Articles Posted in Real Estate

This past week, multiple states extended States of Emergency or Stay at Home Orders, while simultaneously issuing orders regarding reopening their states.  Because construction was deemed essential in the majority of the states, many re-opening orders have very little direct impact.  However, even in states where construction was never ordered to cease, orders have nevertheless included construction in their reopening focus.  For example, the District of Columbia established a ReOpen DC Advisory Board, and included a Real Estate and Construction Committee.  Kentucky issued “Requirements for Construction Businesses” to open and remain open as the state reopens.  And in Pennsylvania, where construction was previously halted, the Governor issued an order allowing construction to resume in certain counties.

For more details on orders and guidance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, see our Updated COVID-19 Construction Chart.

For America’s economic recovery to move forward with relatively few hitches, liability limits are essential. History has shown how easily the mere threat of lawsuits by aggressive tort lawyers can derail critical recovery efforts. The White House and Congress should therefore work together to establish effective and appropriate liability limits. By modifying existing statutes that limit liability in a way that assures both fewer frivolous tort suits and effective pandemic mitigation and recovery policies, Washington will have done its part to prevent unscrupulous lawyers from needlessly hindering the economic recovery that Americans so desperately need. Colleague Brian Finch discusses key considerations in the whitepaper, Liability Protections Are Critical to Ensuring Economic Recovery originally posted on The Heritage Foundation.

As seen in our Updated COVID-19 Construction Chart, many states saw action – or intentional inaction – this past week as it relates to COVID-19-related governmental orders. Continue Reading ›