News

News

Kotin, Crabtree & Strong Attorneys Honored by Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers List

December 09, 2025

Kotin, Crabtree & Strong is pleased to announce that attorneys Eileen M. Hagerty (Special Education & Disability Rights, Litigation) and Daniel T.S. Heffernan (Special Education & Disability Rights, Civil Rights, Personal Injury, Litigation) have been named Top Lawyers of 2025 by Boston Magazine in the area of Education Law. The Top Lawyers list is peer-voted and recognizes more than 1,100 industry professionals.

October 24, 2025

Anne L. Josephson has been ranked in 2026 as a Chambers USA Band 1 Attorney and Sharen Litwin has been ranked in 2026 as a Chambers USA Band 2 Attorney, both in Labor and Employment-Mainly Plaintiffs Representation – Massachusetts. Kotin, Crabtree & Strong has also been ranked in 2026 as a Chambers USA Band 2 Department for Labor and Employment-Mainly Plaintiffs Representation. Congratulations, Anne and Sharen!

October 24, 2025

Kotin, Crabtree & Strong is pleased to announce that eight attorneys were listed in the 2025 edition of Massachusetts Super Lawyers® magazine, with six included on the Super Lawyers® list and two on the Rising Stars list. Super Lawyers® is a rating service of outstanding lawyers form more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process included independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Those who attained this status from Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP for 2025 include:

September 08, 2025

Kotin, Crabtree & Strong is very pleased to announce (please see News item) that attorneys Hagerty, Josephson, Litwin, and Jodoin have been included in the 32ⁿᵈ edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Congratulations!

KCS Attorneys Secure Settlement in Civil Rights Case Involving Preschool Students with Disabilities

July 09, 2025

KCS attorneys Daniel Heffernan, Joseph Koltun, and Eliza Presson have reached a settlement in a civil rights lawsuit brought on behalf of four preschool students, resolving claims of improper treatment at the Watertown Public School’s Early Steps Preschool Program. The defendants included municipal entities and various school employees.
The lawsuit alleged that a classroom teacher in the program engaged in a pattern of abusive mistreatment toward the students, two of whom had significant special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and developmental delays. The teacher repeatedly engaged in verbal and physical mistreatment of the students in her care, subjecting them to improper physical restraints and punitive and demeaning behaviors. Students were pulled by their ears, stuffed into a cubby, and picked up and dropped to the ground. Students who wore diapers were subjected to verbal mistreatment and shaming, and were at times forced to change their own diapers or remain in soiled diapers. Reports indicated that the conduct occurred over an extended period and was observed by multiple staff. Reports of abuse and neglect were later investigated and supported by the Department of Children and Families. All four students experienced lasting emotional and physical effects, including changes in their behavior, increased anxiety, and fear of attending school. The lawsuit included claims of tort liability and violations of both federal and state law. After months of negotiations and a lengthy mediation, the parties reached a $300,000 settlement to be distributed among the plaintiffs and their families.
KCS remains committed to protecting the rights of students with disabilities and to holding educational institutions accountable, improving outcomes for students, and ensuring school programs where all students can thrive.

May 28, 2025

Anne L. Josephson has been ranked in 2025 as a Chambers USA Band 1 Attorney and Sharen Litwin has been ranked in 2025 as a Chambers USA Band 2 Attorney, both in Labor and Employment-Mainly Plaintiffs Representation – Massachusetts. Congratulations, Anne and Sharen!

September 27, 2024

Kotin, Crabtree & Strong is pleased to announce that eight attorneys were listed in the 2024 edition of Massachusetts Super Lawyers® magazine, with seven included on the Super Lawyers® list and one listed on the Rising Stars list.  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.  The selection process included independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Those who attained this status from Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP for 2024 include:

October 25, 2023

Kotin, Crabtree & Strong is pleased to announce that nine attorneys were listed in the 2023 edition of Massachusetts Super Lawyers® magazine, with seven included on the Super Lawyers® list and two attorneys were listed on the Rising Stars list.  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.  The selection process included independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Those who attained this status from Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP for 2023 include:

September 12, 2023

Kotin, Crabtree & Strong is proud to announce that Robert Crabtree, Daniel Heffernan and their late partner Larry Kotin, were honorees who were celebrated on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at the Federation for Children with Special Needs' 49th Anniversary Gala Honoring Giant Along the Way.  Robert, Dan and Larry were recognized and honored as some of the trailblazing giants who founded, built, and grew the Federation for Children with Special Needs. Their efforts transformed education, healthcare, and human services in Massachusetts and nationwide. Congratulations to the honorees!

August 17, 2023

Anne Josephson and Sharen Litwin have been selected for inclusion in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for their work in Litigation, Employment & Labor Law and Individuals and Litigation - Labor & Employment.  Eileen M. Hagerty has been selected as well for her work in Education Law.  Congratulations Anne, Sharen and Eileen!

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