Bulletin July/August 2020
Gary Medlin TCBA President 2020-2021
Steve Laird
Steve Laird is one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas* There’s a Reason
It takes years to establish a good reputation Handling Personal Injury Wrongful Death & 18-Wheeler Cases *Texas Super Lawyers, Top 100 (2005-2013, 2015-2019) - Thomson Reuters
Now One of Only 9 Texas Lawyers Board Certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
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S t e v e n C . L a i r d, P. C . 817.531.3000
1119 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, FORT WORTH, TX 76104
www.texlawyers.com
President’s Page
by GARY MEDLIN
Ending Racism Begins With Me
F
or many years at First United Methodist Church Fort Worth, the congregation closed the service singing “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” the last line of the chorus being: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” We are now in the middle of wars with two viruses: Covid-19 and racism. Our national reckoning with the second virus may be the more difficult. The murder of George Floyd, caught on video for the world to see, has galvanized a coalition of diverse protesters across our country, and even internationally. Many people are expressing the pain that they have always lived with, but rarely voiced. Our members and friends of color are not okay. There is the main subject of protest being racism in policing and police brutality, but the conversation needed includes the racism that has always existed for 400 years in our country and continues today. For many of us this is a difficult conversation that we would prefer not to have and, for too long, we have simply procrastinated. For many of us, myself included, we have rationalized that we are not racist, that we believe in equality, so certainly we are not part of the problem. But we are, unless we become an active part of the solution. As a white person who has not experienced the pain of discrimination and being judged by the color of my skin rather than the content of my character, I have gone through life able to succeed by my efforts, and to some extent by my white privilege. It’s like beginning a race with a big head start. But I have always believed in equality. Haven’t I? It is no longer enough for white people like myself to say “I am not racist because I believe in equality.” We must now look honestly into our hearts and examine how the vestiges of racism may still inhabit our subconscious and manifest in our actions. I have subconscious if not conscious biases that I need to examine and eliminate from my life. But before I can do this, I must make the uncomfortable admission that they exist. And then I must conduct the difficult and honest examina-
tion of my heart. This I want to do and have tried to begin. But this is not enough. It is not enough to be not racist in our own thoughts and actions. We must also take a stand. I have often been silent in the face of racism. I have heard racist jokes and said nothing; I have seen racist actions and not called them out. I have failed to take a stand when I should have. Silence is complicity. We can no longer stand by silently without knowing we are being complicit. I am optimistic that we are at an inflection point and rapid progress is imminent. Already many needed conversations are being had, relics of racism are being taken down, and people are examining their lives and the impact of their actions on people of color. And the Tarrant County Bar Association is urgently pursuing many actions to make a difference. Our Diversity Committee is planning programs and education for our membership and eventually for the community at large including regular meetings for conversations on race. We are reaching out to the L. Clifford Davis Legal Association and the Black Women Bar Association to discuss how we can work to together to achieve positive change. We are developing plans for education, programs and dialogue. Together we will make a difference. The Tarrant County Bar Association is committed to equality and the elimination of racism. Please let me know any ideas or areas of concern you may have to address achieving equality. This will be my main goal for the coming Bar year. Thank you for the privilege of leading this great organization for the profession I love. As lawyers we are particularly well-suited and armored to win the fight for equality. Let us end racism and achieve true equality and justice for all in our great country, and let us all join the chorus: “let it begin with me.” g
JOIN A SECTION OR COMMITTEE TODAY! To Join a Section: Login to your MyTCBA portal and update your
subscription.
To Join a Committee, visit:
https://www.tarrantbar.org/CommitteeVolunteerForm
JULY/AUGUST 2020
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 1
Contents
Tarrant County Bar Association
Features 7 8 15 32
817.338.4092 ▪ Fax 817.335.9238 website: www.tarrantbar.org email: tcba@tarrantbar.org
TCBA Summer Blood Drive A Special Message from the TCBA Diversity Committee
2020-2021 Officers
Congratulations to the First “President’s Award” Recipients TCBA Welcomes its 2020-2021 Officers & Directors
Departments 1 President’s Page 3 Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans 4 100 Club 5 CLE Corner 9 Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services 11 Lawyer Referral & Information Service News 12 Judicial Profile - Judge James B. Munford 13 Other Associations’ News & Information 16 Lawyers on the Move & in the News 17 Membership Report 18 LegalLine 19 Benefits of Membership 20 Snippets 22 Wellness Connections Committee 23 A Word From Our Sections 23 In Memoriam Advertisers' Index
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Autumn Ridge Counseling and Wellness......................15 Bailey & Galyen.....................................................11, 14 BPW Law....................................................................10 Edward Jones.............................................................13 Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C.......Inside Front Cover LawPay..................................................................17 Parker Law Firm.........................................................24 Pyke & Associates, P.C..................................................7 Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange.............................15 Tindall Square Office Complex...................................18
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President.....................................Gary Medlin President-Elect.....................Kimberly Naylor Vice President............................Karen Denney Secretary-Treasurer...........................Lu Pham
Directors Term Ends 2021
Director..............................Sherry Armstrong Director.............................Katherine Hopkins Director......................................Scott Lindsey
Term Ends 2022
Director....................................John Lively, Jr. Director........................................Dana Manry Director.......................................Lynn Winter
2020–2021 Appointed Directors
Appointed Director.................Ralph Duggins Appointed Director............Marvina Robinson
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association
Fall 2019 President....................Martin Garcia Fall 2020 President..................Andrea Palmer Immediate Past President...............John Cayce Executive Director....................Megan Cooley Ex-Officio Members State Bar of Texas Director.......................................Steve Naylor Director................................Jason C.N. Smith Bar Bulletin Editor......................................John F. Murphy 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.
Save the Date for the Passing of Gavel and New Board Installation Tuesday, July 14, 2020 | 12:00 PM
Register Now: www.tarrantbar.org/2020Board Judge George Gallagher will install the new 2020-2021 board of directors, and Outgoing President John Cayce will pass the gavel to President Elect Gary Medlin. Outgoing President Cayce will also present the new annual President’s Award to the first recipients. This event will occur via Zoom, but members are welcome to join the meeting. TCBA looks forward to an in-person membership luncheon and board installation in the fall, and will provide updates on that event in the future.
Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans
Tarrant County Chapter
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’m a Texas A&M School of Law student, entering my third and final year this fall. I was thrilled when my spring internship with the pro bono programs was given an extension through the summer. My prior experience of learning about pro bono work in law school seemed to be one slide on one PowerPoint that was covered in just one day during a Professional Responsibly class my 2L year. It was not until this internship with the Tarrant County Bar Foundation that I came to realize the extreme amount of pro bono attorney services needed and the sheer number of people in need of them. Working underneath a director whose fierce determination to help as many indigent people as possible has opened my eyes to the fantastic efforts attorneys in this area put forth to help people who would otherwise be swallowed by the system. I’ve come to learn that the judicial system is not kind to those who are financially incapable of paying for an attorney and must continue on pro se. Often times, the attorneys through our programs are a last chance at a fair fight. It is inspiring to witness practicing attorneys make pro bono work a prominent aspect of their careers. To know that even now, during a pandemic, attorneys are blocking off times in their busy schedules to dedicate to doing phone consultations for our remote TLTV clinics is heartening. Knowing that attorneys are still willing to take the time to help others in need is not something you get to see in law school, especially in a time that everyone is weighed down with worry about their health, their families, and their jobs.
Witnessing it, reminds me of why I wanted to enter the legal field. My experience with the pro bono program has inspired me to encourage my classmates to participate in clinics, to offer their time to the program in any way that is needed, and to motivate them to begin their own pro bono assistance as early as possible in their law careers. I hope to carry the experiences I have had here for many years into my career and to be able to give back to the programs by offering my own free legal services. I also hope to encourage as many people to do the same. g Yasmeen Aboellhasan TCBF Pro Bono Programs Intern TLTV is continuing with phone consultations for veterans and spouses of deceased veterans. Thank you to those who volunteered for the remote TLTV clinics in May and June: Whitney Beckworth Luz Herrera Jason Miller Bob Brown Lisa Jamieson George Muckleroy Ola Campbell Sam Johndroe Lynn Rodriguez John Corbin John Johnson Sarah Seltzer Ellen Dickerson Spencer Mainka Melissa Sircar Tom Duffy Zoe Meigs Brandon Weaver If you’d like to know more, visit txltxv.org or email kayla@tarrantbar.org.
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▪ TCBA BULLETIN 3
Members of the 2020–2021
100 Club *List Reflected Below is as of June 26, 2020
Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C Albert Neely & Kuhlmann, LLP Anderson & Riddle, LLP Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP Blaies & Hightower, LLP Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones, LLP Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C. Brackett & Ellis, P.C. Broude, Smith, Jennings, & McGlinchey P.C. Brown, Proctor & Howell, LLP Curnutt & Hafer, LLP Decker Jones, P.C. Freeman Mills, P.C. Friedman, Suder & Cooke, P.C. Gaydos Duffer, P.C. Griffith, Jay & Michel, LLP Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. Haynes and Boone, LLP Holland, Johns & Penny, LLP K&L Gates LLP Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP KoonsFuller, P.C.
Law, Snakard & Gambill, P.C. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Lively & Associates, PLLC McDonald Sanders, P.C. Mellina & Larson, P.C. Murphy Mahon Keffler & Farrier, LLP Padfield & Stout, LLP Pham Harrison, LLP Phelps Dunbar, LLP Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, LLP Seltzer & Dally, PLLC Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP The Blum Firm The Colaneri Firm, P.C. Thompson & Knight, LLP Udeshi Law Firm, PLLC Varghese Summersett, PLLC Watson, Caraway, Midkiff & Luningham, LLP Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz, PLLC Whitley Penn, LLP Wick Phillips
100 Club
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 2020–2021 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 lauren@tarrantbar.org. g
CLE
Corner
TCBA Offers Free and Low Cost Online CLE to Its Members: Section Webinars:
Section members can access free online CLE that is available on the section’s e-community.
Missed a Brown Bag CLE? Check out the Recording and Watch at Your Convenience. Contact Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org to purchase a recording. Brown Bag Seminar (Webinar)
If you are not a member of a section and want to access a particular recorded CLE, contact Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org to purchase the recording.
Real Estate Section Webinar
Topic: Intersections of Real Property and Family Law in Texas Speaker: Martin Garcia, Simplified Title Company CLE: .75 hour
Construction Law Section Meeting & CLE
Topic: Issues in Commercial Construction Bankruptcies Speaker: Jason Kennedy, Harrison Steck, P.C. CLE: .75 hour
Appellate Section Meeting & CLE
Topic: The Office of Solicitor General: Twenty Years of Representing Texas’s Interests Speaker: Kyle Hawkins, Solicitor General CLE: .75 hour
Real Estate Section Webinar
Topic: Real Estate and Bankruptcy: Issues that May Arise in light of Covid-19 Speaker: Machir Stull, Cantey Hanger CLE: 1.0 hour
Pro Bono CLE Series Learn the Nuts and Bolts
Free CLE webinars are available to TCBA members. Each CLE webinar has been previously recorded and is 1 hour. Visit http://www.tarrantbar.org/TVAS to sign up and get the link to the webinar. • Landlord Tenant Basics in a COVID-19 World • Uncontested Divorces (with COVID-19 information) • Drafting Simple Wills and End of Life Planning Documents
Topic: Quick Hits for Navigating Covid-19 CLE: 3.25 hours, including 1 hour ethics Presentations include: Moderator: Brian Singleterry, Cantey Hanger LLP • Employment Issues (Caroline Harrison, Pham Harrison, LLP; Jason Smith, Law Office of Jason Smith) • Virtual Mediations and Ethical Implications (Jennifer Caldwell, Jennifer M. Caldwell, P.C.) • Bankruptcy Issues (Mark French, Law Office of Mark B. French) • CARES Act – Small Business Incentives (Professor William Byrnes, Texas A&M School of Law; Professor Neal Newman, Texas A&M School of Law) • Judicial Panel (Judge Brooke Allen, Probate Court #2; Judge Patricia Bennett, 360th District Court; Judge Kimberly Fitzpatrick, 342nd District Court; Judge Chris Wolfe, 213th District Court)
Brown Bag Seminar (Webinar)
Topic: Real Estate, Construction, Planning and Zoning CLE: 3.0 hours Presentations include: Moderator: Mary Barkley, Cantey Hanger LLP • Texas Ad Valorem Property Tax Litigation Preston J. Dugas III, Preston Dugas Law Firm, PLLC • Planning and Zoning Law Justin Light, Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, L.L.P. • Emerging Issues in Real Estate Drafting Suzanne Frossard, M. Suzanne Frossard, P.C. • Texas Lien Law Summary Stephen D. Harrison, Harrison Steck P. C. • Updates on Texas Construction Law Cara Kennemer, Underwood Law Firm
Other Online Seminars Available (with no CLE) Topic: Remote Working Tips (available on the Covid-19 Task Force) Speakers: Nick Bettinger, McDonald Sanders, P.C. Jim Zadeh, Law Office of Jim Zadeh, P.C.
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▪ TCBA BULLETIN 5
Updates from the Covid-19 Task Force Help Provide Law Students with a Short Term Internship
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ear TCBA Member, I hope you and your families are safe and well. I write with regard to one of the more challenging impacts of the Covid-19 on our students here at A&M Law – with which I’m hoping you can help. A large number of our students ended up having their summer internships canceled – just as other potential internship opportunities also disappeared. In an effort to assist those students, I hope you will consider taking on a short-term summer intern. Given the situation, any internship could be in-person or remote, full-time or part-time, and potentially as brief in duration as 4 to 6 weeks. As I’m sure you can appreciate, the students would benefit tremendously from having some opportunity to gain professional development experience this summer – even as they assist and get to know members of our local legal community. If you think you might be interested, please contact our Director of Career Services,
Mr. Robert “Bob” Weathersby, at rweathersby@law.tamu. edu or 817.212.4013. I know he would love to hear from you. My wholehearted thanks to you for your time and consideration! Yours, Bobby Ahdieh Robert B. Ahdieh Dean & Anthony G. Buzbee Endowed Dean's Chair Texas A&M University School of Law
Thank You for Joining The Bar In Supporting The Tarrant County Bar Foundation thanks the following individuals and law firms for joining the Bar in supporting Tarrant Area Food Bank (“TAFB”). With your generous support, the Bar raised over $37,000. Neal & Sonja Adams Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C. Brackett & Ellis, P.C. Bruner & Bruner PC Cantey Hanger LLP Mattie Peterson Compton Megan Cooley Judge Donald Cosby Kelly E. DeBerry Decker Jones, P.C. Richard K. Disney Arturo Errisuriz Steven K. Hayes Haynes and Boone, LLP Gregory S. Jackson
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Shelby Jean Frank R. Jelinek William R. Jenkins Roland Johnson Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP Lacy Malone Steppick Ryder & Menefee, PLLC Arshad Majid Phillip McCrury McDonald Sanders, P.C. Moses, Palmer & Howell, L.L.P. Norman & Norman, P.C. Wayne K. Olson Phelps Dunbar LLP
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Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, L.L.P. Karen S. Precella Rattikin Law Jackie Robinson Gregory Roper Jay K. Rutherford Richard E. Schellhammer Thompson & Knight LLP Patti Gearhart Turner Philip Vickers Ginger M. Webber Shelby White Tom Williams
TCBA Summer Blood Drive
Donate at a place near you between July 1 and Labor Day and be entered into a drawing for prizes. This year you can participate in the 2020 Tarrant County Bar Association Blood drive by donating at a Carter BloodCare Donor Center or mobile drive. When you present to donate, please tell the phlebotomist you are with the Tarrant County Bar and give them this Sponsor Number: SPON034013
Upcoming Blood Drive
To find a Donor Center or mobile drive near you and to make an appointment, please go to: https://bit.ly/TCBASummerBD
Wednesday, July 22, 2020 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
ARLINGTON DONOR CENTER 4780 Little Rd. Arlington, TX 76017 (817) 274-0812
KELLER DONOR CENTER 101 Town Center Ln Keller, TX 76248 (817) 337-1520
HEB DONOR CENTER 1731 W. Airport Freeway Bedford, TX 76021 (817) 283-4787
MANSFIELD DONOR CENTER 920 US Hwy 287 N, Suite 210 Mansfield, TX 76063 (817) 539-0244
HULEN DONOR CENTER 4995 S. Hulen St. Fort Worth, TX 76132 (817) 263-5810
ROSEDALE DONOR CENTER 1263 W. Rosedale St. Suite #100 Fort Worth, TX 76104 (817) 335-4935
Hosted by City Center Fort Worth
Governor’s Room, 4th Floor, Bank of America Tower Northwest Corner
Register Now: https://bit.ly/CCFWdonate Take a picture and tag TCBA to show your participation in the blood drive! To honor social distancing, please make an appointment, complete donor question online using QuickScreen and plan on bringing/wearing a mask.
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▪ TCBA BULLETIN 7
W e l l ne s s C on n e ct i o n s Co m m i t t e e A Special Message From the TCBA Diversity Committee
ear Members of the Bar,
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As the nation mourns the tragic and senseless death of George Floyd, we are reminded of the unfathomable pain too long felt by black, brown and other families of color in communities across America – including our own. We humbly acknowledge that our own community is still grieving the heartbreaking death of Atatiana Jefferson. As lawyers, who are called to uphold the fundamental American principle of equal justice under the law, we are deeply troubled and alarmed by the commonness of instances requiring our Bar to reflect upon how justice truly is administered. This is not a time to be a bystander or to mince words. Let us be clear, the TCBA Diversity Committee categorically condemns systemic racism, ongoing discrimination, and police brutality. In far too many instances, black and brown lives are not afforded the same value and esteem as their white counterparts. So long as this remains the case, we all must be committed to the work required to eliminate inequities in every aspect of our community and profession, while restoring trust and faith in the rule of law and our legal institutions. Together, we must not let this charge be hollow; it must be met with earnest action by every member of our Bar. We must humbly examine our practices to ensure that diversity is seen in the result of whom we hire, develop, promote and represent. We must honestly critique our criminal justice
system to safeguard the constitutional promise of due process and equal treatment under the law on all levels and for all people, regardless of color or socioeconomic status. We must thoughtfully educate ourselves about our fellow citizens through relationship building with our diverse neighbors, co-workers, and fellow attorneys. In the spirit of action, the TCBA Diversity Committee intends to utilize the full extent of our resources to educate the Bar on racial inequity and justice reform in our community and profession; to improve cross-cultural engagement, dialogue, and fellowship between our Bar and members of diverse communities; and to create new opportunities for attorneys to volunteer their legal skills in service of those in need. The fight for justice should not be borne by our black and brown communities alone. It is this Bar’s fight to bear as well – we swore an oath to that end. We support members of our Bar and community who have peacefully exercised their constitutional right to protest, demand reform, and express their legitimate frustration. We join in solidarity with our entire community to demand that those responsible for the senseless deaths of Atatiana Jefferson, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other men and women of color be swiftly and appropriately brought to justice. Committed to true justice and equity, TCBA Diversity Committee
Happy Juneteenth
By Angel G. Williams, President, L. Clifford Davis Legal Association
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une 19, 2020 was the 155th celebration of Juneteenth, which marks the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the civil war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The worldwide pandemic and economic conditions related to Covid-19 give me reasons to reflect on the freedoms I have today, and how far the nation has come since June 19, 1865. At the same time, the social unrest and reasons for the protest in our communities and across the nation remind me of how far our nation still has to go to
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ensure all of its citizens truly feel free. I hope you will join me in reflecting on Juneteenth and the significant place it has in our nation’s history.
Video Link:
What is Juneteenth? The history behind the oldest commemoration of the abolishment of slavery in the US https://bit.ly/what-is-juneteenth-the-history
Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services
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VAS has been busy over the last few months. Here are some of the many people who have helped make TVAS’s impact on the community possible:
Thank you to those who signed up to volunteer with the Heroes Wills Clinic: Jason Amon Whitney Beckworth John Corbin Zoe Courtney Bobbie Edmonds Amy Fuqua - Mentor Luz Herrera Lee Hunt Lisa Jamieson
Sha’branddon Johnson Carrie Murdock Rachel Ponder Martin Rechnitzer - Mentor Lynn Rodriguez Cheryl Schwarzer Julie Sladek Whitney Zwieg
Thank you to the attorneys who volunteered with the TVAS/LANWT Eviction effort: Emem Akpabio Whitney Beckworth Nick Bettinger Bob Brown Ola Campbell Stuart Campbell - Mentor Derek Carson Maryanne Chiwuike Brent Dore Cindy Fitch Stephen Geis James Greer
Luz Herrera Sam Johndroe Kate Kim St Clair Newbern Josh Ross Karon Rowden Brent Schellhammer - Mentor Carrie Schilling Brian Singleterry David Speed Kimberly Stoner
Thank you to all of the attorneys and paralegals who volunteered with the Uncontested Divorce Clinic:
Attorneys
Whitney Beckworth John Corbin Kate Hancock Brooke Hubbard Melissa Sircar
Philip Vasquez Monique Lopez-Hinkley Mentor Lynn Rodriguez – Mentor
Pamela Carr Susan Davis Claudia Goetz Lisa Grimaldi
Trisha Klement Monty Mayes Julie Sherman
Paralegals
Kayla Dailey Pro Bono Programs Director “In this time of uncertainty, adjustment, and social-distancing, pro bono work is important now more than ever, and TVAS has done an incredible job of offering remote pro bono opportunities. As lawyers, we are in a unique position to assist others in our community with very real problems that directly impact their day-to-day lives. Devoting time to pro bono efforts is but a small way that we can give back.” —Whitney Beckworth, Associate Attorney at Kelly Hart
Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Thank you to Kelly Hart for sponsoring the TVAS Gatehouse Wills Clinic.
JULY/AUGUST 2020
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 9
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Lawyer Referral & Information Service
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oin the Lawyer Referral Service and reap the benefits of its nearly 12,000 calls each year:
WHAT IS IT? •
•
•
An American Bar Association approved lawyer referral service [one of four in the State of Texas] A state-certified lawyer referral service as required by the State of Texas under Chapter 952, Occupations Code. [the only state-certified referral service in Tarrant County] A non-profit community service provided by the Tarrant County Bar Association.
HOW TO SIGN UP?
News
Visit TCBA’s homepage at www.tarrantbar.org and locate LRIS’s section. Click link. (1) complete application forms and upload documents to the website; (2) pay annual registration fee of $150, $175 or $200, depending upon years of practice; and (3) furnish proof of professional liability coverage. For questions, Contact the Lawyer Referral Service Director, Carolina Ibarra at 817.338.4092 or e-mail lris@tarrantbar.org. g
WHO CAN JOIN?
Any attorney in the Tarrant County or surrounding area who is admitted to practice in the State of Texas, in good standing with the State Bar of Texas, and who agrees to abide by the Rules of Membership of the Tarrant County Bar Association Lawyer Referral & Information Service. For certain areas of law, there are additional requirements.
Homepage View
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▪ TCBA BULLETIN 11
Judicial Profile
By Perry Cockerell, Perry Cockerell, P.C.
Judge James B. Munford
D
istrict Judge James Munford was eight years old when the East German military began constructing the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961. His father, Major Charles Munford, a West Point graduate and career military officer, was serving at his last duty station when the international incident broke out. “My Dad was called out to duty when we were stationed in Germany and I remembered the Brandenburg Gate, the wall going up and the tanks facing us. He was part of that crisis when the wall went up.” Munford’s father also served in Korea and received the Silver Star with combat injuries. Judge Munford was born in Fort Benning, Georgia and grew up living in many places. After his father retired from the military, his family settled in Grand Prairie, Texas, which he considers home. His father taught high school math and was a counselor at Grand Prairie High School where Munford graduated in 1971. His mother, Alzine E. Munford, taught elementary school in the Grand Prairie schools for over 40 years. In 1976 he received his B.A. in Political Science at the University of Arlington, followed by his law degree in 1980 from South Texas College of Law in Houston. He enjoyed his law school days, where he participated in moot court and clerked for the firm of Kisner & Pappas. “It was hands on. When I graduated, South Texas it really prepared me to practice law. I couldn’t say enough super things about South Texas.” After law school Judge Munford worked as an estate attorney for St. Paul Western Life Insurance and as an associate for Mac Bagby with the firm of W. McFarland Bagby in Arlington. He moved to downtown Fort Worth to the Baker Building to work for Catherine Adamski. When Adamski was elected to the district bench, he joined with Jerry Wood to form the firm of Munford & Wood. In 1987 he set up a solo office in Fort Worth, where he practiced family law exclusively and was a member of numerous family law groups and organizations including the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists and was a board member of the Texas Family Law Bar Association. In 1989 he became Board Certified in Family Law. In 2007 he was appointed as Associate Judge of the 322nd
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District Court and worked for District Judge Nancy Berger. In 2018, when Judge Nancy Berger retired, he ran for the vacant seat and won contested races in the Republican primary and against a Democrat challenger in the November general election. He has been the District Judge of the 322nd District Court since January 1, 2019. After assuming the bench, he chose Jeff Kaitcer as Associate Judge “because he is very well qualified. A family law judge is renaissance person who handles all kinds of things, bankruptcy, personal injury. Judge Kaitcer is more than qualified with triple board certification with the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.”
Life in the 322nd District Court
Judge Munford begins each day with a docket that he works to clear. He provides an open docket during the day, enabling parties to bring matters to the court if there has been proper notice. “With regard to the dismissal docket, I prefer the filing of a motion to retain.” For contested non-jury and jury trials, the court coordinator conducts the pre-trial conferences and sets the case for trial. If you need a hearing within a certain period of time, “We will work with you,” the Judge said. For property cases, the Judge requires an inventory and appraisement with values in them. “I like them on file for the reason that I review the file and create my own spreadsheet and put those values in. When you come in to try a property case, I am prepared with my spreadsheet and inventory and I am ready to go.” The Judge requires exhibits to be pre-marked and delivered to the court reporter. “Prepare exhibits in USB electronic mode, exchange the exhibits with opposing counsel, and then supply me with marked exhibits using USB format. I then can download the exhibits and refer to them during trial after admitted into evidence.” For custody suits the Judge requires a proposed parenting plan. “What is your proposal including the rights and duties? I need financial information sheets with supporting documentation. I follow the statutes, I take into consideration the parenting plans and make a decision.” The Judge requires proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law to be delivered to the court two weeks before trial. For jury trials the Judge requires the jury charge and motions in limine.
Recommendations
The Judge expects counsel and the parties to be on time
and be prepared. “The thing that I can tell the attorneys is that I am procedurally and substantively oriented. Come in prepared, with exhibits and inventories exchanged, and everything will go smoothly. When you are in front of me what I really try to stress is to follow the rules, be polite, make appropriate objections and conduct business. I consider myself more formal. I think it is important that you dress professionally and come to court prepared and ready to go, so that the public sees you are ready. You try your case. I am there on time. I take the case under advisement and render a decision.” The Judge works for us. “What I would say if someone said, ‘Who do I work for?’ I work for you because you are the ones who elected me. It is important to have access to the courts. The court hears trials regularly and renders a decision with efficiency. I usually type out my own decisions. I can type 70 to 80 words a minute.” Judge Munford and his wife, Terry, have been married for thirty-six years. Terry is a graduate of University of Texas Arlington and has worked in the aircraft industry for most of her career. They have a daughter, Allison, married to Jeremy. Allison earned a BA from Texas A&M and a master’s degree from SMU. Judge Munford has always enjoyed the outdoors. He and his wife have a place in the country where they spend time together on weekends. Being in the country has required him to learn to repair his farm equipment. “I like to work on the farm equipment and repair small tools to keep me busy.” As an avid motorcyclist, he rode a Harley Davidson Ultra Classic, going as far as Canada. He also has a pilot’s license and likes to play golf, hunt, fish, and scuba dive. g
Other Associations’ News & Information Arlington Bar Association
Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. President, Jonathan Heeps. For location & information, email arlingtonbarassociation@ yahoo.com or call 682.738.6415.
Arlington Young Lawyers Association
For meetings and information, contact President Jane Fowler at 817.560.1878 or jane@janefowlerlaw.com.
Black Women Lawyers Association
For meetings and information, contact Judge Maryellen Hicks, President, at 817.451.7100 or hicks8776@sbcglobal.net.
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 at 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 6:00pm. For more information, contact President Angel Williams at 817.884.1830.
MABA (Mexican American Bar Association)
Meets on the last Thursday of each month with location to be announced. For more information, contact President Eloy Sepulveda at 817.332.1285.
Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association (NETCBA)
Follow us on
@tarrantcountybar
Meets for CLE luncheons on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at La Hacienda Restaurant, Hwy. 121. Contact President Cynthia Williams at 817.318.0523 or cynthia@cynthiawilliamslaw.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 Rose Anna Salinas at 817.624.9733 or roseannasalinas@aol.com.
Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association
Meets at noon on the 4th Tuesday of each month, with location to be announced. For more information, contact president Dana Manry of KoonsFuller PC at 817.481.2710 or dana@koonsfuller.com.
Tarrant County Probate Bar Association
Meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Petroleum Clubmembers free, guests $30. For more information, contact Jeffrey N. Myers at 817.877.1088 or jmyers@bwwlaw.com.
Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association
Meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Joe T. Garcia’s. For more information, contact Rieker Carsey at 817.294.1900.
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association
The 2020–2021 TCYLA year will begin September 1, 2020. If you need an application or meeting information, call 817.338.4092, email laurensc@tarrantbar.org, or go to the website at tcyla.org.
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
This civil defense organization offers local lunches and happy hours, as well as CLEs geared toward the defense practice. Contact Brittani Rollen of McDonald Sanders at 817.336.8651 or visit www.tadc.org.
JULY/AUGUST 2020
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 13
Bailey and Galyen
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PRESIDENT’S AWARD Patricia Peterson, TLIE Claims Attorney
Congratulations to the First “President’s Award” Recipients 2019-2020 TCBA President John Cayce highlighted his year of leadership by creating an annual “President’s Award” for outstanding professionalism, legal accomplishments, and service to committees and sections. He also announced the first recipients of the new award honoring three committee chairs who have made exceptional contributions in promoting judicial independence and civics education; community service to the elderly; and addressing the critical needs of the bar and the public arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
A partner with every policy. No need to worry, with our exceptional service and experience, we’ve got your back when you need us most.
#ExceptionalExperience
FIND OUT MORE:
TLIE.ORG or
(512) 480-9074
Law & Civics Committee Judge R.H. Wallace Senior District Judge 96th District Court Covid-19 Task Force Kimberly Naylor Naylor & Naylor, P.L.L.C. Nick Bettinger McDonald Sanders, P.C Elder Law Committee Lori Varnell Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office
Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans
Tarrant County Chapter
Looking for ways you can support TLTV but unable to volunteer? Consider sponsoring a remote or in person clinic! Contact kayla@tarrantbar.org for more details.
JULY/AUGUST 2020
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 15
Welcome New Members of the TCBA: ATTORNEYS Theresa Austin Robert Boudreau Malorie Crosley Lauren DeGirolamo David Elder Michael Ferry Lincoln Floyd Mary Harty Connie Hawkins Jaimie Jernigan Chloe Johnson Ashley Kirk Chris Knight Andrew Leibowitz Uriel Martinez Michael Mattocks Alicia McDonald Jane Reinert Suzanne Suarez
STUDENTS Tori Rhodes
ASSOCIATES Charles Prothro Arielle Schmeck
Lawyers on the Move & Bourland, Wall & Wenzel would like to welcome our newest associate attorney Brittany Rupple. Ms. Rupple graduated with honors from Baylor University Law School. Her practice focuses primarily on business litigation, employment litigation, and general civil litigation. Ms. Rupple can be reached at 301 Commerce Street Suite 1500, Fort Worth, TX 76102, 817.877.1088. Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C., is pleased to announce that Kali A. Park has become an associate with the firm. Kali is a graduate of Southern Utah University (B.A., 2016) and Baylor University (J.D., cum laude, 2020). Kali served as a Technical Editor of the Baylor Law Review and was a member of the Order of Barristers. She was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2020. Her practice is primarily civil and commercial litigation. Brackett & Ellis is pleased to announce the recent addition of our new attorneys, Lee B. Hunt and George T. Boswell. Lee Hunt received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center, a Masters of Public Administration from Texas A&M University, and earned his B.A. from Texas State University. Lee practices primarily in the areas of intellectual property, entertainment law, and commercial litigation. Mr. Boswell joins us from Winstead P.C. in Fort Worth, bringing many years of experience and will make a great addition to our estate planning and probate practice.
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in the News
Julie K. Sherman, a board certified paralegal at Cantey Hanger LLP, is the lone recipient of the 2020 Pro Bono Support Staff Award, presented by the State Bar of Texas and its Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee. The Pro Bono Support Staff Award recognizes the outstanding and exemplary contributions of non-attorney volunteers such as paralegals, administrative assistants, interpreters and other support staff who work on pro bono projects. To qualify, an individual must provide legal assistance, without compensation, in a non-mandatory program that requires specific legal skills, knowledge, or training under the supervision of a licensed attorney or qualified organization. g
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.
Magic Shred
S
Membership Report - Time to Renew
ummer is here and marks the beginning of a new bar year with the TCBA! We’re appreciative of your past support of the TCBA and look forward to another great year with you. Thank you to all who have already renewed your membership for the 2020–2021 year! Renewal notices were emailed to the membership in mid-May. If you have not received your renewal email or invoice, please reach out to laurensc@tarrantbar.org. Renewing your membership is easier than ever with our new user-friendly website. If you have not already, log in to the new and improved www. tarrantbar.org and experience the upgrade first-hand. The TCBA staff is hard at work ensuring any all resources you may need are at your fingertips to help keep you wellinformed and connected in these uncertain times. It’s the perfect time to get involved with the TCBA as our committees and sections are gearing up for the new year. We encourage you to consider signing up for one of our many committees or adding a section membership to take advantage of our website’s E-Community feature where you can 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 https://www.
tarrantbar.org/CommitteeVolunteerForm. If you have any questions or need assistance regarding your TCBA membership or the new website, please reach out to laurensc@tarrantbar.org. Thank you for your continued support of the Tarrant County Bar Association! g Lauren St. Clair Membership Director
Justices of the Second Court of Appeals swore in recently licensed attorneys via Zoom on May 4. The ceremony was open to all indviduals who passed the February bar and successfully completed all other necessary requirements.
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JULY/AUGUST 2020
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 17
LegalLine Legal
L
egalLine is continuing with the remote model for the indefinite future. Since April, over 350 people have been served through LegalLine Thank you to all of the attorneys who recently volunteered: Sue Allen Cynthia Maragoudakis Norma Bazán Gary Medlin Whitney Beckworth Margarita Morton Nick Bettinger Kerry Moseley Julie Camacho David Moss Ola Campbell Violet Nwokoye Theresa Copeland Albert Roberts John Corbin Lynn Rodriguez Linda Gregory Karon Rowden Francisco Hernandez Melissa Sircar Sam Johndroe John Wright Donald Kaczkowski Jim Zadeh Kate Kim Contact carolina@tarrantbar.org for more information on signing up.
Kayla Harrington's Cat
Julie Camacho
Nick Bettinger
“I absolutely love volunteering for Remote Legal Line! It is so important to give back to the community and help people traverse difficult situations. Being able to participate remotely allows me to fulfill both without the need to drive to Fort Worth from Wise County." —Theresa Copeland Attorney at Law
Upcoming LegalLine Dates • July 9, 2020 • July 23, 2020
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• August 13, 2020 • August 27, 2020
▪ JULY/AUGUST 2020
The 2020–2021 TCBA Bar Year has begun!
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
Follow us on social media Tarrant County Bar Association - Fort Worth @tarrantbar @tarrantcountybar
The Tarrant County Bar Association is comprised of over 2600 members and offers the best way to connect with the legal community in Tarrant County.
Membership benefits include: • • • • • •
Free and reduced cost CLE events offered through the TCBA’s 18 substantive law sections, Brown Bag CLE pass, and other CLE events. In addition, TCBA offers many of its CLE events online at a discounted rate for its members. The new and improved tarrantbar.org helps you to stay informed and connected with many member-only resources and features to help you track your TCBA involvement, committee and sections happenings, and upcoming TCBA events and CLE. Networking opportunities through joining a TCBA section or committee. Not sure how to get involved with TCBA? We can help! Contact laurensc@tarrantbar.org if you have any questions about a TCBA section or committee. Access to discounts and free professional services, including free document shredding and a discount for Lawyer Referral & Information Services (LRIS) membership. An online subscription to the Bar Bulletin, the TCBA’s bi-monthly magazine, and weekly emails detailing news and events in the Tarrant County legal community. Opportunities for community service at annual 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 Veterans- Tarrant County Chapter (TLTV).
Visit the website to learn more about all the great things the TCBA is doing for its members and the community. www.tarrantbar.org We thank you for your continued support of our organization. We look forward to your renewal for the 2020–2021 bar year. Please contact Lauren St. Clair at the bar office at 817.338.4092 or by email at laurensc@tarrantbar.org.
JULY/AUGUST 2020
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 19
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
Judge Bob, what is a “quo warranto” proceeding? The Latin phrase means “by what authority” and is a proceeding by which the court inquires into the right of a person or corporation to hold an office or to exercise a franchise. —Cochran’s Law Lexicon (this poor law student’s substitute for a Black’s Law Dictionary.)
MOSES’ AND NOAH’S MONTHLY PARAPROSDAKIAN
(a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous) Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
Moses
DANES’ QUOTE OF THE MONTH My husband and I are either going to buy a dog or have a child. We can’t decide whether to ruin our carpets or ruin our lives.
Noah
—Rita Rudner
CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. Circumstantial Evidence
Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing guilt, and circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to prove guilt. The same standard of review is used for both circumstantial and direct evidence. “Each fact need not point directly and independently to the guilt of the appellant, as long as the cumulative force of all the incriminating circumstances is sufficient to support the conviction.” Caston v. State, 549 S.W.3d 601 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017).
2. Speedy Trial
Speedy-trial claims are analyzed on an ad hoc basis, applying the fact-specific balancing test set forth in Barker, under which the conduct of the prosecution and the defendant are weighed based on four factors: (1) the length
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of the delay, (2) the reason for the delay, (3) the defendant’s assertion of his right, and (4) any prejudice inflicted by the delay. States v. Davis, 549 S.W.3d 688 (Tex. App.—Austin 2017).
3. Witnesses
It is well established that the factfinder is entitled to judge the credibility of witnesses and can choose to believe all, some, or none of the testimony presented by the parties. Rush v. State, 549 S.W.3d 755 (Tex. App.—Waco 2017).
4. Ex Post Facto
An ex post facto law (1) punishes as a crime an act previously committed which was innocent when done; (2) aggravates a crime, or makes it greater than it was, when committed; (3) changes the punishment and inflicts greater punishment than the law attached to the criminal offense when committed; or (4) deprives a person charged with a crime of any defense available at the time the act was committed. McCardle v. State, 550 S.W.3d 265 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018).
5. Theft
A claim of theft made in connection with a contract requires proof of more than an intent to deprive the owner of property and subsequent appropriation of the property. For that type of theft, the evidence must show that the appropriation was a result of false pretext or fraud and that the accused intended to deprive the owner of the property at the time it was taken. These additional requirements are needed to prove theft in connection with a contract because under the terms of the contract, individuals often have the right to deprive the owner of property in return for consideration. McCurdy v. State, 550 S.W.3d 331 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018).
6. Pretrial Bail
Factors to be considered in guiding the trial court in the setting of pretrial bail include the following: (1) the accused ’s work record; (2) the accused ’s family and community ties; (3) the accused’s length of residency; (4) the accused’s prior criminal record; (5) the accused’s c on for m it y w it h t h e c ond it ion s of a ny pr e v iou s bond; (6) the existence of outstanding bonds; and (7) aggravating circumstances alleged to have been involved with the offense, and (8) the accused’s ability to make the bond. Liles v. State, 550 S.W.3d 668 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2017).
7. Statutory Construction
A statute is not rendered unconstitutionally vague merely because words or terms are not specifically defined. Instead, undefined terms in a statute are to be given their plain and ordinary meaning, and words defined in dictionaries and with meanings so well-known as to be understood by a person of ordinary intelligence are not considered vague and indefinite. Senn v. State, 551 S.W.3d 172 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2017).
CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. Sanctions
The party moving for sanctions under Chapter 10 [CPRC] must prove the pleading party’s subjective state of mind. Am. Fisheries v. Nat’l Honey, 585 S.W.3d 491, 507 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018).
2. Condemnation: A Partial Taking
“The measure of compensation in a partial-takings case is ‘the market value of the part taken plus damage to the remainder caused by the condemnation.’” . . . One limitation on the compensability of remainder damages is that the injury must be peculiar to the owner of the land taken and not an injury experienced in common with the general community. State v. Gleannloch Comm’l Dev., 585 S.W.3d 509, 526 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018).
3. Tax-Exempt Property
Though the legislature is authorized to exempt certain property from taxation, the law does not favor tax exemptions, and cour ts are not to construe them favorably. Statutory taxation exemptions are subject to strict construction because they undermine equality and uniformity by imposing a greater burden on some taxpaying businesses and individuals rather than spreading the burden on all taxpayers equally. Accordingly, the claimant seeking an exemption bears a heavy burden of proof to clearly show that the claimant falls within the statutory exception. Odyssey 2020 v. Galveston Cent. Appraisal, 585 S.W.3d 530, 533 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2019).
4. Emergency Medical Care
Statutory provisions do not change the standard of care for an emergency room health care provider, but they heighten the burden of proof required by the claimant. Campbell v. Pompa, 585 S.W.3d 561, 569 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2019).
5. Deemed Admissions—Pro Se Litigants
“The burden of proof is on the party seeking withdrawal of the deemed admissions to establish good cause. To prevail, they must prove they did not intentionally or consciously disregard their obligation to timely answer.” . . . Although pro se litigants are not exempt from the rules of procedure, “when a rule itself turns on an actor’s state of mind (as these do here), application may require a different result when the actor is not a lawyer.” In re Cagle, 585 S.W.3d 618, 623 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2019).
6. Texas Medical Liability Act
Although the injuries occurred in a health care setting, “the mere location of an injury in a health care facility or in a health care setting does not bring a claim based on that injury within the TMLA so that it is [a health care liability claim].” COCI v. Dower., 585 S.W.3d 652, 656 (Tex. App.— Eastland 2019)(analyzing wreck involving an ambulance).
7. Public Information
Whether requested information is “public information” under the PIA [Public Information Act] is a question of law. The Texas Legislature has specified that the PIA “shall be liberally construed in favor of granting a request for information.” Fallon v. Univ. of Tex. MD Anderson, 586 S.W.3d 37, 47 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2019).
8. Jury Trial
Article V, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution, known as the Judiciary Article, provides that, “in the trial of all causes” in a Texas district court, the plaintiff or defendant who requests a jury and pays the jury fee shall have the right of trial by jury. Although this sounds definitive, not all adversary proceedings are “causes” within the meaning of this provision. Kruse v. Henderson Tex. Bancshares., 586 S.W.3d 118, 124 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2019).
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
It is by the goodness of God that we have in our country three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either. —Mark Twain
OLD NEWS
Higher Education Texas Christian University returned to Fort Worth in 1910, after having left 37 years earlier. It had a modest beginning in Fort Worth as a one-room children’s school in 1869. Founders Addison and Randolph Clark, and their sister, Ida, moved their school to Thorp Spring in Hood County in 1873 to “get away from the immorality of the big city.” They upgraded the school and changed its name to Add-Ran Male and Female College. The school moved to Waco in 1895, and seven years later, the name was changed to Texas Christian University. Financial difficulties plagued the school, in part because of a disastrous fire. In 1910, Fort Worth and Dallas competed to attract it, with Fort Worth outbidding its neighbor with an offer of free land, streetcar lines, utilities, and cash. TCU opened September 2, 1910, in a rented building on Weatherford Street while construction began on its campus on University Drive. g
JULY/AUGUST 2020
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 21
W el l ne ss C o n n ecti o n s C o m m i ttee Exploring the Outdoors in Tarrant County Parks By Jacqueline Schmedel, Legal Intern - Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas J.D. Candidate 2022 New England Law | Boston
T
he Wellness Connections Committee is exploring local parks to spread the word about great places to enjoy in the local area. Janet Denton shared her pictures from a day in Colleyville Nature Center and Jacqueline Schmedel compared three beautiful parks in her article below. If you would like to submit a park recommendation to the committee, email it to Julie Sladek, J.D., Chair-Elect, TCBA Wellness Connections Committee at sladekj@lanwt.org. As we enter summer and the heat index promises nothing but seat-belt burns and fiery pavement, the last thing most want is to spend hours outside. That said, now might actually be the perfect time to lace up your sneakers and explore Tarrant County parks. Walking has been proven effective in reducing anxiety and depression, and there is further evidence that walking in nature improves those results even further. That’s because different parts of our brain activate in nature. Our minds calm, leading to physical changes including a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure. In more scientific terms, nature boosts endorphin levels and dopamine production. Luckily, you don’t have to spend hours hiking mountains to feel these results. Spending time outside at a park or any green space can have the same effect, even if you are only out for a few minutes. Below are Tarrant County park options for all levels of activity, whether you are an outdoor enthusiast or thinking about taking in some fresh air for the first time since quarantine began. Feel free to pack a picnic, bring your dogs, or go on a solo-adventure; just be sure to leave the space better than you found it and take your trash with you when you go.
Oakmont Park Fort Worth, TX
Colleyville Nature Center- Medium
Inside the Colleyville Nature Center you can find 46 acres of natural refuge, nine ponds, 3.5 miles of multiuse trails, an amphitheater, a covered pavilion with a grill, benches, a playground, and a fishing pier. This hidden gem truly has everything you could possibly need for a day out with your family or friends, or even just to take some alone time to yourself. The park is pretty densely populated with trees, which provides a nice reprieve from the hot Texas sun, and if you spend enough time exploring you might forget that just outside the park you are surrounded by suburbs. For those who are looking for a step above a paved walk but are not quite ready to climb mountains, Colleyville Nature Center is an amazing find.
Oakmont Park- Easy
Oakmont Park, also known as the Trinity River Trail, is a 2.8 mile point-to-point path located in Fort Worth, Texas, and is a great spot to take a leisurely walk while still getting that escape from the city you’ve been longing for. Oakmont Park features a playground, wide open fields perfect for picnicking, native flowers, the Trinity River, and an abundance of honeysuckle. Bikers frequent the trail, but are not as common as you might find along other parts of the Trinity. It is an easy paved walk perfect for any age or ability level.
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Colleyville Nature Center Colleyville, TX
Marion Sansom Park- Hard
Marion Sansom Park is a Fort Worth 264 acre chunk of land comprising several interconnecting loops that wind through a wooded area with scenic vistas overlooking Lake Worth. It includes hiking and mountain-biking trails through forestland with a scenic waterfall and lake vistas. There are five trails ranging from 2.1 to 5.5 miles. It’s easy to get yourself lost (whether intentionally or unintentionally) while traversing the rocky terrain, but you are sure to eventually hit a nice body of water, whether it’s the lake or the river, to cool down in. This hike is not recommended for those who struggle with slopes and uneven ground, but if you are a nature lover who is looking for something uniquely different from the flatlands of Texas, Marion Sansom might just be for you. g
Marion Sansom Park Fort Worth, TX
For more resources, visit the Wellness Connections Committee e-Community page at http://www.tarrantbar.org/WCC. Resources include:
Wellness Connections Committee Recipes Nick Bettinger’s Baked Oatmeal https://www.tarrantbar.org/docdownload/1604946 Cindy Moon’s Avocado Toast Recipe https://www.tarrantbar.org/docdownload/1604926 Angela Robinson’s Roasted Brussel Sprouts https://www.tarrantbar.org/docdownload/1604941 Julie Sladek’s Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas https://www.tarrantbar.org/docdownload/1604963
. . . And now a Word From Our Sections
I
t’s time to renew your dues or consider joining a section. Below is a list of our sections and their separate dues amounts. Please consider joining any section that might apply to you. Joining a section grants you access to eCommunities, including section announcements, CLE webinars, and future networking opportunities. g Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate Law Bankruptcy Law Business Litigation Collaborative Law Construction Law Corporate Counsel Criminal Law Energy Law Environmental Law Fort Worth Business & Estate Intellectual Property Law International & Immigration Law Labor & Employment Law Real Estate Law Solo & Small Firms Section Tax & Estate Planning Women Attorneys
$25 $25 $50 $30 $20 $30 $20 $15 $25 $15 $45 $25 $20 $20 $15 $20 $35 $30
In
Memoriam Sylvia W. Blair 1940–2020
S
The Wellness Connection Committee encourages our profession to reach out and check in with our peers and colleagues to see how they are weathering today's challenges. In the spirit of competition cherished by our profession, the Committee challenges each TCBA member to reach out to 10 people this week - including people you know and (better yet) colleagues you may not know that well. Score more (illusory) points by posting your connections on social media and tagging the TCBA.
ylvia Blair, an inspiring woman of God, died Saturday June 6 2020 after fighting Parkinson’s Disease and went to be with her Savior Jesus Christ at the age of 80. Sylvia was a cherished past employee of the Tarrant County Bar Association who worked in Lawyer Referral & Information Services. Sylvia was a very empathetic, mom-figure to so many and led several to Jesus Christ through her powerful testimony. She was a light to all those around her and will always be remembered as such by her. g Published in Dignity Memorial
JULY/AUGUST 2020
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 23
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â–ª JULY/AUGUST 2020
TCBA Welcomes its 2020–2021 Officers & Directors
Gary Medlin The Medlin Law Firm
President
Kimberly Naylor Naylor & Naylor, P.L.L.C.
Vice President
Karen Denney Haynes and Boone, LLP
Secretary-Treasurer
Director (Term Ends 2022)
Director (Term Ends 2022)
Director (Term Ends 2022)
Director (Term Ends 2021)
John Lively, Jr.
President-Elect
Lively & Associates, PLLC
Dana Manry KoonsFuller, P.C.
Director (Term Ends 2021)
TCYLA President (Fall 2019)
Katherine Hopkins Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Martin Garcia Simplified Title Company
Lu Pham Pham Harrison, LLP
Lynn Winter City Attorney's Office-City of Fort Worth
Law Office of Sherry R. Armstrong
Director (Term Ends 2021)
Appointed Director Ralph Duggins Cantey Hanger LLP
Appointed Director
Marvina Robinson Tarrant County CDA’s Office
TCYLA President (Fall 2020)
Immediate Past-President
Executive Director
Scott Lindsey Boyd Powers & Williamson
Andrea Palmer Higginbotham
Sherry Armstrong
John Cayce Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
JULY/AUGUST 2020
Megan Cooley Tarrant County Bar Association
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 25
Bar Bulletin â–Ş July/August 2020 Tarrant County Bar Association TCBA members may take advantage of discounts 1315 Calhoun Street provided by the following vendors: AMO Office Supply offers TCBA members the Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504 lowest price guaranteed on office supplies, with next-day ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
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PERMIT 1807
delivery and free shipping! Call 800.420.6421.
Falcon Document Solutions, provides quick, efficient and reliable process service, doument 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 - $13.00 adult, $10 for child or senior. For tickets, contact anne@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
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