Gene R. Libby has again been selected for inclusion in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Gene has been selected for Best Lawyers in America since 2003. Best Lawyers is one of the most respected peer review publications in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. Gene was selected for his expertise in family law/divorce and criminal defense.
Libby O’Brien Kingsley & Champion, LLC is pleased to announce that Tyler J. Smith has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney. Tyler practices in the areas of civil litigation, criminal law and family law. He gained practical trial experience serving as a law clerk to Justices Marden, Mills, Murphy and Nivison in the Maine Superior Court. While in law school, Tyler actively participated in the Moot Court program. He was a first place team member of the Regent University National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition in 2008 and 2009. He was also the winner of the 2008 Esther Clark Moot Court Competition, and was a first place team member of the Roger Williams University School of Law Moot Court Competition for first year students.
Tyler graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2005 with a B.S. degree in computer science. He graduated from the Roger Williams University School of Law, Bristol, Rhode Island in 2009. He is admitted to practice in Maine and Massachusetts and is a member of the Maine Bar Association, the York County Bar Association, and the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Libby O’Brien Kingsley & Champion, LLC believes that Tyler’s contributions to the firm will allow us to continue to provide our clients with dedication, experience and results.
Photo courtesy of East Shore Photography
Avesta Housing, its partners and members of the Kennebunk community recently celebrated the grand opening of Park Street School, a new affordable housing community for seniors located in the historic school building. Avesta Housing is the largest nonprofit developer in northern New England. Its mission is to promote and provide housing opportunities for Southern Maine people in need. Avesta rehabilitated the Park Street School and built an addition to create 30 apartments for people 62 and older or disabled.
Gail Kingsley Wolfahrt, a partner at Libby O’Brien Kingsley & Champion, LLC, served as Master of Ceremonies for the event held on November 9, 2012. Gail has served on the Board of Directors for Avesta Housing for the past six years and is the immediate past Chairperson. She is also the only member of the board who resides in Kennebunk.
The Park Street School, which was built in 1921 and closed in 2005, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Avesta retained and rehabilitated a number of the building’s historic features, including its brick façade, chalkboards, coat closets, slate floors, interior glass-paned doors, and interior and exterior windows. In addition to the apartments, the building features a large community room and kitchen, a hair salon, a media room and a library. A community garden organized by the Town will be located on the property next year, and Avesta has entered into a partnership with Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunk to display locally made art in the community space at the Park Street School.
Gail Kingsley Wolfahrt is pleased to have served on Avesta’s board during the Park Street School project and to have participated in this wonderful community event celebrating the opening of the renovated building.
Brian L. Champion is a member of the Board of Directors for the Kennebunk Land Trust. He also serves on the Land Trust’s Finance Committee, where he was recently selected to be Treasurer by a unanimous vote of the Board.
Brian Champion
Brian L. Champion recently won a unanimous jury verdict on behalf of his defendant doctor in a medical malpractice case. The jury deliberated a total of 6 minutes before returning the verdict in favor of Brian’s doctor. The case was tried before a jury in the Waldo County Superior Court in Belfast, Maine. The finality of the jury verdict capped nearly a four year long case, beginning with the Maine Medical Practice Screening Panel. The Plaintiff presented expert testimony from a neurosurgeon from San Francisco, C.A., and expert testimony from a Rhode Island neurologist, as well as testimony from a local treating neurosurgeon and family practice doctor. Brian and his doctor provided the jury with expert testimony from a neuroradiologist, and former professor of neuroradiology at the George Washington Medical School, and Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, D.C., and from a Massachusetts neurologist.
On October 19, 2012, Gene R. Libby was a presenter at a Continuing Legal Education program entitled: “Aggressive Litigation Tactics: How to Deal with the ‘Rambo’ Litigator.” Gene’s portion of the program focused on teaching attorneys how to deal with frivolous discovery objections and inappropriate behavior of opposing counsel at depositions, as well as how to make sure that opposing counsel produces all responsive documents. The full-day program at the Fireside Inn & Suites in Portland was sponsored by the National Business Institute.
At its 36th Annual Meeting, the Maine Cancer Foundation recognized the accomplishments and commitment of Gene Libby over the last 14 years by awarding him the first Board of Directors Gold Service Award. Gene served on the Board of Directors 12 years, the last two years as President of the Foundation. During his tenure, overall revenue for the Foundation increased 24% and special event revenue increased 49%. The Foundation moved from its former 1,200 square foot office to a new office with 2,800 square feet. During Gene’s term, the Foundation also hired its first full-time Communications Director and first full-time Development Director. Gene founded Mary’s Walk in 1999 in memory of his wife Mary and since that time Mary’s Walk has donated $1.8 million to the Foundation.
In his parting remarks, Gene Libby commented on his long-time support for the organization. “It’s a comfort to know that the money stays in Maine and gets put to good use. When you lose somebody to cancer, it leaves you with a conviction that you want to do something about it, to change this place, and I hope I have.”
Gene R. Libby was one of twenty “Concerned Maine Attorneys” who recently provided support as amici curiae to overturn a decision of the District Court in a parentage action involving surrogate parents. The court had ruled that it lacked statutory authority to declare the genetic mother to be the legal mother of a baby born to a surrogate. Gene and the other amici supported the parties’ appeal, and the Law Court vacated the District Court’s decision.
Gene Libby has been selected by the Thorton Academy Alumni Association to receive its 2012 Public Service Award, in large part due to his contributions to the Maine Cancer Foundation. The annual award recognizes graduates of Thornton Academy in Saco, Maine for their outstanding public service and volunteerism.
Gene has been recognized for the founding and success of Mary’s Walk over the past fourteen years (raising $1.8 million dollars for Maine-based cancer research and patient support services), as well as his membership on the Maine Cancer Foundation Board for 12 years, the last two as President. Gene’s other contributions to public service include his election to the Saco City Council (1999-2003); election to the York County Budget Committee, serving as chairman from 1994-1998; Member of the Maine Bar Association Fee Arbitration Panel; Member of the Board of Directors of Sentencing Options, Inc. (1988-1992), as well as his service as York County District Attorney (1981-86).
Gene will accept the award at Thornton Academy’s baccalaureate ceremony on June 1, 2012.
On March 27, 2012, the Law Court decided a case brought against York County and several other counties by a private company, MacImage of Maine, LLC. MacImage sought access to electronic copies of all of the land records in the counties’ Registry of Deeds databases. After York County agreed to provide the records for a fee, MacImage filed a lawsuit claiming that the fee was too large and therefore was a constructive denial of the request. The Superior Court ruled on the case, and the parties appealed. While the case was pending on appeal, the Maine Legislature amended the pertinent law, and made the changes retroactive. On appeal, the Law Court agreed with York County and the other counties that the new law applied to the case, and that the fee charged by York County was lawful.
Gene R. Libby and Hillary J. Massey handled the appeal for York County.