## How the limitation period applies

The controlling primary authority for Maine statutory attorney fees - 14 M.R.S. § 1511 is **14 M.R.S. § 1511**.

> **14 M.R.S. § 1511.** In any civil action where a judgment is rendered, the prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees.

## Use the calculator

DocketMath's statute-of-limitations tool can model these timelines once you identify the controlling claim type and accrual date. Use the source panel for the verified primary-source citations.

[Open the Statute of Limitations calculator](/tools/statute-of-limitations)

## Sources

- [14 M.R.S. § 1511 — Attorney's fees in civil actions](https://law.justia.com/codes/maine/2023/title-14/civil-procedure/1511/)

All sources are official primary law published by `law.justia.com`.


DocketMath’s Attorney Fee calculator for Maine (US-ME) helps you estimate a dollar value for attorney fees based on inputs you control—typically hourly...

Attorney Fees Guide for Maine

Maine follows the American Rule. Frivolous-filing sanctions arise under M.R. Civ. P. 11 and the court's inherent power; 14 M.R.S. § 1522 addresses litigation-cost recovery by the State as prevailing party in specified enforcement actions, not private frivolous-filing awards. Limited published authority on explicit lodestar multipliers.

passed — no Title 11 (UCC) misattributions in this file; all civil-procedure cites correctly anchored to Title 14

First $100,000 recovered: thirty-three and one-third percent. Next $100,000: twenty-five percent. Amounts exceeding $200,000: twenty percent. Plaintiffs' attorneys may petition courts for higher fees if the statutory percentages are inadequate.

42 U.S.C. § 1988 (Civil Rights Attorney's Fees)

Title VII (federal employment discrimination)

Americans with Disabilities Act

Fair Labor Standards Act

Maine Human Rights Act

In any civil action under this Act, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs, except that the commission may not be awarded attorney's fees and costs and is not liable to pay any party's attorney's fees and costs.

Maine Human Rights Act — fee-shifting prerequisites

Attorney's fees under section 4614 and civil penal damages or compensatory and punitive damages under section 4613 may only be awarded if the plaintiff first files a complaint with the commission and one of the following occurs: the commission dismisses under section 4612(2) or (2-A)(A), (B), or (D)-(F); the commission fails to reach a conciliation agreement within 90 days after finding reasonable grounds; the commission issues a right-to-sue letter under section 4612(6); or the commission dismisses the case in error.

Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act

Upon a finding by the court of a violation of section 207, the court shall award plaintiff reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in connection with said action, regardless of the amount in controversy.

Maine Wage Payment — cessation of employment

the judgment rendered in favor of the employee or employees must include a reasonable rate of interest, an additional amount equal to twice the amount of those unpaid wages and that accrued vacation pay as liquidated damages and costs of suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee.

Maine Wage Payment — penalties

Upon judgment, employees receive unpaid amounts plus interest, court costs, attorney fees, and an additional amount equal to twice the amount of unpaid wages as liquidated damages.

Maine Freedom of Access Act

In an appeal under subsection 1 or 2, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees and litigation expenses to the substantially prevailing plaintiff who appealed the refusal under subsection 1 or the illegal action under subsection 2 if the court determines that the refusal or illegal action was committed in bad faith.

Maine Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (anti-SLAPP)

On a motion under section 734, the court shall award court costs, attorney's fees and reasonable litigation expenses related to the motion: to the moving party if the moving party prevails on the motion; to the responding party if the responding party prevails on the motion and the court finds that the motion was frivolous or filed solely with intent to delay the proceeding.

A lawyer shall not make an agreement for, charge, or collect an unreasonable fee or an unreasonable amount for expenses. Maine has no general statutory cap on contingent fees in tort actions; reasonableness under Rule 1.5 governs. A medical/professional negligence tiered cap is provided separately at 24 M.R.S. § 2961.

Maine requires courts to award reasonable attorney fees to prevailing parties in civil actions.

A fee may be contingent on the outcome of the matter for which the service is rendered, except in a matter in which a contingent fee is prohibited by paragraph (d) or other law. A contingent fee agreement shall be in a writing signed by the client and shall state the method by which the fee is to be determined...

In professional negligence actions, attorney contingent fees are capped at thirty-three and one-third percent of the first $100,000 of the sum recovered, twenty-five percent of the next $100,000, and twenty percent of any amount over $200,000. Plaintiff's attorney may petition the court for fees exceeding the schedule if the statutory limits are inadequate under Maine Rules of Professional Conduct standards.