The Promulgator the Official Magazine of the Lafayette Bar Association
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THE PROMULGATOR The Official Magazine of the Lafayette Bar Association DON’T FORGET: RENEW 2018 DUES 2018 lba president donnie o’pry december 2017 | volume 40 | issue 6 page 2 Officers Donnie O’Pry President Maggie Simar OUR MISSION is to serve the profession, its members and the President-Elect community by promoting professional excellence, respect for the rule of law and fellowship among attorneys and the court. Theodore Glenn Edwards Secretary/Treasurer THE PROMULGATOR is the official magazine of the Lafayette Bar Association, and is published six times per year. The opinions expressed Missy Theriot herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Committee. Imm. Past President ON THE COVER Board Members This issue of the Promulgator introduces 2018 Neal Angelle Kyle Bacon Lafayette Bar Association President Donovan Bart Bernard “Donnie” O’Pry II. Our cover photo features Shannon Dartez Donnie’s family. Get to know Donnie on page 10. Franchesca Hamilton-Acker Scott Higgins William Keaty II Karen King Cliff LaCour Pat Magee Matthew McConnell Dawn Morris TABLE OF CONTENTS UPCOMING EVENTS Joe Oelkers President's Message ..........................................................4 Keith Saltzman Executive Director’s Message .....................................5 DECEMBER 07 LBA Holiday Party William Stagg Family Law Section ............................................................7 LBA @ 5:30 p.m. Lindsay Meador Young Young Lawyers Section ...................................................8 Off the Beaten Path: Justin Leger ..........................9 Cover Story: Donnie O’Pry .............................................10 DECEMBER 12, 15, 18, The Grapevine ........................................................................12 20, 22, 28, 29, 30 Editorial Committee Trivia Question .......................................................................12 LBA Installation Ceremony ..........................................13 CLE by the Hour Stuart Breaux, Editor at the LBA Hallie Coreil Pro Bono Honor Roll .........................................................14 Classifieds ..................................................................................14 8 Time Slots Per Day Matt McConnell 60 minutes each Dwazendra Smith Champions of Justice.......................................................15 Your Honor: Judge Patrick Hanna .........................17 Registration Required Young Lawyers Section Fall Social .........................18 The Bar Side .............................................................................19 JANUARY 05 Red Mass Staff St. John’s Cathedral @ Noon Josette Gossen Court Opening Executive Director Lafayette Parish Court House @ 3:00 p.m. Cyd Cherrie Events Coordinator JANUARY 25-27 Bench Bar Conference Katelyn Guidry Houstonian Hotel Marketing Coordinator Houston, TX Marilyn Lopez For all upcoming events visit: Pro Bono Coordinator stay connected www.lafayettebar.org Kayla Perry Executive Assistant Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter See us on Instagram facebook.com/lafayettebar @Lafayette_bar @lba_lafayettebar page 3 president' s message President Donnie O’Pry Invites You to Attend Bench Bar in January cannot think of a better attendance at Bench Bar is not only a great way to support the way to start my first Lafayette Bar Association, but also Houston’s hurricane recovery. column as President ithan to give thanks. I want We are very excited for everyone to experience what we have to offer a heartfelt thank you planned for the upcoming Bench Bar. Our opening night “Boots & to everyone who attended Bling” social will get things kicked off with a little flavor of Texas our installation ceremony for our guests. We changed our format a little to allow attendees at Iberia Bank. We had a to really take advantage of the amenities that the Houstonian phenomenal turnout and has to offer. We will wrap up our CLE offerings a little early on the event was absolutely Saturday afternoon so that everyone can have the afternoon to first class. I especially want enjoy the world class spa at the Houstonian, take in a round of to thank the staff who did golf, or enjoy the complimentary shuttle to the Galleria. After such a wonderful job putting everyone has had an opportunity to enjoy their afternoon, we have the evening together and a wonderful dinner planned at the Manor House in the Houstonian. working so hard to make it We will actually conclude the conference with additional CLE an event that we could all opportunities on Saturday morning. This small change to the be proud of. format, which will bring the total number of CLE hours offered to 9.5, will give attendees a little more bang for their buck. Ordinarily, when the incoming President writes his or her first column, we have just finished Bench Bar and we have begun the I highly recommend that all of you consider attending Bench Bar process of planning next year’s conference. However, Hurricane this year. I think this is an especially unique opportunity for Harvey threw us all a curve ball when it hit Houston earlier this young lawyers to meet and learn from Judges that they wouldn’t year. After we were initially assured by the Houstonian that they ordinarily get to experience. I can vividly recall my first Bench would be up and running in time for Bench Bar, we were later Bar experience, which took place only days after I was sworn in. I had just started as a new associate at Jeansonne & Remondet and Dona Renegar asked me to take her place at Bench Bar "IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE THAT I due to a last minute conflict. I hesitantly agreed, not knowing anything about Bench Bar or who might be there. Upon arriving WILL NEVER FORGET AND THAT SIMPLY in Natchez, Mississippi, I realized that I did not know a soul other than Blake David. (Is there anyone who doesn’t know Blake?) However, it didn’t take long for me start meeting the other CANNOT BE DUPLICATED OUTSIDE OF attorneys and judges in attendance. I quickly learned that there is no better way to network and socialize with other attorneys and ." (especially) judges from our area, than at Bench Bar. I have very ATTENDING BENCH BAR fond memories of that first Bench Bar: drinks at the hotel bar in advised that electrical issues in the elevators might not be the Eola, dinner at Dunleith Plantation, and shooting pool into the resolved in time for our conference. Accordingly, we made the wee hours of the night with several judges at Dimple’s Lounge. difficult decision to move Bench Bar to January 25 - 27. We never It was an experience that I will never forget and one that simply entertained the notion of cancelling Bench Bar after our two co- cannot be duplicated outside of attending Bench Bar. It is one chairs, Shannon Dartez and Karen King, had planned such an that I wish all lawyers, especially young lawyers, would have an awesome event. We have also agreed to donate a portion of the opportunity to experience. And I can say that after my experience proceeds from Bench Bar to hurricane relief efforts. Thus, your in Natchez, I have never missed a Bench Bar. 2018 Annual Red Mass & Court Opening Ceremony ,,,,\\\! Friday, January�, , 05 RED MASS COURT OPENING Cathedral of St. John the EvangelistJUSTICE. OBTAINEDLafayette . Parish Courthouse starting at 12:00p.m. starting at 3:00p.m. page 4 executive director s message Executive Director Josette Gossen Encourages Us to Do Our' Part to Help Others in 2018 As 2017 draws to a close, I find myself once again reflecting on new concepts launched the extraordinary generosity of the members of our Bar. When by other bars. Thank you, Hurricane Harvey flooded the Bench Bar venue, the Bench Bar Missy, for concentrating Committee and Executive Committee committed to keeping the your energy and efforts conference in Houston and at the Houstonian with new dates of on making our association January 25-27. We should all be proud of our efforts to support the stronger from the inside and recovery of an economy devastated by a natural disaster. There is a keeping resources focused fantastic lineup of speakers and extra time built into the program on our existing successful programs and services. "YEAR’S END IS NEITHER AN END NOR A Looking forward to 2018, BEGINNING BUT A GOING ON, WITH ALL THE our first event will be Red Mass and Court Opening WISDOM THAT CAN TEACH US." on Friday, February 5th. EXPERIENCE Broussard & David will once again sponsor the luncheon -HAL BORLAND following Red Mass at Noon. Court Opening will be at the for networking with judges, sponsors and fellow members of the Lafayette Parish Courthouse at 3 PM with a reception following at bar. Make your room reservations by January 3rd to get the best the Jefferson Street Pub. room rate! Finally, please be on the lookout for your 2018 dues renewal email. I’d like to recognize our outgoing President Missy Theriot for her We’ve made it even easier to pay your dues online, but good old very successful year in office. At the American Bar Association Bar fashioned paper checks sent by snail mail are welcome, too! Please Leadership Institute in Chicago in 2016, she and I heard about “shiny call the LBA staff at 337-237-4700 if you have any questions or object syndrome” -- the temptation to replicate all the fantastic need assistance with the member portal. LET YOUR FIRST NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION OF 2018 BE TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES! New Year’s HERE IS WHAT’S NEW: Resolutions You will now be able to renew your membership dues electronically. All you have to do is log into the member portal and click “Renew.” #1 Renew my You will also be able to add yourself to our Member Directory for $15 per section. This will replace our 2018 dues current Lawyer Referral Service. Forgot your username or password? No worries! Contact the LBA to reset your sign in information. Please do not create a new membership. All renewal notices will be sent electronically. If you are not currently receiving weekly email notifications from the LBA, please notify the LBA Marketing Coordinator. (337) 237-4700 ext. 104 or katelyn@lafayettebar,org page 5 FREE CLAIM EVALUATION Social Security Disability Matthew Lane Supplemental Security Income (U.S.