Ronald W. Schneider, Jr.

Here’s why you’ll enjoy working with him.

Ron brings a practical and adaptable approach to the representation of his clients, keeping their goals and needs his focal point. He has extensive experience helping clients avoid litigation or resolving disputes prior to it. But if it comes down to going to court, he is well equipped to fully and aggressively litigate cases to successful conclusions.

Ron’s practice includes all aspects of employment law, including Title VII and state human rights claims, whistleblower claims, employee misconduct and theft, employment agreements, non-compete agreements, investigations, discipline, and terminations.

He has extensive experience specific to the health care and education industries, serving as outside general counsel to a hospital, a university, several private schools and multiple non-profit social service agencies. In addition, he represents medical and mental health care professionals in a wide range of legal matters, including HIPAA and state laws regarding patient confidentiality, recoupment issues, Certificate of Need, peer review process, exclusion and debarment, and general practice issues.

But that’s not all. Ron’s also very experienced in:

• Representation of health care professionals charged with crimes or those faced with discipline by their professional licensing boards
• Crisis management for clients with professional and personal emergencies
• Federal employment regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act
• Commercial litigation related to a variety of business disputes

In his former life, Ron was:

• A clerk in the Maine Superior Court in Portland, serving Justices Arthur Brennan, Susan Calkins, Roland Cole, Nancy Mills and Leigh Saufley
• The first chair of the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, a state agency that provides high-quality representation to indigent citizens, including criminal and juvenile defendants
• Between college and law school: a waiter, a bellman, a wedding videographer, a title examiner and an “executive gofer” in a ski shop

When Ron’s not working, he’s…

Serving on the Municipal Budget Committee. Ron enjoys skiing, fly fishing, and trap shooting, among other outdoor pursuits. And he spends time with his family every chance he gets.

Representative Matters

Thornton Academy v. Regional School Unit 21, 2019 Maine 115 (2019) — Prevailed as lead appellate counsel before the Maine Supreme Judicial to secure the right of middle school students in Arundel, Maine to exercise their option to attend either Thornton Academy Middle School or a middle school within RSU 21.

Farnham v. Walmart ­(March 2015)  — Achieved a defense jury verdict as lead trial counsel for Walmart in a five-day jury trial involving an employee claim of disability discrimination.

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

Bo-Co, Inc. v. Polaris Sales, Inc., (September 2013)  — Prevailed as lead trial counsel on behalf of Polaris in challenge brought by three dealerships who objected to Polaris’ plan to expand an existing dealership to increase sales of Polaris’ very successful and popular Ranger brand of off-road vehicles.

MyFreeMedicine.com, LLC v. Alpine Investors, LP, ­739 F.Supp.2d 8 (D. Me. 2010) – 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.

Johnson v. University of Maine System (2007) —  Successfully defended the university in federal court against extensive and complicated claims of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

Employer Judgment For Employee Theft  (2011) – Achieved $300,000 judgment for international company to recover amounts lost when employee obtained kickbacks from suppliers.

Wells v. Anthem Health Plans of Maine (2006) —  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 lead 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.

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.