DCBA January Newsletter

President’s Message

Just One More… "I took off for a weekend last month, Board of Directors Just to try and recall the whole year.

All of the faces and all of the places Brett M. Woodburn Wonderin' where they all disappeared..." President ~Jimmy Buffett, "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

Jonathan W. Kunkel This really is it. You have Just One More newsletter article from me. President Elect

I took time to re-read several of the past newsletters, and so many wonderful memories came John D. Sheridan to mind. Memories of meetings and of volleyball and of committee work and of my one radio Vice President appearance and of the picnic and of the Strategic Planning Retreat. And of Irene's. And of the Young Lawyer's events. And of the Pro Bono Reception. And of the CAMP Program. And the Pamela C. Polacek list goes on… Secretary

And what of this year's accomplishments? This year, the Association saw: a complete re-write James J. McCarthy Jr. of the bylaws; the formation of two new committees (auto law and a committee dedicated to Treasurer confronting issues of child abuse); the development of a three-year strategic plan; revised and updated mediation program; successful Law Day and Ask A Lawyer Events; another great Elizabeth S. “Liesl” Volleyball season (without a sleep-over!); the return of the Young Lawyers Wine Tasting; a Beckley Young Lawyers Meet-the-Judges event; Casino Night; the CAMP Program... the list goes on. Past President The Board has also approved the development of a pro bono program that will be devoted to helping our Veterans obtain benefits that they have been denied. We will be looking to Kimberly A. Selemba completely re-do the web site and become more technologically savvy. And this list also goes Young Lawyers Chair on. Jennifer M. Caron Our Association is strong; it is thriving; it is filled with Members who are eager and energetic YL Vice Chair and motivated to making us better. It was a remarkable year that allowed me to meet, work with, get to know so many of our Members; the success of this year is one that YOU own, as Directors a Member. An organization succeeds because of the efforts of its members. Our Members William L. Adler make the DCBA a great organization. I want to thank each person by name... but I won't. Harry M. Baturin (And I won't do that on February 9, either!). Queena Baumbach

C. Grainger Bowman There are some people who do deserve to be mentioned by name. Robert E. Chernicoff

Salvatore A. Darigo, Jr. Jonathan Kunkel, John Sheridan, Pam Polacek, Jim McCarthy, Liesl Beckley, my Executive Committee and Kim Selemba, Chair of the Young Lawyers. These six individuals carried the Jeffrey A. Ernico burdens of leadership, and allowed me to succeed where I could not have done so on my S. Barton Gephart own. My Executive Committee provided me with perspective, with wise counsel and with Kandice Hull support to achieve. Kim and her executive committee re-energized the Young Lawyers this Dianne I. Nichols year, and have set the stage for growth and greater involvement of Young Lawyers in the Pamela L. Purdy DCBA in the coming years. J. Michael Sheldon Adam M. Shienvold J. Michael Sheldon. Mike agreed to be my unofficial-official photographer this year. He helped Gail Guida Souders capture and memorialize many of the events, gatherings and meetings over the year. Mike Michael W. Winfield took hundreds of photographs for the Association, and came to virtually every event, no small task for a solo practitioner. I truly appreciate the time and effort Mike devoted to the Association, and to me this year. Thanks Mike, for your superb photographic skills. (Continued on next page) Caldwell & Kearns. My firm was a remarkable source of support to me this year. When you serve as president of an organization like the DCBA, it becomes your priority for the year you serve. With a membership approaching 1,500, the meetings, events, and dinners are legion. The time away from the office was greater than I anticipated, and the draw on my energy was significant. The attorneys at my firm, one and all, supported me without question. I did not worry about my clients and my work-responsibilities because of their unqualified support. Thank you, each and every one of you.

Joyce and Bridgette. Until you serve as an officer of the DCBA, you cannot truly appreciate what Joyce and Bridgette do for the Association. We are the fourth-largest bar association in Pennsylvania but we have one of the smallest support staffs. You would never know it from the outside. Joyce and Bridgette bear the laboring oars on the day-to-day functions of the Association. It would do them a great disservice to say they do their jobs because they do far more than a 'job'. They are as dedicated to this Association as any dues paying member, and they enjoy our successes (and suffer our failures) right beside us. Thank you, Joyce. Thank you, Bridgette.

The last person I am going to thank in this article is our Executive Director, Liz Simcox. It is remarkable to me that this was Liz's first year as the Executive Director, because she assumed the role and the responsibilities seamlessly. Following Al Levinthal and Don Morgan was no small feat; each of them brought much to the Association, and when a person has held a position for many years, it can be even more difficult to fill their shoes. Liz didn't. She brought her own shoes and made the job HER job. And we are a better, stronger Association for it. Whenever I had an idea (and I had many), Liz would counsel me on the strengths and challenges; would offer perspective; encourage or caution me as she saw fit. Her wisdom helped me succeed and steered me away from trouble. Most of the time.

There are so many more people deserving of thanks and praise: Jennifer Archer, Fran Chardo, Melissa Van Eck, Lacy Hayes, Mike Winfield, Jessie Smith, Matt Crosby, Sal Darigo... Where I succeeded as President, I did so because of your guidance, your support and your efforts. Thank you.

This is a bitter-sweet moment, as I conclude my last article. I had so much fun this past year; thank you for allowing me to serve as President of the Dauphin County Bar Association. Thank you for your support.

It was a very busy year, and the Association accomplished so much! At times, it was overwhelming as I tried to make every meeting, every event, every dinner... and balance my law practice... and have a personal life. My efforts at balance were valiant... unsuccessful, but valiant. And I would not change a thing! I confess that my favorite article was the one that ran in March, because it focused on one of the most important things in life. Family. I am resolved to devote more time to mine this year; they were accommodating and supported me whole-heartedly in 2012. It's time for me to give myself back to them in 2013. Thank you, my Family. Your support carried me through the challenges of this past year.

Please join us at the Civil War Museum on January 23 as we welcome Jonathan Kunkel as president, introduce our new officers and Board members, and find out who won the iPad!

I hope to see you all on February 9 at the West Shore Country Club for the Annual Lawyers' Prom; the first round is on me!

Even though my time is done, you still have time for Just One More!!!

Young Lawyers & Government Law Section Holiday Party - Photos taken by J. Michael Sheldon Bar Brie fs

Douglas H. Clifton has become associated with the Law Firm of Abom & Kutulakis. (No photo Available)

Brian E. DePowell, Crisp & Associates has been appointed part-time Adult-Conflict Counsel for Dauphin County effective January 1, 2013. (No Photo Available)

W. Creigh Martson has become associated with the Law Firm of Abom & Kutulakis.

Jim Moyles has opened an office in Harrisburg located at 105 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101; 717-233-5400; [email protected] (No Photo Available)

Adam Santucci, McNees Wallace & Nurick has been elected to the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area Board of Directors.

Mark S. Silver has joined the law firm of Mette, Evans & Woodside located at 3401 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110; [email protected].

The following attorneys have been named Partners in the Harrisburg-based Rhoads & Sinon, LLP

Cory A. Iannacone Stephen Moniak Claudia M. Williams

Kenneth J. Rollins Kathryn D. Sallie

In addition, the following DCBA members were named to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Central Pennsylvania Chapter 2012 Leadership Class at a reception at the Hershey Hotel on December 10, 2012. The entire class for 2012 raised over $63,000 for the Central PA Region. Thanks to our DCBA members for their efforts in this cause.

Suzanne S. Friday, Nauman Smith Shissler & Hall Heidi Hamman Shakely, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellot Amanda Lavis, Rhoads and Sinon LLP Jeffrey B. Rettig, Johnson Duffie Stewart & Weidner Elizabeth G. Simcox, DCBA Kristen Sinisi, Angino & Rovner, PC Steven Williams, Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman,

Pro Bono Recognition

The following participants provided pro bono service during the month of December by accepting new clients, making a financial contribution to MidPenn Legal Services, participating in one of our pro bono programs, or conducting one of our family law clinics:

Attorneys Elliot A. Strokoff Nicole R. Antos Richard B. Swartz John J. Cantwell Leonard Tintner Donna L. Fisher Ronald T. Tomasko Hawke McKeon & Sniscak Steven V. Turner Kevin J. Hayes Clarence B. Turns Jr. Steve Krone Tracy Lynn Updike Mette, Evans & Woodside Jonathan Vipond III Dorothy L. Mott James Leon Walsh Maryann Murphy Claudia M. Williams Pamela L. Purdy Marc Roda Paralegals Timothy A. Shollenberger Joseph G. Skelly Annette Joy

Pro Bono Performance In the calendar year 2012, our Pro Bono Program has: Assisted 817 clients (based on new cases) Donated 3,577 hours of legal services (based on closed cases) Valued at $536,475 Conducted 18 Pro Se Clinics

Additionally, our Lawyer Referral Program has fielded 4,377 calls and referred 2,680 clients, including 110 clients who qualified for our Modest Means Panel. Thanks to all those who help maintain this tradition of community service.

Another Pro Bono Option for You! Do Pro Bono Without Leaving Your Office

On January 24 from Noon to 1 PM please join us here at the Dauphin County Bar Association for a one-hour ethics CLE. The CLE is free for members of the PBA Government Lawyers Committee who agree to do pro bono work for the SeniorLAW Helpline. If you are not a PBA Government Lawyers Committee member, the program fee is $25. The program includes lunch which will be served beginning at 11:30 AM.

The SeniorLAW Center provides legal advice, information and referral services to seniors, resolving some problems immediately and serving as an important link to a wide variety of legal and nonlegal resources. Through the Pennsylvania SeniorLAW Helpline (1-877-PA SR LAW or 1-877-727-7529), staff and pro bono attorneys give seniors across the state the information they need to protect themselves and their property, to ensure their rights are not violated, to make important personal planning decisions, to resolve a wide variety of legal problems, and, when necessary, to obtain additional assistance.

The PBA Government Lawyer’s Committee, in partnership with the PBA Pro Bono Office and the SeniorLAW Center, is sponsoring this free, one-hour seminar for PBA Government Lawyers Committee members who are interested in providing pro bono service through the SeniorLAW Helpline. (Continued on next page)

Chief Justice Ronald Castille and PBA President Tom Wilkinson have made the expansion of pro bono legal services a priority. PBA Pro Bono Coordinator David Trevaskis will conduct the training which highlights pro bono ethics and the statewide SeniorLaw Helpline project. The SeniorLaw HelpLine is a wonderful pro bono opportunity, with malpractice included, to assist senior citizens throughout the Commonwealth.

This program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board through the Pennsylvania Bar Institute for 1.0 hours of ethics, professionalism or substance abuse CLE credit.

For questions or to register, please contact Gabriele E. Miller-Wagner, Administrative Assistant, PBA County Bar Services/Pro Bono Legal Services: (717) 238-6715 or email: [email protected]

For a registration form, go to: http://www.pabar.org/public/committees/govtlaw/GLCCLE012413.pdf

Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Announces Recipients of 2013 Excellence Awards

The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network has announced the recipients of its 2013 Excellence Awards. The list includes individuals being recognized for pro bono achievements as well as a variety of civil legal aid professionals and other friends of civil legal aid across Pennsylvania.

Individuals selected to receive the 2013 PLAN Excellence Award include DCBA member David Keller Trevaskis the Pro Bono Coordinator at the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Mr. Trevaskis has worked to create a safety net for the neediest among us in Pennsylvania through the Pro Bono Office, which annually receives and handles more than 6,000 inquiries from those seeking legal services. He has effectively utilized and promoted the PALawHelp.org website to make it the single most used legal reference in the state for civil legal aid. Mr. Trevaskis has used his skills at teaching to craft a series of CLE programs that provide valuable information for attorneys, while using free CLEs and speaking engagements as recruiting devices for getting more pro bono attorneys into the fold. He has worked to develop and foster bar and legal aid connections across the state and has secured funding for pro bono events and to support legal services.

The 2013 Excellence Awards will be presented at the annual awards dinner on Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers. A social hour will take place from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, immediately followed by a buffet dinner. For more information and a full list of honorees, go to: http://www.palegalaid.net/services/leadership/awards

Announcement From Attorneys Promoting Children’s Best Interests The DCBA has initiated a subcommittee to investigate and evaluate where our legal talents and skills best serve the interests of children in our community. We are not only lawyers but also parents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, cousins, and grandparents. We serve the community in a myriad of roles such as coaches, teachers, community leaders, PTA members, school volunteers and the like. These roles invariably place each one of us within critical reach of a child. The obvious and most concerning issue is that of recognizing the signs and symptoms of potential child abuse, which takes a variety of forms. To that end, this committee will be organizing child abuse trainings for DCBA members. Training our own is a valuable first step to promoting children’s best interests.

Our broader platform is to promote the best interests of children in a more positive and pervasive way in the community. To identify opportunities to assist and to avoid duplicating services already available, we must first survey what organizations, agencies, businesses or other entities share our goal. And we need your help. We ask that you, the DCBA member, share your valuable knowledge with the subcommittee. Specifically, we ask that you forward the contact information of any and all organizations, agencies or businesses that promote children’s best interest in any way. You may have a personal, professional or other experience with the entity. We simply need to know that the entity exists. (Continued on next page)

Please share the contact information and a brief description of what you understand to be the entity’s mission with respect to children as soon as possible. You may send it to [email protected]. Identifying the services and entities already in existence is the first phase of defining how our membership may best serve the community to enhance the welfare of all children. Check the website and newsletter regularly for developments from this passionate and committed subcommittee!

Inaugural Lancaster Regional Mock Trial Tournament

The Elizabethtown College Pre-Law Program and the Lancaster Bar Association are pleased to announce the inaugural Lancaster Regional Mock Trial Tournament on behalf of the American Mock Trial Association. The tournament will be held February 16 and 17, 2013, at the Lancaster County Courthouse, located at 50 North Duke Street. To ensure the tournament’s success, we must recruit high-quality individuals to serve as scoring judges for the competition. That’s where you come in.

I would be delighted if you would volunteer to judge for as many rounds as you are able. This year’s case is a fascinating wrongful death claim, involving a scuba diving accident. Please note that you do not need to have any specialized knowledge in these areas to judge. The problem is a “closed universe”; competitors will provide you with all of the information you need. Judges will be asked to score student participants on a scale of 1 through 10 on how well they present their side of the case. More details will be provided at the judges’ orientation before each round of play. The judges’ orientation will take place in the courthouse cafeteria (second floor) and meals will be provided for volunteers before each round of competition.

To sign up, simply click on the link below and complete the brief (I promise!) survey. You will be asked which rounds you are available, as well as a handful of questions about your background and prior mock trial judging experience. The survey should take no more than 3 minutes to complete.

Please feel welcome to share this invitation with colleagues who you feel would enjoy judging collegiate mock trial. We are happy to honor requests from judges to be paired together. Simply indicate any pairing preference in the final survey question.

Regardless of which round(s) you judge, I hope you will join us for Elizabethtown College’s Judges’ Reception. The reception will be held from 5:30 – 7:00 PM at the Marriott at Penn Square. Please plan to meet your colleagues for drinks, snacks and conversation. The registration survey includes an RSVP for the reception.

Competition Schedule (all times INCLUDE the mandatory pre-trial judges’ orientation):

Round 1: Saturday, 2/16, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM Round 2: Saturday, 2/16, 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM Judges’ Reception: Saturday, 2/16, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM (Marriott at Penn Square) Round 3: Sunday, 2/17, 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Round 4: Sunday, 2/17, 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Volunteers are strongly encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early to ensure that they find a parking space and the location of the judges’ orientation (courthouse cafeteria, second floor).

Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEZ1LTJPM1JQQTJCNTYxcWlQUEl5Y0E6MQ

If you have any questions, please feel free to email the tournament coordinator, Dr. Kyle C. Kopko, at [email protected].

Spotlight on ADR Committee By Michael Winfield

For many years, the ADR Committee has advanced under the leadership of Lacy Hayes. Now, as we enter a new year, we begin a new chapter, and I am privileged to help write that as the incoming Chair of the Committee. I know I have big shoes to fill and welcome the challenge.

In 2012, the ADR Committee completed a two year effort to completely overhaul the DCBA mediation program. We hope the current program will serve as a model for other Bar Associations to follow. We are now turning our attention to new opportunities for the Committee to advance ADR on behalf of the DCBA.

Please consider this as an open invitation to join us, as we establish our objectives and goals for 2013 and beyond. Our fist meeting of 2013 will be held on Monday, January 28, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at the Bar Association. I hope to see you there.

Please RSVP to Bridgette at [email protected] by January 21, 2013.

Save the Date

2013 President’s Gala Honoring Brett M. Woodburn West Shore Country Club Saturday, February 9, 2013

2013 Bench Bar Conference Friday, May 3, 2013 - Sunday, May 5, 2013 Loews Annapolis Hotel More Information to follow

2013 Dauphin County Court Calendar Changes

Please be sure to check out the 2013 Dauphin County Court Calendar on the DCBA Website under Legal Links as there have been some significant changes to it.

You may also find it located here:

http://www.dauphincounty.org/government/Court- Departments/Court%20Calendar/2013%20Court% 20Calendar.pdf

January 2013

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 DCBA Closed Happy New Year

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 11:30am Lunch 7:30am PBA WIP 5:30pm Young 11:30am Lunch 12 Noon program Breakfast Lawyers Annual 12 Noon program (See Flyer at end Meeting “Oil and Gas Law of Newsletter) “To Great an Smackdown” Expectation: Does 5:30pm Bowman Charles Dickens https://www.dcba Inn of Court Demand Too -pa.org/Calendar/ Much of Today’s Signup.aspx? Lawyer?” EventNo=223 https://www.dcba -pa.org/Calendar/ Signup.aspx? EventNo=227 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 5:30pm Lipsitt 8:00am Public 12:00pm Family 5:30pm Board of Inn of Court Services Commit- Law Section Sub- Directors Meeting tee Meeting committee and Dinner (McNees)

9:00am “Advanced Par- enting Coordina- tion Training”

https://www.dcba -pa.org/Calendar/ Signup.aspx? EventNo=225 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 DCBA Closed 11:30am Lunch 5:30pm Martin Luther 12 Noon program DCBA Annual King Day Meeting— “What to Do Harrisburg Civil When You Get War Museum that ‘OMG’ Let- ter” https://www.dcba -pa.org/Calendar/ https://www.dcba Signup.aspx? -pa.org/Calendar/ EventNo=229 Signup.aspx? EventNo=228

27 28 29 30 31 12:00pm ADR Committee Meet- ing February 2013

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 6:00pm Annual Presi- dent’s Gala - West Shore Country Club

https://www.dcba- pa.org/pdfs/ even- tAds/2013PresidentGa la4.pdf 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 5:30pm Lipsitt 9:00am Custody 5:00pm Bowman Inn of Court Clinic Inn of Court

11:30am Lunch 12 Noon program

“The ABCs of the Affordable Care Act”

https://www.dcba -pa.org/Calendar/ Signup.aspx? EventNo=232 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 DCBA Closed 5:00pm Pro Bono 12:00pm Family President's Day Reception Law Section Sub- committee

4:30pm Board of Directors Meeting

24 25 26 27 28 11:30am Lunch 12 Noon program

“Healthcare Ex- changes - Ready or Not, Here They Come

https://www.dcba -pa.org/Calendar/ Signup.aspx? EventNo=233