The Massachusetts Bar Association's (MBA) Public Law Section
Council hosted its annual conference Friday, Feb. 28, at the MBA,
20 West St., Boston.
The conference focused on practice issues and challenges involving
public pension policies. Panelists included attorneys from the
private and public sectors who discussed, in detail, both the
complicated landscape of public employee pension programs and the
consequences for employee terminations, resignations, prosecutions
and disciplinary actions, including when a criminal conviction will
cost your client their pension, and when it will cost them every
dollar they put toward their pension.
"The program panelists covered an interesting variety of issues
from the statutory underpinnings of myriad Massachusetts pensions
systems to some of the equitable concerns raised by pension
forfeitures, which some may view as excessive punishment for
misconduct directly or indirectly related to an employee's public
duties," said Conference Co-Chair Brian O'Donnell. A conference
attendee added, "The conference had a great combination of speakers
representing a wide range of pension law."
The day ended with former Inspector General of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts Gregory W. Sullivan delivering the keynote address.
Sullivan is now the research director of the Centers for Better
Government and Economic Opportunity at the Pioneer Institute.
Throughout his speech, Sullivan explored ways state and federal
government could be more efficient to prevent waste, fraud and
abuse.