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Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Presents Their Annual Labor & Employment Law Update Virtually

 

The MHTL 2020 Annual Labor & Employment Law Update, which was originally planned to take place in April of 2020, was presented virtually on October 29th. Among the speakers were partners of the firm Kier Wachterhauser, Sarah Spatafore, Nan O’Neill, and Kathy Murphy presenting to roughly 300 registrants.

 

Mr. Wachterhauser and Ms. Spatafore presented on lessons from the year’s top cases and a regulatory and statutory update. Ms. O’Neill, along with Mr. Wachterhauser presented a toolkit for meeting reasonable accommodation obligations. Ms. Spatafore and Ms. O’Neill reported on internal investigations in the 2020 context. Then after a brief break the attorney’s held a COVID-19 update panel. The panel focused on recent COVID-19 developments employers must consider when making a variety of business and employment decisions, including return to work protocols, remote work issues, COVID testing, and wage and hour implications.

 

Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP has been presenting their annual Labor & Employment Law Update for many years. The program was held virtually but was still able to help employers navigate the complex field of labor and employment law. This session concentrated on evolving employment-related laws, regulations, and trends in today’s workplace.

 

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United States Supreme Court Opens the Door for Special Education Students’ Right to Bypass Due Process Hearings When Also Suing School District for Money Damages Under ADA: Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, 598 U.S. ___(2023)

In a unanimous ruling issued on March 21, 2023, the United States Supreme Court decided in favor of a 27-year-old deaf student who sued his Michigan school district, claiming he was denied the services of a qualified interpreter for years, and was misled by teachers and administrators about his progress in school. The student, Miguel Perez, only sought monetary damages. The Court held that he was free to sue the district for money damages due to discrimination under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Court found that he did not have to “exhaust his administrative remedies,” prior to bringing such an action for damages. The doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies in a case involving the rights of a disabled student requires a litigant to file and complete a due process hearing before an agency like the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) on all claims stemming from a school district's requirement to provide a student with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Legal Updates

United States Supreme Court Opens the Door for Special Education Students’ Right to Bypass Due Process Hearings When Also Suing School District for Money Damages Under ADA: Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, 598 U.S. ___(2023)

In a unanimous ruling issued on March 21, 2023, the United States Supreme Court decided in favor of a 27-year-old deaf student who sued his Michigan school district, claiming he was denied the services of a qualified interpreter for years, and was misled by teachers and administrators about his progress in school. The student, Miguel Perez, only sought monetary damages. The Court held that he was free to sue the district for money damages due to discrimination under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Court found that he did not have to “exhaust his administrative remedies,” prior to bringing such an action for damages. The doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies in a case involving the rights of a disabled student requires a litigant to file and complete a due process hearing before an agency like the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) on all claims stemming from a school district's requirement to provide a student with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

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