ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGE:  WHAT IS AN EMPLOYER TO DO - OR NOT TO DO?

Arthur P. Murphy & Geoffrey P. Wermuth

HR ADVISOR NOV/DEC 2011

Below is a quote from the Senior Editor of HR ADVISOR, Fredric C. Leffler, that appeared in the "Comments From the Senior Editor" section of the same issue.

                    Fredric C. Leffler, Senior Editor
                             HR ADVISOR

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT MHTL?

The Law Firm of Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, of Quincy, Boston, and Springfield, Massachusetts, is pleased to announce that Tami Fay and Kier Wachterhauser have joined the firm as associates.   Tami is a graduate of Harvard Law School and received her undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College.  While at Harvard Law School, Tami participated in special education and probate law clinics.  Kier is a graduate of Boston University School of Law and received his Masters in Philosophy at Northwestern University and his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College.  While Kier was at Boston University School of Law, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Boston University Law Review and was awarded the Faculty Award for Academic Accomplishment.  Tami will be working in the firm’s Education and Special Education practice and Kier will be working in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice.

The firm is pleased to announce that Kathryn M. Murphy has been offered and has accepted a partnership in Murphy, Hesse, Toomey and Lehane, LLP.  Kathy has been an associate of this firm for 15 years and has been an outstanding attorney during that time for her legal skills, mentoring of others and business devlopment.

Prior to joining the firm, Kathy worked in the Attorney General's Fair Labor Division where she handled criminal and administrative enforcement of labor laws including wage and hour, public construction, health and safety, child labor, unemployment taxation and worker's compensation insurance.  Before joining the Fair Labor Division, Kathy worked in the Attorney General's Public Protection area where she provided specialized financial support in fraud cases.  In both these prior positions Kathy likewise distinguished herself.

Geoffrey B. McCullough and Karis L. North secured an all-counts verdict in favor of a health care institution, a physician’s organization and an individually named defendant in an employment, business and whistleblower action brought by a former employee physician. The thirteen-day jury trial was concluded in October.

Geoffrey B. McCullough also secured an all-counts verdict in favor of a 150-unit luxury condominium association and its resident manager in an employment action brought by two former employees.  The week long jury trial was concluded in August. 

Karis L. North was recently elected President of the Vermont Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors. The VLSAA is a 23-member board charged with leadership of the 6000-member alumni body of the Vermont Law School, and providing feedback and advice to the VLS Board of Trustees in the governance of the law school.

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.

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 January 28, 2011.  He spoke on the topic of “Legal Perspectives on Land Surveying Issues II".

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.