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Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Partner Presents Legal Update for the Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives
Attorney Sarah Spatafore, a Partner at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, presented a Legal Update for the Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives (“MOEC”) on April 11, 2022. The MOEC posted about Ms. Spatafore’s presentation on their twitter account last week, stating “This morning, leaders from Collaboratives across the state joined to hear from attorney Sarah Spatafore about a variety of legal updates including a Case Law/Statutory Update, Special Education, Employment Law considerations, and other important reminders.”
Ms. Spatafore began her presentation with a recent case law update, BSEA decisions, as well as a statutory and regulatory update. Her next topic was “Remote Workforce & Employment Law Considerations”, in which she discussed the strategic, operational, and legal considerations to make when deciding to work remotely. She then outlined the important reminders regarding employment law: pay on final workday; break time; FMLA special topics; and absenteeism. Ms. Spatafore also discussed the considerations, pros, and cons for students regarding “BYOD”, or Bring Your Own Device. The final topic Ms. Spatafore spoke about was the intersection of HIPAA and FERPA.
Ms. Spatafore practices primarily in the labor and employment area, representing both public and private clients. Additionally, she handles cases within the Firm’s education law practice. Ms. Spatafore has represented clients before a number of courts and administrative tribunals at both the state and federal level. She regularly conducts seminars and training programs on unlawful harassment, preventing discrimination, and a variety of other labor and employment issues, and she has completed all the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination-certified “Train-the-Trainer” courses. Ms. Spatafore graduated from Bates College in 2007 and received her Juris Doctor, with Honors, from Boston College Law School in 2012. While in law school, Ms. Spatafore interned at the Massachusetts Superior Court and was a member of the Jessup International Moot Court team. She was a co-recipient of the third year best oralist award at Boston College Law School. Ms. Spatafore is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the United States Court of Appeals First Circuit.
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Receives Favorable Decision for Town of Dracut
On April 11, 2023, MHTL Attorneys Peter Mello and Madison Harris-Parks represented the Town of Dracut, and successfully obtained a preliminary injunction order requiring, among other things, that the Defendant homeowners cease renting out their pool to the public. The case, Town of Dracut by and Through Its Building Inspector vs. Nason, Gilbert et al., was initiated by the Town after the Defendants failed to comply with the Town’s associated underlying zoning enforcement order. The Town requested the injunction Read More
EXTENSION OF MUNICIPAL RELIEF MEASURES - INCLUDING OPEN MEETING LAW REMOTE OPTION - SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
The option for public bodies in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to hold public meetings remotely or in a hybrid fashion, which came into play at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been extended by the General Court for another two years, until March 31, 2025. The Governor signed the legislation, which will be codified at Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, on March 29, 2023. Because of the inclusion of an emergency preamble, the law goes into effect immediately.
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