Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

TARRANT COUNTY CHAPTER

By Sarah Hall Hoffman, Pro Bono Programs Director

HEROES Wills Clinic for Veterans

Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans (TLTV) and Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) partnered to provide the first Heroes Wills Clinic of 2022. This clinic provides veterans, spouses of veterans, and spouses of deceased veterans simple wills and end of life planning documents. By partnering together, the clinic is able to offer assistance to a wider pool of veterans.

We had several attorneys volunteer to assist five veterans and one spouse of a veteran with estate plans. When asked about their experience with the clinic, an Army Veteran and his wife stated, “The process was so easy, and we will recommend this service to other veterans and their spouses.” TLTV and TVAS received a thank you note from the couple a few days after their will signing ceremony, which is pictured below, thanking the programs for assisting them.

A Navy veteran who participated in the clinic stated, “It was simple to understand and fill out the paperwork, and I am relieved to finally have this done.”

Thank you to all of the attorneys who volunteered to assist. There are many ways to get involved with TLTV clinics including assisting with consultations or taking a case. Thank you to all of the attorneys who assisted with our June and July Clinic.

HEROES Wills Clinic Attorney Volunteers

Sam Birnbach Robert Boudreau Marvin Champlin John Corbin Tom Watson

ATTORNEYS ASSISTING WITH JUNE AND JULY REMOTE CLINIC

Brittany Allen-Brantley Sam Birnbach John Corbin Katherine Kim Deborah Krane Mike McBride George Muckleroy David Pritchard Karon Rowden Melissa Sircar George White

The Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court: Who We Are and What We Do

In 2023, the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court will celebrate its 30th year, and I’m honored to be the Inn’s president during the run-up to such a milestone. Because the Tarrant County legal community has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, I wanted to give TCBA members—especially those newer lawyers—a short overview.

The Mahon Inn is one of the nearly 400 American Inns of Court created since the mid-1980s. Dedicated to professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence, the Inns exist to advance the rule of law by striving for the highest level of professionalism through example, education, and mentoring. The American Inns of Court sprang from discussions in the late 1970s between English and American lawyers and judges, including Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger. The Inns of Court system itself dates from the Middle Ages and long functioned as the exclusive means by which English common law was taught. Even today, all barristers in England and Wales must belong to one of London’s four Inns.

In 1995, two years after its founding as American Inn Number 184, our Inn adopted the name of United States District Judge Eldon B. Mahon (1918–2005) to recognize his efforts in founding the Inn and his commitment to professionalism. Over time some two dozen of our members have been selected to the honorary Serjeant’s Inn, which recognizes lawyers who have provided distinguished service to a local Inn and the American Inns. Several of our emeritus members are also James B. Barlow Emeritus Fellows, an award honoring those who exemplify the late Jim Barlow’s unparalleled devotion to legal advocacy and to the Mahon Inn. Past presidents of the Inn have included local state and federal judges and many highly respected Tarrant County practitioners such as our immediate past president, J. Warren St. John.

The invitation-based Inn comprises several levels of membership depending on years of experience: Masters and Emeritus Masters (15+ years), Barristers (4–15 years), Associates (1–4), and Pupils (law students—because we aim to instill professionalism and camaraderie early!). At the beginning of each Inn year, out of our 80-plus active members small “pupilage” groups are formed that include at least one judge and someone from each experience level; these groups sit together at our dinners. In this way, friendships and mentoring can flourish among those who might not otherwise regularly cross paths. The typical Inn year sees six dinners with speakers on various topics, as well as one or two purely social events. Masters are encouraged to occasionally meet informally with their pupilage groups to share war stories, swap practice ideas, or simply get to know everyone better.

Although the Mahon Inn’s early focus was on trial and appellate practitioners, over the years we have broadened our reach and are proud of our efforts to diversify the Inn by practice areas and every sort of background—the common thread always being our commitment to promoting excellence and civility. And times being what they are, I’m sure I speak for all in saying that our deliberate nonpartisanship is one of the things that drives our true collegiality, fosters our mentorship activities, and encourages respect for our legal system.

The Mahon Inn’s principal community-service project is hosting an annual mock-trial competition for area high schools, exposing participating students to procedure, evidence, and the actual courtroom. This competition is planned and overseen by our Inn’s mock-trial committee, which had most recently been expertly chaired by Katie Owens but whose Inn term has now expired. Begun less than ten years ago by former Inn president Justice Lee Gabriel with an invaluable assist from Kelly Hart’s Marianne Auld, this competition has become a huge success. Our members judge the rounds and give feedback to the students, whose time commitment and diligence consistently impress.

The other 2022–23 officers are our Counselor Thomas Williams of Haynes & Boone; Treasurer Josh Burgess, Judge of the 352nd Judicial District Court; and Secretary Katie Carr Jacobs of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This year’s executivecommittee members at large are Philip Lamsens, Brett Boone, and Judge Megan Fahey of the 348th Judicial District Court. Trey Loftin chairs our programs committee, assisted by Katie Jacobs; Counselor Tom Williams also serves as membership chair.

We in leadership look forward to advancing the Inn’s purposes and getting to know our incoming members—and we welcome inquiries from those who seek an invitation to join next year.

When I began practicing in 1984, Fort Worth’s legal community was small and thus naturally collegial. Now, with so many lawyers practicing here, the Mahon Inn presents a unique organizational opportunity within which to exhort one another to honor and uphold the oath all Texas lawyers take: “I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitutions of the United States, and of this State; that I will honestly demean myself in the practice law; that I will discharge my duties to my clients to the best of my ability; and that I will conduct myself with integrity and civility in dealing and communicating with the court and all parties. So help me God.”

Whether you are or were part of the Mahon Inn, or are interested in exploring membership, I invite us all to remember the spirit of that oath—and to toast the Constitution often. g Justice Kerr was elected in 2016 to Place 3 on the Second Court of Appeals following a career in civil trial and appellate law; before taking the bench, she was mostly recently with Friedman,

Justice Elizabeth Kerr, Second Court of Appeals 2022–2023 Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court President

Photos by Thomas Garza Photography

Tarrant County attorneys and friends of the longrunning “Tarrant Tortfeasors” program experienced a revival of the comedy skits this past month. Tarrant Tortfeasors9 kicked off to two large crowds on August 25 and 26 at Scott Theater. The show returned after a four-year hiatus following the Tarrant County Bar Foundation’s decision to end support for the program in 2018.

Credit for the revival goes to the hard work of Shannon Pritchard, Kimberly Stoner, and Dana Manry, who set up a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation and reassembled the cast and crew which included many of the original and longstanding Tortfeasor stalwarts such as Brad Dowell, John Corbin, Chris Troutt, Shannon Pritchard, and Marshall Jacobini. The show featured new rookies, Joe Cleveland, Judge David Cook, B.C. Cornish, Chad DeArman, Kristina Voorhies Logan and Victoria McDowell. Kathi Hogan, David Frisby, Dana Manry, and Kimberly Stoner returned and have appeared in past programs. The new cast and crew proved that the gap in time was no setback. TT9 proved to be as good, if not better, than past performances. “We put a lot of heart and soul and we are raising money for the Area Food Bank,” said Michelle Appling, a volunteer and sponsor, while working the front booth of the show.

In attendance was attorney Martha Hofmeister, the director of the Bar None show in Dallas. “Three of the Bar None cast members are in the play,” she said, referring to Kimberly Stoner, Kathi Hogan, and Chad DeArman. “The tension between Fort Worth and Dallas is vastly overrated.” Her husband, Kent Hofmeister, a long-time Bar None cast member attended with her. “It was a great show,” he said.

Brad Dowell took the commanding lead in many of the skits and is natural on stage with years of experience. The newcomer Judge David Cook (County Criminal Court Number 1) was quite a standout in the play as well. “I had theater in college,” he said afterward. There were many rising stars in the play such as Victoria McDowell and Marshal Jacobini who showed their singing and acting talents in many of the skits.

The two-act play consisted of 15 skits and ran for two hours with an intermission. The was no room for error. The cast was on a short leash to produce the play. “We had four months to practice,” said longstanding cast member John Corbin.

Act One began with the cast performing ‘Tarrant County This Morning” sung to the tune of “Amarillo By Morning” and featured Brad Dowell playing a Dallas attorney who sang of returning to Dallas after being hometowned in Tarrant County. While cowboys and cowgirls danced in the background, he realized that he would have to wear his Rolex watch and expensive shoes back in Dallas. Joe Cleveland ended the skit by playing the violin.

In “I Love the Way You Lie,” John Corbin and Dana Manry interviewed Victoria McDowell while she talked to a truth detector machine that could determine if she was telling the truth when the buzzer went off.

In “Entertaining Lawyer,” Catherine Hogan and Marshall Jacobini played Broadway performers who became attorneys when they could no longer work due to the pandemic. They

sang their arguments in court to the tune of many Broadway plays such as, “Today, today …” from West Side Story or prosecutor Hogan who sang, “I’m going to wash that man right out of my hair” referring to the defendant, David Frisby, from the musical South Pacific.

“Big Billy Bob’s Lawyer Barn” was an all-cast ensemble featuring Brad Dowell promoting the services of the lawyers for sale, being high mileage, and low mileage, while filming a commercial. In “You’ll be Back,” Victoria McDowell, played a young attorney whose work ethic was questioned by David Cook. She gave one week’s notice of her leaving to join a firm that had a mandatory retirement age of 35. Cook wore a king’s robe, and sang, “You’ll Be Back,” like King George in Hamilton, Cook’s singing voice and obvious prior stage experience wooed the crowd.

“Divorce-O-Matic Video” was a movie that the Tortfeasors cast produced as part of a statewide program during the pandemic. The video featured Kevin Clark, seeking a divorce by paying money into a machine that asked the jurisdictional questions, trying to say “no” to certain questions when “yes” was mistakenly repeated. The skit ends when he finds that he has to deposit $2,000 for the divorce petition.

In “Kooky Client,” David Cook and Shannon Pritchard tried to woo a new rich client played by Kristina Vorhees Logan. Newcomer B.C. Cornish played the spiritual advisor.

In “Any Associate of Mine,” featured David DeArman singing to the tune of “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain about how partners in law firms take advantage of hard- working associates.

If the crowd thought that the first act, which lasted thirty minutes, was a sign of what was to come, they were mistaken. The skits in the second act were more involved and included dance numbers such as “Sanctions Tango” in the opening skit, a takeoff of the “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago. The number pointed out transgressions from discovery and misbehavior, in and out of the courthouse.

“Weekend Update” featured Dana Manry and David Frisby playing commentators commenting on new legal news such as Roe v Wade and wondering if Brown v Board of Education was still good law. Another comment was how Kelly Hart and Hallman, Fort Worth’s largest law firm had authorized two days of remote work at home and designated those days as Saturday and Sunday. A feature in that skit was Chris Troutt and Victoria McDowell playing the “Techy” and the “Luddite.” McDowell, the Techy, advises that the new local rule allows clients to be informed by text message emojis, while Trout, the Luddite, asks: “why can’t we talk on the phone?”

“Looney Tune Lawyers” was a skit inspired by Looney Tune characters, Road Runner, Foghorn Leghorn appearing in court. Brad Dowell played the out-of-town lawyer dressed in a white suit who says that he “denies the allegation and resent the alligator.”

The skit that drew the most reactions was “Trade Dress,” which involved a deposition in the case of Shift v Lymph. John Corbin deposed Kathi Hogan in a case that involved fishing at an area lake using acronyms that real fishermen use. While there was no improper word uttered in the skit, the use of innuendo and double entendres were so obvious, dramatic, and crowd pleasers (following an intermission of free drinks), that a specific description is not possible. “It was shocking,” said B.C. Cornish who played the attorney for Hogan during her deposition.

In “Pro Se Day,” Judge Chris Troutt, called the docket of pro se litigants who were spread out through the audience. One pro se litigant, Kimberly Stoner, requested a motion to substitute counsel. One pro se litigant requested a motion to have his mother-in-law run over by a car. The skit ended when the court denied an agreed motion for continuance by Dallas attorney Chad DeArman and instructed that the trial would begin at 8:30 am and that he would not have any excuse for Dallas traffic.

“Turn Around Video” was a video skit sung to the tune of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and features Dana Manry taking refuge in wine and her dog due to not handling the pandemic well and questioning her ability to practice law. The finale, “Trial of My Life” featured the divorce case of Johnson v Johnson where John Corban, as a young associate, was sent in at the last minute to try the remaining issue in a divorce case: whether the court could grant child support above state guidelines. Presided by Judge Brad Dowell, Corbin argued for above guideline support for his client Victoria McDowell, by citing to the Erie Doctrine, International Shoe, and Marbury v Madison. Respondent’s counsel, Dana Manry points out that Corban’s client is already receiving $2.7 million in assets in the divorce proceeding. Corban responded with res ipsa loquitar. Judge Dowell ruled that the Texas legislature had already determined the correct support and denied support above guidelines. He points out to Corbin, that while this might have been his first trial, many fine attorneys lose their first trial but go on to become great litigators. Corbin disagrees and says he had the time of his life, which segues into the finale song a parody of “Time of my Life” and involved the entire cast. There were plenty of accolades after the show by nonattorneys. “It was hilarious,” said Monica Rodriguez from Frisco. “They did it right. It is right on target with the law,” said Leslie Gaskle, from Fort Worth. “You guys have done a great job. It was more than I expected, the realism, the singing, the dancing,” said Erica Hizh.

“It was absolutely amazing, much more than I ever expected,” said Ashley Trimble who works for the Sheraton Fort Worth, a sponsor of the show. Fort Worth attorney David Bakutis, “It was the best one I have seen.”

The cast members had reason to be proud of their performances. “It was better than I expected,” said Chris Troutt. “We enjoyed making fun of each other but more fun making fun of others,” said Brad Dowell.

David Frisby summed it up: “This is great for the legal community. It is a close-knit group. We know each other. We’ve developed in-depth relationships. We get together and we have a great fellowship with the lawyers.” g