As the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus intensifies in Connecticut, Collins Hannafin is taking steps to help ensure the health and well-being of our clients, visitors to our offices, and our attorneys and staff.

OUR OFFICE IS OPEN

We are open for business but taking the following precautionary measures:

WE ARE LIMITING CONTACT WITH CLIENTS

We are no longer greeting clients, colleagues, or anyone else with a handshake or engaging in any other physical contact. Until further notice, our attorneys and staff have been advised to communicate with clients virtually and not in person whenever possible.

In cases where personal contact is necessary, such as a real estate closing, we recommend the process include only the Collins Hannafin client and his/her attorney, not the other party or attorney.

In-person depositions will be postponed, unless absolutely necessary, and in such cases they will be done by videoconferencing if possible.

Generally, we are encouraging everyone to practice social distancing, and review and implement the CDC’s recommendations for preventing COVID-19 spread.

The firm has also sent an advisory to attorneys and staff stressing the importance of taking all recommended measures, including avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, proper hand washing, and staying at home when feeling unwell.

Additionally, everyone at Collins Hannafin is aware of, and heeding, CDC quarantine requirements as they relate to travel and exposure to someone who has contracted or been exposed to COVID-19.

OUR OFFICES ARE CONSTANTLY BEING CLEANED

We have increased efforts to provide hand sanitizer in our offices, and commonly touched surfaces such as door handles are being sanitized. Attorneys and staff are also cleaning and disinfecting keyboards, telephones, copy machines, kitchen appliances, and all aspects of common areas.

CONNECTICUT COURT PROCEEDINGS

Connecticut courts remain open, but the Judicial Branch has implemented these measures in response to concern over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus:

• Under the terms and provisions of the Judicial Branch’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), commencing Monday, March 16, 2020, and continuing through March 27, 2020, the courts will schedule and hear only those matters identified as “Priority 1 Business Functions.”
• The following matters are Priority 1 Business Functions: Criminal arraignments and domestic violence arraignments; juvenile detention hearings; family orders of relief from abuse; civil orders of relief from abuse; civil protection orders; ex parte motions; orders of temporary custody; orders to appear; emergency ex parte order of temporary custody; juvenile detention operations for detainees held for juvenile court; termination of parental rights; domestic violence victim notification; civil and family capias mittimus execution, and bond reviews.
• With the exception of jury trials already in progress and criminal jury trials necessitated by the filing and granting of a speedy trial motion, all jury trials, civil and criminal, are suspended for the next thirty (30) days.

We will continue to do our part to prioritize the health and safety of our clients, our staff, and our community.1