Bulletin November 2015
P
resident’s page
by David E. Keltner
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n previous columns, i wrote about the incredible differences in technology between the time i entered practice in 1975 and today. But the truth is that many things have not changed, and those remain the important things.
Our Partners in Providing Legal Services
The best advice i can give to young lawyers is to surround yourself with people smarter than you. in my case, that includes all adults, most children, and alarming number of dolphins.1 From the start, i was surrounded by a great support staff. in the beginning days at Shannon Gracey, secretaries and legal assistants worked long hours to make sure that our work product was as good as it could be. Of the four legal assistants with whom i worked, three went on to law school and the other earned her PhD in literature. eventually, Michele Rayburn became my secretary. To say that Michele was strong-willed is an understatement, and she remains that way today. We worked with each other for seven years, and i am quite sure she was my boss. it was around that time that i tried to concentrate on appellate work, and Michele mastered appellate briefs long before i did. She was on a first name basis with the local court of appeals’ clerks, and the justices called her by her first name. Michele taught me valuable lessons. She was obsessed with getting things right and worked late hours to make sure that our briefs met her expectations. We worked together until i ran for the Court of Appeals. unfortunately, my election meant that we had to part ways. Since that time, she has worked with Mike Wallach. Michele won Legal Secretary of the Year from the Fort Worth legal Secretary Association and was a state-wide finalist. i am very proud of her continued involvement in the Fort Worth Paralegal Association and the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas. i am also proud to have been an ex officio member of the State Bar Board that approved the creation of the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division. Naysayers predicted that it would become an organization dedicated to no other purpose than to raise paralegal salaries. The opposite has proved true. instead, the division has sponsored and produced continuing education, and is making a real contribution to professionalism. On July 20, 1998, Stacy Blanchette and i began working together. Stacy already had a master’s degree and was not sure she wanted to be in the legal profession. However, she quickly graduated from being a legal secretary to a legal assistant, and we have been together for the last 17 years. Stacy has a wonderful way with the written word and knows the appellate rules much better than i. Once we finish the substance of an appellate brief, we turn it over to Stacy and she works her magic. She rewrites
sections, checks citations and quotations, and corrects all of my grammatical mistakes. Sometimes we argue, but she always wins. And i like it that way. i would be lost without her. Stacy knows the clerks at all the Courts of Appeals on a first name basis. She also knows the staff at the Texas Supreme Court and talks with them often. if we ever have trouble at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Stacy has the answer within minutes after talking with one of her “sources.” And she knows our clients, too. i often fear they like her more than me, and i don’t blame them. The bottom line is Stacy is a professional. At what she does, she is the absolute best. i am honored to work with her and i hope she feels the same way.
Our TCBA Executive Director is a Superstar
There ought to be a hall of fame for bar association executives. if there ever is, Trisha Graham deserves to be the first inductee. Originally hired by then-President David evans, she has served as executive Director for 23 years. During her tenure, the organization has grown, incorporated specialty bar organizations under one umbrella, obtained and operated our bar headquarters, and spawned affiliated organizations like the eldon B. Mahon inn of Court and Tarrant County Bar Foundation. During all this time, Trisha has worked with the elected leadership of the bar. i am sure that some presidents have been more difficult than others and i am still waiting to see how she ranks me. But i learned early that i do best when i agree with Trisha. The truth is, Trisha is in control and for good reason. She truly loves the Tarrant County Bar and its members. And our members adore Trisha and her husband, Joe. Together, they are a great team to keep our members and volunteers energized. i do not know what we would do without her. Trisha’s influence expands well beyond Tarrant County. At State Bar of Texas and American Bar Association conferences, executives from all over the nation know Trisha and ask her advice on how to run their organization. Not only has she been doing it longer than most of them—she has done it better.
Thanks Again to The Tarrant County Bar Foundation
All of you that attended the Advocates for Justice luncheon on October 22, it will be back next year. For those of you who did not attend, you missed something spectacular. Our speaker was Texas Supreme Court Justice eva Guzman, who was introduced by our own Justice Debra lehrmann. The Bar Foundation raised a significant amount of money for our joint pro bono projects. The Bar Foundation will soon conduct a membership Fellows drive. Fellowship is reserved for those who have displayed bar leadership and those that have distinguished themselves in the practice of law. if you are invited to join, please say yes. ■ 1
Dilbert, Sept. 6, 2015.
David
November 2015
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TCBA BulleTiN
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Tarrant County Bar Association
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817.338.4092 ■ Fax 817.335.9238 website: www.tarrantbar.org email: tcba@tarrantbar.org 2015-2016 Officers
ontents
President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David e. Keltner President-elect . . . . . . . . . . . Robert G. West Vice President . . . . . . . . . . .Dabney D. Bassel Secretary-Treasurer . . . . . . . . . Nick Bettinger
Directors
Features
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Term Ends 2016 leslie Barrows John Cayce lance evans
2015 Charity Golf Tournament Coverage Judicial Profiles Judge David Hagerman
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Diversity Spotlight National Native American Heritage Month
Departments 1 President’s Page 3 Membership luncheon 6 Transition to Practice 6 lawyer Referral and information Service News 6 Texas lawyers for Texas Veterans 7 TCYlA Snapshot 7 Benefits of Membership 7 TCBA Member Benefits Vendor list 7 New Members 8 Brown Bag - elder law & Probate 9 Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services 10 Other Associations’ News & information 12 100 Club 13 News from The Tarrant County Bar Foundation 14 Snippets 18 in Memoriam - Justice Dixon W. Holman NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY 18 legalline 20 it’s All Happening at the Bar FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015 24 lawyers on the Move & in the News
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8:00am - Noon
Tarrant County Family Law Center
Term Ends 2017 Tawana Gray Gary l. Medlin Jason C. N. Smith
2015-2016 Appointed Directors Geffrey Anderson Dwayne W. Smith
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association President 2015 Fall Amber Altemose 2016 Spring erin Cofer
Immediate Past President Michael J. Henry
Executive Director
Patricia Graham, PlS, ClAS
Ex-Officio Members State Bar Of Texas, Directors J. Benjamin Barlow Gary l. Nickelson
ABA Delegate Janna Clarke
Bar Bulletin
John F. Murphy, editor H. Dennis Kelly, Assistant editor Graphics/Production Park Place enterprises, inc. ggpark@flash.net • 817.877.8901
248 East Weatherford Street
Help us make sure
No Kid Goes Hungry Tarrant County Food Drive September 20 through November 15
If your firm wants more information, contact Michele Rayburn or Edwin Jenson, II m.rayburn@wallach-law.com • erj@jensen-law-firm.com
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To make a tax deductible donation, make your check payable to: Tarrant County Bar Foundation and send to ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE • Tarrant County Bar Association 1315 Calhoun Street • Fort Worth, Texas 76102
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November 2015
Don’t Forget Your Donation of a Stuffed Bear Bring bears to the TCBA office 8:30am – 4:30pm, M-F • 1315 Calhoun Street For more information, call TCBF at 817.338.4092
Back cover
The Tarrant County Bar Bulletin is a monthly publication of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Articles, photos, events for the calendar, suggestions, or comments should be directed to: 1315 Calhoun Street • Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6504 Deadline for submission is the 1st day of the month, one month prior the date of the issue (e.g. April 1 for the May issue). items for publication may be emailed to april@tarrantbar.org in Word format. Articles published in the Bar Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Tarrant County Bar Association, its officers, or the Board of Directors. Calendar listings, classifieds, advertisements, and feature articles should not be considered an endorsement of any service, product, program, seminar or event.
November
Membership Luncheon
Beyond Thank You for Your Service:
T
Honoring America’s Veterans
he Bar Association welcomes Brigadier General Malinda e. Dunn, uSA (Ret.), executive Director of the American inns of Court Foundation as the speaker for the November Membership luncheon. Her topic will focus on honoring our veterans and their military service as we celebrate Veterans Day and the fifth anniversary of the Texas lawyers for Texas Veterans-Tarrant County Chapter. Gen. Dunn graduated from Randolph-Macon College (B.A. with Honors, 1978) and Washington and lee university (J.D., 1981). She has an l.l.M. in Military law from the Judge Advocate General’s School, u.S. Army, and a Masters in National Security Studies from the National War College. She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the united States, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Virginia. Directly commissioned into the Army JAG Corps in July, 1981, she served as a prosecutor at the 2nd infantry Division in Korea and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and as the Chief of Criminal law for the 4th infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO. After a stint in the Army’s Procurement Fraud Division, she returned to Fort Bragg, where she served in the u.S. Army Special Operations Command and as both the Deputy and the Staff Judge Advocate at the 82nd Airborne Division. Following tours at XViii Airborne Corps and in Kansas, she served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at the 25th infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hi. Subsequently, she served as the Chief of Personnel for the Army JAG Corps, the Staff Judge Advocate for the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, lA, and returned to Fort Bragg for the third time to serve as the Staff Judge Advocate, XViii Airborne Corps. Before assuming her current position, Gen. Dunn served for more than twenty-eight years in the united States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, retiring as a Brigadier General. She served as the Assistant Judge Advocate General for Military law and Operations, Commander of the u.S. Army legal Services Agency, and Chief Judge of the u.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals. Her last field assignment, as Staff Judge Advocate, XViii Airborne Corps, included tours as the Staff Judge Advocate, Combined Joint Task Force-180, Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan in 2003, and Staff Judge Advocate, Multi-National Corps–iraq, Victory Base, iraq, in 2005. Gen. Dunn’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal. She earned
the iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, as well as the Korea Defense Service Medal and the Multinational Force and Observers Medal. She is a graduate of both Airborne School and Jumpmaster School. The luncheon is cohosted by the Tarrant County Bar Association and the Tarrant County Young lawyers Association. it will be held at the City Club on Tuesday, NoBrigadier General Malinda E. Dunn vember 10, at 11:45 a.m. The City Club is located at 301 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, 2nd Floor. lunch will be $26 for members with advance reservations and $31 for guests and walk-ins. Dress is business casual—suits and ties are not required. To make your reservations, please contact Sherry Jones at 817.338.4092 or sherry@tarrantbar.org, or go to the calendar section of our website at www.tarrantbar.org. For directions and contact information, please visit the City Club website at www.cityclub-ftw.com. ■
Save the Date
TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
Please join us for a 1980s themed
Holiday Bash!
Thursday, December 10, 2015 5:00 pm Tarrant County Bar Center • 1315 Calhoun Street November 2015
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TCBA Bulletin
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3rd Place
1st Place
2nd Place
Bears and Frie
nds for Nationa
l Adoption Day
TCYLA & TCBA Golf Tournament 1st Place Team
2nd Place Team
3rd Place Team
Last Place Team
Closest to the Pin
Gary Coffman
Martin A. Garcia Jeff Johnson Spencer Nilsson Harrison Smith
Jim Jay Jeff Kobs Thomas Michel Walker Turney
Gil Daley Jared King Tommy Sehon Preston Ward
Martin A. Garcia
Adam Colbert Kent Davis Chris Drumm
Longest Drive Roger Diseker
Raised $8,000 for the Tarrant County Bar Foundation’s Texas A&M University Law Student Pro Bono Law Assistantship Program assisting TLTV & TVAS Hole Sponsors Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C. Baker Monroe PLLC Capital Financial Partners Circelli, Walter & Young PLLC First Tee of Fort Worth Trisha Graham & Aleed Rivera, Supporters of TLTV & TVAS Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. Michael J. Henry Hurr Law Office, PC Hutchison & Stoy, PLLC David E. Keltner Lone Star Ag Credit Morrison Investigations Patterson Law Group Southside Bank Stephens, Anderson & Cummings Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C. Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC Closest to the Pin Sponsor Law Office of Kathy Roux Longest Drive Sponsor ValueScope, Inc. Banquet Sponsors Blaies & Hightower LLP Brackett & Ellis, PC Falcon Document Solutions LP Lone Star Ag Credit Parker Law Firm Texas A&M University School of Law
Transition to Practice Mentoring Program for 2016
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he Transition to Practice mentoring program is taking young lawyers for 2016. The committee has been working on the programs for the year and the kick-off will be held Wednesday, January 20. if you are an attorney who has been practicing ten years or more, the TCBA needs you. it only takes an hour a month, and it will help a young lawyer tremendously! The Transition to Practice mentoring program pairs you with a young lawyer who practices in the same area of law as you. We meet six times a year for a free Cle and luncheon at the TCBA offices. You can use that time to visit with your mentee and see whether they have any questions or just get acquainted. The other six months of the year, we ask that you meet with your mentee by phone, or over coffee or lunch. if you are a young lawyer, practicing three years or less, please join the program as a mentee. The programs are set up with you in mind, getting you familiar with the practice of law, and helping you navigate the pitfalls. if you have questions or are interested, please contact Cindy at cindy@tarrantbar.org or call her at 817.338.4092. ■
News
Lawyer Referral and Information Service
WOW
, the lRiS is off to a GReAT start! The lRiS has already received $48,689.84 on referral fees alone, and that’s just since July 1! Carolina and Brittany have worked so hard getting the reports out, and our attorney members are great to send fees in on the cases they take! Special thanks to those of our members who have paid referral fees since the last report: Courtney Burns, Neal Callaway, Bill Catterton, Bradley Clark, David Cook, Kelly Curnutt, Jennifer Dillon, Sylvia Duarte, Danielle Dulaney, Todd Durden, Andrea Dwyer, Rashelle Fetty, Patrick Gallagher, Joshua Graham, Andrew Gore, James Graham, Drew Herrmann, Jacob Higgins, An lee Hsu, Roger Hurlbut, James Jinks, Richard Kilgore, Bryce King, Breanne lilley, Sean lynch, Michael Martinez, Caleb Moore, Stephen O’Rear, Scott Phillips, Jacob Wallace, Bill White, Cynthia Williams, and Brett Wyatt. We cannot thank you enough for your continued support. We have 129 lRiS members at this time and have made 2,500 referrals since July 1. ■
Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans
Tarrant County Chapter
Meet Jodie and Sarah, TLTV’s Newest Family Law Volunteers
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exas lawyers for Texas Veterans–Tarrant County Chapter (TlTV) is routinely asked by veterans for legal assistance with family law matters. Through the commitment of many family law volunteers, TlTV is able to Jodie Connaughton and Sarah Seltzer provide veterans with free legal consultations at the monthly legal clinics, and as possible, additional assistance for income-eligible individuals. TlTV is glad to welcome several new family-law-attorney volunteers, including those profiled below, who have routinely attended clinics and taken cases outside of the legal clinic.
Jodie Connaughton, Strother & Strother Law
Jodie began attending TlTV clinics over the past year and will shortly accept her second family law case through the TlTV program. Jodie works for Strother & Strother in Joshua, Texas, and primarily practices family law. Jodie graduated from Texas A&M university School of law in 2014 and worked for a children’s advocacy center and domestic violence shelter prior to starting her legal practice. Jodie and her husband have three children who were adopted through the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. Jodie became interested in volunteering for TlTV because her husband is a veteran and Purple Heart recipient. in her 6
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words, “i understand some of the challenges that veterans face and have always wanted to use my law license to help people whenever possible.”
Sarah Seltzer, Seltzer & Dally, PLLC
Sarah joined the TlTV Committee in the past year, regularly attends clinics, and has taken family law cases outside of the clinics. Sarah’s practice primarily involves estate planning and family law because, in her words, “it allows me to carefully listen to the details of a client’s individual situation and come up with a unique strategy to help them accomplish their goals.” Sarah is from Abilene, Texas, and graduated from Texas Wesleyan university School of law (now Texas A&M School of law). Sarah and her husband live in Fort Worth with their two sons and three dogs. Sarah notes that “i especially enjoy volunteering with TlTV because it allows me the opportunity to give back to those that i feel are most deserving and usually most in need of assistance. i have several family members who have served in the armed forces, and i believe taking veterans’ cases pro bono is a way i can honor their service.” ■ Employment, Bankruptcy, and Consumer Lawyers Needed TLTV has several veterans or spouses of deceased veterans in need of legal consultations in employment matters or further legal assistance with consumer and bankruptcy matters. If you are interested in assisting in these areas, please contact Megan Cooley at megan@tarrantbar.org.
t o h s p Sn a YLA
Amber Altemose President TCYLA
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n September, TCYlA hosted its annual TCYlA Golf Tournament at Mira Vista Country Club. The proceeds from the golf tournament were donated to the Tarrant County Bar Foundation. The donation will provide stipends for Texas A&M law students who are selected as interns for pro bono programs provided through the Tarrant County Bar Foundation. This year TCYlA raised $8,000 to donate to the Bar Foundation! Thank you to all of the sponsors and players of the golf tournament for making this donation happen. On October 8, TCYlA hosted Bridging the Gap, a Cle dedicated to teaching our members the practical aspects of practicing law. Nearly forty people attended the event, ranging from current law students to recent graduates waiting on their bar results to become newly minted lawyers. Thank you to the following presenters for making this event possible: Vincent Circelli, Susan Smith, Chris lankford, Cody Cofer, Ryan Scharar, Clint Dennis, Chris Stoy, Patrick Rose, Tennessee Walker, Andrea Palmer, and laura Docker. Finally, on December 3, TCYlA is hosting a Christmas party for all of its members. Be sure to check the newsletter for more details to come! ■
Amber
New
TCBA Welcomes Its
Members
Attorneys
Shmyla Alam Daniel Barnes Kari Bohach Grant Boston Dawn Boswell Vianei Braun Jessica Brumm John R. Callison Stacy Fay Grayson Gumm Ronda Haynes Conrad Hester Ryan Hill Mark Kratovil Paul leopold Maria Macias Garrett Martin Jade Mens Belynda Ortiz Carol Pauli Hannah Penley Zane Reid Matthew Rivers Marco Sanchez lee Sorrells Tulani Washington
Associates lisa Buck Susan Davis Donna Bromfield-Day Kimberly Sheldon Danisha Thomas Cindy Wade
Students Zachery Artim David Henry Sarah Pierce Rachel Taft Gordon Truong Vince Vela
Benefits of Membership Why become a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association? Besides wonderful networking opportunities and camaraderie in the legal community, membership has other benefits. 1) The TCBA has 18 Substantive Law Sections offering CLE and networking with members interested in the same areas of law. 2) Reduced rates on CLE (Brown Bags, Luncheons, Section meetings, Last Tuesday CLE) 3) Reduced rates on room rental at the TCBA Bar Center 4) Monthly Bar Bulletin (by email or mail) as well as updates on upcoming events by email 5) Community Service Opportunities through the Foundation: LegalLine, Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, Tarrant Volunteer Services; and through community service committees: People’s Law School, Annual Food Drive, Blood Drive, Elder Law Committee, and others 6) Reduced rates on advertising in the Bar Bulletin and on the TCBA website 7) Mentoring or being mentored through the Transition to Practice program 8) Reduced rates on office supplies, Sprint, UPS, shredding documents, and the Fort Worth Zoo 9) And the all-important fun networking opportunities
So the next time someone asks you why join the TCBA, please let them know. We thank you for your continued membership. This Bar Association is great because of its members like YOu! if you have any questions regarding your membership, please contact Cindy at the bar office or email her at cindy@ tarrantbar.org or 817.338.4092. ■
TCBA Member Benefits Vendor List TCBA members may take advantage of discounts provided by the following vendors: ABA Retirement Funds program provides full-service 401(k) plans to benefit the legal community. To learn more, contact local rep. Jacob Millican at 817.451.5020 or visit www.abaretirement.com. AMO Office Supply offers TCBA members the lowest price guaranteed on office supplies, with next-day delivery and free shipping! Call 800.420.6421. Falcon Litigation Solutions offers discounts on copying, litigation displays, trial boards, etc. Call 817.870.0330. Fort Worth JSB Co., Inc., offers a 10% discount to TCBA members on printed materials—business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, brochures, flyers, and more. For a quote, call 817.577.0572. Fort Worth Zoo, discount tickets - $9.50 adult, $6.50 for child or senior. For tickets, contact cindy@tarrantbar.org or 817.338.4092. if mailing or charging tickets, add 50 cents. Sprint offers 15% off the monthly service. For info, contact cindy@ tarrantbar.org or 817.338.4092. UPS - TCBA has signed an agreement with uPS for TCBA members to receive discounts on shipping. The discounts vary according to the type of shipment, but check out uPS for your needs. www.ups.com or 1.800. PiCK.uPS. For IT help: Juris Fabrilis-Cool Tools for lawyers offers members discounted rates on web-based tools to help you manage your law practice. 817.481.1573 ext. 101. For Shredding and Document Disposal: Magic Shred is a secure shredding business that shreds your documents on-site. Magic Shred offers a 10% discount to TCBA members. Expanco is N.A.i.D. AAA-Certified document-destruction service offering 40% off to TCBA members. Call TCBA office for details on both. November 2015
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TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION PRESENTS ELDER LAW & PROBATE Things We All Need to Know
Brown Bag
Seminar Series
November 13, 2015
Join us for ELDER LAW & PROBATE CLE credit at Tarrant County Bar Association Office, 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth Moderator: Sherry Armstrong, Law Office of Sherry Armstrong Noon
Check In
12:30 pm
Drafting Wills and Testamentary Trusts Lisa Jamieson
1:15 pm
Basic Issues of Elder Law Karen Telschow Johnson
2:00 pm
Break
2:15 pm
Basics of Probate Proceedings Dyann McCully, Beth Hampton
3:00 pm
What’s New in Guardianship Practice Jeff Arnier, Court Investigator, Probate Court Two, Tarrant County
3:45 pm
Adjourn
3 hours of CLE credit requested (This program will be videoed for showing throughout the year.) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brown Bag Registration: November 13, 2015 _____ $70 TCBA Member _____ $95 non-TCBA Member _____ $35 TCBA Member Staff _____ Brown Bag Season Pass Holder _____ $12 for a boxed lunch Add $5 if registering after November 11 Please complete this form and return to the TCBA office at 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 with a check payable to TCBA or with credit card information. If you have questions, please call Sherry Jones at 817.338.4092 (Fax: 817.335.9238) or email at sherrry@tarrantbar.org. Name: ___________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________ Firm: ____________________________________________________________ Fax: ___________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Billing Zip: _____________ Method of Payment: _____ Check
_______ Check Number
______ MC
______ Visa
_____ Am Ex
Credit Card Number: ________________________________________________ Expiration: ______________________ Name on Card: _____________________________________________________ Security Code: __________________
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TVAS Partnering with Our Community Our Kids to Develop Legal Training and Education Programs to Benefit Foster Children
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s members of a legal professional association, many of us forget the mystery and anxiety surrounding the legal system by those who have not been exposed to it. We take for granted the general traditions, nuances, and terminology that go along with participating in a court proceeding. For many, the initial experience with the courtroom or a legal proceeding occurs during a crisis or when the stakes are high. This is often true of foster parents and foster children who are required to participate in court proceedings during a time of uncertainty, trauma, or crisis. These circumstances make it difficult for a foster parent to advocate on behalf of a foster child or otherwise assist the community of people engaged on a foster child’s behalf. Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) and Our Community Our Kids (OCOK), a division of ACH Child and Family Services, are working together to help foster care providers, foster parents, and foster children successfully navigate through the legal process. This legal training project is part of Our Community Our Kids’ Quality Parenting initiative (QPi) program. The QPi committee consists of a diverse cross section of community and professional
stakeholders in the foster care system. its overall mission is to strengthen the quality of care provided to children and youth living in foster care by redefining the expectations and roles of caregivers and the child welfare system. As part of this project, TVAS is taking advantage of existing resources that educate the public and participants about the foster-care system. These resources include information provided by the Supreme Court Children’s Commission on its website, www.texaschildrenscommission.gov. in 2007, the Texas Supreme Court established the Children’s Commission with the stated goal “of improving the child welfare system by increasing public awareness of challenges facing children and families involved in the child welfare system.” How can you help? TVAS is looking for volunteers experienced in the foster-care system to help develop this project with OCOK. eventually, TVAS anticipates engaging attorney volunteers to speak and educate foster-care providers, foster parents, and foster children in Region 3b (Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant, erath, Hood, Somervell, and Johnson counties). if you are interested in volunteering or serving on the fostercare training committee, please contact Megan Cooley at megan@tarrantbar.org. ■
GRIEVANCE DEFENSE
APPEALS
When your license, livelihood, and reputation are at stake
SMYTHE PC
BECAUSE THE PEN IS MIGHTIER
GRIFFIN W. COLLIE 2514 BOLL STREET DALLAS, TEXAS 75204 214.484.4323 PHONE www.grievancedefensefortworth.com
777 MAIN STREET SUITE 600 FORT WORTH, TX 76102 817-666-9475 WEBSITE: APPEALS.ME
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Other Associations’
News & Information
Arlington Bar Association Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. President, larry Gaydos. For location & information, email arlingtonbarassociation@yahoo.com or call 214.651.5622.
Black Women Lawyers Association For meetings and information, contact Sue Allen, President, at 817.926.5005 or sue@sueallenlaw.com. Dee J. Kelly Law Library Welcomes Bar Members! For the latest Texas A&M university School of law library hours and information, please visit http://law.tamu.edu, or call 817.212.3800. Fort Worth Chapter Association of Legal Administrators Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the City Club, 301 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, 76102. For more information, contact lisa Boyd, 817.339.2478 or lBoyd@Belaw.com. Fort Worth Paralegal Association - General Membership Meetings are held at noon every 4th Thursday of the month at Joe T. Garcia’s, 2201 N. Commerce. FWPA Board of Directors meets at noon every 1st Tuesday of the month at the Bar Center. For more information, go to www.fwpa.org. L. Clifford Davis Legal Association (f/k/a Tarrant County Black Bar Association) holds its meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact President Crystal Gayden at 817.496.8408 or by email at cgayden@gaydenlaw.com. MABA (Mexican American Bar Association) Meets on the last Thursday of each month at Rivas Mexican Restaurant, 5442 River Oaks Blvd., River Oaks 76114. For more information, contact President eloy Sepulveda at 817.332.1285. Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association (NeTCBA) Meets for Cle luncheons on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at la Hacienda Restaurant, Hwy. 121. Contact President leslie Barrows at 817.481.1583, lbarrows@barrowsfirm.com. Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCCDlA) Meets every 2nd Thursday at Joe T. Garcia’s, 2201 N. Commerce. For more information, contact President Randy Bowers at 817.348.8094 or leleRB@sbcglobal.net. Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Meets at noon on the 4th Tuesday of each month at Family law Center Assembly Room on the 2nd floor. For more information, contact President David Kulesz at 817.226.1100 or david@ lKattorneys.com. Tarrant County Probate Bar Association Meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Petroleum Club—members free, guests $30. For more information, contact Tena Fox, 817.280.0811 or tfox@leachlaw.com. Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association Meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Joe T. Garcia’s. For more information, contact John S. Jose at 817.288.8988. Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association 2015-2016 new Bar Year began September 1, 2015. if you need an application or meeting information, call 817.338.4092, email cindy@tarrantbar. org, or go to the website at tcyla.org. Texas Association of Defense Counsel Meets for lunch every 4th Wednesday at Angelo’s. Contact George Haratsis, McDonald Sanders, 817.336.8651 for more information.
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Profiles
Judicial
by Perry Cockerell
Judge David Hagerman was elected to the 297th District Court in 2014 after Judge everett Young chose not to seek reelection. Judge Hagerman joined the bench in January 2015 after serving twenty-one years with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, in the South Oak Cliff area, he graduated from David W. Carter High School in 1976. After high school, he majored in accounting at the university of North Texas and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1980, while playing tight end on the football team on a full athletic scholarship. After college he was employed in all phases of accounting and became a certified public accountant in 1983 after passing the CPA exam. He practiced accounting for seven years. in 1988, he decided that he needed new challenges and applied to law school and was accepted in 1989 at South Texas College of law. During his third year in law school, he served as an intern with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. it was during that internship that he fell in love with criminal law. He found it more interesting and exciting than other kinds of law and quite different from his days as an accountant. He even tried his first misdemeanor case during his third year in law school. After graduating from law school in 1991, he took a job for one year at the ellis County District Attorney’s Office prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases. in 1993, he accepted a position with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, where he served through 2014. During his time at the D.A.’s office, he was the Chief Prosecutor in the 396th and 372nd Criminal District Courts and Criminal District Court Number 4. He was also the Chief Prosecutor of the Metro Narcotics intelligence Coordination unit and prosecutor for the T.C. D.A.’s Gang unit and T.C. D.A’s Drug Task Force. During his tenure as a prosecutor, he tried over 200 jury trials, including 130 felony and 70 misdemeanor cases. What attracted him to criminal law was that the criminal defense system will provide a decisive result of the trial outcome. Trying cases can be quite challenging and exhilarating in a way that only trial attorneys can understand. He always enjoyed his time in the courtroom as a prosecutor. At the same time, he always thought that someday he would be a judge, and he believed that he could run a court efficiently. in 2014, he decided to run for judge, believing that he had done everything he wanted to do in the District Attorney’s Office and that it was time to move to a new challenge. He attributes his success to his campaign manager and wife, Theresa, “who is the star in this family with the brains and the spirituality as well. i wouldn’t be here today without her.” He said that “Tarrant County is the best place to practice law. it really is. it is collegial, cordial, and professional, and it always has been. i hear of the problems in other counties, and i thank God that i practice in Tarrant County.” He and his wife have two grown sons, James and Jordan, who are both attending college. ■
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O: 817.503.9200 C: 817.925.2272 TCBA BulleTiN
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Members of the 2015-2016
100 Club
Adams Lynch & Loftin P.C. Albert Neely & Kuhlmann LLP Anderson & Riddle, LLP Baker Monroe PLLC Bakutis McCully & Sawyer PC Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP The Barrows Firm, P.C. The Berenson Firm P.C. Blaies & Hightower, L.L.P. Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, PC Brackett & Ellis, P.C. Broude Smith & Jennings PC Brown, Dean, Wiseman, Proctor, Hart & Howell, LLP Cantey Hanger LLP City Attorney’s Office-City of Fort Worth Cook Children’s Health Care System Curnutt & Hafer, L.L.P. Decker Jones, P.C. Dowell, Pham & Harrison, LLP Edison, McDowell & Hetherington, LLP Fillmore Law Firm, L.L.P. Forshey & Prostok, L.L.P. Friedman, Suder & Cooke Griffith, Jay, & Michel, LLP Harrison Steck P.C. Haynes and Boone, L.L.P. Holland Johns & Penny LLP Jackson Walker, L.L.P. Jim Ross & Associates Johnston Legal Group, P.C. Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP KoonsFuller, P.C. To be eligible for the 100 Club, any law firm, government agency, law school, or corporate legal department that has four or more attorneys and attains 100% TCBA membership compliance for the 2015-2016 bar year qualifies for “The 100 Club”! The firms/organizations listed (above) have already paid their membership dues and qualify for 100 Club membership for the new bar year. Any firm/or-
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Lacy Lyster Malone & Steppick, PLLC Law, Snakard & Gambill, P.C. Lively & Associates, LLP Loe, Warren, Rosenfield, Kaitcer, Hibbs, Windsor, Lawrence & Wolffarth, PC Martinez Hsu, P.C. McDonald Sanders Law Firm Mellina & Larson, P.C. Moses, Palmer & Howell, L.L.P. Murphy Mahon Keffler Farrier, LLP Naman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC Noteboom Law Firm Padfield & Stout, LLP Law Offices of Paup, Shutt & Associates, P.C. Phelps Dunbar LLP Plains Capital Bank Schneider Law Firm Second Court of Appeals Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP Stephens, Anderson & Cummings Suzanne I. Calvert & Associates Tarrant County CDA’s Office Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP Texas A&M University School of Law The Wolf Law Firm, P.C. Thompson & Knight, LLP Underwood Law Firm Varghese Summersett, PLLC Watson Caraway Midkiff & Luningham L.L.P Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC Wick Phillips Gould & Martin LLP Winstead PC ganization that qualifies in the future will have its name published in every issue of the Bar Bulletin for this bar year. TCBA is proud of the participation of these law firms and other groups! The new bar year began July 1, so if you missed your renewal invoice in your email, contact Membership Director Cindy Rankin at 817.338.4092 or email her at cindy@tarrantbar.org.
News from
The Tarrant County Bar Foundation
Whitley Zachary
Anna Acosta Kincaid (left) and Alexandria Hutchison
Lynne Nash and Joey Vrecheck
Law Students Provide Their Time and Talent to Assist the Pro Bono Programs
W
ith the support of the Tarrant County Young lawyers Association (TCYlA) and Tarrant County Bar Association, the Tarrant County Bar Foundation has been able to provide stipends to law students from Texas A&M university School of law to assist with Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) and Texas lawyers for Texas Veterans – Tarrant County Chapter (TlTV). The Bar Foundation is able to provide the stipends through funds raised by the TCYlA’s annual golf tournament. As interns for the pro bono programs, the law students are able to work with volunteer attorneys for the pro bono programs, screen potential clients, and develop practical legal skills under the supervision of attorneys. During the 2014-2015 school year, Whitley Zachary served as the Bar Foundation’s pro bono intern for the programs. Whitley describes her experience as “an ideal way to learn about the legal needs of this community and how they are being met by the profession. it was amazing to see how judges, attorneys, and non-lawyers come together and volunteer their time and efforts to keep these programs alive and thriving. i look forward to being able to continue working with the programs and contribute as an attorney.” Over the summer, the Bar Foundation was fortunate to have the assistance of two law students through the equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD program. This program “provides law students with the opportunity to deliver critically needed legal assistance in low-income and underserved communities across the country.” Anna Acosta Kincaid, a 3l at Texas Tech university School of law, graduated from Harvard university in 2010 and was drawn to public interest law during Texas Tech’s Pro Bono Spring Break as a first year law student. During the summer, Anna screened approximately 130 people for pro bono legal appointments through TlTV and TVAS. She also participated in three legal clinics and notes that “[b] eing able to interact with the clients was the most valuable experience for me, whether it was over the phone or in per-
son. it was great to be able to provide that solace for them in addition to facilitating the legal process.” Anna also assisted in researching and writing volunteer manuals for the programs. She summarized her experience, “i have learned many valuable lessons and practice tips that i can utilize when i am an attorney. As future lawyers, we have a strong position in society to be a paradigm of social justice and extend help to a broad range of people.” Alexandria Hutchison, a 2l at Texas A&M university School of law, also participated in the equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD program over the summer. Alexandria attended Texas Christian university and has an interest in estate planning. “As a participant in the AmeriCorps JD program, i worked with many populations seeking legal advice, including veterans and homeless persons. My experience with the Foundation provided insight into the legal profession. Not only was i able to get hands-on experience by helping clients at legal advice clinics and connecting them with pro bono attorneys, but i learned valuable skills that will serve me in my future career. Through AmeriCorps JD and the Tarrant County Bar Foundation, i was able to further my professional development in the legal profession.” This fall, the Foundation is glad to have Joseph Vrecheck and lynne Nash, both 3ls at Texas A&M university School of law, serve as interns with the pro bono programs. Joey is an Army veteran who served in the iraq war and was a TlTV volunteer prior to his internship. Joey is interested in family and criminal law and was drawn to the internship “because it’s a great opportunity to serve members of our community who may otherwise not have their legal needs met.” lynne Nash worked for the District Court of Maryland’s ADR program before returning home to Texas to begin law school. lynne is interested in commercial litigation with a focus on trade secrets and has been selected as a member of the Mahon inn of Court this year. She believes working for the bar “will give me the chance to help the Bar’s pro bono programs grow and thrive in our community.” ■ November 2015
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Snippets
Civil and Criminal by Judge Bob McCoy
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Granbury Road: General Hiram Bronson Granberry (1831– 1864) was killed in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee. The spelling was changed—by mistake? —From Werner Magnus, Who was Hulen? An Attempt to Find the Origins of Street Names in Fort Worth.
Ask Judge Bob Judge Bob, Does the jailhouse-witness rule necessitate a jury instruction? unlike the accomplice-witness rule (Article 38.14), which requires an instruction in the jury charge if the accomplice witness testifies at all, the jailhouse-witness rule (Article 38.075(a)) requires a jury instruction only if the jailhouse witness testifies about a statement made by the defendant that was against the defendant’s interest. Phillips v. State, 463 S.W.3d 59, 67 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015).
Ask The Danes Ramses and Moses, is there such a thing as “pet sitter liability?” We recommend reading an article in the Texas Dog law Manual written by Zandra Anderson, entitled Pet Sitter Liability: A Pearl of Wisdom, on page 208.
The Danes’ Quote Of The Month “He is very imprudent, a dog is. He never makes it his business to inquire whether you are in the right or in the wrong, never bothers as to whether you are going up or down upon life’s ladder, never asks whether you are rich or poor, silly or wise, sinner or saint. Come luck or misfortune, good repute or bad, honor or shame, he is going to stick to you, to comfort you, guard you, and give his life for you.” —Jerome K. Jerome
Ramses
Criminal Items Of Interest 1. Photographs “[T]he trial court does not abuse its discretion by admitting photographs of the victim into evidence merely because they are gruesome.” Mayreis v. State, 462 S.W.3d 569, 577–78 (Tex. App.— Houston [14th Dist.] 2015). 14
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Probate Court No. 2
County Criminal Court No. 3
Who’s That Street Named After?
Moses
Co-Editor Lin Morrisett Associate Judge
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Confrontation Clause “The admission of a lab report created solely by a nontestifying analyst, without calling that analyst to sponsor it, violates the Confrontation Clause.” Paredes v. State, 462 S.W.3d 510, 517 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015).
3. Contraband “if the contraband is not found on the accused’s person, independent facts and circumstances may ‘link’ the accused to the contraband such that it may be justifiably concluded that the accused knowingly possessed the contraband. . . . The absence of various links does not constitute evidence of innocence to be weighed against the links present.” Tate v. State, 463 S.W.3d 272, 275 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2015). 4. Closing Argument “‘Without finding Mr. Kelly guilty today justice will not be done.’ . . . This was the beginning of the State’s closing argument, and the complained-of statement amounted to the State asking the jury to provide law enforcement. . . . We find nothing improper in that statement.” Taylor v. State, 463 S.W.3d 256, 269 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2015). 5. Right to Counsel “To establish that a suspect has waived her previouslyinvoked right to counsel, the State must prove two things: that the suspect herself initiated further communication with the authorities; and that she thereafter validly waived her right to counsel.” Nelson v. State, 463 S.W.3d 123, 127 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015). 6. Same Transaction Contextual Evidence “evidence of another crime may be admissible as ‘sametransaction contextual evidence,’ as when different crimes are intermixed in such a way that full proof by testimony of any one of them cannot be given without revealing the others.” Parks v. State, 463 S.W.3d 166, 171 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015). 7. Prior Conviction “The State is not required to produce a specific document or specific proof because ‘[t]here is no “best evidence” rule in Texas that requires that the fact of a prior conviction be proven with any document, much less any specific document.’” Wilmer v. State, 463 S.W.3d 194, 197 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2015).
8. Cell Phone “[T]he united States Supreme Court determined that the search incident to arrest exception to the warrant requirement does not extend to a search of data on a lawfully seized cell phone. Riley v. California, 134 S. Ct. 2473 (2014) (‘a warrant is generally required before such a search, even when a cell phone is seized incident to arrest’).” Carter v. State, 463 S.W.3d 218, 224 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2015).
Civil Items Of Interest 1. Out of State Guardian Can’t Sue on Behalf of Ward “A nonresident guardian of a nonresident ward with no connection to Texas beyond a possible lawsuit simply has no authority to sue on behalf of the ward in Texas in his capacity as guardian.” In re Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, 459 S.W.3d 565, 572 (Tex. 2015).
their remedies in placing disputes before the Attorney General before resorting to the courts. But requestors have no such remedies. While the Attorney General may invite their arguments, they have no right to request or demand a ruling or disclosure from the Attorney General, and no right to an administrative appeal. See Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.304. Requestors cannot be required to finish something they have no right to start.” Kallinen v. City of Hous., 462 S.W.3d 25, 28 (Tex. 2015). 7. Public Utilities Commission has Exclusive Initial Jurisdiction Over Electric Reliability “We conclude eRCOT is not a governmental unit as that term is used in [Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §] 101.001(3) (D). For that reason, we must also conclude that this Court does not have jurisdiction over HWY 3’s interlocutory appeal.” HWY 3 MHP v. Elec. Reliability Council, 462 S.W.3d 204, 206 (Tex. App.—Austin 2015).
Quote of the Month
2. Parent is a Legal Guardian “We disagree with Bonner [58 S.W. 1027] and Herrin [198 S.W.2d 117] to the extent they hold that a child’s parent is not a legal guardian qualified to sue on his child’s behalf in that capacity. under Texas law, a parent has the right to represent his child in legal proceedings and the duty to manage the child’s estate unless a guardian of the estate has been appointed.” In re Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, 459 S.W.3d 565, 572 n.9 (Tex. 2015).
There are three kinds of lies, lies, damned lies, and statistics. —Mark Twain
3. Legal Sufficiency Does Not Preclude Factual Insufficiency. “While the overlap between legal and factual sufficiency is substantial, a legally sufficient verdict may still be overturned as factually insufficient.” Victory Energy Corp. v. Oz Gas Corp., 461 S.W.3d 159, 171 (Tex. App.—el Paso 2014).
Officially, the longest war in history was between the Netherlands and the isles of Scilly, which lasted from 1651 to 1986. There were no casualties. The Anglo-Zanzibar war of 1896 is the shortest war on record lasting an exhausting 38 minutes. —25 Strange Facts From History that You Probably Didn’t Learn in School, http://list25.com/25-strange-facts-from-history-you-probably-didnt-learn-in-school/ (last accessed Sept. 28, 2015.) ■
4. Defamation Pleading Specificity. “in a defamation case, when a defendant complains that the statement proved is substantially different from the statement pleaded by the plaintiff, we ask whether the different statements would affect the reader or listener differently. We look for the ‘gist’ or ‘sting’ of the statement alleged when determining its effect on the listener.” Iroh v. Igwe, 461 S.W.3d 253, 262 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2015).
Legal Quote of the Month Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverend than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue. —Frances Bacon, Of Judicature
Old News
Classified
Advertising
NOTICE
Classified ads will no longer appear in the Bulletin, but can be found on the website www.tarrantbar.org
5. State Is Not a “Person” Under TMLA “[W]e conclude that the State when bringing suit under the [Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act] is not a ‘person’ within the definition of ‘claimant’ under the [Texas Medical liability Act] and, thus, not subject to the expert report requirement.” Malouf v. State ex rel. Ellis, 461 S.W.3d 641, 647 (Tex. App.—Austin 2015). 6. AG Opinion Not a Prerequisite to Suit in PIA Requests “The City argues, and the court of appeals held, that requestors of information should be required to exhaust November 2015
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Law Offices of Jason Smith
Trials and Appeals Employment, Personal Injury, Insurance Board Certified Civil Appellate Law
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16 www.tarrantbar.org ■ November 2015
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Amerian Board of Trial Advocates
Spotlight
Diversity
National Native American Heritage Month
I
n an effort to honor Native Americans for their contributions, achievements, sacrifices, and cultural and historical legacy of the original inhabitants of the united States, November has been declared National Native American Heritage Month. Sadly, though, according to the May 11, 2015, issue of The National law Journal, Native American lawyers in the u.S. feel overlooked both as a minority group and in their individual careers. A comprehensive survey commissioned by the Native American Bar Association has found that their paltry numbers will not grow without focused efforts to recruit and retain them in the profession. Native Americans, who include American indians, Alaska natives, and native Hawaiians, together comprise 1.6 percent of the u.S. population, but less than half a percent of all lawyers. By contrast, African-Americans comprise 4.2 percent of lawyers; while Hispanics and Asian-Americans each account for 5.1 percent, according to the u.S. Bureau of labor Statistics. Many lawyer diversity studies fail to include Native Americans, thus making them virtually invisible. The survey further reported that Native American attorneys felt excluded and had experienced demeaning comments or other types of harassment based on their race, ethnicity, and/or tribal affiliation. This exclusion persisted even while working with racial/ethnic minority attorneys and/or groups
that focused on diversity and inclusion in the profession. Native Americans are not being seen as an important part of diversity and inclusion efforts for several reasons. There is a lack of understanding about Native American histories, experiences, and ongoing challenges. They are not seen as a group that requires deliberate focus because of their relatively small numbers. Discrimination is not taken as seriously because it seems different from the discrimination experienced by other racial/ethnic minority groups. Offenses being ignored because the small numbers make them seem like isolated instances and because it feels “natural” to do so, after centuries of this being the case. Native American women reported even more exclusion and denial of opportunity than Native American men. Moreover, the younger female lawyers are perceived to be less professional and competent because of their age. The Diversity Committee will make efforts to include Native American lawyers within the diversity umbrella so that they are not overlooked. if you are interested in our commitment to the inclusion of all in the legal profession and would like to join our committee, please contact Chair Angel Williams at agwilliamslaw@gmail.com or Staff liaison Cindy Rankin at cindy@tarrantbar.org. Article submitted by Angel Williams, Diversity Committee Chair 2015-2016 ■
Read more: http://www.nationallawjournal.com/id=1202725932570/Native-Americans-Left-Behind#ixzz3nowF8b7q
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In Memoriam he former Texas Second Court of T Appeals Justice Dixon W. Holman passed away Saturday, September 26,
2015, after a battle with cancer. He was 81 years old. Services were held at Trinity united Methodist Church in Arlington, Texas. Justice Holman was born October 17, 1933, in Harlingen to Dixon J. Holman and Ruth Stovall Holman. He was a proud descendant of his great-greatDixon W. Holman grandfather, James S. Holman, who was the first mayor of Houston. upon graduating from Paschal High School in 1951, he enrolled at the university of Texas at Austin, where he received his B.B.A. in 1955. He received his J.D. from the university of Texas School of law in 1958. While at Texas, he was a proud member of the Texas Cowboys, Silver Spurs, and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. While Justice Holman was still in law school, at the age of 23, he was elected from Tarrant County as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. in 1958, Justice Holman married the love of his life, Sharon Green, and then began practicing law in downtown Fort Worth with the firm of Simon Ratliff. His son, Dixon, was born in 1960, and his daughter, Mary Claire, in 1962. He was very active in the community of Arlington as chair of the Planning & Zoning Commission, City Council member for three terms, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, and vice president of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. He was a member of the Arlington Downtown Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), Arlington and Tarrant County Advisory Councils of the Salvation Army, the Sons of the Republic of Texas, and the Sons of the American Revolution. He returned to private practice in 1971 and helped establish the Arlington law firm of Cribbs, McFarland & Holman with partners James Cribbs and the late Senator Bob McFarland. He stayed with the firm until 1981, when Governor Bill Clements appointed him to the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth. in 1990, Justice Holman was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to serve as united States District Judge, but due to a mild heart attack, he withdrew his name from the consideration. He was appointed to judicial offices by Governors Ann Richards and George W. Bush, and he served as a trial court judge and appellate court justice for twenty-five years. Justice Holman was awarded the Silver Gavel Award by the Tarrant County Bar Association as outstanding jurist. He was a Fellow of the College of State Bar of Texas and a life Fellow of both the Tarrant County Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation. At the age of 36, Dixon began a parallel career as a football official. Through relentless work and discipline, he rose within just a few short years to college officiating. He became one of the original instant replay officials for the National Football league. Above all else, Justice Holman was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon Holman, his son Dixon and wife lisa of Arlington, his daughter Mary Claire Sullivan and husband Kelly of Fort Worth and 7 grandchildren. ■ 18
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C
alendar of Events
Please visit our website for a complete list of upcoming events. www.tarrantbar.org
Thank you to these volunteers: 09/10/2015 Norma Bazán Bill Bowers Joe Colvin Sylvia Duarte Clayton everett George lockwood Scott Phillips Sandra Thompson Staff Carolina
09/24/2015 Joe Colvin Sylvia Duarte Joshua Graham Bryce King George lockwood Scott Phillips Sandra Thompson David Reed Veronica Veyhl Staff Carolina
Refreshments provided by the Tarrant County Bar Foundation
Please consider donating two hours of your time the 2nd and 4th Thursday, January through November from 6-8pm. legalline is a valuable community service outreach program that needs your time and skills. if you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring, please contact Carolina at 817.338.4092 or email carolina@tarrantbar.org. Dinner served at 5:30pm for all volunteers! Bring a friend - We always need volunteers.
It’s All Happening October Docket Call
September Docket Call
Criminal Law Mixer
20 www.tarrantbar.org ■ November 2015
at the
R A B New Member Reception
November 2015
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Lawyers on the Move &
in the News
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP is pleased to announce the hiring of four new associates to the Fort Worth office. All four are 2015 graduates from area law schools. John B. Phair joins the firm as an associate in the Corporate and Securities Practice Group. John received his Bachelor of Arts from Angelo State university and his J.D. from Texas Tech university School of law. Ryan M. Roper joins the firm as an associate in the litigation Practice Group. Ryan earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the university of Georgia and received his J.D. from Baylor university School of law. J.G. Joakim Soederbaum joins the firm as an associate in the litigation Practice Group. Joakim graduated, summa cum laude, from Texas Wesleyan university. He received his J.D., summa cum laude, from Texas A&M university School of law. Beth E. Thurman joins the firm as an associate in the Real estate and Finance Practice Group. Beth received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and graduated from Northwestern university. in addition to her undergraduate degree, Beth earned her Masters in Business Administration from Texas A&M university. She received her J.D. from Texas A&M university School of law, graduating second in her class. Sherry Armstrong has declared her professional independence and is pleased to announce the opening of her own law practice: The law Office of Sherry R. Armstrong PllC, 3000 east loop 820, Fort Worth, Texas 76112, 682.215.7404.
Sherry will be serving clients in Tarrant County as legal counsel on Criminal Defense issues.■
Help us make sure
No Kid Goes Hungry Tarrant County Food Drive September 20 through November 15
If your firm wants more information, contact Michele Rayburn or Edwin Jenson, II m.rayburn@wallach-law.com • erj@jensen-law-firm.com To make a tax deductible donation, make your check payable to: Tarrant County Bar Foundation and send to ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE • Tarrant County Bar Association 1315 Calhoun Street • Fort Worth, Texas 76102
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DeBORAH ADAMe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 BARlOW GARSeK & SiMON, llP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 THe COllie FiRM PllC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 FORT WORTH J.S.B. COMPANieS, iNC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 JuRiS FABRiliS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 KOONSFulleR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iNSiDe FRONT COVeR THe lAW OFFiCe OF GReG JACKSON P.l.l.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 lAW OFFiCeS OF JASON SMiTH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 lAW OFFiCeS OF STeVeN C. lAiRD, P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 lAWPAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 leXiSNeXiS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iNSiDe BACK COVeR PARKeR lAW FiRM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 SMYTHe PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SOuTHSiDe BANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 STePHeNS ANDeRSON & CuMMiNGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACK COVeR TeXAS lAWYeRS’ iNSuRANCe eXCHANGe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 TiNDAll SQuARe OFFiCe COMPleX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Mediation from Both Sides of the Practice
Elliott Garsek
■ Practiced law for more than 40 years ■ Negotiated and resolved numerous multi-million dollar transactions and disputes ■ Regularly listed as one of the nation’s top attorneys in publications such as The Legal News, Best Lawyers in America, Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, and Super Lawyers ■ Serves or has served on boards of directors for public and private institutions
■ Tried more than 40 cases before judges, juries, administrative panels, and arbitrators, and has argued before courts of appeals and administrative bodies ■ Litigated contentious multi-million dollar disputes and negotiated multi-million dollar transactions with some of the most arduous and difficult adversaries ■ Panelist serving as a neutral for mediations and arbitrations presented to, among others, AAA, National Arbitration Forum, Construction Dispute Christian Dennie Resolution Services, USCIB, LCIA, and American Health Lawyers DRS ■ Adjunct professor at Texas A&M University School of Law and Southern Methodist University Mediation and Arbitration Services located in the West 7th St. corridor in a modern space with ample parking 817.731.4500 ■ 920 Foch Street ■ Fort Worth, Texas 76107 ■ www.bgsfirm.com
24
www.tarrantbar.org
■
November 2015
BAR BULLETIN • November 2015 Tarrant County Bar Association 1315 Calhoun Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6504
) When )
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
T he game
PRESORTED STANDARD U. S. POSTAGE PAID FORT WORTH, TX PERMIT 1807
∂
is on the line,
hand
the
ball
off to the guys proven to
gO the ex tra yard.
if any of your contact information is incorrect, please submit your corrected information to the TCBA office at 817.338.4092, fax to 817.335.9238 or e-mail to cindy@tarrantbar.org
&
NATIONAL
ADOPTION DAY 8:00am - Noon
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015 Tarrant County Family Law Center 248 East Weatherford Street
Call
us
t o d ay
817.920.9000 | STEPHENSANDERSON.COM
personal injury | wrongful death truck & auto litigation | referral fees honored Jason Stephens is licensed in Texas and Oklahoma. Seth Anderson is Board-Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. John Cummings is Board-Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Don’t Forget Your Donation of a Stuffed Bear Bring bears to the TCBA office 8:30am – 4:30pm, M-F • 1315 Calhoun Street For more information, call TCBF at 817.338.4092
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