News
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Partner Presents for the Quincy Chamber of Commerce Lunchtime Stew
Nan ONeill, a partner at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, presented for the Quincy Chamber of Commerce on December 16, 2020. Her presentation, titled “PFML Benefits Begin January 1, 2021: Are You Prepared?”, provided any information needed to know about Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML). Ms. ONeill is the resident expert at MHTL for all things related to PFML. Her presentation begins with an overview on the PFML benefit eligibility. She then discusses the highlights from recently amended PFML regulations, focusing on who is covered, integration of employer policies in relation to PFML, leave laws and if they run concurrently, and all the nuts and bolts that go with it. Finally, Ms. ONeill provides a planning checklist, with items to consider when reviewing PFML.
Ms. O’Neill is a Partner at the firm with 30 years of experience counseling and representing employers in all aspects of traditional labor law and employment. She has extensive experience in labor arbitration and litigation of employment-related disputes, including discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination matters, before state and federal courts and administrative agencies such as the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Ms. O’Neill’s experience as a traditional labor lawyer includes negotiating collective bargaining agreements and representing employers in labor arbitrations, unfair labor practice proceedings, and union election and decertification proceedings, with a concentration on acute care hospitals. In addition to grievance and arbitration proceedings, Ms. O’Neill has advised companies regarding corporate campaigns, strike and contingency planning, bargaining strategies, interpreting collective bargaining agreements and obligations under the National Labor Relations Act. As an employment lawyer, in addition to the litigation of employment-related disputes, Ms. O’Neill counsels clients on a day-to-day basis on employment compliance issues. Ms. O’Neill is often called upon to conduct internal investigations including complaints of harassment, discrimination, and ethical violations.
Ms. O’Neill is a graduate of Boston College and the Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as Articles and Notes Editor of the American Criminal Law Review and received awards for outstanding work in the study of labor law.
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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