Chad’s statewide practice focuses on the representation of employees in all manner of employee rights litigation including disability discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, sex discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, sexual harassment, medical leave violations, and failure to accommodate claims. He has both first chaired and second chaired employee rights cases to successful verdicts. Chad is AV-Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell. “AV Preeminent” is the organization’s highest possible rating for legal skills and trustworthiness and is based on reviews from esteemed members of the legal community and judges. Chad is also listed in U.S. News “Best Lawyers in America”© directory (Employment Law – Individuals), the oldest and most highly-respected peer review guide in the legal profession.
After graduating from the University of Colorado School of Law, Chad worked for the National Organization for Women (“NOW”) National Judicial Education Program which educates the judiciary with regard to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. After moving to Maine, Chad worked for three years as a staff attorney for the Disability Rights Center where he focused on disability discrimination in employment, public accommodation, and education. Chad has worked with the Maine Employee Rights Group since 2007 and is a member of the firm.
In October 2021, Chad first chaired a failure to accommodate case in the U.S. District Court in Bangor and obtained a jury verdict in his client’s favor. The jury awarded $867,000 which included $750,000 in punitive damages.
In March 2024, Chad and Martin Tartre represented a client at trial in a claim alleging that the Market Basket grocery chain failed to promote an employee because of his age. After a four-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire in Concord the jury found that Market Basket violated the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination and the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act when it failed to promote its employee. Total damages awarded in the case exceeded $360,000.
Chad is a former Member and former President of the Board of Directors of the Disability Rights Maine.
Chad is also a former attorney coach for the Cape Elizabeth mock trial team which won the state championship in 2021.
Education
- University of Colorado School of Law - J.D.
- Luther College - B.A.
Reported and Notable Cases
- Hinson v. Microwave Techniques, LLC, No. 2:22-CV-00114-JDL, 2023 WL 2683016 (D. Me. 2023) (Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Denied)
- Austin v. Mainely Constr. Rentals, LLC, No. 2:20-CV-00182-NT, 2022 WL 539311 (D. Me. Feb. 23, 2022) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Corson v. Modula, Inc., No. 2:20-CV-104-DBH, 2020 WL 4194498 (D. Me. July 21, 2020) (Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Denied)
- Bell v. O'Reilly Auto Enterprises, LLC, No. 1:16-CV-00501-JDL, 2022 WL 782784 (D. Me. Mar. 15, 2022) (denying defendant's motion to apply damages caps to jury verdict and upholding $867,000 verdict)
- Bell v. O'Reilly Auto Parts, 972 F.3d 21 (1st Cir. 2020) (successful appeal in disability discrimination case where court ordered new trial due to error in jury instructions)
- Mullen v. New Balance Athletics, Inc., No. 1:17-CV-194-NT, 2019 WL 958370 (D. Me. 2019) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Morin v. Hannaford Bros. Co., LLC, No. 1:17-CV-50-GZS, 2018 WL 2746570 (D. Me. 2018) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Pennington v. Hannaford Bros. Co., LLC, No. 2:17-CV-00053-JDL, 2018 WL 2746577 (D. Me. 2018) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Bell v. O'Reilly Auto Enterprises, LLC, No. 1:16-CV-00501-JDL, 2018 WL 1886491 (D. Me. 2018) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Gagnon v Woodlands Senior Living of Brewer, LLC, No. BCD - CV - 15 - 29, 2015 WL 12851372 (Me.B.C.D. 2017) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Dorr v. Woodlands Senior Living or Brewer, LLC, No. 1:15-CV-00092-JCN, 2017 WL 4329765 (D. Me. Sept. 29, 2017) (Order on Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys Fees and Costs)
- Prescott v. Rumford Hosp., No. 2:13-CV-00460-JDL, 2016 WL 3406079 (D. Me. June 17, 2016) (Order on Plaintiff's Motion for Attorney's Fees and Costs)
- LaFlamme v. Rumford Hosp., No. 2:13-CV-460-JDL, 2015 WL 4139478 (D. Me. 2015) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Crosby v. F.W. Webb, Co., No. 2:12-CV-135-NT, 2014 WL 1268691 (D. Me. 2014) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Stark v. Hartt Transp. Systems, Inc., 37 F. Supp. 3d 445 (D. Me. 2014) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Manfield v Alutiiq Intern. Solutions, Inc., 851 F.Supp.2d 196 (D. Me. 2012) (Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Denied)
- Manske v. UPS Cartage Services, Inc., 789 F.Supp.2d 213 (D.Me. 2011) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Blanco v. Bath Iron Works Corp., 802 F. Supp.2d 215 (D.Me. 2011) (Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Denied)
- Phair v. New Page Corp., 708 F.Supp.2d 57 (D.Me. 2010) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion to Exclude Expert Witness denied)
- Duckworth v. Mid-State Machine Products, 703 F.Supp.2d 35 (D.Me. 2010) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Rhoades v. Camden Nat. Corp., 575 F.Supp.2d 260 (D.Me. 2008) (Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Denied)
- Warren v. United Parcel Service, Inc., 495 F.Supp.2d 86 (D.Me. 2007) (Order on Post Trial Motions granting damages)
Client Reviews
Thank you for your efforts and hard work in resolving my case. Your leadership and initiatives were outstanding. I felt truly represented, respected and was treated with honesty and integrity. We are grateful for a positive result and grateful for the excellent teamwork!
Thank you for all your help on [AW's] case. Without you, nothing would have come from it. We will be sending people your way. We hope that we will not need your help again, but if we do you will be hearing from us.
We appreciate everything you have done for us. You made this whole process much easier on [P.C.] and me. Words cannot express our gratitude.
I want to thank you and your staff for all you and they did. The professional and compassionate way my case was handled is greatly appreciated. It was a pleasure to do business with your firm and if the need ever arises I will be back in touch. Thank you again.
Contact Us
- 1 Over 60 Years of Experience
- 2 Former Disability Rights Center Board Member
- 3 Legal Director for the Consumer Health Law Program