Category: General

On July 15, 2020, Virginia became the first state in the country to adopt Coronavirus-related workplace safety mandates. The new standards, which take immediate effect when published during the week of July 27, 2020, are available here.   The emergency temporary standards are designed to establish requirements for employers to control, prevent, and mitigate the spread of… Continue reading Virginia Adopts First Coronavirus Workplace Safety Regulations

On July 1, 2020, Virginia leapfrogs from the back of the pack to at least the front half of states in laws that govern the workplace and protect employees. For decades, Virginia was known primarily as an “employment at will” state, where employers had full rein to make their own rules, or not, to govern… Continue reading Important New Employment Laws in Virginia START NOW

The employment law landscape in the Commonwealth of Virginia and elsewhere nationally continues to evolve. On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court held in Bostock v. Clayton County that federal law prohibits employment discrimination against LGBTQ workers. In a majority opinion authored by Justice Gorsuch and joined by Justices Roberts, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, the Court… Continue reading Landmark Supreme Court Case Holds that Title VII Protects LGBTQ Workers

CCF Summer 2020 Newsletter

Northern Virginia and the D.C. Metro region are preparing to return to work, at least in stages. If you are an employee returning to the workplace, there are a number of COVID-19-related rights that you have.   First, under federal law and rules from the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),… Continue reading Know Your Rights as You Return to Work

Cook Craig & Francuzenko is pleased to announce that partners John C. Cook and Broderick C. Dunn were named to the Super Lawyers® 2020 list.   Super Lawyers® is a rating service by Thomson Reuters, selecting outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and personal… Continue reading John C. Cook and Broderick C. Dunn Named to 2020 Super Lawyer’s List

When was the last time your reviewed your will, Trust, Power of Attorney and Advanced Medical Directive? Last year? Five years ago? Was it 10 years? Not since signing them? Or maybe you don’t have estate planning documents? When our clients execute their estate planning document they often ask that question: “When should I review them?”… Continue reading Reviewing Your Estate Planning Documents

On April 11, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed yet another bill which fundamentally changes the employment law landscape in the Commonwealth of Virginia. HB798 is a comprehensive whistleblower protection law which prevents an employer from discharging, disciplining, threatening, discriminating against, or penalizing an employee because he or she:   Reports a violation of any federal or state law or… Continue reading Virginia Enacts Sweeping Whistleblower Protection Law

Saturday April 11 was a great day for employee rights in Virginia as Governor Northam signed the SB 868, the Virginia Values Act, into law.   The Virginia Values Act not only prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sexual identity in employment and public accommodations, it also creates a state court cause of action for discrimination on… Continue reading Huge Day for Employee Rights in Virginia

The Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association have confirmed our firm’s reading of Governor Northam’s Stay at Home Order, which is that law offices may stay open under certain restrictions. Governor Northam’s Executive Orders 53 and 55 provide that professional services, including law firms, are permitted to remain open during the Stay-At-Home Order in effect until June… Continue reading Professional Services and Law Firms Permitted to Operate During Stay at Home Orders