WHAT'S HAPPENING AT MHTL?

We are pleased to welcome Attorney Michael J. Maccaro to our firm. Mr. Maccaro's practice is focused on the areas of labor and employment in the public and private sector, litigation, and employee benefits.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Maccaro served as Associate General Counsel for a large public sector labor union.  He has litigated numerous matters, and has argued before various state courts, appellate courts, and administrative agencies throughout New England.  Mr. Maccaro has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Massachusetts School of Law where he has taught legal writing and appellate advocacy.  Following law school, Mr. Maccaro served as a Law Clerk to the Justices of the Superior Court. 

Mr. Maccaro graduated from Bates College in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Chemistry.  He received his Juris Doctor in 2004 from Northeastern University School of Law.

 
Brian P. Fox was recently elected Secretary of the Massachusetts Association of Public Pension Attorneys (MAPPA). The Secretary is one of four officers in the MAPPA and serves as keeper of the records for the Association. MAPPA meets at least four times per year to discuss current issues in Massachusetts public pension law, legislative initiatives in the public pension field, and strategies for improving processes involved in retirement and retirement-related litigation.  

Geoffrey B. McCullough recently secured a jury verdict in full favor of the defendants, a large university and several of its administrators, in a Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the week-long contract and constitutional claim trial, where Mr. McCullough also had many counts dismissed by directed verdict, the jury found the defendants to be not liable on any of the remaining counts and awarded the plaintiff nothing. Press attention was avoided throughout the long period of litigation as was internal notoriety. The verdict affirmed university policy, process and action as having been contractually and constitutionally sound.

Alisia St. Florian was interviewed on three separate occasions for articles published in the Special Ed Connection. Ms. St. Florian is an Associate in the firm's Special Education Group. Read the articles below:

"Reminder: Develop IEPs Based on Young Children's Present Needs" 

"Avoid Challenges When Social, Behavioral Disabilities Don't Meet Special Ed Criteria"

                           "Post-Secondary Goals"

Robert S. Mangiaratti spoke at a program for the Massachusetts Association of Land Surveyors and Civil Engineers on March 26, 2010 in Marlboro, Massachusetts.  He spoke on the topic of “The Law of Streets and Ways for Surveyors."

Mr. Mangiaratti also co-wrote an amicus brief for the City Solicitors and Town Counsel Association that was recently submitted to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Blair v. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.  The case will decide whether the Massachusetts Constitution provides landowners with greater protections against regulatory takings than the Fifth Amendment of the federal constitution.

Kathryn M. Murphy was recently appointed to the South Shore Chamber of Commerce's Human Resources Group Advisory Board. The Human Resources Group Advisory Board meets regularly to network and to share information about training, benefits programs, legal matters and other human resources issues.

Katherine A. Hesse was named a 2010 Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. Ms. Hesse will work with other Committee Chairs to educate members of the MBA, the Judiciary and the Massachusetts Business Community on Alternative Dispute Resolution processes and how they can be utilized to achieve maximum benefit.

Ms. Hesse received the Women of Distinction Award in 2009 from the Woodward School for Girls in Quincy, MA. This award recognized two women from the South Shore community who have displayed a genuine commitment to community service, high moral character, and who have been successful in their vocations.

Ms. Hesse was selected by the readers of Women's Business as one of the Top Ten Attorneys in the region (MA, NH, RI).

Ms. Hesse was appointed to a three year term to the Board of Directors of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans. A nonprofit, nonlobbying organization since its inception over 50 years ago, the Foundation is the largest educational association serving the employee benefits and compensation industry.