Katie Pietrolungo has been elected and installed as president of the California Young Lawyers Association of the State Bar of California. Past president of Ventura County Barristers (2008), she may be congratulated at kpietrolungo@andersonkill. com or better yet, 288.1300…As of Jan. 3, those trying to use theGroverBeach(SLOCounty) courthouse will be sent north. Citing unprecedented reductions in judicial funding, the courthouse at 214 S. 16th Streetin GroverBeachwill move its hearings to the San Luis Obispocourthouse at 1035 Palm Street. Court leaders said in a statement they hope the “suspension of operations is temporary and promise to aggressively seek restoration of the recent funding cuts to ensure continuing access to justice for everyone.”…Jamaica? Erik Feingold at efeingold@mwgjs.com or 644.7188…

Don Greenberg, VLSP, Inc. Emeritus Attorney extraordinaire, was elected to a two-year term on the board of directors of the Retired Employees Association of Ventura County (REAVC)…A longserving and well respected Orange County Superior Court judge was ordered removed from the bench Jan. 11 for fixing tickets of family and friends. The Commission on Judicial Performance found that Richard W. Stanford Jr. intervened on nine separate occasions between 2005 and 2010 to allow acquaintances to pay greatly reduced traffic fines without having to appear in court. The San Francisco-based commission, which disciplines state judges for ethical lapses, said Stanford’s removal is necessary to “restore public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” Stanford ordered his son-in-law’s $500 ticket for running a red light in 2010 be reduced to $40. A clerk uncomfortable with Stanford’s handling of the case started the rumble… James Perero of Wasserman, Comden, et al. received the Oxnard Chamber of  Commerce Chairman’s Award of Excellence on Jan. 28…

 The incredible run by one Dorothy Prairie, law office administrator at Hathaway, Perrett, Webster, Powers, Chrisman & Gutierrez in Ventura, came to an end Dec. 31, 2011, when Prairie retired from the firm. That sounds pretty routine until you peel back the layers of this modest onion. She retired after 45 years! Hired as the office manager in 1966 by Julian Hathaway, Bob Soares, and Mike Perrett; Prairie was a fixture in the legal community teaching classes and being president of the Legal Secretaries Association. At 86, she still hikes with the Sierra Club, and her husband, Ken (84), is still working…The blog that chronicles U.S. Supreme Court action is noticing a recent surge in solo dissents. The U.S. Supreme Court issued four opinions on Jan. 10, all of them decided by an 8-1 vote. Justice Antonin Scalia dissented in one opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas dissented in another, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented in two cases. SCOTUSblog noted the solo dissents and said they are relatively rare. “Justice Stevens used to say that it was sometimes important to have a dissent to keep the majority honest,” the blog says. “I wonder if maybe Justice Ginsberg might be taking that role up a bit, now that Justice Stevens has retired.” On Jan. 11, the Supreme Court issued another 8-1 ruling, and this time, Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the only dissenter. Two other decisions issued 1.11.12 were unanimous… Mike Case celebrated his 40th year of practicing law on Jan. 5 and ten years to the day his son, Rob, has been a lawyer too.

 The Mexican American Bar Association have elected their new officers for 2012. President, Rennee Dehesa; Lou Kreuzer, Vice President; Andres Garcia, Treasurer; and Claudia Calderon, Secretary. MABA continues to meet the first Friday of each to meet the first Friday of each month at a variety of locations. Contact Rennee to get into the loop at rdehesa@nchc.com…A survey of 45 large law firms showed the number of lawyers they employed in 2011 didn’t change, but that doesn’t mean the firms weren’t hiring. The survey concluded the number of lawyers at the firms was static last year, but lateral hiring has been robust… Steven Lee ran a 3:03 at the California International Marathon in Sacramento on Dec. 4, a personal record for Steven. He plans on giving a sub-3 shot at either the Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon in June, or the Chicago Marathon in October… Harlem, Montana? Ed Elrod at edward. elrod.law@gmail.com…Southern Spain?  Jon Light at jlight@lightgablerlaw.com. The Law Day 5K Committee started meeting in  January in preparation for the 29th annual running. Mark your calendars for May 19 at the County Government Center…

Kendall VanConas became a name partner at A to Z on January 1st…The Jerome H. Berenson Inn of Court is in full swing and has been so since the first meeting back in October. If you’d like to check out the action and be a guest at either the February-March- April-May meetings, contact President David Lehr at david@davislehrlaw.com or 477.0070…Women Lawyers of Ventura County elected new officers 1.13.12. Jill Friedman will remain as president; Charmaine Buehner, president-elect; Rebeca Mendoza, vice-president; Robert Guerra, secretary; Katie Hause, treasurer; and Jodi Prior, past-president. They continue to meet the second Friday of each month beginning at noontime inside the bar offices…Stuart Nielson has joined the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme…

Lots of lawyers turned out to volunteer on Thanksgiving Day at the Salvation Army’s “OneCity, One Meal” event at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Feeding nearly 600 folks in need were Amy Dilbeck, Tom Adams, Judge Fred Bysshe, Mike Bradbury, Tom Hutchinson, David and Mary Shea…A Justice Department lawyer who was the longest serving federal prosecutor in U.S. history has died at the age of 89. John “Jack” Keeney retired last year after working for the Justice Department for 59 years.  Keeney worked on organized crime cases under Attorney general Robert Kennedy, helped negotiate a treaty with  Switzerland in the 1970s that gave U.S. investigators access to Swiss bank accounts, and had a role in the watergate investigation. A Justice Department building is named in his honor.  his only prosecutorial regret? Keeney once told NPR, “prosecuting alleged communists in the 1950s.” Keeney served in WWII as a B17 pilot. his plane was shot down and he was held in a Nazi prison camp during the final months of the war…Argentina? Aris Karakolos at 659.6800 or akarakolos@fcoplaw.com…

 Kathleen Smith of Norman Dowler had a letter to the editor published in the November issue of California Lawyer. Page 5 at www.callawyer.com…These people live among us – GOP presidential contender Newt gingrich is explaining his assertion that child labor laws are “truly stupid.” gingrich says he wants to empower kids to succeed through a work ethic. In poor neighborhoods, he has said in recent speeches, children can’t earn cash because they are “trapped in child laws.” He offers school janitorial jobs as an example, saying kid janitors “would be dramatically less expensive than unionized janitors.” gingrich elaborated in an interview with the Washington Post. “I’m not suggesting that they drop out of school and become janitors, I’m talking about working 20 hours a week and being empowered to succeed,” he said… Need to score 6 CLE units all in one day? The Barristers are hosting their Bridging The gap event in conjunction with The Daily Journal on Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Ventura County government Center (flyer contained herein). Substance Abuse, Bias and Ethics will be front and center. New admittees and lawyers practicing less than two years are free. Barristers in practice from two to five years pay $50. All others $75. Celene at 650.7599 or bar@vcba.org… 

Speaking of Barristers, they have elected their new officers and directors: Robert Krimmer, president; Matthew Purcell, VP; Rachel Coleman, secretary; Rennee Dehesa, treasurer; and Christina Stokholm, immediate past-president. Board members include Tom Adams, Amy Dilbeck, Katherine Hause, Joshua Hopstone, Chris Kunke, Brier Miron, Melanie Murphy, Kathryn Pietrolungo, Jon Schwalbach, and Jaclyn Smith…Movie of the Month: Marty (zebra): “I’m still doing the same old thing.  Stand over here, trot over there. Eat some grass. walk back over here.” Alex (lion): “I see your problem.” Marty: Maybe I should go to law school.” On his tenth birthday, Marty (Chris rock) laments his uneventful life to Alex (Ben Stiller) in “Madagascar” (2005)…The 23rd Annual Bar Leaders Planning Session is scheduled for Feb. 11, at the Courtyard by Marriott. Representatives of sections, committees and affiliates should mark their calendars…

The NY Times has a compelling article entitled, “what They Don’t Teach Law Students: Lawyering.” It appeared Nov.  20 at www.nytimes.com…A would-be law student in New York state has filed suit seeking additional time to take the Law School Admission Test. Lisa Russo, 41, of Fort Salonga, N.Y, says she needs more time because of a brain disorder that causes her to read and write more slowly. Russo is asking for an additional three hours to take the test. She seeks accommodations for her disability caused by a removal of a brain lesion in 2005…Ventura County native Jon Schwalbach has joined Ferguson Case Orr Paterson. he grew up in Thousand Oaks… Azamare Cruise to Veniceand the AdriaticCoast? Howard Evans at hbevans@adelphia.net..

Judge Edward Brodie retired on Nov. 30, after more than 19 years on the bench. Judge Brodie was elected to the municipal court in June 1992. he received a special interim appointment by Gov. Pete Wilson and began his term of office four months early. He was elevated to the superior court in June 1998.  He was a DA from 1984-1992 and a PD from 1981-1982. Additionally, he was a CHP officer for 12 years…Shoppers at the Boynton Beach Mall inFloridacould have received some legal counseling during their quest for the perfect holiday gift. Three lawyers opened a kiosk called The Law Booth and they offered year-end specials. Through Dec. 31, 15-minutes consultations were free and estate planning was $300. A lawyer was available on Black Friday starting at 4:00 a.m… New officers for the Intellectual Property Section are: Chris Balzan, president; James Dawson, VP; Doug English, treasurer; and Pejman Yedidsion, secretary. The IP Section continues to meet the second Thursday of each month either at the bar offices or the Plug Nickel in TO for lunch…

Justice Paul Coffee swore in 15 new lawyers Dec. 6 in Courtroom #22. Coffee, whose last day in the office is January 31, was compelling and heartfelt in delivering his final observations, along with Judges Vince O’Neill and Brian Back. This was the first time in over six years that more men than women swore-in, 8-7, and 10 lawyers of the 15 verbalized they were searching for work. Thanks to Joe Strohman, Christina Stokholm, Katie Pietrolungo, David Cunningham, and Jill Friedman for their assist…

VCBA/VLSP, Inc. Emeritus Attorney extraordinaire, Eugene Radding, died suddenly Nov. 8 from heart failure. Eugene graduated from USF in 1950 and proudly held the distinction of oldest active attorney in Ventura County. Eugene was a fixture inside the bar offices each and every Monday morning since 2005. He would interview low-income clients to determine whether or not their case was meritorious then procure the services of a family law attorney willing to take the matter pro bono. His obit appeared in The Star 11.10. He will be genuinely missed and we closed the offices in his honor November 10 from 2-4:00 p.m. A CITATIONS profile of Eugene, penned by Ellen Hirvela Russell, may be found at www.vcba.org, March 2010 edition.…A former Creek County judge convicted of exposing himself and using a male enhancement device while seated at the bench is not eligible to receive judicial retirement benefits, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled recently. The high court upheld a decision by the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees ruling that Donald Thompson, a 23-year veteran of the Sooner State legal system, violated his oath of office by using a penis pump while presiding over trials. His monthly pension of $7,789 was discontinued and he is now a registered sex offender after serving 20 months in prison…Germany? Belgium? Michael Case at 659.6800 or mcase@fcoplaw.com…

Michael Planet, Court Executive Officer, was honored for his outstanding service to the Judicial Council and for improving the administration of justice statewide and in Ventura County…Gov. Brown has signed a measure to authorize a $10 rebate on all California lawyer dues and to change how the State Bar is governed. SB 163 had earlier passed both houses of the legislature by votes of 39-0 in the Senate and 68-9 in the Assembly. The $10 rebate means most active attorneys will pay dues of $400 next year… A federal judge in Syracuse has found the state of New York violated the First Amendment when it rejected a non-profit group’s request to sponsor “Choose Life” license plates. Senior U.S. District Judge Neal McCurn ruled in favor of the Children First Foundation, a group that supports adoption as an alternative for women with unwanted pregnancies and newborns…On Oct. 28, Judge Vince O’Neill, during the halftime of the St. Bonaventure v T.O. football contest, was inducted into the Seraph Hall of Fame…Hong Kong? Natalie Panossian at napanassion@gmail.com… Toyko? Don Greenberg at liondongreenberg@yahoo.com…

Mistaken about the Star’s photo and article regarding Judge Manuel Covarrubias being the recipient of an Outstanding Service Award, I have been corrected. Apparently, Judge Covarrubias did not get an award, and in fact, PD Rebecca Nelson and DA Gene Kinsey did receive the award for contributions to youth. Deputy Probation Officer Noah Spevak (son of the late Holly Spevak), was also chosen for an award… I keep repeating to myself–kahn-TEEL sockah- OOH-way–but I’m going with the Tani Court…A Connecticut judge has ordered lawyers representing a divorcing couple to exchange passwords to their clients’ Facebook and dating websites. Judge Kenneth Schluger ordered the password exchange in the divorce. The judge cautioned in a Sept. 30 order that the exchange should be carried out by the lawyers, and neither spouse may post messages purporting to be the other…NCH&C announced that John Anderson has joined the firm as a partner and as chair of the firm’s Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law group…London? Lawrence Noble at Lawrence@noble4law.com or 658.6266…  

The bar’s Estate Planning & Probate Section is chaired by Cheri Kurman. She asked a host of colleagues, including moi, to participate in a flash mob to raise money for Wellness andCaregiverCenter inCamarillo.  It’s a fun clip and you can spot it at www.vcstar.com/news/2001/nov/02/flash-mobbusts-a-mpve-to-promote-caregiver/… Law Office of David Esquibias announced attorneys Ruth Morrow and Tracy Kitzman have joined the firm….Tirana, Albania? Sean Cowdrey at sean@beachwhitman.com or 388.3100…  

Effective Nov. 1, Gary Jacobs is retired. He started in the LA County DA’s office before he landed here. You may reach him on his cell at 805.340.1290 or jacobslaw@me.com…AManhattan lawyer has sued a luxury health club, saying it stopped providing a full hot breakfast as promised. The suit by Richard Katz seeks $730,000 against the Setai Club and Spa Wall Street. Katz claimed he renewed his $5,000 annual membership based on a promise that he would continue to get a full free breakfast.  Katz is not happy with the cold buffet on a roof deck. The suit seeks $230,000 over the breakfasts and $500,000 for an allegedly libelous comment…Venturaattorney Mary Howard got herself a little more than she bargained for and the story is documented by Kimball Livingston and entitled, Luck in the Pacific. You may find it posted July 28. Essentially, Mary was part of a nine person sail team on a Swan 441 that was racing 2,250 miles in the Transpacific Yacht Pacific Race from Point Fermin toDiamond Head, a 14-day affair. About to finish, they spot a man drifting alone in the water (Guy Wilding, the kayak coach of the Spring National Team), so they deploy the Life Sling and fish him out. It’s a great story with a terrific climax and better told by Mary at mhoward@venturalaw.com or 641.9997…

For Barristers only! The Annual Judges Pizza Night will be held inside Cafe Fiore, Tuesday evening, Nov. 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Ventura. This event typically brings out the largest number of justices, judges and commissioners who mingle with young lawyers while enjoying the slices and liquids. Barristers are being asked for a ten dollar donation, with all proceeds going to the Salvation Army and its efforts to provide Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless. Questions regarding the Pizza Night and volunteering to serve Thanksgiving dinner 11.24 from noon to 2:00 p.m may be directed to Rachel Coleman at rc@dk4law.    

com or 988.4848…Bostonlawyer Ben Seisler picked up extra money donating to a Virginiasperm bank while attending law school at GeorgeMasonUniversity. Seisler earned $150 per donation and apparently visited the bank frequently. In 2005, he used his donor number to register with an online tracking site called the Donor Sibling Registry. Seisler learned he has at least 75 children, and the 33-year-old lawyer expects the number to grow to 120 to 140 children. His wife is not too pleased with this relatively new information. “What if they all come knockin?” she asked angrily on camera. He uses an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of them all…Turkey? Gerry Cline at gcline@spry.net…

Judge Manuel Covarrubias received the Outstanding Service Award from the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission at a ceremony Oct. 4 at the El Rio Juvenile Justice Center. The award is given to Manny for his commitment and dedication to serving young people…Along those same lines, Commissioner JoAnn Johnson has been presented with the Judicial Officer of the Year Award by the Child Support Directors Association of California. The award recognizes a commissioner or judge who has strengthened the state’s child support program. It was presented inSacramento Sept. 20…Quote of the Month: “What sense does it make to forbid selling a 13-year-old boy a magazine with an image of a nude woman, while protecting a sale to that 13-year-old of an interactive video game in which he actively, but virtually, binds

and gags the woman, then tortures and kills her?” – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, dissenting in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (2011 WL 2518809), which struck down a California ban on the sale a violent video games to minors…License Plate of the Month: 07 USC on a late model BMW 3 Series driven by Steven Lehat…

The Ventura law offices of Farley & Kump, located on Ash Street, closed its doors Oct. 31 after doing business since 1999… A federal appeals court is so aggravated by the quality of an Illinois lawyer’s legal writing that it has ordered him to show cause why he shouldn’t be barred from practicing before the court.  Lawyer Walter Maksym was “unable to file an intelligible complaint,” despite three tries given him by the trial court, according to the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.  The appeals court included a 345-word sentence by Maksym to illustrate. Additionally, at least 23 sentences containing 100 or more words…Dennis LaRochelle completed the Carpinteria Triathlon in a respectable 1:28:02 while finishing 309 out of 471.

Not to be outdone, Bart Bleuel swam a 10K in the Santa Barbara Los Banos 50-meter pool (200 lengths) in 3:25:22. It was witnessed by his family, including his three grandchildren and wife Michelle, who counted laps…Movie Quote of the Month: Gingrich: “You were coming out of what store?” Cimoli: “Nat’s Delicatessen on Euclid Avenue.” Gingrich: “Too bad it didn’t happen in front of the May Company. From them you can collect. Couldn’t you have dragged yourself another 20 feet?” – From “Whiplash Willie” Gingrich (Walter Matthau) quizzing a client about slipping on a banana peel and breaking his pelvis in The Fortune Cookie (1966)…Barristers Secretary Matt Purcell had his photograph in the September issue of the ABAJournal interviewing a client at the Salvation Army Transitional Housing complex…

A standing O for Rob Long, who after 22 years of service on the CITATIONS Editorial Board, is stepping aside for a while. Resting on his stepping aside for a while. Resting on his laurels? Nope. Long has been elected president of the Rotary Club of Ojai-West. Thank you Rob from all of us and we suspect you’ll be missing your monthly pizza feed…Effective Oct. 11, case-initiating papers, including complaints, applications and petitions, applications for renewals of judgment, and clerk and court default judgment packets (except for requests for entry of default) will be processed in the Ventura clerk’s office only. BTW, it is possible that the Simi Valley Courthouse could close because of the budget constraints. Judge Vince O’Neill and Michael Planet are making the rounds. If you’d like to have them address your section, committee or affiliate, get a hold of Mike-michael.planet@ventura.courts.ca.gov…

Do me a favor, would ‘ya? Attend the Annual Installation and Awards Dinner Nov. 19 atop The Crowne Plaza in Ventura. You can accomplish two things. First, honor three excellent lawyers for their community service. Marc Charney will receive the Ben E. Nordman Public Service Award, while John Howard and Jonathan Light will be the recipients of the James D. Loebl VLSP, Inc. Public Service Award. To register, simply email Celene at bar@vcba.org. Secondly, all proceeds from the silent auction go to our pro bono program and it’s still not too late to donate an item by getting a hold of Don Hurley at donald_hurley2008@yahoo.com… Cristian Arrieta is relocating his practice to Cunningham Legal in Camarillo. His new number is 484.2769…The ABA has a new pocket-sized book written specifically for

professionals who need to communicate with Spanish speakers about U.S.law. The guide identifies common American legal phrases and concepts and provides accurate Spanish translations. Want one? ababooks-nc@staff. abanet.org…The Pacific Coast Business Times honored locals Stuart Nielson, Gannon Johnson and Bret Anderson Nov. 17 with its “40 Under 40” award to youngish business leaders in the tri-counties.

Our very own Verna Kagan will be the recipient of the Holly Spevak Award during a ceremony hosted by the Women Lawyers of Ventura County scheduled for November 3 at the Herzog Winery. Verna has been involved with the vcba/vlsp, inc. since 1996 and the manager of the pro bono program since 2004. She was nominated by WLVC President Jill Friedman, who became aware of Verna’s efforts during the bar association’s annual Strategic Planning meeting in February.  Dinner coordinator Jodi Prior also announced the Legacy Award will be presented to Hannah-Beth Jackson the same evening. There is a flyer in this edition to register. Jodi may be reached at 654.3879 or jodi.prior@ventura.courts.ca.gov…

When Carla graduated 10 years ago, she thought her law degree would be a permanent high paying job. But instead of selling her brain, Carla is selling her bod. After several layoffs and unemployment shattered her finances, she now finds herself in another position – dancing at a topless bar.  “Did I ever think I would be taking my top off for money? No. Did all I ever want to do in life is climb in the lap of a sweaty stranger? No. Sometimes it sucks, it’s degrading and I hate it, but it is necessary right now.” Carla is her stage name…Punta deMinta, Mexico?

Greg Johnson at greg@gregoryjohnsonlaw.com or 988.3661… Courtesy of the Rubicon Theatre’s program  for Steel Magnolias, I learned Roy Schneider serves on the board of Directors and Ron Harrington serves at the theatre’s Legal Advisor…A Georgia judge who pointed a gun at himself while at the courthouse, berated his boss in a bizarre televised rant and admitted to regularly smoking the doob was ousted from the bench for life by the state’s top court. The Georgia Supreme Court’s unanimous opinion barred Catoosa County Magistrate  Anthony Peters from ever holding another judicial office in Georgia (great, he’ll probably come here)…

 Dennis LaRochelle was elected Treasurer of CAL-ABOTA 9.9, making him a shoo-in for President in 2015. CAL-ABOTA is a regional branch of the national organization. In the 23 years since the local chapter was formed, there has been one other local chapter member who became CAL-ABOTA President and she was from San Luis Obispo, so Dennis will be the first from VC! He’ll be installed as Treasurer during the annual Hawaii meeting in November. Go figure…

David Praver and Richard Taylor, along with several other county lawyers, have been selected as 2012 Southern California Super Lawyers. That’s 4 years in a row for Richard  and three for David…Last week, on an email discussion list, a reader answered a thread about “delightful client malapropisms.” One example, which the poster says was from a client intake interview: “I asked a client about  a previous case on his record. I mentioned the charge (drug trafficking) and asked him what happened with the case.  He said, ‘oh, they gave me treatment in luau.’” Santa Barbara Women Lawyers Foundation Annual Donor Appreciation & Awards Dinner was held 9.28. They honored the Founding Mothers including Jill Friedman…The Loire Valley, France? Tony Strauss at 641.9992 or ars@strausslawgroup.com…

150 well wishers attended Judge David Long’s retirement party and raised $3,500 for our charitable arm. Special thanks to presenters David Shain, Wendy Lascher, Lindsay Nielson, Susan Witting, Judge Jack Smiley, and Judge Vince O’Neill… A $10 million donation to UCLA’s law school from alum Lowell Milken is causing enormous debate about the decision to name a business law institute for the former financier, who was linked to Wall Street’s junk bond scandal 20 years ago. Law school faculty and administrators welcomed the money citing that Milken was never convicted of wrongdoing. He was only barred from working in the securities industry…

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram printed some curious news last month: A Tarrant County juror was sentenced to two days of community service after he pleaded guilty to four counts of contempt of court. Jonathan Hudson’s wrongdoing? The 22-year-old friended and messaged the defendants on a civil case about a 2008 car wreck. Texas law prohibits jurors from discussing cased on social media sites… Barristers are hosting their annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tourney October 8. Gather a couple pals and get a hold of Robert Krimmer at 988.9886 or rkrimmer@atozlaw.com… The World Bodysurfing Championships were held August 20-21 in Oceanside, California for the 30th consecutive year. A few of our boyz did well. Brett Templeman placed 4th in the 35-44 age group, and Bob Owens made the quarter finals in the 55-64 age category.  Al Templeman placed 3rd in the 65-plus age group. Recall Bill Lucking? His grandson won the 35-44 age group…

A Chicago federal judge declared a mistrial last week in a sex-trafficking prosecution after a masseuse who worked for the defendant and testified for the prosecution recognized the defense lawyer as a client… Law Quote of the Month” “Miles: Marylin, think of me for a moment not as your attorney, but as your friend. Marylin: Does that mean you won’t be charging us for the hour?” Divorce attorney Miles Massey (George Clooney) warns Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta- Jones) not to sign a prenuptial agreement in Intolerable Cruelty (2003)…If you go to the University of Honolulu School of Law you’ll find it located on Tully Road in Modesto. www.universityofhonoluluschooloflaw.net…

Eileen Walker had a letter to the editor published in the August edition of California Lawyer. Something about Bruce Springsteen… At least three states have considered banning the fake plastic bull testicles some drivers hang on the back of their pickups, but haven’t done so. So that puts a South Carolina town that issued Virginia Tice, 65, a $445 obscenity ticket earlier in September on the front lines of a cutting-edge constitutional issue.  Represented on a pro bono basis by Savage and Savage (really?), she was going to ask for a jury trial but discovered that Bonneau’s police chief has already done so… Kyle Marks’ correct email address is KBMarks@rdmpc.com… One CLE of note: October 18 at noontime, Jack Trimarco offers “Polygraph 2011 – If It’s Not Admissible as Evidence, Why Bother?” It’s a measly $25 for easy parking, lunch and a one hour credit. Celene at 650.7599 or bar@vcba.org..

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Bill Winfield gave me a copy of his 1986-1987 Legal Services Directory, the bar’s pictorial of its membership. Included with the address, phone and fax numbers were the names of the spouses. We might add that in our 2012-2013 editions…A longtime Washington state lawyer has been disbarred after failing to defend a disciplinary hearing that resulted from his theft of a vacuum cleaner from a department store. Paul Ryals was admitted in 1988. He was convicted of second-degree theft in a Snohomish County bench trial earlier this year. The ABA Journal tried to reach him at an apparent former office, but was told he was not reachable there…Toronto? Natalie Panossian at napanossian@gmail.com…

James Procter, Lisa Shyer, and Alan Wisotsky are pleased to announce the formation of Wisotsky, Procter & Shyer effective Sept. 1. The firm will continue serving self-insured public entities and the insurance defense industry. Other attorneys with the firm are Jeffrey Held, Brian Keighron, Dirk DeGenna, and Karen Harmeling and they may all be reached at 278.0920…It can be costly to arrest Richard Kreimer, or to throw him out of your business. Richard is homeless, but not exactly penniless. Over the years he has filed nearly 20 lawsuits alleging violation of his First Amendment or civil rights, bringing “a good bit of media coverage and hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlements.” Kreimer may be most famous for his successful suit against the library in Morristown, N.J., for barring him from the premises, which garnered him an $80,000 settlement recently. He had claimed he was unlawfully ousted  for his hygiene and odd behavior. In another suit against Morristown claiming police harassment, he won a $150,000 settlement… Christina Stokholm, current president of theBarristers, has been appointed to the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the State Bar of California…

Roger Myers, for the 19th year, organized the legal services portion of Stand Down July 29, 30, and 31. Nancy Aronson held court as protem on Friday with 119 cases on calendar and took no break from 1:00-4:30 p.m. Lots of lawyers seen helping out including others for the 19th year – Jean Farley, Allison O’Neill, and Yasmin Morrison. Other regulars included Glenn Campbell, Tom Adams, Bill Raymond, Jody Prior, Janet Koehn, DDA Jennifer Lyons, and DPD Marie Meth…I attended a hearing on ways to address the financial crisis in the San Francisco Superior Courts. I should say a decimated Superior Court. Get this – 41 percent of the support staff is being let go in San Francisco – more than 200 people. Out of the existing fifteen departments for general civil cases, only three will remain. Both complex litigation departments will be closed. One of the two Law and Motion departments will be closed. An unfathomable backlog to civil litigation is expected and restoration of funds not expected…Thailand? Phil Panitz at pgp@pktaxlaw.com or 379.1667…

The Tri-Counties Local Government Attorneys Association has elected its new board of directors. The president will be Julie Doi (City of Oxnard), vice-president is Felicia Liberman (City of Simi Valley), and the secretary-treasurer is Andy Viets (City of Ventura). They typically meet the third Thursday of each month throughout the Ventura and Santa Barbara areas. More info? viets@ci.ventura.ca.us…   Think you had a harrowing time taking the bar exam? It probably can’t compare to Elana Nightingale Dawson’s experience. The 2011 Northwestern University Law School graduate sat for the Illinois bar in Chicago on July 27, and less than two hours after she finished, she gave birth to her first child, a boy who weighed 6.6 pounds. This was Dawson’s first child, and she told the ABA Journal that it was not until Wednesday afternoon, while she was working through the bar exam’s multiple-choice section, that she realized something was going on. But, what, exactly, she was unsure of. Everyone told her the first labor takes a long time, and the only indication she had that things were moving quickly was that she didn’t think she could talk during contractions. “I just put my head in my hands and breathed,” says Dawson. “Hopefully everyone else thought I was having a really tough time concentrating. Speaking of lawyers having babies, Mark Barney and Ellen Murphy Barney welcomed 7 lbs. 6 oz. and 20 inches of Matilda Grace Barney July 19. And on Aug. 1, Beverley Grace Spillman, at 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 inches, joined big siblings Ella, Atticus, and Levi, Mom Lisa Spillman and dad Paul.”…

Judge David Long’s Retirement Party is Sept. 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m. atop the Tower Club. Seating is limited, so call Celene at 650.7599 to register or bar@vcba.org. All proceeds benefit the vcba/vlsp, inc. which is the only way Judge Long would agree to do this. That’s the kind of man he is… There are ten, count ‘em, ten CLE programs scheduled this month for your consideration. Check the September calendar flyer contained herein or visit www.vcba.org and click Education & Training. Easy!… A sentence in which tiny birds and the English language are both slaughtered in this year’s winner of the annual bad writing contest. San Jose State University professor Scott Rice says Sue Fondrie of Oshkosh, Wis., took top honors in the 2011 Bulwer-Lytten Fiction Contest for her sentence comparing forgotten memories  to dead sparrows. Here it is: “Cheryl’s mind turned like the vanes of a wind-powered turbine, chopping her sparrow-like thoughts into bloody pieces that fell onto a growing pile of forgotten memories.”…The Jerome H. Berenson Inn of Court, Ventura County Chapter #228, still has a couple openings if you are interested. The first meeting is September 8 and runs the second Thursday of each month through May ’12. Call me for an application and enroll for the last available spaces…

Over 100 lawyers, family and friends participated in the 5th Annual Barristers’ Bowling Night July 19 at Harley’s in Camarillo. The event raised nearly $900 for the Make A Wish Foundation and lots of awards presented including Most Strikes/Men, Matt Purcell; Most Strikes/Women, Michelle Deguzman; High Score Men, Robert Hester; High Score Women, Melissa Waters; High Scoring Couple, Katie Pietrolungo & Tim Clunen; Wild Turkey Award, MacKenzie Menia, and Team Champion, Anderson Kill Wood & Bender. Kudos to the Barristers’ board for organizing…The Criminal Defense Bar held their annual awards banquet June 17 atop the Crowne Plaza. The Richard E. Erwin Award in recognition “of his adversarial spirit, his skill as an advocate and his courage in defending the demand,” went to Ron Bamieh. The Joyce Yoshioka Award for “Outstanding contribution to the criminal justice systemand for her commitment to the cause of the tired, the weak, and the poor,” was received by DPD Mary Shea. Mary has been with the office for 18 years. The Young Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year was given to DPD Ayala Benefraim…

Paul Fritz passed away in Santa Barbara on July 10 after a very brief illness. Paul was a regular around bar activities; advertising in this magazine, a founding member of the JHB Inn of Court, and a regular attendee of our VCTLA dinner meetings. A complete obituary may be viewed at www.santabarbaranewspress.com July 15…Robert Jennings died June 29 in Oxnard. I had never met Robert nor was he a bar member. He was a lawyer since 2002 and graduated from the Ventura College of Law. He worked FT for Kevin DeNoce before Kevin became a judge. You may view his obituary at www.vcstar.com July 6 or his website at www.rpjdivorcelaw.com…

They really do come in threes–Harry Hibbs (SB#39671) passed July 17 in Ventura. He graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1967. That’s 44 years, people. Harry was with Lowthorp Richards for many years, but had been flying solo for over 20…The Ventura Superior Court’s local rules have been revised effective July 1. They can be spotted at www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/pdf_files/county_county_court_rules.pdf…

Quebec/Montreal? Lou Vigorita at lvigorita@vigorita.com… Rivera Maya, Mexico?  Matt LaVere at 642.6702…the case of a Philadelphia judge’s missing robe as been solved. The municipal judge who thought his robe had been stolen said that it was all a big misunderstanding. Earlier, Judge Joseph Waters, Jr. said his official garb had been taken from the unlocked robing room at the courthouse while he was in the men’s room. An email was sent out to judges and courthouse staff asking people to keep an eye out for it. Judge Waters now tells the PhiladelphiaDaily News that a court employee mistakenly picked up the garment, thinking it belonged to another judge. The staffer returned it…  Newly appointed California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye will be the special guest at the Santa Barbara County Bar Association’s Annual Dinner Nov. 28 at the Marriott Hotel in Buellton. SBCBA at 569.5511 for details…

Recommended Book of the Month: Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge’s View, by Justice Stephen Breyer.   Alfred A. Knopf, 270 pages, $26.95, hardcover…  Quote of the Month: “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me me.”   God (George Burns) is sworn in as a witness in Oh, God! (1977)…  Robert Hernandez started his new associate’s job at Anderson Kill Wood & Bender July 18. Robert hails from Moorpark and you may reach him 288.1300 or randerson@andersonkill.com…

I’ve heard about this over the years, but Jon Light is the first to confirm it. If you get a ticket and you qualify for traffic school, there’s an outfit in Century City that offers 6.5 hours of CLE credit for lawyers at the same time as you get credit for your traffic school attendance.  It may also be done online. All for $195 and the link is mcle4lawyers.com…  A Texas litigator has a new nickname after a recent hunting trip. Levi G. McCathern bagged a 14-foot, nearly 900-pound alligator with a single shot, one of the largest ever captured in the state.  So now folks are saying the G stands for Gator, McCathern says. “How far are you when you take that shot?  Probably about 100 to 120 yards away,” said McCathern. “It went right in the brain; it was a perfect shot, probably my luckiest shot.”…  Amber Rodriguez and her husband Augie, as well as big sister Alexis, welcomed a new addition to the family, a baby girl named Isla Mia on April 23.  Little Isla weighed 7 pounds…

Amy Dilbeck has left her Main Street, Ventura bungalow office for an ocean view in the Bard Hospital, where she has joined Strauss Law Group as an associate effective July 11.   She brings her estate planning and trust litigation practice and will assist SLG’s employment law and employment, business and real estate litigation.  She may be reached at ard@strausslawgroup.com…  The heirs of Anna Nicole Smith won’t be able to collect on a tort judgment against the son of her late billionaire husband because of a Supreme Court decision on the authority of bankruptcy judges.  Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion.  It began with a quote from Charles Dickens’ Bleak House detailing long running litigation in which the original parties have “died out of it.”  Dickens wrote of a “long procession” of judges and a suit that “drags its weary length before the court.”  “Those words were not written about this case”, Roberts wrote, “but they could have been.”…   Tennis anyone? Tina Cowdrey and Donna Daily are planning the 3rd Annual Doug Daily Memorial Champagne Breakfast and Tennis Tournament for Labor Day.  It will take place Monday, Sept. 5 at Spanish Hills CC beginning at 8:30 a.m.  Tina may be reached at 218.6263 or tjcowdrey@aol.com…

Hats off to Justice Arthur Gilbert, PJ Vince O’Neill and APJ Brian Back for hosting the New Admittee Swearing-In Ceremony held in CR#22 June 7. It was light, humorous, intimate and thoughtful. One State Bar official from the Bar Examiners voiced aloud it was the best ceremony he’d ever attended. There were 11 new admittees, 11 speakers and Joseph Dunn, new State Bar CEO, was one of them in addition to Joe Strohman, Christina Stokholm, Katie Pietrolungo, Wendy Lascher, and Jill Friedman representing our bar… In related news, law school graduates in the class of 2010 have set a new record, and it’s not a good one. Only 68.4 percent of the 2010 grads were able to land a job requiring bar passage, the lowest percentage since the legal career professional group NALP began collecting statistics… Marc Charney received the Ventura County Leadership Academy Founder’s Award May 19 at the annual Leadership luncheon. The award recognizes an individual who has played an important role in fostering and providing community leadership in various organizations over many years…

Who’s on the cover of California Lawyer Magazine? Barbara Macri-Ortiz and Jessica Arciniega are featured in an article about “Lawyers Without Law School.” The article may be found at www.callawyer.com, page 18…  Judge Julie Lynch notes an unfortunate juxtaposition at the new court house in Franklin County, Ohio. The courthouse i “If you wear dresses, you’re on notice that you might want to take the elevator, as I will be doing,” said Lynch. Court officials are aware of the issue, and they are discussing whether they will need to change the design. Really?…  The Barristers held a bar-wide logo contest with the winning entry receiving a free bar membership in perpetuity.  There were a dozen or so submissions but the Barristers’ board concluded the winner was Celene Valenzuela.  Many of you will recognize Celene because she has been an Administrative Assistant with the bar association and the vlsp, inc. since ’06. Her myriad activities include graphic designer and her logo can be seen on page 18 above the Barristers’ Corner.  BTW – she’s getting hitched Dec. 10…

Rebeca Mendoza hosted her daughter’s artwork, “New Beginnings,” a showing of paintings and celebration of Summer June 23.  If you missed it, Andrea Vargas’ efforts may be viewed at www.andreavargasstudio.com… An attorney is accused of keying and leaving notes on cars that were not parked properly at a downtown Seattle parking garage. Ronald Mattson, 63, is charged with malicious mischief after security officials at Columbia Center allegedly caught him keying a car during a sting operation.  Mattson admitted damaging the cars and leaving the notes.  On one of the notes, Mattson penned, “Take some parking lessons you idiot,” on a car with wheels over the line…  If you want to be a new member of the Jerome H. Berenson Inn of Court, during the 2011-2012 campaign, call me for an application at 650.7599.  Better yet, complete the application within this issue of CITATIONS and get it to me ASAP as teams are being formed…

John Negley is relocating his office to the Court of Appeal building effective July 1. The new address is 200 E. Santa Clara, Suite 200, Ventura, 93001. His firm is changing its name to Negley Law. John.negleylaw@gmail.com… Facebook has sued several affiliated internet companies for using the phrase “Face Book of Sex” to promote their adult networking service. The federal suit names as a defendant Various Inc. and three subsidiaries. Filed in the Northern District of California, the complaint says the defendants operate Facebookofsex.com and affiliated websites in a “blatant attempt” to capitalize on the Facebook name…  Rivera Maya Mexico? Matt LaVere at 642.6702 or goldenringlaw@aol.com… Guernsey Island, United Kingdom? Lawrence Noble at 658.6266 or lawrence@noble4law.com…

Steve Lee completed the Eugene Marathon on May 1.  It began at the U of O Duck campus and finished on the historic Hayward Field.  His time of 3:14 is commendable and good enough to qualify him for the Boston Marathon…  The Kentucky Bar Association Board of Governors is recommending that famous mass tort lawyer Stanley Chesley be disbarred for his role in a $200 million fen-phen settlement that ended with prison sentences for two other lawyers.  Chesley had charged $20 million to help settle the case for the plaintiffs’ lawyers, though his contract entitled him to receive about $13 million, according to a hearing officers report…  Looking for Jill Singer? Working for Gordon Edelstein et al. and opened up shop at 816 Camarillo Springs Road, Suite I. 888.764.7579 or jill@geklaw.com…

The Ventura County Asian American Bar Association honored Superior Court Commissioner Ferdinand “Dino” Inumerable at its 4th Annual Installation and Scholarship Awards Banquet held on May 13 at the Topa Tower Club. Commissioner Inumerable is Ventura County’s first Asian American judicial officer.He is also a founding member of VCAABA. Kudos to event organizer Kata Kim and association president, John Fukasawa… An unidentified law student who sued his parents for a $588-a-month stipend after they cut off his allowance has been ordered by a family court judge in Malaga, Spain, to move out and get a job. However, the parents, who work in a restaurant and as a garbage collector in Andalusia, in the southern part of the country, will continue to pay their son $292 per month for two years to cover the cost of his food. They are also making monthly payments on his car…Italy? Kate Neiswender at kmn-law@sbcglobal. net or 654-1557…

Brian Philpott has become a principal with Koppel Patrick Heybl & Philpott… The state attorney general is calling for a California attorney known as the “Tax Lady” to be jailed for contempt of court, contending that Roni Deutch shredded as many as 2.7 million documents and failed to pay clients refunds totaling $435,000 in violation of a court order in a civil suit. In a filing, AG Kamala Harris asked a Sacramento County Superior Court judge to jail Deutch and fine her for contempt. She also called Deutch, whose law firm reportedly grossed over $25 million last year, a “predator for profit” in a written statement…About a quarter of lawyer moms leave the workplace, compared to about 6 percent of women with medical degrees. University of Chicago economist Jane Leber Herr noted the difference when analyzing a a national survey of college graduates and a sample of Harvard alumnae, the WashingtonPost reports…Recognizing contributions to further water conservation, the United Water Conservation District recently honored Bill Hair with the 15th Annual Richard V. Laubacher Water Conservation Award for demonstrated innovation and leadership in water conservation. Bill has been involved inVentura County water issues throughout his 50-plus years of law practice…

Egypt and The Pyramids? Nabil Sakla at nsakla@aol.com or 701.8275…Supreme Court litigators don’t speak much more than the justices during oral arguments, according to a first-hand participant, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Justices are “pushing 50 percent” in the number of words spoken at oral argument, Alito told lawyers at a Law Day gathering in St. Louis on May 16. As a result, he said, oral arguments aren’t all that important, despite a popular belief to the contrary. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch coveredAlito’s speech, in which he covered the top 10 misconceptions about the Supreme Court…With a combined total of 80 years of public service, the Brodies are retiring from the Ventura County Superior Court. Celebrate with them on Friday evening, July 15 at the Ventura Beach Marriott with cocktails and dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. Questions and reservations may be made with Victoria.Borjesson@ventura.courts. ca.gov or 654.2965…Celebrity Eclipse London/Royal Wedding? Howard Evans hbevans@roadrunner.com or 988.1551…

Erik Feingold completed the Breathless Agony Century in allegedly decent time May 7th. The cycling race is billed as “Toughest Century in Southern California” since the course is 114 miles and includes 12,000 feet of climbing. He didn’t finish first, nor did he come in last…A law graduate at North Carolina Central University delivered a commencement speech May 13 that touted the virtues of living an average life over the quest for fame and fortune. But the speech by Preston Mitchum, 25, was below averagein one respect: He admits that he copied the speech, some of it word-for-word, from a YouTube video made by a student at Binghamton University in New York. Mitchum told the newspaper that he meant to credit Anthony Corvino, but he omitted it “out of nervousness and anxiousness and excitement.”…VC Superior Court is training Pro Tems June 2 with a 3 CLE course from 2-5 p.m. Brenda.McCormick@ventura.courts.ca.gov or 654.3620…

New admittee swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for June 7, beginning at 4:00 p.m. inside Courtroom #22…Long law articles wore lawyer Keith Jaasma out, so he tried haiku. Jaasma, an IP lawyer at Houston’s Patterson & Sheridan, started the website at supremecourthaiku.com in February 2010 with a plan to write a haiku for every U.S. Court opinion. Jaasma says he didn’t even tell his wife about the website because “I thought it was potentially such a dumb idea.” A self-taught poet who co-foundedthe UCLA Entertainment Law Review while a student there in the early 1990s, Jaasma gets his poetic inspiration from the abstract section of Supreme Court opinions. For instance, a recent post about Snyder v.Phelps reads: “Church so full of hate–Pickets soldiers’ funerals–Protected Discourse.” The site currently gets about 20 hits daily. And marketing, it seems, is an intended outcome. Or, as he writes: “Some ask: Why haiku?–Why seventeen syllables?–No time for real blog…”

Women Lawyers of Ventura County in conjunction with Santa Barbara County Women Lawyers are sponsoring a “Women and Wine Mixer” on the evening of June 21 at the Corktree Cellars in Carpinteria.More info? Jennifer Yates at j.yateslaw@gmail.com …

In case you are wondering, Joel Mark is the new managing partner at Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton… India? Nepal? Michele Castillo at michele.castillo@ventura.org  or 805.654.2201.  Austria, Slovakia, Czeck Republic, and Hungary? Dien Le at dien@calawcounsel. com or 818.889.2299. Toronto? Cheri Kurman at ckurman@normandowler.com or 654.0911…LA Times ran an article April 2 – www.latimes.com  – about a group of legal experts who examined five of the U.S. Supreme Court’s worst rulings. Numero Uno? Korematsu vs. United States, the 1944 high court ruling upholding the evacuationorder against Japanese American after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Others include Dred Scott v. Sandford and Buck v. Bell… If you are searching for Jon Light, Karen Gabler, Glenn Dickinson, Gannon Johnson, and Lou Cappadona, they can be found at 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 400 in Camarillo – 805.248.7208 too…

Judge Ed Brodie was selected as one of the recipients of the Oxnard Knights of Columbus Public Safety Award for 2011. The award was presented at the group’s Public Safety Night held April 11…Seeking to satisfy a tax debt of over $300,000 owed by a former New Hampshire lawyer who stole over $1 million from clients, the IRS is planning to sell James Hobbs’ home. Authorities say Hobbs, 52, apparently spent most or all of the money on personal expenses. He is serving a 10- to 20- year term in prison for forgery, perjury and theft. More than half of the $1 million reportedly came from the estate of a deceased attorney who expected the money to be used to care for his disabled daughter…Simi Valley lawyer Randy Sundeen was elected to the USA Field Hockey Board of Directors. The board oversees 250 clubs in the U.S. and the men’s and women’s national team programs. Randy’s son, Tyler, is a member of the men’s national team and is training for the Pan Am games in October…

Spotted at the March Madness Final Four games in Houston was Mark Hiepler with his two sons…A hearing officer had recommended only a six-month suspension for Arizona attorney Charna Johnson, who admittedly had claimed to serve as a medium channeling the thoughts of a client’s dead wife to him but denied sexual involvement with the man. But the disciplinary commission of the state supreme court said a one-year suspension was merited, based on additional misconduct, and Arizona’s top court agreed. Because Johnson lied in another disciplinary proceeding and said she had not claimed to channel the dead to a female client for whom she drafted a will that left the client’s assets to herself, the punishment was increased… Mayakoba? Yucatan? Greg Herring at gherring@fcoplaw.com or 659.6800. Turks and Caicos? Dan Palay at djp@palaylaw.com or 641.6600…

Debora Vierra has been appointed to the Executive Board of Directors of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) for the 2011-2013 term. Debora is also serving on the CELA Political Appointments Committee which makes recommendations to Gov. Brown regarding State Board and Commission appointments…I spotted in my daughter’s Pacific Coast Horse Riding Association Directory the Equine Law firm of Hey & Hey in Redwood City– www.blueribbonlaw.com …Contending that he was “grossly overbilled” for a negligent defense in an insider trading case, the jailed former CEO of Qwest Communications International Inc. has sued over his legal bill of more than $25 million. Joseph Nacchio, who is serving a 70-month prison term for illegally selling $52 million in Qwest stock in reliance on insider information, complains that his defense lawyers even billed him for their underwear…Do participate in the 28th Annual Law Day 5K scheduled for May 21 at the VC Government Center. Proceeds benefit the VCBA/VLSP, Inc. and official starter is VC Sheriff Geoff Dean. www.active.com to register…

After a ton of pulling, tugging and underhandedness, Judge David Long has agreed to a “function” honoring his retirement and service only if the proceeds benefit the bar’s pro bono program, VCBA/VLSP, Inc. Mark your calendars–September 16 at the Tower Club…Bail has been set at $200,000 for a 33-year-old Missoula man accused of using divorce papers to start a fire that burned down his estranged wife’s beauty salon. Prosecutors say Shawn Gawronski was sitting in his truck, gun in hand, near the burning salon when deputies arrived. He was arrested a short time later, and court records say he acknowledged spreading gasoline throughout the building and using his divorce papers to get the fire going… Movie Quote of the Month: “The odds of a plaintiffs lawyer winning in civil court are two to one against. Think about that for a second. Your odds of surviving a game of Russian roulette are better than winning a case at trial. Twelve times better. So why does anyone do it? They don’t. They settle.”–From Jan Schlichtmann (John Travolta) explaining his work as a personal injury lawyer in A Civil Action, 1998…Do plan on attending the VCTLA “Trial Lawyer of the Year” dinner May 24. Bill Grewe at 642.7101 or wgrewe@rkmlaw.net …