News

Attorneys Tyler Smith and Timothy O’Brien Win Appeal in Whistleblower Lawsuit

Attorneys Tyler Smith and Tim O’Brien recently won a victory for a client in the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in Lee v. Town of Denmark, 2019 ME 54. The plaintiff brought claims against our client for whistleblower retaliation, unpaid wages, and defamation. Attorneys Smith and O’Brien filed a successful motion for summary judgment in the… Read more »

Proposed legislation would reduce Maine estate tax exclusion amount

In the Maine Legislature in the first regular session for 2019, the House of Representatives proposed legislation that would reduce the Maine Estate Tax Exclusion Amount from its current $5.6 million (indexed for inflation) back down to only $2 million per person for those individuals dying after January 1, 2020. It would also remove the… Read more »

Law Court hands down important decision regarding public access to beaches

In a prior article, I wrote about a Maine Supreme Court case about seaweed ownership. The Court recently handed down its decision in Ross v. Acadian Seaplants, holding that the waterfront property owner owns the seaweed growing in the intertidal zone. The Law Court reasoned that taking seaweed is not “fishing” and accordingly not within… Read more »

Savings clause to the Maine Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act is triggered by discovery of the fraud, not discovery of the transfer

So holds the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, sitting as the Law Court, in today’s decision in State of Maine v. Tucci, 2019 ME 51, — A.3d –. Tucci was found to have fraudulently transferred property in 2009. More than six years later, the State of Maine filed a lawsuit against Tucci alleging that the transfers… Read more »

Docks and the law

Maine has no shortage of lakes and ponds—so many, in fact, that there are several thousand that do not even have a name. Naturally, swimming, boating, and kayaking/canoeing are popular activities, especially at the lakefront camp. Those water-dependent activities rely on docks and other improvements. But whether a property owner may construct a dock on… Read more »

Tyler Smith wins appeal in commercial mortgage lawsuit

Tyler Smith won an appeal to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, sitting as the Law Court, overturning a trial court decision that had enforced an unfavorable lease-extension against the firm’s client until the year 2059. In fact, the Law Court did not just overturn the trial court’s decision granting summary judgment to the tenant; it went one… Read more »

Tyler Smith becomes the newest partner at Libby O’Brien Kingsley & Champion, LLC

Libby O’Brien Kingsley & Champion, LLC is pleased to welcome Tyler J. Smith as the firm’s newest partner. Tyler joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2012. Since joining the firm, Tyler has been heavily involved in the firm’s litigation practice, has successfully tried civil and criminal cases to juries, and frequently appears before… Read more »

Gene Libby, Tim O’Brien, and Brian Champion recognized by Best Lawyers in America

Libby O’Brien Kingsley & Champion, LLC is proud to announce that Gene Libby, Tim O’Brien, and Brian Champion have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.©  Gene Libby was selected by Best Lawyers for the practice areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, and Family Law. Tim O’Brien was selected… Read more »

Keith Richard receives commendation for pro bono work

Associate Attorney Keith Richard was recently recognized as one of the 2018 recipients of the Katahdin Counsel Recognition Program. Katahdin Counsel is a distinction awarded annually to Maine attorneys that dedicate 50 or more hours of their time to represent persons unable to afford an attorney. Attorney Richard handled matters referred by Conservation Law Foundation’s Legal… Read more »

Do I have to take field sobriety tests?

If you are pulled over and the officer suspects that you may be impaired, you will likely be asked to exit the car and take field sobriety tests. In Maine, you are not required to take field sobriety tests.  The officer will not tell you that you can refuse to take a field sobriety test.… Read more »