This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
OKLearn moreWe may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.
If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
Privacy Policy
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 […]
SJC Holds that Certain Crimes Committed After Retirement Can Result in Pension Forfeiture
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyOn September 6, 2022, the Supreme Judicial Court issued a decision in Mahan v. Boston Retirement Board, No. 13208 (2022), holding that the pension forfeiture provisions of G.L. c. 32, § 15(3) and (4) apply to an individual whose criminal activity occurs after the individual has retired from public service. The SJC’s conclusion means that […]
SJC Upholds MIAA’s Decision That Fifth-Year Senior is Not Eligible for Athletic Participation
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyOn August 29, 2022, the Supreme Judicial Court issued a decision in Abner v. Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, No. 13224 (2022). The court upheld a determination by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (“MIAA”) that a high school senior who had repeated his junior year and had played four prior years of high school athletics was […]
Follow Up: Statute Limits Impacts of SJC Decision that Payments Made in Lieu of Vacation Time Are Not Included in Pension Calculation
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyOn August 4, 2022, Governor Baker signed into law an act that limits certain impacts of the Supreme Judicial Court’s recent decision in Joseph O’Leary v. Contributory Retirement Appeal Board, No. 13229 (2022). The SJC concluded that payments made in lieu of vacation leave are not “regular compensation” for purposes of retirement calculations. The Legislature […]
SJC Concludes that Payments Made In Lieu of Vacation Time Are Not Included in Pension Calculation
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyOn August 11, 2022, the Supreme Judicial Court issued a decision in Joseph O’Leary v. Contributory Retirement Appeal Board, No. 13229 (2022), holding that payments made in lieu of unused, accrued vacation time are not “regular compensation” for the purpose of calculating a public employee’s retirement allowance under the Contributory Retirement Law, G.L. chapter 32. […]