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We hope that you and your loved ones remain safe and practice social distancing during this time of uncertainty caused by COVID-19. To bring some certainty to the times, we provide you with this update on how COVID-19 is impacting our firm, the court system, and your cases.
We Remain Fully Operational
Our firm is fully operational, but we are operating in compliance with Governor DeWine’s March 22, 2020, “stay at home” order. Our attorneys and staff currently work remotely from home through a secure server to protect your sensitive and confidential information.
Be assured that we continue to work tirelessly on your cases, just as we would if we were working behind our desks in the office. The Becker Law Firm proactively seeks to protect its clients’ interests by aggressively prosecuting and advancing their cases using all available technology; not only do we intend to take and defend witness depositions via video-conferencing or other platforms, we are also conducting mediation by video-conference.
The Courts Remain Open
Federal and state courts remain open and functioning but with limited public access and with many employees working under the “stay at home” order. We expect delays in pending lawsuits.
On March 27, 2020, Governor DeWine signed in to law H.B. 197, immediately tolling (or extending) all statutes of limitations, time limitations, and deadlines in the Ohio Revised Code, which sets forth the procedures governing the state court system.
This extension of deadlines will make it easier for both existing litigants and for those whose claims have not yet been filed. Also on March 27, 2020, the Supreme Court of Ohio issued an Order adopting H.B. 197’s tolling requirements and clarifying that courts may still issue orders setting schedules or deadlines within pending cases.
The Supreme Court of Ohio has encouraged each Court of Common Pleas to utilize technology, such as video-conferencing, web-based meeting platforms, and telephone-conferencing to conduct court operations. We monitor the courts’ websites for changes to COVID-19 procedures and orders.
New / Potential Clients
Our attorneys and staff at The Becker Law Firm are ready and available to speak with you about your potential claim. But until the stay at home order and other protective measures are lifted, our initial in-person client meetings will take place over the phone. Please call us for a free phone consultation.