Law firms and courts close as Hurricane Sandy hits

Law firms across the East Coast have suspended operations early this week, following announcements that most state and federal courts would be closed.

Hurricane Sandy

Mass transit in New York City, Washington, DC and New Jersey was shut down yesterday due to flooding.

Power outages

Among the firms affected are Nixon Peabody, which is continuing operations with a handful of staff in Massachusetts, reports the ABA Journal. Law firm Weiser has been left without a working computer server in the wake of enormous power outages that have left millions without electricity or running water.
Reed Smith added that their offices in New York, Princeton, NJ, Philadelphia, the Washington DC area and Wilmington, Del, would be closed, but other offices would be open.

'Emergency attention'

The law firm of DeMichele & DeMichele also said its offices in Haddon Heights would be closed and urged those who might wish to visit to check for an online update before doing so.
Select family court cases are still being accepted in New York City courts in emergency situations.
‘We have an infrastructure that will accommodate folks that need emergency attention,’ said New York state court spokesman David Bookstaver. ‘We understand that while the courts may be closed, certain functions of the judicial system need to continue to operate.’

The Above the Law web site has an updated list of the courts, government offices and law firms affected by the severe weather conditions.

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