Illinois Stay At Home Order and Spring Seminar Postponement

IN THIS EDITION

What Does Stay At Home Order Mean For BCM

IWCC News In Response To COVID-19

Civil Law Department Update

BCM Postpones Annual Spring Seminar

ILLINOIS STAY-AT-HOME ORDER

On Friday, March 20, 2020, State of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a Stay at Home Executive Order that will remain in effect through at least April 7, 2020. The stay at home order exempts Essential Businesses and Operations. Professional Services including Legal Services are designated as Essential Businesses and Operations. For more information, please visit the State of Illinois Covid-19 Response Site: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/coronavirus/Pages/default.aspx

While law firms are considered essential businesses, we at BCM are continuing to have our attorneys and staff work remotely to provide you with uninterrupted service while protecting the health and safety our clients, colleagues and families.

We want to assure you that regardless of what preventive measures are implemented to do our part, BCM will remain fully available to you. Your e-mails and calls will be answered and we will continue to protect your interests with same responsiveness and expertise you expect.

ILLINOIS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION NEWS

As we reported last week, on Monday, March 16, 2020, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission suspended all normal in-person Arbitration and Commission Review Proceedings for a two-week period. The Commission continues to process all usual documents and filings, made in person or by mail. This period will run from Tuesday March 17, 2020, through Tuesday March 31, 2020. For emergency matters, IWCC Chairman Michael Brennan has issued the following Memorandum:

BCM will continue to be in communications with the Chairman’s Office, Commissioners, Arbitrators and opposing counsel to ensure the interests of our clients are protected.

CIVIL LAW DEPARTMENT UPDATE

In response to the Governor’s declaration of emergency, the Illinois Supreme Court entered an order empowering circuit and appellate courts to modify or suspend deadlines and procedures. The Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County entered an order that limited court operations to emergency matters effective March 17. Additionally, all case management deadlines have been automatically rescheduled eight (8) weeks in the future. Thus far, the various districts of the Illinois Court of Appeals have remained open for business, but with modified procedures.

Federal courts have also closed and limited operations to emergency matters. For example, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has closed operations to the public and continued all case management dates for 21 days.

Your BCM civil litigation attorney will keep you updated as to status of your case.

SPRING SEMINAR POSTPONEMENT

Please be advised that BCM has made the decision to postpone our Annual Spring Seminar that was originally scheduled for May 7, 2020 in Oak Brook, IL. This was an easy decision for us to make because the safety of our clients is our number one priority.

We are working to secure a new date for the seminar in the fall and will have updates for you, along with information on next steps so that you can save the date and join us later this year. The event will replace our Annual Fall Seminar and we will increase the size and capacity to accommodate all attendees.

Of course, we will certainly continue to monitor and consult updates from Federal, State and local government, the CDC, WHO, Illinois Public Health and other healthcare resources to ensure that we are fully informed and staying on top of the evolving information being released in regards to group gatherings.

While we are disappointed that we will not gathering in May, we grateful for your continued support. This event simply would not happen without you. We look forward to thanking you in person this Fall.

BCM will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and will follow guidance from public health officials and government agencies, so we can continue to support our clients and communities as needed. Stay healthy and safe.

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