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Northern District Court of Ohio Closed to the Public Until May 1

Client Alert

In order to protect the public health, and in order to reduce the size of public gatherings and reduce unnecessary travel, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio hereby issues the following order effective immediately:

ALL COURTHOUSES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, SHALL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL MAY 1, 2020. ONLY PERSONS HAVING OFFICIAL BUSINESS AUTHORIZED BY THIS GENERAL ORDER OR BY A PRESIDING JUDGE, INCLUDING CREDENTIALED MEDIA, MAY ENTER COURTHOUSE PROPERTY. THIS APPLIES TO ALL DIVISIONAL LOCATIONS.

The Clerk’s Office intake windows will be closed. Electronic filings may still be made through the CM/ECF system. For those without access to CM/ECF, documents may be submitted by mail, or in the event of an emergency, may be submitted by email to: EmergencyFiling@ohnd.uscourts.gov.

Clerk’s Office staff will be available by telephone from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each business day as follows:

Akron: (330) 252-6020
Cleveland: (216) 357-7011
Toledo: (419) 213-5521
Youngstown: (330) 884-7420

Click here to read the full order.


Starting an Advanced Practice Provider Practice

Advanced practice providers (APPs), which includes non-physician providers such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse anesthetists, commonly start their own healthcare practices. Practices may provide, for example, service offerings such as primary care, anesthesiology, mental health, and aesthetics (medical spas). However, there are a number of considerations and steps that must be taken for APPs to compliantly function independently.

FTC Increases Targeting of Companies Lacking Cyber Protection

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently released a comprehensive cybersecurity report outlining key findings and recommendations based on emerging threats, trends in data breaches, and strategies for businesses to enhance their cybersecurity posture observed over the last year.

New Federal Medical Conscience Rule and Its Implications

The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights issued a Final Rule to clarify protections for healthcare providers who refuse services based on religious or moral beliefs. This includes protection against discrimination for refusing procedures like assisted suicide or abortion. The OCR can receive complaints, conduct investigations, and enforce these protections. Entities are encouraged to update policies accordingly and display a model notice provided by the OCR.

Marijuana Reclassification and APRN/PA Prescribing

Marijuana is expected to be reclassified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule III controlled substance as a result of efforts by the Biden administration.

Federal Trade Commission Voids Non-Compete Agreements Nationwide

On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued its Final Rule containing regulations impacting non-compete agreements across the country for all employees. The Final Rule implements some of the most impactful changes to employment law during this century. The Final Rule will take effect 120 days from its publication in the Federal Register, which we expect to occur within the next few weeks.