COVID-19 Case Evolution Timeline

This is the predicted timeline for cases that will arise as a result of COVID-19, including immedate, short-term, mid term, and long term needs. Download the Lifecycle of Civil Legal Issues Post-National Emergency (Pandemic) Declaration document here. If you already have experience in any of these areas, please let the provider you select  know. But don't worry if you don't. The pro bono providers can help you get the training and information you need to succeed. Click here when you're ready to sign up.

ACTIVE PERIOD (DURING THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY)

1. Unemployment
   
   1. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
   2. Unsafe working conditions
   3. COVID-19 based workplace discrimination
   4. Criteria for eligibility as businesses reopen
2. Federal Income Tax
   
   1. Extensions and filing requirements for stimulus checks/SBA loans
3. Family
   
   1. Domestic Violence
   2. Child abuse
   3. Right of possession and access
4. Housing
   
   1. Evictions
   2. Rental Assistance
   3. Mortgage Assistance
   4. Utility shutoffs
   5. Reasonable Accommodations under the Fair Housing Act for individuals with disabilities
5. Small Business
   
   1. U.S. SBA Loans
   2. Contract Enforcement
   3. Commercial Leases
6. Estate Planning
   
   1. Will/TODD Drafting
   2. POA/Medical POA/Directive to Physician
7. Civil Rights
   
   1. State Emergency Powers
   2. Shelter in Place and Quarantine Orders
   3. Policing
   4. Detention
   5. Equitable emergency services
   6. Access to voting
   7. Access to justice/courts
   8. Access to data and public information
8. Immigration
   
   1. Changes in immigration policy
   2. Restrictions on access to counsel and access to legal mail for civil immigration detainees
   3. ICE Detention (conditions; access to treatment; quarantine)
   4. CBP Detention (conditions; access to treatment; quarantine)
   5. Enforcement (raids; checkpoints; sensitive locations; quarantine zones)
   6. Immigration Courts (closing/ limited functions)
   7. Migrant Protection Protocols
   8. USCIS (Field Offices, Service Centers: closing / limited functions)
   9. Consular processing unavailable
   10. Border restrictions/closure for asylum seekers
9. Disability Rights
   
   1. Access to medical assistance and medical equipment/prescriptions
   2. Accessible technology for work and school
   3. Effective and accessible emergency notifications
10. Education
    
    1. Access to technology
    2. Language accessibility
    3. Failure to fulfill Child Find obligations
    4. Continuity of related services and availability of compensatory services
    5. Transitioning out of probation to enrollment in public school-will they delay/deny access to education
    6. Student loan forbearance
11. Emergency Management
    
    1. Accessibility to testing and testing sites
    2. Accessibility to all information, effective communication (orders posted online not accessible, no translators, etc.)
    3. Inconsistencies in defining essential and non-essential businesses, no continuity across Office of Emergency Management and may deny services to individuals with disabilities 
    4. Quarantine measures-effective communication concerns, notice requirements
    5. Will grants for PA consider needs of individuals with disabilities to allow accessibility and effective communication
    6. Local jurisdictions orders to shut businesses/services-that individuals with disabilities may rely upon denies access to necessities 
    7. FEMA- if additional IA assistance comes into play
       
       1. Funeral and burial assistance 
       2. Rental assistance 
       3. Critical needs assistance
       4. Disaster Unemployment  
       5. Reasonable accommodations to application process and IA procedures
12. Disaster Assistance
    
    1. Prior disaster deadline extensions
    2. New pandemic related disaster assistance
    3. Access to enhanced public benefits/program changes
13. Juvenile 
    
    1. Children in unsafe environments and kinship orders
14. Health 
    
    1. Age discrimination related to COVID-19 treatment
    2. Mental health
    3. Insurance
15. Consumer 
    
    1. Stimulus check garnishment
16. Institutional Rights 
    
    1. Clients Rights officers at institutions not considered essential staff, so clients have no way to voice concerns or violations
    2. No regulatory investigations being conducted for state-supported living center/LTC
    3. Police officer detentions for mental health concerns would normally take to ER for mental health concerns, now doing what?
    4. Private psych hospitals furloughing staff, limited options for mental health treatment
    5. Since court not in session-no investigations, discharges, hearings

SHORT-TERM (1-6 weeks after the National Emergency ends)

1. Housing
   
   1. Execution of writs of removal
   2. Utility shut-offs
   3. Foreclosure prevention
   4. Denial of housing based on COVID (or association of) fair housing
   5. Homeless population not being addressed and provided access to services for COVID-19
   6. PHA obligations to protect and accommodate residents from and with COVID-19
   7. Temporary housing - hotel/motel residents being “evicted”
   8. Advocacy for continued community integration v. unreasonable institutionalizations for individuals with disabilities 
2. Family
   
   1. Divorce
   2. Right of possession and access
   3. Emergency protective orders
   4. Emergency child custody modifications
   5. CPS cases
3. Estate Administration
   
   1. Probate
   2. Title clearing
4. Small Business
   
   1. Insurance claims
   2. Commercial lease evictions/ negotiation

MID-TERM (1 to 6 months after the National Emergency ends)

1. Consumer
   
   1. Fraud
   2. Scams
   3. Identity theft
   4. Debt collection
   5. Price gouging
   6. Bankruptcy
2. Housing
   
   1. Foreclosures
   2. Advocacy for continued community integration v. unreasonable institutionalizations for individuals with disabilities 
3. Estate Administration
   
   1. Determination of Heirship
   2. Will probate
   3. MERP
   4. Small Estates Affidavits
   5. Life Insurance
4. Family
   
   1. Divorce
   2. Domestic Violence
5. Real Property
   
   1. Property tax payments
   2. Exemptions
6. Small Business
   
   1. Bankruptcy

LONG-TERM (Can last several years)

1. Estate Administration
   
   1. Determination of Heirship
   2. Will probate
   3. MERP
   4. Small Estates Affidavits
   5. Life Insurance
2. Title Clearing
   
   1. Deed Drafting
3. Real Property
   
   1. Property tax payments and exemptions
4. Systemic Litigation 
   
   1. Individuals with disabilities denied access to or benefit from federal/state/local services and programs
5. Consumer
   
   1. Debt collection
   2. Bankruptcy
6. Small Business
   
   1. Litigation
   2. Bankruptcy 
7. Education
   
   1. TBD but how schools will physically re-open in the Fall of 2020 will impact legal issues. 
   2. For students receiving supports through IDEA or 504, who have missed services, compensatory educational services will need to be addressed
   3. Continuation of programming once re-opened
   4. Continued accessibility to public education