- Insurance Defense
- Workers' Compensation
- Insurance Coverage
- Personal Injury
- ERISA and Health Care
- Employment Issues
- Products Liability
- Professional Liability
- Adoption
- Divorce and Family Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
Insurance Defense
We are very experienced in traversing the landscape of Maine tort and insurance law. We represent insurers and self-insureds in all types of litigation, from motor vehicle accident and premises liability cases to more complex matters such as legal and medical malpractice, toxic torts and products liability.
Workers' Compensation
The Maine workers' compensation statute has been significantly amended every two years since 1983; it was completely revised in 1992. Employers and insurers must rely on counsel who are thoroughly familiar with this extremely complex and changing area of law. We at Douglas Denham have concentrated in this area for years and are frequent speakers at seminars on workers' compensation law for insurers and employers. Representation is provided statewide before the Workers' Compensation Board, and the lawyers work closely with employers and insurers to manage claims and avoid litigation.
Insurance Coverage
Martica Douglas has developed special expertise in counseling insurers, businesses and individuals on their rights and obligations under various types of policies. She has argued many important insurance coverage cases before Maine's highest court, and is recognized as one of the top insurance coverage lawyers in Maine.
Personal Injury
Our trial work includes representing injured parties. We have an excellent track record, having recovered for our clients some substantial jury verdicts that are well known in Maine's legal community, including lawyers, judges and mediators.
ERISA and Health Care
The law affecting the rights of HMO's, health insurance carriers and patients is in a rapid state of flux. The firm's attorneys have developed expertise in responding to the needs of insurance clients in this area and have also represented individual insureds in their claims for health benefits.
Employment Law
The firm works with employers in all aspects of employment matters. These include providing advice on personnel policies, termination and hiring practices, employment and severance contracts, wage and hour compliance, and discrimination issues. The firm has extensive experience before the Maine Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and handling litigation in Federal Court, State Court and the Workers' Compensation Board. With extensive workers' compensation experience, the lawyers are able to address issues involving the interplay between the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Workers' Compensation Act; particularly concerning discrimination, medical leaves, return to work issues and employment termination. Liz Ernst is the primary attorney handling employment matters. She can address day to day questions from employers as well as all aspects of litigation.
Products Liability
Throughout its history, the firm has developed a specialty in products liability defense. We handle a varied selection of other products cases including consumer goods, gas appliances, food contamination and agricultural machinery. We currently handle a varied spectrum of other products cases including consumer goods. Alison Denham recently prevailed at trial, defending a national corporation and its franchisee in a case arising from a foreign object found in a beverage. Martica Douglas and Alison Denham head this department.
Professional Liability
We represent clients in professional liability litigation, including legal, medical, realtor and insurance agency negligence cases. We have obtained significant settlements and awards on behalf of victims of malpractice. In addition, we successfully defended many such suits.
Adoption
Elizabeth (Liz) Ernst is one of the few lawyers in Maine who concentrate in the area of adoption law. Liz works closely with adopting parents, birth parents, step-parents and private and state agencies to provide a full range of services both in Maine and Interstate Compact adoptions. As an experienced litigator, Liz has the expertise to handle contested adoptions, including termination of parental rights and has appeared before Maine's highest court on adoption issues.
Divorce and Family Law
Christine Kennedy-Jensen is adept at guiding clients through the difficult and often contentious legal aspects of marital dissolution, child custody and property disputes, and post-divorce litigation. Martica Douglas also provides excellent representation to her clients in divorce and child custody matters and offers services as a mediator in divorce cases.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
With her trial experience beginning as a prosecutor in 1981 through 1985, and continuing from 1985 to the present in civil litigation, Deborah Buccina has expanded her litigation practice to include ADR services. Her broad experience handling litigated matters and her varied and numerous jury trials give Deborah the legal and practical experience to assist parties in resolving their disputes outside of the courtroom.
