Philadelphia BENCH-BAR PULLOUT ® GUIDE INSIDE The Monthly Newspaper of the Philadelphia Bar Association Vol. 39, No. 9 September 2010 YLD Family Night at the Phillies Insurer Changing Plans in Jan. 2011 Effective with renewals that take place on Jan. 1, 2011, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) will no longer offer the current HMO, POS and PPO products under which groups with 100 or fewer employees are now insured. This will impact most Association members who have their coverage through IBC. Existing More than 120 people attended YLD Family Night at the Phillies on July 29 at Citizens Bank Park. Among those in at- customers will not be able to renew their tendance were (top photo, from left) Tracy Newman, Holly Harrity, Michael Harrity, Peter Newman, Natalie Harrity, current plans. All insureds will have to Caitlin Harrity and Alicia Newman along with John and Elizabeth Encarnacion (bottom left) and Charles Eppolito III and select a new plan from IBC’s new product YLD Chair Albertine DuFrayne (bottom right). The event featured a pregame tailgate party at McFadden’s. line (Blue Solutions), which will include new HMO, POS and PPO options. At renewal, a recommended option(s) will be provided to customers that are most like their current option(s). If a customer does not make a benefit election, IBC will au- tomatically default the existing coverage(s) to the recommended option(s). There will be a total of 25 different new options available to groups comprised from firms that have less than 51 em- ployees. The number of plan options that may be offered will be determined by the total number of employees that a firm has. Photos by Jeff Lyons Jeff by Photos All the new plans include those benefits mandated by recent Health Care Reform legislation including coverage for depen- Elections Committee Formed; Candidates Sought dent children up to the age of 26. continued on page 14 The Philadelphia Bar Association solicited are Vice Chancellor, Secretary, members who are entitled to vote; and has formed its Elections Committee, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant for candidates for Vice Chancellor, shall which is chaired by Immediate-Past Treasurer, and five seats on the Board be signed by at least 100 members who In This Issue Chancellor Sayde Joy Ladov and consists of Governors. Each Board seat carries a are entitled to vote. of Michael L. Viola, Scott W. Reid, three-year term. Individuals who wish to run for any of 4 Helping Solos Louis S. Rulli, Lawrence S. Felzer, Al- Association members may become the above named offices should contact 5 Gender Pay Gap bertine Y. DuFrayne, Brandi Brice, Sean candidates for any of these offices by Staff Counsel Brian Sims at bsims@ R. Sullivan, Jeffrey S. Gross and Jeffrey filing with the Secretary, at least 60 days philabar.org for additional information. 6 Zone Courts Campolongo. prior to the Dec. 7, 2010 Annual Meet- Signatures, along with a resume, and Chancellor Scott F. Cooper, Chancel- ing, nominations in writing which, for written authorization should be submit- 7 Pro Bono Network lor-Elect Rudolph Garcia, Vice Chancel- candidates of the Board, must be signed ted to Association Secretary Kathleen lor John E. Savoth and Board of Gov- by at least 25 members who are entitled Wilkinson, c/o Brian Sims, Philadelphia 13 Hamilton Benefit ernors Chair Richard S. Seidel serve as to vote; for candidates for Secretary, Trea- Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th 16 Koo Zee Doo Review ex-officio members. surer, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, no later Offices for which candidates are being Treasurer, shall be signed by at least 35 than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7. 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Information Overload? Control Editor Emeritus Bruce H. Bikin, Esq. Your Technology and Recharge Associate Editors Heather J. Austin, Esq. Ria C. Momblanco, Esq. I hope everyone had a good summer. do we address the many By Scott F. Cooper to understand how Regina Parker, Esq. As I was working on this column from challenges it brings with heavy use of digital Thomas Bryan, Esq. the Shore, I thought it the perfect time to it and the impact on devices and other tech- Edward P. Kelly, Esq. write on “interconnectivity,” and how it our profession. Worse, nology changes how we Sarah L. Hopkins, Esq. Julia Swain, Esq. is dramatically affecting our profession. it is no longer as simple think and behave. Nicole Edwards, Esq. This topic is getting ever-increasing atten- as just e-mail and cell Without smart- tion in professional circles and there are phones. With commu- phones, e-mail and Contributing Editor some alarming signs for attorneys. nications going through laptops, the scientists Richard Max Bockol, Esq. Everyone is familiar with this topic, web pages, blogs, Twit- traveled on a nature Advisory Editors even if they do not know the technical ter, Facebook and other retreat. They intention- Sunah Park, Esq. term that scholars and consultants are social media, just staying ally found one of the few Molly Peckman, Esq. now attaching to this discipline. Inter- connected can be a near remaining remote areas Marc W. Reuben, Esq. connectivity is the now-popular phrase full-time job. That the out west where there is Associate Executive Director, for describing how electronic devices pace of change is ever quickening only no phone or Internet service. Not surpris- Communications constantly connect us, regardless of where further compounds these problems. Each ingly, they found they could unwind, Mark Tarasiewicz we actually are physically. A current ad generation connects this way at an ever- sleep better and lose the nagging feeling Senior Managing Editor, campaign for a mobile provider sums it earlier age. The discussion is no longer to check for a phone in the pocket. They Publications up well: “closeness has nothing to do with whether kids should have phones and noted that the drumbeat of incoming Jeff Lyons distance.” texting devices, but at what age is it ap- data creates a false sense of urgency that While mobile phones and PDAs are propriate and how does it affect school can affect people’s ability to focus. Executive Director not new, some disturbing analysis about curricula. Some observed that too much digital Kenneth Shear how these devices affect us and our Researchers are starting to study with stimulation makes people, who would profession is new. Much is being written particular interest how the huge amount otherwise function fine at a normal pace, The Philadelphia Bar Reporter (ISSN 1098- about the related problems of informa- of e-data and potentially false senses of psychologically unhealthy. We all know 5352) is published monthly and available by subscription for $45 per year by the Philadel- tion overload, 24/7 work attachments, urgency flowing from connectivity are the image, the person who cannot sit phia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th false urgency and information triage. affecting all of us. In a profession where through a conversation without grab- floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2911. Periodicals We all know the “love-hate” with creative analysis may be the difference bing for their handheld device to find postage paid at Philadelphia, PA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Philadelphia Bar Re- portable technology. On the positive, between winning and losing or making a out “what else” is going on. For some, it porter, c/o Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 lawyers are no longer tethered to their transaction happen, the stakes for all of us borders on an addiction. Market St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107- 2955. Telephone: (215) 238-6300. Association desks. When in-person meetings or court are enormous. Despite the practical difficulties of Web site: philadelphiabar.org. Newspaper e- appearances are not required, attorneys A recent article in The New York doing this, the scientists’ advice was mail address: [email protected]. The edi- have greater geographic freedom. They Times detailed five neuroscientists’ quest continued on page 14 torial and other views expressed in the Phila- delphia Bar Reporter are not necessarily those can work without commutes, can interact of the Association, its officers or its members. with people remotely, make presentations NOTICE TO POTENTIAL JUDICIAL CANDIDATES Advertising rates and information are available to large numbers of people from their