Julia Pitney
Maine Governor nominates Julia Pitney to District Court Judge position
Governor Janet Mills announced today the nomination of Julia Pitney, an attorney at Drummond Woodsum, to serve as a District Court Judge for the State of Maine.
Julia Pitney has cultivated a distinguished career over the past 18 years, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication in a private practice. Her extensive experience encompasses a wide range of litigated cases, from high-stakes commercial disputes to criminal defense. Her reputation for representing clients with thoughtfulness, poise, and creativity has earned her the respect of her peers and clients alike.
Drummond Woodsum’s Managing Director, Bill Stockmeyer, expressed his enthusiasm for the nomination, stating, “We are enormously proud of Julia and know that she will serve the people of the State of Maine with the same dignity and common sense she has served all our clients here.”
The next step in the appointment process involves a confirmation hearing by the Maine Legislature, where legislators will have the opportunity to evaluate Pitney’s qualifications for the role and vote on her nomination.
Corporate Transparency Act: filing deadline fast approaching
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) went into effect on January 1, 2024. This law applies to most private companies doing business in the United States. Companies subject to the CTA and not eligible for one of several specified exemptions (Reporting Companies) are now required to submit Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reports to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Failure to comply with this new federal reporting requirement may result in both civil and criminal penalties.
For Reporting Companies that were formed or registered to do business in the United States prior to January 1, 2024, the deadline to file an initial BOI Report with FinCEN is December 31, 2024. For Reporting Companies formed or registered during 2024, the deadline to file an initial report is 90 days from the date of formation or registration. Beginning in 2025, the initial report deadline will drop to 30 days from the date of formation or registration. For more information about the CTA, please refer to our previous client alerts on this topic located here.
We are available to advise and assist clients in completing their CTA reporting obligations and compliance. We anticipate a significant increase in inquiries on this topic as the year-end deadline approaches. If you have questions about your company’s obligations under the CTA that you wish to discuss before the filing deadline, please reach out to your Sheehan Phinney team to schedule a consultation now. — Attorney Andrew Newcombe, Sheehan Phinney
This article is intended to serve as a summary of the issues outlined herein. While it may include some general guidance, it is not intended as, nor is it a substitute for, legal advice.
Rath, Young and Pignatelli obtains landmark free speech and press ruling from NH Supreme Court in Richards v. Azzi
Attorney Michael S. Lewis obtained a landmark ruling from the NH Supreme Court bolstering free speech and free press rights, today, in the matter of Richards v. Azzi. Representing Robert Azzi, an award-winning columnist, as part of the firm’s pro bono practice, Lewis obtained a ruling from the NH Supreme Court protecting Azzi from liability for the content of an opinion column he published in the New Hampshire Union Leader. In the same decision, the Court resolved the open question of whether New Hampshire recognizes an independent cause of action known as “False Light – Invasion of Privacy” in Azzi’s favor. Grounding its decision in scholarship Azzi brought before the Court in his briefing, the Court declined to expand the risks of engaging in free speech and press by recognizing a new cause of action that threatens those interests. Generally, the decision strengthens protections for public commentary that are long recognized in New Hampshire. These protections, in turn, ensure that New Hampshire will remain a forum for robust public debate, consistent with its standing as a jurisdiction whose citizens embrace and welcome such debate as part of their First-in-the-Nation political identity.
Read the full ruling on Rath, Young & Pignatelli’s website here.
