News
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Partner Presents at the 2021 Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show
Katherine Hesse, a partner at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP presented a Legal Update at this year’s MMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show. The annual meeting was held virtually this year due to the coronavirus, but there were still hundreds of attendees present to watch the presentations online. The two-day event had showed many professionals presenting on various municipal topics, along with some impressive keynote speakers including Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito. Throughout the event many companies held virtual booths for anyone attending the presentations to visit and speak with a professional. Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP had their own virtual booth, with municipal attorneys available to answer any questions.
Ms. Hesse was a panelist for the legal update workshop along with Demitrios Moschos of Counsel, Seder and Chandler, and Melissa Murray of Norris, Murray & Peloquin, LLC. During her presentation, Ms. Hesse discussed the statistics and key takeaways for the Joint Labor-Management Committee and Department of Labor Relations, where she advises to try to settle before going to arbitration, think strategically and other tips. She also provided statistics and case examples for the Civil Service Commission, Contributory Retirement Appeal Board and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Some notable cases that she referenced were Lukasick v. Massachusetts Teacher’s Retirement System, Stokes-DeSalvo v. State Board of Retirement and Decesaro v. Middlesex County Retirement Board. Mr. Moschos discussed the updates on legislation and case law from 2020. Ms. Murray’s presentation focused on the Massachusetts Police Reform Bill that was filed by Governor Baker in June of 2020.
Ms. Hesse practices primarily in labor, employment and employee benefits law. She serves as counsel to Fortune 500 companies, emerging businesses, government, tax-exempt organizations and large Taft-Hartley and governmental trusts. She advises clients on employment and benefits issues and has litigated employment and benefits cases before state and federal trial and appellate courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators. She led her team of attorneys to be named the only firm in New England and one of only 11 in the United States to the special ERISA fiduciary litigation panel for one of the world’s largest insurance companies. She serves on the Board of Directors of the International Foundation and as Chair of its Government Liaison Committee. Ms. Hesse, a CEBS Compliant ISCEBS Fellow, was inducted into the new ISCEBS Hall of Fame in 2018. She received her B.A. degree from Smith College and her J.D. degree from the Boston University School of Law.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ISSUES REVISED TITLE IX REGULATIONS
On April 19, 2024, the United States Department of Education (“DOE”) issued final regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”). Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The new regulations go into effect on August 1, 2024, so school districts are encouraged to review their policies and procedures and provide staff training on these new regulations as soon as possible. The final regulations continue to list specific elements that must be included in any policy, such as range of disciplinary actions, standards of evidence, and procedures. The DOE has provided template policies here: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/resource-nondiscrimination-policies.pdf and Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane will be creating model policies and notice letters as well.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ISSUES REVISED TITLE IX REGULATIONS
On April 19, 2024, the United States Department of Education (“DOE”) issued final regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”). Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The new regulations go into effect on August 1, 2024, so school districts are encouraged to review their policies and procedures and provide staff training on these new regulations as soon as possible. The final regulations continue to list specific elements that must be included in any policy, such as range of disciplinary actions, standards of evidence, and procedures. The DOE has provided template policies here: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/resource-nondiscrimination-policies.pdf and Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane will be creating model policies and notice letters as well.
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