Dallas Bar Association
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Focus | Business Litigation/Franchise & Distribution
October 2020 Volume 45 Number 10
Hartline Barger Provides Critical Support to DVAP As the unique challenges of this year continue into the fall season, businesses and nonprofits continue to pivot to adjust to new circumstances. In this time of uncertainty, steadfast DVAP supporter Hartline Barger LLP has stepped up once again with a donation of $30,500—the largest donation of this year’s Equal Access to Justice Campaign to date! The firm has a long history of supporting pro bono in Dallas through the EAJ Campaign. Including this gift, the firm has donated more than $154,000 to legal aid for low-income people since 2007. “We hope our continued support of DVAP will help narrow the justice gap in Dallas County. We are living in unprecedented times of dire need for so many, and the need for quality legal services continues to grow. We are grateful that our business has stayed viable and allowed us to give back to our community. This donation also honors the wishes of our founding partner, C. Vernon Hartline, Jr., who passed away in July. He was selfless and generous with his time, financial resources, and advice,” said partner Melissa Dorman Matthews. Hartline Barger LLP focuses on general civil litigation defense and trials. While the firm’s services are wide-ranging, they focus on product liability litigation, personal injury defense, commercial litigation, construction litigation, and labor & employment litigation, among other areas. Access to justice is a core value of the firm. “While it is a privilege for us to practice law, we do not believe it should be a privilege to have access to quality legal representation,” said Larry Grayson, managing partner in Dal-
Melissa Dorman Matthews
las. “Unfortunately, this is a reality for much of society. The fact that we represent successful businesses makes it all the more important that we give back to those who lack such financial where-
withal.” Access to legal services is increasingly important during the pandemic as more people are isolated and in dire economic straits. Since April, DVAP’s regular legal intake clinics have been replaced by weekly virtual clinics. DVAP is also placing COVID-19-related pro bono matters with volunteer attorneys. Ken Adler, an associate with Vinson & Elkins, LLP, was able to assist “Charlie,” a DVAP client, with a lease termination agreement. Prior to the pandemic, Charlie signed a lengthy lease to open an acupuncture clinic in Frisco. “We had a successful outcome in great part because the landlord was generous and sympathetic. Charlie was very frank with the landlord and made an effective case. I spent time counseling him beforehand to build his confidence in order to do so. I felt that we would have better success if the landlord could hear from Charlie himself. I thought it was a great example of how DVAP can connect clients with attorneys to help empower their own voices,” said Ken. DVAP is also grateful that The DAYL Foundation has provided support by making a $10,000 contribution to the Justice Forever Fund, which is an endowment supporting long-term funding to DVAP in the event that traditional funding sources shrink or cease to exist. The justice gap in Dallas County is daunting. In a country based on justice for all and access to our court system, over 25 percent of Dallas County residents live near the poverty level, and 42 percent have slim hope of being able to afford an attorney. With annual poverty incomes of $32,750 for a family of four, justice is a luxury for low- and moderate-income families. As Jeffrey Patterson, a Hartline
Barger partner in $1 Dallas, stated, Million “We are well acquainted with the impact that $900,000 DVAP has on the underrepre$800,000 sented in North Texas; its efforts $700,000 towards mitigating the staggering justice $600,000 gap are unparalleled. We know $500,000 our contribu tion helps put $400,000 resources into the right hands.” C. Vernon $350,000 Hartline, Jr. will be fondly $300,000 remembered for his unflagging $250,000 support of DVAP, and would $200,000 undoubtedly be very pleased to $150,000 know of this gift supporting the $50,0000 Equal Access to Justice Campaign in his honor. DVAP is a joint pro bono program of the DBA and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. The program is the only one of its kind in Texas and brings together the volunteer resources of a major metropolitan bar association with the legal aid expertise of the largest and oldest civil legal aid program in North Texas. For more information, or to donate, visit www.dallasvolunteerattorney program.org. HN
To Give: www.dvapcampaign.org.
BY MICHELLE M. ALDEN
Michelle Alden is the Director of the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program. She can be reached at aldenm@lanwt.org.
Thank You to Our Major Donors The Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas kicked off their annual Equal Access to Justice Campaign benefiting the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program. A number of Dallas firms, corporations, and friends have committed major support. Join us in recognizing and thanking the following for their generous gifts*:
PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL
GOLD PATRON
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Hartline Barger LLP
Margaret & Jaime Spellings Witherite Law Group
CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL
DIAMOND SPONSORS
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Condon Tobin Sladek Thornton PLLC Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Latham & Watkins LLP Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP The Rosewood Foundation Stewart Law Group Robert L. Tobey Toyota
Jerry & Sherri Alexander E. Leon & Debra Carter The Kilgore Law Firm
AT&T Haynes and Boone Foundation
*As of September 8, 2020
Inside 6 Lewis Sifford to Receive Esteemed Professionalism Award 8 Defining Trade Secrets: What Passes the Test in Texas? 18 Meet the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program Staff 23 Fraud Alert: Issues and Claims in a Complex Divorce
