The Impact On Litigation - Troutman Sanders and Pepper Hamilton COVID-19 Litigation Podcast Series
Remote depositions are becoming more prevalent in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This list tracks the various state and federal authorities that govern remote depositions and the administration of oaths or affirmations...more
As the pandemic unfolded last spring, many federal buildings closed to the public, and judges and their staffs shifted to remote work like many other professionals. Courts quickly turned to virtual hearings and trials, as...more
Delaware has one of the most active federal civil trial dockets in the country. On Monday, it issued this notice: In short, Delaware is back...more
On Wednesday, Judge James Selna of the US District Court for the Central District of California issued an order continuing a jury trial that was set for June 1. The order is worth reading in its entirety:...more
On Wednesday, February 10, Governor Roy Cooper signed Senate Bill 36, 2020 COVID Relief Bill Modifications, into law. On Thursday, February 11, the updated revenue forecast was released. This is the first forecast since May...more
The major action in the North Carolina General Assembly this week was the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 36, 2020 COVID Relief Bill Modifications. See a summary of the bill here. The bill was ratified and sent to the...more
Here’s the headline from yesterday’s Palm Beach Post: “Jury trials begin again in Palm Beach County as coronavirus infections continue to rise.” Palm Beach County will begin holding jury trials for both criminal and civil...more
We return now to Judge Amos Mazzant’s federal courtroom in Sherman, Texas. COVID-19 caused a mistrial last year, when jurors, lawyers and court staff become infected mid-trial. We covered it, most recently...more
Americans are asking: “We know about Georgia’s elections, but what about its courts?” We’re here to tell you. On Friday, the Georgia Supreme Court extended its prohibition on jury trials. The order notes that when the...more
The North Carolina General Assembly formally opened the 2021 – 2022 Session on Wednesday, January 14, 2021. Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) will continue to lead the two legislative...more
Readers will remember our coverage of the November trial in Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, which ended in a mistrial after jurors, court staff, and lawyers on both sides contracted COVID-19. The trial judge,...more
A vaccine is on the way, but jury trials are not—at least not in many places. Yesterday Indiana suspended all jury trials in the state until March. North Carolina froze nearly all in-person court proceedings through at least...more
This morning we received this notice from state court in Miami (the Eleventh Judicial Circuit) where we have a case pending: Coronavirus/COVID-19: Courthouses are closed for in-person hearings and trials based on public...more
Update Highlights: • COVID-19 infection rates, case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths are at or approaching the highs seen in the spring. ...more
Last week saw differing approaches to the pandemic in South Carolina. In the state court system, Chief Justice Don Beatty suspended all state civil and criminal jury trials, finding “that in light of the ongoing increase in...more
In Charlotte, North Carolina, the Superior Court for Mecklenburg County attempted to hold its first pandemic jury trial, starting November 16. Things did not go well. First, during the evidence phase, a jury was excused...more
On Monday we summarized the various district court orders shutting down jury trials. But events are outpacing us...more
What will we write about when all the courts have closed? We are rapidly on the way to finding out, especially in the federal system...more
Update Highlights: • COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Massachusetts, hitting rates of infection not seen since the spring. • Governor Baker imposed a nighttime curfew and restrictions on the size of gatherings in...more
Update Highlights: • Massachusetts state courts continue to expand in-person services and hearings while conducting business virtually whenever possible. • The Supreme Judicial Court issued a new order last week...more
On July 28th of this year, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (“SCJN”) and the Council of the Federal Judiciary issued a statement on the suspension of time limits and the resumption of activities after the period...more