OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION JULY/AUGUST 2022 | VOLUME 22 | NO. 4
Excited and Proud to Announce the New Name of the Firm:
Steve Laird Steve Laird is one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas* *Texas Super Lawyers, Top 100 (2005-2013, 2015-2021) - Thomson Reuters
Seth McCloskey Seth McCloskey has successfully tried more than 200 cases to verdict. Texas Super Lawyers, 2019-2020 Rising Star Thomson Reuters
Board Certified Lawyers handling Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | 18-Wheeler Cases 817.531.3000 1119 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104 www.texlawyers.com
PRESIDENT'S PAGE KAREN DENNEY
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2022–2023 TCBA President
he TCBA was founded in 1904 and incorporated in 1933. Since 1904, the number of Tarrant County attorneys has greatly increased, as has the areas of law practiced by those attorneys. The demographics and professional needs of Tarrant County attorneys have substantially changed during this time frame as well, with the last two years bringing about even more change. My focus as TCBA President for 2022–2023 will be to determine how the TCBA can better serve and engage the attorneys who comprise the Tarrant County legal community. This assessment will be in conjunction with the TCBA’s purposes of advancing jurisprudence; facilitating and improving the administration of justice; maintaining and elevating standards of professional conduct; encouraging and supporting pro bono legal services; increasing professional skills through regular continuing legal education; and encouraging and promoting respect for a better understanding of the legal profession by the public. The TCBA has changed throughout its over 100 years and needs to continue to evolve to ensure that it is serving its diverse legal community and continually accomplishing the purposes for which it exists. I am honored to serve the TCBA as President for 2022– 2023. For those of you who I have not yet met, I grew up in Poolville, about an hour west of Tarrant County, and had a high school graduating class of 17. I am a Texas Tech Red Raider and a graduate of The University of Texas School of Law. In October 2022, I will have been practicing in Tarrant County for 20 years, all of which have been at Haynes and Boone, LLP. I am board certified in labor and employment law and have primarily worked in that area throughout my years of practice. As for my past TCBA and related service, I am a long-ago past president of the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association; have chaired the TCBA’s Law Day and National Adoption Day Committees and co-chaired the Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Committee in its inaugural years; have co-chaired the Texas Bar Foundation District 7 Nominating Committee; have participated in LeadershipSBOT; and have been on the TCBA Board since 2018. During my service on the TCBA Board, I have had the privilege and blessing to serve with, and learn from, past TCBA Presidents Lance Evans, John H. Cayce, Jr., Gary L. Medlin, Kimberly Naylor, and many other TCBA Board members and officers.
In the Tarrant County community, I have participated in Leadership Fort Worth, have served on the Boards of Clayton Youth Enrichment Services and The Parenting Center, and currently serve on the Board of Casa Mañana, where I have been on the Board for 15 years. I teach a second-grade Sunday school class at Travis Avenue Baptist Church with my husband, Paul. Paul (who is also a Tarrant County lawyer) and I have a full house with fourteen and twelve-year-old daughters, Norah and Lila, my almost 80-year-old mother, Verna, two dogs, and a fish. As is the case for many of you, there is a lot going on, to say the least. So, this is the frame of reference that I bring to serve you as TCBA President. There are many areas of law in which you may practice in which I have not practiced, and there may be professional needs that you have of which neither I nor the TCBA are aware. During the coming Bar year, I would like to hear from you about how you believe the TCBA can better serve Tarrant County lawyers. However, before making contact, please do take a look at the TCBA’s website at tarrantbar.org, including the Calendar Of Events and the CLE On Demand available to TCBA members, to see what the TCBA is currently doing to serve Tarrant County lawyers. If you are interested in serving through the TCBA in the coming bar year, there are a variety of TCBA committees where you can serve other Tarrant County lawyers or the Tarrant County community. Whether you want to help plan the Bench Bar Conference, organize the blood drive or People’s Law School, or assist with next year’s Law Day or National Adoption Day celebrations, there are plenty of opportunities for you. Through this service, not only can you contribute to the TCBA accomplishing its purposes, you have the occasion to meet other wonderful Tarrant County lawyers, one of whom may be your next friend and mentor. I am excited to serve you as your TCBA President for 2022–2023. If you know of a current gap in the services and benefits that TCBA currently provides its members that you believe align with the TCBA’s purposes, please do not hesitate to contact me or TCBA Executive Director Kayla Dailey. A valuable tool to help the TCBA to continue to evolve and improve its services to its membership is feedback from its membership, including you. g JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 1
Tarrant County Bar Association 817.338.4092 ▪ Fax 817.335.9238 website: www.tarrantbar.org email: tcba@tarrantbar.org 2022–2023 Officers
President.........................................Karen Denney President-Elect.........................................Lu Pham Vice President...................................Scott Lindsey Secretary-Treasurer.................Marvina Robinson
Directors Term Ends 2022
Director.........................................John Brookman Director..................................................Cheryl Leb Director.......................................Michael McBride
Term Ends 2023
Director..............................................Bryan Bruner Director..........................................Lyndsay Newell Director..............................................Angel Williams
2022–2023 Appointed Directors
Appointed Director............................Christy Jack Appointed Director...........................Aleed Rivera
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association Fall 2021 President.....................Brian Singleterry Fall 2022 President.....................Aulstin Gardiner Immediate Past President..........Kimberly Naylor Executive Director.............................Kayla Dailey Ex-Officio Members State Bar of Texas Director..................................................Jeff Cochran Bar Bulletin Graphics/Production...................Elizabeth Banda The Tarrant County Bar Bulletin is a bi-monthly publication of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Articles, photos, suggestions or comments should be directed to: elizabeth@tarrantbar.org 1315 Calhoun Street ▪ Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504 Deadline for submission: December 1........................................January/February February 1...................................................March/April April 1...............................................................May/June June 1.............................................................July/August August 1..........................................September/October October 1.....................................November/December
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. Advertisements and feature articles should not be considered an endorsement of any service, product, program, seminar or event. 2 www.tarrantbar.org
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Contents Features 4
TCBA Welcomes its 2022–2023 Officers & Directors
9 Court Staff Appreciation Reception & Awards 10 Save the Date for TCBF’s Justice for All Gala 14 TCBA and TCYLA’s Law Day 2022 Departments 1 3 5 6 6 13 18 18 19 20 22 23
President’s Page YLA Snapshot 100 Club Membership Report Lawyer Referral & Information Service News Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans A Word From Our Sections CLE Corner Snippets Benefits of Membership LegalLine
LAWYERS ON THE MOVE
& IN THE NEWS If you are a TCBA member and would like to place an announcement in the Bar Bulletin, we would like to hear from you. Please submit information by email to elizabeth@tarrantbar.org.
YLA SNAPSHOT BRIAN SINGLETERRY 2021–2022 TCYLA President
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arrant County is growing fast. It is now the 15th most populous county in the U.S. and growing. This growth requires an excellent legal community. For decades, TCYLA has improved our legal community by offering paths for young lawyers to make friends, gain experience, meet mentors, and learn how to be a lawyer. We continued the tradition this year. This is my last TCYLA Snapshot as President, and I want to highlight the accomplishments of this year’s Board and give them my sincere thanks for their time, energy, and passion. It was a pleasure to work with each of them, and I am honored to now be able to call each a friend. Here are some of this year’s accomplishments:
• John Easter led a league champion softball team and organized numerous volunteer events.
• Elizabeth Haslam and Jeffrey Tillman organized our Fall Fete and Spring Fiesta respectively. No current board members served the last time we hosted these events, but they both worked hard and pulled off successful events, hosting hundreds of members.
• The Tarrant County Bar Association staff for helping through numerous unforeseen challenges. And a special thanks to Lauren St. Clair for her help and support.
• President-Elect Aulstin Gardiner prepared grant application from Texas Young Lawyers Association grant to refurbish the children’s waiting area for the childprotection courts, which TCYLA received. Together, Aulstin and Ola Campbell completed the grant and improved our courthouse for years. • Austin Franklin and Priscilla Bowens found great CLE speakers every month. Austin brought TCYLA into the 21st Century by allowing us to offer online CLE. And despite it being Priscilla’s first year on the Board, she found speakers and ran several CLEs herself.
• Harrison Smith and Ola Campbell for always being there to help. Ola’s energy to help infects everyone around her, and Harrison’s wisdom was much needed. • Spencer Mainka and Serech Kissire ran our newsletter and Facebook page, keeping our members up to speed. Spencer deserves special recognition for maintaining accounts, staying on top of all our events, and helping me with many questions. • Caroline Brownlie fought hard to keep our charity golf tournament on track for next year. Covid delays turned this into a difficult project, and Caroline ensured that it stayed on track.
To put these accomplishments in context, when this TCYLA year started, we were just coming out of Covid lockdowns. This dictated the year’s main goal: returning TCYLA to its normal schedule. And we did that and more. Not only did we return TCYLA to its regular schedule and events, we also increased our membership and balance sheet. I am confident that next year’s Board will build on this year and accomplish even more. But none of this could happen without the TCBA’s, the Tarrant County judges’, and our community’s support. Thank you all for your support. With your continued support, TCYLA will continue to play its role in maintaining the Tarrant County way of practicing law. g
• Collin Ashworth put together several great happy hours. We could always rely on Collin to find a great place to hang out and meet new people.
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• Ty Stimpson found an amazing slate of award winners for this year’s Law Day. One of Tarrant County’s winners —Dr. Opal Lee—went on to win the state-wide Liberty Bell Award, acknowledging her efforts to promote a better understanding of our rights, government, and law.
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association @TCYLA
JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 3
TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION 2022–2023 OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
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Members of the 2022-2023
100 Club *List Reflected Below is as of July 7, 2022 Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C
Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
Anderson & Cummings, LLP
McDonald Sanders, P.C.
Baker Monroe, PLLC
Murphy Mahon Keffler & Farrier, LLP
Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP
Naman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC
Blaies & Hightower, LLP
Nelson Bumgardner Conroy, P.C.
Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones, LLP
Noteboom Law Firm
Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C.
Padfield & Stout, LLP
Brackett & Ellis, P.C.
Pham Harrison, LLP
Brown, Proctor & Howell, LLP
Phelps Dunbar, LLP
Curnutt & Hafer, LLP
Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, LLP
Decker Jones, P.C.
Robbins Travis, PLLC
Dismuke & Waters, P.C.
Ross & Matthews P.C.
Forshey & Prostok, LLP
The Blum Firm, P.C.
Freeman Mills P.C.
The Colaneri Firm, P.C.
Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C.
The Second Court of Appeals
Harrison Steck, P.C.
Udeshi Law Firm, PLLC
To be eligible for the 100 Club, any law firm, government agency, law school, or corporate legal department that has four or more members and attains 100% TCBA membership compliance for the 2022–2023 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/organization 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 on July 1; if you have not paid your renewal invoice, contact our Membership Director Lauren St. Clair at 817.338.4092 or email her at laurensc@tarrantbar.org. JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 5
Welcome New Members of the TCBA:
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
By Lauren St. Clair, Membership Director
ATTORNEYS Asma Al-Sherri Trilby Argubrigh Frank Bratcher Nicholas Chrestopoulos William De Los Santos Alyssa Fears Dustin Fillmore Ashley Flanagan Dustin Gaines Cheyenne Haddad Jane Hobart Neakzaad Horriat Wyndham Hubbard Joanna Hughes Christian Johnson Kara Karcher Maddie Kleifield Kara McHorse Christopher Mullins Patricia Nasworthy Christopher Osborne Raul Romero Robin Singh Allison Skees Juan Vasquez Amanda White JuliaWisenberg
ASSOCIATE Amanda Lewis
PARALEGAL Kenya White-Williams
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ave you renewed your 2022–2023 TCBA membership yet? The new bar year started on July 1 and we’re looking forward to a new bar year and seeing you at one of our upcoming events! If you have not received your renewal offer email or invoice, please reach out to laurensc@tarrantbar.org. Now is the perfect time to get involved with the TCBA by joining one of our substantive law sections or committees as these groups are gearing up for the new TCBA bar year. As a section or committee member, you will be able to take advantage of the website’s eCommunity feature which
will allow you to view upcoming meetings, CLE opportunities, and group announcements. To join a section, simply login to your MyTCBA portal and update your subscription. If you are interested in joining a committee, you can fill out the committee volunteer form on our website at www. tarrantbar.org/committee-volunteer-form. If you have any questions or need further assistance regarding your TCBA membership renewal, please don’t hesitate to contact me at laurensc@tarrantbar.org, and I would be happy to help. Thank you for your continued support of the Tarrant County Bar Association! g
By Carolina Ibarra, LAWYER REFERRAL & LRIS Director INFORMATION SERVICE (LRIS) NEWS
New Membership Year Started July 1
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RIS renewals for 2022–2023 were sent together with the TCBA membership renewals. If you do not renew for the 2022–2023 bar
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year, all referrals stopped after June 30. If you are interested in joining, please email lris@tarrantbar.org for an LRIS packet. g
News From The State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting
he State Bar of Texas held its Annual Meeting on June 9-10 in Houston. The following Tarrant County Bar Association members were involved with the Annual Meeting: Harrison M. Smith, Schmoyer Reinhard LLP, spoke to the Labor and Employment Law Section on “What's New in Sexual Harassment.”
The Tarrant County Bar Association was selected to receive the Stars of Texas Bars Award for Overall Newsletter and recognized at the Bar Leaders Recognition Luncheon. g
Shelby Jean, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, spoke
STUDENT to the Poverty Law Section on “Lessons Learned:
Jessica Clack Creative Pro Bono Programs for Disaster–Related Legal Needs.” Kirkland Read James Foley, Foley Law, PLLC, spoke to the Consumer and Commercial Law Section on Fair Credit Reporting Act. Joseph F. Cleveland, Jr., Brackett & Ellis, P.C., moderated the Intellectual Property Law Section’s “Jury Selection in IP Cases” CLE. 6 www.tarrantbar.org JULY/AUGUST 2022
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From Left: Sylvia Borunda Firth (2021–2022 State Bar of Texas President) and Elizabeth Banda (TCBA Communications Director)
Research and Planning Consultants, LP, Celebrates 50 Years of Providing Litigation Support to Personal Injury Attorneys
R
esearch and Planning Consultants, LP (RPC), an Austin-based consulting firm, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Its president, Ron Luke, JD, PhD, shared its history and growth and gave his thoughts on what lies ahead for the growing firm as it embarks on its second half-century.
“This year is special for RPC because it marks our 50th year in business,” said Dr. Luke. “It took a lot of hard work and tenacity to reach this milestone. I think a major factor in our longevity has been our ability to continuously adapt to the evolving needs of our clients and to take advantage of new opportunities.” RPC assists personal injury and commercial litigators through all phases of litigation, from framing discovery requests to expert testimony at trial. The firm provides a broad range of litigation support services, including independent medical examinations, neuropsychological evaluations, life care plans, analysis of lost earning capacity, vocational evaluations, business valuations, and medical bill analysis. Its consultants have particular expertise in health care litigation. RPC’s staff includes certified life care planners, economists, certified vocational evaluators, legal nurse consultants, and certified public accountants. RPC works with a panel of board-certified practicing physicians specializing in areas such as physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain management, neurology, psychiatry, orthopedics, prosthetics, neuropsychology, and anesthesiology. RPC expert testimony has been accepted in federal courts and by state courts and administrative agencies in several states. “Fifty years in business is something few professional services firms achieve,” said Dr. Luke. “This is a good time to pause to reflect on the path we have traveled and thank those who have contributed to our success. But more than that, it is a time to turn with excitement and anticipation toward the next phase of RPC’s growth. The future looks bright.”
WWW.RPCCONSULTING.COM 512.371.8000 Economic Damages
Dr. Ron Luke, RPC President
| Life Care Plans | Vocational Evaluations | Medical Bill Analysis | Physician Services JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 7
Tarrant County Bar Association 2022 Outstanding
Court Staff
Awards Ballot
COURT STAFF APPRECIATION Reception & Awards Thursday, August 25, 2022 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM City Club of Fort Worth
301 Commerce Street | Fort Worth, 76102 Register at www.tarrantbar.org/CSawards
The Tarrant County Bar Association seeks your vote for the outstanding Court Staff! Court staff personnel of the courts of Tarrant County, including Deputy District Clerks, Deputy County Clerks assigned to judicial functions; Court Reporters, Court Coordinators, Bailiffs, Court Security Officers, Probate Auditors, Judges’ non-lawyer clerical staff, and auxiliary court coordinators are eligible. Please cast your vote for who you believe to be outstanding!
2022 Outstanding Court Staff Awards Ballot www.tarrantbar.org/2022CSBallot Awards will be presented at the Annual Court Staff Appreciation Reception & Awards Event. Only TCBA members may vote and only one ballot per member. Ballots must be received by filling out this form no later than July 29, 2022. Please vote for one proposed honoree in each of the following classifications: 1.Outstanding Court Staff, Civil (District) 2.Outstanding Court Staff, Civil (County Courts At Law/Probate, JP) 3.Outstanding Court Staff, Criminal (District) 4. Outstanding Court Staff, Criminal (County Court at Law) 5.Outstanding Court Staff, Family (including
Court Staff Reception 2020
Juvenile Courts) 6.Outstanding Court Staff, Federal/State
Attendees will be entered into a raffle drawing for prizes! 8 www.tarrantbar.org
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Save the Date for TCBA’s Upcoming Events Magic Shred
Friday, August 12, 2022
Docket Call Social
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Child Welfare Seminar Friday, September 9, 2022 Join TCBA in honoring those who help to make the legal community of Tarrant County a great place to practice law by becoming a sponsor. Your sponsorship will assist in underwriting the food, beverages, and related expenses to host the reception. If you or your firm would like to be listed as a sponsor of this event, please contact Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org.
Brown Bag Seminar - Ethics Friday, September 30, 2022
Swearing-In Ceremony for Newly Licensed Attorneys Tuesday, October 24, 2022
Tarrant County Bar Foundation’s “Justice for All” Gala Friday, November 4, 2022
Appointment Wheel Seminar Friday, November 11, 2022
Holiday Party
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
50 Year Attorney Luncheon Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Women in the Law Luncheon Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Bench Bar Conference
Horseshoe Bay Resort Friday, April 14, 2023–Sunday, April 16, 2023
Law Day Awards Luncheon Tuesday, May 2, 2023
JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 9
by Rebecca K. Eaton
Kearney, McWilliams & Davis, PLLC
reaton@kmd.law
1. Premiere Sponsorships are First Come, First Served.
This year, TCBF is offering premiere sponsorship packages to all Founder’s Circle sponsors, on a first-come-firstserved basis. As a Founder’s Circle sponsor, you will be able to choose one of the following, included as part of your sponsorship package (see details on the next page): • Drink Sponsor • Food Sponsor • Music Sponsor • Auction Sponsor • Special Guest Table Sponsor
2. VIP Tickets are Reserved for Sponsors.
VIP tickets are only available for table sponsors. With a VIP ticket, you will have access to a pre-event cocktail reception with premium bar and appetizers.
3. You Can Donate Unused Sponsor Tickets to TCBF Volunteers.
This year, table sponsors have the option of donating any of their unused tickets to a TCBF volunteer or special guest (such as one of the award recipients). Please look for this option when purchasing a sponsorship package through TCBF’s website.
4. Who Does TCBF Serve?
SEPTEMBER 1, 2022
All fundraising efforts support TCBF’s community service and pro bono programs, including: • Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans • Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services • Elder Law Handbook • LegalLine • People’s Law School
5. Why is TCBF So Excited About the 2022 Gala?
With the help of a festive venue, the musical entertainment and energy of Coffey Anderson, and the company of our ardent supporters and cherished volunteers, we can’t wait to celebrate all of TCBF’s 2022 successes with our Tarrant County family. The Foundation’s success is the result of our compassionate volunteers and generous donors. As always, we thank you for your continued support. g
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▪ TCBA BULLETIN 11
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Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services
By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director
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The Gatehouse Wills Clinic Summer 2022
VAS partnered with The Gatehouse to provide a free wills clinic to their residents. Kelly Hart sponsored the clinic and provided the attorneys to draft the paperwork. Through this clinic TVAS was able to help six clients successfully draft and execute their wills.
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO VOLUNTEERED FOR THE GATEHOUSE WILLS CLINIC
ATTORNEYS
Heidi Angel, Joseph Austin, Whitney Beckworth, Teddy Boschini, Drew Neal, Drew Neill, Nirav Patel, John Phair, Kylie Rahl, Joakim Soederbaum, and Jeff Whitfield
KELLY HART SUMMER ASSOCIATES
Josue Barron, Jillian Borreson, Gillermo Gomez, Julia Green, Kelly McConnell, and Sam Pumphrey
Gatehouse Wills Clinic, Summer 2022
CLE On Demand
Free for TCBA Members
Defending Evictions During the COVID-19 Pandemic Recording Presented by LANWT & TVAS
PARALEGALS
Jack Cutshall, Kellie Daniels, Susan Davis, Monty Mayes, Andrea Saitis, Julie Sherman, and Kenya White
CLE: 2 hours, 1 hour Ethics Access webinar at www.tarrantbar.org/evictions-cle
Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Thank you to Kelly Hart for sponsoring the TVAS Gatehouse Wills Clinic.
JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 13
Thank You to Our Law Day Sponsors T able S ponsors
Cantey Hanger LLP Kathryn Cosby Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP Pham Harrison, LLP Sharen Wilson Criminal District Attorney's Office
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association
L aw D ay S upporters Higginbotham Insurance Agency, Inc. Law Offices of Randall E. Turner, PLLC Texas A&M University School of Law Texas Wesleyan University The Medlin Law Firm, PLLC 14 www.tarrantbar.org
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JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 15
Save e De
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Submit a Substantive Law Article
for
Bulletin OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
The Bar Bulletin is a bi-monthly publication of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Please submit queries or articles to elizabeth@tarrantbar.org. Your work will be fully attributed to you, the author.
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. Advertisements and feature articles should not be considered an endorsement of any service, product, program, seminar or event. JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 17
TEXAS LAWYERS FOR TEXAS VETERANS TARRANT COUNTY CHAPTER By Sarah Correa, TCBF Pro Bono Programs Intern
I
am currently a Texas A&M School of Law student; this fall will be my final semester. I have had the pleasure of being a pro bono student intern since the Fall of 2021. This year of service has given me ample opportunities to learn, grow, and explore the legal field and what service to the community looks like. Working with the foundation directors and volunteer attorneys has provided great insight and experience into the domain of serving others from a legal perspective. Our programs are designed to assist community members who cannot afford legal representation or lack knowledge of how to proceed with legal problems. The Pro Bono Programs have available opportunities to seek or provide legal advice and more tailored clinics for specific needs in the community like eviction or guardianship. It has been inspiring to see volunteer attorneys dedicate their time to the community and make an impact by spending as little as fifteen minutes on the phone with a person. I have been heavily involved with the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans program this past year, and I am happy
to be a small cog in a machine that assist our veterans with services that they thought may be out of reach. The Pro Bono Programs receive calls, emails, and texts daily from individuals who need help or direction. While our programs are not able to help everyone who reaches out, we are able to provide people with direction to other legal and community resources. The volume of callers reflects a significant need for education, advocacy, and access involving legal services. I have previous professional experience working with the community in relation to education and social needs, but legal needs were something new to me. This past year, assisting individuals with locating resources and connecting them with volunteer attorneys has shown me the great need for accessible legal services. While I have learned much about the law and needs of the community, I have learned a lot about myself and how much I enjoy connecting with and helping others. I hope I can continue serving the community once I graduate, and I hope I can encourage others to do the same. g
. . . AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SECTIONS
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By Tracy Card, Office Manager
TCBA Offers 18 Substantive Law Sections Stay in the Know by Joining a Section Today
y, how a year flies! It is hard to believe we are entering into a new bar year already. I would like to thank you all for your participation in your sections and for the hard work done by everyone to make this past year a
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rewarding one. I know several of you are gearing up for the new year and the wonderful opportunities to pull together some informative CLE sessions. Remember that we are here to help you make those things happen. Feel free to reach out! g
CLE CORNER
The Best of . . . Free and Low Cost Online CLE
Section Webinars:
Section members can access free online CLE that is available on the section’s e-community. If you are not a member of a section and want to access a particular recorded CLE, visit www.tarrantbar.org/cleondemand or contact Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org to purchase the recording.
Appellate Law Section
Fort Worth Business & Estate Section
Topic: Hot Topics in Estate Planning Speakers: Steve Akers, Bessemer Trust Mike Bourland, Bourland Wall & Wenzel, P.C. Keri Brown, Baker Botts, LLP Lee Schwemer, Former Supervisory Attorney (Estate Tax), IRS; Current Lecturer - UTA CLE: 1 hour (FREE for Section Members, $30 for Non-Members)
Topic: Brain Break with the Tenth Court of Appeals (Waco) Moderator: Jeanette Strange, Fifth Court of Appeals - Dallas Judicial Panel: • Chief Justice Tom Gray • Justice Matt Johnson • Justice Steven Lee Smith CLE: .75 hour of Ethics (FREE for TCBA Members)
Real Estate Section
Topic: Brain Break with the Sixth Court of Appeals (Texarkana) Moderator: Jeanette Strange, Fifth Court of Appeals - Dallas Judicial Panel: • Chief Justice Josh R. Morriss, III • Justice Scott E. Stevens • Justice Ralph K. Burgess CLE: .75 hour of Ethics (FREE for TCBA Members)
The Intersection of DFW History, Race and Real Estate
Business Litigation Section
Topic: Discovery Strategies in a Virtual World Speaker: Cole Riddell, Haltom & Doan CLE: 1 hour (FREE for TCBA Members)
Construction Law Section
Topic: One Satisfaction at a Time – Allocating Settlement Proceeds in a Multi-Party Construction Dispute Speaker: Travis Brown, Partner, Allensworth CLE: 1 hour (FREE for TCBA Members) Topic: Construction Employers and OSHA Violations: Willful Violations, Civil and Criminal Penalties Speaker: Taylor E. White, Winstead PC CLE: 1 hour (FREE for Section Members, $5 for Non-Members)
Energy Law Section
Topic: $75.00 WTI and $6.00 Henry Hub: Maintain Capital Discipline or Game On?! Speaker: Greg Scheig, CFA CPA, Vantage Point Advisors CLE: 1 hour (FREE for TCBA Members)
Environmental Law Section
Topic: 2022 State Water Plan Speaker: Howard Slobodin, General Counsel, Trinity River Authority CLE: 1 hour (FREE for Section Members, $10 for Non-Members)
Topic: Changes to Chapter 53 of the Texas Property Code Governing Mechanic’s and Materialman’s Liens (M&M Liens) Speaker: Erin E. Eckert, Eckert Law CLE: 1 hour (FREE for TCBA Members)
SIDEBar Conversation Series - Presented by Real Estate Section and Diversity Committee Topic: History’s Impact on Inequitable Housing Today Speaker: Mary-Margaret Lemons, President, Fort Worth Housing CLE: 1 hour (FREE for TCBA Members) Topic: The Remnants of Racism in Real Estate Documents Speaker: Martin Garcia, Co-Owner & Attorney at Law, Simplified Title Company, LLC CLE: 1 hour (FREE for TCBA Members)
Missed a recent Brown Bag Seminar?
Check out the recordings below and watch at your convenience. Visit www.tarrantbar.org/cleondemand to view all available recordings or contact Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org to purchase a recording. Topic: Ethics | CLE: 3.00 hours Moderator: Albert Roberts, Albert Roberts Law, PLLC Topic: Developing Areas in the Law | CLE: 3.50 hours Moderator: Derek Carson, Cantey Hanger LLP Topic: Real Estate and Construction | CLE: 3.75 hours Moderator: Mary Barkley, Cantey Hanger LLP Topic: Appellate Law | CLE: 3.25 hours Moderator: Tori Ford Oblon, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office, Post-Conviction Unit Topic: Healthcare Law | CLE: 3.75 hours Moderator: Scott Lindsey, Boyd, Powers & Williamson Topic: Hot Topics in Litigation | CLE: 3.50 hours Moderator: Scott Lindsey, Boyd, Powers & Williamson JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 19
This is the 25th anniversary issue of “From the Civil Side”, now “Snippets”, which began in 1997. This column represents, in the author’s opinion, some of the most interesting and informative items thus far.
Snippets
Co-Editor Judge Carey Walker, County Criminal Court No. 2
Civil and Criminal
by Judge Bob McCoy
g
County Criminal Court No. 3
ASK JUDGE BOB
1. Judge Bob, I’ve been called a “jackass.” Is this a term of art? No. You have been referred to as a male donkey. Had you been called a “jenny,” you would have been referred to as a female donkey. And, while we are on the subject, a mule is a hybrid between a horse and a donkey, usually the offspring of a male donkey and a mare. [Thanks to a local attorney for this item and his experience in this area.] 2. Judge Bob, my client says that I am charging him “an arm and a leg” for my services. Where does that expression come from? Traditionally, “back in the day,” portrait painters did not charge by how many people were to be included in a painting, but rather by how many limbs would be depicted. Hence, the expression “you are charging me an arm and leg for your services.” 3. Judge Bob, what is an “expert”? According to lawyer Tim Evans, addressing Tarrant County Bar Association luncheon, “An expert is a fellow from out of town.”
ASK THE DANES (Caesar, Cleo, Ramses, Moses, Noah)
Caesar Cleo Ramses Moses Noah 1. Caesar, what is your favorite case involving an animal? I have to say that it is City of Canadian v. Guthrie, 87 S.W.2d 316 (Tex.Civ.App.—Amarillo 1931, no writ), about a oneeyed bay mare that wandered the city while feasting off of people’s gardens. The case contains the following timeless quote: “[W]hen Panhandle Pete’s pistol popped, she petered, for which the poundkeeper paid Pete a pair of pesos.” Id. at 317. 2. Cleo and Ramses, are there any dogs that have law degrees? Well, almost. Skeeter, a six-year-old Labrador-retriever service dog that attended classes daily with his master, received from Baylor Law School an honorary Juris “Dog”-tor degree, including a purple collar and pen. And he was hooded. 20 www.tarrantbar.org JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪
DANES’ QUOTE OF THE MONTH
1. “He that lies down with the Dogs, must rise with the fleas.” —Gnomologia (1732) 2. “The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.” —Samuel Butler, “Higgledy-Piggledy” 3. “It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and I’m wearing Milkbone underwear.” —Norm, Cheers 4. “Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.” —Ann Landers
LEGAL QUOTE OF THE MONTH
1. “The profession I chose was politics; the profession I entered was law. I entered the one because I thought it would lead to the other.” —Woodrow Wilson 2. “A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has a better lawyer.” —Robert Frost 3. “That which looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck will be treated as a duck even though some would insist upon calling it a chicken.” Quave v. Progress Marine, 912 F.2d 798, 800 n.4 (5th Cir. 1990) (quoting Tidelands Marine Serv. V. Patterson, 719 F.2d 126, 128 n.3 (5th Cir. 1983)). 4. “To argue [that] a police spotlight in your face from ten feet is not detention … is to say [that] the smell of the barn from ten feet down wind is roses.” Davis v. State, 22 S.W.3d 8, 21 (Houston [14th Dist.], no pet.) (Wittig, J., concurring & dissenting). 5. “Do we answer the questions and then deliberate or do we deliberate and then answer the questions?” —Juror to the bailiff in the 48th District Court 6. “It has been said that appellate judges watch from on high the legal battle fought below, and when the dust and smoke of the battle clears [,] they come down out of the hills and shoot the wounded.” Black v. State, 723 S.W.2d 674, 677 n.1 (Tex.Crim.App. 1986) (Onion, J., dissenting).
7. “Litigation: a machine which you go into as a pig and come out as a sausage” —Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary 8. “Politics are almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war, you can be killed only once, but in politics, many times.” —Winston Churchill
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
1. “Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” —Margaret Thatcher 2. “Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the cornfield.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower 3. “Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.” —Will Rogers 4. “Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair.” —George Burns 5. “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?” —Sherlock Homes to Dr. John Watson, in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of the Four (1890) 6. “Never interrupt your opponent while he’s making a mistake.” —Napoleon 7. “The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter.” —Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart), responding to Wilmer Cook’s (Elisha Cook, Jr.) threat, “Keep on riding me and they’re gonna be picking iron out of your liver.” The Maltese Falcon (1941) 8. “Napoleon’s hat on the battlefield was worth fifty thousand men.” —The Duke of Wellington, regarding Napoleon’s presence in Spain 9. “Xerxes has many men, but no soldiers.” —Leonidis, King of Sparta, at the Battle of Thermoplyae 10. “If guns kill people, I can blame misspelled words on my pencil.” —Larry the Cable Guy 11. “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” —Henry Ford 12. “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” —Abraham Lincoln 13. “Let not him who straps on his armor boast as he who takes it off.” —1 Kings 20:11
OLD NEWS
Hard Time From 1873 to 1878, the local calaboose was located at Rusk (Commerce) and Second, and it consisted of two cells and a dungeon. The log structure had one barred opening for light and ventilation, no plumbing or running water, and cost less than $500 to construct. A standard joke in Fort Worth at the time was the following: “What is the difference between the moon and jail? The moon is full once a month, but the jail is full every night.”
Origin of the Phrase “A White Horse Case” “According to what is probably an apocryphal story, around the turn of the century a Texas law firm had a case in which a white horse owned by the client’s taxi service reared in the street, causing an elderly woman to fall and injure herself. The partner handling the case asked a young associate to find a case on point. The associate came back several hours later with a case involving an elderly lady who had fallen in the street after a taxi company’s black horse had reared in front of her. When the associate took this case to the partner, the partner said, ‘Nice try, son. Now, go find me a white horse case.’” Hilland v. Arnold, 856 S.W.2d 240, 242 n. 1 (Tex.App.— Texarkana 1993, no writ). Ordinance 92 On December 26, 1876, the city council passed Ordinance 92, which prohibited males from “riding, walking, or promenading” in public areas of the city with any “prostitute or woman of ill fame,” subject to fines ranging from 10 to 25 dollars. The legal question of who was a prostitute was to be determined by “general reputation” or by “prima facie evidence.” Public outcry and the questionable legal standard led to an amendment, in February 1877, that only “riding or driving” with such women between the hours of 4 a.m. and 9 p.m. was prohibited. The Greatest In 1920, Babe Ruth hit more home runs than fourteen of the sixteen big-league TEAMS! Special Notice Back in 2007, it was reported that Judge Fred Davis would return to Bench Bar to reprise his informal presentation of his PGA (personal golfing achievements) for interested golfing enthusiasts (if any). Topics would include those from his personal experience: (1) Finding lost balls – the proper use of the machete and waders; (2) How to replace the double divot; (3) Mulligans – how many?; (4) Multiple whiffs in the tee box – how to deal with hecklers; (5) The three worst words in golf – your still away, and; (6) When they ask you to JUST please drive the beer cart – my story. Wanting a New Trial? From 1856 to 1951, how long did you have after the verdict in a criminal case to request a new trial? Two days. Butler v. The State, 6 S.W.2d at 638, 9 (Houston [1st Dist.]) Law And Order: One Photo Is Too Many The well-known photograph of the Wild Bunch (Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Ben Kilpatrick, Will Carver, and Harvey Logan), in which they are dressed in coats, ties, and bowler hats, was taken in the fall of 1900 at Schwartz View Co., located at 705 Main Street. The photo led to the gang’s break-up and eventual demise, after a Pinkerton agent distributed thousands of the photos on “wanted” posters across the Southwest. g
JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 21
TCBA MEMBERS CAN ENJOY THESE BENEFITS
The Tarrant County Bar Association is comprised of over 2,500 members and offers the best way to connect with the legal community in Tarrant County.
GROW YOUR BUSINESS TCBA members have the opportunity to expand their client base by joining the Lawyer Referral & Information Service, connect and engage with the Tarrant County legal community through our Transition to Practice mentor program, and receive discounted pricing when purchasing the TCBA Mailing Label list.
EXCLUSIVE MEMBER DISCOUNTS As a member of TCBA, you can enjoy access to exclusive discounts and free professional services including FREE document shredding, FREE "Tech Tips" seminars hosted by Juris Fabrilis, discounted rate for the Lawyer Referral & Information Services (LRIS) membership, reduced pricing for TCBA Mailing Label list, and discounts on Fort Worth Zoo admission tickets and meeting space rentals at the TCBA office.
GET YOUR CLE WITH EASE
FREE and reduced rate CLE seminars are offered to TCBA members through the TCBA's 18 substantive law sections, Brown Bag CLE pass, and other TCBA events. In addition, TCBA offers many of its recorded CLE events online at a discounted rate exclusive to TCBA members.
GIVE BACK
There are many opportunities for community service at annual TCBA events like National Adoption Day, People's Law School, and the Blood Drive. The TCBA also provides pro bono volunteer opportunities at legal clinics through Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) and Texas Lawyers for Texas Verterns -Tarrant County Chapter (TLTV).
NETWORK
Members have numerous opportunities to grow their network by attending TCBA seminars, meetings, and exclusive networking events including Docket Calls, Women in the Law Luncheon, and the annual Bench Bar Conference. 22 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ JULY/AUGUST 2022
LegalLine Legal
W
By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director
Looking for a New Way to Volunteer this Bar Year?
hen you volunteer for LegalLine, you get to work out of the comfort of your own home or office and speak with people needing assistance in your prac-
Remote
LEGALLINE
Upcoming LegalLine Dates July 28, 2022
August 25, 2022
August 11, 2022 September 8, 2022
tice area. Thank you to the attorneys who have volunteered in the last two months. If you want to know about volunteering for LegalLine, email sarah@tarrantbar.org.
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO VOLUNTEERED FOR LEGALLINE
Sue Allen Norma Bazán Sonyia Byrd Julie Camacho Ola Campbell Andrea Casanova
Wendy Hart C.D. Peebles Deborah Krane David Pritchard Karon Rowden Eric Lebovitz Cynthia Maragoudakis Thank you to each attorney Michael McBride volunteer! *as of June 10, 2022 Gary Medlin JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 23
Advertise
in TCBA’s Bar Bulletin
The Tarrant County Bar Association’s award winning* Bar Bulletin is a multi-faceted journal that is published six times a year for the TCBA’s members. It includes substantive articles, as well as information about membership events and activities. The Bar Bulletin is distributed digitally and by hard copy to the TCBA’s membership. Each issue reaches an average of 2500 readers through email and social media. It is available online on the TCBA’s website.
BEST OVERALL NEWSLETTER Advertising rates vary, depending on the size and frequency. Rates are available by contacting Elizabeth Banda, Communications Director at elizabeth@tarrantbar.org. *TCBA’s Bar Bulletin received the 2018, 2019, and 2022 Division III “Stars of Texas Bars Award for Best Overall Newsletter” from the State Bar of Texas. 24 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ JULY/AUGUST 2022
JULY/AUGUST 2022
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 25
Member Benefits Vendor List
Bar Bulletin ▪ July/August 2022 Tarrant County Bar Association TCBA members may take advantage of discounts 1315 Calhoun Street provided by the following vendors: Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504 AMO Office Supply offers TCBA members the lowest ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD U. S. POSTAGE PAID FORT WORTH, TX
price guaranteed on office supplies, with next-day delivery and free shipping! Call 800.420.6421.
PERMIT 1807
Falcon Document Solutions, provides quick, efficient and reliable process service, document scanning, printing, copying and electronic discovery, litigation displays and trial boards. We are available 24 hours 7 days a week at 817.870.0330 or at www.falcondocs.com. Discounts available to TCBA Membership. Fort Worth JSB Co., Inc., offers a 10% discount to TCBA members on printed material - business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, brochures, flyers, and more. For a quote, call 817.577.0572. Fort Worth Zoo discount tickets - $16.00 adult, $12 for child or senior. For tickets, contact tracy@tarrantbar.org or 817.338.4092. 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. Call 940.783.6580 for details. Thomson Reuters Exclusive TCBA offer of 15% off new Westlaw subscriptions or upgrades to current subscriptions*, including our latest AI enhanced platform, Westlaw Edge. Please contact your local Account Executive, Ben Galloway, for more information: Ben.Galloway@TR.com. *Restrictions apply, please contact your AE for details. g
Classified Advertising NOTICE Classified Ads no longer appear in the Bulletin. They can be found on our website at www.tarrantbar.org.
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If any of your contact information is incorrect, please submit the corrected information to the TCBA office at 817.338.4092, fax to 817.335.9238 or email to tcba@tarrantbar.org. RISK-TAKING CAN BE FUN...
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