Norman Hanson DeTroy, LLC

Insurance Defense Litigation

No firm in the State of Maine has more experience defending insureds for national, regional, and local insurers than Norman Hanson DeTroy. As one of the two main practice areas on which the firm was founded, insurance defense litigation always has been a core strength, and we are proud to continue our unmatched reputation for excellence. Whether the insured matter involves an automobile accident, defective construction, product liability, or premises liability, our attorneys know best how to defend the client-insured within the guidelines required by the insurer who is paying for the defense.

We offer insurers the best opportunity for cost-efficient representation and boast an exceptional depth of lawyers in all experience ranges. Insurers and insureds can rest assured knowing that their cases will be assigned to the lawyers with the most appropriate experience and at rates commensurate with the complexity of the issues and the amounts at stake. Our lawyers learn early in their careers how to identify essential discovery, save litigation resources, and reduce costs.

The firm’s focus on efficiency does not come at the cost of effectiveness. Our attorneys are respected by their peers locally and regionally, and by insurers nationwide, for the favorable results they achieve in all phases of litigation, from mediations to trials and appeals. We work diligently to deliver the results insurers and insureds alike expect and deserve.

Intellectual Property

Innovation is the primary driver for business growth and success. We at Norman Hanson DeTroy help our clients to realize value from innovation by recognizing, protecting, and enforcing it as their intellectual property.

Working together with our clients, our intellectual property lawyers offer effective and creative solutions, ranging from identifying types of intellectual property and crafting balanced protection/profit strategies, to enforcing intellectual property rights that have been infringed upon, to defending our clients from meritless claims by competitors or trolls. Our areas of expertise include state and federal trademark prosecution and enforcement; copyright registration and enforcement; Digital Millennium Copyright Act compliance; patent-related pre-litigation strategies; licensing; IP policies and specialized employment agreements; sale of IP assets; and claims arising out of the state and federal unfair competition laws, including the Lanham Act. By taking a genuine interest in our clients’ businesses, we tailor individualized protection and exploitation strategies to fit our clients’ diverse needs.

Our Practice Group is well-versed in the complexities of the federal and state laws and regulations governing advertisements, promotions, contests, and sweepstakes. We stay up to date with developments in the world of social media and marketing and enjoy helping our clients maximize the benefits offered by these and other cutting edge types of media and technology. Along with developing legal rules for our clients’ local, national, and international contests and promotions, we work with our clients to implement privacy policies and terms of online use, among other necessary or practical notices and disclaimers.

Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights

The lawyers at Norman Hanson DeTroy have nearly 100 years of combined experience in bankruptcy and creditors’ rights law.

We advocate for our clients in informal workouts and formal bankruptcy litigation, representing creditors, debtors, and Unsecured Creditors’ Committees.  We have successfully asserted and defended the rights of our creditor clients, including many credit unions and banks, and have tried cases and won appeals at nearly all levels of state and federal courts.  We also help our debtor clients understand the “fresh start” offered by the bankruptcy laws and work with them to confirm Chapter 11 plans for their businesses and to save their homes and cars in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.

Our broad experience in debtor-creditor relationships gives us a considerable fund of knowledge in the wide range of complex laws that come into play, including secured creditors’ rights with respect to real estate and personal property, foreclosures and secured party sales, fraudulent transfers, exempt property, and collections. We utilize this knowledge to assess an individual client’s situation, whether as a creditor or debtor, in order to deliver smart, strategic counsel and to determine the best course of action. We have the breadth of experience to handle workouts, forbearance agreements, and other non-litigation solutions.  We also have the expertise to represent clients effectively in litigation, when necessary.

Whether you are a financial institution, a small business or an individual, a debtor or a creditor, or you have an issue related to real estate or other collateral, we can assist you. We often are asked to serve as local counsel for many large U.S. law firms who seek advice on how best to assist their out-of-state clients in matters before Maine courts.

Business Organizations & Operations

Norman Hanson DeTroy provides clients with a wide range of timely, cost-effective legal services that support their day-to-day operational requirements and their major business strategies and decisions. By thoroughly understanding a client’s business goals and appetite for risk, we offer expert, practical advice to guide and inform the decision-making process. Above all, we are committed to serving as a trusted resource and a strategic partner for our corporate, commercial, and financial clients.

Personal Injury

Norman Hanson DeTroy has many of Maine’s best trial attorneys, and we are widely regarded as one of Maine’s best jury trial firms. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle or construction accident, or if you are dealing with the terrible burden of a wrongful death claim, let us use our experience to fight for your benefit. Many personal injury clients are referred to us by lawyers, other professionals, and current and former clients because they trust us to provide top-notch advice, get the best results possible, and give the personal attention you deserve. Our clients rely on us to reassure and guide them through their medical recovery, settlement negotiations, and jury trials, when necessary. We will stand by your side every step of the way and work tirelessly for the result that is best for you.

Elder Law

The population of the State is aging. Laws and regulations affecting the elderly and their families are increasingly complex. In light of these trends, Norman Hanson DeTroy offers a range of services to assist its clients who are senior citizens or who are the adult relatives of senior citizens, including

• Preparing financial and health care powers of attorney
• Drafting wills and trusts
• Advising about tax and other implications of gifting assets to family members
• Protecting assets when your spouse is about to enter long term care
• Working to qualify you for MaineCare (Medicaid)
• Filing petitions for appointment as guardian or conservator, and
• Arranging house calls for homebound, nursing home-bound, and hospital-bound clients