2013-2014 Annual Report

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2013-2014 Annual Report CONNECTICUT BAR ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT of Sections and Committees 2013–2014 Connecticut Bar Association 30 Bank Street New Britain, CT 06050-0350 (860)223-4400, Fax (860)223-4488 Visit www.ctbar.org © 2014 Connecticut Bar Association CONNECTICUT BAR ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 2013–2014 President Kimberly A. Knox Horton Shields & Knox PC Hartford President-elect Mark A. Dubois Geraghty & Bonnano LLC New London Vice President William H. Clendenen, Jr. Clendenen & Shea LLC New Haven Secretary Alexis H. Smith New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Inc. New Haven Treasurer Jeffrey F. Buebendorf Brown Jacobson PC Norwich Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Jonathan M. Shapiro Shapiro Law Offices PC Middletown Immediate Past President Barry C. Hawkins Shipman & Goodwin LLP Stamford BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES District Name City District Name City 1 Donat C. Marchand Greenwich 10 William F. Dezinno Meriden 2 Stephen J. Conover Stamford 11 Steven D. Anderson New Britain 3 Kara A.T. Murphy Norwalk 12 John L. Bonee III West Hartford 4 Monte E. Frank Danbury 13 Janet L. Van Tassel* Middletown 5 James O. Gaston Bridgeport 14 Suzanne E. Caron* Vernon 6 J. Michael Sconyers Bantam 15 Howard B. Schiller* Willimantic 7 Thomas G. Parisot Waterbury 16 Daniel J. Horgan* New London 8 James E. Sheehy Ansonia 17 Cassie N. Jameson Norwich 9 Burton B. Cohen New Haven *Board of Governors of the House of Delegates member only HOUSE OF DELEGATES District Name City District Name City 1 Donat C. Marchand* Greenwich 11 Steven D. Anderson* New Britain 2 Adam J. Blank Stamford 11 Vincent P. Pace Berlin 2 Stephen J. Conover Stamford 11 Jeffrey A. Zyjeski New Britain 2 David P. Friedman Stamford 12 John L. Bonee III* Hartford 2 Stephen J. Curley* Stamford 12 Barbara J. Collins Hartford 3 Ira W. Bloom Westport 12 Matthew J. Cholewa Hartford 3 Kara A.T. Murphy* Norwalk 12 Jennifer S. Das Hartford 4 Patricia Cruz Danbury 12 Michael D. Goldfarb Hartford 4 Monte E. Frank* Danbury 12 Kevin J. Greene Hartford 5 Richard A. Cerrato Bridgeport 12 Steven M. Greenspan Hartford 5 James O. Gaston* Bridgeport 12 Kevin J. Green Hartford 5 Jed Horwitt Bridgeport 12 Thomas A. Gugliotti Hartford 5 James T. Shearin Bridgeport 12 Kenneth B. Lerman Hartford 6 J. Michael Sconyers* Bantam 12 Ernest J. Mattei Hartford 7 Anthony Minchella Middlebury 12 Jim S. Perra Hartford 7 Thomas G. Parisot* Waterbury 12 Alexis H. Smith New Haven 8 James E. Sheehy* Ansonia 12 Diane W. Whitney Hartford 9 Burton B. Cohen* New Haven 13 Alaine C. Doolan Middletown 9 James O. Craven New Haven 13 Sylvia K. Rutkowska Middletown 9 Kevin J. Curseaden Milford 14 Mark D. Leighton Rockville 9 Christine Jean-Louis New Haven 15 Tracie L. Molinaro Putnam 9 Chris R. Nelson Hamden 16 Fredrick Thor Holth New London 9 William Sadek New Haven 16 Douglas J. Monaghan Groton 9 Christine K. Tessitore Hamden 17 Jeffrey F. Buebendorf Norwich 10 William F. Dezinno* Meriden *Also a member of the Board of Governors TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT .................................................................................7 SECTION REPORTS Administrative Law Section ............................................................................................................ 21 Alternative Dispute Resolution Section .......................................................................................... 22 Animal Law Section ........................................................................................................................ 24 Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section ......................................................................................... 25 Appellate Advocacy Section ........................................................................................................... 26 Child Welfare and Juvenile Law Section ......................................................................................... 28 Commercial Finance Section .......................................................................................................... 30 Construction Law Section ............................................................................................................... 32 Criminal Justice Section .................................................................................................................. 34 Education Law Section .................................................................................................................... 36 Elder Law Section ........................................................................................................................... 37 Energy, Public Utility, and Telecommunications Law Section ........................................................ 42 Environmental Law Section ............................................................................................................ 48 Estates and Probate Section ........................................................................................................... 50 Family Law Section ......................................................................................................................... 51 Franchise, Distribution, and Dealer Law Section ............................................................................ 53 Human Rights and Responsibilities Section ................................................................................... 54 Insurance Law Section .................................................................................................................... 55 Law Librarians Section .................................................................................................................... 57 LGBT Section ................................................................................................................................... 60 Litigation Section ............................................................................................................................ 62 Paralegals Section ........................................................................................................................... 65 Planning and Zoning Section .......................................................................................................... 66 Professional Discipline Section ....................................................................................................... 67 Real Property Section ..................................................................................................................... 69 Tax Section ..................................................................................................................................... 72 Veterans and Military Affairs Section ............................................................................................. 74 Women in the Law Section ............................................................................................................. 76 Workers’ Compensation Section .................................................................................................... 77 Young Lawyers Section ................................................................................................................... 81 COMMITTEE REPORTS Connecticut Bar Journal Board of Editors ...................................................................................... 99 Connecticut Lawyer Advisory Committee .................................................................................... 100 Diversity Committee ..................................................................................................................... 101 Fair and Impartial Courts Committee ........................................................................................... 102 Federal Judiciary Committee ........................................................................................................ 103 Insurance Programs for the Bar Committee ................................................................................ 104 Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee ...................................................................... 106 Pro Bono Committee .................................................................................................................... 107 Professionalism and CLE Committee ............................................................................................ 110 Resolution of Legal Fee Disputes Committee ............................................................................... 112 Standards of Title, Standing Committee on ................................................................................. 113 Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee ................................................................................... 115 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT 2013-2014 KIMBERLY A. KNOX, PRESIDENT ANNUAL REPORT Introduction A key presidential objective this bar year was to ensure that the CBA remained “new and relevant” to members of the legal profession. Each of the objectives was aimed at improving the CBA’s delivery of core missions. In striving for “relevance,” the CBA remains the one voice of the profession that advocates the rule of law and access to justice across all practice areas. The opportunity to be part of a robust legislative agenda, which for the most part originates from our sections, was inspiring. Through the legislative process, the CBA impacts and protects the public interest in an array of laws and regulations. The CBA also
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