COVID-19 Legal Services

COVID-19 Legal Services

At John Rue & Associates, we recognize that many of our clients, and many members of the general public, are suffering because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ve never been ones to sit on the sidelines when people need our help. That’s why we are committing to donate 10% of revenues from any COVID-19-related legal services we provide to the Sparta Ecumenical Food Pantry, whose resources have been stretched thin by the crisis.

We also know that the pandemic has raised unique—and often unprecedented—legal issues for some of the most vulnerable members of our society.  Although the Firm’s ordinary practice focuses on education law, legal issues are arising, as a result of the pandemic, in a number of related areas in which our lawyers have substantial experience and capabilities.

Some of these areas overlap with our extensive education experience. In other areas, we’ve identified synergies with our practice because of the legal availability of prevailing party fees (where the defendant has to pay a successful plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees), which permits us to make creative fee agreements with our clients that reduce the up-front cost to them of our legal services, and share the risk of the litigation between our clients and us.

Here are the legal services we are prepared to offer during the pandemic, in the aftermath of the pandemic, and in the aftermath of that aftermath.

(As always, preliminary consultations are provided without charge.)

Higher Education Refunds

Many colleges and universities have refused to refund payments made for classes that were “classes” in name only, and did not resemble traditional college instruction. This refusal is leading to legal claims against these institutions.

For example, if a student is dissatisfied with the educational program provided to them during the pandemic, and believes the program did not meet the obligations of the college or university, the resolution of that dispute would likely turn on the language in the tuition contract.

But, on the other hand, if a student was unable to function remotely during the pandemic, perhaps due to the healthcare needs of a family member, and asked the college or university for reasonable accommodation, which was not provided, the educational institution might have violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination or the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Click here to request a preliminary consultation.

Employment Disputes

Some employees are being forced to work in unsafe conditions.

Others have been terminated in violation of a contract, without due process, and/or without access to resources to support them during the pandemic.

Still others might seek unemployment benefits that are being challenged by their former employers.

Any of these may be the sort of matter the firm could assist a client with.

Click here to request a preliminary consultation.

PPP Loan Disputes

The federal SBA Payroll Protection Program has lent about half a trillion dollars to small businesses to help them keep afloat during the pandemic.

Some business owners are concerned that the banks tasked with certifying loans as forgivable did not, or will not, act in good faith.

Others believe that, although they acted quickly and diligently, they were denied access to this program because their banks “played favorites” with their biggest customers.

This firm will work to assist clients in setting right their situation with regard to PPP Loans.

Click here to request a preliminary consultation.

Consumer Fraud

Big businesses, and even wealthy individuals, may take advantage of the vulnerability of less sophisticated market participants during the state of emergency.

If a business or an individual intentionally misrepresented facts to you and, as a result, you were injured in the process of purchasing something (a car, a house, home improvement services, a recurring subscription to an online service, etc.), we may be able to help.

Click here to request a preliminary consultation.

Civil Rights

Under the state of emergency, enormous power has been assumed by the executive branches of government, both in Trenton and in Washington, D.C.

This Firm has experience with the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, and has brought numerous lawsuits under federal law (Section 1983) for civil rights violations.

If you think your constitutional and/or fundamental civil rights are being violated, call for a consultation with one of our attorneys.

Click here to request a preliminary consultation.

John Rue & Associates, LLC
Princeton Office
100 Overlook Center, 2nd Floor #9211
Princeton, NJ 08540

[email protected]

862-283-3155 (Phone)
973-860-0869 (Fax)

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John D. Rue is responsible for the content of this website. This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship

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