On January 2, 2025, Superior Court Judge Julie E. Green ruled that a secretly recorded conversation was admissible in court. In the case Simpson v. Boston Public Health Commission, Ms. Simpson, the plaintiff, sued for employment discrimination and retaliation, and two counts of violating the Wiretap Statute, G.L. c. 272, § 99. The central issue […]
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The Nuances Around Lawyer Referral Fees in Massachusetts
The rules seem fairly straightforward: according to Rule 1.5(e) of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, a lawyer can accept a referral fee if the total fee is reasonable, the client is notified of the arrangement, and that client gives written consent in advance. The referring attorney must also believe that the attorney to whom […]
New Pay Transparency Requirements in Massachusetts and New Jersey
In Massachusetts On July 31, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy signed into law An Act Relative to Salary Range Transparency, which will require certain Massachusetts employers to make changes to their compensation practices. Massachusetts has joined states who have similar laws like New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Washington, Illinois, and most recently New Jersey. […]
U.S. Department of Labor’s Overtime Rule Blocked Nationwide
On November 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide order blocking the implementation of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) new overtime rule. The new rule, which would have expanded overtime pay for millions of U.S. employees, will no longer go into effect on January 1, 2025, […]
Permissible Uses for Earned Sick Time Expand in Massachusetts
Employers are likely familiar with the basic workings of the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Statute, which entitles most workers in the Commonwealth to earn and use up to 40 hours of job-protected sick time (EST) per year to take care of themselves and certain family members due to illness or injury. Under a 2024 law […]
