Joy McNaughton

Joy McNaughton

The Law Office of Joy Crafts McNaughton
Contact This Mediator

Joy Crafts McNaughton

Mediator | Personal Injury, Family, Consumer & Workers’ Compensation Disputes
________________________________________

Professional Overview

Joy Crafts McNaughton is an experienced mediator and former trial attorney with over three decades of litigation experience in personal injury, insurance defense, and workers’ compensation matters. A member of the Maine Bar since 1984, she brings extensive courtroom and case-handling experience across all counties in Maine, providing a strong foundation for effective dispute resolution.

Her background includes handling hundreds of contested hearings and mediations, fifteen jury trials, and at least one hundred bench trials, enabling her to approach disputes with both legal depth and practical insight. Ms. McNaughton is a rostered mediator for Maine District and Superior Courts and has significant experience mediating both court-referred and private matters.

She is frequently selected for matters where parties need a practical, experience-driven assessment of claims and a clear path to resolution.
________________________________________

Mediation Approach

Ms. McNaughton brings a practical, litigation-informed approach to mediation, helping parties evaluate risk, understand likely outcomes, and reach resolution efficiently.

Her background in insurance defense and trial work allows her to provide realistic, experience-based evaluation of liability, damages, and case exposure.

Her approach emphasizes:
• Clear understanding of legal and factual issues
• Structured, balanced negotiation
• Experience-driven evaluation of claims
• Flexibility in both virtual and in-person mediation settings
________________________________________

Distinguishing Factors

Ms. McNaughton’s combination of:
• Insurance defense and trial experience
• High-volume workers’ compensation and liability case handling
• Family mediation training and experience

positions her as a highly effective neutral for disputes requiring practical evaluation, structured negotiation, and efficient resolution strategy.
________________________________________

Areas of Mediation Focus

  • Personal Injury & Liability Disputes
  • Insurance Coverage & Claims
  • Workers’ Compensation Matters
  • Divorce, Custody & Parenting Disputes
  • Consumer & Small Claims Matters

Common Case Types

  • Personal injury claims involving disputed liability or damages
  • Insurance disputes (coverage, valuation, and liability)
  • Workers’ compensation claims involving medical and employment issues
  • Divorce and custody disputes, including parenting plans
  • Consumer and small claims disputes
  • General civil disputes requiring structured resolution

Mediation & ADR Experience

  • Rostered Mediator – Maine District Court (including small claims)
  • Rostered Mediator – Maine Superior Court
  • Maine CADRES Family Mediator
  • Maine Agricultural Mediation Program

Mediation experience includes:

  • Family and divorce matters (virtual and in-person)
  • Personal injury and liability disputes
  • Consumer and small claims matters
  • Agricultural and community-based disputes

Best Suited For

  • Personal injury and insurance disputes requiring realistic case valuation
  • Workers’ compensation matters involving medical and factual complexity
  • High-volume, fact-driven disputes where efficient resolution is critical
  • Cases requiring a litigation-informed assessment of liability and exposure
  • Family and divorce matters requiring structured, practical facilitation
  • Disputes where parties need guidance toward efficient, outcome-focused resolution

Professional Background

  • Former Senior Trial Attorney – Hanover Insurance
  • Former Attorney – Berman & Simmons, P.A.
  • Former Attorney – Preti Flaherty
  • Law Clerk – Maine Supreme Judicial Court

Extensive experience handling:

  • Insurance defense and liability claims
  • Medical malpractice matters
  • Workers’ compensation hearings (500+ testimonial hearings)
  • Personal injury litigation
  • General liability and civil disputes

Education

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) – William & Mary Law School
  • Bachelor of Arts – Colby College

Certifications & Training

  • 40-Hour Mediation Training – University of Southern Maine
  • Advanced Family & Divorce Mediation Training
  • Elder & Adult Family Mediation Training
  • Transformative Mediation Training
  • Agricultural Mediation Training
  • Consumer Law Mediation Training
  • Domestic Violence Mediation Training

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association (ADR & Family Law Sections)
  • Maine State Bar Association
  • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
  • Maine Association of Mediators
  • Defense Research Institute

Professional Strengths

  • Extensive experience in personal injury, insurance, and workers’ compensation disputes
  • Proven ability to evaluate liability, damages, and case exposure
  • Strong background in both litigation and mediation
  • Experience handling high-volume, fact-driven cases
  • Ability to guide parties toward efficient and practical resolution

Write a Review