On-and-Off Leave for Working Parents in Limbo as Schools Start

Here are the day’s top coronavirus stories from the team at Bloomberg Law:

• ON-AND-OFF LEAVE: Working parents face uncertainty about their right to use federally guaranteed paid leave at their discretion, thanks to a recent court ruling that muddled the issue as a new school year begins and Covid-19 infections persist.
• ONLINE BAR EXAMS: As about 30,000 would-be lawyers prepare to take online bar exams in New York, California, and 16 other states in early October, many have said they’re grateful to avoid the health risks that come with taking an in-person test alongside hundreds of others during a pandemic.
• EVICTION FILINGS: With Congress on recess after the collapse of negotiations for another pandemic spending package, millions of households across the U.S. now face an acute level of precarity. The federal eviction moratorium expired on July 25, but property owners that were subject to that law must still give 30 days’ notice before they can file against tenants. The lapse of the federal moratorium leaves millions of renters newly exposed to eviction proceedings.

Graphic: Jonathan Hurtarte/Bloomberg Law

Editor’s Top Picks

Virus-Hit California Girds for ‘Long and Difficult’ Fire Season
Utilities across California came under criticism last year as millions were plunged into darkness during planned outages to prevent wildfires. Now comes the 2020 wildfire season, which brings higher fire risk and the added complication of a worldwide pandemic.

Bikers From at Least 39 States Tracked to Rally With Few Masks
Two days after the 80th annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D., came to an end, health officials across the country are watching to see if attendees at the largest U.S. mass gathering since March brought home Covid-19 as an unwanted souvenir.

Visa Flexibility for Agricultural Guest Workers Extended to 2023
Amendments to the seasonal agricultural guest worker visa program that give employers flexibility in hiring workers will extend through 2023 under a new temporary final rule.

Tennessee Governor Signs Covid-19 Business Liability Shield
Tennessee joined at least 10 other states in broadly limiting liability lawsuits related to Covid-19 exposure, under legislation Gov. Bill Lee signed into law.

States Economize in Rollout of Trump’s Jobless Aid Boost
A first wave of states has lined up to administer the latest federal boost in unemployment benefits, but there’s little sign they plan to fund their share of the expanded assistance.

California Elder Abuse Damages Capped Despite Covid Concerns
California law caps statutory damages by patients in nursing homes at $500 per lawsuit, the state top court ruled Monday, rejecting two justices’ concerns that such a limitation is particularly onerous during the pandemic.

Indiana Judge Pushed to Make Swift Call in Absentee Voting Case
Indiana voters are urging a federal judge to quickly order the state to expand absentee voting, alleging election officials appear unwilling to make a decision on their own.

Black Alabamians Advance Covid Challenge to Fall Voting Rules
Alabama lost its bid to dismiss a suit alleging enforcement of a mail-in voting rule and a ban on curbside ballots during the pandemic will unduly burden Black residents this fall, according to a federal judge’s ruling.

INSIGHT: Trump’s Anti-Trans Measures Protect Prejudice in Covid-19 Era
Trump’s revoking of historic Obama-era protections for transgender populations is a new level of cruelty during the threat of Covid-19, says Kay Van Wey, an attorney with Van Wey, Presby & Williams.

INSIGHT: Helping Inmates Cope During Covid-19
Covid-19 has led to some minor changes in most prisons, but meaningful change to improve conditions is still far to come. Craig Rothfeld, a criminal justice adviser and advocate, and New York attorney Seema Iyer, say inmates are relying on their lawyers, legal services, and social workers more than ever and outline ways to help inmates cope during the pandemic.

Click here for updates on how federal courts are operating during the pandemic.

If a friend forwarded you this email, sign up here.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Flipboard, LinkedIn, Reddit, Facebook, and Telegram. You can tell Alexa to “Play Bloomberg Law news” or add Bloomberg Law to your Flash Briefing.

Editor’s Note: The Bloomberg Law news team has been closely covering the legal, regulatory, business, and tax implications of the coronavirus pandemic. This daily email highlights the top stories of the day, across practice areas. To unsubscribe, please adjust your Bloomberg Law newsletter settings. For assistance, contact our help desk at 888-560-2529 or help@bloomberglaw.com.