Helpful Information to Navigate the COVID-19/Coronavirus Situation

As new information is provided from the state and federal government, MITA staff will be sharing updates and links that might be useful for contractors/employers as they continue to move forward during these unprecedented times.

The first article in this bulletin was authored by attorneys at McAlpine PC, which is a nationally recognized law firm specializing in construction law and litigation in Michigan and throughout the United States. The article discusses how to protect contracts in the event that work is interrupted by forces beyond the contractors’ control by considering incorporating a force majeure clause. As a standard provision in many contracts, a force majeure clause relieves both parties of their contractual obligations upon the occurrence of a specifically defined event that is unforeseeable at the time of contracting or is out of a parties’ control, making performance impossible or impracticable. The force majeure clause may also include specific time-sensitive notice requirements that should be strictly adhered to.

Click here for the full article from McAlpine PC.

The second article in this bulletin is an employer’s action guide that outlines whether a company’s prevention and response efforts are sufficient and appropriate. The article covers appropriate measures to take if employees are exposed to the coronavirus. The information comes from attorneys at Faegre Drinker, a global law firm that solves the most complex transactional, litigation and regulatory challenges their clients face. Their up to date information and guidance through this global pandemic can be found at their coronavirus resource center.

Click here for the Faegre Drinker coronavirus resource center.

In addition, President Trump recently issued new guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The President is calling on Americans to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people; to avoid eating and drinking in bars, restaurants, and public food courts; and to encourage schooling from home across the country. Most of these provisions have already been put into place by Governor Whitmer’s executive orders banning restaurants from providing service other than take out orders and closing schools across Michigan for the next three weeks.

MITA staff will continue to update members as more information becomes available. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mike Nystrom, Executive Vice President, at mikenystrom@thinkmita.orgor Lance Binoniemi, Vice President of Government Affairs, at lancebinoniemi@thinkmita.org.