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Exec’s Dot…Dot…Dot…by Steve Henderson, Executive Director, M.A., CAE

April 25, 2013 By

Her job as an appellate attorney generally does not involve making people laugh, but Lisa Spillman can report with glee that many of the 200-strong audience in February at the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club guffawed at her antics about being a lawyer, mom and wife. Her performance capped a great six-week Stand-up Comedy Class. If you’d like to give it a try call 805.644.1500… Think a JD is only for law practice? If so, about 100 pre-law students disagree with you. Half of more than 200 pre-law students responding to a survey by Kaplan Test Prep said they plan to use their law degree in a non-traditional legal field. 43 percent said they plan to use their law degree to pursue a job in the business world. Among the students who planned to use their degrees in non-traditional fields, 58 percent said the current job market factored into their decision. Statistics paint a bleak picture of employment. A recent ABA report found that only 56 percent of 2012 law school grads had found full-time, long term jobs that require bar passage…Joe Strohman’s 30th year with Ferguson Case Orr Paterson was April 13…

Speaking of FCOP, Meghan Clark was named one of the Top 50 Women in Business by the Pacific Coast Business Times and Eric Hirschberg joined the firm as an associate March 18…When a cell phone rang during a prosecutor’s closing argument in a domestic violence trial, a Michigan judge didn’t have to look far to find the culprit. It was Chief look far to find the culprit. It was Chief Ionia District Judge Raymond Voet himself who was to blame. He had recently gotten a new phone and apparently didn’t lock it properly before court. He also had trouble turning it off, as it offered him suggestions about voice dialing. “I got very embarrassed, and I’m sure my face turned red.” “I thought it would never happen to me.” The judge is known for being a stickler about cell phones and has signs posted outside his courtroom warning the public that individuals face a $25 fine and could lose their electronic device if it goes off during a hearing. Voet held himself in contempt and walked downstairs during a court recess to pay the same $25 fine he imposes on other offenders…Panda Kroll published an article in Westlake Magazine about pitfalls to avoid when couples buy a home: “Can’t Wait for the Wedding to Buy Your Dream House? Heed These Traps for Unwary Dreamers.”…

Cuba? Dick Hanawalt at 642.0179 or attorneyhanawalt@sbcglobal.net…Rural law practice will become more lucrative for some South Dakota lawyers under a new law passed last month. The pilot program will pay participating lawyers $12,000 a year to work in rural areas. Each lawyer will have to make a five-year commitment and will have to work in a county with a population of 10,000 or less. Only 16 lawyers can participate in the pilot project. The rural counties will pay 35 percent of the incentive payment, the State Bar of South Dakota will pay 15 percent and the state will pick up the remainder. Currently 65 percent of the lawyers in South Dakota live in four urban areas…License Plates of the Month: 5K LAWYER on a 2007 LS 460 Lexus piloted by Richard Ross and LIBESQ on a 350 Lexus driven by Libby Barrabee…

Loyal Frazier passed away on March 11. He graduated from USC School of Law in 1953 and was president of the bar association in 1973. Please make every attempt to participate in our 30th Annual Law Day 5K Race scheduled for May 18, beginning at 8:30 a.m. FREE breakfast courtesy of El Pescador and loads of raffle prizes including stays at Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn and  Spa, Montecito Inn, and the Four Seasons Biltmore. Check out the brochure stuffed inside this month’s edition of CITATIONS or register on-line at www.active.com. Proceeds benefit the vcba/vlsp, inc. too…

Mark your calendars – The Real Property Section will host a CLE luncheon at the Tower Club May 22. Entitled “Handling Foreclosures Following Senate Bill 900,” the event should be compelling and educational. Lastly, the newly established Natural Resources Section will conduct its inaugural luncheon May 15 at the bar offices. Kudos to Giselle Goetz for organizing! Contact Nadia at 650.7599 to register or bar@vcba. org. Better yet, go to www.vcba.org, click Calendar & MCLE, and you are there…

Steve Henderson is the executive director and chief executive officer of the Ventura County Bar Association and its affiliated organizations since November 1990. Henderson is currently penning fewer words this month because of a torn achilles tendon. He may be reached at steve@vcba.org, FB, Twitter at  @stevehendo1 or @vcba1, or better yet, 650.7599.     

Filed Under: CITATIONS, Exec's Dot Dot Dot

Exec’s Dot…Dot…Dot… By Steve Henderson

February 21, 2013 By

Jeeeeez. As you are well aware, my fact checking does not include snopes.com. In fact, if it’s good enough for the ABA Journal, New York Times, or the Boston Globe, then it’s good enough for me. Another bad habit of mine? If the information comes along by way of an attorney, I typically accept the info/tip to be accurate. In the case of my Winnebago tale, the 2012 Stella Award winner was complete fiction. So, hats off to the 20-plus of you who contacted me (mostly trial lawyers of course) and let me know I was perpetuating the Chamber of Commerce rantings. Keep your eyes peeled to subsequent editions of this fine magazine, as I’m quite sure fabrications shall happen again. My bad…Recommended Book of the Month: My Beloved World, by Sonia Sotomayor. 315 pp. Alfred A. Knopf. $27.95. Milan, Italy? Kevin Staker at kgs@staker.com or 482.2282…

Sam Gasowski is a dad again, welcoming in Emme Elaine on Dec. 16 and weighing in at eight pounds, six ounces. Mother Susan doing well while older brother, Otto, has embraced new sister…Once again, a public library has been sued for gently asking a patron to leave because his body odor was provoking complaints. George Stillman, 80, filed a $5.5 million lawsuit in October against the New York Public Library for being “humiliated” by the staff of the St. Agnes branch in Manhattan. Stillman said he views body odor as a mere “challenge to the body odor as a mere “challenge to the senses” and “a fact of life in the city.” That said, he also denied that he had any body order at all, but a New York Post reporter interviewing him about the lawsuit said she noted “a strong odor.”…License plate of the Month: NGLY LAW on a new 750 BMW LI and piloted by John Negley… Nancy Schreiner was installed on Jan. 26 to serve as Chair of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce…

Bar friend Ron Gill has not renewed his membership after 45 years, preferring to play the trumpet instead in the Camarillo Community Orchestra…As of Feb. 16 and after five years, Robert Sawyer will no longer be affiliated with Best Best & Krieger. He may be reached at rsawyer@isle.net or 916.402.6938…Court of Appeal Division Six research attorney Susan Seemiller also completed the Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando on Jan. 13. It was her first marathon (yes, you do run through Cinderella’s Castle) and her husband Jim’s 46th!…

Two bar members, the father and son team of Richard Marks and Kyle Marks of Westlake Village, were appointed as Adjunct Professors of Law at Southwestern Law School. Kyle has been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers-Rising Stars Edition 2013. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state receive this honor…Felicia Liberman has been selected President of the Tri-Counties Government Attorneys Association. She is an Assistant City Attorney for Simi Valley. Andy Viets was chosen Vice-President while Charmaine Jackson is the Secretary-Treasurer…

Larry Hines, of Nordman Cormany et al., has recently published his second legal thriller, “Shattered Justice.” In his second novel, Hines continues with his theme of delving into the dark side of our justice system. His first novel was entitled, “The Beneficiary.” Larry is also the founder and president of Nadine Griffey Academy of Kenya. Larry may be reached at 479.0994 or lhines@nchc.com…

London and the United Kingdom? Lawrence Noble at 658.6266 or Lawrence@noble4law. com…James Griffin will be working as a trial attorney with Wai & Conner effective March 1 in the Westlake office. The firm’s main office is in Los Angeles. It has 45 lawyers and specializes in workers’ compensation, representing employers and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation defense. Jim may be reached at jimgriffin@waiconner. com or 818.597.8000. His address is 5743 Corsa Ave., Suite 107, Westlake Village…

Make every effort to attend the Barristers’ Annual Dart Night scheduled for March 21, beginning at 5:30 p.m. inside Garman’s Restaurant & Pub. Proceeds benefit the VCBA/VLSP, Inc. and the charge is a paltry $10…Additionally, calendar March 26 for the VCTLA Judges’ Night. As part of the celebration, VCTLA will honor Judge Rebecca S. Riley as 2013 Judge of the Year, and Judge John Hunter with the unveiling of a formal portrait to be hung in Court Room #22 of the Hall of Justice. Lastly, Judge Glen Reiser will present “State of the Probate Court” March 28. This reaches capacity early, so go to www.vcba.org or call Nadia at 650.7599 to register. There will be NO at- the-door registrations…

Emeritus Attorney extraordinaire Earl Price died February 20. Earl single-handedly raised hundreds of  thousands of dollars for the VCBA/VLSP, Inc. and was a valuable resource in the office and on the board of Trustees. Services are March 3, beginning at 12:30 p.m. inside the Temple Adat Elohim…

Let the Madness begin!

Steve Henderson has been the executive director and chief executive officer of the bar association and their affiliated organizations. Additionally, he is the President and CEO of snopes.com and is a second cousin to ‘Lil Wayne and third cousin to Chris Bosh. He may be reached at steve@vcba.org, Twitter @stevehendo1 or @vcba1, FB, or better yet, 650.7599.

 

Filed Under: CITATIONS, Exec's Dot Dot Dot

Exec’s Dot…Dot…Dot…

January 28, 2013 By

A trust has been established for Michael Lavenant’s three children, Brittany (12), Brianna (10), and Christian (7). Checks may be made payable to “Memorial Fund for Michael Lavenant” and mailed to County Commerce Bank, 2357-B, Pickwick Drive, Camarillo, Ca. 93010…Judge Gilbert Romero’s formal enrobement ceremony is scheduled for March 1 at 4 p.m. inside CR# 22…The 23rd Annual Strategic Planning Session of Bar Leaders is scheduled for Feb. 9, beginning at 8:30 a.m. inside the Courtyard by Marriott in Oxnard. Fifty board members and representatives from our sections, committees, affiliates, and friends will attend to chart our course for 2013- 2014 in addition to sharing information about their activities. The first session I orchestrated in 1991 was attended only by Bart Bleuel, Wendy Lascher, Roger Myers, Dennis LaRochelle, and Jim McBride at the Mandalay Bay in Oxnard…Annual Stella Awards (for those unfamiliar, these awards are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonalds in New Mexico, where she purchased coffee) for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in the U.S. First Place? Mrs. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who purchased a new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home from an OU football game, having driven on the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver’s seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owner’s manual that she could not actually leave the driver’s seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her $1.75 million PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit…Please welcome Doug Bordner as the new President of the East County Bar Association. dabordner@sbcglobal.net or 496.0111… Probate and Estate Planning Section Chair, Amber Rodriguez was appointed by Judge Brian Back to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Ventura County Law Library…Lawyer John Tull nearly died after his diagnosis with bubonic plague during a visit to New York in November 2002. Tull fared worse than his wife, Lucinda Marker, who recovered in a few days. Tull was put in a medically induced coma and surgeons amputated his legs to curb the raging infections. “At one point I was on a respirator, I had a tracheotomy and a feeding tube. I was unconscious, and I was on a dialysis machine,” he told the New York Times. “Hell, I was hooked up to every damn machine in the hospital except the vacuum.” Authorities soon dispelled fears that the plague was related to terrorism. Tull and Marker were likely infected from fleas carried by a pack rat found on their property in Santa Fe, N.M., that summer. Today 63-year-old Tull drives his own car and goes on fishing trips. Have a nice day…Robert Ostrove had a letter to the editor published in the Los Angeles Times Dec. 14. Something about the Dodgers of course…

CITATIONS contributor Michael Sment has written “California Real Estate: Many Rules, Many New Laws, and the Top Ten Issues for Consumers,” a chapter in the recently published Representing Consumers in California Real Estate Transactions. In April, Mr. Sment will be teaching “Banking and Foreclosure Mediation,” a newly-created course for UCSB…In case you have been living in a cave – On Monday morning, Jan. 14, Justice Clarence Thomas broke nearly seven years of silence at the Supreme Court oral arguments. Problem is, what he said was apparently so funny that you had to be there. Really – the court’s official transcript didn’t catch his words. What we do know is that Justice Thomas was speaking to a lawyer representing the State of Louisiana. The State was arguing that its five-year failure to fund a lawyer for an indigent defendant facing the death penalty did not undermine the defendant’s constitutional right to a speedy trial. Before Thomas spoke in Boyer v. Louisiana, Justice Antonin Scalia was asking the state’s attorney about the competency and experience of the lawyers for the capital defendant, Jonathan Edward Boyer. After learning that the lawyers went to Harvard and Yale law schools, Scalia said, “Son of a gun.” Then Thomas spoke. According to the transcript, he said, “Well – he did not –,” followed by laughter. Louisiana’s lawyer then responded, “I would refute that, Justice Thomas.”…Tina Rasnow donated money to the Volunteer Lawyers Services Program, Inc. in honor of Emeritus Attorney Jerry Cline’s 77th birthday…

Welcome if you will, to the new co-chairs of the bar’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance, Ed Elrod and Kim Shean. They may be reached at edward.elrod.law@gmail.com and duffy-shean@sbcglobal.net …Kim is also a new member of the bar’s board of directors. Joining her are new board members Rachel Coleman, Rennee Dehesa, Kata Kim, Robert Krimmer, Susan McCarthy, and Kathryn Clunen…A real estate investment trust partner in the Dallas office of Locke Ford has the highest billing rate in a new survey – $1,285 an hour. The National Law Journal survey also revealed the lowest rate for associates – $130 at Dinsmore & Shohl based in Cincinnati…CITATIONS’ editorial board is looking for a few good lawyers to pitch in. Contact Managing Editor Wendy Lascher at  wlascher@fcoplaw.com or 659.6800…Also at FCOP, Bret Anderson and Leslie McAdam have been named partners and Lauren Sims has been hired as an associate…

Steve Henderson has been the executive director and chief executive officer of the bar association and its affiliated organizations since November 1990. He has indeed admitted to Oprah a seven-year doping issue in the ‘90s leading to humongous revenues for the bar. Additionally, his girlfriend may be reached at NotreDame.com. He may be reached at steve@vcba.org, FB, Twitter at stevehendo1 and vcba1, or better yet,650.7599.

Filed Under: CITATIONS, Exec's Dot Dot Dot

Exec’s Dot…Dot…Dot…

December 27, 2012 By

Twenty new admittees were sworn-in during a ceremony December 4 inside Courtroom #22 and presided over by Judge Brian Back. Judge Back was capably assisted by Justice Arthur Gilbert who actually performed the oath. Thanks to Dien Le, Bob Krimmer, Kathryn Clunen, David Cunningham, and Jill Friedman who all spoke on behalf of their organizations. One lawyer came all the way from Washington D.C. and when I asked her why here, she stated she was in Mock Trial in Courtroom #22 nine years ago for La Reina HS…Kirkland & Ellis has a valuation nearing $4 billion, putting it at the top of a new ranking of the world’s most valuable law firms. American Lawyer found 33 firms have valuations above $1 billion. The four firms after Kirkland are Latham & Watkins, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Allen & Overy, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher…Joan Nordman, wife of the late

Ben E. Nordman, passed away November 20, three days after the Ben E. Nordman Award was presented at the bar’s annual Installation and Awards Dinner. The memorial service for Joan was held at the Las Posas County Club December 20…  

Long time bar member Don Leach died November 20. He was very involved in the probate bar and many times chaired the Estate Planning Council’s annual day-long program. What I didn’t know was Don had a perfect attendance record for more than 31 years in the Downtown Rotary Club. Don was a man of many accomplishments including a letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, a radio and TV broadcaster, a Marine Corps captain and a California Highway Patrol officer before passing the bar in 1989…A man who owes $50,000 in child support and $40,000 in interest was sentenced on December 3 to three years of probation with an added condition:  He may not procreate. Corey Curtis of Racine was sentenced after pleading no contest to jumping bail and failing to pay child support. The 44-year-old defendant has fathered nine children with six women. Judge Tim Boyle of RacineCounty began the hearing by saying it’s too bad he didn’t have the authority to order sterilization. The prosecutor then told Boyle that he did have the authority to restrict Curtis from having additional children, unless he could show the ability to pay, as a condition of probation. Minnesota Public Radio News found the 2001 ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which also concerned a father of nine children accused of failing to pay child support. The U.S.  Supreme Court denied cert in that case… Jill Friedman, fresh off a run as  resident of the VC Women Lawyers, has accepted the role of chairperson of the Diversity Bar Association…New president of Women Lawyers is Charmaine Buehner and Katie Hause is President-Elect/Treasurer, while Rebeca Mendoza will serve as VP. Robert Guerra remains Secretary…

Remember – If you are in Group 1 (A-G), your MCLE is due by Feb. 1, 2013. Take advantage of the bar’s many CLE events this month, especially the VCTLA Masters’ meeting for 3 hours January 17!…A West Virginia judge accused of yelling at litigants didn’t help his case during a hearing in November before the state’s Judicial Hearing Board. The hearing board is recommending Judge William Watkins be kept off the bench for the rest of his term. According to the opinion, Watkins showed his displeasure when a complainant addressed the hearing board and asked Watkins to face him. The chairman of the hearing board told the complainant the request was improper. “Despite what appeared to be the advice of his counsel that he not do so,” the hearing  board wrote, Watkins “turned in his chair, leaned back, crossed his arms, and glared at complainant in an angry and confrontational manner.” Watkins’s demeanor, the board said, made his expressed remorse for repeated instances of angry courtroom behavior appear, “less than sincere.”  

If you are seeking a job with a boutique law firm in Ventura and have at least five years of business or business litigation experience, send me your résumé at steve@vcba.org .l.. Censured earlier this year for texting a shirtless photo to a court employee, a Michigan judge is now the focus of new allegations that he had a relationship with a witness in a child-support case he presided over. The claimed relationship apparently came to the attention of authorities when 3rd Circuit Judge Wade McCree complained to Wayne County prosecutors that the woman, Geniene Mott, was stalking and extorting him, the Detroit News reports. Prosecutors declined to bring charges against Mott, but referred McCree back to the Judicial Tenure Commission concerning his dealings with her. She says she began seeing McCree while he was overseeing her child-support case and became pregnant with the judge’s child…

New officers for the Mexican American Bar Association include Lou Kreuzer, President; Loraine Bailon, Vice-President; Claudia Calderon, Secretary; and Robert Gonzales, Treasurer. Rennee Dehesa will remain on the board after a stellar year guiding the organization…A divided Louisiana Supreme Court has OK’d a recommended two-year law license suspension for an attorney who charged a client nursing home resident her usual rate of $125 per hour to perform non-legal services such as running errands. Katherine Guste charged an unreasonable fee and took advantage of her client, the majority found in an opinion…Banned in 2010 from issuing opinion letters concerning so-called Pink Sheet stocks, a Florida lawyer has been accused of using another attorney’s identity in order to continue doing so. In a civil suit filed in December in federal court in New York City, the Securities and Exchange Commission accuses Guy Jean-Pierre, 53, of using the identity of his niece, who is also an attorney, without her knowledge or permission and falsifying her signature on opinion letters. Jean-Pierre is a 1985 graduate of ColumbiaLawSchool… 

Steve Henderson has been the executive director and chief executive officer of the bar association and its affiliated organizations since November 1990. The only funny thing he has to say is that he may be reached at steve@vcba. org, FB, Twitter at stevehendo1 and vcba1, or better yet, 650.7599.

Filed Under: CITATIONS, Exec's Dot Dot Dot

Exec’s Dot…Dot…Dot…

November 28, 2012 By

By Steve Henderson, Executive Director, M.A., CAE

252 folks packed the Hyatt Westlake Plaza Ballroom for the bar’s Annual Installation and Awards Dinner Nov. 17. Judge Brian Back’s salute to the James Loebl Award Recipients Harveen Simpkins and Leslie McAdam was simply splendid. Michael Case’s introduction of John Orr was compelling and Don Hurley’s organization of the Silent Auction generating $6,000 for the VLSP, Inc. was just classic. Finally, President Dien Le was right. Flocks of west-end attorneys will actually travel across the Conejo Grade to attend a function and Dien and his committee raised over $20,000 to help underwrite the event. Event Chair Eric Reed deserves a standing O, too. Bonehead seating arrangement of the year goes to yours truly. Complete oversight and my bad. Hats off to all!… Charmaine Buehner has taken her talents to the County Counsel Office effective Dec. 3 after three plus years with Myers, Widders, et al….

 Effective Jan. 1, the Barristers new President will be Rennee Dehesa. Her officers include Rachel Coleman, vice-president; Amy Keisewetter, treasurer; and Tom Adams, secretary. Member at Large positions will be held by Katie Hause, Josh Hopstone, Brier Miron, Melanie Murphy, and Andrew Reid…Kudos to out-going president Robert Krimmer, who led a parade of Barristers hits this year…A 61-year-old Army veteran is suing the U.S. government for $10 million, claiming negligent care resulted in severe frostbite on his penis, leading to its partial amputation. Michael D. Nash of Louisville,Kentucky, filed suit in federal court Oct. 1. He is asking for damages for what his lawyer calls “significant mental and emotional distress and traumas as a result of his injuries.” In October, 2010, Nash underwent surgery at the VA Medical Center in Lexington,Kentucky. Doctors were removing and replacing a malfunctioning penile implant. After the surgery, according to court documents, a nurse applied ice packs to Nash’s penis to reduce pain and swelling. The ice pack remained on Nash’s penis for 19 straight hours, “in violation of the standard of care.” As a result, Nash’s penis was severely frostbitten, which led to gangrene. Ok, I’m done with this story…

Ventura Superior Court Judge Frederick Bysshe has been elected to the Executive Board of the California Judges Association. He was sworn-in by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye on Oct. 13. He is the first Ventura County Judge to serve in this capacity…A research lawyer for aKansasappeals court has been suspended pending an investigation into her critical tweets about the state’s former anti-abortion attorney general during a supreme court ethics hearing. The lawyer, Sarah Peterson Herr, posted tweets calling former Attorney General Phil Kline a “naughty, naughty boy” and criticizing his facial expressions. “Why is Phil Kline smiling?” she wrote. “There is nothing to smile about douchebag.”… Dennis LaRochelle was installed as the Vice President of CAL-ABOTA by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Sakauye (boy is she busy swearing-in people) on the Big Island at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel…

The recipient of the 2012 Boss of the Year was Randall George at the Ventura County Legal Professionals Association’s 50th Annual Bosses Night Oct. 10. The letter of nomination was submitted by Kris Chatari. The recipient of the 2012 Legal Secretary of the Year was Lupita Castor. She was nominated by Sylvia Soto. That’s called a sweep by Nordman Cormany et al. The Honorable David Long MC’d the affair with his usual distinguished flair…A district attorney in upstate New York called an unusual news conference on Nov. 16 to respond to allegations he had acted in porn films in the 1970s. Cortland County District Attorney Mark Suben admitted that the charges are true. Suben called the news conference after WSTM-TV published a story about a YouTube video of adult film clips claiming that the actor in the videos, Gus Thomas, was the DA. “The allegations are true. I was an actor in adult films in the early 1970s.” A few weeks ago, when asked, he had denied this to the members of the press. Additionally, Thomas had denied the porn-film allegations before the recent elections…Do not forget the Annual VCTLA Holiday Party scheduled for Dec. 4 atop the Tower Club and beginning at 6 p.m. Dennis Jones and his band, Sgt. Pepper, will provide the entertainment. Pay your 2013 dues beforehand and your admission is free. www.vctla.org for deets and registration info…

The New Admittee Swearing-In Ceremony is set for Dec. 4 inside CR#22 beginning at 4 p.m. and presided over for the very first time by Judge Brian Back…A disbarred Louisiana attorney who didn’t disclose the sanction to WorldCom and Verizon while working in their legal departments  has now been permanently disbarred.  The Louisiana Supreme Court disbarred James David Turnage on Nov. 16 after he failed to respond to the ethics charges. He was previously disbarred in 2002 for commingling and converting client and third-party funds…Lastly, the Barristers board of directors will be having their holiday party Dec. 4 starting at 6:30 p.m. inside the Aloha Grill in Ventura. And, no, you are not invited…

Steve Henderson has been the executive director and chief executive office of the bar association and its affiliated organizations since November 1990. He will be attending the Obama swearing-in ceremonies with the Limbaughs mid-January while vacationing the month of December with the Petraeus family in Virgin Gorda. He may be reached at steve@vcba.org, FB, Twitter at stevehendo1 and vcba1, or better yet, 650.7599.

Filed Under: Annual Dinner, CITATIONS, Exec's Dot Dot Dot

Exec’s Dot…Dot…Dot…By Steve Henderson, Executive Director, M.A., CAE

October 29, 2012 By

 Please make every effort to attend the bar’s Annual Installation and Awards Dinner scheduled for Saturday evening, November 17, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Westlake Hyatt Hotel. We will be honoring John Orr, Harveen Simpkins, and Leslie McAdam for their voluntary efforts in our community. All proceeds benefit the bar association and the Volunteer Legal Services Project, Inc., so contact Nadia Avila at 650.7599 or bar@vcba.org to register asap…Hangover Heaven, a Las Vegas-based bus service equipped with nurses and intravenous medications, promises to take you from a “semiconscious, porcelain-hugging, hit-bya- truck hangover to feeling like you’re ready to take on the world,” says Dr. Jason Burke, a licensed anesthesiologist. For $99, you board the bus, cruise the strip and get plied with IV fluids and anti-nausea drugs. For another $100, the “Rapture” package includes heartburn meds, oxygen and a “super B shot.”…License Plate of the Month: CNZ ESQ on a Grand Marquis LS and driven by Connie Zarkowski…

Vancouver? Richard Hanawalt at 642.0179 or attorneyhanawalt@sbcglobal.net…Pennsylvania’s Court of Judicial Discipline says a Philadelphia traffic court judge brought his judicial office into disrepute when he showed photos of his genitals to a government contractor. The court found that the mens rea requirement was established when Judge Willie Singletary displayed two pictures of his privates. Singletary claimed he had completely forgotten about the pictures and he unintentionally displayed them. “We think that the public – even those members of the public who register the lowest scores on the sensitivity index – do not expect their judges to be conducting photo sessions featuring the judicial penis,” the opinion said. Singletary resigned after opinion said. Singletary resigned after he was suspended from his judicial duties. This isn’t the first time Singletary has run afoul of disciplinary authorities. In 2009, he was reprimanded for suggesting at a biker rally that those who donated to his judicial campaign would get favorable treatment from him once he was elected… Mike and Jenna Strauss are a mom and dad for a second time with the birth of Henry Michael October 5 at 12:02 a.m. Mom and dad are fine and first-born Miles gave his ultimate approval (which was not a foregone conclusion), when he said Henry can go into the castle…The Barristers are providing free legal assistance to the RAIN organization November 14 beginning at 7:00 p.m. If you are a Barrister and want to assist, contact Matt Purcell at 987.8809 or mattpurcell@hotmail.com…

Panda Kroll, noted CITATIONS contributor, had an article published October 2 in the Los Angeles Daily Journal. “Fixing Fixers: Lawyers as Professional Coaches.”…Carl Funk, 58, toldBroward County,Fla., judge John Hurley (on a video feed from jail to a courtroom) that he is innocent of the seven-year-old charges (trespassing and open-alcoholiccontainer counts) and that, besides, he is now wheelchair-bound in pathetic medical condition and should be allowed to go home. The judge was skeptical, but finally, he offered to fine Funk only $50 on the charges, and Funk agreed to plead guilty. “Good luck, Funk,” said Judge Hurley. At that point, Funk rose from his wheelchair and quickly walked away. Wrote the Sun-Sentinel: “Raising both hands, Judge Hurley declared, “He’s been cured.”… Because of the holidays, the Probate and Estate Planning Section will hold their monthly luncheon on November 15 beginning at noontime inside the Wedgewood Banquet Facility. Watch for the promotional brochure contained inside this edition or register with Nadia Avila at 650.7599 or bar@vcba.org…

Leslie McAdam and Meghan Clark won awards for their paintings at the 60th Annual Meeting of the State Bar held inMonterey. Leslie brought home a third place and an honorable mention while Meghan’s honorable mention hangs on her office wall… ANew Orleans attorney was cited for marijuana possession after a joint tumbled out of his pocket in front of police. Police say Jason Cantrell, who has a private practice but also serves as a part-time assistant city attorney, was in the magistrate section of criminal court chatting with police officers when a joint fell out of his pocket and onto the floor. Cantrell, 43, was a first-time offender and was cited, and issued a summons to appear in court for simple possession. Cantrell’s wife, LaToya, is a candidate for a district seat on the City Council. “I absolutely do not condone his actions.”…

New York State’s chief judge, Jonathan Lippman, is moving ahead with his groundbreaking rule requiring law students to perform 50 hours of pro bono legal services as a condition of admission to the state bar…Be very careful out there. On October 3, the State Bar announced that it has filed disciplinary charges against attorneys as a result of stepped-up enforcement of Minimum Continuing Legal Education requirements. The attorneys falsely reported to the bar that they had fulfilled the requirement to complete 25 hours of MCLE. A total of 27 lawyers were referred to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel as a result of last year’s random audit of 635 lawyers… 

Arnold Gross is now hanging his hat at Wilshire Law Firm in downtown LA. He may be reached at  213.381.9988 or arnold@wilshirelawfirm.com… In 20 years on the bench, a Washington state judge says, he’s never used a court summons and threat of criminal prosecution to deal with jury service scofflaws. But he’s doing so now, Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Jack Burchard tells the Wenatchee World, because so many residents feel free to ignore calls to appear for jury duty. Of 240 individuals who received notices to show for service in September, 100 failed to appear…Jesse Cahill made partner at FCOP some months ago… 

Steve Henderson has been the executive director and chief executive officer of the bar association and its affiliated organizations since November 1990. He will be celebrating his 10 years of service November 16 by debating Alex Rodriguez on ESPN. Henderson may be reached at steve@vcba.org, FB, LinkedIn, Twitter at @stevehendo1 or @vcba1, or better yet, 650.7599.

Filed Under: Exec's Dot Dot Dot

EXEC’S DOT… DOT… DOT…

October 29, 2012 By

Please make every effort to attend the bar’s Annual Installation and Awards Dinner scheduled for Saturday evening, November 17, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Westlake Hyatt Hotel. We will be honoring John Orr, Harveen Simpkins, and Leslie McAdam for their voluntary efforts in our community. All proceeds benefit the bar association and the Volunteer Legal Services Project, Inc., so contact Nadia Avila at 650.7599 or bar@vcba.org to register asap…Hangover Heaven, a Las Vegas-based bus service equipped with nurses and intravenous medications, promises to take you from a “semiconscious, porcelain-hugging, hit-bya- truck hangover to feeling like you’re ready to take on the world,” says Dr. Jason Burke, a licensed anesthesiologist. For $99, you board the bus, cruise the strip and get plied with IV fluids and anti-nausea drugs. For another $100, the “Rapture” package includes heartburn meds, oxygen and a “super B shot.”…License Plate of the Month: CNZ ESQ on a Grand Marquis LS and driven by Connie Zarkowski…

Vancouver? Richard Hanawalt at 642.0179 or attorneyhanawalt@sbcglobal.net…Pennsylvania’s Court of Judicial Discipline says a Philadelphia traffic court judge brought his judicial office into disrepute when he showed photos of his genitals to a government contractor. The court found that the mens rea requirement was established when Judge Willie Singletary displayed two pictures of his privates. Singletary claimed he had completely forgotten about the pictures and he unintentionally displayed them. “We think that the public – even those members of the public who register the lowest scores on the sensitivity index – do not expect their judges to be conducting photo sessions featuring the judicial penis,” the opinion said. Singletary resigned after opinion said. Singletary resigned after he was suspended from his judicial duties. This isn’t the first time Singletary has run afoul of disciplinary authorities. In 2009, he was reprimanded for suggesting at a biker rally that those who donated to his judicial campaign would get favorable treatment from him once he was elected… Mike and Jenna Strauss are a mom and dad for a second time with the birth of Henry Michael October 5 at 12:02 a.m. Mom and dad are fine and first-born Miles gave his ultimate approval (which was not a foregone conclusion), when he said Henry can go into the castle…The Barristers are providing free legal assistance to the RAIN organization November 14 beginning at 7:00 p.m. If you are a Barrister and want to assist, contact Matt Purcell at 987.8809 or mattpurcell@hotmail.com…

Panda Kroll, noted CITATIONS contributor, had an article published October 2 in the Los Angeles Daily Journal. “Fixing Fixers: Lawyers as Professional Coaches.”…Carl Funk, 58, toldBroward County,Fla., judge John Hurley (on a video feed from jail to a courtroom) that he is innocent of the seven-year-old charges (trespassing and open-alcoholiccontainer counts) and that, besides, he is now wheelchair-bound in pathetic medical condition and should be allowed to go home. The judge was skeptical, but finally, he offered to fine Funk only $50 on the charges, and Funk agreed to plead guilty. “Good luck, Funk,” said Judge Hurley. At that point, Funk rose from his wheelchair and quickly walked away. Wrote the Sun-Sentinel: “Raising both hands, Judge Hurley declared, “He’s been cured.”… Because of the holidays, the Probate and Estate Planning Section will hold their monthly luncheon on November 15 beginning at noontime inside the Wedgewood Banquet Facility. Watch for the promotional brochure contained inside this edition or register with Nadia Avila at 650.7599 or bar@vcba.org…

Leslie McAdam and Meghan Clark won awards for their paintings at the 60th Annual Meeting of the State Bar held inMonterey. Leslie brought home a third place and an honorable mention while Meghan’s honorable mention hangs on her office wall… ANew Orleans attorney was cited for marijuana possession after a joint tumbled out of his pocket in front of police. Police say Jason Cantrell, who has a private practice but also serves as a part-time assistant city attorney, was in the magistrate section of criminal court chatting with police officers when a joint fell out of his pocket and onto the floor. Cantrell, 43, was a first-time offender and was cited, and issued a summons to appear in court for simple possession. Cantrell’s wife, LaToya, is a candidate for a district seat on the City Council. “I absolutely do not condone his actions.”…

New York State’s chief judge, Jonathan Lippman, is moving ahead with his groundbreaking rule requiring law students to perform 50 hours of pro bono legal services as a condition of admission to the state bar…Be very careful out there. On October 3, the State Bar announced that it has filed disciplinary charges against attorneys as a result of stepped-up enforcement of Minimum Continuing Legal Education requirements. The attorneys falsely reported to the bar that they had fulfilled the requirement to complete 25 hours of MCLE. A total of 27 lawyers were referred to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel as a result of last year’s random audit of 635 lawyers… 

Arnold Gross is now hanging his hat at Wilshire Law Firm in downtown LA. He may be reached at  213.381.9988 or arnold@wilshirelawfirm.com… In 20 years on the bench, a Washington state judge says, he’s never used a court summons and threat of criminal prosecution to deal with jury service scofflaws. But he’s doing so now, Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Jack Burchard tells the Wenatchee World, because so many residents feel free to ignore calls to appear for jury duty. Of 240 individuals who received notices to show for service in September, 100 failed to appear…Jesse Cahill made partner at FCOP some months ago… 

Steve Henderson has been the executive director and chief executive officer of the bar association and its affiliated organizations since November 1990. He will be celebrating his 10 years of service November 16 by debating Alex Rodriguez on ESPN. Henderson may be reached at steve@vcba.org, FB, LinkedIn, Twitter at @stevehendo1 or @vcba1, or better yet, 650.7599.

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September Exec’s Dot…Dot…Dot…

August 29, 2012 By

The 20th Anniversary of Stand Down of Ventura County was celebrated the weekend of July 20th. Roger Myers has coordinated all 20 of the legal services portions and the VCBA and Roger’s troops were given kudos by Congressman Elton Gallegly, State Senator Fran Pavley, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, and Assemblyman Das Williams. Lawyers volunteering for the mostly Desert Storm, Iraqi, and Afghanistan veterans were Jean Farley, Bill Raymond, George Benz, Tom Adams, and Glenn Campbell. Thanks all!…If you are an aspiring law student with low grades and scores on the Law School Admission Test, this could be your year. University of St. Thomas law professor Jerry Logan explains why in a post at the Legal Whiteboard that chronicles declining enrollments from 2010 to 2011, along with declining credentials of entering classes. He estimates that admission rates could possibly top 80% this fall. Seventy-five of the 197 law schools ranked by U.S. News and World Report, or about 38%, suffered from triple declines in 2011 – in enrollment, and test scores and grades of entering students. Thirty-seven schools had enrollment declines of more than 10%, along with declines in LSAT/GPA profiles of the entering class. They include Duke,Illinois, George Mason andArizona, all schools in theU.S.New top 50…Barristers Board member Amy Dilbeck got herself hitched August 11 at theVenturaMission…

Turkey? Pamukkale? Cappadocia? Ask Joanna Orr at 659.6800 or joanna@fcoplaw.com…The Ventura County Legal com…The Ventura County Legal Professional Association is once again having its Annual Bosses’ Night – the theme being “Simply the Best” – and are looking forward to all of you nominating your secretaries/ assistants and bosses. You do not need to be a member of the VCLPA to be nominated, as anyone in VenturaCountyis eligible. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to our vlsp, inc. The dinner is October 10 and the Hon. David Long will MC. There is a nominating flyer inside this edition… LRIS Call of the Month: “I need a lawyer! There are bugs in my Kellogg’s cereal.”… Paris? Keith Schulner at 818.889.5571 or publiccalbar@neutral4hire.com…

Leslie McAdam receives the 2012 President’s Pro Bono Service Award during the State Bar’s Annual Meeting October 11-14 in Monterey. Chief Justice Cantil Sakauye will bestow the award on Friday night. Leslie is being honored for her efforts with the Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid and was nominated by Laura Bartels, Secretary-Treasurer of our very own bar association…Interesting article appeared in the New York Times July 15 entitled, “An Existential Crisis For Law Schools”. In it, Mr. William Henderson

of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law notes that only 55% of the 43,735 graduates in 2011 had a law-related job nine months after graduation – nytimes.com… Vanessa Selbst hasn’t given up her dream of practicing public interest law. But the newly minted YaleLawSchoolgraduate is delaying taking the bar as she pursues another career option – professional poker. Competing in event 52 (six-handed 10-game mix) of the World Series of Poker, she parlayed a $2,500 buy-in into the top prize of $244,259. With several years to go before she turns 30, Selbst has lifetime career tournament winnings of $5.3 million, which places her second on the all-time money list for women players. Once she finishes up at the WSOP, she plans to volunteer at a Los Angeleslaw firm to get some hands-on legal experience. She says she will take either the New Yorkor Californiabar exam next year…Roma? Greece? Jennifer Zide at 477.0327 or jennifer@zidelaw.com…

Some new happenings in the VC Public Defender’s Office. Todd Howeth has been promoted from Chief Deputy to Assistant Public Defender while John McNamara was promoted from Senior Attorney to Chief Public Defender…A Texas lawyer on maternity leave told of her frustrations on FB after a justice of the peace inTravisCounty refused her request for a trial delay. Amber Vazquez Bode had a cesarean section in late April. Just ahead of deadline, she requested a continuance in the misdemeanor trial of her client, a grease recycler accused of taking the material from a restaurant without permission. Justice of the Peace Glenn Bass refused the request, prompting Bode to bring her baby to court for the Monday trial. “My baby was completely freaking out,” she wrote on FB. Justice Bass stated she had already had four delays in the case and was “confrontational when addressing the court.” Charges were dropped… AManhattan lawyer admits in a lawsuit that he slapped a Paul Hastings partner in a deposition in August, but says it was justified. Lawyer Kenechukwu Okoli claims he deserves more than $1 million in damages for the incident in which Okoli slapped Alan Bloom, the co-chairman of Paul Hastings’ employment practice.  According to Okoli’s complaint, Okoli responded with a slap after Bloom rushed him “and began yelling at the top of his lungs and shaking his pointed index finger violently less than one foot from Okoli’s face”…Cheri Elson has opened-up her own shop in Camarillo as of September 1. She may be reached at 504.4828 or cheri@elsonlawfirm.com… Beginning October 1, Aris Karakalos will be working for the Palay Law Firm and the Strauss Law Group… Tina Rasnow will be presenting a program to the East County Bar Association on “Embracing Diversity: Beyond Political Correctness” on Friday, September 7 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at theWestlake Village Inn.

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July 2012 Exec’s Dot…Dot…Dot…

June 21, 2012 By

Katie Pietrolungo, a past president of our Barristers and current president of California Young Lawyers Association, now goes by Katie Pietrolungo Clunen after marrying Tim June 16…You’d think the trial of twolegged monster Anders Breivik, the man who allegedly massacred 77 people in Norway last summer would be enough to hold your attention especially if you were one of the judges. Ernst Henning Eislsen, one of the three lay judges involved with the case, was caught on camera playing computer solitaire, shifting his cards around in the courtroom for 16 minutes. In the Norwegian court system, lay judges are present to “represent ordinary people during trial.” Yes, he has been suspended…Allen Ball cycled with more than 2,225 riders and 550 volunteer “roadies” with the annual AIDS/LifeCycle – Ride to End Aids fundraiser. The seven-day, 545-mile trek started in San Francisco and ended in Los Angeles, with the crowd’s last over-nighter right here in Ventura.

Boston? Plymouth and Cape Cod? Martha’s Vineyard? Dien Le at 1.818.889.2299 or dien.le@calawcounsel.com…License Plate of the Month – SUSTAIN on a late model Cayman S Porsche steered by the Honorable Joe Hadden…Movie quote of the Month: “What I love most about the Month: “What I love most about the law? It’s that every now and again, not often, but occasionally, you get to be a part of justice being done.” In Philadelphia (1993), attorney Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) sues the law firm that terminated him after learning its rising star suffers from AIDS… Katherine Edsall Wells has joined Edsall Law in Camarillo, marking a return to the city where she was raised. Joining the firm founded by her father, David Edsall, who has practiced law in Camarillo for more than 30 years. She may be reached at 484.9002 or Katherine@edsalllaw.com…

If you are interested in being on the bar association board of directors, let me know so I may bring your name to the attention of the nominating committee when they convene July 16. The secretary/treasurer position will be vacant. There are also ten board vacancies…A former Wisconsin district attorney who said he has already paid a steep price for his behavior is taking a plea in a legal ethics case brought over his claimed sexual harassment of multiple women. Kenneth Kratz announced June 15 that he has reached an agreement with the Office of Lawyer Regulation to plead no contest to three counts that allege he sent what amounted to sexually harassing text messages to a domestic abuse victim. One of the texts: “I’m the attorney. I have a $350,000 house. I have the six-figure career. You may be the tall, young, hot nymph, but I am the prize.”…

Partner Larry O’Bryan understands that the $10,000 a year his small Boston law firm wants to pay a new associate isn’t a big enough salary for most new law graduates to live on, since many have hefty student loans. In fact, he may well understand that better than most, since he himself started “under similar terms and conditions.” But as with many other young attorneys that Gilbert & O’Bryan has trained over the years, the lowpaid starting associate job positioned him to move up the legal career ladder. So far, over 50 applicants!…

Twenty new admittees took the oath from Justice Steven Perren during a ceremony June 5 inside a packed Courtroom #22. He was capably assisted by PJ Vince O’Neill. Presenters included Dien Le, Katie Pietrolungo, Robert Krimmer, Jill Friedman, and Dave Cunningham. Two favorite moments – The young man with an undergraduate degree from UCLA and his law degree from USC, and the woman who got her undergraduate degree at Princeton and law degree from Georgetown declaring they were seeking employment…Only slightly more than half of 2011 law grads were able to snag full-time, long-term legal jobs, according to an analysis of new ABA data by Law School Transparency…Mark Your Calendars – Barristers’ Bowling Night is scheduled for Thursday evening, July 19, at Harley’s Bowling Center in Camarillo. For details contact Christina Stokholm at 987.4975 or Christina@pachowicz. com. Proceeds benefit the Make A Wish Foundation…And lastly, don’t forget, the Mexican American Bar Association and the Ventura County Women Lawyers meet the first and second Fridays respectively of each month beginning at noontime at the bar offices. Contact Rennee Dehesa at 988.8324 or rdehesa@nchc and Jill Friedman at 644.7188 or jfriedman@mwgjs.com… Sandra Rubalcava Romero and Deputy D.A. Gil Romero are the proud parents of Steven Christopher Romero, born 5/27/12, eight pounds, three ounces.

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June Exec’s Dot…Dot…Dot…

May 29, 2012 By

Staff at the bar offices rarely do membership wide email blasts, mostly because of concern that we don’t want lawyers to view our electronic messages as spam. If there is a disaster (fires, flooding, earthquakes) we will. If there is a shooting at the courthouse or a law firm, we will inform the masses. So, don’t be afraid if you begin getting correspondence from our local Judicial Evaluations Committee (JEC) asking you to weigh-in on potential bench appointments locally. Perhaps several hundred at a time randomly, and perhaps every few months too…A 34-year-old New York City man who says he considers his dog his son has spent over $60,000 so far on legal fees fighting his ex-girlfriend in a cross country court nettle for custody of a puggle named Knuckles. Craig Dershowitz says he has gone through his life savings in a so-far-futile effort to get the pug-beagle mix dog moved back to his home in NYC. He contends she kidnapped the pooch and moved to California… Kona? Leslie McAdams at 659.6800 or lmcadams@fcoplaw.com… Kapalua? Katie Pietrolungo at 312.5451. Thinking of Katie reminds me her last day at Anderson Kill Wood & Bender was May 15, earning her some much deserved time off, honeymoon and relocation to Simi Valley…

NCH&C has been recently ranked as one of the Top Law Firms in the United States for 2012 by Fortune Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell. Additionally, Nancy Schreiner, was named one of the Top 50 Women in Business, Class of 2012, by the Pacific Coast Business Times…A judicial ethics panel is removing a 63-year-old Delaware family court judge from his job, but the order won’t take effect immediately.

Judge John Henriksen of Sussex County will be ousted on Nov. 2, one day after his judicial term expires and his $85,000 annual pension entitlement vests. The Delaware Court on the Judiciary removed Henriksen based on its finding that he pursued an “inappropriately close social relationship” with a young female lawyer who appeared in his courtroom. The younger lawyer “clearly rebuffed” Henriksen’s overtures, but Henriksen continued to pursue the relationship and preside over the lawyer’s cases, the court’s order says. Henriksen had acknowledged inappropriate conduct for a three month period. The board also found that Henriksen sent the lawyer an email in which he advised her how to prepare a legal memorandum on a contested issue… Effective May 15, Miles Lang is working at the law offices of Michael McQueen. Miles
may be reached at 445.9751…

Panda Kroll is teaching “Biotechnology Law and Regulation” this summer at CSUCI. She hoping to get an assist from guest presenters, so if you are interested contact Panda at panda.kroll@csuci.edu…A Minneapolis lawyer who told opposing counsel she “will sleep with the fishes” should be suspended from practice, according to Minnesota lawyer discipline authorities. A disciplinary complaint accuses lawyer Peter Nickitas of “harassing and bullying” the opposing lawyer, Michele Hurley. The fishes remark came after a second hearing in the case, the complaint says. “As Hurley was about to exit the building, respondent, who was trailing, caught up to Hurley, got in front of her and went nose-to-nose to her and began screaming at Hurley. Respondent had to be pulled away by an associate of his as a bailiff approached,” the complaint claims… The Ventura County Diversity Bar Association held its first mixer at Twenty 88 with proceeds benefiting the VCBA/VLSP, inc. There we 43 folks in attendance including judges Fred Bysshe, Brian Back, Kevin McGee, Rebecca Riley, Ryan Wright, and Frank Ochoa. The Mixer raised $575 and kudos to VCDBA leadership!…

Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Schneider, L.L.P, is pleased to announce that Gregory Ramirez, James Perero, and Jacquelyn Ruffin have joined the firm as of counsel and associates of the firm, respectively… Viagra and Cialis apparently have nothing on a BMW motorcycle seat. According to a lawsuit filed last month in San Francisco Superior Court, the seat left its driver with a two-year erection. Henry Wolf filed suit against BMW North America and Corbin- Pacific, Inc. He claimed in the lawsuit that the “ridged seat” of his 1993 BMW caused him mental and emotional anguish after it left him with a severe case of priapism, aka a long-lasting erection. Wolf said he rode the motorcycle in San Francisco on a four-hour round trip on May 1, 2010 and developed the priapism soon after. Wolf “has been experiencing continuing problems since his motorcycle ride,” his attorney Vernon Bradley wrote in the lawsuit. I will undoubtedly keep the readership abreast of this situation…Jessica Arciniega has landed a pretty cool job as an assistant general counsel with the State of California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Board. She may be contacted at jessarciniega@yahoo.com…

K. Eric Adair has joined Hinson & Gravelle as a partner and the firm is now called Hinson Gravelle & Adair LLP. An interesting twist here is that Wayne Hinson, Eric, and Douglas Gravelle all previously worked as in-house attorneys for Texaco Inc. in the early 90s…And just when you think you’ve heard it all – Give Wade McCree credit, the man at least owns the fact that he’s a creeper extraordinaire. McCree is a circuit judge in Detroit and recently, a female bailiff received an image of the judge nude, at least from the waist up, in the shower. When a television reporter confronted McCree, the judge copped to it, even seeming proud. “Hot dog, yep that’s me,” McCree told the reporter, adding, “Ain’t no shame to my
game.”…Mark your calendars – Barristers’ Trivia Night is June 21 and you may take part by contacting Matt Purcell at 987.8809…

Filed Under: Exec's Dot Dot Dot
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