COVID-19 data privacy could be a Pandora’s box

by Gerald Sauer

It has taken a global pandemic to finally move legislators in DC toward progress on consumer privacy issues. Despite an urgent need for a comprehensive legal framework to protect personal data, more than a year after it first began looking at a federal scheme, Congress has not managed to reach consensus on a framework such as the European Union’s GDPR or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Now, calls from public health experts to implement a system of contact tracing of individuals infected with COVID-19, and a seat-of-the-pants Senate proposal, have put data protection into hyperdrive.

We’re at a critical juncture, with the health crisis driving us toward a quick fix that could jeopardize the broader public interest. It’s the perfect moment for Congress to put differences aside and enact comprehensive federal data privacy laws, while also addressing the unique challenges of data collection during the coronavirus pandemic. A powerful cure is needed for the country’s data privacy disease, not simply an interim coronavirus relief patch that could, as explained below, open a Pandora’s box of problems.

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Celebrating Its 23rd Anniversary – S&W Promotes Three New Partners and Launches New Website

by Gerald Sauer

On the 23rd anniversary of its founding, Sauer & Wagner LLP is pleased to announce the promotion of Gregory Barchie, Amir Torkamani and Sonya Goodwin to Partner.  

Gregory Barchie has substantially litigated commercial, entertainment, real estate, employment, and intellectual property disputes in federal and state courts and in private arbitrations. Greg joined S&W in 2015 and has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, President of the “Out of Court” section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, and President of the Southern California Business Litigation Inn of Court. He successfully defended a guarantor on a multi-million-dollar loan case involving the “sham guaranty” doctrine and prevailed on several anti-SLAPP motions including against claims for breach of contract/lease in an environmental contamination case, and fraud and intentional interference with economic advantage in a dispute between a borrower and mortgage loan brokers.

Amir Torkamani, who joined S&W in June 2012, focuses on commercial, entertainment, real estate, employment, and intellectual property litigation and has substantial experience handling jury and bench civil trials in federal and state courts, as well as litigating disputes in private arbitrations. He was recognized for obtaining one of the Top 100 Jury Verdicts in California in 2019 and was named a Rising Star by Southern California Super Lawyers in 2013 – 2018. Amir’s successes include the favorable settlement of a multi-million-dollar real estate dispute involving return of a substantial security deposit after the tenant had failed to pay rent and substantially damaged the property, as well as a commercial lease dispute involving a tenant facing eviction and substantial interruption of a machining and product development company.
Amir received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, both at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California.

Sonya Goodwin joined S&W at the end of 2019. She has focused her practice exclusively in the employment arena, counseling both employers and employees in a wide variety of employment issues including wage and hour issues, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract, as well as conducting investigations of workplace issues. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section.

Sonya earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, in history and international studies, from the University of California, San Diego. She attended UCLA School of Law, where she received her J.D.

S&W also released its redesigned website as part of the celebration of its 23rd anniversary. The website is located at www.swattys.com.