September 2013 Issue - North County Bar Association
Transcription
September 2013 Issue - North County Bar Association
NORTH COUNTY Lawyer PUBLICATION OF THE VOL. 30, NO. 9 www.northcountybar.org SEPTEMBER 2013 Lawyer NORTH COUNTY Cover photo from photobucket Published by the North County Bar Association (760) 758-5833 * Fax (760) 758-3979 E-mail: info@northcountybar.org Web: www.northcountybar.org 249 S. Indiana Ave., 2nd Floor; Vista, CA 92084 P.O. Box 2381 Vista, CA 92085 NCBA Mary Silva, Executive Director P.O. Box 2381; Vista, CA 92085 © 2013 North County Bar Association Our mission is to promote professional excellence, camaraderie, philanthropy and community outreach Board of Directors: Jeffrey Bledsoe Lacy, President Virginia Lopez, Vice President/Secretary Christine Mueller, Vice President Debra Leffler Streeter, President Elect/Treasurer Kurt Weiser, Vice President Rafael Acosta, Director Susan Curran, Director Michael Doukas, Director Eric Ginder, Director Aaron Hanes, Director Deborah Nash, Director Mark Reichenthal, Director Joseph Stine, Director CONTENTS Letter from the Editors 3 President's Perspective 5 Elder Abuse Act 6 Partition Actions 8 Meet New Member David Plantz9 The Affordable Care Act 12 Beach Party Highlights 18 #crimpro 24 26/27 Classifieds/MCLE Calendar Golf Tournament September 19th Dinner Meeting 28 Staff: Mary Silva, Executive Director Rosemary Contreras, Membership Coordinator Laurel Cliff, Volunteer Magazine Co-Editors: Debra Lewis and Laura D'Auri Editorial Committee: Rafael Acosta Deborah Bayus Vik Chaudhry Brenda Geiger Aaron Hanes Bill Kamenjarin Jeffrey Lacy Virginia Lopez Ken Lynch Christine Mueller Hon. David Moon Thomas Penfield Anna Schurmann Mary Silva Dennis Stubblefield Wayne Templin Kurt Weiser The North County Lawyer Magazine is published monthly by the North County Bar Association. Subscriptions, articles, photos and advertising should be submitted to: NCBA, P. O. Box 2381, Vista, CA 92085 or info@northcountybar.org, or (760) 758-5833. The subscription rate for non-members is $40 per year. Deadline for submissions is the 1st of the month prior to publication. Scott S. Markus, Esq. Steven H, Kruis, Esq. 550 West “C” Street #700 San Diego, CA 92101 619.239.2020 To schedule a mediation, please contact our case manager, Sue Housh, at 619.239.2020 or sue@agreement.com. Hon. M. B. Orfield (Ret.) Abby Silverman Weiss, Esq. Anthony Pantoni, Esq. The North County Lawyer reserves the right to edit all submissions. 2 North County Lawyer Letter from the Editors By Debra H. Lewis, Co-Editor By Laura D’Auri, Co-Editor debra@inclegalattorneys.comalamor@roadrunner.com Wow. Is it just me, or is this year speeding by? It’s not like I’m even doing anything particularly noteworthy, fun or exciting. Just life at bullet train speed. Seems like it was just New Year’s 2013, and here it is back to school already. Maybe I am just getting old? No, I refuse to accept that explanation. At least, not yet. I prefer to think that the lack of season change is primarily responsible. Here in Southern California, when I look out my window, it could be March; it could be November. There is very little outward sign that time is whizzing by. Nearly every day, the ocean appears reliably endless and beautiful. Unlike those poor souls in Punxsutawney, I am not counting the days until spring, relying on a rodent soothsayer to give me hope that winter is nearly gone. I no longer swelter in my hometown of Chicago’s steaming summer heat and humidity. Yes, I’m sure that’s the explanation. Time passes unnoticeably in the warmth and bliss that is San Diego weather! Why belong to Listserv discussion group? Discussion lists are ideal for exchanging expertise, obtaining feedback and fostering collaboration among group members. Copy the link below to join a Listserv discussion group: NCBA Family Law Listserv: http://mailman.listserve. com/listmanager/listinfo/ncba-family NCBA Civil Litigation Listserv: http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/ listinfo/ncba-civil NCBA Estates Law Listserv: http://mailman.listserve. com/listmanager/listinfo/ncba-estates September 2013 A few years ago I called my favorite aunt to see if she wanted to go out to dinner. “Sure,” she said. “Pick me up at 4.” I too am advancing rapidly to the stage where I can’t eat pizza less than 8 hours before bedtime without feeling like the Overlords are waging a laser battle in my gut. Gone are those halcyon days of long ago when I could eat street food in India without adverse effect. Well, okay, I got dysentery in Banares but hey…. In the Himalayas I also drank water from the Ganges and lived to tell of it. Then I traveled through South India for a month during a drought (read: no washing your hair either), when the only fluids available for consumption were green coconut milk and warm Coca Cola. Just when I thought I would die of thirst, I finally found bottled water in Chennai. It was the first water I saw without silt in the bottom of the glass. I was so starved for protein that when I saw a package of Laughing Cow cheese triangles in an import store (cost: $10) I devoured the whole package right in front of the amazed eyes of the local clientele, who couldn’t believe anyone could treat an “imported” food with such disdain. With the influx of IT wealth in India, a trip there would be very different now… and I wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor. Yup, there were places where you rented a “room” but there was nothing in it. (“You said you wanted a room; you didn’t mention furniture.”) When I got to Bangkok after India, I stayed at a fine hotel (but there were still monkeys at the swimming pool), slept in both beds, took multiple daily showers, and only ate in the American coffee shop the entire week I was there. My stomach is now getting back at me for the international abuse I heaped upon it in my younger years. I think I may have to give up pizza. 3 Upcoming Section Meetings ADR SECTION WHEN: Wednesday, October 9, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. FAMILY LAW SECTION WHEN: Friday October 25, 12:00 noon CRIMINAL LAW SECTION WHEN: Friday, November 8, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. -7:00 p.m. Casa Palmera (14750 El Camino Real; Del Mar, CA 92014) ADR SECTION Errata: In our August issue, source citations were left out of the Corenbaum v. Lampkin article. They are as follows: Corenbaum v. Lampkin, Case No. B236227; 215 Cal.App.4th 1308 (2013); Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, 52 Cal.4th 541 (2011). We apologize to the authors for this error. WHEN: Wednesday, November 13, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. For updates, please visit www.northcountybar.org Calendar of Events Dinners are held at The Crossings in Carlsbad September 19, 2013 Dinner Meeting Since 1983, we’ve helped people... off drugs off alcohol October 14, 2013 Golf Tournament clear their record October 17, 2013 Dinner Meeting live peacefully December 7, 2013 Holiday Celebration get jobs keep their family together get justice. Help us help them. 4 IS THERE A STATUTORY PROVISION YOU THINK SHOULD BE CHANGED? 911CriminalLaw.com Send your ideas and suggestions to NCBA on or before December 3, 2013. Executive Director, Mary Silva info@northcountybar.org or (760) 758-5833 Richard L. Duquette, Attorney at Law 760-730-0500 • rduquette@911law.com © 2011 Law Firm of Richard L. Duquette. North County Lawyer President's Perspective I hope everyone has had a great summer. September 19th will be our Sixth Annual Town Hall Dinner Meeting where judicial officers will answer pre-submitted questions. You definitely don’t want to miss it and if you have a question, be sure to send them to us at bansdc@northcountybar.org The Conference of California Bar Associations will be held in San Jose this year from October 11 through October 13. For those who don’t know, our association has a legislative committee that participates each year in the CCBA. If you are interested in joining in then all you have to do is send us an email. The CCBA is something that I have personally been involved with for a number of years now and I have found it very rewarding. The beach party was a huge success once again. Kurt Weiser set up the games for the kids while Mary Silva cooked on the grill. All of our sections are still going strong so be sure to get involved for networking and MCLE. We have our annual golf tournament coming up on October 14. You don’t have to be good at golf, just come out and have some fun in the sun! It has been a terrific year of accomplishments for our association. We have strengthened our relationships with other organizations such as Lawyers Club. We have formed new relationships with other bar associations throughout the county. We hope to co-sponsor several events in the coming months. Most importantly we have really connected well with San Diego’s law schools to get new lawyers involved with our organization. While we have a lot to offer any lawyer, it is especially important to recruit new lawyers so that they can learn about the civility and camaraderie of North County. Jeffrey Bledsoe Lacy President Do You Need to Refer a Client, but don’t know who to call... 760-758-4755 State Bar of California Certification Number 0027 September 2013 Sponsored by the NCBA www.lawreferral.org 5 ELDER ABUSE ACT USING THE CALIFORNIA ELDER ABUSE ACT TO OBTAIN COMPENSATION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF FINANCIAL FRAUD By Audrey Powers Thornton, Esq. R ecently, my elderly 83-year old client discovered that a family friend -- who had become her financial advisor and trustee -- had been secretly stealing her money and her real property over the course of 20 years. In a civil lawsuit against the fiduciary, alleging that he had violated the California Elder Abuse Act, the client’s stolen property was recovered , and attorney's fees and punitive damages were awarded at trial. The Elder Abuse Act, (California Welfare and Institutions Code, Chapter 11, Sections 15600 et seq.), is expressly designed to protect a particularly vulnerable portion of the population from abuse and mistreatment by caretakers, fiduciaries and advisors. The Legislature has included the Financial Elder Abuse statutes, (Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 15610.30 and 15657.5, as a vehicle whereby an elderly victim of financial exploitation, (including various kinds of tortious conduct: breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conversion), may bring a civil action to recover her damages and attorney's fees using the presumptions afforded by the Act and the penalties that apply. The Act not only provides relief to senior citizens but also provides statutory protections against financial abuse of mentally impaired adults - "dependent adults". In California an "elder" is a person who is 65 years or older. The Act defines Financial Elder Abuse as follows: “Financial abuse’" of an elderly (or dependent) adult occurs when a person or an entity "takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult" for a wrongful use, or with the intent to defraud the elder, or takes the property by undue influence. (California Welf. & Inst. Code §15610.30.) This section applies when an elder is deprived of any property right. It includes deprivation by means of an agreement, donative transfer, or testamentary bequest, regardless of whether the property is held directly by the elder or is held by their representative (such as a conservator, trustee, or other representative of the estate of an elder or dependent adult, or a person acting within the authority of a power of attorney). (California Welf. & Inst. Code § 15610.30.) The Act does not require that the defendant have a fiduciary relationship with the victim. Financial Elder Abuse can occur when any person or entity takes the property of a senior for a wrongful use, or with intent to defraud, or by undue influence. The Financial Elder Abuse statute has been used successfully to prosecute an action on behalf of a senior citizen who was a victim of banking fraud. A lawsuit based on violation of the Elder Abuse Act, claiming Financial Elder Abuse, allows the plaintiff to receive heightened civil remedies, including attorney's fees and costs, and punitive damages, if liability is proven by a "preponderance of the evidence". The standards for recovery of punitive damages are higher than for compensatory damages: the party seeking punitive damages must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has been guilty of oppression, fraud, or malice. (See Welf. &Inst. Code §15657.5 (2)(b).) In addition, noneconomic damages in a case of financial abuse are not subject to the $250,000 limitation that generally applies to recovery for professional negligence against a health care provider. (Welf. & Inst. Code §15657.5.) It is important to note that, unlike a prevailing plaintiff, a prevailing defendant is not entitled to recover attorney's fees under these provisions. Welf. & Inst. 6 Continued on page 22 North County Lawyer CRIMINAL DEFENSE SPECIALIST CALIFORNIA BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION FORMER POLICE OFFICER/INvESTIGATOR JAMES N. DICKS DEFENDING SAN DIEGANS FROM CRIMINAL AND DUI PROSECUTION FOR OVER 25 YEARS WWW.JIMDICKS.COM 760-630-2000 September 2013 7 PARTITION ACTIONS: Dealing With Disputes Between Co-Tenants Of Real Property By K. Martin White, Esq. and Joseph L. Stine, Esq. GENERAL NATURE OF CO-TENANCY Generally, any interest in real property that can be conveyed by deed can be held in co-tenancy and would be subject to the law of Partition. However, equitable interests that are not reflected in the chain of title (such as contracts and equitable claims like a constructive trust) cannot be vindicated through Partition. In the case of a dispute between married persons or domestic partners, a co-tenancy matter would be in Family Court. Joint Tenancy v. Tenancy in Common The primary distinction between Joint Tenancy and Tenancy in Common is that “Joint Tenants” have equal interests with a right of survivorship that occurs by operation of law upon the death of a Joint Tenant (Code Civ. Proc. § 683). “Tenancy in Common” involves holding title as owners of undivided interests as defined by the vesting instrument(s) (C.C.P. §§ 685, 686), which need not be equal, and which can be changed only through deeds or court action. If the vesting document does not state that there are alternative fractional shares, there is a presumption the shares are equal (Rich v. Smith (1915) 26 Cal.App. 775, 784). If a party seeks to attack the validity of the vesting, it must be done by clear and convincing evidence (Ev. Code, § 662.) If more than five years have passed since the vesting instrument was recorded, any such attack would be barred by the Statutes of Limitations (C.C.P. §343. See, Robertson v. Superior Court (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 1319, 1326.) K. Martin White P.O. Box 1826 Phone: (760) 729-1696 marnew@sbcglobal.net PARTITION IS GENERALLY A MATTER OF RIGHT Partition as to concurrent interests in the property shall be of right, in the absence of a valid waiver, and in cases not involving partnership. C.C.P. §873.710 (b) The purpose of a partition action is to enable co-tenants to have common title interests eliminated and thereby permanently end all disputes between them as to the commonly held property. (McGillivray v. Evans (1864) 27 Cal. 92, 96.) Partition is a proceeding in equity, though it is fairly comprehensively governed by the statutory scheme found at C.C. P. §872.010, et seq. A co-owner may file a partition action. C.C.P. §872.210(b) Venue for a Partition action is the county/judicial district where the real property is located. C.C. P, §392 (a). In the absence of a waiver or a claim for adverse possession (see below), generally a party has no defense to an action for partition of real property, 8 Joseph ("Joe") Stine Attorney at Law / Mediator 380 S. Melrose Dr. #306 Vista, California 92081 Phone: (760) 643-4150 jstine@melroselawcenter.com www.jstinelaw.com Continued on page 14 North County Lawyer Meet New Member David L. Plantz By Debra Lewis D avid’s passion for law grew out of his first hand experience in a lawsuit as an undergraduate student. Going through the process in real time in conjunction with watching a deft attorney successfully navigate the legal system on his behalf piqued David’s interest in pursuing a career in law. Combined with his professionals sales and real estate experience, David decided law school would allow him to find new challenges in his field. Graduating cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law, being inducted into the Order of the Coif and winning several CALI awards for highest grades, enabled David to secure a position in a law firm, practicing real estate and business law. Although only sworn into the bar a month ago, he enjoys helping clients contend with the wide variety of issues presented on a daily basis as well immersing himself in the continual learning that constitutes the practice of law. In addition to his ambition of making partner one day, David understands the value of giving back. He places high importance on performing pro bono work. David L. Plantz can be reached at 600 W. Broadway #1100 San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 804-2548 davidplantz@sandiego.edu In his spare time, David enjoys spending time with his wife, football, soccer, hiking and photography. Although they have no children yet, they dote on their dogs and love taking them to the beach. Mediation offices of DEBRA A. DOMINSKI, ESQ. SUCCESSFULLY MEDIATING AND ARBITRATING ALL ASPECTS OF CIVIL LITIGATION FOR OVER 20 YEARS • personal injury • real estate • business • medical malpractice 11512 El Camino Real, Suite 350 San Diego, CA 92130 (760) 943-7201 phone/fax E-Mail: dadesq@sbcglobal.net September 2013 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ JUDGE PRO TEM S.D. SUPERIOR COURT MEMBER N.C.R.C. INSURANCE MEDIATION PANEL MEDIATED OVER 4,000 CASES ARBITRATED OVER 1,000 CASES 9 “TROUBLE LEAVING THE MOUNTAIN?” We will assist in paying any permanent removal costs associated with moving your sensitive legal records to our secure records center. We pride ourselves in being the security leader in San Diego. Implementing an effective document management system is what makes or breaks any business. CERTIFIED Records Management will implement a true Records Management program for your firm. Save over 25% on your Document Management program. Nate Grochmal Matt Dreese VP, Sales 714.329.7236 nate@certifiedusa.net President 360.597.5419 mattd@certifiedusa.net WWW.CERTIFIEDUSA.NET 10 North County Lawyer Mark A. Chambers Attorney at Law FEDERAL COURT FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR REPRESENTATION SUPERIOR COURT FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR REPRESENTATION Mark A. Chambers 345 W. Ninth Avenue Suite 200 Escondido, California 92025 (760) 489-1808 JUVENILE COURT CRIMINAL MATTERS Personal Service to Each Client 31 Years of Quality Criminal Law Experience September 2013 11 The Affordable Care Act in 1000 Words or Less By Martha Ann Knutson, Esq W hether you support or oppose the Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare”), the law and its related regulations continue to come into effect. And with many of the major “effective dates” falling in the next few months, lawyers will likely get many questions about the Act if only from friends and family who will be hearing much about it in the media. The entire Act as passed in 2010 was two pieces of legislation totaling 974 pages with more than 400 sections covering everything from esoteric payment models under Medicare to calorie counts on restaurant menus and a tax on tanning services. (The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148 was enacted on March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, Public Law 111-152 was enacted on March 30, 2010. The text of both is available on the HHS site at http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/law/ index.html, with links to the actual statutes at large pages for each section of each title.) There have been thousands of pages of regulations issued already and more are in the pipeline. Almost every day another bill is introduced in Congress to amend or change the ACA provisions. Writing briefly about “The Act” is a true challenge. The modest goal of this article is simply to give a snapshot of some of the major provisions that directly apply to individuals and to certain employers, as well as to lead to sources that give additional information. The Individual “Mandate” The Act requirement that each of us have health insurance is one of the two provisions of the Act that 12 went up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld it in July 2012 as a legitimate exercise of the power to “lay and collect taxes”. Nat'l Fed'n of Indep. Bus. v. Sebelius, 132 S. Ct. 2566, 2573 (2012). (The other provision, which did not pass scrutiny, related to financing the Act’s expansion of the Medicaid (in California MediCal) program.) Starting January 1, 2014, those who don’t have insurance provided through their employer, a federal program like Medicare or a state and federal program like MediCal, must purchase insurance on the individual market or pay a penalty on their annual tax return. The penalty will be the greater of $95 or 1% of your adjusted gross income (increasing to 2.5% in 2016). 26 U.S.C. § 5000A. The Act included several changes to insurance underwriting that already have or will in the near future directly affect those seeking to buy insurance for themselves. Pre-existing condition limitations to coverage ended in 2010 for children under age 19 – in 2014 this will expand to adults. Coverage for those participating in clinical trials will also become mandatory in 2014. 75 Federal Register 37188 (June 28, 2010). Differences in rates based on gender, occupation or preexisting condition will also end in 2014. The only rating factors left are age and geography and the Act limits the differential that can apply between different age groups. Individual states are still deciding if smoking can be rated or non-smoking rewarded. (California said “not yet” – ABX1-2 (2013)) Other mandatory changes in the Act as to how health insurance works have already begun: coverage for children on their parent’s health plan until age 26 (this began in 2010 for children without their own employer sponsored coverage, it expands to all in 2014, 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-14, coverage of certain preventative care benefits – including contraception - without copay or deductible, 42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13, and the “medical loss ratio” requirement that beginning in 2012 required companies spending less than 80-85% of premiums on benefits to rebate the overage to policy holders. 42 U.S.C. § 300gg18(b)(1)(A), Cal. Ins. Code § 10112.25. North County Lawyer The insurance “Exchanges” Those who don’t have health insurance available from an employer or government program, as well as those who reject their employers’ plan, will have the option of purchasing health insurance through the new “Exchanges” (aka “Marketplaces”) that are being set up under the Act. 42 U.S.C. § 18031ff. Each state had the option of setting up and running its own “Exchange”. California and sixteen other states took up that challenge. The federal government will be running the exchanges in the remaining states. California’s “Covered California” Exchange (www.coveredca.com and www.healthexchange.ca.gov) solicited participation from insurers in 2012 – thirteen ultimately decided to participate, but one withdrew. Beginning October 1, 2013, individual Californians will be able to go onto the Covered California website and “shop” for health insurance from the remaining twelve insurers. All plans will offer a package of “essential minimum benefits.” (California’s “benchmark” is based on a Kaiser small group plan.) There will be some standardized labeling of the offered plans so it will be easier to compare one company’s “Bronze” plan, for example, with another’s. All plans offered on the California Exchange will also be available “off” the Exchange. Cal. Ins. Code § 10112.3 (c)(1). Included in the operations of the Exchange will be application of income based subsidies provided for by the Act. Those subsidies will be available to those earning 100-250% of the federal poverty guideline and who do not have health insurance offered to them by their employer. They will be applied to the out of pocket requirements eliContinued on page 15 CRIMINAL AND DUI DEFENSE BILL NIMMO 35 Years Experience Office in Vista 858.679.9511 www.criminaldefensesandiego.com September 2013 13 PARTITION ACTIONS Continued from page 8 as any co-owner has the right to same, in the absence of an agreement waiving such right. (Lazzarevich v. Lazzarevich (1952) 39 Cal.2d 48, 50; LEG Investments v. Boxler (2010) 183 Cal.App.4th 484, 493.) Ouster/Concurrent Possession/Adverse Possession. A tenant out of possession may establish an ouster from the tenant in possession. Further, a tenant out of possession may serve a demand for concurrent possession. One tenant can also claim the whole estate by adverse possession. C.C.§ 843. Filing an answer claiming a full right to possession can be considered an ouster. See, e.g. Estate of Hughes (1992) 5 Cal.App.4th 1607, 1615. There is no Statute of Limitations to an Action for Partition. METHODS OF PARTITION “In kind” partition, i.e., physical division of the property, is rarely used due to practical constraints. (Code Civ.Proc., § 872.810.) Generally, a partition is effected “by sale,” where the property is sold and the net proceeds are divided. (Code Civ. Proc., § 872.820.) Where the parties are in agreement, a partition may be accomplished “by appraisal.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 873.910.) As a matter of general equity, the court may be persuaded to order a partition by appraisal if the cotenant with the bulk of the interest wishes to buy out the minority interest and the minority interest is being unreasonable. Consensual Partition/Mediation The disadvantages to the parties filing a Partition action are that costs and attorney fees will be incurred by both sides, some of which are subject to allocation. If the action is fully litigated through trial and appeal, it could take years before it is fully resolved. If litigation is filed, the parties lose control of the disposition of the property as there is a great likelihood of a forced sale of the property, involving loss of value and selling costs over which the parties have no control. Relationships of the parties frequently affect the ability to agree. Emotional issues can overshadow a party’s ability to make a decision that is appropriate under the circumstances. These issues often arise as a result of sibling rivalries and the break-up of romantic relationships between unmarried persons. Obviously, the parties should always be aware that a negotiated resolution short of litigation is desirable. In some disputes, a pre-litigation mediation may be useful in facilitating a settlement. THE PARTITION ACTION Preparation. You will need an objective evaluation of the merits, costs, procedures and consequences of a partition action, whether brought by the client or someone else. You must also gather the appropriate financial, title, and valuation information regarding the real property, including evaluation of potential claims for rental value, contributions for maintenance, and improvements. These activities are also useful in assisting the client in evaluating the nature and extent of a reasonable position with respect to settlement, whenever the question of negotiation arises. Pleadings Section 872.230 describes the required contents of the Complaint: (a) A description of the real property that is the subject of the action, both the full legal description and the commonly known physical address; (b) All interests the plaintiff claims in the property; (c) All interests of record or actually known to plaintiff that persons other than plaintiff or apparent from an inspection of the Subject Property and that plaintiff reasonably believes will be materially affected by the action, whether the plaintiff knows the names of such persons or not, for example: 1. The interests of the other cotenants; 2. Lien of Property Taxes, if any; and 3. A tenancy of some sort by third parties, month to month or otherwise. 14 Continued on page 16 North County Lawyer The Affordable Care Act Continued from page 13 gible individuals would otherwise incur. (For more on the market places - http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-andInitiatives/Health-Insurance-Marketplaces/index.html). The second “door” of all state run exchanges – including Covered California – will be available to small employers (fewer than 50 FTEs) who choose this method of offering health insurance plans to their employees. A second feature of this SHOP exchange – allowing the employer to offer its employees more than one plan to choose from – will be available in 2014 in most of the 17 State run exchanges, but has been delayed in the 33 federally run ones. As of this writing there are six insurers participating in the SHOP portion of covered California. “Pay or Play” Employers Another provision of the Act applies to those employing at least 50 full time equivalent (FTE)’s worth of workers in a particular year. That’s not 50 employees or even 50 full-time employees - it’s an arithmetic equation. Essentially, if all the hours paid to employees by a given employer is > 50 x 40 x 52 (not counting seasonal employees who work less than 120 days), then the employer must offer health insurance that meets certain minimum requirements to certain employees or pay a penalty. 26 U.S.C. § 4980H(c)(2)(E). NOTE: application of the employer “shared responsibility” provision of the Act was recently delayed until 2015 by the Obama Administration. What’s the penalty? If the offered insurance is “unaffordable” or doesn’t meet the 60% value test OR if the employer offers no coverage AND at least one of its employees gets subsidized coverage under the exchange, then the employer can be required to pay EITHER $2,000 / year / for each “full-time”(32 hours) employee over 30 employees OR $3,000 for each employee that gets a subsidy on an Exchange. 26 U.S.C. § 4980H. Martha Ann Knutson is a health lawyer with an office in Rancho Bernardo. She can be reached at mak@mknutsonlaw.com or (858) 705-6633. North County Bar magazine expresses appreciation to Jared Schwass (Class 0f 2014), Cal Western School of Law, for his assistance in researching citations for this article. Jared can be reached at jaredschwass@gmail.com. Ordas Dispute Resolution Complex Disputes + Creative Solutions = Resolution Patience, persistence and pru- Which employees? dence are more than an alliteration, they are part of a skills set for the resolution of your dispute. “Full-time” employees must be offered insurance for themselves and their dependent children (up to age 26). But a different definition of “full-time” – 30 hours – is used for this provision. 26 U.S.C. § 4980H(c)(4)(A). What coverage? Dale E. Ordas Coverage of “minimum value” must be offered that covers at least 60% of the expected medical costs of the employee. 78 Federal Register 25909 (May 3,2013) The offered coverage must also be “affordable” – meaning that the out of pocket cost for employee-only coverage must not be greater than 9.5% of the employee’s income. 78 Federal Register 7264 (February 1, 2013). Employers must offer but are not required to contribute towards the cost of coverage for dependent children. Spousal coverage is technically not required to be offered under the Act. September 2013 Mediator - Arbitrator - SB #38140 Ordas Dispute Resolution OrdasADR@ordas.com http://www.ordas.com 300 Carlsbad Village Dr., Ste 108A Carlsbad, CA 92008-2990 760.431.7795 • Mobile 760.613.9387 Fax 760.431.9065 25 years as an arbitrator & mediator plus 30 years as a litigator. Training: Hundreds of hours at Straus Institute at Pepperdine University, Loyola Law School, Southern California Mediation Association & Association for Conflict Resolution Mediation/Arbitration of Commercial Disputes: Regarding terms or conditions of agreements for goods, services, real estate or property Employment: Wrongful Termination, Grievances, Harassment, Wage & Hour Torts: Accidents (Workplace Accidents & Workers’ Compensation) Product Liability, Professional Liability, Toxic Torts and Asbestos 15 PARTITION ACTIONS Continued from page 14 (d) The estate as to which partition is sought, e.g., the fee title to a residence, and a prayer for partition of the present and future interests therein according to the respective rights of the parties thereto. (e) The reason why the partition should be by sale (e.g., because property cannot be physically divided). The Answer. C.C.P. §872.410 provides the answer should include (a) Any interest the defendant has or claims in the property; (b) Any facts tending to controvert such material allegations of the complaint as the defendant does not wish to be taken as true; and (c) Where the defendant seeks sale of the property, an allegation of the facts justifying such relief in ordinary and concise language. If the defendant claims a lien, the date, character, and amount claimed under the lien are required allegations (C.C.P. § 872.420) and if the defendant has any claim for contribution or other compensatory adjustment, it must be set forth. (Id.) THE TRIAL Phase I of the proceedings encompasses: 1. Determining the interests of the parties (C.C.P. § 872.610) 2. Determining the right to partition (C.C.P. § 872.210) 3. Determining the manner of partition. (C.C.P. §§ 872.810, et seq.) An Interlocutory Judgment articulating the ownership interests and method of partition is entered (C.C.P. § 872.720) which is immediately appealable. (C.C.P. § 904.1 (a)(9)). In Phase II, a referee would be appointed to report to the Court (C.C.P. §§ 873.010, et seq.) with such report subject to approval by the Court and confirmation, modification, or setting aside on the motion of a party. (C.C.P. § 873.290) The Refereee would request fees incurred for the Referee’s services and expenses incurred. (C.C.P. § 874.010(b).) 1. Partition by sale: The Referee would analyze the situation, make recommendations to Court, and on ap- proval of sale method, conduct sale subject to Court approval. (C.C.P. §§ 873.510, et seq.) The various potential sale methods are found at C.C.P. § 873.600, et seq., which, in addition to any method all parties agree to in writing, (C.C.P. § 873.600) can include execution-style sale by auction, (C.C.P. §§ 873.610-873.670) or private sale. (C.C.P. §873.680) 2. Partition in kind: The Referee analyzes the situation and makes recommendations to the Court regarding physical division of the real property to accommodate the respective interests of the parties, (C.C.P. §§ 873.210, et seq.) including adjustments to accommodate improvements installed by a party (C.C.P. § 873.220) and financial adjustments to compensate for the inability to divide equally (C.C.P. §§ 873.240). 3. Partition by appraisal: The parties can agree in writing to partition by appraisal, where one party buys out another. (C.C.P. §§ 873.910-873.980) In the rare event that it would be grossly inequitable to order a sale such as when there is a dramatic disparity in the respective interests and the majority title wishes to keep the property), the court can determine as a matter of general equity not to order a sale, the parties employ valuation experts, and the court determines the terms of a buy-out of the minority owner by the majority owner. Distribution: The final Judgment would articulate the order of application of the sale proceeds and determining allocation of the costs of partition (C.C.P. §§ 873.810, et seq., 874.010, et seq.) Proceeds are divided commensurate with the parties’ respective interests, after deduction of allowable advances by cotenants, rental credits, referee fees, costs of sale, and attorney fees and costs, if applicable. (See Hunter v. Schultz (1966) 240 Cal.App.2d 24; Scott v. Staggs (1954) 129 Cal.App.2d 54; Mercola v. Chester (1950) 97 Cal.App.2d 140; Willmon v. Koyer (1914) 168 Cal. 369; Southern Adjustment Bureau, Inc. v. Nelson (1964) 230 Cal.App.2d 539 ; Milian v. DeLeon (1986) 181 Cal.App.3d 1185 (unmarried couple); Wilson v. SLRey, Inc. (1993) 17 Cal.App. 234.) Costs, including Attorney fees. The costs of partition include: Reasonable attorney's fees incurred or paid by a party for the common 16 North County Lawyer benefit; the fee and expenses of the referee; the compensation provided by contract for services of a surveyor or other person employed by the referee in the action; the reasonable costs of a title report procured pursuant to Section 872.220 with interest thereon at the legal rate from the time of payment or, if paid before commencement of the action, from the time of commencement of the action; other disbursements or expenses determined by the court to have been incurred or paid for the common benefit. (C.C.P. § 874.010.) Generally, attorney fees incurred for the mutual benefit of the parties in completing the partition are awardable “off the top” from the funds received from the sale of the subject property, automatically apportioned in the ratio of ownership. (Finney v. Gomez (2003) 11 Cal. App.4th 527, 545-548.) The “(r)easonable attorney's fees incurred or paid by a party for the common benefit” are sometimes awarded to both sides if there is a common fund. The common benefit must be, by definition, the expeditious conclusion of partition of the real property and apportionment of the interests. See, e.g., Muller v. Martin (1953) 116 Cal. App.2d 43; Forrest v. Elam (1979) 88 Cal.App.3d 164. Attorney fees are available if a party unreasonably fails to unequivocally admit Requests for Admission and forces another party to prove up such Requests. (C.C.P.§2033.420 (a); Laabs v. City of Victorville (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 1242, 1276.) C.C.P.§998 offer procedure has been used as an additional basis for the award of attorney fees on the basis of the statutory availability of attorney fees as costs under the partition law. APPEAL The Final Judgment is also appealable as any other final Judgment. (C.C.P. § 904.1 (a)(1).) This applies to error occurring after the Interlocutory Judgment becomes final, as the Interlocutory Judgment would be the law of the case. NEED A BANKRUPTCY LAWYER FOR YOUR CLIENT?? CALL ED SWITZER I Can Help Your Client . . . o Stop Foreclosure & explore options to save house under Chapter 13 o Reorganize debts under Chapter 13 o Get a fresh start: eliminate debt, adverse judgments, old taxes, etc., under Chapter 7 o 30 Years Bankruptcy Experience o Thousands of Bankruptcy Cases Filed o Free Consultation for Lawyer Referrals SWITZER LAW OFFICE Member: National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys *Designated by Congress and the President of the United States as a “Debt Relief Agency” September 2013 440 Civic Center Drive, Suite 102 Vista, CA 92084 760-758-2960 17 Beach Party Highlights The 2013 NCBA beach party and barbeque was a total success! Grandparents, parents, kids, and even a few lawyers came on down to the Oceanside Harbor beach for a day of bocce, barbeque, beach flags, and boogie boarding. Special thanks to folks who helped make it possible: Kurt and Nick Weiser, Lionel and Bill Halsey, Patti Stockaplper, and of course Mary Silva. Don't miss it next year! Pencil in Saturday, August 9, 2014. 18 North County Lawyer September 2013 19 Continued from page 19 Lots of Games...Fun!!!! 20 North County Lawyer STREET MEDIATION • 41 years civil litigation experience • 21+ years of arbitration and mediation experience in all areas of civil litigation • Judge pro tem, Special Master & Discovery Referee, San Diego Superior Court • Folow up conferences are part of the job description (760) 634-8231 James W. Street jim@streetmediation.com 2163 Newcastle Avenue, Suite 200 Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007 www.streetmediation.com BANKRUPTCY AND CREDITOR HARASSMENT BANKRUPTCY CREDITOR HARASSMENT • $100Startsmostcases • W eSueBillCollectors,Insideand OutsideofBankruptcy • O ver25,000Consumer BankruptciesFiled DOANLAWFIRM,LLP CALIFORNIA’S LARGEST FAMILY LAW FIRM "EXPERIENCE,REPUTATION,ANDAGGRESSIVE REPRESENTATIONATAFFORDABLEFEES" ReferralFeesPaidin AccordancewithRule2-200 DOANLAW.COM 2850PIOPICODRIVE SUITED CARLSBAD,CA92008 PHONE:(760)450-3333 FAX:(760)720-6082 • Chapter7DischargeGuarantee • CreditCardDefense • ForeclosureReliefThruChapter13 • FDCPA,FCRA,RFDCPA,TCPACLAIMS • MortgageRemovalThruChapter13 • DebtSettlement • M ichaelDoanisaCertified BankruptcySpecialist -ConsumerBankruptcyLaw -AmericanBoardofCertification “SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S LARGEST BANKRUPTCY CASE FILING FIRM” 5OfficesThroughoutSanDiegoCounty 320EASTSECOND AVENUE,SUITE108 ESCONDIDO,CA92025 PHONE:(760)746-4476 FAX:(760)746-4436 September 2013 • ImmediatelyStopAllCreditorHarassment 8250LAMESABLVD SUITE300-G LAMESA,CA91941 PHONE:(619)462-4611 FAX:(619)819-4427 185WESTFSTREET SUITE100 SANDIEGO,CA92101 PHONE:(619)234-3626 FAX:(760)720-6082 333HSTREET SUITE5000 CHULAVISTA,CA91910 PHONE:(619)500-6535 FAX:(619)797-0772 21 ELDER ABUSE ACT Continued from page 6 Code §15657.5 specifically only awards attorneys’ fees and costs to the Plaintiff. This was affirmed in Wood v. Santa Monica Escrow Co. (2007) 151 Cal.App.4th, 1186. The specter of punitive damages and the statutory language providing for a writ of attachment for the return of property taken in Welf. & Inst. Code § 15657.01 is a powerful incentive to the errant fiduciary to seek a settlement of the senior's claim. Under California law, elder abuse can carry criminal penalties as well. Criminal elder abuse occurs where any person violates any provision of law proscribing theft, embezzlement, forgery, or fraud. Criminal penalties also attach to anyone who violates Section 530.5 of the Penal Code proscribing identity theft with respect to the property or personal identifying information of an elder, and who knows or reasonably should know that the victim is an elder. Violation is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or confinement in the state prison for two, three, or four years, when the money, labor, goods, services, or real or personal property taken or obtained is of a value exceeding nine hundred fifty dollars ($950); and by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment, when money, labor, goods, services, or real or personal property taken or obtained is of a value not exceeding nine hundred fifty dollars ($950). (see Penal Code Section 368). Audrey Powers Thornton is a partner at Thornton Koller, www.thorntonkoller.com. She can be reached at 760-688-0600. MEDIATION. A WINNING STRATEGY. craighiggs.com 22 North County Lawyer 2013 SUSTAINING MEMBERS CONSUMER FRAUD Gold Rafael Acosta Karen Black Wentzelee Botha William Brown Ron Cozad Jennifer Creighton Michael Curran Susan Curran Carla DeDominicis James Dicks Paul Gavin Kenneth Gosselin Karen Heffron Michael Klein Jeffrey Lacy Richard Layon Charles Richmond Herbert Weston Michael Whitton Silver Bradley Bartlett Paul Campo Mark Chambers Angelo Corpora Richard Boyer Catherine Kroger- Diamond John Hansen Anne Howard Richard Hyatt Bruce Jaques Russell Kohn Bradley Patton David Larkin Constance Larsen Gregory Lievers Virginia Lopez Richard Macgurn Christine Mueller Deborah Nash Kathleen Norris Garth O. Reid Kelly Reid Charles Salter Jodi Schnoebelen Jacqueline Skay Joseph Stine Debra Leffler Streeter J. Michael Vallee Wayne Templin Kurt Weiser AND PROTECTION Proudly Representing North County Consumers for Over 30 Years..... • Serious Personal Injury • Wrongful death • Consumer fraud Many years ago, I added Consumer Fraud and Protection cases to my plaintiff’s trial practice. Over the years, my passion for pursuing these wrongs has grown. Do you have clients who have been cheated or ripped-off? I pay generous referral fees per State Bar guidelines, or, if you’d prefer to remain involved, we could work together as co-counsel. Law Offices of J. Michael Vallee 603 N. Hwy. 101, Ste. G Solana Beach, CA 92075 858-755-6477 www.valleelaw.com Thank you! innovative global immigration solutions Fragomen is the world's leading global corporate immigration law firm. For more than 50 years, we have focused solely on delivering strategic immigration solutions to our clients. Our service areas include: Temporary Work Visas Intra-Company Transfers Professionals & Investors NAFTA Visas Entertainment and Sports Professionals Family Related Petitions Outbound Global Immigration Consular Processing Employer Sanctions (I-9) Labor Certifications Immigration Policy Development Gary Perl, Partner gperl@fragomen.com Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP 11238 El Camino Real, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92130 Phone: 1 858 793 1600 www.fragomen.com ATTORNEYS AT LAW September 2013 23 #crimpro By Eric P. Ganci, Esq. Bound by law changes after pleading: Doe v. Harris On July 1, 2013, the California Supreme Court decided Doe v. Harris, holding if you plead to a plea agreement, and then if the law changes, you can still be bound by the amendment. "[T]he parties are presumed to have had existing law in mind when they executed their agreement...." Harris explains this remains true even if the Judge or prosecutor is silent as to the statutory changes, because neither the People nor the Judge give an "implied promise that the defendant will not be subject to the amended law." The court balances general contract principles, and Justice Kennard's dissent hits on a really, really good point: if the "alteration is material." And that "material terms of the agreement cannot be modified without the parties consent." "But when is a term in a plea agreement 'material?' That question has so far not been addressed by this court." In Justice Kennard's view, "a term in a plea agreement is material if it is essential to a party's decision to enter into the agreement." You have the right to remain silent, but must say so: Salinas v. Texas The June 17th U.S. Supreme Court decision Salinas v. Texas gives us all one Constitutional reminder: you have the 5th Amendment Right to remain silent, but you must assert that right. If you just remain silent, that silence can be used against you (with some exceptions). For Salinas, Defendant voluntarily went with police for an interview after an alleged shotgun murder. But when Police asked him a question about shotgun shells related to the murder, he "looked down at the floor, shuffled his feet, bit his bottom lip, clenched his hands in his lap, [and] began to tighten up." After a few moments of silence, the officer asked additional questions, which Defendant answered. Prosecution used that silence and reaction as evidence of Defendant's guilt, over objection. Salinas is a split decision: five justices agreeing, and four dissenting. Maryland v. King, holding when a person arrested on a "serious crime", "dangerous offense", "on felony charges", a buccal cheek swab is not an unreasonable search per the Fourth Amendment. The court here makes clear this decision applies to "this class of arrestees...." Justice Kennedy writes the opinion, although the court is split 5-4, with Justice Scalia writing the dissent. The Court balances the buccal swab against taking fingerprints and booking photos--that it's not intrusive. Kennedy also addresses "some detainees to lift their genitals or cough in a squatting position" and implies this is not an unreasonable search. For King, in 2009 he was arrested and convicted of "menacing a group of people with a shotgun" and charged with second-degree assault. Upon this arrest, police swabbed him, and linked King's DNA to an unsolved rape from 2003. For information please contact Eric P. Ganci, DUI Trial Lawyer GALENTE GANCI, APC 110 West "C" Street, Suite 712 San Diego, California 92101 Eric@GandGTrialLawyers.com T: 619-241-2111 Buccal swab does not violation 4th Amendment: Maryland v. King On June 3, 2013 the U.S. Supreme Court decided 24 North County Lawyer IS THERE A STATUTORY PROVISION YOU THINK SHOULD BE CHANGED? Send your ideas and suggestions to North County Bar Association on or before December 3, 2013 to Executive Director, Mary Silva to info@northcountybar.org or call 760.758.5833 POST-CONVICTION legal matters Diane T. Letarte, MBA, LLM M.S. Forensic Psychology • • • • Post-Conviction Criminal Defense, 1000+ Hearings Parole Violations, Prison Lifer Suitability Hearings Direct and Collateral (Habeas Corpus) Appeals 3-Strikes (Prop 36) Resentencing Petition PETERS ATTORNEYS AT LAW & FREEDMAN, L.L.P. A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM Experience you can rely on People you can trust encinitas office desert office 760 436 3441 760 773 4463 www.hoalaw.com • mail@hoalaw.com State Bar of California Certification Number 0027 Visit us at lawreferral.org Former President of NC Chapter of Lawyers Club Judge Pro Tem S.D. Superior Court 619-233-3688 * Toll Free 888-200-8385 dletarte@earthlink.net * www.renegade-attorney.com 1080 Park Blvd., Ste 1008 San Diego, CA 92101 Affiliations: California Association of Parole Defense Attorneys (CAPDA), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Local: Lawyers Club, San Diego Bar, North County Bar. September 2013 Do You Need to Refer a Client, but don’t know who to call... or for Panel Membershisp CALL YOUR LOCAL LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE at 760-758-4755 25 Classifieds OCEAN VIEW OFFICES POWERED BY SOLAR near intersection of 78 and El Camino Real, executive offices with receptionist, digital phones, high speed Cox cable, conference room, messenger service, Westlaw, Rutter, CEB, state of the art technology, etc. 2170 El Camino Real, Oceanside starting at $500. Call Patricia or Gary (760) 721-0200. PROBATE-TRUST APPRAISER. Estate valuations, IRS Form 706 compliant, 28 years experience, Expert witness, S. Dan Lehman - Certified General Real Estate Appraiser. (760) 672-1140. ENCINITAS-Large & small offices include recept, utilities, internet, phone sys, $375-$475/mo. Can reduce for services. (760) 436-2561. UPSCALE CREEKSIDE LAW OFFICE SUITES FOR LEASE - Two separate offices with shared conference room, law library, two bathrooms, kitchenette, waiting room and reception area. Plenty of parking. Trash, water, sewer and all maintenance fees included. Share gas and electricity. All offices overlook Buena Vista Creek. Minutes from Highway 78 and the Courthouse; walk to banks and restaurants close by. Partially furnished. One suite $550, two suites $1,000.00. Please call (760) 758-3940. Serious inquiries only. CARLSBAD - two offices for rent in Old Carlsbad. $700 and $250. Freeway close, SOLANA BEACH OFFICES ample parking. 2646 Madison St., 92008. AVAILABLE: Law Firm located off I-5 in Call Vic Balaker at (760) 434-9180 or DOWNTOWN ESCONDIDO Solana Beach Corp. Centre has available to (760) 434-1543. 2 OFFICES AVAILABLE - 1st Office sublet recently remodeled, furnished or unSpace Suite includes 12'x16' office with furnished, windowed offices with 1 to 2 cu- VISTA OFFICES: Executive Suites to separate 8'x9' secretarial space. bicles. Includes use of 3 conference rooms, 1,400 sq. ft. Very easy access to HWY 78. 2nd Office Space Suite includes 12'x 16' 2 kitchens, bathrooms, lobby area, off-street View of courthouse and valley. office, (with optional separate 8'x9' secreparking and janitorial services. Suite is very Lobby-Kitchen-conference room. tarial space - rent negotiable). high quality and located on second floor of (760) 275-6024. Available now. Amenities include: a three story building. Please call to set-up SHARE CARLSBAD VILLAGE * Monitored security system, time to view. (858) 755-5666 ext. 7233. OFFICE with personal injury attorney, * Merlin telephones w/voice mail, Private Office, conference room, shared * Free off street parking, utilities, and janiLEGAL OFFICE IN CARLSBAD VILLAGE: Looking to share our current kitchen, copy machine, fax. Month to torial services (twice weekly), Month. Call Simon Mikhael at * Front lobby receptionist, notary services, space. Our suite offers many amenities. (760) 720-2555. spacious waiting room w/antique furniture, Established space for an assistant. Ample * Large conference room, coffee/tea, miparking. Rent is negotiable. Please call Vista “hourly” CONFERENCE (760) 434-4747. ROOMS -- $35/hr or $50/hr for two (me- crowave, refrigerator w/ice maker diation break room). Between the County * And much more. NORTH COUNTY CONFERENCE Court House and Hwy 78. (760) 275-6024 * Copy, postage and fax machines also available. ROOMS --Available by the hour. Conve- or (760) 415-9984 Well maintained building with long term niently located in Vista between the Coun- nbelko@roadrunner.com tenants. These suites will go fast, please ty Court House and Highway 78. $35 per call to reserve your showing before they hour or $50 per hour for both rooms. The are gone. Please contact Debbie or Frank at furnished adjoining room is available as a 760-745-1484. If responding by e-mail second meeting room or private mediation weebitdebi@sbcglobal.net, please put Of“break room”… (760) 275-6024 or fice Space Available in the subject line. (760) 415-9984 nbelko@roadrunner.com. San Diego Superior Court Expands Free Training Course on E-Filing with Spotlight on Probate Filings Due to popular demand, the San Diego Superior Court and One Legal, the Court’s E-file service provider, are offering two additional free sessions to discuss the legal and procedural requirements for E-filing in the San Diego Superior Court. Three previous E-filing courses were booked to capacity and now Probate E-filing instruction is also available so two additional sessions are now being offered. The free sessions will be held: • Thursday, September 19, 2013 with training for E-filing in all Civil and Probate case types. The training, which is open to attorneys and support staff, will be held at Noon in Room 363B on the third floor of the Hall of Justice (330 West Broadway) • Friday, September 27, 2013 with training for E-filing in all Civil and Probate case types. The training, which is open to attorneys and support staff, will be held at Noon in the Jury Lounge of the Vista Courthouse (325 S. Melrose Drive) The sessions will cover the legal requirements for E-filing as well as a “how to” demonstration for those wishing to access E-filing in the San Diego Superior Court. 26 North County Lawyer Education Calendar PERSONAL INJURY DATE/TIME: Tuesday 09/10 12:00 Noon PLACE: NCBA Office (249 S. Indiana Ave; Vista, CA) TOPIC: How to Win the Impossible Case SPEAKER: Browne Greene, Esq. INFO: Richard Duquette - (760) 730-0500 Lionel Halsey- (760) 494-7294 MCLE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0 General (pending) TRUSTS & ESTATES LAW DATE/TIME: Wednesday 09/11 7:30 a.m. PLACE: IHOP, 78 & Sycamore TOPIC: Business Valuations: How Attorneys Can Influence The Level of Discounts SPEAKER: Carl Sheeler INFO: Mary Cataldo (760) 931-9700 Paul Smith (760) 724-5684 MCLE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0 General (pending) NEW LAWYERS/BUSINESS LAW SECTION Speed Writing: Brain to Brief in a Hurry What: Hands-on CLE designed to help attorneys prepare high-quality written work involving complicated, involved facts and laws, and to do so when there’s not enough time to do it. When: September 11, 2013 at 12:00-1:15 p.m. (We will begin promptly at noon.) Where: NCBA Office (249 S. Indiana Ave; Vista, CA) Who: Our instructor is Randall Christison, Esq. Following twenty-six years as a top-rated trial and appellate litigator, he was chosen in 2000 by the Attorney General of California to create and run the professional development and training program for the Department of Justice. Don’t miss this energetic and practical program. All NCBA members who want to improve their legal writing skills are welcome to attend. 1. The speaker will assume experience in drafting legal documents under time pressure. 2. The speaker asks that those attending have in mind a project they are now working on or recently had worked on and to bring a pen and paper. Info: John Donnoe, Esq. at (858) 201-9030. MCLE CREDIT HOURS: 1.25 General (pending) The BANSDC certifies that the above activities conform to the standards set forth in Section 7.1 for approved education activities prescribed by the Rules and Regulations of the State Bar of California governing MCLE and are approved for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California. September 2013 CIVIL LITIGATION DATE/TIME: Thursday 09/12 12:00 noon PLACE: NCBA Office (249 S. Indiana Ave; Vista, CA) TOPIC: Creating and Preserving Your Case for Appeal: How, When and Why to Object, Raise and Preserve IssuesSPEAKERS: Valerie Hong Esq., Christina Bernstein, Esq., and Derek Hecht, Esq. INFO: Susan Curran - (760) 634-1229 MCLE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0 General (pending) WORKERS’ COMP DATE/TIME: Friday 9/20 12:00 noon PLACE: Vista Village Pub (224 Main Street; Vista, CA) TOPIC: Elimination of Bias SPEAKER: Cecile Bereal, Esq. INFO: Michelle Bettis (760) 476-9990 MCLE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0 Elimination of Bias (pending) REAL PROPERTY DATE/TIME: Wednesday 09/25 8:00 a.m. PLACE: NCBA Office (249 S. Indiana Ave; Vista, CA) TOPIC: Title Policy SPEAKER: David G. Boss, Esq. INFO: James Lund (760) 747-7800 Deborah Zoller (760) 728-0464 MCLE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0 General (pending) FAMILY LAW DATE/TIME: Wednesday 9/25 12:00 noon PLACE: NCBA Office (249 S. Indiana Ave; Vista, CA) TOPIC: How To Obtain Attorney Fee Orders In Family Law SPEAKER: Family Law Section Chair Pierre Domercq, Esq. INFO: Pierre Domercq (760) 434-3330 Anastasia Ganatsios (760) 201-9970 MCLE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0 General (pending) Mark your calendar! ADR SECTION WHEN: Wednesday, October 9, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. FAMILY LAW SECTION WHEN: Friday October 25, 12:00 noon CRIMINAL LAW SECTION RSVP - info@northcountybar.org WHEN: Friday, November 8, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 Casa Palmera (14750 El Camino Real; Del Mar, CA 92014) ADR SECTION WHEN: Wednesday, November 13, 12:00p.m.-2:00 p.m. 27 North County Bar Association of Post Office Box 2381 Vista, CA 92085 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE P A I D Vista, CA 92085 Permit No. 43 Change Service Requested NORTH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION GOLF TOURNAMENT our Y k r a M ar Calend The North County Bar Association cordially invites you to attend its September Dinner Meeting Thursday, September 19, 2013 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Crossings in Carlsbad 5800 The Crossings Drive, Carlsbad MONDAY OCTOBER 14, 2013 Twin Oaks Golf Course 1425 North Twin Oaks Valley Road San Marcos 760-591-4700 Terry Kasbeer, Chairman of the Golf Committee SHOTGUN START At 12:45 p.m. Dinner will be in the Garden Room Great Atmosphere! Only $85.00 per player includes golf fees & dinner Gather your foursomes! Further Details to Follow 760-758-5833 Featuring “Meet the Bench and Get Answers to Your Questions!” A Panel Discussion This is a rare opportunity. Meet the bench and get answers to your questions! A special panel of judges has agreed to be present at our September meeting to answer your questions and concerns, and listen to your suggestions about how the various departments are run. Please join us and bring a friend! Please submit your questions, concerns, suggestions or topics you would like the judges to address by sending an email to bansdc@northcountybar.org, or fax it to 760.758.3979. (Be sure to put “September Dinner Meeting Questions.” No limit to the questions you can ask.) Please join us and bring a friend! Cost is $28.00: Meal choices: Chicken, Beef of Pasta. Please forward your reservations to: NCBA, P.O. Box 2381, Vista, CA 92085 To pay by Credit Card, please call the bar office at 760.758.5833