News
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane Attorneys Present a Webcast
Nan ONeill and Peter McNulty, attorneys with Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP recently presented a webcast for the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP). The topic being discussed was CARES Act: Impact on Small- to Mid-Sized Employers and Their Workforces.
The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing solution-oriented education, research and information about employee benefits to single, multi-employer, and public employee benefit plans across the United States and Canada.
This webcast covered fundamental aspects of the CARES Act most likely to impact small and mid-sized companies and their workforces. Attorney McNulty’s session addressed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses as well as recent and developing guidance from the Small Business Administration. Peter also discussed Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for small businesses. Attorney ONeill focused her discussion on other financial relief potentially available under the CARES ACT, including mid-sized business loans. Nan also discussed the expanded unemployment benefits and the impact on state unemployment programs as well as laid-off and furloughed workers.
This program dealt with topics focused on helping employers navigate the complex field of labor and employment and corporate laws due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Well-informed employers are much better equipped to avoid legal landmines.
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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