Ned J. Nakles American Inn of Court Celebrates 10 Years
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thesidebar THE NEWSLETTER OF THE WESTMORELAND BAR ASSOCIATION VOLUME XVII, NUMBER 2 MARCH–APRIL 2005 Ned J. Nakles American Inn of Court Celebrates 10 Years by Robert I. Johnston, Esq. professional ethics, civility, and legal Trial Lawyers, many of whom are skills among the members of our members of the Inn, now provides he Ned J. Nakles American Bench and Bar. scholarships so that every new admittee Inn of Court will celebrate its In the beginning, I can remember of our Bar can take advantage of T 10th Anniversary on May 19 wondering whether anyone would mentoring opportunities while at a dinner to be held at the Millcreek take the time or the trouble, or spend affording our Bar the opportunity to Inn in Ligonier. The Founders Day the money, to participate in yet expose new lawyers to our pursuit of Dinner is ostensibly another demand on their precious excellence as lawyers. to recognize the time. And we didn’t make it seem We’re having a dinner to honor the foresight and effort of more likely we would succeed by founders (at least a little) and to honor those responsible for insisting that the Inn be a working the contributions of our membership the birth of the Inn: organization, that every member, to a community where it remains an Judge Ackerman and judge or lawyer, whether the least honor and a privilege to call oneself a Judge Hudock, Dick experienced or the most, was lawyer. But I can’t help thinking Galloway, and Ned expected to participate the dinner is to honor Nakles, Sr. (a small to the same degree. more than that. group of which I Nor did our Every once ▲ was also privileged insistence that in a great while, Robert I. Johnston to be a part). there be little a perfect idea I use the word regard for rank, comes along. “ostensibly” partly because, frankly, that each member For us, the Inn, I given that we all remain active in the be judged by the think, was such an leadership of the Inn, the notion of quality of their idea. It wasn’t our organizing a dinner in one’s own contributions and idea; there were 255 honor has taken some getting use ideas, seem likely to other Inns of Court to. Ten years is a long time to wait, have universal appeal. before we came along. however, and someone, maybe it was Few of us would And candor would Judge Hudock, said, “What are they have guessed that, in preclude our claiming an waiting for? We’re not getting any spite of these demands, or awareness that we had younger here!” and so we’re having a perhaps because of them, more stumbled upon any special dinner. than 70 judges and lawyers would wisdom. That anyone, much less so Mostly, though, I use the word participate in our first year, or that many, would respond favorably to an “ostensibly” because what we really our membership would exceed that invitation to join a new organization wish to celebrate is the rather number in every year since. As we with the attributes that one pay sub- remarkable role the Inn has come to conclude our tenth year, more than stantial dues, agree to work, and forgo play in promoting and maintaining 150 of our judges and lawyers have any sense of status, is a bit of a puzzle. the highest standards of excellence in been members. The Academy of Civil continued on page 8 IN Annual Code of To Wit: Jury Actions THIS President’s Meeting Ethics by S. Trial of the ISSUE 2 Message 3 Recap 5 Signed 11 Sponte 14 Verdicts 22 Board 2 • sidebar MARCH–APRIL 2005 President’s Message Here We Go, Lawyers, Here We Go! by James R. Silvis, Esq. didn’t want to write the obligatory refer these questions to an appropriate be scheduling at least one CLE during “I Love Lawyers” first column— lawyer for a response. the next year. If you have specialized I I tried not to—but I couldn’t Bob was the leader in establishing knowledge that could be beneficial to help it! I thought I might write about a detailed written investment policy our members, don’t be humble or shy: Congress’ waste of time and money for our association’s money, and also please give me a call and we can in investigating steroid use in baseball helped orchestrate the revision of the arrange a Lunch ‘n Learn. As a prime or give advice to the newly inducted Lawyer Referral program. Both look example, over the last two years, Mike members of our bar. (Now that I’m like they are going to be great successes. Ferguson, on his own, conducted old enough to be a Wow, this is looking more like an seminars about handling motor vehicle Pennsylvania Lottery “I Love Bob” first column! Let me cases and, recently, insurance law. drawing witness, there get back to my promised “I Love Our association always needs fresh is a presumption of Lawyers” one. ideas to pass along, and I hope you wisdom.) Then I I’ve always tried to be involved in will be active on the committees and in remembered that bar association functions running for office. If there is something when I try to share and activities, but never that you believe our association is that wisdom with my realized the time and the not addressing, please contact children or young effort that it took to run me. If you have ideas about lawyers, a dreamy, an effective and efficient how we can be more appeal- glazey look comes into organization. Although we ing to non-members, please their eyes ... and I don’t think it’s awe! perform many services to let me know. So, I’m going to begin where Bob the community through Our first social Johnston left off in his last column. our educational and charitable function of the summer During Bob’s term as president, our endeavors, I believe our primary will be the Bench/Bar accomplishments were many. He took purpose is to serve our members. Conference at Seven Springs the initiative to invite the board of To borrow from the new Pedigree on June 23, 24 and 25. I urge directors of the Westmoreland County ads, “We’re for Lawyers.” everyone to attend. You can Medical Society to one of our board During my year as president, pick up CLE credits if you meetings. Most of us were surprised to I’d like to increase the partici- need them, and join in the find out how bad the relations were pation of our members. In activities for all ages and between the doctors and the lawyers. our bar association of about interests. More importantly, After a number of meetings 500 lawyers and judges, we getting to know your col- exploring how our professions could have members who are individually leagues and the judges on a personal assist one another, a medical/legal expert in one or maybe more areas of basis is invaluable, and, frankly, a lot code of ethics was drafted and the law, including patents, non-profit of fun. approved by the President Judge, the corporations, employment, etc. Some Bar Association, the Westmoreland of these topics were not even taught Academy of Trial Lawyers and the when I was in law school. Throughout Westmoreland County Medical the year, I would like to call on you to Society. The code set forth standards participate in Continuing Legal of practice for ethical conduct for and Education programs and Lunch ‘n between physicians and attorneys. Learns. Each committee chairman will Bob was also instrumental in form- ing the Public Relations Committee which will make attorneys available to q u i c k q u o t e answer questions raised by the media “To me, a lawyer is basically the person that knows the rules regarding the practice of law, and to provide comment on changes in the of the country. We’re all throwing the dice, playing the game, law or on current litigation. Often the moving our pieces around the board, but if there is a bar president is called by the media problem, the lawyer is the only person who has read the for comment on a legal matter; now inside top of the box.” —Jerry Seinfeld the Public Relations Committee will MARCH–APRIL 2005 sidebar • 3 New Leaders Chosen, Awards Given at Annual Meeting ames R. Silvis assumed the of the Year, Young Lawyer of the handling cases through the Reduced office of President at the Annual Year and Committee of the Year. Fee and Bankruptcy programs. He JMeeting of the Westmoreland The recipients are as follows. donated an estimated 85 hours to the Bar Association held on Monday, Pro Bono Program last year. April 4, 2005, at Ferrante’s Lakeview According to Brian, Restaurant in Greensburg. Brian A. he was surprised by this A member of the WBA since unexpected honor. “It’s 1965, Jim is a Petroski quite special to get an founding partner of PRO BONO ATTORNEY award for the work you O’Connell and Silvis OF THE YEAR do,” he says, “especially in Greensburg. when that’s the last thing He is a graduate of rian A. Petroski, on your mind.” Brian’s Saint Vincent College an associate with secret of success is to “treat and Penn State’s Echard & Snyder your pro bono clients the B ▲ Dickinson School in Mount Pleasant, was same as you would any of Law.