Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs Civil Rights Law Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Portland, ME.
Benjamin R. "Ben" Gideon
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Attorney Benjamin Gideon is "widely considered the premier plaintiff's attorney" in Maine. He is trusted by his clients to handle some of the most complex, high-profile legal battles in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and elsewhere in New England and the nation.
Many of Ben’s cases involve people who were seriously injured or killed because of negligence within large corporations. He is motivated to hold negligent corporations accountable, and to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
Whether it’s a case against the U.S. Government, a ski resort that fails to properly maintain its equipment, a multinational communications company that does not protect utility workers, the owners of the cargo ship El Faro, or a negligent healthcare organization, Ben is not afraid to take on and defeat the most powerful defendants. He has achieved remarkable results for his clients, including a $22.5 million jury verdict that was one of the top 100 verdicts nationwide.
Since joining Berman & Simmons in 2003, Ben has developed expertise across a broad range of case types, including personal injury, medical malpractice, civil rights, products liability, nursing home, and other complex civil litigation matters. Ben is a fierce competitor who thrives under pressure and enjoys the role of standing up for everyday people who have been wronged.
“We go to extraordinary lengths to make sure our clients have the best chance to win,” Ben says. “When it comes to preparation, we are going to do more, and we are going to do it better, than anyone else involved in the case.”
Ben is a Maine native. Following college, he served as Political Director to Congressman Tom Allen during his successful primary campaign for U.S. Congress. Prior to joining Berman & Simmons, Ben practiced law at the New York City office of Latham & Watkins LLP, representing clients in securities fraud, qui tam, whistleblower, Medicare fraud, and intellectual property cases.Ben is a frequent speaker on court room and trial strategy at conferences in Maine and across the country, and has published numerous articles on these subjects.
Overview
- English
- Yale University, J.D., graduated 1999
- Cornell University, BA, graduated 1993
- New Hampshire, New Hampshire Bar Association
- New York, New York State Bar Association
- Maine, Maine State Bar Association
- AAJ - Member
- American Bar Association - Member
- Maine Trial Lawyers Association - Board Member
- United States Court of Appeals
- English
- New Hampshire, New Hampshire Bar Association
- New York, New York State Bar Association
- Maine, Maine State Bar Association
- AAJ - Member
- American Bar Association - Member
- Maine Trial Lawyers Association - Board Member
- Yale University, J.D., graduated 1999
- Cornell University, BA, graduated 1993
- United States Court of Appeals
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Portland, ME (2026)
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Portland, ME (2025)
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Portland, ME (2023)
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Portland, ME (2023)
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Portland, ME (2022)
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Augusta, ME (2021)
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Augusta, ME (2020)
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Augusta, ME (2018)
- Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, Augusta, ME (2017)
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Augusta, ME (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Civil Rights Law
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Awards:
- AVVO — Rated 10.0 out of 10
- The Best Lawyers in America- Listed for Civil Rights, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Product Liability, 2013 to present
- Super Lawyers - “Super Lawyer,” 2013–present; “Rising Star,” 2011
- Benchmark Litigation - “Litigation Star”
- Chambers & Partners USA - Listed for Litigation: Medical Malpractice & Insurance and Mainly Plaintiff
- Martindale-Hubbell - Top Rated “AV Preeminent”
News & Media
Additional Information
Case History
Cases
- Hemond v. Frontier Communications of America, Inc., et al. (Vt. Sup. Ct. 2014).
$22.5 million jury verdict on behalf of electrical utility lineman who suffered bilateral, below-the-knee amputations resulting from high-voltage electrical operations. The verdict followed a three-week jury trial in Chittenden County (Burlington), Vermont, and is the second highest jury verdict in Vermont history.
- Purington v. Midwest-Price Co. (Me. Sup. 2011).
$300,000 jury verdict on behalf of family of driver killed by collision with tractor trailer. Tractor trucking company denied fault for the crash.
- Parker v. City of South Portland, No. 06-129-P-S (D. Me. 2007).
Unanimous jury verdict and award of $111,000 in a civil rights claim on behalf of a man shot by police with a Taser weapon.
- Parker v. Gerrish, 547 F.3d. 1 (1st Cir.2008).
The first Federal appeals decision in the U.S. to affirm a civil rights verdict involving the use of a Taser.
- Bouchard v. United States, 501 F.Supp.2d 200 (D. Me. 2007).
Judgment of $1.1 million on behalf of motorist injured in collision with Federal Border Patrol officer.
- Patrons Oxford v. Luce, 905 A.2d 819 (Me. 2006).
Appeal upholding right of injured party to enforce stipulated judgment against insurance company through a reach-and-apply action.
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