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Ann Marie Noonan to Present at Massachusetts Municipal Association (“MMA”) Webinar
Posted: /in Events, News /by Heather McCarthyOn Tuesday, March 7, 2023 Ann Marie will present at the MMA webinar. Ann Marie will be on a panel discussing legal considerations for social media policies and practices for municipalities and their governing bodies. MMA to host social media best practices webinar on March 7 MMA webinar covers social media best practices for […]
First Circuit Rejects Professor’s First Amendment Challenge to Public Sector Bargaining
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyThe United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has twice held that a public employer does not violate the First Amendment of the United States Constitution when it authorizes a union to serve as the exclusive representative in collective bargaining for employees in a designated bargaining unit. Reisman v. Associated Facs. Of the […]
Federal Court Grants Plaintiff’s Motion to Enjoin Enforcement of a No Trespass Order Prohibiting Entry on to School Premises During School Hours or at Any School Sponsored Event
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyHistorically, courts have disapproved of decisions that broadly ban persons from entering on school property based on questionable public safety concerns. Keeping in line with this precedent, on January 24, 2023, a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction in Worthley v. […]
Federal Court Denies Plaintiff’s Motion to Enjoin Enforcement of a School Committee’s Policy on Public Participation at School Committee Meetings
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyOn January 20, 2023, a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts noted that the rights of free speech and assembly, while fundamental in our democratic society, do not mean that everyone is entitled to address a group at any public place and at any time. The judge denied the […]
Federal Court Dismisses Claim That School Violated the Law By Counseling Students About Gender Identity Without Contacting Parents
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyOn December 14, 2022, a judge in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a decision in Foote, et al. v. Town of Ludlow, et al., No. 22-30041 (2022) which has garnered significant attention in the media. The court dismissed a lawsuit filed by two parents who claimed that the Ludlow […]
Department of Family and Medical Leave Releases 2023 PFML Workforce Notifications
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyThe Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (“Department”) recently published its 2023 workforce notifications. These notifications, required under the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (“PFML”) include a poster, notices, and rate sheets that employers are to post or distribute. Massachusetts employers (excluding individual and public employers who have not adopted the PFML) are […]
Massachusetts Legislature Amends Student Discipline Law
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyStarting November 8, 2022, Massachusetts schools must take additional steps to re-engage students before using suspension and expulsion as disciplinary measures. As part of An Act Addressing Barriers to Care for Mental Health, St. 2022, c. 177, § 29, the Massachusetts Legislature amended M.G.L. c. 71, §37H ¾(b) to include new language relevant to student […]
VDH Files Amicus Brief for M.A.S.C. in Appeal of Decision Sustaining Local Board’s Policy Barring Disruption During Public Comment Sessions
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyOn November 2, 2022, the Supreme Judicial Court will hear oral argument in Barron, et al. v. Southborough Board of Selectmen, et al., No. SJC-13284. The case is an appeal from a Superior Court decision that rejected a challenge to a local select board’s enforcement of its policy against speech during the public comment session […]
Four VDH Attorneys Named 2022 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyRobert D. Hillman and John Foskett have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers for 2022 and Nicholas J. Dominello and Jennifer F. King have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This selection process includes […]
Massachusetts Announces 2023 Paid Family and Medical Leave Contribution Rates and Benefit Amounts
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyThe Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave recently announced changes to the employer contribution rates and benefit amounts under the Paid Family Medical Leave Act (PFMLA). Effective January 1, 2023, the contribution rate for employers with 25 or more covered individuals will be reduced to 0.63% of covered employees’ eligible wages from the current […]