News
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey and Lehane Partner has Virtual Chat South Shore Chamber President and Members
Katherine A. Hesse, a partner with Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, recently presented a virtual chat with Peter Forman, president of South Shore Chamber. The members heard from Katherine on how MHTL is adjusting in this unchartered territory. The virtual chat also allowed members to ask their pressing questions on navigating this pandemic and the reopening process.
Katherine Hesse focused on the legal environment surrounding reopening Massachusetts, pointing out the legal requirements all employers must comply with, as laid out in Governor Baker’s Four-Phase approach. During the chat, attorney Hesse gave practical guidance for businesses about forming a team that would consist of an attorney, accountant, banker, insurance broker and the chamber to assist with navigating these uncertain times. This team would help employers comply with the MA mandates, they can incorporate requirements for creating a safe workplace, maintaining a harassment-free workplace, and other regulatory provisions, into employee communications and required employee training.
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane LLP is known throughout New England for its labor and employment practice as well as its expansive municipal law practice. The firm also has an extensive education law practice representing more than 180 public, private and nonprofit educational institutions from elementary through the collegiate level.
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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