News
Attorney Karis North Elected President of Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association
Congratulations to Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP lawyer, Karis North, who on June 8, 2023 was elected President of the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association (“MMLA”). Formed in 1946, MMLA is the Massachusetts municipal law bar association and includes hundreds of members who provide legal services to cities, towns and for profit and non-profit organizations. Attorney North’s presidency, which begins on July 1, 2023, recognizes her longstanding commitment to local governmental law and the distinction she enjoys among her peers. At MHTL Attorney North advises and represents municipal clients with all facets of their legal affairs, and is currently Town Counsel to the Towns of Natick and Mendon, and City Solicitor to the City of Newburyport. She also represents municipalities in land use and environmental litigation, civil rights, licensing and numerous other areas. Attorney North is the latest in a long line of MHTL attorneys to serve as President of the MMLA, and its predecessor, the CSTCA, which reflect the firm’s commitment to public service and public law. Previous MMLA presidents from MHTL include Attorneys Peter Mello, Jim Toomey, and Bob Mangiaratti. MHTL proudly congratulates Attorney North on this noteworthy distinction.
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. To provide this kind of service, they established a multi-service firm comprised of skilled practitioners from a variety of fields. This enables them to bring to their clients the breadth of experience and depth of knowledge required for complex cases. 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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