Business Details
Civil Rights & Personal Injury Legal Representation in Maine
Eastern Maine Law was founded by John Gause, a seasoned trial lawyer with 30 years of experience advocating for individuals' rights. Our firm specializes in discrimination, civil rights, and personal injury cases, representing clients in employment disputes, constitutional violations, and personal injury claims. John Gause previously served as Commission Counsel at the Maine Human Rights Commission for eight years, where he drafted legislation and represented the Commission in court. He brings this expertise to every case, ensuring clients receive personalized representation without delegation to junior attorneys. Our practice is built on a statewide reputation earned through successful outcomes in jury trials and a commitment to ethical advocacy.We operate on a contingency-fee basis, aligning our success with our clients' recovery. The firm's approach combines deep legal knowledge with a focus on vindicating clients' rights through settlement negotiations or trial litigation as needed. Our team maintains active roles in professional organizations like the Maine State Bar Association and has presented extensively on employment law developments. Client testimonials consistently highlight our professionalism, empathy, and effectiveness in resolving complex legal matters.
Services
Employment Discrimination
Civil Rights
Personal Injury
Disability Discrimination
Housing Discrimination
Highlights and features
- 30 years of trial experience in discrimination and civil rights cases
- Personalized representation by lead attorney John Gause
- Former Commission Counsel for the Maine Human Rights Commission
- Statewide referral network of legal professionals
- Contingency-fee basis with no upfront costs
What people say
Unequaled professionalism
Supportive and wonderful
Lifesaver
Professionalism and wisdom
Excellent job representing
Services
Employment Discrimination
We represent employees facing discrimination based on protected classes including disability, race, and gender identity. Our cases often involve proving circumstantial evidence of workplace bias through jury trials or settlement negotiations. Clients benefit from our deep understanding of Maine employment law and contingency-fee structure that ensures access to justice regardless of financial circumstances.
Civil Rights
Our firm enforces constitutional protections against government violations of free speech and equal protection rights. We handle housing discrimination cases involving protected classes and public accommodation issues through Maine Human Rights Commission proceedings or federal court litigation. Our contingency-fee model ensures clients can pursue justice without upfront costs while maintaining aggressive trial readiness.
Personal Injury
We advocate for clients injured through negligence or intentional acts, including auto accidents and medical malpractice. Our contingency-fee representation covers claims for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. With extensive trial experience, we prepare every case for courtroom presentation while seeking fair settlements that address clients' physical and emotional damages.
Disability Discrimination
We protect workers' rights to reasonable accommodations and challenge employment discrimination based on disabilities. Our cases address workplace harassment and failure to accommodate medical conditions through Maine Human Rights Commission proceedings. Clients receive personalized representation from lead attorney John Gause, who combines trial experience with deep knowledge of disability rights legislation.
Housing Discrimination
Our firm challenges unlawful housing practices including discriminatory evictions and rental refusals based on protected classes. We represent tenants and homebuyers in Maine Human Rights Commission cases and court proceedings. With contingency-fee representation, we ensure access to legal remedies for discrimination related to disability, familial status, and other protected characteristics.
People
John P. Gause
Attorney at Law
John Gause has practiced law for 30 years, including eight years as Commission Counsel at the Maine Human Rights Commission. He has tried numerous employment discrimination and civil rights cases to juries and maintains active memberships in the Maine State Bar Association and John Waldo Ballou Inn of Court. His legal career includes drafting state regulations and presenting at annual employment law updates.
Questions
What areas of law does Eastern Maine Law specialize in?
We focus on employment discrimination, civil rights, and personal injury cases, representing individuals in Maine through trial or settlement negotiations.
How are legal fees structured?
Most cases operate on a contingency-fee basis, meaning payment comes from case recovery with no upfront costs to clients.
Will my case go to trial?
While many cases settle early, we prepare every case for trial and let clients decide whether to proceed to court.
What protections exist for workplace discrimination?
Maine law prohibits discrimination based on protected classes including disability, race, and gender identity with remedies for retaliation.
How long do civil rights cases typically take?
Resolution timelines vary depending on case complexity, with options for Maine Human Rights Commission proceedings or federal court litigation.
