Ron is a member of Bernstein Shur’s Labor and Employment Practice Group and Litigation Practice Group.  He is recognized by Best Lawyers In America in the employment field and commercial litigation.  He brings a practical and adaptable approach to the representation of his clients to ensure that he works to achieve their goals.  He has experience counseling clients so as to avoid litigation, resolving disputes prior to litigation and fully and aggressively litigating cases to successful conclusions.

With respect to employment law, Ron’s practice includes all aspects of employment law including Title VII claims, the ADA, whistleblower claims, employee misconduct and theft, employment agreements, non-compete agreements, investigations, discipline, terminations, and the FMLA.  With respect to commercial litigation, his practice focuses on business contract disputes, arbitration and insurance coverage. 

Ron also practices health care law, representing a Maine hospital and various health care professionals.  He advises health care professionals on practice issues and represents health care professionals before Maine’s licensing boards.  An important part of Ron’s practice is focused on the representation of health care professionals charged with crimes.  He understands the need for discretion and has successfully resolved many sensitive criminal matters.

Ron is the Chair of the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, a state agency charged with providing high quality representation to criminal defendants, juvenile defendants, and parents in child protective cases consistent with federal and state constitutional and statutory obligations.

Prior to joining Bernstein Shur, Ron clerked in the Maine Superior Court in Portland, serving Justices Arthur Brennan, Susan Calkins, Roland Cole, Nancy Mills, and Leigh Saufley.

Representative Litigation Matters:

Shaffiey v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America — Prevailed as co-trial counsel for Unum in six-day trial that began on September 11, 2001 and involved an employment claim of ethnic discrimination.

Johnson v. University of Maine System –  Successfully defended the University in Federal court against extensive and complicated claims of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

MyFreeMedicine.com, LLC v. Alpine Investors, LP, ­739 F.Supp.2d 8 (D. Me. 2010)  –  Working together, Dan Mitchell and Ron successfully defended a San Francisco-based private equity firm in a RICO action seeking damages in excess of $25 million dollars, achieving dismissal of all RICO claims brought in a 170-page complaint.

McDill v. Environamics, 757 A.2d 162 (N.H. 2000) – Successfully defended Environamics as co-counsel at appeal stage in defense of breach of an employment contract action, which established in New Hampshire that after-acquired evidence of employee misconduct could completely bar recovery for a breach of contract.

Wells v. Anthem Health Plans of Maine — Prevailed as counsel for Anthem on claims for breach of contract and unfair claims practices in complicated matter involving migraine medication, working with world-renowned expert in the treatment of migraines.

Catholic Charities of Maine, Inc. v. City of Portland, 304 F.Supp.2d 77 (D. Me. 2004) — Successfully defended the City of Portland in ERISA and constitutional attack on the City’s domestic partnership ordinance, establishing that Catholic Charities’ provision of health benefits was exempt from ERISA and did not constitute speech or religious expression.

Roger Edwards, LLC v. Fiddes & Sons, Ltd., 387 F.3d 90 (1st Cir. 2004)  — Prevailed as trial co-counsel and appellate counsel for Fiddes, a British company in claim for breach of a distribution contract and then in three subsequent appeals to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which included the awarding of sanctions against Roger Edwards, LLC for frivolous pleadings.

Augusta News Co. v. Hudson News Co., 269 F.3d 41 (1st Cir. 2001)  — Prevailed on behalf of Hudson News, one of North America’s largest independent wholesalers of periodicals and books, in antitrust and commercial bribery claims arising out of the historic, national consolidation of the wholesale distribution of periodicals and books.

Caruso v. Rusty Knoll Farm –  Prevailed as trial counsel for Rusty Knoll Farm, an independent Maine dairy farm in the heart of Gorham, to preserve public easement on abandoned road and to remove an obstruction to the use of the easement.

Representative Speaking Engagements:

Like the NLRB On Facebook? What Can You Do When Your Employees Don’t Like You On Facebook, Portland, Maine 2012

Providing Care To Minors, Maine Medical Association, Augusta, Maine, 2011

Social Networking Issues in Health Care, 15^th Annual Nurse Leaders and Managers Conference, Kennebunkport, Maine 2010

Employers and Maine’s Medical Marijuana Law, Portland, Maine, 2010

Social Work and The Law, MSW Seminar, Portland, Maine, 2010

Legislative Changes In Defense Services, U.S. Department of Justice Symposium on Indigent Defense Services, Washington, D.C., 2010

Social Networking Issues For Employers, Portland, Maine, 2009

The Costs, Risks, and Benefits of Litigation in the Courts, Portland, Maine 2009

Exploring Employment Practices Liability Insurance, MSBA Summer Meeting, 2008

Investigating Employee Wrongdoing and Terminations, Independent Schools Association of Northern New England, 2008

Conducting Internal Employee Investigations, Bedford, New Hampshire, 2007