 2021, for companies with annual gross receipts over $323,000.00, Ohio’s general minimum wage for non-tipped employees will increase to $8.80/hr. and for tipped employees to $4.40/hr. …

Recently, we published a brief article concerning the treatment of a PPP loan in a change of control transaction; specifically, the sale of a PPP borrower’s business. In our experience in such transactions, to date, banks have struggled with addressing the PPP loan prior to the acceptance of an application of forgiveness. …

Imagine the following scenario: perhaps even a typical scenario in today’s commercial real estate environment. A commercial landlord receives a notice from its tenant’s legal counsel. The notice informs the landlord that the tenant, who is seven years into a ten year lease, is vacating the premises in thirty days and would thereafter have no further duties or obligations under the lease. …

The question of whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor has long been a thorn in employers’ sides. With the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) recent announcement of a proposed rule change, there may be some relief on the horizon.…

How does a PPP loan that has not yet been forgiven get handled in a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal? “It depends.” Most clients are familiar with this phrase from their lawyer. In most cases the vague or uncommitted response is necessitated by the uncertainty of how the facts might be judged or interpreted in a given situation. …

Yesterday, Governor DeWine signed H.B. 606 which provides civil immunity against actions for injury, death or loss stemming from exposure to COVID-19. Under this new legislation, which is retroactive to March 9, 2020 and expires of September 30, 2021, businesses are provided some immunity from actions relating to COVID-19, provided the exposure complained of was not the result of reckless, intentional, willful or wanton conduct. …

A Federal Court in Missouri refused to dismiss a class-action lawsuit brought by Missouri and Kansas businesses seeking to invoke Business Interruption coverage from their insurance carrier. Class Representative Plaintiffs, Studio 417, a hair salon, and several named restaurants filed their Complaint against …

Wickens Herzer Panza is pleased to announce that five attorneys have been named in the 27th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. This recognition is earned through peer nominations and reviews and is intended to capture “the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area”…

At Wickens Herzer Panza we administer a group rating program (through Trident, sponsored by NEOSC) to assist our client group members in reducing their workers’ compensation premiums.…