News
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane Attorney has Notable Week
On March 5th, Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane attorney, Felicia Vasudevan received the award for Lawyer’s Weekly, Lawyers of the Year. Attorney Vasudevan received the award following a favorable decision in special education law in the First Circuit Court of Appeals, C.D. v. Natick Public School District.
In C.D. v. Natick Public School District, the First Circuit rejected the Plaintiff’s interpretation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which would have altered the standard for “free appropriate public education” and least restrictive environment for students with disabilities. Following the First Circuit’s decision, the Plaintiff petitioned the Supreme Court for certiorari. Attorney Vasudevan opposed the Petition for Certiorari on behalf of Natick Public Schools. On March 2, 2020, the Supreme Court denied certiorari in the case.
Statutory Regulations Released for Interagency Review of Complex Cases
On March 1, 2024, EOHHS and DESE released the long-awaited, final adoption of the regulations governing the Interagency Review of Complex Cases (published as 101 CMR 27.00). These regulations had been anticipated since the Massachusetts Legislature passed “An Act Addressing Barriers to Care for Mental Health” in August, 2022. The purpose of the law is the establishment of a team that will collaborate on complex cases where there is an urgent need to address a lack of consensus between state agencies about the service needs or placement of an individual. This replaces what was known as the Unified Planning Team, or “UPT”. The co-chairs of the IRT will be the secretary (or a designee) from EOHHS and the commissioner (or a designee) of DESE.
Statutory Regulations Released for Interagency Review of Complex Cases
On March 1, 2024, EOHHS and DESE released the long-awaited, final adoption of the regulations governing the Interagency Review of Complex Cases (published as 101 CMR 27.00). These regulations had been anticipated since the Massachusetts Legislature passed “An Act Addressing Barriers to Care for Mental Health” in August, 2022. The purpose of the law is the establishment of a team that will collaborate on complex cases where there is an urgent need to address a lack of consensus between state agencies about the service needs or placement of an individual. This replaces what was known as the Unified Planning Team, or “UPT”. The co-chairs of the IRT will be the secretary (or a designee) from EOHHS and the commissioner (or a designee) of DESE.
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