In response to
COVID-19 Pandemic, there have been numerous Orders from various governmental
entities that affect the practice of law here in Hidalgo County and throughout
the State of Texas.
To comply with
these Orders, ensure the safety of our clients and employees, and to do our
part to help flattening the curve, we are implementing the following
modifications to our practice:
FOR CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS:
1. Only
essential hearings will take place for now until further
notice. If you have a pending case or a
hearing coming up, you must call the office to find out if your
hearing is essential. All
Jury Trials have been suspended for Civil and Criminal cases until further notice.
2. For
clients that in are Custody, we will continue to do all that we can to secure your
release. For example, we are filing Motions to Reduce Bond, Writs of Habeas
Corpus, and requesting PR bonds. We ask
that family members call the office for further instructions and information.
3. Travel
to and from our office will continue to be allowed, but only if absolutely
necessary. Unfortunately, we will not
be accepting any walk-ins. Current clients must call in and
request an appointment. In the event
that an in-person meeting is necessary, we will request that both the employee
and client wear necessary protective gear such as gloves and/or mask.
4. Attorney-Client
meetings will be held by telephone and/or videoconferencing using Facebook WhatsApp,
or ZOOM.
5.
Please
call into the office if you have a pending case with us, to see where we
stand.
6. Any
hearings that will be held during this time will be either in person, videoconferencing,
or Telephonic. If you do not have internet at home or the capability to
install software for videoconferencing, you might have the option to attend the
hearing telephonically. Please call our office several days before your
hearing in order to coordinate with the Court on how to best conduct your
hearing.
7. Any
documents that need to be signed can be executed electronically, and sent
through email or fax. If you do not have
the ability to electronically sign documents, we will make an exception for you
to come in person, taking all necessary precautions.
8. We
remain reachable by phone, video, email, text, WhatsApp, ZOOM and CLIO. We will continue to have full access to our
systems, and although certain face-to-face meetings need to be curtailed,
please know that with our systems in place we stand ready to assist you with
any challenges you are facing or questions you have.
9. CLIO
is our practice management system. All
clients have remote access to their files using CLIO. Clio Connect is a secure portal
where our office is able to share Documents, Calendar Events, Tasks, Bills, and
Secure Messages. Clio Connect is free
for clients. If you do not have access yet, please call the office and we will
send you a link to log on.
10. WE ARE STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS. OUR HOURS ARE
THE SAME. We are considered a critical
infrastructure industry by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
FOR OFFICE PERSONNEL:
1. We
are instructing all staff to practice good social distancing from each other
and from clients, at least 6 feet apart.
Absolutely no physical contact.
Allow only one client, one person at a time to be on the premises. Providing clients with the necessary
protective equipment such as mask and gloves.
All meetings will take place in conference room, where only two
people will be allowed at a time. Ensure
proper disposal of equipment and disinfecting areas of contact.
2. All
personnel have individual offices and shall remain in place until the need
arises for leaving to restroom or leaving for lunch.
3. We
are staggering our shifts in order to avoid the need for coming in close
contact with each other.
4. Employees
who have symptoms (i.e.,
fever, cough, or shortness of breath) should notify their supervisor and stay
home.
5. Sick
employees should follow CDC-recommended
steps.
Employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue
home isolation are
met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health
departments.
6. Employees
who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should
notify their supervisor and follow CDC recommended
precautions.
7. Our
employees are equipped with Personal Protection Equipment such as gloves and
masks and will be worn at all times when in close contact with others.
8. We
are promoting frequent and thorough hand washing by providing workers,
customers, and worksite visitors with a place to wash their hands. Soap and
running water are immediately available, as well as alcohol-based hand rubs
containing at least 60% alcohol.
9. Most
importantly everyone is required maintain regular housekeeping practices,
including routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, equipment, and other
elements of the work environment. When choosing cleaning chemicals, employers
should consult information on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved
disinfectant labels with claims against emerging viral pathogens. Products with
EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be effective
against SARS-CoV-2 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for use of all cleaning and disinfection products
(e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, PPE).
10.
WE WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!
Fortunately, our
firm has a plan in place to ensure business continuity so that we are
operational and fully available to handle client matters as seamlessly as
possible.
We realize that each
client, business, and industry will feel the effect in different ways, and our
attorneys are prepared to help you navigate this uncharted territory, or to
just lend an ear.
Our thoughts are
with everyone impacted by this pandemic, and we wish for everyone to remain
healthy and safe as we work through these challenging times. We are all in this
together, and together we will get through it.
To help our employees and clients navigate through these uncharted waters, we encourage you to read, "Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19"
