Recent News from Berman & Simmons Attorneys

Paul Macri has become a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Membership in this group is by invitation only, and limited to those who have been in appellate practice for at least 15 years and who have earned a reputation for the highest integrity and excellence in appellate work. Being invited into this group is an honor, and well deserved by Paul, who has long done great work on behalf of Maine's injured people.

Tyler Kolle and Paul Macri won a major case in the field of Securities Law and Mandatory Arbitration. The case clearly establishes that the draconian prior law, in which arbitration was forced upon brokerage customers through a myriad of "forms" and "applications," is no longer a barrier to jury trials for claimants who lose their money to careless or dishonest brokers.

John Sedgewick has written a series of articles on products liability for the Maine Lawyers Review. Seat belts, automobile crash worthiness, preparing expert witnesses and the general rules of safe product design are among the topics covered to date.

Jim O'Connell, our newest lawyer, recently won his first Maine Jury trial in Cumberland Superior Court. He won a judgment of twice the pre-trial offer in a left-turn automobile accident case involving emotional distress damages.

Michael Bigos recently tried and won an uninsured motorist case in Androscoggin Superior Court against North East Insurance involving soft-tissue spinal injuries. Michael was also recently invited to serve on the Board of Governors of the MTLA. He joins Steve Silin (past president), Dan Kagan, and Jodi Nofsinger on the board.

Berman Simmons was recognized by Chambers USA, the foremost publisher of law firm ratings, as "the best plaintiff's firm in the state." Special recognition was given to Jack Simmons, Bill Robitzek, Jay Sweet, Steve Silin and Jodi Nofsinger.

The 2007-2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America included Jack Simmons under the headings of Personal Injury, Business Litigation, Medical Malpractice and Criminal Defense; John Sedgewick for Products Liability; Bill Robitzek for Business Litigation and Personal Injury; Jay Sweet for Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice; Steve Silin for Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice; and Paul Macri for Appellate Litigation.

Jay Sweet and Craig Bramley, recently obtained a jury verdict of $7,960,605 in the Androscoggin Superior Court for a mother and child for medical care, lost earnings and loss of employment of life against Central Maine Medical Center and a certified nurse midwife. The child suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy as a result of the mismanagement of the last two hours of the mother's labor.

Ben Gideon enhanced his reputation as a leading civil rights lawyer by winning a high profile and hard fought case. Ben's client, who was shot with a Taser gun by a South Portland police officer, won an $111,000 jury verdict in U.S. District Court in Portland. The Court also awarded the plaintiff attorney fees and costs.

Jay Sweet and Steve Silin were selected for inclusion in the inaugural publication of New England Super Lawyers magazine. Super Lawyers is an annual listing of "outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement".

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