The People at Goodman Law Firm

I attended high school at The Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Thereafter, I attended the University of Maine where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. While at the University of Maine, in addition to my studies, I was a member and officer in a fraternity and a varsity wrestler. In 1983 I won the Maine State wrestling championship.

After college, I spent two years working for the Purity Supreme Supermarket chain in Massachusetts in their Management Training Program. I then attended Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts where I received my Juris Doctorate Degree. In addition to my studies I participated in the Suffolk Volunteer Defenders program in my third year of law school. In this program, I provided criminal defense representation for indigent clients in the Quincy District Court in Massachusetts.

After graduating from law school, I became the Law Clerk for Chief Bankruptcy Judge Ray Reynolds Graves of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern Division of Michigan. After my clerkship ended I returned to practice law in the State of Maine and I was admitted to practice in Maine in May of 1992 and also admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Maine in December of 1992 and to the United States Bankruptcy Court of the District of Maine in December of 1992.

My current practice includes representing clients in State Court and Federal Court. I also practice consumer bankruptcy law including the representation of clients in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 proceedings as well as Chapter 11 and 12 proceedings. I have also helped clients with all aspects of their financial lives, including other forms of debt relief in addition to Bankruptcy. I have a civil litigation practice representing individuals and business owners in various disputes in both State and Federal Court, including matters on appeal. I have represented clients in front of administrative agencies including but not limited to The Sate of Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. Additionally, I have clients that I represent in personal injury and family law matters. I represent both private parties and contractors in construction litigation and landlords in eviction proceedings.

I am a past or present member of the following organizations:

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers;
Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers;
Cumberland County Bar Association;
American Bankruptcy Institute

During my career as an Attorney, because my practice includes criminal defense, bankruptcy, family law, and many types of litigation, I have helped clients through their most difficult problems. I have shown tireless dedication to helping clients in crisis. In addition to my local practice I have traveled as far as upstate New York to represent a criminal defendant in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York where I was admitted Pro Hoc Vice.

I was born in 1964 in Bangor, Maine. I currently reside with my wife and 4 children in Portland, Maine.

EDUCATION:

University of Maine; Portland, Maine
University of Maine at Orono; Orono, Maine
Suffolk University; Boston, Massachusetts

BAR MEMBERSHIPS:

Maine Bar Association
United States District Court for the District of Maine
United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION:

Maine State Bar Assoc.
Bankruptcy Practice Under BAPCA

Federal Bar Assoc., ABA, Criminal Justice Section
15th Annual National Seminar on Federal Sentencing Guidelines

Maine State Bar Assoc.
Consumer Bankruptcy Reform 2005

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
DWI Means Defend with Ingenuity

US District Court of Maine
2005 Federal Sentencing Seminar

Standing Chapter 13 Trustees Office
Chapter 13 Creditors' Update

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Presenting a Gold Medal Defense

Federal Bar Assoc., ABA, Criminal Justice Section
13th Annual National Seminar on Federal Sentencing Guidelines

US District Court of Maine
ECF Training for Filing Users

Standing Chapter 13 Trustees Office
Chapter 13 Debtors/Creditors Practice Meeting

Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Tools of the Trade: Criminal Defense in the Ashcroft Era

Maine State Bar Assoc.
Legal Year in Review

American Bankruptcy Institute
Ninth Annual Northeast Bankruptcy Conference

Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Defending in a Hostile World

Maine State Bar Assoc.
Federal Practice from Start to Finish

National Business Institute, Inc.
Personal Injury Settlements in Maine

Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
2001: A Criminal Defense Odyssey

Maine State Bar Assoc.
Expert Testimony in Criminal Cases

Maine Courts
Federal Sentencing Guidelines

Standing Chapter 13 Trustee Offices
Chapter 13 Rules and Procedures

American Bar Assoc.
How to Build and Manage a Personal Injury Practice

Maine Assoc. of Criminal Defense Lawyers
In the Trenches (Criminal Law)

American Bankruptcy Institute
Northeast Bankruptcy Conference

National Business Institute, Inc.
Impact of Bankruptcy on the Dissolution of Marriage in Maine

American Bankruptcy Institute
Northeast Bankruptcy Conference

View Joe's Recent Case History

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Mr. Goodman's practice focuses on restructuring creditors' rights and bankruptcy. In his capacity as Trustee, bankruptcy attorney, Judge and mediator/arbitrator, he has had broad experience in negotiating settlements of large, complex corporate disputes and has been involved in numerous liquidations of large industries which include social and environmental issues. Mr. Goodman is Of Counsel in the firm's Portland office.

Served as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Maine, 1981-2001, and Chief Judge of the United States for the District of Maine, 1990-97.

Selected as the liquidating trustee in the Bethlehem Steel Chapter 11 cases, which are pending the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, and LTV Copperweld, which is pending in the Northern District of Ohio. In addition, Judge Goodman has been involved in numerous bankruptcy cases representing creditors such as JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, HSBC and American Stock Transfer: National Steel, Agway, Inc., Budget Rent-A-Car, Conseco Inc., Coho Energy, Adelphia Business Solutions, Spectrasite, Hayes Lemmerz, Weirton Steel, Maxxim Medical, Kellstrom Industries, Kmart, Classic Cable and U.S. Diagnostics.

Presided over courts in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the District of Massachusetts, the District of New Hampshire, the Southern District of Florida, the District of Puerto Rico and the middle district of Louisiana in cases involving a wide variety of industries including airlines, automotive, public utilities, real estate, retail, telecommunications, farming, agricultural cooperatives, poultry-processing, restaurant, shipbuilding and transportation.

Prior to his appointment as a Judge, Judge Goodman acted as a Trustee in more than 5,000 bankruptcy cases, including poultry processing plants, agricultural entities, heavy construction equipment, radio and television stations, automobile agencies and many preferential transfers, officers and directors liabilities' suits and objections to claims.

Involved in teach programs in Mexico, Poland, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Thailand and has taught at programs in the United States to visitors from Belarus, People's Republic of China, The Ukraine, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Africa. Many of these teaching programs were prepared in conjunction with his work with organizations such as USAID, Meridian International, World Bank, American Bankruptcy Institute, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, Deloitte Touche and the Recovery Group.

Practiced commercial and insolvency law in Maine for 20 years prior to judicial appointments.

Involved as a mediator and arbitrator in numerous cases for the Courts in the Southern District of New York and the District of Delaware, Wilmington.

EDUCATION:

Boston University School of Law, L.L.B., 1961
Tufts University, 1958

BAR MEMBERSHIPS:

Maine Bar Association

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy
Former Member and Governor of National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges
Former Member of Commercial Law League
Former Director, Member of the Executive Committee, and Vice President for International Development for the American Bankruptcy Institute
Former Member of the Board of Directors of Insol International
Member of the Advisory Board of the St. John's University School of Law, Bankruptcy LL. M. program

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Leigh completed her undergraduate education at Simmons College in Boston and the University of Southern Maine. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She attended Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. While attending law school, Leigh was appointed as a Guardian Ad Litem for Florida's Fourth Judicial District. Leigh has done extensive research and case editing for the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law in the areas of Pathology, DNA and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. Leigh became a member of the Maine Bar in May 2008 and has appeared before the Maine District Court, the York County Superior Court and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine. Leigh joined the firm in October 2007.

EDUCATION:

Simmons College; Boston, Massachusetts
University of Southern Maine; Gorham, Maine
Stetson University College of Law; Gulfport, Florida

BAR MEMBERSHIPS:

American Bar Association

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION:

A Critical Perspective: How Mental Health Providers View Lawyers, 2010

Foreclosure Mediation, 2010

Litigation Institute, September 2008

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Rhonda started working with Goodman Law Firm in 2009. She brings to her position a wealth of professional and legal experience. Earning her Associates Degree in Legal Secretarial Science and a Paralegal Certificate from Casco Bay College, Rhonda continued her education by receiving a BS in Business Management from Husson College. With more than 20 years of professional experience, she has covered everything from real estate law, including processing, closings and title searches, family law, bankruptcy law and debt settlements. Rhonda also has an extensive volunteer record as the Service Unit Manager for Nidoba Girl Scouts of Maine, as well as the Large Event Coordinator, wherein Rhonda assists and organizes annual programming for over 500 girls and 200 adults.

Rhonda makes a positive impact at Goodman Law Firm because of her broad scope of experience and her compelling interpersonal skills. She has a strong success rate in settling debts for our clients and her negotiation skills are excellent when dealing with family matters as well. Rhonda's integrity and enthusiasm make her an excellent addition to Goodman Law Firm.

View Rhonda's Debt Reduction History

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