Bulletin November/December 2018
President’s Page
T
he holiday season is a time to reflect with gratitude on people and things in our lives. In keeping with that tradition, I wanted to take the opportunity in this article to share a few things to be thankful for as a Bar and legal community. As we head into November, I am first and foremost grateful that the days of By LANCE EVANS unending rain have (hopefully) passed us. Here are some of the other things that I am thankful for this year: Our democratic process and the rule of law. Election day is Tuesday, November 6 this year. Don’t forget to vote! The good news is that news outlets report that a record number of people have registered to vote in this election. Some people will be happy with the results, and some disappointed. Our legal community will have new jurists, and our country may have new leaders. Regardless of the outcome, the public’s participation in the electoral is vitally important. The dedicated service of many well-regarded jurists in Tarrant County. It is hard to believe that several judges in Tarrant County are retiring in the next few months, many of whom have spent decades on the bench. These jurists include Justice Bill Meier (Second Court of Appeals), Justice Sue Walker (Second Court of Appeals), Judge Louis Sturns (213th District Court), Judge Steve King (Probate Court No. 1), Judge Nancy Berger (322nd District Court), Judge William Harris (233rd District Court), and Judge Timothy Menikos (323rd District Court). There are retirement receptions planned for many of these judges; be sure to check the Bulletin and the TCBA’s weekly emails for more details. These judges represent different practice areas and have all faithfully served the public and legal profession. As a criminal defense attorney, I personally will miss Judge Louis Sturns in the criminal courthouse. At his retirement party on October 8th, countless people spoke about his integrity, dedication to public service, and distinguished career as a judge of four different courts. Judge Sturns was one of the
individuals instrumental in bringing about the Tarrant County Bar Foundation’s purchase of the building that houses the daily activities of the Bar today. He also was appointed to oversee the court of inquiry involving Michael Morton—who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and served 24 years in prison—and handled that appointment with professionalism and integrity. Mr. Morton so respected the work of Judge Sturns that he attended the retirement party and shared how the Judge's work has impacted his life. The community and resources offered by the Tarrant County Bar Association. A recent study by the Harvard Business Review found that lawyers are the loneliest profession, and that professions involving high degrees of social interaction represent the other side of the spectrum. Most of us benefit from interacting by social media and other professional platforms, but TCBA continues to offer a place to meet people, get some CLE locally from legal professionals in your area, and volunteer in the community. I encourage you to attend a few of the upcoming events to see some of your colleagues and meet new ones. They include the Docket Call on Thursday, November 1st and Annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 6th. Details about those events are in this Bar Bulletin issue. The volunteers and leaders who support the Bar’s endeavors. Finally, TCBA depends on the work and leadership of many members and volunteers to fulfill its mission of promoting our legal profession and serving the public. Thanks to all of you who join the TCBA, serve on a committee, plan an event, CLE, or participate in a Section, or volunteer for a pro bono or community project. It takes all of us to make an impact in our profession and community while maintaining a thriving Bar. We could not do it without you. g
Have a great holiday and see you in 2019! NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
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Contents
14
Features 21 33
2019-2020 Director Candidate Request Holiday Party
Bench Bar Conference XXVI April 5 - 7, 2019 Horseshoe Bay Resort
Departments 1 4 5 6 7 10 11 16 18 23 26 26 29 29 32 35 37 37
President's Page YLA Snapshot Calendar of Events 100 Club Judicial Profile - Judge Josh Burgess LegalLine Benefits of Membership Snippets Wellness Corner Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Lawyers on the Move & in the News Membership Report It's All Happening Around the Bar Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans Other Associations' News & Information Lawyer Referral & Information Service News In Memoriam CLE Corner
Advertiser's Index
30
Anderson & Riddle, LLP.............................................22 Autumn Ridge Counseling and Wellness....................19 Barrow Law..................................................................9 Deborah Adame.........................................................36 Dispute Resolution Services........................................10 Edward Jones.............................................................10 Federal Bar Association..............................................20 Juris Fabrilis...............................................................32 KoonsFuller......................................Inside Front Cover Law Offices of Randall E. Turner, PLLC....................19 Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C..............................12 LawPay....................................................................36 Moses, Palmer & Howell, L.L.P....................................34 North Texas Community Foundation........................22 Parker Law Firm.........................................................24 Texas Lawyers' Insurance Exchange...........................34 The Law Office of Cynthia Kent Maragoudakis, PLLC...21 The Law Office of Greg Jackson, PLLC........................28 Tindall Square Office Complex.................................32 2 www.tarrantbar.org NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
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Tarrant County Bar Association 817.338.4092 ▪ Fax 817.335.9238 website: www.tarrantbar.org email: tcba@tarrantbar.org 2018-2019 Officers
President..............................................Lance Evans President-Elect.....................................John Cayce Vice President................................Gary L. Medlin Secretary-Treasurer..............Kimberly Naylor
Directors Term Ends 2019
Director.................................Susan Hutchison Director...............................Jason C. N. Smith Director...............................Tennessee Walker
Term Ends 2020
Director.....................................Cody L. Cofer Director.................................Veronica C. Law Director..............................................Lu Pham
2018-2019 Appointed Directors
Appointed Director..................Karen Denney Appointed Director....................Scott Lindsey
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association Fall 2018 President...............................Rob Henry Spring 2019 President...............Martin Garcia Immediate Past President..............Nick Bettinger Executive Director..........................Megan Cooley Ex-Officio Members State Bar of Texas Director...............................Gary L. Nickelson Director........................................Steve Naylor 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.
CLE Membership Luncheon Tuesday, November 13
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City Club
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11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
GUEST SPEAKER: MIKE WARE “ T H E I N N O C E N C E P R O J E C T O F T E XA S A N D P O S T CO N V I C T I O N C L A I M S O F AC T UA L I N N O C E N C E ”
M
ike Ware graduated with honors from the University of Texas with a degree in philosophy. He graduated from the University of Houston Law School in 1983, where he was research editor for the Houston Law Review and the Houston Law Review's Texas Rules of Evidence Handbook. In addition, he was a law clerk for the Honorable David O. Belew, Jr., United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth from 1983 to 1984. He then began his private practice, specializing in criminal defense. Mr. Ware has been board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1990. In 2006, he co-founded the Innocence Project of Texas. From July 2007 until July 2011, he was the Special Fields Bureau Chief for the Dallas County District Attorney's office, and was head of Dallas County’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU). In April 2009, Mr. Ware was featured in “Dallas DNA,” a six-week television series on Investigation Discovery (ID) based on his work with the CIU. In July 2011, he resumed
private practice in Fort Worth. Mr. Ware has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been voted a "Texas Super Lawyer” by his peers both as a criminal defense attorney and a prosecutor. In 2014, Mr. Ware was selected as the Percy Foreman Lawyer of the Year by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association. In 2018, Mr. Ware was honored with the Judge Norman Black Award from the LGBT Law Section of the State Bar of Texas for his representation of the San Antonio Four, which was the subject of an award winning and Emmy nominated documentary, “Southwest of Salem.” Currently, Mr. Ware is in private practice and is an adjunct professor at Texas A & M University School of Law. Since 2017, he has been the Executive Director of the Innocence Project of Texas. In 2018, Mr. Ware was given the Judge Norman Black Award by the LGBT Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. The luncheon is hosted by the Tarrant County Bar Association. It will be held at City Club on Tuesday, November 13, 11:45 am. City Club is located at 301 Commerce Street (2nd floor) in downtown Fort Worth. Cost for lunch is $26 for members with reservations and $31 for guests and those without reservations. Dress is business casual – suit and tie not required. To make reservations, please contact Sherry at 817.338.4092 or sherry@tarrantbar.org. For directions to the location, please visit the City Club website at www.cityclubftw.com. g
Save the Date for these Upcoming Events Tarrant County Bar Foundation's Annual Meeting Tuesday, January 15, 2019 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 pm. Tarrant County Bar Center
Pro Bono Awards Luncheon
Tuesday, January 23, 2019 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | City Club
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 3
YLA Snapshot Rob Henry, President TCYLA
A
s we roll into November and approach the holiday season, we at Tarrant County Young Lawyers have so much for which we are thankful, not the least of which is being part of a legal community as great as Tarrant County. I was working with a lawyer from Dallas this past week, and he couldn’t help but comment on how much more collegial and professional everyone is in Tarrant County. TCYLA has had a very busy fall, and there are also several upcoming events that I would like to highlight. Brian Singleterry has put together a great lineup of speakers for our monthly luncheons this fall. The list of speakers so far includes Judge Wilkinson, Judge Wallach, and attorney Robert Wise presented his article on Texas Discovery. For those who weren’t aware, TCYLA offers a monthly CLE luncheon at Reata. Typically these lunches are held on the second or third Tuesday of each month. The cost of the lunch is $18 and includes at least one hour of CLE and is open to both TCYLA members and non-members. It really is a great deal and we definitely encourage everybody to come out. TCYLA’s Fall Fete was held on Thursday, September 13, 2018, at Bird Café in Sundance Square and was a huge success. This event serves as our chance to drive up membership and welcome new young attorneys and allow our members and sponsors to network with members of the Tarrant County Judiciary. Thanks so much to Matt Meyer for all of his hard work organizing such a great event and also thanks to all of the Judges that attended! TCYLA has partnered with Texas A&M School of Law
http://www.tcyla.org/
We're Social | Follow Us Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association
@TCYLA
If you need an application or meeting information, call 817.338.4092 or email lauren@tarrantbar.org.
4 www.tarrantbar.org
for the fall and spring semesters to support the school’s Professionalism Program. TCYLA members help lead various breakout sessions at the law school on topics related to professional competencies. Paul Elkins has the program off to great a start and we look for forward to it continuing throughout the year. On October 6 TCYLA participated in the Habitat for Humanity’s annual “Cowtown Brush up,” where different community organizations are recruited by Habitat to come out for a day working on houses in the area for those in need. It was a huge success! Not only was TCYLA able to volunteer, but thanks to the fundraising efforts of Adam Simmons, we were also able to provide Habitat with a donation of $1,000. On October 19 TCYLA put on its annual “Bridging the Gap” CLE. This CLE provides practical advice for newly minted attorney on topics that are glossed over or not even covered in law school. TCYLA Board member Lindsay Daniel did an awesome job of assembling a great lineup of speakers that included topics on interviewing, professional responsibility, tips for dealing with the Court staff, and the appellate process. Great job, Lindsay! Thanks to all of those who attended. We hope it provided some valuable insights. I would like to remind everyone about a couple of announcements and events. First and foremost, please mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 13, at 11:45 when TCYLA will host its monthly CLE luncheon at the Reata. This month we are very honored to have Tarrant County legal legend Mr. Kleber Miller present Truth is Stranger than Fiction: Lessons from the Road. TCYLA puts on a monthly happy hour which typically falls on the third Thursday of each month. The drinks and food are free to all TCYLA members. The November Happy Hour will be November 15 from 5:30-7:30 at a place yet to be determined, so please keep a lookout for more information. Lastly, the TCYLA Holiday Party will be December 13 from 5:00-7:00, also at a location yet to be determined. This annual event is always a great time and a great way to meet fellow TCYLA members. Please be on the lookout for more information regarding this event as well. We have much to be thankful for and are excited about our upcoming events. Again, we really do encourage everybody to come out and get involved. If you ever have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to me. n
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
Calendar of Events November 2018 1 Docket Call Social 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Law Office of The Patterson Law Group 1 Women Attorneys Section Luncheon 12 pm, Fort Worth Club “Unconscious Bias” Speaker: Cheryl Kimberling, PhD 6 Tax & Estate Planning Section Luncheon 11:30 am, Petroleum Club 6 Solo & Small Firms Section and Membership Committee’s Protecting Your License Series 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, TCBA Office IOLTA Training - 1 hour CLE (requested) followed by a social hour; Speakers: Jonathan Vickery and Kimberly Schmitt from Texas Access to Justice Foundation
22 Thanksgiving Holidays Office Closed 23 Thanksgiving Holidays Office Closed 30 Wellness Connections Meeting 12 pm, TCBA Office
December 2018 3 TCYLA & TCBA's 2018 Charity Golf Tournament (Rescheduled) 1:00 pm Shotgun Start, Mira Vista Country Club 6 TCBA Annual Holiday Party 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, TCBA Office
7 Intellectual Property Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, Petroleum Club “3-D Printing and the Challenges for IP Protection” Speaker: Professor Irene Calboli
10 Bankruptcy Law Section Holiday Party TBD
7 Magic Shred Event 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, TCBA Lot (Free) Members may bring up to five standard size boxes
13 Energy Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, Fort Worth Club
8 LegalLine 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, TCBA Office
18 Labor & Employment Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, City Club
9 Brown Bag Seminar - Juvenile Law 11:45 pm - 4:00 pm, Juvenile Detention Center Training Room
24 Christmas Holidays Office Closed
13 Membership Luncheon 11:45 am, City Club
11 Tax & Estate Planning Section Luncheon 11:30 am, Petroleum Club
25 Christmas Holidays Office Closed
14 Justice Sue Walker Retirement Reception 4:30 pm - 6:30pm, Blue Mesa 15 Fort Worth Business & Estate Section Luncheon 11:30 am, City Club “Elder Financial Fraud” Speaker: Ty Stimpson, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office 15 Construction Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, TCBA Office 19 Swearing-In Ceremony for Newly Licensed Attorneys 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm, Second Court of Appeals 20 Real Estate Section Luncheon 12 pm, City Club “Land Use Issues in Real Estate Transactions” Speakers: Marcella Olson and Justin Light from Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, L.L.P.
Happy Holidays from the Tarrant County Bar Association Staff!
Anne, Brittany, Carolina, Elizabeth, Lauren, Megan, Melissa, Rae, and Sherry NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 5
Members of the 2018-2019
100 Club
*List Reflected Below is as of October 22, 2018 Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C. Albert Neely & Kuhlmann, LLP Allmand Law Firm, PLLC Anderson & Riddle, LLP Baker Monroe, PLLC 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, Dean, Proctor & Howell, LLP Bruner & Bruner, PC Cantey Hanger, LLP City Attorney's Office - Fort Worth Curnutt & Hafer, LLP Dawson Parrish, P.C. Decker Jones, P.C. Dowell Pham Harrison, LLP Forshey Prostok, LLP Friedman, Suder & Cooke, P.C. Gardner & Smith, PLLC Gordon & Sykes, LLP Griffith, Jay & Michel, LLP Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. Harrison Steck, P.C. Haynes and Boone, LLP Holland, Johns & Penny, LLP Jackson Walker, LLP Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP KoonsFuller, P.C. Lacy, Malone, Ryder & Steppick, 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 2018-2019 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
Law, Snakard & Gambill, P.C. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Lively and Associates, PLLC Loe, Warren, Rosenfield, Kaitcer, Hibbs, Windsor, Lawrence & Wolffarth, P.C. Martinez Hsu, P.C. McAlister & Garcia McDonald Sanders, P.C. Mellina & Larson, P.C. Moses, Palmer & Howell, LLP Murphy Mahon Keffler & Farrier, LLP Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee, PLLC Nelson Bumgardner, P.C. Noteboom Law Firm Padfield & Stout, LLP Pappas Law Group, P.C. Phelps Dunbar, LLP Second Court of Appeals Stephens, Anderson & Cummings, LLP Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP The Berenson Firm The Blum Firm The Colaneri Firm, P.C. Thompson & Knight, LLP Underwood Law Firm, P.C. Varghese Summersett, PLLC Watson, Caraway, Midkiff & Luningham, LLP Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz, PLLC Wick Phillips Winstead, P.C. 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 McKnight at 817.338.4092 or email her at lauren@tarrantbar.org. g
By Perry Cockerell
Judicial Profile Judge Josh Burgess
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udge Josh Burgess recently finished his first year on the bench of the 352nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas. He was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in August, 2017, after Judge Mark Pittman left the 352nd to join the Second Court of Appeals. Burgess previously ser ved as an assistant United States Attorney in the Fort Worth Division of the Northern District of Texas. In 2016 he prosecuted a complicated federal murder-for-hire conspiracy. The victim, who was killed in Southlake, Texas, was the attorney for the head of the Gulf Cartel. A recent article in Texas Monthly magazine described the investigation and the three-week trial, referring to Burgess as “tall and lean, with a boyish face … funnier, more garrulous, more likely to grab a beer with his co-workers at the end of the week.” At the end of the trial Burgess was ready for a change, and it was United States District Judge Terry Means who suggested that he consider the bench. After giving it much thought, he applied for the position with the governor’s office. Being a judge allowed him to take the trial skills he had honed over the years and use them in a different way. Now in office for more than a year, he has not looked back. “I love it,” he said. During his 13 years as an Assistant United State Attorney in the Northern and Eastern districts of the United States Attorney’s Office, the Judge’s notable service included being lead counsel in a multi-year organized crime investigation that netted more than 60 defendants in a multinational narcotics trafficking case; lead counsel in a two-year undercover investigation that resulted in a prosecution that dismantled an outlaw motorcycle gang; and handling court hearings in Texas and St. Croix involving the prosecution of drug trafficking cases. Judge Burgess was born in Simi Valley, California, “where the Ronald Reagan library is located,” and graduated from Corona High School in 1990. He attended Biola University in La Mirada, California, where he met his wife, Amy, who was from Fort Worth. In 1994 he graduated cum laude from Biola University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. He and Amy married in Fort Worth in 1995. Judge Burgess attended Washington and Lee Law School
in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. He was attracted to the beautiful setting and the small class size. He graduated in 1997. After law school he joined the United States Air Force and received a direct commission after training in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. After training he was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, from 1998 through 2001. After serving two years in the base legal office, he was selected as one of two defense attorneys at the base and had one of the busiest dockets in the Air Force. He had more than 500 clients and handled more than 30 courts-martial. In 2002, he was assigned to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, as the Chief prosecutor for a 5,000-person military installation. In November of 2002 he was assigned to Manas Airbase in Kyrgyzstan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He served as the sole legal counsel for U.S. forces providing air combat support to coalition forces in Afghanistan and was the only legal advisor to the Wing Commander at a base with 1,500 troops. He served for six months, returning home in May of 2003. In 2004 he accepted a position as the Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Sherman Division, Eastern District of Texas. In 2007, while making a trip to the Northern District of Texas, then United States Attorney Richard Roper asked him if he was interested in moving to the Fort Worth Division. He agreed, and in 2007 he and his family moved to Fort Worth where he worked in the Fort Worth Division through 2017. Judge Burgess has teaching experience as an Instructor at the National Advocacy Center, FBI Undercover Certification Course, as an Adjunct Professor at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, and as a Mock Trial Coach at Covenant Classical School, where he coached the mock trial team to four thirdplace finishes in Texas state competition. The Judge, recalling his days as an attorney, offers his own experience and advice to attorneys who appear in his court: “When I was in the U.S. Attorney’s office my first drafts were snippy and included sarcastic footnotes. My second draft was less antagonistic, and my third draft rarely included the personal attacks. Since I have been on the bench I have seen some attorneys include personal attacks in their briefs. When parties snipe at one another they take me away from my focus on the issues. It’s distracting and it doesn’t help the process.” Judge Burgess’s wife, Amy, is a marketing consultant. Their son, Thomas, is a freshman computer science major at Biola University, his parents’ alma mater. Their daughter, Grace, is a sophomore at Covenant Classical School. g
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 7
Tarrant County Bar Association 2018-2019 Committees
The Tarrant County Bar Association has several committees that hold a variety of events throughout the year. If you are interested in joining a committee, please contact the committee chair of your choice, or contact Sherry Jones at 817.338.4092 or sherry@tarrantbar.org for more information.
Bench Bar Conference
John Lively, Jr., Lively & Associates, PLLC 817.338.1030 – jr.lively@livelyllp.com
CLE Seminars
Scott Lindsey, Gardner & Smith, PLLC 817.737.4000 – slindsey@gardnersmithlaw.com
Editorial/Bar Bulletin Editors
John Murphy, Texas A&M University School of Law 817.212.3936
50-Year Lawyers
Judge RH Wallace, 96th District Court 817.884.1450
Diversity Program
Veronica Garza, The Law Offices of Veronica Garza, PLLC 817.642.5848 - veronica@veronicagarzalaw.com Margarita Morton, Morton Law, PLLC 817.502.1124 - mmortonlaw@gmail.com
Fee Arbitration
Gerald Pruitt, City Attorney’s Office-City of Fort Worth 817.392.7600 – gerald.pruitt@fortworthtexas.gov
Election
Lisa Hoppes, Hoppes & Cutrer, LLC 817.877.5700 – lisa@hoppescutrer.com
Judicial Evaluations & Polls
David Palmer, Moses, Palmer & Howell, L.L.P. 817.255.9100 - dpalmer@mph-law.com
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▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
Lawyer Referral & Information Service Chris Brown, Cantey Hanger LLP 817.877.2835 - cbrown@canteyhanger.com
Membership
Julie Camacho, Camacho Law Firm, PLLC 817.731.2500 – juliekcamacho@gmail.com
Transition to Practice/Mentor Program Brent Doré, Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. 817.870.8754 – bdore@hfblaw.com
Court Staff Appreciation/CC Seminar
Kathy Ehmann-Clardy, Dunham & Jones, PLLC 817.834.2266 – keclardy@dunhamlaw.com
Docket Call Socials
Rob Henry, Robert L. Henry, Attorney at Law, P.C. 817.877.3303 – robert@henrytexlaw.com Joe Greenhill, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP 817.332.3594 – joe.greenhill@kellyhart.com
Holiday Party
Lyndsay Newell, Newell Family Law, PLLC 817.482.6402 – lnewell@newellfamilylaw.com
Law Day Awards Dinner
Mattie Peterson Compton, U.S. Attorney’s Office 817.252.5200 – mattie.compton@usdoj.gov
Law Day Professionalism Award
Gil Daley, The Law Office of Gil L. Daley, II, P.C. 817.763.9553 – gdaley@gildaleylaw.com
Law Day Silver Gavel Award
LegalLine
Wellness
National Adoption Day
Women in the Law
People's Law School
Blood Drive
TVAS
Wade Barrow, Barrow Law, PLLC 817.617.7797 – wade@barrow-law.com
Bryce King, Phillips & King, PLLC 817.523.9529 – bking@phillipsking.com
Joseph Horn, Horn Legal, PLLC 817.688.9529 – joseph@horn.solutions
Robley Sicard, Second Court of Appeals 817.884.1900 – robley.sicard@txcourts.gov
Caroline Harrison, Dowell Pham Harrison LLP 817.632.6311 – ccharrison@dphllp.com
Brian Singleterry, Cantey Hanger LLP 817.877.2860 – bsingleterry@canteyhanger.com
Wes Dauphinot, Dauphinot Law Firm 817.462.0676 – wes@dauphinotlawfirm.com
Food Drive
Julie Sherman, Cantey Hanger LLP 817.878.6005 – jsherman@canteyhanger.com Christie Lindsey, Berend & Lindsey, PLLC 817.602.1042 – clindsey@berendlindsey.com
Lynn Rodriguez, Texas A&M University School of Law 817.212.4123 – lfrodriguez@law.tamu.edu
Elder Law
Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans
Melissa Wilks, Wilks Law Firm 817.870.9733 – melissa@wilkslawfw.com
Laurie Weir, Law Office of Carey Thompson, PC 817.840.7503 – laurie@thompsonlawtx.com
Holiday Wrap Up Thursday, December 20th 2 - 6 pm
Make the holidays easy - bring your gifts and we will wrap them for you! Drinks & Snacks
Barrow
Law
1214 Fairmount Avenue Fort Worth TX 76104 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 9
LegalLine HELP! LegalLine is seeking volunteers.
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olunteer attorneys are always needed for the LegalLine program which runs the 2nd & 4th Thursday, January through November, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attorneys answer a telephone hotline and provide free legal information to the public. LegalLine assists members of the public who may not have access to an attorney and need general advice or who just want to be pointed in the right direction to get information. All attorneys are welcomed to volunteer regardless of area of practice. If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring, please contact Carolina at 817.338.4092 or carolina@ tarrantbar.org. g
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â–Ş NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP The 2018-2019 TCBA Bar year has begun!
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: •
• • • • •
Over 15 hours of free and 98 hours of 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. Exclusive networking events, including Docket Calls, Breakfast with the Judiciary, Women in the Law Luncheon, and the annual Bench Bar Conference. Professional development and law practice management programs, including free Transition to Practice seminars, technology classes, and mentorship opportunities. Access to discounts and free professional services, including free document shredding, a discount for Lawyer Referral & Information Services (LRIS) membership, and discounts on meeting space rentals at the TCBA. A 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).
We thank you for your continued support of our organization. If you have not renewed for the 2018-2019 bar year, please contact Lauren McKnight at the bar office at 817.338.4092 or by email at lauren@tarrantbar.org.
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, 2015-2016) - Thomson Reuters
Voted again as One of the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas!
l aw
O ffi ces
o f
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
WOMEN in the LAW LUNCHEON Leadership in the Bar, Bench, and Community
Charting Your Career Path Luncheon Panel Members: Chief Justice Bonnie Sudderth, Second Court of Appeals Karen Wardell, Associate General Counsel, Cook Children’s Healthcare System Leah Frazier, Attorney and FashionPreneur
Join Us before the Luncheon for Roundtable Discussions.
Topics include:
Opening Your Own Law Firm, Judicial, In-House, and Public Law Careers,Wellness, and Branding/Marketing
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 Roundtable Discussions: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Fort Worth Club 306 W. 7th Street, Fort Worth $35 to attend Roundtables | $75 for Roundtable & Luncheon $40 per person for Luncheon $500 for Reserved Luncheon Tables of 10 Sponsorship Information Available. To make your reservations, contact Sherry Jones at 817.338.4092 or by email at sherry@tarrantbar.org.
Tarrant County Bar Foundation
Advocates for
Justice
The Advocates for Justice Luncheon highlights the impact of the Bar Foundation’s work in Tarrant County and celebrates the Bar Foundation’s Fellows, volunteers, and community partners.
Luncheon
Thank You to Our Sponsors Guardian of Justice Cantey Hanger LLP Frost Bank Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Patron of Justice Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C. Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. KoonsFuller, P.C. McDonald Sanders, P.C. North Texas Community Foundation
Supporter of Justice Brackett & Ellis, P.C. The Brender Law Firm Mattie Peterson Compton Haynes and Boone, LLP Aleed Rivera Patti Gearhart Turner Second Court of Appeals of Texas Texas A&M University School of Law Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Sharen Wilson
Donations Lisa & Burch Waldron Bankruptcy Law Section Business Litigation Section Corporate Counsel Section Labor & Employment Section 14 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
2019 OUTSTANDING COURT STAFF AWARDS BALLOT 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, Justice of the Peace staff, Judges’ non-lawyer clerical staff, and auxiliary court coordinators are eligible. Open to TCBA members. Voting ballots can be downloaded at https://tarrantbar.org/tarrant-county-bar-association/ court-staff-awards-ballot/. Ballots must be received in the Bar office no later than midnight on February 8, 2019. For more information, please contact Sherry Jones at sherry@tarrantbar.org or 817.338.4092.
Tarrant County
Court Staff Appreciation Reception & Awards
BE A SPONSOR!
The Tarrant County Bar Association is hosting its Annual Tarrant County Court Staff Appreciation Reception & Awards on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 5:00 pm at the City Club (301 Commerce Street, 2nd Floor). This reception is an opportunity for the legal community to say “Thank You” to the court staff for all courts (federal, state, and county) in Tarrant County who work very hard to serve our courts, assist the public, and facilitate efficiency in our legal system. Sponsors will be listed on signage at the reception and be recognized in the Bar Bulletin. Sponsors will also be recognized in flyers for the event on the TCBA’s social media. 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 Sherry Jones at sherry@tarrantbar.org no later than February 15, 2019. g
Mark Your Calendar for the Appreciation Reception & Awards Presentation and Plan to Join Us in Honoring Our Outstanding Court Staff! NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 15
Snippets
Civil and Criminal
by Judge Bob McCoy g County Criminal Court No. 3
ASK JUDGE BOB
Judge Bob, am I entitled to the attorney fees I am requesting if I prevail under the Declaratory Judgment Act? Not necessarily. Under the Declaratory Judgement Act (“the Act”), the trial court may exercise its discretion in awarding attorney’s fees. More specifically, the Act qualifies the trial court’s discretion as “’subject to the requirements that any fees awarded be reasonable and necessary, which are matters of fact, and to the additional requirements that fees be equitable and just, which are matters of law.’” Laborde Properties v. U.S. Shale Energy, 551 S.W.3d 740, 755 (Tex. App. —San Antonio 2016).
MOSES’ AND RAMSES’ MONTHLY PARAPROSDAKIAN (a figure of speech in which the
latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous) To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
Moses
THE DANES’ QUOTE OF THE MONTH If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man. —Mark Twain, “Pudd’nhead Wilson’s Calendar” Ramses
CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. Search and Seizure
“Where a crime victim, who is a private citizen, reports the commission of a criminal offense, and whose only contact with law enforcement authorities is a result of having been victimized at the hands of another, the credibility and reliability of the information is inherent.” Therefore, in making a probable-cause determination, a magistrate is entitled to rely on source information supplied by a victim eyewitness without an independent showing of reliability. Murray v. State, 534 S.W.3d 540 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2017).
16 www.tarrantbar.org
Co-Editor Judge Carey Walker, County Criminal Court No. 2
2. Gang Member Expert Testimon
“Expert testimony does not have to be based upon science at all; by its terms, Rule 702, by applying to ‘technical or other specialized knowledge,’ permits even nonscientific expert testimony.” The State may establish the reliability of this evidence by showing that: (1) the field of expertise involved is a legitimate one; (2) the subject matter of the expert’s testimony is within the scope of that field; and (3) the expert’s testimony properly relies upon or utilizes the principles involved in that field. “The behavior of gangs and gang members is a generally accepted area of expert testimony which involves the gaining of specialized knowledge through experience or personal research.” Phillips v. State, 534 S.W.3d 644 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017).
3. Speedy Trial
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the defendant a speedy trial. U.S. Const. Amend VI. In addressing a speedy-trial claim, the United States Supreme Court has laid out four factors that a court should consider: “(1) the length of delay, (2) the State’s reason for the delay, (3) the defendant’s assertion of his right to a speedy trial, and (4) prejudice to the defendant because of the length of delay.” Courts commonly refer to these factors as the Barker factors. Traylor v. State, 534 S.W.3d 667 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2017).
4. Relevant Evidence
Under an analysis of whether relevant evidence should be excluded based on prejudice, confusion, or other issues, courts should balance the following factors: (1) the strength of the evidence in making a fact more or less probable; (2) the potential of the extraneous offense evidence to impress the jury in some irrational but ineffaceable manner; (3) the amount of time the proponent needed to develop the evidence; and (4) the strength of the proponents need for this evidence to prove a fact of consequence. Aguillen v. State, 534 S.W.3d 701 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2017).
5. Voluntary Intoxication
“Evidence that the defendant was intoxicated at the time of the offense does not automatically entitle him to a mitigation instruction at punishment.” “Voluntary intoxication is not a defense to the commission of a crime; but evidence of temporary insanity caused by intoxication may be introduced by the actor in mitigation of punishment.” A court must submit an instruction on insanity by intoxication only if the evidence tends to show the intoxication caused temporary insanity in
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
the defendant. Kirkland v. State, 535 S.W.3d 87 (Tex. App.— Texarkana 2017).
6. Challenge for Cause
A defendant may raise a for-cause challenge against a veniremember who expresses a bias or prejudice “against the law upon which either the State or the defense is entitled to rely.” The dispositive question is whether the bias or prejudice would substantially impair the prospective juror’s ability to carry out the oath and instructions in accordance with the law. The proponent of a challenge for cause carries the burden of establishing that the challenge is proper. The proponent does not meet this burden until the proponent shows that the veniremember understood the requirements of the law and could not overcome his prejudice well enough to follow the law. Hines v. State, 535 S.W.3d 102 (Tex. App.— Eastland 2017).
CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. Plea to the Jurisdiction
In the event the pleadings are insufficient to establish jurisdiction yet do not affirmatively demonstrate an incurable defect, then the plaintiff should be afforded an opportunity to replead. San Antonio v. Hays St. Bridge Restoration, 551 S.W.3d 755, 761 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2017).
2. Standing to Contest a Will
Standing to contest a will requires a pecuniary interest that will be directly and immediately affected by the probate or the defeat of the will. Estate of Lee, 551 S.W.3d 802, 810 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2018).
3. Trade Secret Discovery
Nor is it enough to show that the information would be useful to the party’s expert; rather, the party must show that it is necessary. If an expert can form an accurate opinion on the relevant subject without the trade secrets, then the information is useful rather than necessary. … If an alternative means of proof is available that would not significantly impair the presentation of the case’s merits, then the information is not necessary. In re Daimler Trucks N. Am. LLC, 551 S.W.3d 833, 840 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2018).
4. Rule Interpretation
The interpretation of a procedural rule is a question of law that we determine de novo by applying the same canons of construction applicable to statutes. As such, we start by ascribing the plain and literal meaning to the language used in [the rule]. We apply the plain meaning to a rule’s unambiguous language in a manner that is consistent with other provisions in the rule. In re State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 551 S.W.3d 858, 862 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2018).
5. Default Judgment
For a default judgment to withstand direct attack, the record
must establish strict compliance with the rules of civil procedure governing issuance, service, and return of citation. There are no presumptions in favor of valid issuance, service, or return of citation. Creaven v Creaven, 551 S.W.3d 865, 870 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018).
6. Failing to File an Answer
Failing to file an answer intentionally or due to conscious indifference means “the defendant knew it was sued but did not care.”… Not understanding a citation and then doing nothing following service does not constitute a mistake of law that is sufficient. … But, “some excuse, although not necessarily a good one, will suffice to show that a defendant’s failure to file an answer was not because the defendant did not care.” XL Ins. Co. of N.Y., Inc. v. Lucio, 551 S.W.3d 894, 899 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2018).
7. Motion to Reinstate
When a motion to reinstate is filed the trial court clerk must deliver a copy to the judge “who shall set a hearing on the motion as soon as practicable” additionally “the court shall notify all parties or their attorneys of record of the date, time and place of the hearing.” Consequently, a trial court must conduct an oral hearing of any timely filed motion to reinstate under Rule 165a. The court has no discretion not to conduct an oral hearing on a motion to reinstate. Roush v. Metro. Life Ins., 551 S.W.3d 903, 905 (Tex. App.— Amarillo 2018).
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Do not squander time – that is the stuff life is made of. —Inscription on sun dial in Gone with the Wind (1939)
LEGAL QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Our defence is not in armaments, nor in science nor in going underground. Our defence is in law and order. —Albert Einstein
OLD NEWS
‘Machine Gun’ Kelly Public Enemy No. 1, Fort Worth resident George “Machine Gun” Kelly, captured headlines in 1933 with the kidnapping of Oklahoma City oil millionaire Charles F. Urschel on July 22 and the nationwide manhunt that followed. In 1930, he had married a Fort Worth manicurist named Kathryn Thorne in Minneapolis and, according to gangland legend, she bought Kelly his first Thompson submachine gun at a Fort Worth pawnshop. Just before Urschel’s kidnapping, the Kellys lived in Fort Worth at 857 E. Mulkey St. in a home owned by Kathryn Kelly’s mother. Kelly, subsequently sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping, died of a heart attack in the Leavenworth penitentiary on July 18, 1954, his 59th birthday. Kathryn served a lengthy sentence in federal prisons in Ohio and Michigan. g
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 17
Nurturing the Soul Outside the Practice of Law
By Tennessee W. Walker Patterson Law Group, Partner
H
elping others is good for the soul. Indeed, I believe it is our duty as lawyers to help others, especially those without the means to help themselves. Yet, I do zero pro bono legal work. I know what you are thinking - those statements are at odds. They are not. Pro bono legal work serves a tremendous purpose. My hat goes off to every lawyer who does it. But, pro bono is not for me. I tried pro bono work early in my career. I found that it added stress to my already stressful work life, and the stress traveled home with me. I was trying to help others, but I was hurting myself in the process. That equation does not work. So, I looked for alternative ways to help others and, in turn, to nurture my soul. For me, the answer was in helping others outside the practice of law. Maybe your answer is there as well. In lieu of pro bono work, I jumped into Big Brothers Big Sisters with both feet. I have been a Big Brother to Montrell for over seven years. My service to BBBS has showed me that I can truly help someone by means other than legal acumen. It has also reinforced what we all know to be true: there are many things in life that are more important than work. While we all know this, a lot of lawyers get so personally involved in their work that they cannot see the forest for the trees. Left unchecked, I have a tendency to do just that. This
Wellness
is a big reason why pro bono work was not for me. I needed to find ways to serve people outside the practice of law - as much for my wellbeing as anything else. Our client’s problems are theirs, not ours. We owe our clients a duty to zealously represent them and help resolve their problems. But, we DO NOT owe our clients a duty to take their problems home with us. If you are struggling with this, I encourage you to look for ways to give back outside the practice of law. I think you may find that helping others in the community will nurture your soul and do wonders for you. The Tarrant County Bar Association recently established the Wellness Connections Committee. This committee is designed to further the overall health and wellness of our local lawyers and to provide opportunities for attorneys to meaningfully connect with their community, their colleagues and themselves. As a member of the Wellness Committee, I was asked to provide a short write-up about how I deal with work-related stress. My answer involves a heavy dose of helping others outside the practice of law. If you are looking for your answer, reach out to the Wellness Connections Committee— maybe we can help. The committee is under the stewardship of Judge Sue Walker, ret’d Chief Justice Terry Livingston, and several past TCBA Presidents. For more information or to join, please contact Joseph at Joseph@Horn.Solutions. n
Tarrant County Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
Corner T
• Wellness • Stress & Anxiety • Depression & Bipolar
• Suicide Prevention • Substance Abuse • Cognitive Decline
https://www.tlaphelps.org/ Call 1.800.343.8527 (TLAP) 18 www.tarrantbar.org
arrant County is a fellowship of recovering lawyers and law students formed for the purpose of supporting our members in the maintenance of their own recovery and to serve as a window to recovery for those who still suffer from the disease of alcoholism/ chemical dependency or other forms of addiction, depression, anxiety, and/or other mental health disorders. g
Every Friday
Noon at FUMC @ Henderson and 5th Street, Room 231 For questions or more information: TarrantLCL@gmail.com
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
The Attorney’s Therapist
You are Invited to a Retirement Reception for
As a former practicing attorney, Kate understands the overwhelming feelings of stress, burnout, and isolation that often
Celebrating Eighteen Years of Service on the Second Court of Appeals November 14, 2018 4:30 to 6:30 at Blue Mesa 612 Carroll Street Fort Worth, Texas 76107 (overflow parking permitted in church parking lot next door)
accompany the art of balancing life with the practice of law. Kate will help you evaluate your choices, identify areas for change,
Kate Casey, LPC, JD
and implement a plan which will allow you to become the best version of yourself.
Contact me. Together we will chart the course for your success. 817.881.1914 • Kate@AutumnRidgeLPC.com AutumnRidgeLPC.com | 270 Miron Dr. #112, Southlake, TX 76092
ANIMAL LAW 101
The Nuts & Bolts of Practicing Animal Law • Defending dangerous dog determinations • Cruelty seizures (civil seizures and criminal liability) • Ownership and custody issues (abandoned, surrendered, and stolen animals; adoptions from shelters; the Lira case; co-owner disputes) • Defending animal rights activists (criminal prosecutions, defamation, and other tort liability) • Setting up non-profit corporations for rescue groups • Service, assistance, emotional support, and therapy animals (federal, state and local laws) • Death and injury to animals (claims against kennels/groomers/pet shops, veterinary malpractice, police shootings, DTPA claims, and the neighbor who killed your client's pet) • Prosecuting and defending civil dog bite lawsuits
Tarrant County Bar Building | Dec. 14, 2018, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Accredited for 6.0 hours of CLE $200.00; to register, email randy@randyturner.com; limited seating Must pre-reregister in order to receive box lunch and three-ring binder with briefs, pleadings and forms NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 19
Volunteers Needed for High School Mock Trial Mock Trial Competition Date Saturday, January 12, 2019 www.texashighschoolmocktrial.com
T
Wade Bar-
he Eldon The Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court is hosting the regional rounds of the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition and needs attorney volunteers to serve as judges for the competition.
Volunteer slots are available: Saturday, January 12, 2019 (for three rounds throughout the day)
Friday, January 18, 2019 (in the afternoon) Location: Tarrant County Family Court Building 200 E Weatherford Street To volunteer, or for more information, contact: elizabeth@tarrantbar.org. Fort Worth, TX 76196
The Fort Worth Chapter of the Federal Bar Association presents
*** Cyber Security for Law Firms*** Justin L. Miller
Special Agent—Cyber Crimes United States Secret Service
Andrew S. Ehmke
Chief Information Partner Haynes and Boone, LLP
When: 12:00 PM, Thursday, November 15, 2018 Where: Eldon B. Mahon United States Courthouse Jury Convening Room (Third Floor) 501 West Tenth Street Fort Worth, Texas Cost: $15 for FBA members; $25 for non-members (box lunch provided) MCLE: 1 hour of MCLE credit available 20 www.tarrantbar.org
â–Ş NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
Register by Friday, November 8, 2018 by emailing Joe Cleveland at jcleveland@belaw.com (limited space available)
Tarrant County Adoption Day Friday, November 16, 2018 8:45 AM – Opening Ceremonies 9:00 AM – Adoptions begin Tarrant County Family Law Center 4th Floor
A
pproximately 63 adoptions were completed at Tarrant County’s Family Law Center, adorned with cape-wearing characters and adoption decree wielding heroes, during the National Adoption Day event in November of 2017. We expect the same experience this year on November 16, 2018, as families, volunteers, attorneys, judges, and other community partners come together for this joyous celebration. As children officially join their forever families, they will be greeted with a family bag with information on post adoption services, superhero coloring books, and other fun surprises. Throughout the event the family will receive gifts of books and bears, capes, their first official family photograph, the pen used to sign the decree, gifts for the parents, and yellow roses for all the moms generously donated by Bob Leonard’s Law Office. To find out more information about Tarrant County’s Adoption Day, please visit www.tarrantcountynad. com. You can register to volunteer, find out how to make a financial contribution and find information on other ways you can become involved in the event. Please also remember that adoptions occur year round, so continue to donate your stuffed animals to the bar office. g
2019-2020 TCBA Director Candidate Request If you are interested in serving on the Tarrant County Bar Association's Board of Directors, please contact the Bar Offices at 817.338.4092 for a Director Candidate Request Form. All candidates must be an attorney in good standing with the Tarrant County Bar Association for the preceding three years. The election of the 2019-2020 Board of Directors will be held in April 2019. For more information, contact Megan Cooley by email at megan@tarrantbar.org or at 817.338.4092. g
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 21
22 www.tarrantbar.org
â–ª NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services TVAS Volunteers Spotlighted by the Texas Bar Blog in celebration of National Pro Bono Week
J
ulie K. Sherman is a paralegal at Cantey Hanger in Fort Worth. She is a past winner of the Texas Young Lawyers Association’s Liberty Bell Award, the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association’s Liberty Bell Award, and 2013 State Bar of Texas Exceptional Pro Bono Service Award—Paralegal Division. Sherman is a past Tarrant County Bar Association Paralegal of the Year and Fort Worth Paralegal Association, or FWPA, Paralegal of the Year. She is a past president of FWPA. Sherman is a board-certified in personal injury law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. When asked to share her favorite pro bono story Julie wrote, “It is hard to pick just one, but one of my favorite stories is that of a woman whose husband had left her and their children 30 years earlier. She had no idea where he was. As a single mother, she had been busy working two jobs and raising their children, then their grandchildren. One day a friend of hers gave her a flyer about a pro bono event. That pro bono clinic gave her the ability to finalize something that had been weighing on her for 30 years. I will never forget how excited and grateful she was.” Read the full spotlight
article about Julie at https://blog.texasbar.com/2018/10/articles/news/pro-bono-spotlight-day-2-julie-k-sherman. Claire Brown is from Houston and is a 2L at Texas A&M University School of Law. She is on the Texas A&M Law Review, vice president of the student organization 12th Law Man, and a student ambassador. Claire plans on practicing public interest law. Claire is a regular volunteer at our clinics. As part of her spotlight she highlighted her experience at one of our wills clinics for The Gatehouse: “ I recently had the opportunity to assist with a wills clinic held at a local domestic violence center. Obviously no one wants to think about needing a will, especially young people with families, but the women who came to the clinic were strong enough to realize that it was something they needed to have just in case. Being able to help them with the process and see the relief they felt when they knew their families would be taken care of no matter what happens really made me feel like I was doing something right.” Read Claire’s full spotlight article at https://blog.texasbar.com/2018/10/articles/news/ pro-bono-spotlight-day-2-claire-brown/. g
Uncontested Divorce Clinic - October 16, 2018
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 23
We add value to your We add value to your client relationships! client relationships! expert and highly respected attorney in field your field AsAs anan expert and highly respected attorney in your of law, clients look to you for the best counsel possible of law, clients look to you for the best counsel possible about their specific legal needs. So for those important about their specific legal needs. So for those important personal injury issues lie outside of your experpersonal injury issues thatthat maymay lie outside of your expertise, place your valued clients incapable my capable hands. tise, place your valued clients in my hands. My My firm give them personal attention deserve firm willwill give them thethe personal attention they they deserve and keep youyou fullyfully informed as the progresses. We We and keep informed as case the case progresses. honor all all referral agreements. honor referral agreements.
Trust us us to to treat your personal injury referral with with Trust treat your personal injury referral the same care and tenacity as you would. the same care and tenacity as you would. amboard board certified certified in I Iam in Personal PersonalInjury InjuryTrial TrialLaw Law with the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. with the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Contact Me
Contact
817.438.2600, office 817.438.2600, office 817.925.2272, cell 817.925.2272, cell Brad@parkerlawfirm.com Me Brad@parkerlawfirm.com 2317 Plaza Parkway, Ste. 100 2317 Plaza Parkway, Ste. 100 Bedford, Texas 76021
Bedford, Texas 76021
TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION PRESENTS Brown Bag
JUVENILE LAW
Seminar Series
NOVEMBER 9, 2018 Join us for CLE credit at the Lynn Ross Juvenile Detention Center Training Room, 2701 Kimbo Road, Fort Worth, 76111 Moderator: Angel Williams, Tarrant County DA’s Office
11:30 am
Registration
11:45 am
Changes in the Court’s Philosophy and Policy Judge-Elect of the 323rd District Court
12:30 pm 1:15 pm
Sealing of Records Leslie Barrows, The Barrows Firm, P.C., and Ernest Lopez, JCMS & Records Manager
1:45 pm
Immigration/ DACA Veronica Garza, Law Offices of Veronica Garza, PLLC
2:30 pm
Break
2:45 pm
School Law Tom Myers, Brackett & Ellis, P.C.
3:30 pm
Mental Health Dr. Jennifer Farnum, Clinical Director, and Dr. William Menchaca, Staff Psychologist
4:00 pm
Adjourn
Department Overview - Vision for 21st Century Juvenile Justice System Bennie Medlin, Director of Juvenile Services
4hours of CLE credit requested (This program will be videoed for showing throughout the year.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Brown Bag Registration: Juvenile Law
_____ $70 TCBA Member
November 9, 2018
_____ $95 non-TCBA Member
_____ Brown Bag Season Pass Holder
_____ $35 TCBA Member Staff
_____ $12 for a boxed lunch
Add $5 if registering after November 7 Please complete this form and return to the TCBA office at 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 with a check payable to TCBA or with credit card information. If you have questions, please call Sherry Jones at 817-338-4092 (Fax: 817-335-9238). Name: ___________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________ Firm: ____________________________________________________________ Fax: ___________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Billing Zip: _____________ Method of Payment: _____ Check
_______ Check Number
______ MC
______ Visa
_____ Am Ex
Credit Card Number ________________________________________________ Expiration ______________________ Name on Card _____________________________________________________ Security Code ___________________
Welcome New Members of the TCBA: ATTORNEYS Richard Winfield Adams, Jr. Jonathan D. Berry Elizabeth Spencer Berthiaume Bailey Blaies MaryAnn Cavallin Ellen Dixius Michael D. Duran Kate Hancock Daniel Hart Megan Knell Grecia A. Martinez Andrew McAlester Grant N. Moore Tenia Ouellette William Chase Payne Matthew Scott Pillado Misty Pratt John Schulmeister Stephanie Simpson John Stilwell Kate Stone Joel H. Whitney Drew Williamson
Lawyers on the Move & Bourland, Wall & Wenzel would like to welcome their newest associate attorney Michael Vecchio. Mr. Vecchio's practice focuses primarily on commercial real estate transactions. Mr. Vecchio also has experience rendering drilling and division order title opinions and assisting oil and gas companies in the acquisition of oil and gas properties. Mr. Vecchio can be reached at 301 Commerce Street Suite 1500, Fort Worth, TX 76102, 817.877.1088. Catherine Goodman, previously with Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. has opened Catherine H. Goodman, PLLC, 101 Summit Avenue, Suite 400, Fort Worth, TX 76102. She can be reached at cgoodman@cgoodmanlaw.com or 817.523.6044. Scharar Law Firm, PC is pleased to announce its new offices located at 1601 8th Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104 in the Near Southside.
26 www.tarrantbar.org
Ryan E. Scharar was awarded the 2017-2018 Young CPA of the Year award by the Fort Worth Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. Ryan serves as Director for the Texas Society of CPA’s and as Treasurer of the TCBA Business and Estates Counsel. Hon. Jennifer Rymell, Judge of County Court at Law #2, received t he 2 0 1 8 D is tinguished Law Graduate Award in the judicial category from St. Mary's University School of Law. She was presented the award at a Law Alumni Association banquet in San Antonio on October 6, 2018. 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.
STUDENTS Ramsey Al-Azem Karen Alday Claire Brown Madeline Byers Christopher Cava Maddison Clark Caroline Cochonour Isaac Cole Katelyn Copperud Annie Counts Morgan Craft Robert David Harrison Davis Nayelly Dominguez Anna Ferrando
in the News
I
Membership Report
t’s hard to believe that 2018 is coming to a close! We hope that you were involved with the bar this year and can find some time to squeeze in a few more events before the end of the year. We hosted technology-focused events in January, celebrated our members at the 50 Year Lawyer Luncheon and Women in the Law Luncheon in February, and celebrated the Tarrant County Court Staff members that help our legal community run efficiently in March. April held the 14th Annual People’s Law School, final Transition to Practice CLE luncheon and the 25th Annual Bench Bar Conference. May gave new attorneys the opportunity to be sworn in by the Second Court of Appeals Justices and held the annual Blood Drive, saving 189 lives this year! June provided members
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
the opportunities to take advantage of their membership benefits through the bar. July started the beginning of the 2018-2019 bar year and provided a networking opportunity with the Dallas Bar Association. August brought the second Breakfast with the Judiciary event with over fifteen members of the judiciary giving their time to network with young attorneys and law students. September brought a wellness-focused membership luncheon. Attorney Brian Cuban shared his story of addiction and recovery with our members. Our first Transition to Practice luncheon was hosted on September 27, featuring Judge Dana Womack and Mike Schneider of Schneider Law Firm. Thank you to our speakers for taking the time to share tips and
tricks about preparing for trial! Pro-Bono Week in October brought a free Disaster Resiliency CLE that provided members the chance to learn how to protect their practices and clients after disasters. Finally, the Membership Committee hosted their first seminar in their “Protecting Your License Series.” Rob Myers of Myers Law presented on the duty of competency and how it affects an attorney’s decision to take a case outside his practice area, along with related considerations. Thank you to Rob for speaking on this critical concept and to Julie Camacho, chair of the Membership Committee, for her hard work in coordinating this event. In between celebrating the holidays with friends and family, we hope that you will join us for an event or two! November 1 is the first docket call of the bar year at Patterson Law Group. Thank you to Travis Patterson for hosting the event. The second seminar in the “Protecting Your License Series” will be held
in partnership with the Solo and Small Firm Section on November 6 at the bar office, “IOLTA Training.” Concluding the CLE, the TCBA will be hosting a social hour. November 7 is the biannual Magic Shred Event. Grab your five boxes and RSVP for the unique opportunity to dispose of your documents. Our third Swearing-In Ceremony will be held on November 19. Please RSVP at lauren@tarrantbar.org if you are interested in attending this event. The annual TCBA Holiday Party will be held on December 6 if you want to stop by and spread some holiday cheer. Finally, the third seminar in the “Protecting Your License Series” will be held on December 12. RSVP today to get your free CLE and learn about e-Discovery traps. As always, thank you for your continued support of the Tarrant County Bar Association. We hope to see you at an event soon! g Lauren McKnight Membership Director
Tanner Garner Courtney Gately Bailey Hartman Tabitha Hyduke Calvin Chase Keeland Madison Kuczynski Sydney Lawson Coryne Levine Treda Li Christian Martinez John McClellan Kristine Sarah Medrero Samantha Mikolajczyk Hannah Myslik Harrison Pavlasek J. Cameron Polk Cory Prewit Gabrielle Rennie Jonathan Stoughton Bethany Sumpler Kelsey Warren Jessica Wells AJ Wright
ASSOCIATES Justyce Hill Dalio Losch Sean Martin Jim Petersen Bryan Prewitt Shelly Shults
PARALEGALS Ricky Johnson C. Garrett Mott
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 27
When you’re hurt, we help. We’re dedicated to turning wrongs right.
Personal Injury • Wrongful Death • Free Consultation (817) 717-9099 • gregjacksonlaw.com • Fort Worth
It's All Happening Around the Bar
Judge Louis Sturns' Retirement
Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans
Tarrant County Chapter
W
TLTV Sponsorship Opportunities
ould you or your firm like to support Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans? We are currently scheduling clinics for 2019 and looking for sponsors. There are 10 monthly veterans clinic, held on the third Friday of every month, except March and December. In addition, we will hold a Veterans Wills Clinic during Veterans Law Week in November. We are seeking a sponsor for each clinic. The cost of the sponsorship is $1000. In recognition of your sponsorship, we include your logo on the monthly flyer which gets distributed on social media, our website, and via email. In addition there is signage at the clinic and recognition in our bimonthly bar bulletin. The Bulletin is available in print and on our website. The bulletin is also emailed out to all Tarrant County Bar Association
Members and shared on social media. All clinic sponsors are recognized in the Pro Bono Awards Luncheon Program as well as the Texas Access to Justice Luncheon Program. Money from sponsorships helps stretch TLTV’s grant money so the program can provide as many veterans as possible with legal assistance. In addition, when a law firm sponsors a clinic we invite the firm’s attorneys to help staff the clinic to see the impact the sponsorship has on the veteran community. Staffing the clinic is not in any way required for a sponsorship, but it is a hands-on way to increase your firm’s impact on the veteran community. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Melissa Sircar at melissa@ tarrantbar.org. g
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 29
Bench Bar Conference XXVI April 5 - 7, 2019 Horseshoe Bay Resort Message from John Lively, Jr., 2018-2019 Bench Bar Committee Chair TCBA’s annual Bench Bar Conference is one way that the TCBA connects Tarrant County’s legal community. The event is a cherished tradition, has forged long-standing friendships among colleagues, and enhances the relationship between the judiciary and bar. We look forward to this conference, and hope members of your firm will attend the event. Registration forms will be available in early 2019, and spouses of TCBA members are welcome to join us.
Spouses and Significant Others Welcome (But Not Required!) Join the TCBA at Horseshoe Bay for CLE, Networking and Fun CLE Topics Include:
12 Angry Men – A Judicial & Attorney Panel on Jury Deliberations Runaway Jury – A Judicial & Attorney Panel on Voir Dire and Jury Selection My Cousin Vinny – Discussions on Professionalism and Ethics The Rainmaker – Lawyer Advertising Coming to America - Immigration Issues that Affect Everyone’s Clients
Activities Include:
Friday Night Fever – Casino Party Caddyshack & Bagger Vance Golf Tournaments Chariots of Fire Lawyer Olympics Academy Awards Dinner and Trivia Night 30 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
Please Support the TCBA through a Conference Sponsorship: CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP LEVELS:
BEST IN SHOW $5,000
Golf Hole Sponsorships: $150 per hole Golf hole sponsors have the opportunity to have a table set up at a golf hole and meet members as they play the 18-hole Judges’ Cup Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
Vendor Packages are also available.
BEST LEAD ROLE $2,250 - $1,000
All sponsorship levels include the sponsor’s name appearing on a sponsorship sign at the event, recognition in the Association’s monthly Bar Bulletin, and recognition in all event advertisements including the Association’s social media.
BEST SUPPORTING ROLE $750.00 - $250.00
Contact Megan Cooley at megan@tarrantbar.org with questions or interest.
BEST DIRECTOR $4,000 - $2,500
First-Timer? TCBA Has a Scholarship for You. A first time Bench Bar attendee is eligible for a partial scholarship to the Bench Bar Conference. Contact the TCBA for more information.
The Janna Clarke Bench Bar Scholarship Fund The mission of the Janna Clarke Bench Bar Scholarship Fund is to honor Janna Clarke’s legacy of involvement in and support of the Tarrant County legal community. The Janna Clarke Bench Bar Scholarship Fund is intended to provide female attorneys in Tarrant County with an opportunity to engage in bar activities and further their own professional pursuits by attending the Bar Association’s annual Bench Bar Conference. “Many years ago this Big-Wig Lady lawyer approached me and said I should go to Bench Bar (I didn’t know what that was!) because women attorneys needed the contacts and camaraderie to really succeed as a lawyer. It was true! The friendships I have made over the years at our Bench Bar have inspired me, pushed me and helped me succeed. I am gratified that we have the Janna Clarke Bench Bar Scholarship so that other women attorneys can secure that same advantage. Besides, it is such a fun event!!! Barbara Nunneley Bench Bar Convert! NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 31
Space For Lease in the historic
Tindall Square Office Complex in Downtown Fort Worth
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Parking available Up to 10,000 square feet of office space available with rates starting at $19.50 psf. Current office tenant base includes attorneys, private investment firms and accountants. Executive suites for attorneys available, call for details. Secure record storage facility conveniently located on site with rates as low as $120/month Within walking distance to local restaurants and Sundance Square Office Space and Record Storage Space Available Immediately
Contact Debara Herring ■ 682.316.2072 dherring@rochester-group.com 500 East 4th Street, Suite 175 ■ Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Other Associations’ News & Information
Arlington Bar Association Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. President, Ericha Ramsey Brown. For location & information, email arlingtonbarassociation@yahoo.com or call 214.357.7533. 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 Zachary Ferguson by email at zfergusonlaw@ gmail.com. 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) Meets for CLE luncheons on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at La Hacienda Restaurant, Hwy. 121. Contact President Danita Glenn at 214.683.5760 or danitag@thehartlawfirm.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 Dewayne Huston at 817.924.2222 or dewayne@thehustonfirm.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 Ami Decker, 817.735.0005 or ajd@famlawtex.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 Jimalee Splawn at 817.870.8752 or jsplawn@hfblaw.com. Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association Meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Joe T. Garcia’s. For more information, contact Mike Freden at 817.726.1636. Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association The 2017-2018 new TCYLA Year began September 1, 2017. If you need an application or meeting information, call 817.338.4092, email lauren@tarrantbar.org, or go to the website at tcyla.org. Texas Association of Defense Council Meets for lunch every 4th Wednesday at Angelo’s. Contact George Haratsis, McDonald Sanders at 817.336.8651 for more information.
32 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
er 6 b m e c e y, D a d s r u m p Th 0 0 : 7 5:00pm r Center a TCBA B
Prizes, r o o D , h oto Boot h P , s e ore. m Fun, Ga inks, Food and M imals or Dr n a d e ff u tion of st tribution. a n o d r u Bring yo a monetary con make
Thank You to Our Sponsors
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
â–ª TCBA BULLETIN 33
WE'RE LOOKING FOR... The People’s Law School of the Tarrant County Bar Association is looking for lawyers interested in speaking to interested groups in the community. If you are a lawyer with expertise in an area of law, and are interested in talking to a community group interested in that area, please send your information to Lauren McKnight at lauren@tarrantbar.org.
❑ Legal Malpractice Insurance ❑ Business Owner’s Insurance ❑ Probate Bonds ❑ Cyber Coverage OVER 38 YEARS SUPPORTING TEXAS LAWYERS
TLIE.org / info@tlie.org / (512) 480-9074
34 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
Lawyer Referral & Information Service
News
I
t is the perfect time to join the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) to build your practice. Based on the amount of calls from the public, LRIS needs additional attorneys who practice in the following areas. Spanish speaking attorneys are also needed.
https://tarrantbar.org/membership/lawyer-referral-information-service/. As of July 1, 2018 until September 28, 2018 we have received $22,538.14. Special Thanks to our members who have paid referral fees: Jason Amon, John Barber,
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
*LEGAL MALPRACTICE
*EMPLOYMENT / LABOR
*MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
*PRODUCT LIABILITY
FEDERAL LITIGATION
SECURITIES / COMMODITIES
HEALTH CARE LAW
SOCIAL SECURITY
IMMIGRATION / NATIONALITY LAW
TAX LAW
INSURANCE LAW
TRAFFIC
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
VETERANS
INTERNATIONAL LAW
*WORKERS’ COMPENSATION (Subscriber and Appeal)
Please note that additional requirements apply to certain practice areas marked with a *. LRIS participants must carry malpractice insurance. The LRIS application and more information can be found at:
William Brotherton, Neal Callaway, Andrea Casanova, Bill Catterton, Carter Hampton, Earl Hargrave, Kelcie Hibbs, Bryce King, Dustin Lee, Kenneth Newell, Kathlynn Pack, Will Pruitt, David Robinson, and Laurie Weir. g
Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans Tarrant County Chapter Thank you to the Rotary Club of Fort Worth for sponsoring November's Free Legal Advice Clinic For Veterans.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
▪ TCBA BULLETIN 35
Tarrant County Bar Foundation
2018 Annual
T
November 19 - December 14 Monetary Donations Only Please
his year, the Annual Food Drive will take place during the Thanksgiving and Holiday Season, to help ensure meals for the rest of the year for our community friends in need. Your financial donations to last year’s Food Drive enabled the Tarrant Area Food Bank to provide 10,000 meals for Tarrant County residents! You may donate online at: https://tarrantbar.org/tarrant-county-bar-foundation/ by clicking the GREEN “Make a Donation” button, selecting “other” on the donation direction page, and noting “Annual Food Drive” in the “Additional Information/Instructions” box. Checks should be made payable to: Tarrant County Bar Foundation, 1315 Calhoun St, Fort Worth, TX 76102, Memo for: Annual Food Drive. Your donation is Tax Deductible and greatly appreciated. Questions should be directed to Anne Palmer at anne@tarrantbar.org, 817-338-4092. g
LAWPAY IS FIVE STAR! LawPay is easy, accurate, and so efficient - it has increased our cash flow tremendously. The recurring pay option for clients is the best! Can’t beat the rates and the website is easy to use! We love LawPay–it has really enhanced our firm! –Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C., Nashua, NH Trusted by more than 35,000 firms and verified ‘5-Star’ rating on
36 www.tarrantbar.org
▪ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
THE #1 PAYMENT SOLUTION FOR LAW FIRMS Getting paid should be the easiest part of your job, and with LawPay, it is! However you run your firm, LawPay's flexible, easy-to-use system can work for you. Designed specifically for the legal industry, your earned/unearned fees are properly separated and your IOLTA is always protected against third-party debiting. Give your firm, and your clients, the benefit of easy online payments with LawPay.
877-388-0605 or visit lawpay.com/tcba LawPay is a registered agent of Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Concord, CA and Citizens Bank, N.A., Providence, RI.
In
Memoriam
Kellie Blaise Beyer 1987-2018
K
ellie Blaise Beyer died unexpectedly of aortic dissection September 24, 2018. She was 31. Born April 8, 1987, Kellie was the daughter of Marcia and Andrew Anderson. She grew up in Atlanta, Ga, where she enjoyed riding and gymnastics. Kellie graduated from Blessed Trinity High School, completed her degree in humanistic studies at St. Mary's College of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. She was employed at Altus for one year, prior to study at St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio, earning her jurisprudence in 2013. She worked at the offices of Parent Law, followed by Ecke & Poling and The Beyer Law Firm. Kellie married David Conrad Beyer July 16, 2016, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Fort Worth and continued practicing at The Beyer Law Firm in San Antonio, Texas. Kellie and David moved to Fort Worth in late 2017 where they continued
their legal practice. Kellie embraced living in Fort Worth. As a Provisional member of The Junior League, she was thrilled to meet new people and learn of opportunities to become involved in her "new home town." She and Conrad enjoyed travel and looked forward to life's adventures together. Kellie's sincerity and sparkle touched the lives of many. She was preceded in death by her father, Andrew Anderson and grandfather, Fran Fosdick. SURVIVORS: Kellie is survived by her devoted husband, Conrad Beyer; her mother, Marcia Anderson; brothers, Hunter and Max; Conrad's family, David and Sally Beyer, Tom M. Beyer, Troy and Laura (Beyer) Cook; and numerous beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins including Father Victor Perez, celebrant of their marriage and her funeral Mass. g Published in Star-Telegram on September 28, 2018
Donald Louis Prager 1931-2018
D
ona l d L ouis Prager p ass e d away p e acefully in his home Friday morning, Oct. 5, 2018. He was 87. Don practiced law with integrity and professionalism in Fort Worth for 60 years. SURVIVORS: In addition to his loving wife of 65 years, Lila
A
Werner Prager, Don is survived by son and his wife, Stephen and Bettina Prager; daughter and her husband, Jordana Ruth and Douglas Hoffman; and grandchildren, Elizabeth Prager White and Kara and Ashton Hoffman. g Published in Star-Telegram on October 7, 2018
re you aware as TCBA members you can get a discount with CLE Online? Yes, it’s one more member benefit! We record each of our Brown Bag seminars, of which there are usually seven in a bar year (July-June). After the seminars, the programs are sent to CLE Online who includes them on their website so attorneys throughout Texas can view/ listen for CLE credit. You can click on this link http://www.cleonline.com/tarrantcountybar which will take you directly to the Tarrant County Bar CLE Programs. If you find a program you like, you can contact me to get the discount code and start getting your credit. If you attended our live sessions and need to select a different CLE, you can do that as well. We are always working on ways to
CLE
Corner
Sherry Jones Associate Executive Director help our members get their CLE in the most convenient manner. If you have questions, feel free to call me. My door is open and I usually answer the phone. g
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
â–Ş TCBA BULLETIN 37
Bar Bulletin â–Ş November/December 2018 PRESORTED STANDARD Tarrant County Bar Association U. S. POSTAGE PAID TCBA members may take advantage of discounts 1315 Calhoun Street FORT WORTH, TX provided by the following vendors: Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504 PERMIT 1807 ABA Retirement Funds Program provides full-service ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Member Benefits Vendor List
401(k) plans to benefit the legal community. To learn more, contact local rep. Jacob Millican at 817.451.5020 or visit www.abaretirement.com.
AMO Office Supply offers TCBA members the lowest price guaranteed on office supplies, with next-day delivery and free shipping! Call 800.420.6421. Falcon Litigation Solutions offers discounts on copying, litigation displays, trial boards, etc. Call 817.870.0330. Fort Worth JSB Co., Inc., offers a 10% discount to TCBA members on printed material - business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, brochures, flyers, and more. For a quote, call 817.577.0572. Fort Worth Zoo discount tickets - $11.00 adult, $8 for child or senior. For tickets, contact anne@tarrantbar.org or 817.338.4092. If mailing or charging tickets, add 50 cents. Texas Rangers Baseball discount tickets are available by going to www.texasrangers.com/tickets, selecting a game and entering the coupon code. Contact Sherry Jones for the coupon code by email at sherry@tarrantbar.org. UPS - TCBA has signed an agreement with UPS for TCBA members to receive discounts on shipping. The discounts vary according to the type of shipment, so check out UPS for your needs at www.ups.com or 1.800.PICK.UPS. For IT Help: Juris Fabrilis - Cool Tools for Lawyers offers members discounted rates on web-based tools to help you manage your law practice. 817.481.1573 ext. 101. For Shredding and Document Disposal: Magic Shred is a secure shredding business that shreds your documents on-site. Magic Shred offers a 10% discount to TCBA members. Call the TCBA office for details. Expanco is N.A.I.D. AAA-Certified documentdestruction service offering 40% off to TCBA members. Mention your TCBA membership when scheduling an appointment to receive this discount on your invoice. Thomson Reuters Exclusive TCBA offer of 10% off Firm Central subscriptions to Bar members* Please contact Amanda Olson, your local Account Executive, for more information at: Amanda.Olson@tr.com. g
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 lauren@tarrantbar.org.
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@TarrantBar
@TLTVinTarrant
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