News
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Attorney Elected President to the Massachusetts Association of Public Pension Attorneys
Mathew L. Feeney, an attorney with Murphy, Hesse. Toomey & Lehane, LLP, has recently been appointed President of the Massachusetts Association of Public Pension Attorneys (“MAPPA”). MAPPA is an organization of attorneys, all of whom practice public retirement law, and represent public contributory retirement boards in Massachusetts. This organization is dedicated to safeguard the integrity of Massachusetts’ public pension system, regional and local retirement boards within the Commonwealth, and the rights and benefits of public employees and beneficiaries, whether active or retired. In addition, MAPPA provides its members with the ability and knowledge to assist, support and education their retirement board clients on ethical and fiduciary stands in plan administration, policy, development, and fund operation. Attorney Katherine Hesse, a Partner at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, is also an active member of MAPPA and has been a member of the organization for several years.
Matthew L. Feeney has overall responsibility for MHTL’s Chapter 32 practice and is well versed in matters pertinent to the statute. Specifically, he provides frequent guidance to public retirement boards on the litany of member related issues that arise, such as disabilities, forfeitures, and QDRO’s and he frequently represents public retirement boards before DALA. With nearly fifteen years of experience as an Assistant District Attorney in both Essex and Suffolk Counties prior to joining MHTL several years ago, Mr. Feeney is an experienced litigator. In addition to his Chapter 32 work, Mr. Feeney also provides internal reviews and investigations for public entities continues to serve as a trial lawyer.
Mr. Feeney is a graduate of Boston Latin School, Boston College and Boston College Law School. Mr. Feeney is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
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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