VCBA MISSION STATEMENT To promote legal excellence, high JULY – TWO THOUSAND TWELVE ethical standards and professional conduct in the practice of law; to improve access to legal services for all people in Ventura County; and to work to improve the administration of justice. JUDICIAL PROFILE: JUDGE NANCY L. AYERS By Jon Schwalbach Page 11 DIEN LE LEGAL CONCERNS AT SENIOR CONCERNS 3 Katie T. HAUSE ThE GrowING FIELd OF ANImAL LAw 8 JUdGE O’NEILL TAKES CASE FOR COURT BUdGET TO GORELL 13 WILLIAM E. PATERSON FILm REVIEwS 16 EAR TO ThE wALL 17 Katie PietrolUNGO CLUNEN CYLA ANd BUSINESS LAw ON FIRST-EVER mENTORING PROGRAm 19 LETTER from ThE VENTURA COUNTY Diversity BAR ALLIANCE 20 CLASSIFIEdS 25 STEVE HENDERSON EXEC’S dOT... dOT... dOT... 26 JOIN US ON FACEBOOK - VENTURA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION 2 CITATIONS • JULY 2012 JULY 2012 • CITATIONS 3 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: LEGAL CONCERNS AT SENIOR CONCERNS – A NEW PRO-BONO PROGRAM TO BENEFIT THE CONEJO VALLEY By Dien Le Often, seniors are just not aware of less- costly options and legal solutions associated with planning ahead to ensure that they maintain control. Andrea Gallagher, president of Senior Concerns, and her team of advocates and care managers hear real- life problems that could have been solved or even avoided had these seniors or their caregivers been provided the proper advice and had the necessary legal documents in place. This pro bono service will help alleviate these issues and perhaps guide people in the right direction. The goal as stated by Scott Jones, an analyst for the Ventura County Superior Court, is to avoid having people go through the overextended and underfunded court system in terms of probate and court-appointed conservators. Programs like this will hopefully reduce According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in Legal Concerns will provide free legal and the backlog of cases stuck in the courts. 2050, the number of Americans aged 65 mediation services on the first and third According to Gallagher, over 800 people and older is projected to be 88.5 million, Tuesdays of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. at are served/helped each year through Senior more than double that group’s projected the Senior Concerns office (401 Hodencamp Concerns’ various programs such as Meals population in 2010. By 2030, nearly one Road). Clients will have scheduled one-hour on Wheels, adult day care, senior advocacy in five U.S. residents will be aged 65 and appointments with an attorney volunteer services, and support groups. They also older. With this trend, the demand for on the panel, who will provide direction benefit countless others through different pro bono legal assistance to seniors and on end-of-life issues, drafting essential fundraising and community outreach events their caregivers in our communities is ever documents (e.g., health care directives, throughout the year. That’s why everyone increasing. Those attorneys who practice durable powers of attorney), and issues is excited about this wonderful program, in the area of estate planning, probate, and related to conservatorships. Appointments which will help keep vulnerable seniors safe elder law know the extent of the need. With are already booked through December. This and secure. the guidance and support of Cheri Elson, service is not based on financial need. who established the highly successful pro The response and support from the VCBA, bono program at the Wellness and Caregiver When I attended the open house on April 17, the Estate Planning and Probate Section, Center in Camarillo, Terri Hilliard Olson I met a number of the volunteer attorneys VCBA members, as well as the court has wanted to replicate this same valuable who will serve on the pro bono panel, been tremendously encouraging. VCBA’s service model in the Conejo Valley. including Grant Pederson, Andrea Place, Volunteer Lawyer Services Program (VLSP) Cristian Arrieta, Annabelle Blanchard, will provide any administrative support On April 17, Terri spearheaded the launch and Libby Barrabee. At the open house, including malpractice insurance to cover of Legal Concerns at Senior Concerns in volunteers were given an orientation and the volunteers. Terri sees this as a way for Thousand Oaks. She serves on the board training for the program and a tour of the the public, who may not know which lawyer of directors of Senior Concerns, which is Senior Concerns facility. Senior Concerns’ to call, to be able to tap into this resource a private, non-profit adult day care facility advocates will receive calls from clients, of experienced, trusted and respected for seniors, caregivers and their families schedule appointments, prepare the initial attorneys who can help answer questions dedicated to providing quality programs, intake, and handle follow up confirmations. and provide proper advice in a safe and support, information, resources and outreach As the program coordinator for Legal comfortable environment. As volunteers since 1975. On May 31, Senior Concerns Concerns, Terri will be reviewing the intakes, in the pioneering Camarillo program can was honored with a Spirit of Community coordinating with the volunteers, training, attest, a lot of advice can be given and many Award as Nonprofit Organization of the developing the forms and procedures, and problems/issues can be resolved within the Year for 2012 by the Greater Conejo Valley providing any other assistance as needed. hour-long session. If clients need further Chamber of Commerce’s Community The word is starting to spread and more assistance, however, the volunteer attorney Foundation. attorney volunteers have already signed up can continue the relationship or refer them and are scheduled for appointments. Continued on page 5 4 CITATIONS • JULY 2012 2012 VCBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS MEDIATION/ ARBITRATOR President MEDIATION/ ARBITRATOR Dien Le President-Elect Richard M. Norman Joel Mark Richard M. Norman Secretary-Treasurer Laura V. Bartels Past President Joseph L. Strohman Executive Director, CEO • 40 years litigation experience-AV rated. Steve Henderson, CAE • Personal injury, business, construction, employment, real estate, probate/trust, partnership and corporate disputes and dissolutions • Member: American Board of Trial Advocates Bret G. Anderson• 40 Michaelyears S. Lavenant litigation• experience-AV rated. Jessica Arciniega Alyse M. Lazar Past president Ventura County Bar Association and Ventura County Alvan A. Arzu• PersonalSusan L. McCarthy injury, business,Trial Lawyers construction, Association employment, real estate, Linda K. Ash Kathryn E. Pietrolungo • American Arbitration Association and NASD arbitrator Michele M. Castillo probate/trust,Eric R. Reed partnership• Trained Mediator– and Pepperdinecorporate University disputes Straus Instituteand dissolutions Josef M. Dion Christina S. Stokholm • Erik B. Feingold Michael A. Strauss Reasonable fees and flexible scheduling. No administrative charges. • Member: American Board of Trial Advocates Jill L. Friedman Robert S. Krimmer, Richard M. Norman Douglas K. Goldwater• PastBarristers president Ventura County Bar Association and Ventura County William M. Grewe Of Counsel Trial Lawyers Association Norman Dowler, LLP CITATIONS EDITORIAL BOARD 840 County Square Drive • American Arbitration AssociationVentura, and California NASD 93003-5406 arbitrator Managing Editor •WendyTrained C. Lascher Mediator– Pepperdine(805) 654-0911 University [email protected] Straus Institute • Publisher,Reasonable CEO fees and flexible scheduling. No administrative charges. Steve Henderson Graphics/Production Richard M. Norman J.P. McWaters Assistant Editor Of Counsel Bill Lascher NormanSpe Dowler,cial iLLPzin g in Karen B. Darnall Rachel Coleman 840 County Square Drive Michael L. McQueen Mark E. Hancock Michael R. Sment Aris E. Karakalos Ventura,Le Californiagal P l93003-5406aceme nt Michael A. Velthoen Panda L. Kroll Louis J. Vigorita Gregory Herring(805) 654-0911Leg a [email protected] Staffing and Executive Recruitmen t Al Vargas Carol Mack Expertise • Experience • Efficiency Serving the recruitment needs of lawyers and law firms CITATIONS is published monthly by the Ventura for more than 30 years with integrity and confidentiality! County Bar Association. Editorial content and policy are solely the responsibility of the Ventura County Bar Association. Submit all advertising, Submit all editorial classified and calendar matters to: matters to: VCBA CITATIONS 4475 Market St., P.O. Box 25540 Suite B, Ventura, CA 93002 Ventura, CA 93003 t: 805.659.6800 Focused Recruitment Attn: Executive Director f: 805.643.7692 Kathi Whalen, CAC & Staffing President & Founder t: 805.650.7599 [email protected] f: 805.650.8059 e: [email protected] [email protected] w: www.vcba.org 805.443.8422 • www.whalenbryan.com JULY 2012 • CITATIONS 5 President’s Message continued from page 3 Accident Reconstruction to another attorney who can meet their “I approach forensic engineering specific needs. not as a narrow vocational activity but as a scientific inquiry.” In the future, Legal Concerns would like to expand this idea to other senior centers in the East County. If more volunteers are found, there is no reason why they couldn’t have appointments on a weekly basis because Marc A. Firestone the demand is certainly out there. If you are Ph.D. interested in assisting and would like to find out more information, please contact Terri Hilliard Olsen at [email protected] or (805)778-0111. Objective Analysis and Scientific Integrity Combines over 20 years of experience as a professional