Over the weekend, WG joined a national coalition of nearly 300 business groups in sending a letter to congressional leadership calling on federal policymakers to provide targeted liability protections to protect essential businesses that have stayed open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter notes that because of remarkable legal uncertainty, essential businesses risk becoming the targets of coronavirus-related lawsuits as federal and state rules and guidance on how to operate have evolved rapidly and at times have created legitimate confusion over even ordinarily simple tasks like cleaning a work site.

“In the face of such uncertainty, our members consistently strive to do the right thing, continually implementing new safety protocols to reduce the risk of transmission among employees and the public in response to updated guidance from the CDC, OSHA and state authorities,” the signatories state.

The letter continues: “Companies doing their best to control the spread of this disease with the limited guidance available deserve legal protection. Congress should not allow good actors to be held liable for events beyond their control. By providing limited and rational safe harbors for good actors, Congress can help ensure that the critical needs of the American people are met during this time of crisis and enable the continued operation of critical infrastructure.”

Click here to read the full text of the letter.