the bar Back issues from 2000 to the present and a comprehensive, searchable index are available THE NEWSLETTER OF THE online at www.westbar.org/thesidebar. sideWESTMORELAND BAR ASSOCIATION VOLUME XXXIII, NUMBER 2 JUNE 2021 It Was The Best of Times, It Was The Worst of Times Practicing DuringWORST: The worst thing aboutthe practice Pandemicwhich is best achieved in person. Email, during the pandemic is the lack of Zoom, phone, and FedEx have greatly regular, face-to-face contact with our aided us and will continue to do so, but clients, staff members who have been they do not replace a friendly handshake and are working remotely, and with or smile and having the ability to better s we come to terms with fellow members of our Bar. Practicing assess the tone of someone’s voice, their our new normal, our post- law for so many of us is all about expressions and their demeanor. Of A pandemic lives, many of us building and maintaining relationships continued on page 18 may look back on the last 15 months with enormous sighs of relief. While other parts of the world are still in the trenches fighting COVID-19, we seem to be getting closer to victory. Even though our fight was bad, it wasn’t all Remembering bad. The pandemic changed the way we do business across all industries, R.Editor’s note: Jerry R. Jerry Little passed Little away on and some of it was for the better— Friday, February 26, 2021. He is survived Zoom, curbside pickup, the ability to by his wife, Christine, and children, Cayce work remotely, less crowded spaces, (Marcel) Little Pastoor, of Pittsburgh, Brad more time outdoors. (Ashley) Little, of Charlotte, N.C., and Allison We asked our members to look (Jordan) Little Sromek, of New York, N.Y. He back and tell us what got their thumbs is also survived by six grandchildren: Catelyn, up and thumbs down votes while Carter, Hudson, Ethan, Morgan, and Dutch. practicing law during the pandemic. Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Fight COVID-19, or Oakmont Carnegie Library. David DeRose BEST: The best things to grow out of the pandemic by Daniel Joseph, Esq. are the cooperative efforts and patience of the people ur dear friend, Jerry Little, passed away on February 26, 2021, from with whom you work each day, extend- COVID-19 after a 25-day hospital stay. He died in the arms of his ing themselves to adjust to new and Owife of 46 years, Chris, ending his long battle with this disease. sometimes more complicated ways to A wonderfully courteous lawyer, Jerry practiced with keen knowledge, process and complete matters. Perhaps diligence, and integrity. After graduating from Shadyside Academy, he we all took for granted the “business as attended Bethany College and then went on to Ohio Northern Law School. usual” practices that existed prior to He began his law practice in the offices of Irving Green, Louis Ceraso, Aaron March of 2020—not anymore! continued on page 8 Annual Spotlight Jury To-Wit: New IN President’s Meeting on Alex Trial by S. Member THIS 2 Message 3 Recap 9 Brown 11 Verdicts 13 Sponte 19 Sketches ISSUE 2 bar • side JUNE 2021 President’s Message Togetherby Judith We Potoka Petrush, Are Esq. Better am writing this message filled the Greensburg YWCA Thrift Shop with gratitude for my family, and PA Workwear Program. This I co-workers, our membership, week-long clothing drive in honor fellow Board members, and our WBA of Mother’s Day featured a Thirsty staff. This past year has proven beyond Thursday event at the WBA on May 6. a reasonable doubt that with the I ask the membership to help support of others, we are resilient promote our online presence: Please and able to persevere. like and follow our social media To our membership, I want to (Facebook: facebook.com/westbar; express my deepest sympathy for Twitter: @westbarPA) and check our the loss of friends website (westbar.org) as we feature and family and our new headquarters, events, and our acknowledge members. The Board wants to hear the missed your ideas and feedback. We really opportunities, appreciate your and personal and calls, emails, financial losses of and responses to this past year. member surveys. Above: The WBA Our Association Soon, you will Pitt Law Class of owes much thanks to be hearing more 1993. (L to R) John our Past-Presidents details about Petrush, Jackie Scott Avolio, Joyce Novotny-Prettiman, our Capital Knupp, Judi and John Ranker for their dedication, Campaign (see Petrush, and time, and hard work for the WBA and page 4) and we Past-President on our new building. Truly, they all hope that you John Ranker are now veteran construction project will support Left: WBA Ski managers! We are also indebted to that effort. Patrollers Judi Dennis Persin, Chris Haidze, and past I challenge Petrush and Young Lawyers Chair George Miller our Committees Past-President for their Board service and continued to increase their John Greiner willingness to volunteer their time to engagement of the WBA. Our Executive Director, members by continuing to offer at one of our most history-filled Alahna, and staff, Susan and Jessica, hybrid events where members may locations in Westmoreland County. successfully navigated everything that attend either in-person or virtually. I am truly honored to serve as 2020 threw at them and we are truly Our new home is perfectly suited WBA President and I hope that you fortunate to have them. Thank you all to accommodate all members in an all are looking forward to enjoying so much for your stewardship, energy, inclusive manner. the benefits of WBA membership! and positive attitudes! The WBA Board and staff, along We are connected by our experiences During my year as WBA President, with our Activities and Bench/Bar and united in the desire to make our I plan to honor their efforts by giving Committees, are planning fun and legal community better. our members many opportunities to public-health responsible events. Our Together, we are better, and can use and enjoy our new headquarters. July meeting will be held at Hempfield make a meaningful difference in When we gather at events this year, Park on July 30 with a presentation Westmoreland County. I we plan to incorporate projects to of awards and a lot of food, fun, serve the greater community, too. and softball. We are organizing a For the first such event, we collected Bench/Bar Conference in September; our gently used clothing for a clothing details will be announced soon. Our donation drop-off event at the WBA Holiday Dinner Dance promises to be during the week of May 3 to support something historic—literally historic, bar 3 JUNE 2021 side • New Leadership Elected at Virtual Annual, SpecialKorns was elected to serve Meetings membership in mind a five-year term on the in order to preserve the Building Committee; assets that we had acquired and David S. DeRose was over the years. I’m proud to elected to serve a one-year see the new people stepping term. up to fill the slots on this board, and I urge anyone PRESIDENT-ELECT else who has an interest: DENNIS PERSIN don’t wait until there may RESIGNS Following the elections, not be enough gas in the President-Elect Dennis N. tank—get in early and Persin announced his participate. It’s well worth resignation from the Board the time and the effort that Outgoing President Scott E. Avolio passes the ceremonial gavel to of Directors, citing the need we have all put in.” incoming President Judith Potoka Petrush at the Annual Meeting for knee surgery that would President Scott E. Avolio held on April 5, 2021. Judi will serve a one-year term as President. prevent him from fulfilling thanked Dennis for his t the Annual Vice President and Leo J. his obligation. “I am grateful service: “While you may Meeting of the Ciaramitaro was chosen to to have spent time on the never get to hold the title Westmoreland serve a three-year term on board,” said Dennis. “I can as President, you were A instrumental in many Bar Association held on the Board of Directors. tell you that each and every Monday, April 5, Judith Adam J. Long was decision that was made decisions that will forever Potoka Petrush assumed elected to serve a five-year by the board was made be a new course for the bar the office of president. term on the Membership with the best interest of association,” he said. An attorney for 27 years, Committee. Michael T. this association and the continued on page 8 Judi is an Assistant District Attorney for Westmoreland County. A Mount Pleasant native, she earned her Maureen Kroll Elected Vice President undergraduate and law at Special Meeting degrees from the University BA President Judith Potoka Petrush called a Special Meeting of Pittsburgh. Judi succeeds of the Westmoreland Bar Association on Thursday, April 29, Scott E. Avolio and is W 2021, to elect a vice president to fill the seat left vacant by serving a one-year term the elevation of Eric E. Bononi to president-elect at the April 5 Annual as President. Meeting. Due to the restrictions At the special meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom, the on indoor gatherings, the quorum of attendees elected Maureen S. Kroll, who was serving her meeting was held virtually second year on the board as a Director, to a one-year term as Vice President ending on via Zoom.