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 2024 spotlights the many ways in which we’re helping our clients find justice and recover fair compensation after experiencing a serious personal injury due to the negligence of others.

Notable Client Work

Berman & Simmons Attorneys Advocate for Survivors and Families of Those Killed in Lewiston Mass Shooting: “There’s no question that the system did fail.”

Berman & Simmons continues to support and advise those closest to the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, seeking answers to how such a tragedy could have happened. Attorney Travis Brennan accompanied survivors and family members to testify before a state commission assigned to investigate it. They implored the commission to find out what happened, and to take the necessary steps to ensure that such a shooting can never happen again. What became clear from weeks of testimony, and other evidence that has since been published, Brennan said: “There is no question that the system did fail.”

Read about the meeting between survivors and the State Commission in the Press Herald: Lewiston Survivors Implore Commission to Prevent Another Mass Shooting

Berman & Simmon’s Attorneys Fight for Victims of Childhood Sexual Assault Across Maine

Berman & Simmons team of attorneys are representing people from across the country who were sexually abused in Maine when they were children. Many of these survivors were unable to come forward and seek justice until Maine’s legislature removed the statute of limitations in 2021. The firm represents clients who are ready to begin seeking justice and accountability from the institutions that allowed this abuse to take place.

Camps and Youth Programs

Berman & Simmons attorney Timothy Kenlan filed suit against Camp Kieve on behalf of three clients who were abused by camp counselor William Cameron McCook Jr. over 50 years ago. Camp Kieve has taken responsibility for their role in the abuse and has been extremely transparent, aiding Kenlan in seeking justice. “They have taken a deep dive and looked at themselves in the past and said this is not right, we want to make this right,” Kenlan said.

Kenlan also represents a Maine man in a suit against the Bangor YMCA for sexual abuse by youth league basketball coach, William Kearns in 1979. The suit cites that Kearns had a criminal record including sexual assault before he was hired as a coach at the YMCA. “A simple background check at the time would have shown that and should have caused the Bangor Y to ask questions,” said Tim Kenlan.

Berman and Simmons attorney Michael Bigos is representing a man from Maine filing suit against The Special Olympics and Special Olympics Maine for sexual abuse that spanned two decades. “During that era, organizations with access to and control of children, especially those with vulnerabilities, were well aware of the risk of perpetrators of sexual abuse. We believe that The Special Olympics failed to warn, failed to adequately train, and failed to prevent against the known risks of child sexual abuse,” Michael Bigos said.

• • Watch more on the Camp Kieve counselor case on NewsCenter Maine: Former Camp Kieve counselor hit with more accusations of childhood sex abuse
  • Read more on Camp Kieve’s response in the Portland Press Herald: Camp Kieve says it should have cut ties with former counselor accused in sex abuse suits
  • Read about the Bangor YMCA at NewsCenter Maine: Bangor YMCA sued over sexual assault case from the 1970s
  • Read about The Special Olympics at AP News: Special Olympics Maine founder accused in lawsuit of grooming, sexually abusing boy

Maine’s Catholic Church

Berman and Simmons continues to fight for justice from the Catholic Church, representing hundreds of people from Maine who suffered childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Portland Catholic Diocese clergy and teachers. “This case is about the will of the people, upsetting the diocese’s near expectation they can get away with child abuse,” said attorney Michael Bigos, a lead prosecutor in the case, “There’s never been a right to enabling child sex abuse.”

Read about the Portland Catholic Diocese in the Press Herald: Maine Catholic Diocese faces 6 more childhood sexual abuse claims

Berman and Simmons Represents Family of Infant in Case against Funeral Home

Berman and Simmons attorney Travis Brennan is representing a Sanford family whose infant daughter’s remains were mishandled by Bibber Memorial Chapel staff. Following the death of their baby daughter, the parents arranged a viewing service and were shocked and traumatized at the condition of their child, rendered unrecognizable. “It is reprehensible that these parents caused additional, unnecessary pain and suffering while already coping with the unimaginable grief of losing their infant daughter,” said Travis Brennan.

Read about Bibber Memorial Chapel at SeaCoast Online: Sanford, Maine couple sues funeral home for mishandling infant’s body

Firm news and legal expertise

Attorney Elizabeth Kayatta Elected Co-Chair of Woman’s Law Section of Maine Bar Association

Berman & Simmons attorney, Elizabeth Kayatta, was elected co-chair of the Women’s Law section of the Maine Bar Association. The Women’s law section provides a forum for women lawyers to gather for regular educational programs, networking, and discussion of issues of interest to women attorneys.

Attorney Chris Boots Elected to Maine Trial Lawyers Association Board

Berman & Simmons attorney, Chris Boots, was elected as a board member for the Maine Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA), where he also serves as a Legislative Committee Co-Chair. The MTLA is a professional trade organization that provides advocacy, continuing legal education, and public education to Maine attorneys and the people they represent.

Nine Berman and Simmons Attorneys Included in National Trial Lawyers Top 100

Nine attorneys from Berman and Simmons were named in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 is an exclusive professional organization. Membership is extended only to a select few of the most qualified attorneys from each state or region who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and public profile measured by equitable and uniformly applied standards in compliance with state bar and model rule.

The following attorneys have been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 list:

• Craig Bramley, Managing Director
• Michael Bigos
• Travis Brennan
• Susan Faunce
• Charles Hehmeyer
• Daniel Kagan
• Elizabeth Kayetta
• Jodi Nofsinger

In addition, attorney Timothy Kenlan is included among the Top 40 Under 40 for Civil Plaintiff law.

“We are incredibly proud to have nine of our attorneys recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 100,” said Craig Bramley. “This accomplishment reflects our firm’s commitment to delivering high-quality legal services and advocating tirelessly for our clients. It is an honor to be acknowledged among the top trial lawyers in the nation.”