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Maine.gov Press Releases

Official press releases from State of Maine agencies.

• Governor LePage Announces Judicial Nominees

  For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 22 Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary (207) 287-2531 AUGUSTA - Governor Paul R. LePage today announced the nomination of David J. Mitchell to serve as a District Court Judge and Judge John V. Romei to serve as an Active Retired District Court Judge."I am pleased nominate these two individuals with distinguished records to serve on the bench," said Governor Paul LePage. "In choosing judges, my focus is on the qualifications, demeanor, and integrity of the candidates, not politics. These nominees reflect those priorities."Governor McKernan nominated Judge Romei, a resident of Roove Bluffs, to the District Court in 1992. Before he became a judge, he established his own private practice in Machias. Prior to going into private practice, he was hired as a Trial Judge by the Passamaquoddy Nation, where he continues to serve on a part time basis. Early in his career, he worked as a District Attorney. He is a graduate of the University of Maine, School of Law.David J. Mitchell, a resident of Calais, has practiced law in Washington County since graduating law school in 1997. He currently has his own firm consisting of criminal defense, divorces, child custody cases, protective custody matters, read estate, Probate, and civil litigation. Since 2004, Mitchell has also served as the Tribal Prosecutor in the Passamaquoddy Tribal Court in both Pleasant Point and Indian Township. He is a graduate of the University of Maine, School of Law.Judicial nominees must be reviewed by the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary and confirmed by the full Senate.

• Attorney General Mills Advises Consumers to be on the Lookout for Travel and Timeshare Scams

  AUGUSTA - With Memorial Day approaching more Mainers may start to receive solicitations from bogus companies enticing them take a free or incredibly cheap vacation or for an exceptional opportunity to sell their existing timeshare. Attorney General Mills asks consumers to be leery of any consumer deal that sounds too good to be true, because it probably is.VACATION SCAMSNot sure if you're dealing with a travel scam? Here are six signs that sun-splashed getaway isn't what it seems:1. You "won a free vacation," but you have to pay some fees first. A legitimate company won't ask you to pay for a prize. 2. The prize company wants your credit card number. Even if they say it's just for "verification," "taxes," or "port fees," don't give it to them. 3. They cold-call, cold-text, or email you out of the blue. Before you do business with any company you don't know, call the Attorney General's office; then, search online by entering the company name and the word "complaints" or "scam."4. They don't - or can't -give you specifics. They promise a stay at a "five-star" resort or a cruise on a "luxury" ship. The more vague the promises, the less likely they'll be true. Ask for specifics, and get them in writing.5. You get pressure to sign up for a travel club for great deals on future vacations. The pressure to sign up or miss out is a sign to walk away. Travel clubs often have high membership fees and limited choice of destinations or travel dates. 6. You get a robocall about it. Robocalls from companies are illegal if you haven't given a company written permission to call you. That's true even if you haven't signed up for the national Do Not Call Registry. TIMESHARE SCAMSWant to sell your timeshare? You might get a call from a company that says they have someone ready to buy your place, or that they'll sell it for you in a short time, if you pay them a fee first. One problem: they don't have a buyer, and if you pay, you may never hear from them again - or get the refund they've promised. Before you sell a timeshare:1. Check out the company before you agree to anything. See if the Attorney General and local consumer protection agencies in the company's home state have complaints, then search online by entering the company name and the word "complaints" or "scam."2. Deal only with licensed real estate brokers or agents. Check with the Real Estate Commission in the state where your timeshare is located to make sure the company has a current license.3. Get all terms in writing before you agree to anything. That includes services that will be performed, timing of the sale, fees and commissions, cancellation and refund policies. If a company says you have to act now or you might miss out on a buyer, it's not a company you want to do business with.4. Consider doing business only with someone who gets paid after the timeshare is sold. Don't wire money or pay in cash.5. Be alert to a repeat scam. If you were scammed once by a timeshare reseller, another scammer might offer to help get your money back - for a fee. Legitimate companies don't ask you to pay before you've gotten your money back. Read more about timeshares and vacation plans on the Federal Trade Commission's website at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0073-timeshares-and-vacation-plans If you think you may have been targeted by scam, report it to the Maine Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-436-2131 or 626-8849 Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - noon and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. or by email at consumer.mediation@maine.gov.###

• Maine Protects Insurance Consumers by Reaching Settlement with Three CIGNA Companies

  Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa announced Wednesday that the Maine Bureau of Insurance has reached a major multi-state settlement regarding the handling practices of disability income insurance claims by Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA), Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and CIGNA Health and Life Insurance Company (formerly known as Alta Health and Life). The settlement was reached through the coordinated efforts of Maine and four other state insurance agencies: California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. "Coordinated examinations by Maine and other states showed that these three CIGNA companies were not using available information to appropriately process disability income insurance claims, and that their claims handling practices needed improvements," Superintendent Cioppa said. "The companies are now re-evaluating certain claims and have so far set aside $48 million in reserves in the event additional benefits need to be paid. They have also set aside an additional $29 million for presently open claims." Cioppa outlined the requirements contained in the settlement agreement. The companies are required to:-- Enhance claim procedures to improve the claims handling process to benefit current and future policyholders. -- Establish a remediation program in which the companies' enhanced claim procedures will be applied to certain previously denied or adversely terminated claims for residents of states whose insurance commissioners sign the settlement agreement. -- Participate in a twenty-four month monitoring program conducted by the insurance departments of the five states involving random sampling and on-going consultation. -- Undergo a re-examination upon completion of the monitoring period.-- Pay fines and administrative fees totaling $1,675,000.The companies have set up a dedicated line for policyholders with questions on the claim re-evaluation process. That number is 1-855-625-5518. A copy of the full "CIGNA Regulatory Settlement Agreement" is available at www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance under "Featured Links." Consumers seeking additional assistance with this issue or any other insurance questions should call the Maine Bureau of Insurance toll-free at 1-800-300-5000.