Benchmark Column - September 2009, Volume 1, Number 3

THE THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL

Benchmark

THE THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI NEWS PUBLICATION

C O LU M N SEPTEMBER 2009 • VOLUME 1 • NUMBER 3

Here We Grow Again

FIELDS OF JUSTICE

We are pleased to announce that Cooley Law School opened a new campus in Ann Arbor, Mich. with its inaugural class starting September 2009.

Cooley graduate harvests fruits of degree by advocating on behalf of Michigan’s migrant families.

Recently appointed as the Director of Migrant Affairs for the Michigan Department of Human Services, Marcelina Trevino-Savala relies on her Cooley education to advocate for these often underserved men, women and children.

Cooley Opens New Addition Cooley Law School announced the opening of a 65,000-square-foot addition, doubling the size of its Auburn Hills facilities at 2630 Featherstone Road, Auburn Hills, Mich.

INSIDE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES COOLEY PROFESSORS ON THE FRONTLINES OF NATIONAL NEWS HERE WE GROW AGAIN FULL CIRCLE | EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOWSHIP FIELDS OF JUSTICE MAKING HISTORY HEADLINES 10TH ANNUAL COOLEY 5K RACE FOR EDUCATION

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FEATURE ARTICLE

WELCOME TO THE BENCHMARK COLUMN You may already know that Cooley’s bar passage rates not only have improved, they have been impressive. Guided by the school's Strategic Plan and the Academic Performance and Bar Results Improvement Plan, and thanks to the continued efforts of Cooley's faculty and staff, the improved admissions profile, and better student commitment to bar preparation, the last six Michigan examinations have achieved first-time results of 80% or better, while out-of-state results have improved significantly as well.

Dear Thomas M. Cooley Law School Graduate: This edition of Benchmark Column brings you lots of good news about Cooley. February 2009, 88% of Cooley’s first-time takers passed the Michigan bar exam. And 100% of Cooley’s graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or better passed the bar. When repeaters are considered, Cooley passed at 79%, second only to the University of Michigan Law School. In February, 212 Cooley graduates took the bar, 159 of whom were first-time takers.

On the job front, the employment rate for Cooley’s graduating seniors has remained steady, although it is our goal to improve. The rate has hovered around 80% over the past few years, and even in relatively tough economic times we trust that rate will hold. Demonstrating the school's increased commitment to job placement, President Don LeDuc recently appointed Charles Toy to the newly created office of Associate Dean for Career and Professional Development. Dean Toy, who in September will also become the first Cooley graduate to serve as President of the State Bar of Michigan, brings to Cooley a wealth of experience and contacts that should benefit students and alumni alike.

Cooley and its graduates are doing well, and you can be proud of Cooley’s collective accomplishments as well as your individual achievements. In fact, no other school can

do what we can do, a conclusion reached by the ABA’s Accreditation Committee in reviewing our new Ann Arbor branch campus application. No school has done more for its local communities than has Cooley, a testament to the quality of Cooley’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni. And no group works harder to help law students learn the law and the role of lawyers as community leaders than the faculty and staff of Cooley.

It’s important that you think of Cooley Law School when you are hiring. You know from experience that Cooley’s graduates make excellent attorneys and hard-working employees, so hiring a Cooley graduate is a win-win for you both. Thus, if you know of jobs, other work, or externship opportunities for our students and graduates, please feel free to contact Associate Dean Charles Toy at toyc@cooley.edu. We are here to assist our graduates and alumni get jobs, and we look to you, our Cooley alumni, to help Cooley graduates in any way you can.

Sincerely,

James D. Robb Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations robbj@cooley.edu

E X PA N D I N G O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A 65,000-square-foot addition recently doubled the size of Cooley’s educational facilities in Auburn Hills, part of Cooley’s $36 million overall investment in its Auburn Hills campus. The addition features a courtroomclassroom complex, two computer labs, complete wireless Internet access and four classrooms with high-definition, videoconferencing technology that connects all four Cooley campuses. The Auburn Hills campus, which first opened in September 2002 with just 28 students and one classroom, now has an enrollment of nearly 700 students.

Cooley is pursuing LEED certification for the Auburn Hills campus.

A green sedum roof area provides enhanced insulation, reduces heating and cooling costs, minimizes storm-water runoff, and filters contaminates from rain water. This is just one of the building’s many green features.

COOLEY COMPLETES $36 MILLION RENOVATION, EXPANSION OF ITS AUBURN HILLS CAMPUS AND DOUBLES ITS SIZE

Cooley students, faculty, and staff celebrated the growth of the Auburn Hills campus. On hand for the May 2009 dedication were (holding the ribbon from left to right) Mike Maier, president of Rockford Development Group; Anthony Vitucci, Jr., Auburn Hills Student Bar Association president; Lawrence Nolan, vice chairman of Cooley’s Board of Directors; and James McDonald, mayor of Auburn Hills.

The mock trial and appellate courtroom complex offers a unique, on-site learning experience in which students can prepare for their futures by honing valuable courtroom skills and leveraging the array of interactive applications used in courtroom procedures.

The courtroom-classroom complex also serves as a venue for community events, seminars, and forums. Pictured (at podium): E. Christopher Johnson, director of Cooley’s corporate law and finance LL.M. program, speaks at a symposium on diversity.

ALUMNI DATABASE The user name will always remain the word alumni. The password changes each term and will be disclosed in the Benchmark Column on the inside front cover. Please call the Alumni Relations Office at (800) 243-ALUM (in the Lansing area, call 517-371-5140, ext. 2038), or e-mail alumni@cooley.edu if you have any problems.

BENCHMARK COLUMN | SEPTEMBER 2009 | VOLUME 1 | NUMBER 3

FEATURE ARTICLE

C O O L E Y

P R O F E S S O R S

O N

T H E

FRONTLINE

O F

N AT I O N A L

N E W S

“Offering Cooley’s expertise to the media is a win-win situation. They receive the in-depth information and legal perspective they need to present a well-rounded news story, and the law school’s given the opportunity to increase people’s awareness and appreciation of Cooley Law School.”

Helen Mickens, Professor and Associate Dean of Community Relations

“Cooley professors have extensive experience in their areas of practice,” said Helen Mickens, professor and associate dean of community relations for Cooley. “Professors can masterfully explain complicated topics, ensuring that people are accurately informed about what’s happening, and how it may affect their lives.”

Despite the tremendous changes in today’s newsroom, one thing remains the same – the need for expert sources to add credibility to a story, demystify a complex issue, or predict the impact and consequences of an event.

Cooley Law School’s staff of Helen Mickens top-notch faculty is often tapped for these roles.

unraveled the complications of the government’s role in these unprecedented bankruptcies.

“Cooley professors have extensive experience in their areas of practice,” said Helen Mickens, professor and associate dean of community relations for Cooley.

“They can masterfully explain complicated topics, ensuring that people are accurately informed about what’s happening, and how it may affect their lives.”

EXPERT TO EXPERT

REVEALING THE LAYERS OF IMPACT Case in point: when Chrysler and General Motors announced they would file for bankruptcy, people around the world wondered what the implications would be. But the cases require specialized legal expertise to be fully understood. From the automakers’ historic filings to their current status, media have tapped Cooley Assistant Professor Derek Witte who has explained the details of the filings and their effect on various tiers of auto suppliers. He has also

The news is overflowing with complex legal issues; media have also featured Assistant Dean of the Grand Rapids’ campus, Tracey Brame, in their quest for accurate and comprehensive news coverage. Brame has a multitude of diverse legal experiences and can speak on issues like death-row appeals and representing low-income families and sexual assault victims.

Not only does the expertise of Cooley professors help to clarify local issues for the general public, Cooley professors are also called on to provide analysis and perspectives for legal and business publications.

Associate Professors Derek Witte and Curt Benson helped readers of the Grand Rapids Business Journal understand the intricacies of Michigan’s new e-discovery law and the potential overwhelming cost of e-discovery. Benson explained that a judge may be asked to rule that certain electronically stored information is “inaccessible” if it costs a large amount of money to retrieve it.

Niche trade publications also look to Cooley faculty for insight. Professor Ronald Bretz has shed light on the juvenile justice bills that ban sentencing minors without parole for Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly readers and Associate Dean of Career and Professional Development Charles Toy has spoken with the ABA Journal and Michigan Lawyers Weekly about how the economy affects the recruiting of law school graduates.

LAW OF PROBABILITIES Celebrities and other public figures supply the news with a constant stream of issues that have complex legal ramifications, and Cooley professors help to unravel these cases that play out in the public eye.

The death of pop music icon Michael Jackson introduced many legal matters about the future of his estate and the custody of his children. Dustin Foster, a visiting Cooley professor, was a guest on WILS-AM radio in Lansing and helped to demystify what would likely happen to Jackson’s estate and what would become of the millions of dollars Jackson’s work will continue to generate even after his death.

TV and radio stations in Detroit also sought expert commentary on the potential legal consequences for former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, who allegedly accepted bribes to approve a multimillion-dollar contract with a company to recycle Detroit’s sewer sludge. Cooley Associate Professor and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Alan Gershel, helped clarify the complicated procedural issues of the case.

The expertise of Cooley faculty members continues to benefit the news media and enlighten its readers, viewers, and listeners.

“Offering Cooley’s expertise to the media is a win-win situation,” Mickens said. “They receive the in-depth information and legal perspective they need to present a well-rounded news story, and the law school’s given the opportunity to increase people’s awareness and appreciation of Cooley Law School.”

SCHOOL NEWS

Faculty Briefs Tammy Asher, Assistant Professor Attended, the 15th annual Youth Law Conference in Troy, Mich., in April 2009.

HERE WE

Attended, the 30th annual Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, held in Ames, Iowa, in May 2009. The team she coached advanced all the way to the world finals.

Attended, WLAM’s, “Breaking the Glass Ceiling,” held in Auburn Hills, Mich., in July 2009.

Tracey Brame, Assistant Dean and Professor Elected, to the Grand Rapids Bar Board of Trustees.

Appointed, to the Board of Michigan Campaign for Justice.

Ron Bretz, Professor Co-winner, of the Beattie Award for excellence in teaching by members of the Coleman Class on Jan. 17, 2009.

Winner, with his band 3rd Degree, of the annual Capitol Area Blues Society Blues Brawl, on Jan. 19, 2009.

Bradley Charles, Assistant Professor Named, to the Black’s Law Dictionary Panel of Contributors for editing part of the 9th edition of Black’s Law Dictionary.

Julie Clement, Associate Professor Edited, issues 61 and 62 of Clarity, the journal for the international organization promoting plain legal language. Professor Clement has been Editor in Chief of Clarity since 2005.

Promoted, from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor.

Attended, the Rocky Mountain Legal Writing Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., in March 2009.

Mark Cooney, Associate Professor Published, “The Extra-Stuff Rule,” in Vol. 88, No. 5 Michigan Bar Journal 48 (May 2009).

Attended, the State Bar Appellate Practice Section’s Federal Appellate Insider Tips seminar, on June 4, 2009, in Plymouth, Mich.

Cooley Law School opens a campus in Ann Arbor

Gerald A. Fisher, Professor Appointed, Commissioner of the Oakland County (Michigan) Parks and Recreation Commission, which is the policy-making body for the Oakland County Parks and Recreation system. In addition to setting policy, the commission reviews and approves the program’s $25 million budget, approves contracts, and promotes the overall parks and recreation system.

Completed, his term as President of the Oakland County Bar Foundation, and continues as Immediate Past-President.

A growth strategy designed to make legal education available to talented individuals wherever they live (or want to live) continues this fall as Cooley Law School opens its fourth campus, this one in one of the nation’s top academic cities – Ann Arbor, Michigan. The campus joins Cooley’s other centers of learning across Michigan in Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids, and Lansing.

“Ann Arbor is one of the most vibrant cities in the Midwest,” said Joan Vestrand, associate dean and head of the new Ann Arbor campus.

“Students from all across the globe know of Ann Arbor’s reputation as a knowledge Mecca. We look forward to students building their legal understanding within the walls of our new campus.”

THE FIRST CLASS

Presented, workshops for the city of Royal Oak Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission in June and July, 2009.

More than 80 first-year students comprise the incoming class at the Ann Arbor campus. Many students come from outside of Michigan.

Attended, the Board of Directors’ meeting for the Land Information Access Association, a public interest nonprofit entity which, among other things, promotes cooperation among communities throughout Michigan.

“Students who had already decided to attend Cooley Law School prior to the Ann Arbor campus announcement make up a majority of the first class,” Vestrand said. “Upon hearing the news about this new location, the more than 80 spots filled almost immediately from our existing applicant pool.”

Attended, the annual Summer Seminar jointly sponsored by the State Bar Public Corporation Law Section and the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys.

Heather Garretson, Associate Professor Co-authored, with Dean Nelson Miller, “Preserving Law School’s Signature Pedagogy and Great Subjects,” in Vol. 88, No. 5 Michigan Bar Journal 46 (2009).

(Continued on following page)

BENCHMARK COLUMN | SEPTEMBER 2009 | VOLUME 1 | NUMBER 3

In the future, Cooley leaders expect many of its Ann Arbor students to come from nearby undergraduate institutions.

“More than 1,000 students earning undergraduate degrees in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti apply to law school each year,” Cooley President and Dean Don LeDuc said. “We believe that in the future, many of those graduates will jump at the opportunity to attend Cooley Law School in Ann Arbor.”

THE LOCATION Continuing Cooley’s preference to revitalize existing structures rather than build new ones, Cooley’s 84,500-square-foot Ann Arbor location has taken up residence in a building formerly occupied by the Ave Maria School of Law, an institution that recently relocated to Naples, Fla. “Anytime that we can bring quality structures back to life, we will,” said LeDuc. “It is unique that we are able to move into a building that was designed as a law school. This is the first time in our history that we are able to do so. Our other expansions were into an old warehouse, a UAW (United Auto Workers) training center, an office building, and even an old JCPenney department store. Regardless, a desire to renew and rejuvenate existing buildings guides us as we satisfy our campus needs.”

Cooley received acquiescence to open a campus in Ann Arbor from the American Bar Association’s Council on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar at a meeting on June 5, 2009. That ruling followed an earlier approval by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

HOMECOMING OF SORTS Although the Thomas M. Cooley Law School has never had a physical presence in Ann Arbor, its namesake has a great history in Michigan’s seventh largest city.

Nearly 140 years ago, Thomas M. Cooley was named the University of Michigan Law School’s second dean. In all, Cooley taught law there for 25 years.

“Cooley Law School opened in Lansing a little more than 100 years after Thomas M. Cooley became dean of the University of Michigan Law School,” said LeDuc. “The opening of the campus in Ann Arbor will go down as one of the most exciting events in our school’s history.”

SCHOOL NEWS

AGAIN A recent period of growth for Cooley in Michigan.

2002Cooley begins offering classes in Rochester on the campus of Oakland University.

2003Cooley begins offering classes in downtown Grand Rapids at Western Michigan University’s Graduate Center.

2004Cooley moves its Grand Rapids program to a five-story, 109,000-square-foot campus in downtown Grand Rapids.

2008Cooley moves its Rochester program to Auburn Hills, opening a 65,300-square-foot campus on 67 acres.

2009Cooley opens an expansion of its Auburn Hills campus, which now encompasses 130,000 square feet.

2009Cooley begins offering classes in Ann Arbor in an 84,500square-foot building.

Q&A

T I M E L I N E

Questions & Answers with Associate Dean Joan Vestrand

Joan Vestrand will lead Cooley’s efforts at the Ann Arbor campus as its associate dean. Previously, Vestrand served as assistant dean and professor of the school’s Auburn Hills campus.

Benchmark Column recently sat down with Vestrand to discuss her thoughts about her new role, her passion for the law, and the things that make her tick.

Q: What fuels your passion for legal education?

A: That's easy: my love for the legal profession. Lawyers are the most caring and giving people I know, not to mention the significant roles lawyers have played in shaping American history and safeguarding individual rights and liberties. It is a privilege to have a hand in shaping our next generation of great citizens.

Q: Cooley President Don LeDuc calls a Juris Doctor degree the ultimate liberal arts degree. What do you think a law degree offers?

A: The possibilities are endless. The education is priceless. A legal education, no matter how you put it to work for you, forever changes the way you think and changes your understanding of the world. You see issues differently and you come to understand that there is more than one reasonable view - that there is merit and value in open-mindedness, tolerance, and compromise.

Q: Cooley is unique in many ways, from its weekend program to its year-round scheduling options. In your mind, what is Cooley’s most unique characteristic?

A: Cooley's commitment to ethics, character, professionalism, and service. The law school has a deep and serious determination to develop in every graduate the characteristics of a true citizen lawyer and fine human being. This can only happen in a sincerely caring environment – and that’s Cooley.

Q: You’ve been honored several times for your work in the community. What motivates you to reach out to the communities where you work and live?

Q: On a lighter note, many lawyers secretly have a favorite lawyer joke. Others detest them. Which camp are you in? And if you like them, what is your favorite?

A: Reaching out to those less fortunate, especially disadvantaged young people, to provide encouragement and help them see the realm of possibilities, well, I can't think of anything more gratifying.

It's worth every minute just for that one dreamy look from a young person in the moment they begin to believe that maybe it's true maybe, with hard work and determination, they can achieve and become whatever their hearts most secretly desire.

A: Well, while I wish our profession was not the butt of humor, on the other hand, it's important not to take yourself too seriously and to be able to laugh at yourself. My favorite joke is probably the one that asks how many lawyers it takes to change a lightbulb. I like that joke because it reminds me fondly of what my former law partners and I used to say: that the three of us together made one pretty good lawyer.

And, that was true.

KNOWLEDGE. SKILLS. ETHICS.

FEATURE ARTICLE Elliot B. Glicksman, Professor Conducted, on March 21, 2009, a three-hour seminar for criminal defense lawyers at the Michigan State Bar building in Lansing. The talk covered MCL 768.27(a), (b) and (c) and how this particular statute significantly altered, in part, (1) the use of prior bad acts in domestic violence cases, contrary to the Michigan Rules of Evidence, (2) the legislative attempt to codify hearsay rules without textual reference to Sixth Amendment Constitutional Confrontation Clause parameters. Many of the participants at this seminar were Cooley alumni, who shared their views about these comprehensive and controversial evidence matters.

FullCircle

Christopher G. Hastings, Associate Professor Re-appointed, Chairperson of the State Bar of Michigan Standing Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law. Elected, to the permanent board of the new Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Council, after having served on the transition board for the council. He was also appointed to the Executive Committee, and as chair of the new council's Property Committee.

Revising, at the request of U.S. District Magistrate Joseph G. Scoville, along with Cooley student Daisy Benevidez, the Local Civil and Criminal Rules for the Western District of Michigan to comport with the upcoming changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Joseph Kimble, Professor Completed, redrafting the Federal Rules of Evidence. The rules were published for public comment in August. They are available online at www.uscourts.gov. Professor Kimble also led the work of redrafting the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which took effect in December 2007.

Published, the first in a series of articles in the Michigan Bar Journal on drafting examples from the evidence rules.

Agreed, to speak at the Seventh Biennial Conference of the Plain Language Association International, in Sydney, Australia. He also agreed to speak at law firms in Sydney about drafting in general and redrafting the federal rules in particular.

Reelected, to the Board of Directors of the Center for Plain Language, headquartered in Washington, D.C. He was a founding director of the Center.

Dorean Koenig, Professor Awarded, in June 2009, a “President’s Award” from Kathy Esselman, Chairperson of the League of Women Voters of Lansing, for developing and organizing a nonpartisan voting registration drive entitled, “Your Child’s Future, Your Child's Health,” delivered in a series of programs in Lansing during the summer of 2008.

The project was supported by the league, Cooley Law School, and the Red Cedar Friends Meeting, as well as a grant from the Lansing Community Trust Fund.

Invited, in 2009, to answer questions at a Naples, Fla., Unitarian Church on the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Invited, to give a separate forum on the ICC at the Naples Unitarian Church in 2010.

Spoke, in March 2009, to a Great Decisions Group of the World Affairs Council of Naples explaining basics of the ICC. Re-appointed, as a Board Member and Secretary to the International Association of Penal Law, American Section.

Don LeDuc, President and Dean Published, by West, the 16th cumulative supplement to his text, Michigan Administrative Law. The text was originally published in 1993 and a revised edition was published in 2001.

Jeffrey L. Martlew, Associate Professor Assigned, by The State Court Administrative Office, to sit as a Visiting Judge in the 7th Circuit Court for Genesee County, Mich.

Appointed, Chair of the Charter Review Committee for the City of DeWitt, Mich.

Served, as the keynote speaker at the Memorial Day Ceremony held in St. Johns, Mich.

Eleven years ago, her sister gave her a book called The Alchemist, a fable about a young, Spanish shepherd on a journey to fulfill his personal dreams. Inside the front cover, her sister wrote, “This book made me believe I could do anything.”

Today, a 27-year-old Cooley Law School graduate from the January 2009 Coleman Class, Christina Nguyen is living her dream as she uses her newly minted law degree to improve the lives of countless Asian American immigrants. This month, she begins a two-year Equal Justice Works fellowship with the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) in Washington, D.C. Equal Justice Works Fellowships address the shortage of attorneys working with traditionally underserved populations. The program allows attorneys to work on public interest projects by offering salary, loan payment assistance, a national training and leadership development program, and other financial and technical support during the term of the fellowship.

Nguyen's fellowship is sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson LLP and is one of 48 fellowships granted across the nation out of more than 300 applications.

VIETNAM TRIP FUELS INSPIRATIONS

Nguyen has personally experienced the struggles of immigrants trying to make new lives for themselves; her parents fled from Vietnam to Canada with her two older sisters before she was born, and rebuilt a life for their family from the ground up. Four years ago, she visited Vietnam with her parents and volunteered at orphanages.

“It was a true awakening when I learned that it’s not uncommon for many of these children to be sold into human trafficking or abandoned at a young age because their parents cannot afford to care for them,” she said. “My parents have never let me forget where we came from, and seeing children who could be given opportunities, but aren’t, really made an impact on me.”

FEATURE ARTICLE

Cooley graduate gives immigrants the opportunity for a new life through her Equal Justice Works Fellowship

27-year-old Cooley Law School graduate, Christina Nguyen, is living her dream as she uses her newly-minted law degree to improve the lives of countless Asian American immigrants.

This month, she begins a two-year Equal Justice Works fellowship with the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) in Washington, D.C.

The experience inspired her to create opportunities for children and families like the ones she met in Vietnam. Shortly after her visit, she moved from Canada to Lansing, Mich. to attend Cooley and, after her first year, decided to focus on immigration law.

Nguyen vividly remembers the emotional toll suffered by a woman who had been a victim of human trafficking. She also recalls the frustration and demoralization the woman felt with the drawn-out visa application process.

Nguyen also works with community organizations to develop outreach and education programs that promote the overall well-being and safety of the Asian American community in Washington, D.C., which has an ever-increasing Asian immigrant population.

“I felt that becoming a lawyer would be one way for me to help other immigrant families give their children the opportunities that I had,” she said.

“My Cooley education gave me many practical skills that are essential to my work at the APALRC.”

“When I helped her receive visa approval that would allow her to work in the United States, I could see that the work I was doing was making a difference in her life,” Nguyen said.

A DREAM CONTINUES

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Nguyen served as an intern with the APALRC in the summer of 2008. During that time, she assisted immigrants in managing the U.S. visa system and guided them through complex legal processes, which immigrants often find even more wearisome due to language barriers. Many of the immigrants she worked with fled horrific circumstances in their native countries to the United States in hope of a better life, which was often hindered by the complicated legal processes required.

Giving immigrants and their families the opportunity for a new life in the United States is the most rewarding part of the fellowship, according to Nguyen.

During her internship, Nguyen found that there are very limited resources for young Asian immigrants in the Washington, D.C. area. Throughout her twoyear fellowship, Nguyen will lead the implementation of the Asian Immigrant Youth Assistance Project, which provides legal immigration services in conjunction with the APALRC. The project focuses on assisting young immigrants who have been abused, abandoned, or have been victims of crimes like human trafficking.

After her fellowship is complete, Nguyen hopes to continue and expand the Asian Immigrant Youth Assistance Project and apply for additional grants. Whatever happens, she knows she wants to continue working in the public interest sector and immigration law.

And she knows that whenever she becomes overwhelmed or discouraged, she needs to look no further than her copy of The Alchemist.

“The story makes you believe that even though you feel small at the time, if you believe in yourself, you really can do anything,” she said, echoing the sentiments inside the book’s front cover exactly.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Donna McKneelen, Assistant Professor Appointed, to serve on the Michigan State Bar Public Defense Workgroup committee.

Argued, and won, in June 2009, a petition for DNA testing in People v. Seck in Kalamazoo County, Mich.

Attended, in June 2009, the Innocence Network Conference in New Orleans, La. Nelson Miller, Associate Dean and Professor Appointed, to the State Bar of Michigan's Publications and Website Advisory Committee.

Published, “Now What? Steadying Tort Law’s Pendulum,” in Vol. 88, No. 5 Michigan Bar Journal 38 (2009).

Co-authored, “Preserving Law School’s Signature Pedagogy and Great Subjects,” in Vol. 88, No. 5 Michigan Bar Journal 46 (2009).

Co-authored, “Equality as Talisman: Getting Beyond Bias to Cultural Competence as a Professional Skill,” in 25 Cooley Law Review, 100 (2008).

Published, “The Lost of Michigan — Released Prisoners Needing State Identification,” in Vol. 87, No. 11 Michigan Bar Journal 36 (2008).

Michael Molitor, Associate Professor Published, “Eat Your Vegetables (Or At Least Understand Why You Should): Can Better Warning and Education of Prospective Minority Owners Reduce Oppression in Closely Held Businesses? in 15 Fordham J. Corp. & Fin. Law 491 (2009).

Martha Moore, Associate Professor Appointed, by the Michigan Supreme Court, to serve as Vice-Chairman of the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission.

The Attorney Grievance Commission is the investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Michigan Supreme Court for allegations of attorney misconduct. The AGC is comprised of nine commissioners and the Grievance Administrator and his staff. Of the nine commissioners, six are lawyers and three are lay members appointed for set terms by the Michigan Supreme Court.

Monica Navarro, Visiting Professor Appointed, Co-Chair of the Health Law Section Publications Committee for the Michigan Bar. Re-appointed, Editorial Board Member, The Health Lawyer, American Bar Association.

Named, a 2009 Michigan Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine.

Ranked, in the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Michigan by Law & Politics magazine.

John Nussbaumer, Associate Dean and Professor Named, chair of the Oakland County Bar Association Diversity Committee for the 2009-2010 bar association year.

Re-appointed, as a member of the ABA Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Legal Profession by ABA President-Elect Carolyn Lamm.

Helped organize, Service-to-Soldiers at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, providing more than 80 free wills and powers of attorney to Air Force personnel deploying to the Middle East.

Served, as co-chair of the Federal Bar Association Pro Bono Committee for the May 1, 2009 Law Day program that recruited approximately 30 volunteer lawyers to meet with more than 60 in pro per litigants, providing each of them with 30-minute consultations about their pending cases in federal court.

Charles Palmer, Professor Spoke, on May 29, 2009, to the Michigan Museums Association at the University of Michigan Museum of Art on the subject of copyright for the museum professional.

FIELDSOF JUSTICE COOLEY GRADUATE HARVESTS FRUITS OF DEGREE BY ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF MICHIGAN’S MIGRANT FAMILIES

Marcelina-Trevino Savala with her mother, daughter, and co-worker out on a recent field visit.

Every few weeks, Cooley graduate Marcelina Trevino-Savala leaves behind the hustle and bustle of her high-rise office in downtown Lansing and heads to one of Michigan’s lush, green farms.

Her visits are not the makings of lazy summer days. Instead, 32-year-old Savala randomly appears in the middle of farmers’ vast crops, where she is empowered to assess the housing, healthcare, and overall labor conditions of an estimated 90,000 individuals who comprise the state’s seasonal migrant community.

Recently appointed as the Director of Migrant Affairs for the Michigan Department of Human Services, Savala relies on her Cooley education to advocate for these often underserved men, women, and children. Many have a home base in Texas or Florida, and then travel to Michigan beginning in late March, living in small clusters or camps through the late fall on the very acreage where they work.

ADVOCACY FOR MIGRANT FAMILIES

For many migrant families, a seasonal home means cramped quarters and long, hard days in sizzling temperatures, harvesting everything from asparagus to apples. Savala ensures that families receive fair wages, quality housing, access to health care, and more. Part of that process requires that Savala helps to break down fears and barriers that are deeply embedded in the migrant culture.

“It’s all about trying to make a positive impact on the migrant community,” she said. “I want them to see someone who sincerely cares, and is not just doing the job to do it.”

Back at her office, Savala, who is mother of a year-old daughter, Mireya, is known as a community collaborator. She sits on a number of committees, all of which work to improve the migrant experience. This includes helping the general public overcome myths about migrants through education and outreach.

“A migrant (worker) does not equal an undocumented worker,” she said. “There’s a lot of stigmatizing out there.”

BIG SHOES

She stepped into her role at a difficult time amid the eye of the state’s worst economy and tons of department cutbacks.

The challenge does not deter Savala; rather, it fuels her desire to make a difference.

“If we didn’t have them [migrants], crops would rot; my job is to ensure they are treated fairly,” she said.

For Savala, the position is more than a job. It’s about advocating to improve a lifestyle she knows well.

CONNECTION IS PERSONAL

Savala’s mother, Gloria, was raised in a migrant family. The mostly positive experience made for lots of family stories with Savala and her two brothers, Juan and Marco, as well as regular discussions with her parents about the importance of an education.

“My parents sacrificed so that we could have the very best education,” Savala said. Their encouragement paid off; while Savala is an attorney, brother Juan is a social worker, and brother Marco is an assistant golf professional.

The price her parents paid so that Savala and her brothers could better themselves is not forgotten.

Savala recently took her mother, daughter, aunt, and a co-worker with her to a migrant camp in Traverse City. It was a moving experience.

“She’s (my mom) really proud of my work,” said Savala. “They (my parents) set the bar high for us. It would have been a shame if I hadn’t taken the opportunity.”

LAW DEGREE “INVALUABLE”

Savala’s legal education has helped her to interpret laws for the betterment of migrants, whom she refers to as her clients. “Although I am not representing them in court, I am still advocating on their behalf, she explained.” A framed print of Hispanic labor organizer Cesar Chavez sits in her office. “He was the first to give a compassionate voice to the farm.”

Just don’t let Savala‘s quiet and friendly demeanor fool you. Her days are filled with conference calls with the Civil Rights Commission, meetings with the housing subcommittee, and hearings on farm-employer violations. “I’m at the table as much as possible. If I need to advocate louder, I will.”

Oftentimes, Savala arrives at the camps toting gifts, everything from hand sanitizer to booster car seats for migrants who are unfamiliar with Michigan’s new child car seat laws. She has also been known to hand out dolls and soccer balls to the children of migrant workers.

“They are so appreciative for even the smallest things,” she said.

But it is Savala who reaps the true fruits of the harvest.

(Continued on following page)

“I take from the experience more than they get from me.”

FEATURE ARTICLE

“IT’S ALL ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE MIGRANT COMMUNITY.”

FEATURE ARTICLE

making making

Marjorie Russell, Professor Taught, five half-day training sessions for the teaching staff of the Michigan Criminal Defense Trial College, on training small groups in trial skills.

HISTORY headlines

Conducted, 15 focus group/case development sessions for indigent defense lawyers, with Cooley students as the consulting working groups, at the Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Auburn Hills campuses. These sessions are designed to aid the indigent defense community, and to expose law students to the challenges and complexities of case investigation and preparation.

Taught, at the Briarcliff, N.Y., regional seminar of the Trial Lawyers College, April 16-19, 2009.

The subject was Voir Dire.

Attended, a week-long staff training retreat at the Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming. The staff group worked on developing new and innovative techniques for teaching trial lawyer's skills.

Devin Schindler, Associate Professor Published, an article, “Never Events, Defensive Medicine and the Continued Federalization of Malpractice” in Quinnipiac Universities’ 12 Health Law Journal 209 (2009).

Otto Stockmeyer, Emeritus Professor Presented, “Road Trip! A Look at the Places and Personalities Made Famous by Sherwood v.Walker,” at the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society’s annual luncheon April 30, 2009, in Detroit.

Published, “Road Trip! A Look at the Places and Personalities Made Famous by Sherwood v. Walker,” in Society Update (Summer 2009), published by the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society.

Duane Strojny, Associate Dean and Professor Published, an article, “What’s Your Bacon Number? The Art of the Individualized PR,” in the American Association of Law Libraries’ AALL Spectrum in June 2009.

John Nussbaumer, associate dean of Cooley’s Auburn Hills campus (left) Michigan Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly (center) Major Miles Gengler’s wife, Heather, and their two daughters, Hayden and Carson (right)

Cooley Graduate, Soldier in Iraq Becomes Attorney Via Unprecedented Videoconference Ceremony A recent Cooley Law School graduate serving in Iraq recently made legal history, becoming the first individual known to take the lawyer’s oath via a live videoconference ceremony that spanned 6,200 miles between the new attorney and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly.

The videoconference, arranged by Cooley, the Supreme Court, and the Michigan National Guard made it possible for 35-year-old Major Miles Gengler of Grand Blanc, Mich. to take the lawyer’s oath.

Major Gengler’s wife, Heather, and their two daughters, Hayden and Carson, along with Gengler’s parents, were able to witness the historic event and spend some private time visiting with Miles after the ceremony.

The extraordinary ceremony received worldwide coverage with more than 800 media outlets carrying the story.

Gengler, a September 2008 Cooley graduate, nearly missed being able to take the bar examination in February 2009. Originally slated to be deployed about 10 days before the exam, he was able to postpone his departure.

John Nussbaumer, associate dean of Cooley’s Auburn Hills campus, began work on the longdistance ceremony shortly after learning that Gengler had passed the exam.

“I promised Miles that if he passed the bar exam, I would find a way to get him sworn in, even though he would be in Iraq,” said Nussbaumer. “Miles is putting his life on the line for our country; arranging this special ceremony is the least we can do to show our appreciation for his service.”

Chief Justice Kelly noted that the lawyer’s oath includes a promise to uphold the constitutions of the United States and the state of Michigan. “In fact, Major Gengler is already living that promise through his military service,” she said. “As an attorney, he will serve the Constitution in a different but no less important way: all attorneys are called to uphold the Constitution’s promise of ordered liberty and a nation governed by laws. I felt privileged to take part in his admission to the bar.”

Attended, a conference, SEED 2009, “Beyond Teaching and Technology: Growth and Change at Faculty Support Centers, at the University of Findlay, in Findlay, Ohio, May 7-8, 2009.

Attended, the American Library Association Conference, July 10-14, 2009, in Chicago.

Attended, the 102nd AALL annual meeting and conference, themed INNOVATE, July 25-28, 2009, in Washington, D.C. William Weiner, Associate Dean Spoke, to the Ingham County Bar Association Luncheon Lecture Series, helping to deliver two updates on the work of the U.S. Supreme Court, in November, 2008. Through the years, these lectures have become known as the Phil & Bill Show.

Attended, the annual meeting of the Association of American Law Schools, in San Diego, in January, 2009.

Attended, the annual meeting of the American Society of International Law in Washington, D.C., in March, 2009.

THE 10TH ANNUAL COOLEY

5K RACE FOR EDUCATION

RAISES $11,000 FOR MICHIGAN SCHOOLS Six Michigan schools received unexpected financial boosts thanks to the 10th annual Cooley 5K Race for Education held in downtown Lansing, Mich. Alaiedon Elementary School, Okemos High School, Kendon Elementary, Grace Lutheran Daycare, Mason High School, and Fowler Public Schools received a combined total of more than $11,000.

Since its inception, thousands of runners have participated in the Cooley 5K Race for Education, raising more than $80,000 to support education and funding everything from new computer technology to athletic equipment.

< Sharon Becker, overall female winner, accepts the $1,000 Cooley Award on behalf of her nominee, Fowler Public Schools.

BENCHMARK COLUMN | SEPTEMBER 2009 | VOLUME 1 | NUMBER 3

Terry Carella, Director of Communications

ALUMNI MATTERS

Important upcoming dates for Cooley alumni and friends Campaign for Knowledge Kick-off Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:00 a.m.

Cooley Center, Lansing, Mich.

Cooley Society “Debut” Annual Donor Recognition Gala Friday, October 23, 2009 Cooley Center, Lansing, Mich.

Save the Date

Alumni Reception at State Bar of Michigan Annual Meeting Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Rotunda of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Dearborn, Mich.

New York City Alumni Event Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:00 p.m.

Avra Estiatorio, 141 E. 48th St., New York, N.Y.

Alumni Association Annual Meeting

Alumni Association Evening of Good Taste

Saturday, November 14, 2009 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Country Club of Lansing, Lansing, Mich.

Saturday, November 14, 2009 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Country Club of Lansing, Lansing, Mich.

Join your fellow colleagues and friends and connect with your alma mater.

Chicago Alumni Event Washington, D.C. Area Alumni Event December 2009 Date and Location TBA

Thursday, December 10, 2009 12:00 p.m.

Scoozi!

410 W. Huron St. Chicago, Ill.

An Evening of Good Taste

Join us for a night that is sure to tantalize your senses.

A world tour of international wines, Michigan micro-brews, and delectables to benefit the Alumni Scholarship Fund.

Saturday, November 14 Country Club of Lansing

For more information, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@cooley.edu or call (800) 243-ALUM (800-243-2586).

KNOWLEDGE. SKILLS. ETHICS.

ALUMNI MATTERS

CLASSNOTES

The Benchmark Column encourages all graduates to contribute information to the Class Notes. We encourage information about your law practice and other accomplishments in the legal profession. E-mail: communications@cooley.edu 2003 Swainson Class

Zimny, Erica L., has joined Kreis,

Gronauer,

Roggenbuck, Amanda, of

Enderle, Hudgins & Borsos, P.C.,

for a national teleconference spon-

Robert, was named

Tuscola County, Mich., attended

as an associate attorney in the firm’s

writing Principles for Online Behavioral

sored by Lorman Education on March

a Managing Partner

the White House Project’s “Invite

Battle Creek, Mich., office. Zimny

Court in May 2009. He has served

Advertising. He has been working for

31, 2009 on the topic of “Estate Plan-

and president of the

a Woman to Run” program. She

practices in the areas of landlord

the court as a certified mediator

Microsoft in Redmond, Washington,

ning Opportunities in an Uncertain

law firm Kummer

is a Tuscola County Commissioner.

tenant, real estate, and family law.

since 2003. He was also lead counsel

since 2000. He is currently the Direc-

Environment.” On April 24, 2009 he

Kaempfer Bonner

In July 2009, she served as a panelist

Zimny also participates as a pro

in a class action alleging wage and hour

tor of Industry Outreach. He started

did a presentation to the East Business

Renshaw & Ferrario in Las Vegas, Nev.

for the White House Project Annual

bono attorney for Project SALUTE,

violations against LensCrafters which

at Microsoft in the Xbox Division

and Financial Forum on “Planning for

He joined Kummer Kaempfer in 1996

Graining where she participated in

assisting low-income veterans with

resulted in a $10 million settlement in

where he led the Xbox U.S. Subsidiary

Minors - Understanding the Basics.”

and is experienced in land use and

a discussion on “Women Helping

Veterans Federal Disability and

favor of the class. He operates the Law

and received the ProMax award for

He also served as a member of the

government affairs. He was selected

Women Win.” She also received a

Pension Benefit matters.

Offices of Dirk Bruinsma, 635 Camino

the Launch of Xbox 360. Nielsen is a

panel for another national teleconfer-

by The Best Lawyers in America as

fellowship from Michigan State Univer-

Boston Class

de los Mares, Suite 201, San Clemente,

founder of MI6, the Trade Organiza-

ence sponsored by Strafford Publishing

best in his field of land use and zoning

sity’s political leadership program.

Endl, Jennifer, a

Calif. 92673. Phone: (949) 443-9030.

tion that recognizes achievement in

on May 19, 2009, where the topic

law. He was also a 2009 recipient of In

She owns and runs Amanda L.

civil litigation and

1979 Butzel Class

interactive entertainment marketing.

was “Estate Tax Planning Strategies

Business Las Vegas’ prestigious “40

Roggenbuck & Associates in Cass

bankruptcy attorney

Phone: (425) 707-4982; e-mail:

for Wealthy Clients.” James is Vice

Under 40” Award. In 2008 he was

City, Mich. Amanda also received a

with the Gallagher

bnielsen@microsoft.com.

President Trust and Estate Advisor

recognized as a leading lawyer in

Certificate of Completion in the area

Law Firm with of-

1983 O’Hara Class

Comerica Bank, Wealth and Institu-

real estate, zoning and land use law

of family law issued by the Institute

tional Management. Phone: 313-886-

by Chambers US-2008 America’s

of Continuing Legal Education and

Detroit, has been named by Michigan

9570; e-mail: jacarolan@comerica.com.

Leading Lawyers for Business.

the Family Law Section of the State

Super Lawyers magazine as Rising

1987 Champlin Class

Stone Class

Bar of Michigan.

Star after a selection process under

2004 Cross Class

which lawyers are asked to nominate

1978 Ransom Class

1982 Wing Class

1986 Miles Class

Bruinsma, Dirk, was named the all

Nielsen, Bill, is on the Online

Carolan, James A., was the speaker

purpose Mediator of the Year for

Advertising Industry’s Task Force

the Los Angeles County Superior

Hatty, Michael, was appointed by

1996 Moody Class

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of Livingston County Circuit

Hoffman, Michael, co-founder

Court Judge Stanley Latreille. Hatty

of ADAM, the American Divorce

fices in Lansing and

was in private practice in Brighton,

Association for Men, in the Detroit,

Mich. His appointment is in effect

Mich., area, announced the firm is

Davis, Mark A.,

Dunn, Charles E., has joined the

until Jan. 1, 2011.

beginning its third decade of service,

president and

firm of Giarmarco, Mullins & Hor-

Gerard, Craig,

the best attorneys who are 40 or

having celebrated its 20th anniver-

CEO of Howard &

ton, P.C., in its Litigation Practice

estate planning and

under, or who have been practicing

Manis, Paula K., of Worman,

sary in 2008. ADAM now has offices

Howard Attorneys,

Group in Troy, Mich. He focuses his

trust administration

for 10 years or less.

Dixon & Manis, P.L.C. (practicing in the Lansing, Mich. office) received the

in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, and

was named to the

practice in the areas of real estate,

attorney with the

Brickley Class

“Best Lawyers in America” award for

Traverse City. He continues to offer

May/June 2009

environmental law, regulatory and

Gallagher Law Firm

Conyers, Gregory P., has been

Oil and Gas Law and Alternative

opportunities for lawyers in major

issue of “Super Lawyers- Corporate

eminent domain matters involving

with offices in Lans-

named director of the State Bar of

Dispute Resolution in 2009.

metropolitan areas in Michigan and

Counsel Edition” in Real Estate as

private and public sector clients.

ing and Detroit has been named by

Michigan Justice Initiatives Program.

throughout the nation who have

the result of a survey by Law &

1997 Voelker Class

Michigan Super Lawyers magazine as

Previously, he served as acting direc-

at least three years of family law

Politics Media, Inc.

Rising Star after a selection process

tor of the division and program ad-

Ross, Gregory S.,

litigation experience and the drive

under which lawyers are asked to

ministrator of pro bono initiatives.

was elected Judge

1990 Wilson Class

to develop their own successful

of the 73A District

practice. ADAM specializes in

Court in Sanilac

guiding men through the divorce

1980 Potter Class

Page, Marc, had the opportunity to meet U.S. Supreme Court Justice

nominate the best attorneys who 2008 C.J. Adams Class

Benavidez, Edward L., was elected

Antonin Scalia at a banquet in Mystic,

to serve as a judge for the Bernalillo

Conn. Page maintains a solo general

County Metropolitan Court in

law practice in Westerly, R.I. E-mail:

Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was

page24@earthlink.net.

Needham Class

1984 Carr Class

elected in November 2008, and began

1999 Fead Class

Clark, Kristen M., was recently

rily on criminal defense law, DWI,

1980, emphasizing criminal defense,

Ferrentino, Robert, was appointed

his service in January 2009.

appointed by the Common Council

traffic violations, and speeding tick-

general civil litigation, family law, and

on July 1, 2009 as President of Mont-

1991 Turner Class

of the city of Manitowoc, Wis., as

ets. He also practices in the areas of

probate.

calm Community College in Sidney,

the Human Resources Director/Risk

divorce and family law, estate plan-

Manager. Phone: (920) 686-6995.

ning, personal injury, real estate closings, and disability benefits. Phone

County, Mich., Nov. 4, 2008. He formerly was in private practice since

Neal, Stephanie A. (formerly Nelson), published “Opening the Workplace to Service Animals,

practicing for 10 years or less.

process. Phone: (248) 356-2326.

Mich. Previously he served as Vice Bushnell Class

President for Academic Affairs at

Farrell, Josh, was elected Mich., serving Clare and Gladwin

Lawrence A.,

counties. Previously, he was in

was promoted to

private practice.

colonel and named

Miller-Watson, Felicia, was

(716) 488-0991.

Weadock Class

named general counsel for the

Kavanagh Class

National Association of Minority

Rashid, Radi, is a litigator with the

Contractors, a non-profit trade

law firm of Raul Villalobos & Associ-

association covering 49 states,

ates in Chicago, Ill. The firm is

Washington, D.C., and the Virgin

known for its successful defense of

Islands. She is an attorney with

the E2 nightclub in the wake of a

Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP.

fatal 2003 stampede.

Chief of Staff,

Dietz, Diane, was

of the Society for Human Resource

inducted into the

Guard, on Nov. 1, 2007. He had

Management, January 2009.

CoSIDA Academic

formerly served as Utah’s State

Phone: (616) 682-0344.

America Hall of

Judge Advocate since 1995.

Fame by the College

Phone: (801) 432-4403.

Utah National

Donovan, Michelle R.E., an attorney with Plunkett & Cooney in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and Tim Donovan, announce the birth of a daughter, Lauren Rene Donovan, born on Friday, May 29, 2009.

Sports Information Krause,

Directors of America. A former

Andrew J., of

University of Michigan basketball

Hahn Loeser &

player (1979-1982), Dietz was an

Parks, L.L.P., was named a Florida Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine. He focuses his practice in estate planning, estate settlement, and estate and trust administration. Krause serves as

Jamestown, N.Y. He focuses prima-

2005 McAllister Class

Muskegon Community College.

1985 Morell Class

Olson, Avery S., has opened a law office at 106 Forest Ave.,

District Court Judge in Harrison,

Schmidt,

Not Pets” in ADA Special Report

North Class

are 40 or under, or who have been

1992 Montgomery Class

Lauren weighed in at 5 lbs., 9 oz., She practices equal opportunity

Wrathell,Timothy C., was elected

and measured 19 inches long.

president of the Sanilac County,

Phone: (248) 901-4053; e-mail:

Mich., Bar Association. His term will

mdonovan@plunkettcooney.com.

and employment law in the firm’s

2009 Coleman Class Kapp, Julie A., has

Milwaukee, Wis., office.

all-time leading scorer and threeexpire in 2010. Wrathell is an associtime Academic All-American. She is

2000 Rutledge Class

ate in the Law Offices of Timothy J. the Chief Marketing and Community Lozen, P.C., which has offices in Port Relations Officer at Cranbrook Educa-

Harrison, Scott R., Director of

joined the firm of Boyles Class

Howard & Howard

Vella, John, was named an Assistant

Attorneys P.L.L.C.

Prosecutor in Otsego County, Mich.

and its Intellectual

Human Resources at Thomas M. He previously worked as a criminal

Huron and Sandusky. He specializes tional Community in Bloomfield Hills,

Property Group in

Cooley Law School published in real estate law, estate planning,

Mich., managing marketing, public

defense and civil litigation attorney in

the Royal Oak, Mich., office. She

Oakland and Washtenaw counties in

concentrates her practice in patent,

Michigan.

trademark and copyright law, with

“TMI in E-mail is Nothing to LOL criminal law, family law, municipal

affairs, communications, and public

About: Sweeping the E-Discovery law, and litigation.

chair of the Florida section of the

policy activities for the Cranbrook

firm’s Trusts and Estates Group,

schools, Cranbrook Art Academy

1994 Ostrander Class

Education Workplace. Mr. Harrison

2006 Edwards Class

an emphasis on patent preparation/

and has been board certified by

and Museum, Cranbrook Institute of

Nachbar, Stuart, was appointed

also presented “Behind the Curtain:

Kass, Kristin, has been named

prosecution and opinion work in

the Florida Bar as a specialist in

Science, and Cranbrook House and

to the New Jersey Supreme Court

Introducing a Professionalism Ethic

an Assistant Prosecutor for the

the mechanical technologies.

Wills, Trusts and Estates for the

Gardens. She also serves as internal

Ethic Committee for District V-B.

in Higher Education Administration,”

Dickinson County, Mich., Prosecutor’s

Riley Class

past 20 years.

counsel and manages the Cranbrook

He serves on the Bankruptcy Inns

at the Midwest conference of the

Office. Previously she served as a

White, Cari-Ryan, joined the

1981 Kavanagh Class

Archives and Cultural Properties.

of Court Board for New Jersey,

College and University Professional

public defender in Petoskey, Mich.

Community Foundation of Greater

Morse, David, was re-elected as

was elected to the Board of Trustees

Association for Human Resources

2007 Fisher Class

Dubuque, Iowa, as executive director

Prosecuting Attorney for Livingston

for the Union Township Chamber of

(CUPA-HR) in Branson, MO.

of the McCarthy Center for Non-

Commerce, and has been a partner

Cuthbertson,

County, Mich., on Nov. 5, 2008.

2001 Wilson Class

Jeffrey, has

Profits. Her responsibilities include

Beginning his sixth term, Morse is

of Middlebrooks Shapiro & Nachbar,

joined Innovation

direct leadership development and

P.C., in Union, N.J., since June

Kardatzke, Robert, has opened

Livingston County’s longest-serving

a law practice at the Creekside

Ventures, LLC as

strategic planning services to meet the

prosecuting attorney. Phone: (517)

2004, specializing in bankruptcy.

Business Center, 8175 Creekside

Chief Administrative

needs of nonprofit organizations.

546-1850.

Phone: (908) 687-6161; e-mail: Drive, Portage. Kardatzke specializes

Officer and Vice

Minefield,” in the journal The Higher

nachbar@middlebrooksshapiro.com. in bankruptcy and criminal law.

President for Government Affairs.

He is Chief Administrative Officer for Living Essentials in Farmington Hills, Mich. Phone: (248) 960-1980; e-mail: jcuthbertson@fivehour.com.

BENCHMARK COLUMN | SEPTEMBER 2009 | VOLUME 1 | NUMBER 3