December 7, 2020
In response to the surging COVID-19 numbers in Connecticut, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order 9N (click here to view Executive Order 9N), which increases the penalty on businesses that violate DECD Sector Rules. These are the rules that define what Connecticut businesses must do if they wish to (re)open in Connecticut. The penalty assessed against businesses found in violation of one of the DECD Sector Rules is raised from a somewhat nominal $500 to $10,000 per violation. Business owners – Do we have your attention now? The increased penalty went into effect at 12:01 am, November 26th, Thanksgiving Day.
The key concern being addressed in this new Executive Order revolves around violations of capacity limits at non-residential settings (i.e., restaurants, bars, and banquet halls), which has been identified as a leading cause of community spread of the COVID-19 virus. Executive Order N9 also applies to violations of any other DECD Sector Rule, such as a business failing to require employees to wear masks. The new Executive Order stops short of further regulation of private gatherings at residential properties.
Brody and Associates will keep you updated on any further developments.
The subject matter of COVID-19 posts are often very technical. It is also an evolving area of law and very fact specific. Our goal here is to simply alert you to some of the key issues involved. We urge you to seek competent legal counsel before applying these ideas to your specific situation. Since March, we have had a team of attorneys focusing on COVID-19 related developments and they continue to stand ready to help you with any issues involving the pandemic.
