Brief author introduction: My name is Sage Shaheen and I am a summer associate finishing the last week of my summer here at Pierce Atwood. You can find my previous writing and research for this blog here and here.
Pierce Atwood
Pierce Atwood is a law firm that provides legal services and publishes blogs focused on various legal issues and developments. The firm covers topics such as environmental permitting, statutory and constitutional law, liability and negligence, contract and equitable remedies, appellate procedure, and regulatory compliance. Its publications often analyze recent court decisions, legislative changes, and procedural rules, offering insights relevant to practitioners and clients. The content reflects the firm's engagement with complex legal questions, including administrative law, tort claims, property rights, and public policy matters, with a focus on practical implications for legal strategy and business operations.
When Will I Get the Decision?
Our clients often ask this question about appeals before the Law Court. And so we decided it was time to look at what the data say. Our summer associate, and part-time blogger, Sage Shaheen thoroughly reviewed the information available…
Death Knells, Due Process, and Democracy: May 2026 Law Court Roundup
A brief introduction from the author: My name is Sage Shaheen and I am a summer associate here at Pierce Atwood. I am a rising 2L at Vermont Law School and, as a long-time reader of the Maine Appeals blog…
March/April 2026 Law Court Roundup: Dentists and Vodka and Weed, Oh My!
Welcome to our second roundup of recent notable Law Court decisions (our previous roundup for January and February of 2026 is available here). Lots of interesting stuff here on legal topics as far-ranging as qualified and sovereign immunity, the…
The Devil’s in the (Jurisdictional) Details: Facts Matter in Establishing Personal Jurisdiction
Issues of personal jurisdiction are inherently fact specific. But the First Circuit’s recent decision in Putnam v. EPR Properties, No. 25-1857 (1st Cir. Apr. 28, 2026), offers broader lessons applicable to future disputes over personal jurisdiction—both before the district…
Please Read the Rules (and Other Good Advice): A Day With the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Buckle up for a long (but informative!) post, everyone.
On March 30, 2026, the Maine State Bar Association hosted an all-day seminar on appellate practice before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. The seminar featured ten separate educational sessions, each led…
Dear Alaska: We know our own constitution, thank you very much.
On April 6, 2026, the Justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court handed down their respective opinions in the latest “solemn occasion” proceeding, this one concerning ranked-choice voting. If this sounds familiar to you, it’s because this is the second…
January/February 2026 Law Court Roundup
While we will write lengthier posts for cases that merit a broader discussion, as we did in our last post with respect to the Xamplas decision, we also will write brief updates for notable cases issued recently. Here goes…
My Big Fat Greek Divorce – The Collateral-Order Exception to the Final Judgment Rule
The Law Court typically may only consider an appeal of a “final judgment”—that is, a decision that fully decides and disposes of the parties’ entire case and leaves no further questions for consideration. However, this “final judgment rule” is subject…
We’re Back – And (Hopefully) at Least as Good as Ever
Hello, loyal readers. Six years ago, readers of this blog were greeted by a passing-of-the-torch post, when Pierce Atwood partner Cathy Connors became Associate Justice Catherine R. Connors of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and handed the reins of…