th Anniversary30 LLuncheon:uncheon: MMayay 7 WWho’sho’s ppeekingeeking PPrivacy,rivacy, pplease!lease! tthroughhrough tthehe BBencench BBarar ConferenceConference kkeyholeeyhole? JJulyuly 2233 - 225,5, 22015015 IInside:nside: SSecurityecurity depositdeposit lawlaw inin LLouisianaouisiana rresidentialesidential lleaseseases MMarathon-runningarathon-running llawyersawyers WWhathat NNOTOT toto ddoo dduringuring yyourour nextnext jobjob interviewinterview EEasteraster eegggg hhuntunt rrecapecap 2 Around the Bar May 2015 inside MAY 2015 4 Contributors 5 Letter from the president “Adapting in the computer age (without green tights or a red cap)” BY ROBERT J. BURNS JR. 6 Gail’s grammar 8 Tales from the bar side “Poles apart” BY VINCENT P. FORNIAS 9 “To run or not to run: BRBA members who run marathons” BY REBECCA WISBAR On the cover: 12 “Security Deposit Law in Louisiana residential leases: Issues, trends and future developments” BY CHRISTOPHER K. ODINET This year’s BRBA Bench Bar Conference will cover privacy matters. The theme is “Privacy, please!” Pictured on the cover of this month’s Around the Bar is BRBA 2015 President Robert 15 “Job interview don’ts and war stories” BY ANN WISE J. “Bubby” Burns Jr. in his offi ce. 19 Bar news The annual conference will be held in Point Clear, Ala., at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, July 23 - 25, 2015. Call 225-344-4803 for conference information. 21 West’s Jury Verdicts Cover photography by Pamela Labbe. 22 Foundation footnotes UPCOMING BRBA CLE SEMINARS: Recent Developments in Social Media and Professional Responsibility (Ethics) May 7 • 7:45 - 9 a.m. • Middleton Bar Center • 1.0 hour of Ethics Nuts & Bolts of Employment Law May 8 • 7:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. • Middleton Bar Center • 4.0 hours of CLE Workers’ Compensation Section Meeting & Evidence Update CLE May 12 • 12 - 2 p.m. • Drusilla Seafood Restaurant • 1.0 hour of CLE Family Court of East Baton Rouge Parish Judges’ Panel Discussion CLE Seminar May 21 • 12 - 2 p.m. • City Club of Baton Rouge • 355 North Blvd. • 1.0 hour of CLE Nuts & Bolts of Civil Law: A Primer June 19 • 7:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. • Middleton Bar Center • 4.0 hours of CLE Family Law Section Meeting & Evidence CLE Seminar June 24 • 12 - 2 p.m. • Juban’s Restaurant • 3739 Perkins Rd. • 1.0 hour of CLE For more information on available CLE seminars, please go to: http://www.brba.org/Web/Member_Resources/CLE.aspx (You can also click on the “Continuing Legal Education” hyperlink on www.BRBA.org to view that page.) Or contact Katherine Fremin at 225-344-4803 or [email protected] for more information. May 2015 Around the Bar 3 Published by the Baton Rouge Bar Association P. O. Box 2241, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 contributors Phone (225) 344-4803 • Fax (225) 344-4805 • www.brba.org The Baton Rouge Bar Association will be the beacon for the full spectrum of the legal profession by fostering professional courtesy; increasing the diversity of the bar and the participation of under-represented groups; maintaining a sound fi nancial base; Robert J. Burns Jr., a partner in the Perry, Atkinson, Balhoff , Mengis, enhancing and developing member services and community Burns & Ellis fi rm and a managing partner of Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions, outreach; and promoting and improving the image of the profession. is the 2015 president of the Baton Rouge Bar Association. OFFICERS Robert J. Burns Jr., President ........................................767-7730 Vincent P. Fornias, an assistant editor of Around the Bar, is a solo Jeanne C. Comeaux, President-elect ........................381-8051 practitioner whose practice focus is alternative dispute resolution. Karli G. Johnson, Treasurer ...........................................389-3704 Linda Law Clark, Secretary ...........................................346-8716 Darrel J. Papillion, Past President ...............................236-3636 Pamela Labbe is the communications coordinator DIRECTORS AT LARGE of the Baton Rouge Bar Association. Shelton Dennis Blunt Melissa M. Cresson Christopher K. Jones Melanie Newkome Jones Christopher K. Odinet, an assistant professor of law at Southern University Amy C. Lambert David Abboud Thomas EX OFFICIOS Law Center, is a member of the Publications Committee. Danielle Clapinski • Charles Hardie • Joanna B. Hynes Robin Krumholt • Scott M. Levy • Eric Lockridge Matthew Meiners • Judge Pamela Moses-Laramore Gail S. Stephenson, an assistant editor of Around the Bar, Debra Parker • Michael Platte • Michelle Sorrells is the director of legal analysis and writing and an associate professor of law at Southern University Law Center. ABA DELEGATE Erin Wilder-Doomes Rebecca Wisbar, a partner with Akers & Wisbar, LLC, BANKRUPTCY SECTION Eric Lockridge............................................................................Chair is a member of the Publications Committee. BUSINESS/CORPORATE LAW SECTION Michael Platte .....................................................................Co-chair Ann Wise, the founding director of the Louisiana Matthew Meiners ...............................................................Co-chair Division of Administrative Law, is a contributing writer. CONSTRUCTION LAW SECTION Charles Hardie...........................................................................Chair Matt Terrell ........................................................................ Past chair FAMILY LAW SECTION Joanna B. Hynes .......................................................................Chair Anne Richey Myles .......................................................Chair-elect Jennifer M. Moisant .........................................................Secretary VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP WITH A MONTHLY Wendy L. Edwards .......................................................... Past chair PUBLIC LAW PRACTICE SECTION Danielle Clapinski ....................................................................Chair Christopher K. Odinet ................................................... Past chair LAW CLUB WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SECTION Robin L. Krumholt .............................................................Co-Chair FOR YOUTH IN THE GARDERE AREA. Debra T. Parker ...................................................................Co-Chair Michelle M. Sorrells ..........................................................Co-Chair We need lawyer volunteers to help with a law club for middle and high school students Judge Pamela Moses-Laramore ..................................Co-Chair in the Gardere/South Burbank area. You will work with teens as they learn YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION OFFICERS more about the fi eld of law. To volunteer or for more information, Scott M. Levy, Chair .........................................................336-5200 Kara B. Kantrow, Chair-elect.........................................769-7473 please contact Lynn S. Haynes at [email protected] or 225-214-5564. Loren D. Shanklin, Secretary ........................................223-6333 Laranda Moff ett Walker, Past Chair ......................................N/A The “Future Legal Eagles” law club is funded by a grant from YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION COUNCIL the South Burbank Crime Prevention and Development District. Francisca Comeaux Jordan Faircloth Chelsea M. Gomez Mackenzie Smith Ledet Erin B. Sayes BATON ROUGE BAR ASSOCIATION STAFF Ann K. Gregorie, Executive Director 214-5563 VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP WITH A Donna Buuck, Youth Education Coordinator 214-5556 Emily Chambers, Pro Bono Coordinator 214-5558 Katherine Fremin, Executive Assistant 344-4803 SUMMER YOUTH LEGAL INSTITUTE R. Lynn S. Haynes, Asst. Teen Court Coordinator 214-5564 Robin Kay, Pro Bono Coordinator 214-5561 FOR TEENS IN THE GARDERE AREA — JUNE 22-26, 2015 Susan Kelley, Offi ce Manager 214-5559 To volunteer or for more information, please contact Lynn S. Haynes at [email protected] Pamela Labbe, Communications Coordinator 214-5560 or 225-214-5564. We will need speakers, coaches, visitors and more. Carole McGehee, Lawyer Referral Coordinator 214-5557 Julie Ourso, Bookkeeper 214-5572 PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE The Summer Youth Legal Institute is funded by a grant from Editor: Ed Walters — 236-3636 the South Burbank Crime Prevention and Development District. Asst. Eds.: Joseph J. Cefalu III — 381-3176 Vincent P. Fornias — 769-4553 Grant J. Guillot — 346-1461 Gail S. Stephenson — 771-4900, ext. 216 Art Vingiello — 751-1751 AROUND THE BAR supports participation of the membership in its production. We encourage the submission of articles and letters to the editor. Articles should be less than 1,500 words, typed and single-spaced. A Word fi le should be emailed as an attachment to: [email protected]. Graphic Design / Ad Sales: Pamela Labbe — 214-5560 For advertising information call Pamela Labbe at 225-214-5560. Display ads should be high-resolution attachments (.PDF), and classifi ed ads Robert Collins Dianne M. Irvine Gracella Simmons as text only. Please email all ad artwork to [email protected]. Publication of any advertisement shall not be considered an endorsement of the Rachel L. Emanuel Melanie N. Jones Rebecca Wisbar Lane Ewing Dale Lee Jeff Wittenbrink product or service involved. The editor reserves the right to reject any advertisement, article or letter. Greg Gouner John McLindon Robert A. Woosley Lexi Holinga Christopher K. Odinet Copyright © by the Baton Rouge Bar Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. To request permission or for more information, contact Pamela Labbe at 225-214-5560 or [email protected]. All Rights Reserved