So much has changed in the world since our last piece appeared in the March 16 edition of the Law Journal. At that time, in the middle of the presidential primary season, we were concerned about pleading and preserving affirmative defenses. Fast forward four months and we are now in the midst of the COVID-19 disaster emergency. Like so many parts of New York state, our courts were effectively locked down at the end of March and filings, even in e-filed actions, were prohibited in all but "essential matters."