lawyers attorneys civil and criminal litigation Bangor Maine

Lanham & Blackwell, P.A., , was founded in 1984 and has for twenty years successfully represented its clients in a wide variety of civil and criminal litigation, including:

wrongful death

personal injury

class actions involving pharmaceuticals

product defects

civil rights and constitutional issues

general commercial litigation

commercial and residential real estate transactions

new business formation and corporate law

estate planning and administration

employment law

criminal defense

divorce and family law

alternative dispute resolution

insurance law.

In recent years the firm has expanded its scope of services to include representing thousands of clients throughout the United States in litigating complex tort cases, including class-action lawsuits involving the diet drug Fen-Phen and medical device product defect litigation.

ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL SUPPORT STAFF

Lanham & Blackwell, P.A., as a firm has achieved the highest rating for integrity and legal skills that a firm can professionally achieve: an AV Martindale-Hubbell rating. The combined professional experience of the firm’s five attorneys exceeds 134 years and exceeds 80 years combined for the four paralegals and research associate.

Kevin Cuddy, Attorney  B.A. from Bucknell University (1966); J.D. from Suffolk University Law School (1969). In 1973, after serving four years of Federal employment ending with a two-year term as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine, Mr. Cuddy entered private practice. For the last thirty years of his practice, he has focused on civil litigation, including employment, workers’ compensation and administrative law. He has practiced in all Maine Federal and state Courts, including numerous appellate arguments in the Supreme Judicial Court. Mr. Cuddy has also practiced in the Federal District Court, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals, including an oral argument before the United States Supreme Court. A significant part of his practice involves alternative dispute resolution. He has achieved the highest rating for legal skills that an attorney can professionally achieve – an “AV” rating by Martindale – Hubbell --- a recognition that he has reached the height of professional excellence, has practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. A-V rating.

Mr. Cuddy is a Past President of the Maine Bar Foundation, the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and the Maine Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He also serves as Chair of the Maine State Bar Association Peer Assistance Committee as well as Chair of the Federal Bench Bar Liaison Committee for the local Federal District Court, and is a member of the Administrative Advisory Board for the Courts of the Federal District of Maine. He has served on various committees appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, including committees on the Rules of Evidence and Rules of Civil Procedure. He has been on various nominating committees for appointment of state and federal judges.

Samuel Lanham, Attorney  B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary (1975); J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law (1980). Clerked for Justice David Nichols of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court before entering private practice. He has achieved the highest rating for legal skills that an attorney can professionally achieve – an “AV” rating by Martindale – Hubbell --- a recognition that he has reached the height of professional excellence, has practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. A-V rating.

Currently admitted to practice law in Maine and Colorado, Mr. Lanham has litigated cases in state and federal courts of Maine, Massachusetts, Arkansas, Washington, Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and in the District of Columbia. His civil trial experience includes diet drug and other pharmaceutical litigation, motor vehicle accident and personal injury, wrongful death, commercial litigation, insurance, property and fire losses, constitutional law and election law. During H. Ross Perot’s 1996 presidential campaign, he served as Mr. Perot’s national trial and ballot access counsel, directing the “Presidential Debates” litigation against the Federal Election Commission and the Commission on Presidential Debates. During the past four years he has handled over 2,400 diet drug claims and is presently litigating Ortho Evra® birth control patch claims and is a member of the plaintiffs' discovery committee for the multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Mr. Lanham is a member of the American Bar Association, Maine State Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the American Inns of Court. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, is a presenter at MTLA trial practice seminars, and is in line to be President of that organization in 2006. He is a past President of the Penobscot County Bar Association, is named to Who’s Who in American Law and is a Senior Counsel in The College of Master Advocates and Barristers.

Steven Blackwell, Attorney  B.A., cum laude, from Albright College (1977); J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law (1980).

For more than 22 years Mr. Blackwell’s private practice has focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on personal injury, worngful death, defective products, and divorce and child custody law. He has also successfully defended many clients who have been charged with criminal offenses, including OUI. Mr. Blackwell has practiced in all Maine State courts and the United States District Court for the District of Maine. Mr. Blackwell has achieved an outstanding “BV” Martindale-Hubbell rating because of his exemplary reputation, well-established practice and high professional standing. A-V rating.

Mr. Blackwell is a graduate of The National Institute for Trial Advocacy and is currently a member of the American Bar Association, the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, the Maine State Bar Association, Family Law Section, and the Penobscot County Bar Association. He is a past President of the Waterville, Maine Bar Association.

Pamela Chute, Attorney  B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Maine, Orono (1973); J.D. law degree from the Franklin Pierce Law Center in New Hampshire (1976). She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Pi Alpha (political science) honor societies.

Ms. Chute practices primarily in the fields of real estate, business and estate planning. She is a past-President of the Penobscot County Bar Association and was appointed by the Governor to the Maine Labor Relations Board. She has served as the Public Administrator for Penobscot County. With over 25 years of experience as an attorney in Maine, Ms. Chute has lectured and frequently made professional presentations on real estate and probate topics for the Maine State Bar Association. She is a member of the Real Estate and Title Standards Committee of the Maine State Bar Association, and the Maine Land Title Association.

Ms. Chute has achieved an outstanding “BV” Martindale-Hubbell rating because of her exemplary reputation, well-established practice and high professional standing. A-V rating.

M. Ray Bradford Jr., Special Counsel  B.A. from Washington & Lee University (1968); J.D. from the George Washington University National Law Center (1971). Admitted to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the United States District Court for the District of Maine.

M. Ray Bradford, Jr. serves as special counsel to Lanham & Blackwell, P.A., providing services to the firm's clients in the areas of wills, trusts, and estate planning. Mr. Bradford has achieved an outstanding “BV” Martindale-Hubbell rating because of his exemplary reputation, well-established practice and high professional standing. A-V rating.

CASE MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH CAPABILITIES

All successful complex case litigation requires a combination of highly skilled attorneys and a high degree of case management and legal research skills. The Lanham & Blackwell, P.A., firm is organized to manage cases and transactions promptly and efficiently. In addition to being sensitive to clients' financial considerations, the firm is organized to provide services in the most cost effective manner. Our attorneys make use of trained legal assistants, where appropriate, to economize on costs. In addition, our practice utilizes a fully integrated computer system, allowing us to better coordinate and streamline our legal services.

Our legal research team has personnel with advanced degrees in several academic fields as well as several years of in-depth legal research education and complex litigation experience. The attorneys and legal support staff also have the opportunity to take advantage of a comprehensive in-house legal library and use the most advanced case management software and computer research resources available.


		FIRM PROFILE: CASE MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH CAPABILITIES OVERVIEW & AREAS OF PRACTICE Lanham & Blackwell, P.A., , was founded in 1984 and has for twenty years successfully represented its clients in a wide variety of civil and criminal litigation, including: wrongful death personal injury class actions involving pharmaceuticals product defects civil rights and constitutional issues general commercial litigation commercial and residential real estate transactions new business formation and corporate law estate planning and administration employment law criminal defense divorce and family law alternative dispute resolution insurance law. In recent years the firm has expanded its scope of services to include representing thousands of clients throughout the United States in litigating complex tort cases, including class-action lawsuits involving the diet drug Fen-Phen and medical device product defect litigation. ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL SUPPORT STAFF Lanham & Blackwell, P.A., as a firm has achieved the highest rating for integrity and legal skills that a firm can professionally achieve: an AV Martindale-Hubbell rating. The combined professional experience of the firm’s five attorneys exceeds 134 years and exceeds 80 years combined for the four paralegals and research associate. Kevin Cuddy, Attorney B.A. from Bucknell University (1966); J.D. from Suffolk University Law School (1969). In 1973, after serving four years of Federal employment ending with a two-year term as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine, Mr. Cuddy entered private practice. For the last thirty years of his practice, he has focused on civil litigation, including employment, workers’ compensation and administrative law. He has practiced in all Maine Federal and state Courts, including numerous appellate arguments in the Supreme Judicial Court. Mr. Cuddy has also practiced in the Federal District Court, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals, including an oral argument before the United States Supreme Court. A significant part of his practice involves alternative dispute resolution. He has achieved the highest rating for legal skills that an attorney can professionally achieve – an “AV” rating by Martindale – Hubbell --- a recognition that he has reached the height of professional excellence, has practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. A-V rating. Mr. Cuddy is a Past President of the Maine Bar Foundation, the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and the Maine Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He also serves as Chair of the Maine State Bar Association Peer Assistance Committee as well as Chair of the Federal Bench Bar Liaison Committee for the local Federal District Court, and is a member of the Administrative Advisory Board for the Courts of the Federal District of Maine. He has served on various committees appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, including committees on the Rules of Evidence and Rules of Civil Procedure. He has been on various nominating committees for appointment of state and federal judges. Samuel Lanham, Attorney B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary (1975); J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law (1980). Clerked for Justice David Nichols of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court before entering private practice. He has achieved the highest rating for legal skills that an attorney can professionally achieve – an “AV” rating by Martindale – Hubbell --- a recognition that he has reached the height of professional excellence, has practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. A-V rating. Currently admitted to practice law in Maine and Colorado, Mr. Lanham has litigated cases in state and federal courts of Maine, Massachusetts, Arkansas, Washington, Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and in the District of Columbia. His civil trial experience includes diet drug and other pharmaceutical litigation, motor vehicle accident and personal injury, wrongful death, commercial litigation, insurance, property and fire losses, constitutional law and election law. During H. Ross Perot’s 1996 presidential campaign, he served as Mr. Perot’s national trial and ballot access counsel, directing the “Presidential Debates” litigation against the Federal Election Commission and the Commission on Presidential Debates. During the past four years he has handled over 2,400 diet drug claims and is presently litigating Ortho Evra® birth control patch claims and is a member of the plaintiffs' discovery committee for the multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Mr. Lanham is a member of the American Bar Association, Maine State Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the American Inns of Court. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, is a presenter at MTLA trial practice seminars, and is in line to be President of that organization in 2006. He is a past President of the Penobscot County Bar Association, is named to Who’s Who in American Law and is a Senior Counsel in The College of Master Advocates and Barristers. Steven Blackwell, Attorney B.A., cum laude, from Albright College (1977); J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law (1980). For more than 22 years Mr. Blackwell’s private practice has focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on personal injury, worngful death, defective products, and divorce and child custody law. He has also successfully defended many clients who have been charged with criminal offenses, including OUI. Mr. Blackwell has practiced in all Maine State courts and the United States District Court for the District of Maine. Mr. Blackwell has achieved an outstanding “BV” Martindale-Hubbell rating because of his exemplary reputation, well-established practice and high professional standing. A-V rating. Mr. Blackwell is a graduate of The National Institute for Trial Advocacy and is currently a member of the American Bar Association, the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, the Maine State Bar Association, Family Law Section, and the Penobscot County Bar Association. He is a past President of the Waterville, Maine Bar Association. Pamela Chute, Attorney B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Maine, Orono (1973); J.D. law degree from the Franklin Pierce Law Center in New Hampshire (1976). She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Pi Alpha (political science) honor societies. Ms. Chute practices primarily in the fields of real estate, business and estate planning. She is a past-President of the Penobscot County Bar Association and was appointed by the Governor to the Maine Labor Relations Board. She has served as the Public Administrator for Penobscot County. With over 25 years of experience as an attorney in Maine, Ms. Chute has lectured and frequently made professional presentations on real estate and probate topics for the Maine State Bar Association. She is a member of the Real Estate and Title Standards Committee of the Maine State Bar Association, and the Maine Land Title Association. Ms. Chute has achieved an outstanding “BV” Martindale-Hubbell rating because of her exemplary reputation, well-established practice and high professional standing. A-V rating. M. Ray Bradford Jr., Special Counsel B.A. from Washington & Lee University (1968); J.D. from the George Washington University National Law Center (1971). Admitted to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the United States District Court for the District of Maine. M. Ray Bradford, Jr. serves as special counsel to Lanham & Blackwell, P.A., providing services to the firm's clients in the areas of wills, trusts, and estate planning. Mr. Bradford has achieved an outstanding “BV” Martindale-Hubbell rating because of his exemplary reputation, well-established practice and high professional standing. A-V rating. CASE MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH CAPABILITIES All successful complex case litigation requires a combination of highly skilled attorneys and a high degree of case management and legal research skills. The Lanham & Blackwell, P.A., firm is organized to manage cases and transactions promptly and efficiently. In addition to being sensitive to clients' financial considerations, the firm is organized to provide services in the most cost effective manner. Our attorneys make use of trained legal assistants, where appropriate, to economize on costs. In addition, our practice utilizes a fully integrated computer system, allowing us to better coordinate and streamline our legal services. Our legal research team has personnel with advanced degrees in several academic fields as well as several years of in-depth legal research education and complex litigation experience. The attorneys and legal support staff also have the opportunity to take advantage of a comprehensive in-house legal library and use the most advanced case management software and computer research resources available.