In three different CLE sessions, attorneys from Berman & Simmons will present at the 2025 Maine State Bar Association Summer Bar Conference, providing education on topics ranging from catastrophic workplace injuries, trauma-informed lawyering, and effective written advocacy. The conference runs June 25 – 27 in Bar Harbor. Trial attorney Travis Brennan presents: “Catastrophic Workplace Injury...
Berman & Simmons News Articles
A Pennsylvania jury has awarded an $8.25 Million verdict against the anesthesiologist who administered a massive dose of morphine to a 4-year-old child following a routine outpatient surgery. The doctor discharged the child home only 34 minutes after giving him the huge amount of opiates, and failed to inform the child’s parents that he had...
Whether online, in print, or on TV, we’re proud our important work is routinely featured in the region’s top news forums and shared nationally. This recap of media coverage during the first quarter of 2025 spotlights the many ways in which we’re helping our clients find justice and recover fair compensation after experiencing a...
A Penobscot County Superior Court judge recently awarded $1,000,000 to a child sex abuse survivor represented by Attorneys Kristin Murray-James and Mike Bigos, following a two-day bench trial. On May 23, 2025, $750,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages were awarded in an extraordinary, 30-minute judgment announced orally, after the conclusion of evidence...
A federal judge awarded a Buxton widow nearly $1.4 million dollars for the negligence by the medical staff at Togus V.A. hospital in Augusta that took her husband’s life. Attorney Travis Brennan represented the widow of U.S. Army Veteran Roy Palmer at trial. Palmer sought medical help at Togus in 2020 for stomach pains. Yet...
Attorney Mike Bigos recently tried two premises cases within twelve months, winning multiple-six-figure jury verdicts. Each of the verdicts were multiples above what the insurance companies had previously offered. Large jury verdicts are helpful to everyone in negotiating higher case values and assessing the potential value. Premises Jury Verdict: $830,000 Catherine E. Steele v. Budget...
Trucking Case Resulting in Death of a Firefighter Attorney Travis Brennan filed a Complaint in the Aroostook County Superior Court on behalf of a widow whose husband was killed when the driver of a box truck crossed the center line and crushed the decedent’s vehicle. The decedent had devoted 32 years to working as a...
Attorney and Maine Law alumna Susan Faunce was recently interviewed for the law school’s alumni news. In her new role as President of the Maine State Bar Association, Susan is looking forward to supporting statewide initiatives focused on increasing access to justice for all Mainers, particularly for those in rural Maine communities. She is also...
Attorney Michael Bigos leads the Berman & Simmons Sexual Abuse Survivors Practice Group. 2021 law allowed Maine child sex abuse survivors to have their day in court In October, 2021, a new law[1] went into effect that removed the statute of limitations on all Maine child sex abuse cases. This change allowed all child sexual...
On January 29, 2025, Attorney Travis Brennan concluded a wrongful death/medical malpractice trial in the U.S. District Court in Maine. Attorney Brennan represented the widow of army veteran, Roy Palmer. Mr. Palmer received negligent medical treatment at the Togus VA Hospital in Augusta, Maine between April 6 and April 9, 2020. As a result of...
Berman & Simmons has pursued justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse for many years. Over the last five years, this has included work on getting the law repealing the statute of limitation passed and investigating and bringing claims against the Catholic Church for the abuse of children and the coverup of that abuse. Yesterday...
Attorneys with the Berman & Simmons Sexual Abuse Survivors Practice Team are suing Jehovah’s Witnesses on behalf of Shannon Simendinger who was repeatedly assaulted as a child for more than a decade by leaders of the Fort Kent congregation where she was a member. Attorney Michael Bigos, who leads the practice group, calls this case...
Berman & Simmons law firm is proud to announce that attorney Susan Faunce is the new president of the Maine State Bar Association (MSBA). Born in South Korea, attorney Faunce is the first Asian American to hold this title. With nearly 2,800 member lawyers, the MSBA works to promote members’ professionalism and advance their skills...
Berman & Simmons is proud to announce its recognition in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. This inclusion acknowledges the firm’s dedication to providing exceptional legal representation and achieving outstanding client results. The firm earned accolades in medical malpractice law and personal injury and product liability litigation. “We are incredibly honored that Berman & Simmons...
Whether online, in print, or on TV, we’re proud our important work is routinely featured in the region’s top news forums and shared nationally. This recap of media coverage during the third quarter of 2024 spotlights the many ways in which we’re helping our clients find justice and recover fair compensation after experiencing a serious...
Berman & Simmons attorney Travis Brennan addresses the media on Oct. 15, 2024 about the steps being taken toward suing the Army. Berman & Simmons | photo: Russ Caron Transcript from NY Times article by Jenna Russell: A group of survivors and relatives of victims said the military failed to respond to warning signs from...
Related news: ABC – Maine mass shooting survivors, families of victims file intent to sue military AP News – Survivors and relatives in Maine’s deadliest shooting start the process of suing the Army Boston Globe – Survivors, relatives of victims in Lewiston shooting signal intent to pursue claims against Army Maine Public – Families of...
A dedicated and experienced team of Berman & Simmons attorneys is pursuing every legal avenue to uncover more details about what system failures allowed a US Army Reservist to commit a deadly mass shooting. They recently took the unusual step of working with the probate courts as a way to seek new information when Attorneys...
Last November, Berman & Simmons attorneys representing dozens of survivors of childhood sexual abuse by clergy and staff of the Maine Catholic Diocese argued to Maine’s highest court to affirm the new law allowing civil suits without a time limit. When approached by a Portland Press Herald reporter, attorney Michael Bigos said, “Today marks 301 days since we were...
A nine-month fact-finding assignment by Maine’s Independent Commission to Investigate the facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston concluded with a 215-page report that lays bare massive failures and multiple shortcomings of the Sagadahoc Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Army Reserve that led to the life-changing events of October 25, 2023. Speaking from the steps of Lewiston...