Within less than two weeks, the novel coronavirus outbreak went from an overseas matter of mild concern to Americans to a pandemic that has left millions of Americans out of work and thousands of people sick with a virus that we were told at first was mild and mostly dangerous only to the elderly and those with underlying conditions, but we now see that the virus endangers all demographics and in fact seems to have a predilection for Generation Z, Millennials, and Generation X, in that order. Thus ALL of us must take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. “Flattening the curve”. What does that mean? Well, it means that with a virus this contagious, and with a vaccine most likely not available for over a year, we all are probably going to come down with it between now and the availability of a vaccine. That’s a scary proposition, and why we have to take this seriously. It is imperative, then, that we stop spreading the virus so quickly. The spread needs to be slow enough that the medical resources are available when we need it, because at some point, all of us are going to need it. There have been far too many people not taking the virus seriously enough, and our country quickly went from a small number of cases to the world LEADER in cases within days. The ramifications and consequences of the pandemic will be felt for years to come. The Supreme Court and the Governor of Tennessee have stepped in with help. In-person litigation has been halted for all except the most pressing of matters, such as preliminary hearings in criminal cases, emergency restraining orders and child custody issues. However, courts remain open, and judges and attorneys are using remote technology to do business the same as others. Documents that in the past had to be filed in person can now be emailed, mailed, or electronically filed by other means. The courts will not act on any foreclosures or evictions at this time. It is important to note, though, that all rent and mortgage payments are still due and will be actionable when the pandemic passes, so unless you have been seriously impacted by the pandemic, continue to pay your bills as best you can so that you don’t find yourself so far behind that you cannot catch up and avoid foreclosure or eviction when the pandemic is over. I would encourage people to focus on what really matters at this time–staying away from others and keeping your family from doing the same. Take precautions when going out and visit the grocery store as few times as possible. When the pandemic passes, there will plenty of time to deal with the aftermath of the pandemic through legal means, and the laws of Tennessee will be there for you. As schools are out, I am available to help you during this time during the week, even during what would be school hours. Call or email me with your concerns.