Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 39-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 39-A, § 201 (2026)

Entitlement to compensation and services generally

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Entitlement.  If an employee who has not given notice of a claim of common law or statutory rights of action, or who has given the notice and has waived the claim or rights, as provided in section 301, receives a personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment or is disabled by occupational disease, the employee must be paid compensation and furnished medical and other services by the employer who has assented to become subject to this Act.  
[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
2.  Injury while participating in rideshare programs.  An employee injured while participating in a private, group or employer-sponsored car pool, van pool, commuter bus service or other rideshare program, having as its sole purpose the mass transportation of employees to and from work, for the purposes of this Act, may not be deemed to have received personal injury arising out of or in the course of employment. Nothing in the foregoing may be held to deny benefits under this Act to employees such as drivers, mechanics and others who receive remuneration for their participation in the rideshare programs.  
[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
3.  Mental injury caused by mental stress. 
[PL 2017, c. 294, §1 (RP).]
3-A.  Mental injury caused by mental stress.  Mental injury resulting from work-related stress does not arise out of and in the course of employment unless:  
A. It is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that:  
(1) The work stress was extraordinary and unusual in comparison to pressures and tensions experienced by the average employee; and  
(2) The work stress, and not some other source of stress, was the predominant cause of the mental injury.  
The amount of work stress must be measured by objective standards and actual events rather than any misperceptions by the employee; or   [PL 2017, c. 294, §2 (NEW).]
B. The employee is a law enforcement officer, corrections officer, 9‑1‑1 dispatcher, firefighter or emergency medical services person and is diagnosed by an allopathic physician or an osteopathic physician licensed under Title 32, chapter 48 or chapter 36, respectively, with a specialization in psychiatry or a psychologist licensed under Title 32, chapter 56 as having post-traumatic stress disorder that resulted from work stress, that the work stress was extraordinary and unusual compared with that experienced by the average employee and the work stress and not some other source of stress was the predominant cause of the post-traumatic stress disorder, in which case the post-traumatic stress disorder is presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of the worker's employment. This presumption may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. For purposes of this paragraph, "law enforcement officer," "corrections officer," "firefighter" and "emergency medical services person" have the same meaning as in section 328‑A, subsection 1. For the purposes of this paragraph, "9-1-1 dispatcher" means a person who receives calls made to the 9-1-1 system and dispatches emergency services. "9-1-1 dispatcher" includes an emergency medical dispatcher as defined in Title 32, chapter 2‑B, section 85‑A, subsection 1, paragraph D.  
Each time the Legislature amends this paragraph to provide for a rebuttable presumption for a new category of employees, the board shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters no later than the January 1st after the 5th year of the addition of the category of employees and no later than the January 1st after the 10th year of the addition of the category of employees. The reports must include an analysis of the number of claims brought under this paragraph, the portion of those claims that resulted in a settlement or award of benefits and the effect of the provisions of this paragraph on costs to the State and its subdivisions. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Human Resources and the Department of Public Safety shall assist the board in developing the reports, and the board shall seek the input of an association whose membership consists exclusively of counties, municipalities and other political or administrative subdivisions in the development of the report.   [PL 2025, c. 167, §49 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 433, §1 (AMD).]
A mental injury is not considered to arise out of and in the course of employment if it results from any disciplinary action, work evaluation, job transfer, layoff, demotion, termination or any similar action, taken in good faith by the employer.  
[PL 2025, c. 167, §49 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 433, §1 (AMD).]
4.  Preexisting condition.  If a work-related injury aggravates, accelerates or combines with a preexisting physical condition, any resulting disability is compensable only if contributed to by the employment in a significant manner.  
[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
5.  Subsequent nonwork injuries.  If an employee suffers a nonwork-related injury or disease that is not causally connected to a previous compensable injury, the subsequent nonwork-related injury or disease is not compensable under this Act.  
[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]
6.  Prior work-related injuries.  If an employee suffers a work-related injury that aggravates, accelerates or combines with the effects of a work-related injury that occurred prior to January 1, 1993 for which compensation is still payable under the law in effect on the date of that prior injury, the employee's rights and benefits for the portion of the resulting disability that is attributable to the prior injury must be determined by the law in effect at the time of the prior injury.  
[PL 1997, c. 647, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1991, c. 885, §A8 (NEW). PL 1991, c. 885, §§A9-11 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 647, §1 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 294, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 419, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 629, §2 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §143 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 167, §49 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 433, §1 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 53 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1994–2024 · leading case: Pratt v. Fraser Paper, Ltd., 2001 ME 102 (Me. 2001).
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Pratt v. Fraser Paper, Ltd., 2001 ME 102 (Me. 2001). · cites it 16× “39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(5) (2001). Fraser Paper contends that, pursuant to subsection 201(5), the Board should have awarded benefits pursuant to the partial incapacity statute, 39 M.”
Standring v. Town of Skowhegan, 2005 ME 51 (Me. 2005). · cites it 9× “" 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(1) (2001). Pursuant to 39-A M.”
Cust v. Univ. of Maine, 2001 ME 29 (Me. 2001). · cites it 5× “885, §§ A-7, A-8 (codified at 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(1) (Pamph.2000)), for which timely notice of injury was provided, see 39 M.”
Dunson v. South Portland Hous. Auth., 2003 ME 16 (Me. 2003). · cites it 5× “” 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(5) (2001). In Pratt , we noted a distinction between statutes like section 201(5), which provide that a portion of an injury is noncompensable, and other statutes, like section 201(6), which provide for an apportionment: When the Legislature has provided…”
Lydon v. Sprinkler Servs., 841 A.2d 793 (Me. 2004). · cites it 3× “” For example, the basic entitlement provision of 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201 (2001) provides: "If an employee .”
State v. Cephas, 637 A.2d 20 (Del. 1994). · cites it 2× “Me.Rev.Stat.Ann. tit. 39-A, § 201(3) (1993).”
Bernier v. Data Gen. Corp., 2002 ME 2 (Me. 2002). · cites it 2× “Data General contends that the hearing officer should have applied 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(5) (2001) instead of the holding in Brackett .”
Bourgoin v. J.P. Levesque & Sons, 1999 ME 21 (Me. 1999). · cites it 6× “39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(4) (Supp.1998). Because it is not listed in the implementing statute of title 39-A as having purely prospective application, section 201 applies retroactively to pre-1993 injuries and controls.”
Lamonica v. Holmes, 718 A.2d 182 (Me. 1998). · cites it 5× “The basic entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits under the Act, 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(1) (Supp.1997), expressly defines a compensable injury with reference to the notice-of-injury provision set forth in 39-A M.”
Churchill v. Cent. Aroostook Ass'n for Retarded Citizens, Inc., 1999 ME 192 (Me. 1999). · cites it 4× “See 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(4) (Supp.1998). 1 [¶ 3] In 1998 Churchill filed a petition to determine the extent of permanent impairment.”
Est. of Gregory Sullwold v. The Salvation Army, 2015 ME 4 (Me. 2015). · cites it 3× “§ 327, In any claim for compensation, when the employee has been killed or is physically or mentally unable to testify, there is a rebuttable presumption that the employee received a personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment, that sufficient notice of the…”
Jensen v. S.D. Warren Co., 2009 ME 35 (Me. 2009). · cites it 2× “§ 213 (2008), which provides for partial incapacity benefits; and (4) not treating the 2004 gradual injury as an aggravation of a preexisting condition pursuant to 39-A M.R.S. § 201(4) (2008). Because the hearing officer’s order needs clarification regarding the date when the…”
Show all 53 citing cases →
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 39-A, § 201(1) — 14 cases
Standring v. Town of Skowhegan, 2005 ME 51 (Me. 2005). “" 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(1) (2001). Pursuant to 39-A M.”
Cust v. Univ. of Maine, 2001 ME 29 (Me. 2001). “885, §§ A-7, A-8 (codified at 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(1) (Pamph.2000)), for which timely notice of injury was provided, see 39 M.”
Cox v. Coastal Prods. Co., Inc., 2001 ME 100 (Me. 2001).
Est. of Gregory Sullwold v. The Salvation Army, 2015 ME 4 (Me. 2015). “§ 327, In any claim for compensation, when the employee has been killed or is physically or mentally unable to testify, there is a rebuttable presumption that the employee received a personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment, that sufficient notice of the…”
Lydon v. Sprinkler Servs., 841 A.2d 793 (Me. 2004). “” For example, the basic entitlement provision of 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201 (2001) provides: "If an employee .”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 39-A, § 201(2) — 2 cases
Boyce v. Potter, 642 A.2d 1342 (Me. 1994).
Croteau-Robinson v. Merrill Trust/Fleet Bank, 669 A.2d 763 (Me. 1996).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 39-A, § 201(3) — 8 cases
State v. Cephas, 637 A.2d 20 (Del. 1994). “Me.Rev.Stat.Ann. tit. 39-A, § 201(3) (1993).”
Dunlavey v. Econ. Fire & Cas. Co., 526 N.W.2d 845 (Iowa 1995).
Bedini v. Frost, 678 A.2d 893 (Vt. 1996).
Harvey v. H.C. Price Co., 2008 ME 161 (Me. 2008).
Dubois v. Madison Paper Co., 2002 ME 1 (Me. 2002).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 39-A, § 201(3)(A) — 1 case
Crosby v. City of Burlington, 2003 VT 107 (Vt. 2003).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 39-A, § 201(4) — 13 cases
Bourgoin v. J.P. Levesque & Sons, 1999 ME 21 (Me. 1999). “39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(4) (Supp.1998). Because it is not listed in the implementing statute of title 39-A as having purely prospective application, section 201 applies retroactively to pre-1993 injuries and controls.”
Churchill v. Cent. Aroostook Ass'n for Retarded Citizens, Inc., 1999 ME 192 (Me. 1999). “See 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(4) (Supp.1998). 1 [¶ 3] In 1998 Churchill filed a petition to determine the extent of permanent impairment.”
Jensen v. S.D. Warren Co., 2009 ME 35 (Me. 2009). “§ 213 (2008), which provides for partial incapacity benefits; and (4) not treating the 2004 gradual injury as an aggravation of a preexisting condition pursuant to 39-A M.R.S. § 201(4) (2008). Because the hearing officer’s order needs clarification regarding the date when the…”
McAdam v. United Parcel Serv. & Helmsman Mgmt. Servs., Inc., 2001 ME 4 (Me. 2001).
Celentano v. Dep't of Corr., 2005 ME 125 (Me. 2005).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 39-A, § 201(5) — 13 cases
Pratt v. Fraser Paper, Ltd., 2001 ME 102 (Me. 2001). “39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(5) (2001). Fraser Paper contends that, pursuant to subsection 201(5), the Board should have awarded benefits pursuant to the partial incapacity statute, 39 M.”
Bernier v. Data Gen. Corp., 2002 ME 2 (Me. 2002). “Data General contends that the hearing officer should have applied 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(5) (2001) instead of the holding in Brackett .”
Lamonica v. Holmes, 718 A.2d 182 (Me. 1998). “The basic entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits under the Act, 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(1) (Supp.1997), expressly defines a compensable injury with reference to the notice-of-injury provision set forth in 39-A M.”
Mathieu v. Bath Iron Works, 667 A.2d 862 (Me. 1995).
Cust v. Univ. of Maine, 2001 ME 29 (Me. 2001). “885, §§ A-7, A-8 (codified at 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(1) (Pamph.2000)), for which timely notice of injury was provided, see 39 M.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 39-A, § 201(6) — 13 cases
Pratt v. Fraser Paper, Ltd., 2001 ME 102 (Me. 2001). “39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(5) (2001). Fraser Paper contends that, pursuant to subsection 201(5), the Board should have awarded benefits pursuant to the partial incapacity statute, 39 M.”
Dunson v. South Portland Hous. Auth., 2003 ME 16 (Me. 2003). “” 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(5) (2001). In Pratt , we noted a distinction between statutes like section 201(5), which provide that a portion of an injury is noncompensable, and other statutes, like section 201(6), which provide for an apportionment: When the Legislature has provided…”
Cust v. Univ. of Maine, 2001 ME 29 (Me. 2001). “885, §§ A-7, A-8 (codified at 39-A M.R.S.A. § 201(1) (Pamph.2000)), for which timely notice of injury was provided, see 39 M.”
Hincks v. Robert Mitchell Co., 1999 ME 172 (Me. 1999).
Maine Ins. Guar. Ass'n v. Folsom, 2001 ME 63 (Me. 2001).
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