Attorney Alanna M. Ferrigno recently joined Berchem Moses PC as an Associate in the firm’s Litigation practice group. Alanna received her Juris Doctor from the Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2023, cum laude. She served as Vice President of Public Relations for the Mock Trial Society and was bestowed awards in oral advocacy and service […]
Workplace bullying claims have been on the rise for several years. As a result, Berchem Moses PC is regularly asked to investigate claims of workplace bullying. Here is what you should know. When workplace bullying is based on a protected characteristic such as a person’s age, race, sex, religion, etc., it may violate the law. […]
With Connecticut’s minimum wage now at $16.35 per hour as of January 1, 2025, school districts must ensure that their per diem substitute teacher rates comply. Specifically, per diem rates must meet or exceed the hourly minimum wage multiplied by the number of hours worked per day. For example, if a school day is seven […]
Following recent federal court decisions and an Executive Order by President Trump, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has announced in a “Dear Colleague” letter that it will revert to the 2020 Title IX Rule, effective immediately. A ruling from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky […]
Even before his first week in office, President Trump made clear his intent to follow through on campaign promises of mass deportation of undocumented persons. In the first week in office he issued an executive order that rescinds the Biden-era administration guidelines regarding enforcement actions at or near sensitive facilities such as schools and hospitals. […]
This winter, the United States Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education jointly released guidance on how school districts can use functional behavioral assessments to best support students. To date, since the transition to the Trump Administration, this guidance has not been rescinded or […]
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order ordering the U.S. Department of Education to rescind guidance issued under President Biden. The prior administration published this guidance to prevent discrimination against students and staff on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The rescinded guidance documents included: 2024 Title […]
On January 9, 2024, a federal judge vacated the U.S. Department of Education’s 2024 Title IX Final Rule. Now that the Biden Administration has come to an end without an appeal of that decision, it is clear that the 2024 Title IX regulations will not be resurrected any time soon, if ever. While the court’s […]
A federal judge in Kentucky declared the U.S. Department of Education’s 2024 Title IX Final Rule “fatally tainted” and struck down the rule in its entirety, with nationwide effect. The decision states that the Department of Education exceeded its statutory authority in interpreting Title IX, that the Final Rule violates the Constitution in multiple respects, […]
Leadership at Berchem Moses PC recently elevated Paul A. Testa to Partner. “Paul’s promotion underscores Berchem Moses PC’s dedication to fostering the growth and success of attorneys who have proven themselves as leaders within the firm and in the communities we serve,” said Robert L. Berchem, President of the Firm. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations […]
