On August 5, 2020, Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 315, which amends Georgia’s Mechanics’ and Materialmen’s Lien statute (O.C.G.A. § 44-14-366) to expressly limit the release language of lien waivers to a contractor’s lien rights without affecting any other rights [...]

Georgia has not issued a moratorium on residential or commercial foreclosures in response to COVID-19.  However, there are two protections for homeowners with federally backed mortgages.  First, lenders may not foreclose on federally backed mortgages until at least August 31, 2020.  HUD authorized FHA to implement [...]

Important changes due to COVID-19 have impacted evictions and tenants’ relief.  Georgia has not issued a state-wide moratorium on evictions.  However, the Georgia Supreme Court has issued a state of judicial emergency limiting court [...]

Force Majeure clauses have probably been discussed more in the last two months than in the last 2 decades. Force Majeure, of course, is that obscure legal term, from the French, meaning "superior force"— [...]

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans program has raised concerns about fraud and abuse given the speed in approving loans and releasing funds.  On June 25, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report highlighting [...]

As Georgia eases COVID-19 restrictions, “non-critical” businesses may now reopen with “minimum business operations” as long as they follow 21 social distancing and sanitation rules.  The Executive Order does not require businesses to reopen, but gives them the ability to do so if they choose. As long as new COVID cases and deaths [...]