Hi, How Can We Help You?

Author Archives: Christopher P. Finney

Paycheck Protection Program: Wells Fargo stops accepting applications

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on

The Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) is easily the most generous small business support grant/loan program in the history of the nation.  Essentially, it is a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of small businesses (under 500 employees) nationwide in the midst of the economic crisis borne out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It launched Friday, April 3, 2020, and on Sunday April 5, Wells Fargo & Company announced that it has “reached its capacity of $10 billion to lend under the PPP.” According to FastCompany.Com, “the bank has only been focusing on nonprofits or companies with 50 employees or less,” the statement read. From Fast Company and Wells:

“Given the exceptionally high volume of requests we have already received, we will not be able to accept any additional requests for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program. We will review all expressions of interest submitted by customers via our online form through April 5 and provide updates in the coming days.”

Many of our clients have wanted to apply quickly to be “first in line” for the grants, and successfully completed their on-line application with various banks.  We have helped them to quickly apply, but generally counseled patience inasmuch as the program claims to extend through the end of 2020.  Thus, we did not expect the grant/loan program would be cut off so quickly and callously by one of the nation’s biggest lenders.  48 hours of applications, which really was about eight business hours, and “poof” they are out of the game and leave their regular customers hanging.

To make matters worse, most banks with which we speak say they are limiting PPP applications to existing customers only. So, Wells Fargo customers may need to either wait or flail around for days, weeks or months to find another lender to process their perfectly compliant PPP application.

We continue to work with clients who are continuing to process PPP applications with PNC, US Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Huntington Bank and other major and smaller lenders.  If you are a Wells Fargo customer who is having difficulties applying for a PPP loan, contact us to help identify a cooperative and open lender.

Attorney Rebecca L. Simpson of the Finney Law Firm has carefully studied the PPP and the Emergency Income Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) to help our small business clients access these funds.  Feel free to call her at 513.797.2856 if you have questions about these programs or need help accessing PPP or EIDL funds.

Stay safe, America. We will get through this together.

Paycheck Protection Program: Independent contractors and rocky launch?

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on

Two updates this morning on the SBA’s important and potentially very helpful Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses:

  1. The SBA’s Final Interim Rule issued Thursday night has this guidance on the difficult question of 1099 contractors:

Q: Do independent contractors count as employees for purposes of PPP loan calculations?

A. No, independent contractors have the ability to apply for a PPP loan on their own so they do not count for purposes of a borrower’s PPP loan calculation

2.  There have been a series of doom and gloom articles about the SBA’s rollout and large Banks’ reaction to that, such as this article from Politico, and this one from Forbes. We counsel patience. The government is rolling out an unprecedented amount of money for small businesses in the coming 30-60 days ad we suspect they will fully fund that generous program now that they have started it.

Finally, Rebecca L. Simpson (513.797.6227) from this office is devoting her practice for the coming weeks to serving clients on the PPP and EIDL programs. If she can be of assistance, please contact her directly.

Yes, we do video: Chris Finney discusses “early occupancy” in residential contracts with Ken Meyers of Option Financial

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on

Ken Meyers of Ohio Financial (513.328.1341) has invited me to do with him a series of video chats on issues of importance in the residential real estate marketplace.  We will be posting them here.

This is the first one on the topic of the typically unwise practice of allowing a buyer to have early occupancy of a property before a closing has taken place. The short answer is: don’t do it. Ever.

That first video entry is linked here.  Here also is a blog entry I have written on the same topic.

Ken is a residential mortgage lender with whom our team has had great experiences and we certainly would recommend him for your consideration.

Let me (513.943.6655) know if you have considerations of early occupancy, you need us to document an agreement for early occupancy, or we can help extricate you from a situation of early occupancy.

 

COVID-19 Crisis: Finney Law Firm succeeds in helping local business remain open as “essential” during the crisis

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on
Attorney Matt Okiishi

Congratulations is due to Finney Law Firm attorney Matt Okiishi who successfully sued today to force the Hamilton County Health Department to allow our client, Amazon Beauty Supply store in Finneytown, to remain open for business during the COVID-19 crisis.

The store, which sells beauty supplies, also markets soap, shampoo, other essential products and, most importantly, the much-sought-after N95 masks. The Hamilton County Health Department, noting that the store also sells non-essential supplies, had ordered them to be shuttered for the duration of the crisis, which for now extends through the end of May.

The business, an existing client of Finney Law Firm, asked us to sue to force the County to allow them to stay in business. We filed suit within 24 hours of first being contacted, and this afternoon our attorneys reached agreement with the attorneys from the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office to remain open. The case was assigned to Judge Jody Luebbers who essentially told the parties to work the matter out amicably.  The parties did so, which included an agreement on the number of customers that would be permitted in the store at any one time.

Channel 12 carried the story this afternoon, and the video featuring attorney Matt Okiishi is here.

“There’s little more rewarding in the law,” said Finney Law Firm founder Chris Finney, “than standing an errant government official up in front of a Judge and making him account for his behavior. Today attorney Okiishi enjoyed that exercise and achieved the desired end for our client.”

____________________

For help when you need to stare down an over-zealous government actor, contact  Matt Okiishi (513.943.6659).

Paycheck Protection Plan: 4/2/20 Finney Law Firm/Empower U Webinar is posted here

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on 1 Comment on Paycheck Protection Plan: 4/2/20 Finney Law Firm/Empower U Webinar is posted here

We thank Empower U for hosting a Zoom.Us webinar on the Small Business Administration’s new Paycheck Protection Plan (“PPP”) and Emergency Income Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) designed to help small businesses sustain through the unprecedented economic interruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.  The session was held on April 2, 2020 entirely virtual to remain safe.

The webinar video link is here.  Please feel free to share it with others.

The attorneys on this presentation and their contact information are;

Finney Law Firm is offering individualized assistance in navigating regulations and procedures surrounding PPP and EIDL applications.  For professional assistance, contact Rebecca L. Simpson.  If you or your business is encountering employment-related issues arising from the COVID-19 crisis, contact Stephen E. Imm.

If you liked this free video, please consider donating to EmpowerUOhio.Org to encourage this free programming.  Empower U has given more than 400 free adult education programs over the past decade, including valuable programming of this type.

There is a powerful feeling that the community is pulling together, rooting for one another, and digging deep to help each other, and we hope this information is helpful towards that end.

Also, we will continue to update the Finney Law Form blog to provide individuals and small businesses information on the programs that are available to help them through this crisis.

If you want to be added to the Finney Law Firm email updates, click here.

Ohio Commercial Leasing: Governor DeWine issues Executive Order on commercial leases and foreclosures

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis gripping the nation, today Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued an executive order addressing commercial leases and commercial mortgages in Ohio.  However, from our perspective, the Order is not intended to have any binding effect, and he would have no authority under Ohio law to issue such a binding order if he so desired.

Here are the components of the order, each of which he labels as a “request,” not an Order at all:

  • Requesting that landlords suspend commercial lease payments for at least 90 days for “small business commercial tenants in the State of Ohio that are facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
  • Requesting that landlords also provide a moratorium on evictions of small business commercial tenants for a term of at least 90 consecutive days.
  • Requesting that mortgage lenders of Ohio-based properties forbear on collection or enforcement of such mortgage for a period of at least 90 days.

As with our prior blog on the stay-at-home Order, the Order does not seem to have any direct legal effect, but rather is designed to encourage restraint and cooperation in this difficult time all of the world is encountering.

A copy of the Order is linked here.

Federal Employment Law: Employers must post Notice of Employee Rights under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on

The recently enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. We recently blogged about the Act here.

These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The US Department of Labor has issued a poster that employers are required to post in a conspicuous place, or make available to their employees on line. Here is a link to the poster:

The rapidity with which these laws have been passed and gone into effect is unprecedented in the field of employment law. If you have any questions or concerns about your rights and responsibilities under the Act, or regarding the posting of the required Notice, please feel free to reach out to us.

 

Free webinar tonight at EmpowerU on Paycheck Protection Program. Sign up here.

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on

Join Empower U tonight from the comfort and safety of your home via your laptop, tablet or cell phone for a webinar on powerful tools for small business from the federal government in the CARES Act passed last Friday.

>>> The link to sign up for the free seminar is here. <<<

  • If you want to email questions in advance, click here.
  • For specialized assistance for your company, we are offering consultation through the program for a flat $1,500 fee to help businesses through the process.  Click here to get signed up and type “PPP” in the subject line of the email.
  • To have your email to be added to our firm mailing list and receive tonight’s PowerPoint, click here and say “add me to your list” in the subject line.

Joining us tonight are:

  • Attorney Rebecca L. Simpson who will lead the presentation primarily on Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans available very shortly  to small businesses.
  • Attorney Stephen E. Imm who will answer questions of employers and employees about the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Melissa Knies from US Bank who will explain how to apply for the programs.
  • Attorney Christopher P. Finney will moderate.

We have a record audience for Empower U signed up for tonight. Please join us for this important program.

 

>>> Free seminar to address CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on
Thursday, April 2 (tomorrow) at 7 PM Finney Law Firm attorneys Christopher P. Finney and Rebecca L. Simpson will host a free webinar on the sweeping CARES Act, and in particular the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), as well as forthcoming stimulus checks and changes to the unemployment compensation system. Additionally, on the call will be:
  • Employment attorney Stephen E. Imm of Finney Law Firm who can answer questions of employers and employees relating to workplace legal issues.
  • Melissa Knies, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager in the Commercial Banking Department of US Bank, who can answer questions from the banker’s perspective on these programs.
These programs, along with the stimulus checks and unemployment benefits, provide significant assistance in this time of health and economic crisis for the nation.
Click here to register for this free program.
If you have questions you want answered on the program, please feel free to share them in advance here, and we will try to be prepared to answer those.
Additionally, our prior email had a link to an SBA list with only a few qualifying banks. In fact, far more banks are making these loans. The broader and updated list is here.
Contact Christopher P. Finney (513.943.6655) or Rebecca L. Simpson (513.797.2856) for specific assistance for your company.

COVID-19 Crisis: Finney Law Firm and Ivy Pointe Title quickly step up to the plate

Author By Christopher P. FinneyPosted on

With the advent of the COVID-19 Crisis, Finney Law Firm and Ivy Pointe Title have quickly stepped to the plate, with technology that allows for the practice of law with appropriate social distancing, with attorneys who focus on practice areas to help their clients, and with cutting edge information on emerging programs to help businesses and individuals in need.

Technology allowing for electronic interaction

Finney Law Firm and Ivy Pointe Title  have carefully developed the tools to be prepared for a day such as this:

  • DocuSign allows for execution of documents from your computer.  By federal and state law, e-signed documents are fully enforceable as with “inked” documents. Our team is licensed and trained in DocuSign technology for all documents in which clients will allow an electronic signature.
  • Electronic notary.  Finney Law Firm and Ivy Pointe Title contracted with one of only a handful of licensed e-notaries in Ohio for exclusive provision of e-notary services. Using the platform DocVerify, we have the strongest technology to allow real estate closings and other transactions to proceed.  By Ohio law, it is permissible to have documents signed and acknowledged (notarized) without person-to-person interaction via electronic signature and electronic notary.
  • Electronic payments. We use e-billing and credit card payments (and wire transfers and EFTs) for clients who prefer this method of billing and payment.
  • Electronic discovery and electronic depositions. Your litigation does not need to stop because of the COVID-19 crisis. Most of the work pre-trial can still move forward using e-mail, Zoom.US or Microsoft Teams for depositions, and motion work that can be electronically filed with almost all Courts.
  • Work-from-Home. If you do need to visit our offices, you will find that most of our professionals are not at their desks. Rather, they are safely (for you and them) working from home with the latest technology including Microsoft Surface laptops, Microsoft Teams Video Conferencing, Microsoft Office 365 data in the cloud, so we can access your data from anywhere in the planet, but with tremendous Microsoft security technology and backups.

Practice areas to help your business

Our business lawyers are up to date and prepared to help you through the thicket of issues that arise or are heightened with the COVID-19 crisis:

Attorney Isaac T. Heintz is proficient in contract interpretation, including how to enforce or avoid obligations under a lease or other agreement. He has already written purchase agreements with COVID-19 contingencies to extend due diligence periods to the declared end of the crisis. As you might expect, Isaac has also had many clients initiate their estate planning, or finish long-delayed estate planning work.

Attorney Stephen E. Imm heads our employment law group, and is advising clients on a myriad of new COVID-19 legislation and addressing employment law claims under previously existing law and the new enactments.

Attorney Bradley M.  Gibson heads our litigation group which is dealing with a multitude of business-to-business disputes, including those arising because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Attorney Richard P. Turner runs Ivy Pointe Title and in that capacity has been using every tool at our disposal to continue to close your transactions “accurately and on time, every time.”  These include closings respecting social distancing, and we stand prepared to be one of the first agencies in Ohio to implement fully electronic closings.  We also can do drive-by closings where you come to our office and sign documents from your car, or we come to you and you can sign them on our car hood.

Attorney Christopher P. Finney heads our public interest practice, and the host of issues addressing government-to-business and government-to-individual interaction arising from the COVID-19 crisis.

CARES Act assistance for your small business

Congress just passed the CoronaVirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which includes the Paycheck Protection Program that will provide what essentially are grants to businesses with fewer than 500 employees and enhanced Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

Attorney Rebecca L. Simpson has been counseling clients through this program, and on Thursday night she joins other presenters on a panel addressing “CARES Act, Including Paycheck Protection and Funds for Businesses.”

Conclusion

We are working furiously to meet the needs of our clients in this fast-emerging crisis. Let us know how we can help you or your small business navigate these turbulent waters to come to the other side safely and profitably.

And our hope is that each of you remain healthy throughout this pandemic.

 

 

1 … 14 15 16 17 18 … 59