After offices and other places of business reopen following COVID-19 shutdowns, tenants and owners face increased legal liability, and property insurance plans may not cover this risk.
If an employee or guest contracts the disease, the prospect of a lawsuit puts companies and property owners at risk. Though most re-openings come with stringent measures to protect the health of workers and visitors, those actions may not be enough to protect a company from liability if someone catches COVID-19 within their property.
Companies have to follow the necessary guidelines to safeguard their buildings from COVID-19 transmission, but they also must ensure compliance with those measures, a lawyer interviewed by GlobeSt advises. Plaintiffs would not necessarily have a difficult time proving that they were infected at a particular location.
The prevalence of mobile devices, private security cameras, and other tracking and tracing methods, there could be enough data to determine who was within six feet of an infected person. If businesses adhere to guidelines to prevent disease transmission, though, they stand a much better chance of prevailing in court.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | May 30, 2017
Heated debate over whether Calif.’s prevailing wage requirement stymies affordable housing
There’s disagreement around how much pay regulations add to cost of projects.
Codes and Standards | May 25, 2017
Technology is influencing parking requirement codes in new developments
Uber and Lyft make it easier for urban dwellers to live without owning cars.
Codes and Standards | May 25, 2017
Better Buildings Challenge Partners on track to reduce energy usage by 20% in 10 years
More than 1,000 proven solutions are now available on DOE web site.
Codes and Standards | May 22, 2017
Affordable housing initiative drives surge in residential unit permits in New York City
New permits tripled from year-ago period.
Codes and Standards | May 22, 2017
Amid labor shortage, industry groups urge government action to boost trades
AGC says a shortage of qualified workers is limiting the economy from adding more jobs.
Codes and Standards | May 19, 2017
Spate of sinkhole incidents points to neglected infrastructure investment
Suddenly appearing caverns cause deaths, evacuations, interruption of utility services.
Codes and Standards | May 18, 2017
AIA releases updated edition of its A201 flagship documents
These core documents are updated once a decade.
Codes and Standards | May 16, 2017
Trump’s proposed corporate tax rate changes said to stifle funding for affordable housing
Banks reluctant to commit to specific deals with tax credit status uncertain.
Codes and Standards | May 15, 2017
New IoT-Ready Alliance to establish standard for IoT sensors in LED light fixtures
It aims to make installation of technology easier.
Codes and Standards | May 10, 2017
OSHA increases penalties on South Dakota contractor after fatal building collapse
Agency issues over $300,000 in fines for ‘willful’ safety violations.