Roopali represents four initiative campaigns who filed a Petition for Special Action with the Arizona Supreme Court to seek an order permitting them to use the E-Qual system to obtain online signatures

Roopali Desai Calls for Arizona Courts to Allow Online Petition Signatures

Although social distancing practices and stay-at-home orders are necessary, they have hindered the ability for groups seeking to put measures on the November ballot to collect petition signatures from individuals. Roopali Desai recently sat down with KJZZ, Arizona Daily Star and Arizona Capitol Times to discuss the breadth of the issue and how to solve it. An experienced election and political lawyer, Roopali represents four initiative campaigns who filed a Petition for Special Action with the Arizona Supreme Court to seek an order permitting them to use the E-Qual system to obtain online signatures. She shared that political candidates already have access to the same system to get the signatures they need and argued the court should uphold the constitutional right of citizens to initiate laws by allowing the use of the...

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Kristen Rosati and Amanda Coulter Advise AHLA on COVID-19’s Impact on Clinical Trials

The COVID-19 public health crisis is having a profound impact on all aspects of the health care system. Kristen Rosati and Amanda Coulter teamed up to inform the American Health Law Association (AHLA) about how it will affect clinical trials.AHLA Weekly published their article, “How the COVID-19 Pandemic Immediately Impacts Clinical Trials: Considerations for Sites and Investigators,” which addresses the need for sites and investigators to be simultaneously rigorous and flexible. It also covers determining criteria to determine which trials will continue; vetting, implementing, and documenting changes for continuing trials; and communicating changes with sponsors and participants. Kristen, a nationally recognized and respected leader in health care law, has served in numerous leadership positions within AHLA – including president of the association from 2013-2014. She is considered one of the nation’s leading Big Data...

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Department of Labor Issues Initial Guidance and Mandatory Poster

A week after enactment of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), the United States Department of Labor (DOL) has begun issuing guidance regarding the emergency paid leave provisions of the new law. (For our summary of the FFCRA, click here.) Employers should take particular note that the DOL’s news release and related Questions and Answers set the effective date of the FFCRA as April 1, 2020.  This is one day earlier than widely expected. The guidance documents published by the DOL include a Fact Sheet for Employers, a similar Fact Sheet for Employees, and a very helpful Q&A document that clarifies answers to some common questions. Some of these guidance documents have already been updated by the DOL since their initial publication, so the landscape is changing quickly. We recommend that employers review the...

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COVID-19 LEGISLATION

COVID-19 LEGISLATION: What Employers Need to Know

In the early morning hours of Saturday, March 14, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Act), which includes two sections providing emergency paid leave rights to employees. After some modifications by the House on Monday, the bill went to the Senate, which overwhelmingly approved it on Wednesday, March 18. President Trump signed it the same day.  The two leave-related components of the legislation take effect on April 2, 2020, 15 days after enactment, and sunset (expire) on December 31, 2020. For unstated reasons – but likely a political compromise – the law applies only to private-sector employers with fewer than 500 employees. (It also applies to public agencies of all sizes.) Below is a summary of what such employers need...

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Melissa Soliz Discusses Health Information Privacy with Pinal County Justice System

The justice system often needs access to health information in order to ensure fair and equitable justice, but is often unaware of the complex web of state and federal privacy laws that restrict when health care providers may share health information with justice system personnel. This lack of understanding often creates tension and confusion between the health care system and the justice system. To close that gap in understanding, Health Current (Arizona’s statewide health information) provided an educational seminar to the Pinal County justice system on how to navigate health information privacy laws for justice system purposes.    During the presentation, titled “The Privacy of Health Information and the Judicial System: HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2 and State Law,” Melissa Soliz and co-presenter Chase Millea provided an overview of...

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Roopali represents four initiative campaigns who filed a Petition for Special Action with the Arizona Supreme Court to seek an order permitting them to use the E-Qual system to obtain online signatures

Arizona Capitol Times Gets Roopali Desai’s Take on Legislative Proposals

When covering three legislative proposals (HCR2032, HCR2046 and SCR1020) that could scale back Arizona voters’ lawmaking powers and upend Arizona’s ballot initiative and referral system, Arizona Capitol Times turned to Coppersmith Brockelman’s Roopali Desai for expert commentary. A highly regarded election and political lawyer, Roopali highlighted how the proposed laws are an attempt to undermine voters’ constitutional rights to legislate co-equally with the legislative branch. Moreover, she says, these changes could result in lengthy ballots and costly elections, ultimately leading to voter disengagement.  Roopali, who is a partner in the firm’s litigation group, advises clients on all aspects of election law, including campaign finance compliance, disclosure and reporting requirements, and bringing and defending election challenges. She is especially known for her experience representing initiative, referendum, and recall campaigns, and...

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