News
Sarah Spatafore of Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane Promoted to Partner
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP is pleased to announce Sarah Spatafore’s promotion to Partner. Sarah is a leader of the firm’s labor and employment practice, where she represents both public and private clients in the areas of labor and employment.
With a focus on preventative counseling, problem resolution and workplace solutions, Sarah partners with her clients in ensuring effective employee relations. Sarah also regularly represents her clients in matters relating to collective bargaining, grievances, arbitrations, and before courts and administrative tribunals. Sarah has conducted numerous workplace investigations both for existing clients, and also as an outside investigator, and is a regular presenter at seminars, legal updates, and training programs.
Sarah is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Boston Bar Association, and the Massachusetts Council of School Attorneys. Sarah is also involved with the South Shore Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee and volunteers with several local non-profit organizations.
Ms. Spatafore graduated from Bates College with a Bachelor in Arts. She received her Juris Doctor, with Honors, from Boston College Law School. In law school, Ms. Spatafore interned at the Massachusetts Superior Court. As a law student, Ms. Spatafore was a member of the Jessup International Moot Court team and individually placed 3rd among several hundred oralists at the International Moot Court Competition. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Spatafore served as legal counsel to the Romney for President campaign directing election operations in Nevada, a targeted swing state.
Please join us in congratulating Sarah Spatafore on her promotion!
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Partner Prevails in U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Attorney Felicia Vasudevan, a partner at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, received a favorable decision on behalf of her client, Marshfield Public Schools. The Plaintiff appealed the district court’s judgement that upheld a decision of the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals (“BSEA”). However, as the notice was filed more than 30 days after entry, the First Circuit ultimately dismissed the appeal for being untimely. The Plaintiff also appealed the district court’s order, denying her motion to vacate. Read More
New Features of Public Participation at School Committee Meetings
Following our Alert from March 16, 2023, Civility is Dead – The Supreme Court Rules Municipal Control of Public Speak Limited to Reasonable Time/Place/Manner Restrictions, which discussed the holding to the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in Barron v. Kolenda and the Town of Southborough (SJC-13284), we promised to bring you more detailed guidance on developing a Public Speak policy for your public body or municipality. The Barron case involved a constitutional challenge to the Town of Southborough’s public comment policy, which attempted to impose a code of civility on members of the public who participated in public comment before public bodies. In Barron, the court interpreted the state constitution to mean that public bodies may request, but not require, that public commentators be respectful and courteous. Instead, a public body may set restrictions on reasonable time, place, and manner comments to ensure that the meeting retains an orderly and peaceable manner.
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