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resident’s page
Happy New Year!
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pon reflecting over the last year, we all have a lot to be thankful for. I wager we share some common gratitude. All of us are grateful for support of our our families. All of us should be grateful for a legal system by David E. Keltner that allows us to render services to clients within the constraint of the code of ethics, but without other types of government regulation. We have the State Bar of Texas and the American Bar Association to thank for this freedom. During the Reagan administration, the Commerce Department initiated proceedings in an effort to regulate the practice of law nationwide. The federal government’s argument was that since entry into the legal profession was limited, the government needed to regulate legal representation in terms of price and practice. Some in the profession intended to give in to the Fed’s demand. In fact, the leadership of the ABA advised some type of compromise that opened the door to limited regulation. But the State Bar of Texas disagreed. Fortunately, the Texas president was Franklin Jones. Realizing that he was fighting the leadership of the ABA, he addressed the House of Delegates directly. He characterized the federal government as a “ten pound gorilla” and told the lawyers that they could not quit the fight until “the gorilla was dead and bleeding with a knife buried in its chest.” He got a standing ovation and the ABA leadership took up the fight. Nonetheless, the Commerce Department submitted subpoenas to the ABA and other major bar associations. Those subpoenas were fought in court, and the organized bar carried the fight to Congress. Facing overwhelming opposition, the Commerce Department backed down. As a result, while we were regulated by a code of ethics that is enforced by the Texas Commission on Lawyer Discipline, the practice of law is not regulated by the federal government. And I am truly thankful for that and for the giants in the legal profession like Franklin Jones and our own Kleber Miller who fought the good fight. Those of us who practice in the trial courts of Tarrant County are doubly blessed. Over the years, we have maintained a judiciary that is the envy of other bar associations. I cannot count the number of times neighbors from the south 1
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and east whisper that they wish they could practice in front of judges like ours. Electing judges is a controversial process. There are those who insist that an appointment method would be better. On the other hand, the election of judges does much to cut down on cronyism, and I can tell you from experience, judicial campaigning is a humbling experience. The real downside for judicial election is an uneducated electorate. It is up to us lawyers to make sure that the public knows about the candidates’ temperament, efficiency, and fairness. This Association conducted a judicial evaluation poll. The purpose of this poll was to let our judges know how the lawyers believe they are handling their bench. While we always get some “one-offs,” in the main, the comments always seem to have the string of consistency. Over the years, it has been obvious that our judges have responded well to the evaluation poll. Soon, you will receive a judicial qualification poll only for those benches that are contested. That will include the Supreme Court of Texas, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Second Court of Appeals, and a number of district benches. If you have appeared in and are familiar with the courts involved and the candidates, please vote. This is not a political contest. Instead, the public is interested in your evaluation of these candidates’ qualifications. Please help us keep a fair and impartial judiciary. There are several upcoming events that you will want to attend. We will kick off the January stock show and rodeo festivities with a Rodeo Gathering on Thursday, January 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Reata. We will have a silent auction and door prizes including tickets to the Rodeo Finals on Saturday, February 6. On Thursday, January 28, 2016, the Tarrant County Bar Foundation will have its Annual Meeting and give its Annual Pro Bono Awards. (See Page 5 for information) On Friday, January 29, we will hold our Brown Bag Seminar on the “Brave New World of Technology.” We are kicking off our Transition to Practice mentoring project. We need attorneys who have been licensed between one and five years to serve as mentors for incoming lawyers. There will be six meetings a year for these beginning lawyers. Each will be a lunch meeting and lunch will be complimentary. ■
David
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Bettinger
Features
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National Adoption Day TCBF Annual Meeting & Pro Bono Awards TVAS Participates in National Adoption Day Holiday Party
On January 29, 2016 “Coffee with the Justices”
Judicial Profiles Judge Reed O’Connor Diversity Spotlight The Law Firm of Martinez Hsu, P.C.
will be sponsored by the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section at 10:30 a.m. in the 2nd Court of Appeals’ lobby on the 9th floor of the Tim Curry Justice Center.
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Departments 1 President’s Page 6 LegalLine 6 Lawyer Referral and Information Service News 6 Lawyers on the Move & in the News 7 New Members 7 Transition to Practice 7 YLA Snapshot 8 Benefits of Membership 8 CLE Corner 8 TCBA Member Benefits Vendor List 10 Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services 12 Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans - Tarrant County Chapter 13 Our Sections 17 100 Club 18 Snippets 22 Other Associations’ News & Information
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20
Directors
Term Ends 2016 Leslie Barrows John Cayce Lance Evans 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 April Holland, Staff Editor Graphics/Production Park Place Enterprises, Inc. ggpark@flash.net • 817.877.8901 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.
Rodeo Gathering 2016 The Bar Association will host a Rodeo Gathering as a kick-off to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo season. Wear your boots and jeans, and stroll on over to Reata Downtown for an evening of foot-stomping fun. We are celebrating the oldest livestock show and the world’s original indoor rodeo Fort Worth Style. If you don’t have boots and jeans, come as you are. All members are invited to attend this event. Guests are $20. Join us at the Reata (downtown under the dome) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 14, 2016, for good food, fun, and a great time to see old friends and meet new ones. If you would like to sponsor this event, give us a call at the Bar office: 817.338.4092.
Cattle Baron Sponsor • $5,000
• Name recognition in all event advertisement & Association’s social media platforms • Full page ad in the Bar Bulletin • Ten tickets to the Rodeo Finals held on Saturday, February 6, 2016 • Networking opportunity at the event
Trail Boss Sponsor • $2,500
• Name recognition in all event advertisement & Association’s social media platforms • Half page ad in the Bar Bulletin • Six tickets to the Rodeo Finals held on Saturday, February 6, 2016 • Networking opportunity at the event
Ranch Foreman Sponsor • $1,000 • Name recognition in all event advertisement & Association’s social media platforms • Fourth page ad in the Bar Bulletin • Four tickets to the Rodeo Finals held on Saturday, February 6, 2016 • Networking opportunity at the event
Ranch Hand Sponsor • $500
• Name recognition in all event advertisement & Association’s social media platforms • Business card ad in the Bar Bulletin • Two tickets to the Rodeo Finals held on Saturday, February 6, 2016 • Networking opportunity at the event
Sponsors
Ranch Foreman Sponsor Global Efficient Energy Stephens, Anderson & Cummings
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Ranch Hand Sponsor Cross Resources Group HUB International Insurance Services Northern Realty Group Southland Property Tax Consultants, Inc.
National Adoption Day “No matter how bad things get, something good is out there, just over the horizon.” –Hal Jordan, superhero from the movie Green Lantern
T
hat “something good” happened for sixty-six children this year during the superhero-themed National Adoption Day (NAD) on November 20, 2015. These special children left the Tarrant County Family Law Center with their new forever families. Many of the children adopted this year were sibling groups who were adopted together. Retired Judge Jean Boyd said, “We have children who have come from very hard and difficult places. Some of them have been abused and neglected . . . . They were wards of the state; today they’re getting permanent, loving families.” The families and children were greeted with volunteers dressed in superhero costumes and superhero capes. A special thank you to Heroic Inner Kids for supporting the event with twenty-five volunteers dressed in costume as Captain America, Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Robin, Antman, Supergirl, Black Widow, Wonder Woman, and many more superhero characters. Volunteers at the event helped the families throughout the day, in the courtrooms and in the reception area. The families were provided, by generous donations from the community, many special items—a personalized necklace for each adopted child from Kube’s Jewelry, a bear for each child in attendance from Build-A-Bear and a multitude of other community donors, Certificates of Adoption, a yellow rose for the adoptive mothers donated by Bob Leonard Law Group, a keepsake pen the judge used to sign the Order finalizing the adoption donated by The Barrows Firm,
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a welcome bag of goodies, new backpacks, an autographed book, and a superhero cape for each of the adopted children to take home. Refreshments were provided by The Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association and Susie Maldonado and Camp Gladiator. A special thank you also to Judge Tim Menikos and the other members of the planning committee, all of the volunteers who donated their time, all of the community partners who provided donated items and funds to support the event, all of the attorneys and CPS case workers who put in the work to get the cases ready for NAD, all of the judges who volunteered for the event, and all of the families who decided to be a superhero and bring a child or children into their families on NAD. The laughter, giggles, and smiles that lit up the faces of all those involved spoke volumes to another successful year. What a fantastic way to start the holiday season. The Tarrant County Bar Foundation has supported NAD since its inception in 2000. The Foundation raised an excess of $2,000 towards NAD and numerous people from the legal community donated stuffed animals for each child to take home. ■
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Lawyer Referral and Information Service
News
Update on LRIS
T
he LRIS has received over $65,000 in referral fees since July 1! Special thanks to James Culbertson, Christian Jenkins, Caleb Moore, Lantis Roberts, and Brian Walker. Thank you all! We wouldn’t be here without you! LRIS attorney members, please note that we will start contacting all clients with a brief survey about the program and the attorney contacted. If you have any questions about this, please contact Cindy at 817.338.4092 or cindy@tarrantbar.org. ■
On January 29, 2016 “Coffee with the Justices” will be sponsored by the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section at 10:30 a.m. in the 2nd Court of Appeals’ lobby on the 9th floor of the Tim Curry Justice Center.
Help! Beginning January 14, 2016, we need volunteers.
Please consider donating two hours of your time the 2nd & 4th Thursday, January through November from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Bring a friend. 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 carolina@tarrantbar.org. Dinner served at 5:30pm for all volunteers.
Stay CONNECTED to Us @TarrantBar @TLTVinTarrant @TVASFW Tarrant County Bar Association - Fort Worth Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans - Tarrant County Chapter
in the News
Lawyers on the Move & Cantey Hanger LLP announced that Laura Frase has joined the firm as National Coordinating Counsel/Regional Counsel in mass tort claims and as Negotiation/Settlement Counsel. Frase is a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, and she received her juris doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. She is licensed to practice law in Texas and Oklahoma. She can be contacted at 214.978.4134 or lfrase@canteyhanger.com. Joshua D. Ross has joined the law firm as an Associate of Cantey Hanger LLP. Ross is a graduate of The University of Texas and received his juris doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Texas. He can be contacted at 817.877.2854 or jross@ canteyhanger.com. 6
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Forshey Prostok LLP, a Fort Worth-based bankruptcy law boutique, has hired Juan Mendoza as an Associate. Mendoza’s practice will focus on bankruptcy, business reorganizations and commercial litigation. He is licensed to practice law in Florida and Georgia. His admission to the Texas Bar is pending. He can be contacted at 817.877.8855 or jmendoza@forsheyprostok.com. Brittany A. Weaver, an attorney practicing in business and litigation, has been added as the newest Associate to the law firm of Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C. She can be contacted at 817.877.1088 or bweaver@bwwlaw.com. ■ Tarrant County Bar Association - Fort Worth
New
TCBA Welcomes Its
Members
Attorneys
Associates
Scott Barber Clint Davis Christina DeFiore Lindsey Farless Matt Foust Aulstin Gardiner Marializa Kelly Justin Lopez Vykim Le Yohana Mantrana Matthew McGowan Josh Norrell Matthew Smid John Smithee, Jr. Suzanne Taylor Jeffrey Tillman Brittany Weaver
Antonia Buban Janice Eidd-Meadows
Students Georgia Beake Emily Hindman
Get Ready for Transition to Practice 2016
T
he Transition to Practice mentoring group has completed its sixth year of mentoring young lawyers. The group will start up again for 2016 on Wednesday, January 20. If you are a member of the TCBA, a young lawyer practicing three years or less, and you are interested in participating, please email cindy@tarrantbar.org with your contact information and what area of law you are interested in. Assignments to mentors will be made this month. Also, if you are an attorney who has been practicing ten years or more and interested in helping mentor young lawyers, please volunteer to be a mentor in 2016. The program doesn’t work without you! ■
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www.tarrantbar.org
alendar of Events
Please visit our website for a complete list of upcoming events.
t o h s p Sn a YLA
Law Offices of Jason Smith
Amber Altemose President TCYLA
Happy New Year from TCYLA! L
ast month TCYLA hosted a first-of-its-kind Holiday Party. The entire membership was invited to come and ease into the holiday season with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at Fixture. I want to thank Jake Ramsey and Patrick Rose for all of their hard work in planning this event! This month TCYLA will be hosting its monthly happy hour on January 14 and its luncheon on January 19. In addition, this month TCYLA members will have the opportunity to prepare lunch for the families residing at Ronald McDonald House. Be sure to check the newsletter for more details about the happy hour and the opportunity to volunteer at Ronald McDonald House! ■
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Amber
Trials and Appeals Employment, Personal Injury, Insurance Board Certified Civil Appellate Law
Jason Smith 817.334.0880 600 8th Aveue Fort Worth, TX 76104
letsgotocourt.com
Amerian Board of Trial Advocates
Benefits of Membership Why be 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 eighteen 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) and 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; and 9) 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. ■
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.
CLECorner Sherry Jones Associate Executive Director
Need ETHICS? We are here to help! Each year (usually in September) the Tarrant County Bar Association’s CLE – Brown Bag Committee presents a three hour CLE seminar on “ETHICS.” What is even better is that Brown Bag Season Pass holders can attend at no additional fee or if you only want to attend this one Brown Bag Seminar, you only pay the member rate. But there is more! We have the seminar video tapped so in the event our members are unable to attend the live session, you can attend Last Tuesday CLE. Don’t know what Last Tuesday CLE is? On the last Tuesday of each month we show the ETHICS CLE DVD at the bar office from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. If you have purchased a Brown Bag Season Pass there is no cost to attend. If you did not purchase a pass, you can view the DVD for the $80 TCBA member rate. Nonmembers may attend for $105. So, no more excuses! Everyone can get their ETHICS credit without a hassle or a lot of fuss. Just give us a call at 817.338.4092 or email Sherry at sherry@tarrantbar.org. ■
Bar Foundation donates $4,000 to Tarrant Area Food Bank
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.
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TCBF Chair Rick Sorenson pictured with Bo Soderbergh, TAFB Executive Director, with Annual Food Drive Committee Chair Michele Rayburn and Chair Elect Edwin Jensen
TVAS Participates in National Adoption Day
T
arrant County Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) was honored to support and participate in National Adoption Day on November 20, 2015. Thanks to a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation, TVAS has established a network of volunteer attorneys and has resources available to assist eligible families adopting foster children. Through its program, TVAS placed a family with a pro bono volunteer attorney so that they could participate in National Adoption Day. The adoptive parents (the child’s aunt and uncle), their son, and their family all participated in the National Adoption Day activities. Judge Jerome Hennigan presided over the proceeding, and volunteer attorney Lauren Duffer (Law Office of Lauren Gaydos Duffer, P.C.) represented the family at the proceeding. Margaret McCroan, a law student from Texas A&M University School of Law, also participated in the proceeding. Through grant funds, TVAS was also able to provide financial assistance to additional income-eligible families participating in National Adoption Day; the families were able to offset the filing and related costs of the adoption proceeding. ■
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TVAS Holds Uncontested Divorce Clinic with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas TVAS also extends its appreciation to all those who volunteered in connection with the event and those who signed up to volunteer for the event. Through the clinic, TVAS and LANWT were able to match over fifteen individuals with volunteer attorneys for pro bono representation with their uncontested divorces. ■
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n November 17, 2015, Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) held its second uncontested divorce clinic in 2015 with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT). Justice Bonnie Sudderth, Judge Judith Wells, and Judge Mark Pittman attended the clinic and offered remarks to the volunteers. Attorney volunteers Leslie Barrows, Lyndsay Newell (both of The Barrows Firm, PC), Dwayne Smith (Gardner & Smith, PLLC), and Dick Price (The Price Law Firm) attended the clinic and mentored the volunteers. Current TVAS Co-Chairs Patricia LaRue (Benenati Law Firm) and Philip Vickers (Cantey Hanger LLP) attended the event, as well as incoming TVAS Co-Chair Aaron Young (American Airlines Federal Credit Union). TVAS thanks the law firm of Gardner & Smith, PLLC for its generous sponsorship of the clinic.
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Attorney Volunteers: Leslie Araya, Fidelity Susan Ayres, Texas A&M University School of Law Irwin Barnes, Fidelity Chris Brown, Cantey Hanger LLP Kamryn Caldwell, Law Office of Kamryn Caldwell Yolanda Castro-Dominguez, Law Office of Jason Amon Daniel Clanton, The Clanton Law Firm John Corbin, Law Office of John Corbin Emily Cottingham, Parker Strauss LLP Sylvia Duarte, Duarte Law Office, PLLC Clayton Everett, Law Office of St. Clair Newbern, III Alex Good Nancy Gordon, Law Office of Nancy A. Gordon, P.C. Emem O. Inyang Jill Johnston, The King Firm Jessica Lavely, Fidelity Christie Lindsey, Berend & Lindsey, PLLC Jim Loveless, Loveless & Naylor Jeffrey R. McCombs, Law Office of Jeffrey McCombs Taylor McPherson, The Law Office of L. Taylor McPherson Chase Medling, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP Mitch Miers, Mitch Miers Law Firm Lauren Munselle, Haynes and Boone, L.L.P. Emily Quillen, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, P.C. Karon Rowden, Texas A&M University School of Law Ricky Torlincasi, Haynes and Boone, L.L.P. Daniel Steppick, Lacy Lyster Malone & Steppick, PLLC Philip Vasquez, Law Office of Philip Vasquez Laurie Weir, Law Office of Carey Thompson, PC Bryan Wilson, Law Office of Bryan Wilson Jordan Woody, Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP Melissa Wilks, The Hurr Law Office Rafael Ylanan, Guerra, Sherwood & Ylanan, PLLC
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas: Alexandra Esparza Merrit Klapperich William Marple
Paralegals and Volunteers: John Berry Katrina Lea Ethan McNiff Star Moore Cheryl Muise Janice Piggott Brent Rayner Julie Sherman Linda Webber Diana Zubalsky
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Law Students: Danielle Bateni Georgia Beake Justin Davis Ellen Dickerson Tyler Gregston Macy Jones Lynne Nash Ariel Santillan Joseph Vrechek Claire Whitten
TVAS thanks the following attorney volunteers for providing pro bono wills and estate planning assistance to residents of Tarrant County. Charlotte Staples Taylor Olsen Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP Tom Ryder Lacy Lyster Malone & Steppick, PLLC Jordan Woody Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP
If you are interested in volunteering for TVAS’s simple wills and estate planning program, please contact Megan Cooley at megan@tarrantbar.org.
Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans
Tarrant County Chapter
Start 2016 as a TLTV Volunteer or Clinic Sponsor TLTV
is looking forward to holding its 2016 legal clinics at several locations next year, including the Veterans Administration’s Outpatient Facility, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Wesleyan University, and Tarrant County College’s South, Trinity River, and Northwest campuses. Please contact Megan Cooley at megan@tarrantbar.org if you would like to receive notifications about volunteer opportunities at the Veteran legal clinics. There are also sponsorship opportunities for law firms, businesses, and legal departments. TLTV also needs attorneys from all legal practices to serve as pro bono volunteers for eligible low-income veterans after the legal clinics. Attorneys may take a case or offer veterans advice through a telephone or in-person consultation. Common areas of legal expertise needed by TLTV volunteer attorneys include: • Employment advice, including wrongful termination and discrimination cases. Attorney volunteers may offer an evaluation of a potential employment claim, represent a veteran with an employment claim, provide guidance to a veteran who has been laid off from work, or provide information about employee benefits. • Bankruptcy, debt collection, and related advice and representation. TLTV attorney volunteers have represented veterans in bankruptcy proceedings, provided veterans with debt analysis and related remedies, and negotiated debt collection actions instituted against a veteran. • Family law matters, including divorce, custody, and support issues. Family law is the largest area of need by TLTV clients. Veterans need assistance with issues
Thanks
to the following volunteers for taking a case or otherwise providing pro bono legal assistance to a TLTV veteran over the past few months:
Wes Cooper, Cooper Oil & Gas – Wes secured the non-suit of a debt collection case on behalf of a retired veteran, saving the veteran thousands of dollars. John Johnson, Johnson & Johnson – John continues to take a number of traffic violation cases on behalf of veterans and has assisted veterans with criminal expunctions and recovering their driver licenses. Ezra Kuenzi, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP – Ezra provided employment advice to a veteran who had recently been laid off from work and needed advice regarding his employment benefits.
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ranging from uncontested divorces, child support and custody modifications, and adoptions. • Probate and guardianship matters. Many veterans visit the TLTV clinics with questions about property that is the subject of a probate proceeding or inquire about their rights or the rights of their relatives in a probate or guardianship proceeding. Veterans also need assistance with their wills and estate planning documents. • Consumer issues, including negotiation of consumer debt and small claim matters on behalf of veterans. TLTV assists many veterans who are unemployed and need assistance with negotiating their debts or have been sued and need representation in small claim proceedings. In addition, TLTV needs volunteers to assist veterans pursuing DTPA and consumer-related claims against third parties. • Property issues. TLTV needs volunteers to advise veterans about disputes and issues related to property ownership or mineral-right issues. ■
January 2016
Bria Larson, Schneider Law Firm, Bria provided a pro bono legal consultation to a veteran seeking to enforce a child custody obligation. Michael McBride, J. Michael McBride, P.C., Mike is providing pro bono bankruptcy representation to a TLTV veteran. Valerie Simpson, Law Office of Valerie Simpson – Valerie is assisting a veteran and the veteran’s family with estate planning matters. Allen Stidger, Stidger Law Firm – Al continues to help veterans with consumer-related matters.
And, now a word from…
Our Sections
Women
Attorneys
Bar Passers Reception & Holiday Luncheon
Attorney Mentors Needed for Women Attorneys Section Mentorship Program The second year of the Women Attorneys Section mentorship program kicked off on Oct. 14 at Bar Louie with a happy hour event providing student mentees and their attorney mentors a chance to meet and network. Twenty law student mentees from Texas A&M School of Law’s Women Law Students Association are paired with members of the Women Attorneys Section according to areas of interest. The program gives mentees the opportunity to learn about what practicing law is really like, as well as ask questions about issues that face many female attorneys such as balancing family and work. Program participants are required to meet three times per semester. Mentors are encouraged to invite their mentees to section and TCBA events. Mentees also have the opportunity to engage in activities such as attending hearings with their mentor or shadowing their mentor at the office to expose them to “real world” law practice. There are still a handful of students who would like a mentor who have not yet been paired. If you are a member of the Women Attorneys Section and are interested in mentoring a law student, please contact Courtney Key, Mentorship Director, at ckey@law.tamu.edu. ■ 13 www.tarrantbar.org ■ January 2016
Business Litigation Section Luncheon and CLE January 13, 2016 at noon Fort Worth Club “I’m a Believer—What Every Litigator Needs to Know about TRCP 91a and the Believability Standard for Early Dismissal in Texas.” Presented by Yolanda C. Garcia, Rob Velevis, and Brandon A. Fuqua, who practice in Sidley Austin LLP’s Complex Commercial Litigation section. Cost is $23 members; $28 guests RSVP to sherry@tarrantbar.org • 817.338.4092 1 hour CLE has been requested
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. January 2016
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Snippets
Civil and Criminal by Judge Bob McCoy
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Paddock Viaduct (Main Street bridge over the Trinity)—Captain B. B. Paddock (1842–1922) came to Fort Worth about 1866. He took over the “Fort Worth Democrat” in 1872 and helped to form the first fire company in 1873. He was Mayor from 1892–1900 and very instrumental in the development and growth of the city. From Werner Magnus, Who was Hulen? An Attempt to Find the Origins of Street Names in Fort Worth.
Ask Judge Bob Judge Bob, What constitutes a “general appearance?” A party enters a general appearance when it (1) invokes the judgment of the court on any question other than the court’s jurisdiction, (2) recognizes by its acts that an action is properly pending, or (3) seeks affirmative action from the court. In the re D. M. B., 467 S.W.3d 100, 103 (Tex. App—San Antonio, 2015).
Ask The Danes Ramses and Moses, where is a “dangerous dog” ruling appealed? HB1436 corrected an inconsistency in state law involving appeals from municipal courts to county courts and county courts at law on dangerousdog determinations. As corrected by HB1436, the owner of a dog declared “dangerous” by a municipal or justice Moses court may now appeal that ruling to a county court or county court at law as applicable and be entitled to a trial de novo before a jury if requested. Animal Law, Shelby Bobosky, Texas Bar Journal, p. 700, Oct. 2015. Ramses
The Danes’ Quote Of The Month “If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience.” —Woodrow Wilson
Criminal Items Of Interest 1. Minor “A minor does not possess the legal capacity to waive service of summons, nor can anyone waive it for him.” Ex parte Rodriguez, 466 S.W.3d 846, 850 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). www.tarrantbar.org
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Probate Court No. 2
County Criminal Court No. 3
Who’s That Street Named After?
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Co-Editor Lin Morrisett Associate Judge
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Habeas Corpus “As a general matter, this Court has long held that a convicted person may not raise a claim for the first time in a habeas-corpus proceeding if he had a reasonable opportunity to raise the issue at trial or on direct appeal and failed to do so. . . . Even claims of a constitutional dimension are ‘forfeited [on habeas] if the applicant had the opportunity to raise the issue on appeal. This is because the writ of habeas corpus is an extraordinary remedy that is available only when there is no other adequate remedy at law.’” Ex parte De La Cruz, 466 S.W.3d 855, 864 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015).
3. Lesser-Included Offense “An offense is a lesser-included offense of the charged offense if the indictment for the greater-inclusive offense either: (1) alleges all of the elements of the lesserincluded offense, or (2) alleges elements plus facts (including descriptive averments, such as non-statutory manner and means, that are alleged for purposes of providing notice) from which all of the elements of the lesser-included offense may be deduced. Under this approach, if the elements of the lesser-included offense can be deduced from facts alleged in the indictment, they need not be pled in the indictment.” Smit, v. State, 466 S.W.3d 871, 873 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2015). 4. Custody “A person is in ‘custody’ only if, under the circumstances, a reasonable person would believe that his freedom of movement was restrained to the degree associated with a formal arrest. In assessing the circumstances surrounding the seizure, allowances must be made for the fact that officers must often make quick decisions under tense, uncertain, and rapidly changing circumstances.” Hauer v. State, 466 S.W.3d 886, 891 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015). 5. Investigative Detention “[A]n investigative detention implies that the obtrusive act is for the purpose of actually investigating. Where no investigation is undertaken, the detention rises to the level of an arrest.” Hauer v. State, 466 S.W.3d 886, 891 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015). 6. License Plates “An illegible temporary tag gives rise to the reasonable suspicion that the driver of the vehicle is displaying a tag
that does not comply with commission rules in violation of Texas Transportation Code section 503.069.” Pabst v. State, 466 S.W.3d 902, 906 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015). 7. Juror “A juror is incapable or unfit and may be challenged for cause based on the juror’s inability to read and write. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 35.16(11). Also encompassed in this specific challenge is a juror’s inability to understand English.” Stillwell v. State, 466 S.W.3d 908, 912 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2015)
Civil Items Of Interest 1. Docket Entry “A docket-sheet entry ordinarily forms no part of the record that may be considered; rather, it is a memorandum made for the trial court and clerk’s convenience. Docketsheet entries are inherently unreliable because they lack the formality of orders and judgments. Perhaps due to this unreliability, a docket-sheet entry is generally considered insufficient to constitute a judgment or decree of the court. Significant to this case, a docket-sheet entry cannot contradict, overrule, or take the place of a written order or judgment.” Barnes v. Deadrick, 464 S.W. 3d 48, 53 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015). 2. DWOP Is Not an Adjudication “An order dismissing an action for want of prosecution without prejudice, such as the one in this case, does not serve as a final judgment on the merits for purposes of res judicata.” Barnes v. Deadrick, 464 S.W. 3d 48, 54 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015). 3. Compensatory Damages. “We cannot conclude that the award is compensatory when it cannot be explained.” In re Longview Energy Co., 464 S.W.3d 353, 360 (Tex. 2015). 4. Labor Code Notice Mandatory “UT concedes that it did not send the notice required by [Tex. Labor Code Ann] section 410.258(a) to the Division prior to the trial court entering judgment. Because it did not comply with the statutory notice requirements, we hold that the trial court’s judgment is void, and we dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.” Univ. of Tex. v. Thomas, 464 S.W.3d 754, 759 (Tex. App.— Houston [1st Dist.] 2015). 5. Lack of Public Concern in Anti-SLAPP “The fact that the potential consequences of Coleman’s failure to gauge the tank included health, safety, environmental, and economic concerns is not enough to transform communications about a private employment matter into a public concern.” ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. v. Coleman, 464 S.W.3d 841, 846 (Tex. App.— Dallas 2015). 19 www.tarrantbar.org ■ January 2016
6. Probate Bill of Review Limitations “[S]ection 31 unequivocally prescribes a two-year limitations period for all bills of review in probate proceedings. The statute neither provides nor suggests different limitations periods for bills of review in the probate context.” Valdez v. Hollendeck, 465 S.W.3d 217, 227 (Tex. 2015). 7.
Judicial Error as New and Independent Cause? (DISSENT) “This case falls into the category of cases that do not require expert testimony on causation. The record here demonstrates: (1) the Stone Parties argued at trial and in a motion for new trial that the evidence was insufficient to prove agency; (2) the trial judge rejected the Stone Parties’ arguments; and (3) the court of appeals reversed the Neubaums’ case on the ground that the evidence was insufficient to prove agency. The trial judge’s error is readily apparent from the face of the record. The facts establish a logical sequence of events connecting the trial judge’s error and the Neubaums’ resulting condition. Therefore, the Stone Parties were not required to present expert testimony to satisfy their summary-judgment burden. “I would hold as a matter of law that judicial error was a new and independent cause destroying the causal connection between the negligence allegedly committed by the Stone Parties and the harm allegedly suffered by the Neubaums.” Neubaum v. Stanfield, 465 S.W. 3d 266, 281, 279, (Tex. App.—Houston[14th Dist.] 2015) (Browning, J., dissenting)
Quote Of The Month “The American political system is like fast food: mushy, insipid, made out of disgusting parts of things . . . and everybody wants some.”—P. J. O’Rourke
Legal Quote of the Month “Justice is a machine that, when someone has once given it the starting push, rolls on of itself.”—John Gallsworthy
Old News One Hundred Years Ago Today: • Top speed limit in most American cities: 10 MPH • Percentage of U.S. homes with a bathtub: 14 • The average worker’s wages: twenty-two cents ($0.22) an hour • Life expectancy in America: 47 years • Miles of paved Roads in the US: 144 • Top Killers: Diseases of the heart, pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, and nephritis. Diarrhea kills nearly as many as automobile accidents. www.infoplease.com; www.cdc.com; Wikipedia, all reviewed November 9, 2015.
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Profiles
Judicial
By Perry Cockerell
In August 2015, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor
could finally call the Fort Worth Division of the United States District Court his new home. Although he transferred from the Dallas Division to the Fort Worth Division in July 2013 after U.S. District Judge Terry Means took senior status, it was two more years before he had a permanent office in the Judge Eldon B. Mahon Federal Courthouse. His new courtroom and office are located on the 2nd floor. Fort Worth now has three federal district judges with Judge O’Connor and Judge McBryde serving full time and Judge Terry Means serving in senior status. Judge O’Connor was born in Houston, Texas. He graduated from J. Frank Dobie High School in Houston in 1983. In 1986, he received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Houston. For one year after college he taught at Sugarland Junior High School before deciding to pursue law at South Texas College of Law, where he graduated in 1989, second in his class. From 1989 to 1994, he was a litigation attorney in the General Litigation Section at Vinson & Elkins in Houston. In 1994, he moved to Fort Worth to take a position with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office as an Assistant District Attorney. There he handled significant criminal cases, including a death penalty case involving gang violence and an involuntary manslaughter case involving a local periodontist who recklessly administered anesthesiology, without being licensed to do so, to a patient who died in his office. From 1998 to 2002, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Fort Worth Division and successfully prosecuted the federal death penalty case of Julius Robinson, whose street name was “Capone” and who was responsible for three murders. As an aside, Judge Terry Means presided over this trial. In 2002, Judge O’Connor changed directions by moving to Washington, D.C., where he joined the Senate Judiciary Committee as a crime counsel to then Chairman U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch. In early 2005, he became Chief Counsel to Senator John Cornyn from Texas who was then the chair of the Immigration Sub-Committee. In June 2007, Senators Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson recommend him to President George W. Bush to serve on the federal bench. President Bush nominated him to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas being vacated by the Honorable A. Joe Fish. The United States Senate confirmed O’Connor’s appointment on November 16, 2007, and he received his commission on November 21, 2007. His transfer in July 2013 to the Fort Worth Division required only the approval of the Chief Judge of the Northern District. The task of a federal judge can be daunting with the broad nature of federal criminal and civil cases before the court on a daily basis. The Fort Worth Division has a heavy criminal docket “since criminal cases are assigned between three judges whereas in Dallas they are spread between eight judges,” he said. “There is an increase in the workload in Fort Worth on the criminal side. The split is generally 60/40 between criminal cases filed in this division versus the Dallas division. The result is that 60% of the criminal cases are spread between the eight district judges in Dallas and the 40% in this division is split between three judges. The net result is I have a much higher criminal docket in Fort Worth.” A typical week for Judge O’Connor involves a criminal docket every Monday morning and guilty pleas as needed on Thursdays and Fridays. “I set things quickly on criminal cases to process them timely.” 20 www.tarrantbar.org ■ January 2016
Judge Reed O’Connor
Federal judges make rulings on a broad range of subjects that include reviewing the findings and conclusions of the U.S. Magistrate Judges. The cases can run from appeals of social security benefits, habeas corpus petitions filed by state and federal prisoners, motions to vacate sentences, constitutionality of local ordinances, federal interstate challenges to gun-bans, and bankruptcy appeals. He recently declared the federal interstate handgun sales ban violated the Second Amendment, and he is known to take an interest in patent cases. The burden of writing can be enormous on a federal district judge. Because of the heavy criminal docket the Judge said, “I handle civil cases as they come and hearings are set as needed.” He sets civil cases for trial after all parties have appeared, and the trial usually occurs roughly 12-16 months later. Judge O’Connor is concerned about pro se litigants in the Fort Worth Division. He would like to see a panel of volunteer attorneys in the Fort Worth Division established to handle pro bono civil cases in his court. In some cases pro se litigants have filed cases that have survived Federal Rule 12 and 56 motions and will need representation at trial, which can be a jury trial. He believes that attorneys who volunteer to take such an assignment would have a great opportunity to gain valuable trial experience in the federal system. “There is no substitute for gaining that experience and making yourself a better lawyer.” Judge O’Connor recommends that new attorneys take advantage of real world experience in any way possible, from pro bono family law to landlord-tenant to federal court appointments. His advice to attorneys is to “be prepared, know the law, be respectful to the court and to the opponent.” Judge O’Connor is married to Tammy O’Connor, whom he met in law school. She is in-house counsel with ExxonMobil in Las Colinas. They have two daughters. One is at Texas A&M and the other in high school. ■
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TOP ATTORNEY FOR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION Fort Worth, Texas Magazine 2003 - 2015
LAWYER OF THE YEAR
Fort Worth Magazine 2003 - 2015
AMERICA’S MOST HONORED PROFESSIONALS 2012 - 2015
TOP 100 IN TEXAS Super Lawyers 2010
SUPER LAWYERS® 2003 - 2015
ATTORNEYS OF EXCELLENCE
Fort Worth Business Press 2003 - 2010
BEST LAWYERS™ (Fort Worth) 2003 - 2015
BEST LAWYERS™ (America) 2008 - 2015
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NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DISTINGUISHED NEUTRALS Charter Member
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 Kevin Schmid, 817.377.3000 lawschmid@aol.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.
Advertisers’ Index For more information visit Medi8withHughes.com or call me at 817.291.4147
John W. Hughes 22
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DEBORAH ADAME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 THE COLLIE FIRM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 JURIS FABRILIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 JOHN W. HUGHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 KOONSFULLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INSIDE FRONT COVER THE LAW OFFICE OF GREG JACKSON P.L.L.C. . . . . . . . INSIDE BACK COVER LAW OFFICES OF JASON SMITH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 LAW OFFICES OF STEVEN C. LAIRD, P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 LAWPAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 LEXISNEXIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 PARKER LAW FIRM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 SOUTHSIDE BANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 STEPHENS ANDERSON & CUMMINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACK COVER TINDALL SQUARE OFFICE COMPLEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 RANDY TURNER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Spotlight
Diversity
T
he Diversity Spotlight this month is on the minority law firm of Martinez Hsu, P.C. located in Arlington. This firm was founded in 2013 by attorneys An Lee Hsu and Michael S. Martinez. They were joined by Michael’s brother, Marcos, Andrea Dwyer, and Courtney Burns, who are associates at the firm and all minority. Elaine Wang and Jazmine Cano are legal assistants and secretaries at the firm, also minority. Martinez Hsu, P.C. has clients in Texas, New Mexico, Florida, and even Taiwan and China. They practice family law, probate, trust and estate matters, tax matters, as well as general litigation and corporate matters. The staff speaks English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. The firm’s philosophy begins with dedication to its clients. After experiencing the firm culture that prevails at some larger firms, An Lee and Michael were determined to design a private practice where each particular client, whether corporate or individual, would receive more individual attention. To further this goal, the firm strives to keep an open and consistent line of communication with its
clients to better facilitate their legal needs, as they may arise. With the firm’s corporate practice, it strives to cater to each corporation’s growing needs, from inception to success as an established company, including litigation, restricting, tax planning, risk management, compliance and mergers/acquisitions, and purchase/sales. ■
Article submitted by Marcos Martinez, Martinez Hsu, P.C. 23
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Space For Lease in the historic
Tindall Square Office Complex in Downtown Fort Worth
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Parking available Up to 10,000 square feet of office space available with rates starting at $18.50 psf. Current office tenant base includes attorneys, private investment firms and accountants. Executive suites for attorneys available, call for details. Secure record storage facility conveniently located on site with rates as low as $120/month Within walking distance to local restaurants and Sundance Square Office Space and Record Storage Space Available Immediately
Contact Debara Herring ■ 817.632.6364 dherring@rochester-group.com 505 Pecan Street, Suite 101 ■ Fort Worth, Texas 76102
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25 www.tarrantbar.org ■ January 2016
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28 www.tarrantbar.org ■ January 2016
On Injured Reserve?
SM
Trustworthy Counsel to get you back in the game.SM
817.926.1003 / Fax 817.886.3653 gjackson@gregjacksonlaw.com 201 Main Street / Suite 600 / Fort Worth, Texas 76102 29
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January 2016
BAR BULLETIN • January 2016 Tarrant County Bar Association 1315 Calhoun Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6504 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD U. S. POSTAGE PAID FORT WORTH, TX PERMIT 1807
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
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