VOL. 59, NO. 4 December 2010 www.camdencountybar.org CDR UPDATE Complementary Dispute Resolution Committee Report By Jim Hamilton The Camden County Bar Association Complementary Dispute Resolution (“CDR”) Committee is active throughout the Association year. It serves as the R. 4:21A arbitrator selection committee, and therefore is responsible for recommending attorneys to the Court who will serve as arbitrators for the mandatory, non-binding arbitration of R. 4:21A cases. Among the many cases subject to this court arbitration program are most personal injury cases and commercial Justice John E. Wallace, Jr. (retired) received the prestigious Judge John F. matters, including Lemon Law cases. Gerry Award for his outstanding contributions to the legal profession and his The committee must review the arbitration roster annually to assist the humanitarian works in the community at the annual Gerry Award Dinner in Court in determining who should be appointed or reappointed to serve October. (l-r) CCBA President Linda Eynon, Justice Wallace and Gerry Award the attorneys and litigants appearing before the arbitration panels. The Committee chairperson Hon. John B. Mariano, J.S.C. (retired). roster is not static, and the committee must respond to those who want to be added to the rolls or change their assignments. The committee also Rutgers School seeks ways to help the Court make the program as effective as possible. of Law–Camden Since the Court shares with the committee the arbitrator evaluation students Samantha forms completed in every case by the attorneys and their clients, it M. Kugler, Scott S. is able to monitor arbitrator performance and, as appropriate, either Simpkins & Chandra point out deficiencies or convey laudable comments. Based upon the evaluations, as well as input from the Court personnel administering Betner-Wood, the program, the committee offers reminders to all participants in this each received a mandatory program. $1,000 Judge John v Whether serving as an arbitrator or counsel, reporting to the F. Gerry Memorial courthouse on time is essential. If the 9 a.m. arbitrations begin Scholarship presented at the Continued on Page 5 Gerry Dinner. (l-r) Justice Wallace, Samantha Kugler, Scott Simpkins, CCBA President Linda Eynon, Chandra Betner-Wood & CCBF President Joe McCormick. Inside Calendar .......................................2 NJSBA Trustee Update..............................6 Foundation Update................................7 The Refinancing Decision Made Easier..................8 President’s Perspective ............................11 Wine & Food ...................................12 Law Practice Management .........................13 William Thompson, Camden County’s 2010 Professional Lawyer of the Year, received his award at a luncheon in October at the Hyatt in Young Lawyer Corner..............................14 New Brunswick. (l-r) Hon. Garrett E. Brown, US District Court, William J. Verdicts in the Court ..............................15 Thompson, Hon. Barry T. Albin, NJ Supreme Court Associate Justice. Page 2 THE BARRISTER December 2010 The Docket Saturday, December 4th Thursday, December 9th Children’s Annual Holiday Party Ethics Seminar President President-elect 8:30 am – Noon 4:00 – 6:15 pm Linda W. Eynon Louis R. Lessig 210 Silvia Street 360 Haddon Avenue The Coastline, Cherry Hill The Mansion, Voorhees Trenton, NJ 08628 Westmont, NJ 08108 Monday, December 6th Monday, December 13th First Vice President Second Vice President Labor/Employment Law Association Trustees Meeting Brenda Lee Eutsler Gary W. Boguski 1702 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd. 199 Sixth Avenue Committee Luncheon/CLE 4:30 pm Cherry Hill, NJ 08033 Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 Facebook & Other Social Media Sites – Boardroom, Tavistock CC Treasurer Secretary Their Effect on Human Resources Holiday Cocktail Party – Members Only Casey Price Jenifer G. Fowler & Employment Law 6:00 – 9:00 pm 35 Kings Highway East, 76 East Euclid Avenue, Noon Ste. 110 Suite 101 Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield Haddonfield, NJ 08033 Haddonfield, NJ 08033 Bar Headquarters, Cherry Hill Tuesday, January 4th Executive Director Advertising Tuesday, December 7th Young Lawyer Committee Meeting Laurence B. Pelletier Kathy Caira Young Lawyer Committee Meeting 856.482.0620 Noon Board of Trustees [email protected] Noon Bar Headquarters, Cherry Hill Bar Headquarters, Cherry Hill 2011 Periodicals postage paid Ira R. Deiches at Cherry Hill, NJ Claims, Crisis & Outside Counsel Eric G. Fikry and additional offices Louis G. Guzzo (USPS 712 - 480). Management Seminar Justin T. Loughry 4:00 – 6:15 pm John A. Zohlman, III Classified Advertising rates $30 per column inch. The Mansion, Voorhees 2012 Ronald G. Lieberman Annual Subscription Ellen M. McDowell Rate $40 Jerrold N. Poslusny, Jr. Carl Ahrens Price John F. Renner Views and opinions in NOTICE TO THE BAR Tentative Agenda for 2013 Charles C. Bratton, II editorials and articles are not Carol A. Cannerelli to be taken as official expres- December 13 Adam E. Gersh sions of the Association’s Courtsmart Update Steven J. Polansky Trustees Meeting William Tobolsky policies unless so stated, and in the Camden County A tentative agenda for this month’s publication of contributed Young Lawyer Trustee articles does not necessarily regular Board of Trustees meeting follows. Michael V. Madden Hall of Justice The meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m., in the imply endorsement in any As you know, at the end of October, Board Room at Tavistock Country Club in New Jersey State Bar way of the views expressed. CourtSmart, the judiciary’s new digital audio Trustee Haddonfield. All meetings are open to the Arnold N. Fishman recording system, was installed in most of the membership. Anyone interested in attending civil courtrooms in Camden. The CourtSmart should notify and confirm their attendance by Immediate Past President system has been in use in the Camden Family Richard A. DeMichele, Jr. calling Bar Headquarters at 856.482.0620. Be an active division for the past year. Ombudsperson This system replaces the old audio cassette I. Call to Order Robert G. Harbeson systems that had recorded court proceedings, participant II. Minutes from Previous Meeting ABA Delegate with a system that records the proceedings III. Treasurer’s Report Richard A. DeMichele, Jr. in YOUR digitally and saves the recordings on a server IV. President’s Report in the Hall of Justice. Sometime in late Editorial Board professional V. Executive Director’s Report John C. Connell December, Courtsmart will be rolled out to Warren W. Faulk the Criminal division courtrooms. VI. Membership Committee Report V. Richard Ferreri organization. Peter M. Halden VII. Young Lawyer Committee Report The Camden courthouse administration James D. Hamilton, Jr. has arranged an informational session VIII. Standing Committee Reports John J. Levy to be presented by Jeff Newman of the IX. Foundation Update John G. McCormick Casey Price ATTEND Administrative Office of the Courts X. NJSBA Update Linda W. Eynon on December 15, 2010 at 3:30 PM in XI. New Business (if any) (ex-officio) MEETINGS Courtroom 36, Hall of Justice. Anyone with XII. Old Business Editorial Offices questions regarding the information session 1040 N. Kings Highway, AND may contact Bonnie Kernagis, Criminal XIII. Adjourn Suite 201 Division Manager (856) 379-2336. Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 FUNCTIONS! December 2010 THE BARRISTER Page 3 Out & About 2010-2011 Camden County Bar Gerry Award Dinner MCLE Planner Judges Freeman & Fox Don’t Come Up Short! Thursday, December 9 Attorneys licensed in New Jersey The Mansion, Voorhees whose birthdays fall between July 1 and ETHICS – Truth or Consequences: December 31, are in NJ MCLE Compliance To the Court, Clients & Others Group 2. As such, you must certify your (2.4 credits) MCLE compliance on the Annual Attorney Ira Deiches, A potential client comes to see you regarding a Judge Burns & Registration Statement (or on such other new matter. You spend time with the individual; you Joe McCormick form as provided by the Board) of each odd might even proffer some advice. Ultimately, you or the numbered year next following the completion individual decides not to enter into representation. of a compliance period as follows: You might not have even asked for a fee for your time. What obligations have you created to that potential Compliance Group 2 – Reporting client? Are you under any restrictions resulting from this meeting? How does that meeting affect other Joe Kenney, Period: 1.1.10 – 12.31.10 General Credits: 10 Ethics Credits: 2 members of your firm? Judge King & As attorneys we have an obligation to be truthful Stacy Fols Reporting Date: March 2011 Alternative Credits: 6 Carryover Credits: 12 to the courts, our adversaries, and, of course to our The December 31, deadline is quickly clients. Can our silence be viewed as an untruth? Does approaching and we don’t want you to come up the concept of attorney-client confidentiality trump short on your credits! the obligations of truthfulness? How is the “truth” to There’s still time to comply! Use the inserts be viewed by non-client third parties? Statements of Roseann Sellani & and register today for one or more of these quality, commission, omission and silence are all impacted by Warren Faulk convenient and affordable CCBA MCLE programs our ethical obligations. presented by your TRUSTED CLE source for New Jersey The December ethics seminar not only provides and Pennsylvania. you with your annual dose of MCLE credits but also provides valuable guidance