News
New Associate Attorney Joins Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP is delighted to announce the addition of another new associate attorney. Attorney Katherine Blum has experience practicing in the areas of Labor & Employment, working with both private and public employers. She comes to MHTL from the Bronx in New York where she was an attorney at the New York State Division of Human Rights Headquarters. While there, she negotiated hundreds of settlements in cases of state and federal civil rights violations, particularly in employment matters. Ms. Blum also investigated and filed complaints of systemic discrimination on behalf of New York State. Her focus will be in the firm’s Labor & Employment and Litigation practices.
Ms. Blum graduated cum laude from the University at Buffalo School of Law in May 2019. While in law school, Ms. Blum worked as a student attorney in several clinics, representing indigent clients in federal civil rights litigation and family court hearings. She was also an Editor of the Buffalo Law Review and served as a writing fellow and teaching assistant to 1L writing classes. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Blum attended Cornell University and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in anthropology and a minor in law and society. In addition to Massachusetts, Ms. Blum is admitted to practice in New York State.
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP is one of the 50 largest firms in Massachusetts, their years of experience and resources offer clients throughout New England and nationally a wide range of legal services while maintaining a “hands-on touch” that is important in Client-Attorney relationships. Their broad resources and technology enable them to represent clients in a comprehensive and cost-efficient manner. MHTL has a strong reputation in the legal community and is known throughout New England for its labor and employment practice as well as its extensive business litigation and advising employers on internal reviews and strategic legal approaches when dealing with the government. The firm also has an extensive education law practice representing public, private, and nonprofit educational institutions from pre-K through the college and university 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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Quincy, MA
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