December 2015
Thursday, December 10 • 5:00pm-7:00pm you to Studio 80 for 1Thank www.tarrantbar.org ■December 2015
allowing us to use their facilities for our Holiday Party photo shoot.
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resident’s page
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas
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by David E. Keltner
ur holiday party is just a few days away. On December 10, 2015, at 5:00 p.m., we will celebrate the holidays. This year’s party sports a 1980s theme. So, if you have Guess jeans & leg warmers that still fit—wear them. The holiday party is one of the highlights of the Bar year. i always enjoy it because i see people that i don’t see throughout the year. equally important, i always seem to meet new people at the party and look forward to keeping up those friendships.
Texas A&M University School of Law The lawyer population in Tarrant County continues to grow, along with the population. Fort Worth has been one of the fastest growing cities in the united States. Of course, the success of the Texas A&M university School of law has added many new local lawyers. The law school is a real success story. While the law school did well under the Texas Wesleyan banner, Texas A&M has brought new resources that are making a difference. in all categories, the law school continues to climb. The average lSAT and grade point average of incoming classes are not only increasing, but overtaking other law schools. Also, applications are continuing to climb, while applications at other schools decline.
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Dean Andy Morriss and his staff have big plans. They have raised significant amounts of money and intend to expand the Texas A&M campus in Fort Worth. There were a lot of anxious moments when Texas A&M took over the school because of the fear that the law school might move from Fort Worth. But Texas A&M is committed to Fort Worth and has plans to expand its downtown campus. The law school’s future is bright. Dean Morriss has added impressive new faculty members that compliment an already impressive group. expect llM offerings in the near future. The law school’s success is important to our legal community.
The Bar’s Continued Progress under Trisha Graham’s direction, our Bar Association continues its successes. Our pro bono effort is one of the most celebrated in the State. Megan Cooley heads our efforts, and she has recruited the largest crop of volunteer lawyers ever. As a result, the TlTV and TVAS programs continue to grow. The State Bar of Texas and other organizations have recognized the strength of our pro bono programs and continue to give us grants to aid our efforts.
New Technology An anonymous donor made a gift to the Tarrant County Bar Foundation to increase our computer capability. This will help in our pro bono effort and will also help in our online publication of this Bar Bulletin. We have received a lot of compliments on the Bar Bulletin, but also some complaints. The complaints center around the electronic publication and the difficulty in downloading both content and advertising. Our computer upgrades, together with other advances, will make the online Bulletin more accessible. For example, advertisers will be able to redirect readers to their websites. This will be more useful to advertisers and ought to increase advertiser revenue. Additionally, the Bulletin can be printed from its electronic version with much better quality than ever before. Of course, you can always pay the additional $20.00 for a printed version. ■
David
Tarrant County Bar Association
C
817.338.4092 ■ Fax 817.335.9238 website: www.tarrantbar.org email: tcba@tarrantbar.org 2015-2016 Officers
ontents
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Features
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Holiday Party Advocates for Justice luncheon Thank You to Sponsors
Term Ends 2017 Tawana Gray Gary l. Medlin Jason C. n. Smith
Judicial Profiles Judge Tim Menikos
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Diversity Spotlight The Law Firm of Dowell, Pham, & Harrison, LLP
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Directors Term Ends 2016 leslie Barrows John Cayce lance evans
Departments 1 President’s Page 3 legalline 5 YlA Snapshot 5 Benefits of Membership 5 lawyers on the Move & in the news 6 it’s All Happening at the Bar 9 new Members 10 100 Club 11 Texas lawyers for Texas Veterans - Tarrant County Chapter 12 in Memoriam - Dee J. Kelly 14 lawyer Referral and information Service news 17 Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services 18 Snippets 20 Transition to Practice 22 TCBA Member Benefits Vendor list 24 Other Associations’ news & information
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President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David e. Keltner President-elect . . . . . . . . . . . Robert G. West Vice President . . . . . . . . . . .Dabney D. Bassel Secretary-Treasurer . . . . . . . . . nick Bettinger
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.
You are invited to the TCBA
80s Holiday Party Thursday, December 10, 2015 5:00pm-7:00pm Tarrant County Bar Center Come join us for a night filled with the sights and sounds of the 80s. Come straight from the office or come dressed in your 80’s attire. This is a party you don’t want to miss, from the food, the drinks, the photo booth, the games, the door prizes and so much more.
Don’t forget to bring a stuffed animal for National Adoption Day and Tarrant County Family Courts This event is sponsored by:
*there are still available opportunities for sponsorship
Please consider donating two hours of your time the 2nd and 4th Thursday, January through november from 6 to 8pm. legalline is a valuable community service outreach program that
10/08/2015
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.
Thank you to these volunteers:
Joe Colvin Sylvia Duarte Clayton everett Bryce King George lockwood Scott Phillips Carey Thompson Sandra Thompson laurie Weir Staff Carolina ibarra
10/22/2015
11/12/2015
norma Bazán Joe Colvin Bryce King Franklin Moore Scott Phillips Staff Carolina ibarra
nick Bettinger Bill Bowers Joe Colvin Sylvia Duarte Bryce King Franklin Moore Scott Phillips Sandra Thompson Staff Carolina ibarra
Meals provided by the Tarrant County Bar Foundation
Dinner served at 5:30pm for all volunteers! • Bring a friend - We always need volunteers. 3
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t o h s p a Sn YLA
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t’s officially holiday season, which means it will be a busy month full of holiday parties hosted by clients, firms, friends, and families. TCYlA will be hosting a fantastic holiday party for its members on December 3. it will be a great opportunity for members to unwind from the holiday chaos and join friends and colleagues for cocktails and heavy hor d’ourves. Please join us on December 3 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Fixture on West Magnolia. it will be a great event to kickoff the holiday season! Throughout the month of December, the Texas Young lawyers Association is challenging all young lawyer affiliates to raise money for the Texas lawyers Assistance Program (TlAP). TCYlA is stepping up to this challenge and will be collecting donations for TlAP during the month of December. You may mail in your donations or drop them off with Cindy Rankin at the Tarrant County Bar Center. Checks should be made payable to the Texas lawyers Assistance Program. TlAP provides confidential help for lawyers, law students, and judges who have problems with substance abuse or mental-health issues. if you have a substance-abuse problem or mental-health issues, please reach out to TlAP at 1.800.343.8527. You may also find more information about
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. ■ 5 www.tarrantbar.org ■ December 2015
TlAP by visiting the State Bar of Texas website: www.texasbar. com. TCYlA has teamed up with Texas A&M School of law to provide a professionalism program for all law students at Texas A&M. The program is centered on the idea of round-table discussions. last month several TCYlA Board members participated in the first professionalism event. The discussion included topics on managing stress, creating work-life balance, and responding to challenging assignments as a new attorney. i want to thank Vice Dean Aric Short and Michael Schneider, a 3l at A&M and TCYlA’s law-school liaison, for moderating the event. TCYlA will have more opportunities for members to participate in future events, so be sure to check the newsletter for more details. ■
Amber
Lawyers on the Move & in the News
Ben E. Keith Company (www.benekeith.com) announced that Craig Woodcook has been named General Counsel, Secretary, and Vice President of legal Affairs for Ben e. Keith Company. Mr. Woodcook began his career with the Company in 1997 and has worked in numerous roles from Warehouseman to Financial Analyst. He can be contacted at 817.877.5700 or cawoodcook@benekeith.com. Torrie Taylor Poehls has joined The Blum Firm, P.C. in Fort Worth. Prior to joining The Blum Firm, Poehls was an associate at Kelly Hart & Hallman. Poehls received her J.D., cum laude, from Texas Tech university School of law and her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Texas Tech university. She can be contacted at 817.334.0066 or TPoehls@theblumfirm.com Anna Patterson announces her move to Patterson Law Group, focusing her practice on Personal injury and Plaintiffs’ Work. She can be contacted at Patterson law Group, 2310 W. interstate 20, Suite 101, Arlington, Texas 76017, 817.461.5500 or anna@pattersonpersonalinjury.com ■
It’s All Happening Nov LegalLine
at the Bar
Women Attorneys Mixer
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Oct Solo & Small Firm Mixer
Nov Luncheon
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TCBA Bulletin
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Refer your clients to a friend Wrongful Death • Serious Personal Injury • Trucking and Auto Accidents • Bad Faith Insurance Practice
When a serious injury needs serious attention, trust your client to a friend. You can be confident that I will give your referral my utmost attention. My firm returns every call, same day, and prepares your case for trial. In other words, we’ll treat your client like you would treat your client.
parkerlawfirm.com Board Certified • Personal Injury Trial Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Changing your perception of personal injury lawyers. 2317 Plaza Parkway, Suite 100, Bedford, Texas 76021 Call me
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O: 817.503.9200 C: 817.925.2272
Profiles
Judicial
By Perry Cockerell
Presiding in the
323rd District Court is a longtime career accomplishment for the Honorable Tim Menikos, who succeeded the Honorable Jean Boyd, who retired from the bench last year. Menikos was born in Patchogue, new York, but his family moved to Fort Worth when he was young and his father was transferred to the General Dynamics plant in west Fort Worth. Menikos graduated from WestJudge Tim Menikos ern Hills High School in 1975, and after one year at uTA, he transferred to north Texas State university. in 1981, he completed a BBA degree in Banking and Finance. After graduation he set his sights on law school and was accepted to Texas Tech School of law. His life changed dramatically in lubbock when he and his wife, Tricia, were married and became foster parents. After graduation from law school in 1984, he and Tricia moved to Arlington, where he began his legal practice with George Kredell, a criminal attorney. in 1987, Kredell was elected to the 213th Criminal District Court, and Menikos began his solo practice. He assumed Kredell’s practice and began a diverse practice including business litigation, wills, uncontested divorces, and juvenile delinquency cases. His office was only minutes from his home in Mansfield, where he and Tricia had settled. His solo practice was short lived because, in 1992, Judge Scott Moore, who presided in the 323rd District Court, recognized his talents and tapped him as his Associate Judge behind Judge Jean Boyd. He served as an Associate Judge for the court for the next twenty-four years. in 1994, he became Senior Associate Judge when Judge Moore retired and Judge Boyd was elected District Judge. When the district bench became open 2014, he successfully ran for election, marking another successful career progression. Practicing in his court requires a certain skill set because “it is an odd combination of law and procedure where the civil and criminal codes are merged. A case can be difficult and it is a challenge. You want to handle them in the most professional manner,” Judge Menikos said. He also said that 85 to 95% of the cases in his court are appointed attorneys who are paid at the end of the case by either appearance or through the hourly basis for their time served. He approves all fees and expenses from the attorneys. 9
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His advice to attorneys practicing in his court is to “be prepared by having talked with your clients before going to court.” He said that “every hearing we have in the court is by a special setting. The court does not have a general docket, so at 8:30 we are ready to go to hear your case.” Attorneys who plan to practice or who have never practiced in the juvenile family court should pay a visit to the Honorable Scott Moore Juvenile Facility located in north Fort Worth at 2701 Kimbo Road. The 323rd District Court is quite busy with three Associate Judges assigned to the court, the most for any family district court. Judge Menikos advises new attorneys to “hang out to see how they do things in 323rd District Court. The court is welcoming to all, and the staff is very helpful.” Judge Menikos and Tricia have two grown children and one grandson.■
New
TCBA Welcomes Its Attorneys
Associates
Buffie Campbell Caroline Cyrier John Phair Stephen Pocsik Ryan Roper Gregg M. Rosenberg Beth Thurman
Kim Buck Chrissie Corey Rick Devero Caitlin northrop
Members Students
Jonathan Berry Samuel Crecelius ellen Dickerson eric Douglas Paul Manigrasso Bryan May Ariel Santillan
Medi8withHughes.com John W. Hughes One of the nation’s most experienced and respected mediators. 817.291.4147
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.
Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans
Tarrant County Chapter
TLTV Holds Veterans Day Clinic at Catholic Charities in Connection with Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week Mark Your Calendars for 2016 TLTV Clinics
TlTV held its last legal clinic on Friday, november 20 at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Facility in Fort Worth. TlTV’s legal clinics will be held on the following dates; locations will be announced next year:
January 15 February 19 April 15 May 20 June 17
O
n november 11, 2015, Texas lawyers for Texas Veterans–Tarrant County Chapter (TlTV) held a pro bono legal clinic at Catholic Charities with legal Aid of northwest Texas (lAnWT) and Texas A&M university School of law’s Veterans Project (TAMu). At the clinic, TlTV volunteers, lAnWT attorneys, and TAMu students assisted veterans from Catholic Charities’ community programs. The clinic was held as part of Texas Veterans legal Aid Week, a statewide effort in honor of Veterans Day coordinated by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. During the week of november 9–13, legal aid programs, bar associations, law schools, and pro bono volunteers provided civil legal services for qualified Texas veterans across the state. According to the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, “Texas has the second-highest population of veterans in the nation. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ annual survey of homeless and formerly homeless veterans, legal issues account for three of the top 10 unmet needs of homeless veterans.” Recently, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation announced grants for veteran legal aid services, totaling more than $3.5 million, to 15 nonprofit organizations, which will help fund legal aid services for Texas veterans. The 84th Texas legislature provided $3 million in funding for basic civil legal services for veterans and their families over the next two years. The Texas Access to Justice Foundation grant recipients include TlTV, lAnWT, and TAMu.
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July 15 August 19 September 16 October 21 November 18
if you are interested in volunteering at a clinic or sponsoring a clinic, please contact Megan Cooley at megan@tarrantbar.org. ■
Save the Date for the
Rodeo Gathering January 14, 2016 5:30pm – 7:30pm Reata Restaurant, Downtown Fort Worth Wear your boots and spurs to this Western event to kick off the Fort Worth Rodeo Season. Food, Fun & Friends. Silent Auction & Door Prizes.
In Memory of
Dee J. Kelly
Born March 7, 1929, in Bonham, Texas, Mr. Kelly grew up as an only child. His father sold insurance and his mother worked in a cotton mill. He credited his parents for instilling in him a strong code of values, the difference between right and wrong. A child of the Depression, Mr. Kelly believed in effort and persistence above all else, and as a result, his work ethic became legendary.
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Dee was a born leader. He did not make people be better. He made them want to be better.” Dan Settle Jr., Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
After graduating from Bonham High School, he attended Texas Christian university, where he served as student president. He graduated in 1950 from TCu and moved to Washington D.C., where he had the opportunity to work for Sam Rayburn, the legendary Speaker of the u.S. House, who shared Mr. Kelly’s Fannin County roots. Mr. Kelly attended law school at night at George Washington university.
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Dee J. Kelly 3/7/1929 – 10/2/2015
D
ee J. Kelly, one of Fort Worth/ Tarrant County’s best-known attorneys, died unexpectedly in Fort Worth on October 2, 2015, after collapsing at Shady Oaks Country Club. He was 86. Mr. Kelly rose from modest roots to establish and grow Kelly Hart & Hallman llP into the largest law firm in Tarrant County, with offices in Austin, Midland, and new Orleans. He became a trusted advisor to some of the nation’s most prominent and powerful citizens, and he was known as a powerful behind-the-scenes force in Texas politics. His lifelong involvement in politics led him to relationships with virtually every major contemporary political figure in Texas.
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I do not know if Mr. Kelly studied Greek, but he sure understood the ancient proverb, “A society grows great when men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.” Our bar association and bar foundation’s best friend for the future was Mr. Kelly and his unparalleled generosity.” Roland K. Johnson, Past President Tarrant County Bar Association & Past Chair Tarrant County Bar Foundation
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Dee was not very technically oriented, especially in the early years. Once, on a Saturday morning in about 1976, he called me, very upset, to inform me that the Xerox machine was not printing, and that it had made 30 blank copies. I went into the machine room, raised the cover on the machine, and pointed out that the copies would be much better if the original was placed face down on the glass rather than face up.” William Hallman, Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
By the time he was 25, he had a received a degree from TCu, and a law degree from George Washington university. He served two years in the u.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged as a First lieutenant. Mr. Kelly was later named a Distinguished Alumni from both universities. TCu later named the Alumni Center after Mr. Kelly, and George Washington university recently named its law School learning Center in his honor. He continued to serve family, friends, community, and others until his death.
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Dee Kelly was not very big on fanfare, but he was serious about success. If Dee Kelly was your friend, you did not need another because he always had your back.” David Keltner, Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP & President, Tarrant County Bar Association
numerous families and children across Texas have been deeply impacted by Mr. Kelly’s service to leading philanthropic families such as the Bass, Moncrief, Fortson, Justin, Geren, Marion, and many others of Fort Worth and their generous gifts. He was also directly involved with establishing the nowMoncrief Cancer institution, and he served on the first board of the Cancer Prevention and Research institute of Texas. Mr. Kelly was a recipient of numerous awards, including Fort Worth’s Outstanding Citizen Award, the city’s Outstanding Business executive, the Horatio Alger Award, and the Blackstone Award, which is given by the Tarrant County Bar Association to the year’s outstanding lawyer. He has been included on the Woodward/White’s Best lawyers in America list since 1990. The longhorn Council of the Boy Scouts of America named him Citizen of the year in 2003. in 2013, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce gave Mr. Kelly and his firm the Spirit of enterprise Award, the first time it was ever given to a law firm. The Texas Bar Foundation named him one of the
outstanding 50-year lawyers in Texas. The Texas lawbook named him one of the 50 lions of the Texas bar. in 1999, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram named Mr. Kelly one of the ten most influential leaders in Tarrant County during the second half of the twentieth century.
“
Over the past twenty-three years, I had the privilege of working with Mr. Kelly in several capacities and on numerous projects. One memorable project with him was the Fifth Circuit’s conference in Fort Worth; five U.S. Supreme Court Justices attended. It was an opportunity of a lifetime for all of us. Mr. Kelly was an outstanding leader and steadfast supporter of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation by serving on its board for over ten years. While serving as Chair, he orchestrated the renovation of the Bar Center, which resulted in a beautiful home for the Bar Association/Foundation. Mr. Kelly was always one of the first to support the activities of the Bar Association and Foundation. He was a great mentor and friend, and he will always have a special place in my heart.” Patricia Graham, Executive Director, Tarrant County Bar Association/Bar Foundation
Mr. Kelly is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Janice leBlanc Kelly; his daughter Cynthia Kelly Barnes; his sons, Dee J. Kelly Jr. and his wife, Dana, and Craig l. Kelly and his wife, Robyn; and his seven grandchildren, Ben F. Barnes ii and his wife Shelby, Kelly Barnes, Cate Kelly, lynn Kelly, Camille Kelly, Patrick Kelly, and Ryan Kelly.
“
There will never be another man like my father. I will miss him dearly, but the lessons he taught me will stay with me as long as I live. My family will never forget the outpouring of love from this community after his death. I know he’s smiling down on all of us.” Dee Kelly Jr., Managing Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
and he was just beginning to crow a little to the reporter when his mother declared, accusingly: “Somebody’s been messin’ with my Bible.” Dee uncharacteristically conceded the argument. neither judge nor opposing counsel ever shut Dee down as quickly. Mother was eighty-nine, and there would be no appeal.” Glen Johnson, Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP “Mr. Kelly was focused like no one else i ever have known. i had been working with him for only a couple of weeks when i rode with him from our office to the federal courthouse. He was impatient with the red lights we kept encountering, so every time we came to a red light, he just turned the corner to avoid it. The only problem was that most of the streets were one way and going the other direction! He was so intent on getting to his destination, though, that he didn’t seem to notice. When we got to the courthouse, i jumped out of the car and said, “Are you aware that we just went the wrong way down every street between our office and here?” He looked completely surprised by my question. He recovered quickly, though, and, with a little smile, said, “Well what do you want me to do? Sit around and wait for someone’s permission? We don’t have time for that!’” Marianne Auld, Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP “in my thirty-three years of practice, i have never met quite such a force to be reckoned with. Dee Kelly was, in a word, amazing: a brilliant lawyer, a fierce advocate, a supportive mentor, and a good-to-the bone individual.” Sharon Millians, Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP “Dee was everything that Bill Tucker, Sid Bass, and Dee Jr. said of him at his service–dedicated, focused, loyal, and demanding in the best sense of that word. ‘He was a man. Take him for his all in all. i shall not look upon his like again.” Bob Grable, Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
As a special tribute to Mr. Kelly, the following quotes have been provided by many of his law partners and others:
“Dee Kelly was an encourager. As busy as he was, he took the time to call or send an email simply to praise.” Sharen Wilson, Criminal District Attorney, Tarrant County
“Dee’s mother lived in their hometown in Bonham for most, if not all, of her life. He visited her regularly and she phoned him often. One day she called the office to proudly announce that she was being interviewed by the local newspaper because she had become one of the eldest women in town. As i recall it she was ninety years old at the time. She was very spunky and commanded that Dee sit with her during the interview. He traveled to Bonham, and when the reporter asked Mrs. Kelly how old she was, she said she was eighty-nine. Dee quickly corrected her and told the reporter she was ninety. A spirited discussion between mother and son ended with Dee storming into the house to retrieve the old, old-family Bible. Dee poked with pride at the entry that logged her birth date. The ancient record supported Dee,
“i had the privilege of going to work for Dee Kelly, Mark Hart, and Bill Hallman in 1980, shortly after Kelly Hart & Hallman was formed. From that first day until the day he died, Mr. Kelly was an incredible role model—personifying hard work, loyalty to clients, and straightforward, no-nonsense communication. At a time when women lawyers were a rare breed in Fort Worth law firms, he had no double standards, just high expectations. He understood the imperative of political, civic, and philanthropic engagement to benefit our community and beyond—and whenever he engaged on any issue, you could be sure it was not halfway. He was a force of nature with far-flung influence, but to me he was a remarkable advisor, mentor, and friend.” Pati Meadows, Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP ■
In Memoriam In Memoriam In Memoriam
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Law Offices of Jason Smith
Lawyer Referral and Information Service
News
Update on Lawyer Referral Service
LRIS
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
Director, Cindy Rankin, just returned from the ABA’s lawyer Referral & information Service Annual meeting. This is always a boost for the staff, and every year she brings home new ideas to improve the Service. A couple of new things are coming down, so lRiS members need to watch their emails and future Bar Bulletin articles on the implementation. The lRiS has received right at $60,000 on referral fees alone since July 1! Special thanks to those of our members who have paid referral fees since the last report: Monty Buhrow, Wes Dauphinot, Matthew Davidson, Wayne Fowler, lacie Friday, Phillip Hall, earl Hargrave, Michael Johnston, Stephen lawrence, MJ nachawati, Dustin Payne, eric Ransleben, leigh Ann Schenk, Joyce Stevens, and Roger Wood. Thank you all. We wouldn’t be here without you! ■ www.edwardjones.com
Merry Christmas
During this holiday season and every day of the year, we wish you all the best.
Robert J Holman, CFP® Financial Advisor .
3426 S University Dr Ft Worth, TX 76109 817-922-8934
MKT-1920A-A-AD
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Member SIPC
Spotlight
Diversity
T
his month’s Spotlight on Diversity features the law firm of Dowell Pham Harrison LLP. Brad Dowell, Lu Pham, and Caroline Harrison formed Dowell Pham Harrison LLP in July 2015. DPH comprises six full-time attorneys: Brad Dowell, Lu Pham, Caroline Harrison, Jennifer Sweeny, Antonio Allen, and Lauren McDonald. In addition, DPH recently added Maureen Moore, formerly Associate General Counsel with Xerox, as Of Counsel. DPH lawyers actively work with their clients on the formulation of policies that comply with the myriad regulations and laws with which employers must comply and protection from unfair competition. They also deal with restraint of trade, government investigations, wage and hour disputes, and all varieties of wrongful termination or discrimination/ retaliation claims. DPH is proud to have an attorney and staff base that reflects the diversity of the world in which they operate. Diversity and inclusion are part of the fabric of their firm. Supporting diversity demands the careful cultivation of relationships, both within and outside the firm, built on respect and dialogue. Their definition of diversity reaches beyond race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other statutorily defined groups. They bring people together, lawyers and non-lawyers, of a variety of abilities, skills, experiences, and backgrounds to enable superior results and work product. The firm is continuously growing their areas of practice and network of connections to best meet the evolving needs of their myriad clients. They have earned a reputation for providing relevant, cost-efficient, and proactive legal services in the dynamic and competitive legal industry, and will continue to meet that challenge. The Partnership of the firm is
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sixty-six percent women and minorities. One hundred percent of their nonpartner attorneys are minority or female. They are proud to have a distinct team that reflects the diversity and values of the clients they represent. Attorneys at the firm collaborate and frequently work hand-in-hand with in-house counsel to best suit the needs of the client. Most of the attorneys at the firm have been in Fort Worth or Tarrant County for generations, and all have deep ties to Texas. The firm comprises highly talented, published, and experienced attorneys. They develop long-term, personal relationships with their clients, who trust and appreciate their contribution to their enterprise. DPH gets get involved with their clients and the organizations they support. They are proud of their strong team spirit, both within the firm and collaboratively with the clients they represent. They focus on the following areas of labor and employment law: 1) Discrimination 2) Employment Counseling 3) FSLA/Wage and Hour 4) Labor Relations 5) Litigation 6) Non-compete agreements 7) Partnership Disputes 8) Policy Drafting and Implementation
9) Retaliation 10) Union Avoidance Training \ and Audits 11) Labor Relations Training for HR Professionals 12) Union Campaigns and Elections 13) Negotiations 14) Arbitrations
Article submitted by Lauren McDonald, Dowell, Pham, & Harrison LLP.
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TLIExperience Because of our 35 years in the business, Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange has been voted best professional liability insurance company in Texas four years in a row by Texas Lawyer magazine. That same experience and our exceptional employees are why TLIE is also a Preferred Provider of the State Bar of Texas. Not to mention, we have returned over $36,550,000 to our policyholders. See why experience makes the difference.
Cheers to 2015!
TVAS Ready to Ring in a Productive New Year
T
hanks to all of its volunteers and supporters, Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) has enjoyed a productive and meaningful year assisting lowincome families and individuals in Tarrant County. Highlights of this year include: • Pro bono legal representation of approximately thirty individuals in uncontested divorces; • A successful simple wills and estate planning legal clinic, where widows, retired individuals on fixed income, and veterans received free legal representation; • TVAS’s first general advice clinic held at Presbyterian Night Shelter Shelter, which assisted assisted more than thirty homeless residents and involved over twenty-five volunteer attorneys, law students, and paralegals; • TVAS’s first guardianship pro bono clinic with Tarrant County’s Probate Court #1 that assisted low income parents secure guardianships of their young adult children with intellectual disabilities or other incapacities; • A corporate counsel pro bono initiative that has engaged corporate counsel and legal departments in the provision of pro bono legal services; • Providing TCBA members and volunteers with free CLE opportunities; • Statewide recognition of the TVAS program and volunteers through the Texas Access for Justice Commission’s Corporate Counsel Award (to incoming TVAS Co-Chair Aaron Young, American Airlines Federal Credit Union) and the Pro Bono Project Award (for TVAS’s pilot guardianship clinic); • Pro bono representation and financial support of eligible foster families participating in Tarrant County’s National Adoption Day; and • Partnerships and collaborations with Tarrant County community organizations, including Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, Tarrant County’s National Adoption Day, ACH Child and Family Services, and Presbyterian Night Shelter.
TVAS could not do it without you. TVAS looks forward to maintaining its current programs and developing new programs to address the need for legal services and information in the next year. TVAS welcomes and needs your involvement. if you are interested in joining the committee, serving as a mentor in a particular area, volunteering as a pro bono attorney, or serving as a volunteer in any capacity, please contact Megan Cooley at megan@tarrantbar.org. ■ 17
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512.480.9074 / 1.800.252.9332 INFO@TLIE.ORG / WWW.TLIE.ORG
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Snippets
Civil and Criminal by Judge Bob McCoy
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Overton Crest, Overton Ridge, etc.—W. H. Overton was an alderman in 1874. He and the edwards family owned the edwards Ranch, a huge area in southwest Fort Worth. —From Werner Magnus, Who was Hulen? An Attempt to Find the Origins of Street Names in Fort Worth.
Ask Judge Bob Judge Bob, is the “possibility of control” evidence of a “right to control”? no. “We ‘have never concluded that a general contractor actually exercised control . . . [when] there was no prior knowledge of a dangerous condition and no specific approval of any dangerous act.’” And the “possibility of control is not evidence of a ‘right to control’ actually retained or exercised.” Gonzalez v. Ramirez, 463 S.W.3d 499, 506 (Tex. 2015).
ASK THE DANES Ramses and Moses, do the police get training in dealing with dogs? Yes. “excluding those related to hunting and agriculture, there were approximately 60 animal-related bills filed during the 2015 legislative session. HB593 creates mandatory uniform training for many Texas peace officers while preparing them for a safe, non-confrontational outcome. As a result of the bill’s passage, the Texas Commission on law enforcement will adopt an accredited Moses curriculum and will have oversight to measure its success. The one time, four-hour course will occur during basic training or within two years of being licensed.” Shelby Bobosky, Animal Law, Texas Ramses Bar Journal, Oct. 2015, at 700.
The Danes’ Quote Of The Month “if you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater . . . suggest that he wear a tail. —Fran lebowitz, Pointers for Pets
Criminal Items Of Interest 1. Mistrial “A mistrial is a device used to halt trial proceedings when error is so prejudicial that expenditure of further time and expense would be wasteful and futile. . . . When a party requesting a mistrial does not first seek a 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
lesser remedy, a reviewing court cannot reverse the trial court’s judgment if the alleged error could have been cured by a less drastic alternative.” Crayton v. State, 463 S.W.3d 531, 537 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015). 2
Disabled juror “A juror is disabled if she has a ‘physical illness, mental condition, or emotional state’ which hinders her ability to perform her duties as a juror. The determination as to whether a juror is disabled is within the discretion of the trial court, and absent an abuse of that discretion, no reversible error will be found.” Lamon v. State, 463 S.W.3d 655, 658 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2015).
3. Insanity “The test for determining insanity is whether, at the time of the conduct charged, the defendant—as a result of a severe mental disease or defect—did not know that his conduct was wrong. . . . Thus, the question for deciding insanity becomes as follows: Does the defendant factually know that society considers this conduct against the law, even though the defendant, due to his mental disease or defect, may think that the conduct is morally justified?” Pham v. State, 463 S.W.3d 660, 671 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2015). 4. Consent after an illegal search “To establish the voluntariness of consent after an illegal search, the State must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the taint inherent in the illegality had dissipated by the time consent was given. in making the determination, we consider the following factors: (1) the temporal proximity between the unlawful search and the given consent; (2) whether the warrantless search brought about police observation of the particular object for which consent was sought; (3) whether the search resulted from flagrant police misconduct; (4) whether the consent was volunteered or requested; (5) whether appellant was made fully aware of the right to refuse consent; and (6) whether the police purpose underlying the illegality was to obtain the consent.” State v. Pena, 464 S.W.3d 389, 399 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2015. 5. Reasonable suspicion “We examine the reasonableness of a temporary investigative detention in light of the totality of the circumstances to determine whether an officer had an objec-
tively justifiable basis for the detention. Reasonable suspicion may exist even if the conduct of the person detained is ‘as consistent with innocent activity as with criminal activity.’” Rocha v. State, 464 S.W.3d 410, 417 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015).
Civil Items Of Interest 1. Property owner not liable for its own contemporaneous negligence to independent contractors “Chapter 95 [Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code] applies to a claim against a property owner for an independent contractor’s personal injury, death, or property damage caused by negligence. The legislature did not distinguish between negligence claims based on contemporaneous activity or otherwise, and neither shall we.” Abutahoun v. Dow Chem. Co., 463 S.W. 3d 42, 48 (Tex. 2015). 2. Billboard can be a fixture, even if agency has a right to remove “When an improvement to land, whether a building or a sign, cannot be removed except in useless pieces, it is almost certainly a fixture under logan’s first factor, even if the tenant has a legal right to the pieces. . . . Moreover, logan establishes that an improvement can be a fixture even if removal is physically possible. in that case, we concluded that a railroad tank car imbedded in a creek as a culvert under a roadway was a fixture, even though it could be, and actually had been, removed.” Texas v. Clear Channel Outdoor Inc., 463 S.W.3d 488, 493–94 (Tex. 2015) (citing Logan v. Mullis, 686 S.W.2d 605, 607–08 (Tex.1985)). 3. Decedent’s spouse can’t be forced to take other half of community property homestead as her distribution of estate “[n]either Chase nor any court may partition the homestead between (i) [Decedent’s spouse] and (ii) [Decedent’s] estate or the heirs whether under Section 380 of the Texas Probate Code or otherwise, without [the spouse’s] consent, as long as it is her homestead.” Wassum v. Hooper, 463 S.W.3d 513, 530 (Tex. App—el Paso 2015). 4. Attorney immunity “Merely labeling an attorney’s conduct ‘fraudulent’ does not and should not remove it from the scope of client representation or render it “foreign to the duties of an attorney. . . . ‘[A]n attorney’s conduct may be wrongful but still fall within the scope of client representation.’” Cantey Hanger v. Byrd, 467 S.W.3d 477, 483, 485 (Tex. 2014). 5.
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No “discovery rule” with unambiguous deed “A grantor who signs an unambiguous deed is presumed as a matter of law to have immediate knowledge of material omissions. . . . A plainly evident omission on an unambiguous deed’s face is not a type of injury for which the discovery rule is available.”
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Cosgrove v. Cade, 468 S.W.3d 32, 34-35, 36 (Tex. 2015). “The Court concedes that ‘[a] claim for breach of contract accrues when the contract is breached.’ it then proceeds to completely ignore that truth and never once addresses the question of when Ms. Cosgrove breached the closing agreement. instead, in the very next sentence, the Court concludes that ‘[t]he Cades’s breach of contract claim accrued when the deed was executed,’ without making any effort to explain how the execution of the deed could constitute or cause a breach of the closing agreement.” Cosgrove v. Cade, 468 S.W.3d 32, 44 (Tex. 2015) (Boyd, J., dissenting).
Quote Of The Month “There is no expedient to which a man will not go to avoid the labor of thinking.” —Thomas edison.
Legal Quote Of The Month “let us reform our schools, and we shall find little reform needed in our prisons.” —John Ruskin
Old News Dr. Robert liston, operating in the pre-anesthetic, pre-antiseptic era, was famous for his ability to operate swiftly, which was then necessary to preserve the life of the patient. However, doing so in one case had unfortunate, unforeseen consequences. liston was able to amputate the leg of the patient and complete the closure in two and a half minutes. However, in operating at this speed, he accidently amputated 3 fingers of his assistant. He also slashed though the coattails of a surgical spectator, who, seeing the blood, and thinking he had been slashed in his vitals, died of a heart attack. The assistant later died of a blood infection, and the patient succumbed to gangrene. Thus liston has the dubious honor of being the only doctor to have a 300% mortality rate from a single procedure. The legend of the surgery with the 300% mortality rate, (October 28, 2015), http://io9.com/the-legend-of-the-surgery-withthe-300-mortality-rate-1684894531. ■
C
Please visit our website for a complete list of upcoming events.
alendar of Events www.tarrantbar.org
Medi8withHughes.com John W. Hughes One of the nation’s most experienced and respected mediators. 817.291.4147
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! ■
Stay CONNECTED to Us
Thank you again to our 2015 mentors! Gerald Bates
Mark Barnett French
Gary Medlin
Edwin Bell
Stephanie Gonzalez
Stephen Mosher
Kevin Clark
Wendy Hackler
St. Clair Newbern III
John Corbin
Earl Hargrave
Wayne Olson
Zoe Courtney
Frank Jacobini II
Richard Price
Jennifer Covington
Frank Jelinek III
David Pritchard
Todd Duncan
Terry Leach
Gerald Pruitt
Steven Eargle
Thomas Mastin IV
Kevin J. Schmid
Walter Fortney III
Kenneth McAlister
Brad Shaw
Paul Gianni
Michael McBride
Diane Wanger
The program would not be possible without THEM!! Tarrant County Bar Association - Fort Worth Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans - Tarrant County Chapter
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The Association of Legal Administrators ( ALA ) was founded in 1971 to provide support to professionals involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal agencies. It provides members with advice, resources, expert guidance and connections for all aspects of legal management. Membership in ALA offers opportunities for:
Knowledge sharing and networking ( locally, regionally, nationally and internationally ) Professional recognition Chapter and leadership support ( substantive educational tools, idea exchanges and workshops to educate chapter members ) For membership information, please contact Lisa Boyd at lboyd@belaw.com or Lisa Grigar at lgrigar@bsjpc.com.
Thank you! The members of ALA Fort Worth Chapter wish to thank our 2015 Business Partners for their support this year. These companies provide much needed services that keep our firms operating smoothly on a daily basis and their sponsorships support the education opportunities that help each of us become better legal managers.
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TCBA Member Benefits Vendor List TCBA members may take advantage of discounts provided by the following vendors: ABA Retirement Funds program provides fullservice 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.
Lending More Than a Helping Hand Whether you’re looking to upgrade, build or consolidate, your perfect house should have the perfect loan, including great service from someone who will be available to serve you long after the papers are signed and the last moving box has been unpacked. With more than 15 years of experience, I will make sure your mortgage loan experience is prompt, efficient and hassle-free. Condo • Construction • Conventional • Cash-out Refinance Home Equity • Jumbo • Owelty Liens
Dina Robles Office: (817) 367-4623 Cell: (817) 808-7632 NMLS #484795 dina.robles@southside.com southside.com/dinarobles Certain restrictions may apply. Loans subject to credit approval.
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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 23
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Medi8withHughes.com
MEDIATE BEFORE YOU LITIGATE Trusted Experienced Dependable Honorable Respected Honest Reliable Fair Reasonable Impartial Objective Proven Bald
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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 20152016 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 24
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ALA FORT WORTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 EDWARD JONES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 JURIS FABRILIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 JOHN W. HUGHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9, 19, 24 KOONSFULLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INSIDE FRONT COVER THE LAW OFFICE OF GREG JACKSON P.L.L.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 LAW OFFICES OF JASON SMITH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 LAW OFFICES OF STEVEN C. LAIRD, P.C. . . . . . . . . . INSIDE BACK COVER LAWPAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 LEXISNEXIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 PARKER LAW FIRM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 SOUTHSIDE BANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 STEPHENS ANDERSON & CUMMINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BACK COVER TEXAS LAWYERS’ INSURANCE EXCHANGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 TINDALL SQUARE OFFICE COMPLEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
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BAR BULLETIN • December 2015 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
Stay CONNECTED to Us
Twitter @TarrantBar • @TLTVinTarrant @TVASFW Facebook: Tarrant County Bar Association - Fort Worth Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans - Tarrant County Chapter
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