L Torre L ke Re or nd Sp - Tarrant County Bar Association

Bulletin
February 2014
This year, join us at…
La Torretta Lake Resort and Spa
Bench Bar Conference XXI • April 25-27, 2014
La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa on Lake Conroe • Montgomery, Texas
2014 Conference Details
Join fellow members of the Bench and the Bar at
the newly renovated la Torretta lake Resort and
Spa in Montgomery, Texas, April 25-27, 2014
for a memorable opportunity to network and
build relationships while enjoying interesting
speakers and presentations. This beautiful
resort features numerous amenities,
exceptional dining and a perfect setting for
our conference social activities.
Recruit Your Friends
Returning Bench Bar attendees are challenged to
recruit as many first-time attendees for Bench Bar
XXi as possible. The attorney who recruits the
most first-time attendees who register, pay and
attend will win a free registration to Bench Bar XXii
(2015).
Judges’ Cup
envy is a powerful emotion! if your name is not
engraved on the “Judges’ Cup” start practicing now.
The traveling Judges’ Cup Trophy will be presented
to the winners of the Saturday 18-Hole Golf
Tournament during the Saturday evening Awards
Presentation.
Scholarships: First-Time Attendees
First-time attendees who have been licensed for
five years or less are eligible for partial scholarships
(based on double occupancy). For details and a
scholarship form, call Sherry at 817-338-4092.
Apply early for a scholarship.
Grape Escape - Bus Tour
Spend Saturday afternoon with a fun group touring
area vineyards. The scenery will be beautiful and
it will be a great opportunity to meet and socialize
with fellow attorneys and judges.
Barlow Big Heart Award
James B. Barlow was a loyal attendee and supporter
of TCBA Bench Bar Conferences. Jim made
everyone feel welcome and was a positive role
model for all who attended the conferences. in
memory and special recognition of him, attendees
will nominate a member who actively promotes
positive relationships between the bench and bar
during the conference. The attendee selected will
receive the James B. Barlow “Big Heart” Award.
New Events And Activities At Bench Bar XXI
Beach Party • Miniature Golf
Water Slides with Lazy River • Racquetball Courts
MCLE Credit
TCBA will be requesting 8.25 hours of MCLE credit,
including 3.75 hours of ethics.
Schedule • Bench Bar Conference XXI
Friday, April 25, 2014
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11:10 a.m.
Mentors:
Mentees:
12:15 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
1:45 p.m.
2:45 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
Registration Opens
Opening Remarks / Welcome
“Transition to Practice” / Mentoring Panel (Ethics)
Roland Johnson, Harris, Finley & Bogle, PC
Judge Mike Sinha, District Judge, 360th District Court
Judge Cynthia Mendoza, Associate Judge, 360th District Court
Mike Heiskell, Johnson, Vaughn & Heiskell, PC
Alex Kim, Kim & Andrews, LP
Michael Schneider, Schneider Law Firm, PC
Joseph Soto, Joseph R. Soto & Associates, PC
Catherine Borum, Borum law Firm, PC
lunch
“Burnout and the Busy Lawyer” (Ethics) Bree Buchanan, Texas Lawyers Assistance Program
“Human Trafficking - SLAVERY OUT OF THE SHADOWS” – Video presentation,
Eric Nickols, Assistant District Attorney, Criminal District Attorney of Tarrant County
“Water….For Everyone?”
Bech Bruun, Texas Water Development Board
Adjourn
9-Hole Golf, and lawyer Olympics
Hospitality Social - essence lounge
Dinner in Restaurant 157
Casino night – Hosted by law Office of Steven C. laird
Saturday, April 26, 2014
8:30 a.m.
9:15 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
11:15 a.m.
12:45 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
“2014 – Out With the Old (Probate) Code, In With the New (Estates) Code”
Keith Branyon, Jackson Walker, LLP
“Oil and Gas Royalty Litigation: Perspectives of Plaintiffs and Defendants”
Jeff King, Winstead PC & David J. Drez III, Wick Phillips Gould Martin, LLP
“18-Wheeler Collisions and You – What You Don’t Know Can Also Hurt You.”
Steve laird, law Offices of Steven C. laird, PC
Tarrant County Specialty Court Programs (ethics)
Judge Jamie Cummings, County Criminal Court no. 5
Judge Elizabeth Beach, Criminal District Court No. 1
Judge louis Sturns, 213th Criminal District Court
Judge Brent Carr, County Criminal Court no. 9
Judge Robb Catalano, Criminal District Court No. 3
Shotgun Topics:
“DOMA” – Barbara D. Nunneley, Nunneley Family Law Center
Laurie D. Robinson, Robinson & Smart, PC
“Texas Lawyers Creed” (ethics)
John Allen Chalk, Sr., Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Schwartz PllC
“Building Trust for Better Negotiation Outcomes - Mediation, Dispute Resolution
and Arbitration” (ethics)
Jaquelyn Flynt, Director, Dispute Resolution Services
Adjourn / Lunch – Pick up Box Lunches
Judges’ Cup Golf Tournament and Grape escape Bus Tour
Hospitality Suite Open
Dinner in Restaurant 157, Awards Presentation, Door Prizes
Jammin’ & Games with Bonfire at the Beach
Sunday, April 27, 2014
8:30 a.m.
Breakfast in Restaurant 157 Departure
Drive Safely
Tarrant County Bar Association • Bench Bar Conference XXI
La Torretta Resort & Spa • Montgomery, Texas
A
Registration Deadline: March 21, 2014
(Registrations after March 21: Add $25 & Subject to Hotel Space Availability)
Partial Scholarships Available - See Conference Details
Guest Room Reservations • This facility is 100% non-smoking.
Single $625 (very limited availability) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$
Double $525 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$
Registration includes: Accommodations Friday and Saturday nights and six meals, hospitality suite and 8.25 hours MCLE credit
Non-Members: Add $125 to the registration fee to cover TCBA membership dues . . . . . .$
Add-on Thursday night stay (room only): $140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$
Gender:
Male
Female
Roommate
All roommates must be registered to attend. if a roommate is not designated, we will assign one for you.
If ADA requirements are necessary, please indicate.
Leisure Activities
Golf
Friday $40
Saturday $60
Golf (Hdcp/Avg. score
)
Golf (Hdcp/Avg. score _____)
9 holes with cart . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 holes with cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Saturday Bus Tour $50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$
Scholarship Contribution Please consider making a contribution toward scholarship fund. . . . $
Total Enclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$
First time attendee?
Yes
No * New attendee competition (see Conference Details)
Yes
no
if yes, invited by?
Previous attendee?
# of years attended
name
Firm/Office
Address
Fax
Cell Phone
email
Area of Practice
/
My check is enclosed
Card number
Billing Zip Code
Signature
Please charge my registration fee to my:
Mastercard
# of years in practice
Visa
American Express
Expiration Date
/
/
Security Code
Date
Casual attire only!
Make checks payable to TCBA • 1315 Calhoun Street * Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6504
Phone: 817.338.4092 • Fax: 817.335.9238
Cancellations Are Allowed Until March 21, 2014, but Fee Of $25 Will Apply.
After deadline, no refunds are allowed. No exceptions.
Thanks to our Sponsors
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz, PLLC
Law Of�ice of Steven C. Laird
Thompson & Knight, LLP
LexisNexis
McDonald Sanders, PC
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Koons Fuller Family Law
Brackett & Ellis, PC
Gardner Aldrich, LLP
Harris, Finley & Bogle PC
Lively & Associates, LLP
State Bar of Texas
Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP
Tarrant County Bar Foundation
Bush Rudnicki Shelton, PC
Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP
Parker Law Firm, PC
Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Ray, LLP
Law Of�ice of Greg Lehrmann
Friedman, Suder & Cooke
Bearden Investigative Agency, Inc.
Decker Jones McMackin McClane Hall, & Bates, PC
Bench Bar Conference Committee
Julie Sladek
Chair
Fritz Quast
Chair-Elect
Greg Lehrmann
Finance Chair
MEMBERS
Peter Bagley
Ben Barlow
nick Bettinger
Patricia Cole
Jacquelyn Flynt
Justice lee Gabriel
nancy Gordon
Kyle Gray
Cynthia Gustafson
Karmen Johnson
lisa leaton
John lively
Karin Mayer
lyndsay newell
Judge Don Pierson
Shannon Pritchard
Joe Regan
John Shaw
Melissa Swan
Bob West
Roger Wood
Judge everett Young
STAFF
Patricia “Trisha” Graham, PlS, ClAS
Sherry Jones
P
resident’s page
H
ere we are, already through
the first month of 2014 and
starting into the second. i
hope January was a good month for
you. if there is a fading new Year’s
resolution sneaking towards the
exit, reclaim that vanishing resolution. Or, if you haven’t done so,
make a plan now for a successful
year, even if you focus on just one
area of your life. You could resolve
to increase your network by spending more time with colleagues (we’d
like to see more of you!) or to start
or revive a project on your agenda.
by Ann Diamond
it is not too late. You can’t give up
on 2014 yet.
Tenacity is important to success. Our 50-year
lawyers are living examples of that. On Tuesday,
February 11, 2014, our 11:45 a.m. Membership
Luncheon at the Fort Worth Club highlights these
lawyers. Please join us as we celebrate their half-century contribution to our profession.
Consider the struggles and societal change the
50-year lawyers have seen. You may have watched
the original (1957–1966) Perry Mason TV episodes.
Perry and his trusty side-kicks, Della Street and Paul
Drake, survived and succeeded in a mid-century solo
practice without computers, fax machines, or cell
phones. There was a touch of glamour to it all, at
least on television. The reality in law practice then
was that there was a lot of hard work that went into
being a good lawyer, just as there is now.
Looking back to Perry Mason’s day, Perry wasn’t
just any lawyer. He was a fairly accurate visual representation of the demographics of the profession at
the time. Much has changed in the past fifty years,
and the diversifying of the profession is one very visible and welcome improvement. little girls who aspire to be attorneys no longer raise eyebrows when
they voice their dreams. They now get the same reactions as do their brothers. The same is increasingly
true for children of every race, ethnicity, religion,
color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin, or other characteristic. The
expense of a legal education and less than stellar primary and secondary public education are threats to
the continued growth of diversity in our profession,
to be sure. The hurdles are similar in other fields that
demand advanced education. More must be done to
actualize the promise of equal opportunity, but we
can and should celebrate the fact that there has been
movement in the right direction. As Perry Mason’s
day slips into history, the lawyers on today’s television legal dramas may not all be great role models
(for heaven’s sake, counsel, don’t do THAT at the
office!), but at least there is now increasing diversity
both in popular culture’s portrayal of our profession
and in the real practice of law.
Still, you may find yourself feeling unconnected
to attorney colleagues and wonder what you have in
common with lawyers you don’t know. Remember
that most lawyers (like you) start their career with
great enthusiasm to seek justice and do good things in
the world. it is part and parcel of who we are as lawyers. This has been true for a very long time. Thus, as
new lawyers find their way into the profession, they
have justice-oriented senior colleagues upon whom
they may call for guidance, even if those colleagues
don’t share the same practice area, background or
formative experiences. Don’t hesitate to reach out,
to tap into the shared core value of justice that runs
through the veins of your fellow lawyers. There are
friends and allies to be made among colleagues from
all backgrounds. TCBA is the connection point where
these friendships and alliances can form and grow.
Don’t miss out on the benefit of collegiality, one of
the best reasons to be a TCBA member and to come
in person to TCBA events. One TCBA event that especially celebrates collegiality is the Docket Call mixer.
The next Docket Call is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.,
Thursday, February 27, at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in downtown Fort Worth, courtesy of sponsor
lone Star Ag Credit. And, of course, April’s Bench
Bar conference is drawing ever closer.
looking to the future, as we enter an election
year our Bylaws provide for a Judicial Preference
Poll. The larger the number of poll participants, the
more likely it is that all views will be fairly included.
We have historically had a very good bench in Tarrant County. As attorneys, we need to take seriously
our obligation to be informed so we can be supportive of good judges and judicial candidates and so
that we can answer intelligently when fellow citizens
ask for input before they cast ballots. The Bar itself
has no opinion regarding any judge or judicial or
other candidate–it is neutral politically. However, we
believe in an informed electorate. The importance of
the judiciary to the administration of justice merits
your participation in the poll. Please watch for the
poll email and give it your thoughtful input.
looking forward to seeing you at the 50-year
lawyer lunch on the 11th, Docket Call on the 27th,
and at other events on our calendar,
Ann
February 2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
1
C
Tarrant County Bar Association
817.338.4092 ■ Fax 817.335.9238
website: www.tarrantbar.org
e-mail: tcba@tarrantbar.org
ontents
2013-2014 Officers
3
Features
3
8
10
CLE Membership Luncheon to Honor 50-Year Attorneys
Annual Blood Drive
Give a meaningful gift this year for Valentine’s Day
Tricks and Traps
Practical Tips for Your Appellate Practice
Departments
1 President’s Page
5 A YLA Snapshot
6 Snippets - Civil and Criminal
12 In Memoriam for John F. Green
13 LegalLine
13 Lawyers on the Move & in the News
13 New Members
13 Lawyer Referral and Information Service News
14 100 Club Members
15 TLTV-Tarrant County Chapter
15 Other Associations’ News & Information
16 Transition to Practice 2014
16 TCBA Member Benefits
17 TVAS Pro Bono Volunteer Spotlight
In every issue
18 Calendar of Events
20 Classified Advertising
20 Advertiser’s Index
2012-2013 Elected Directors
John H. Cayce
Kim M. Naylor
Randy E. Turner
Nick S. Bettinger
Steven K. Hayes
Claudine G. Jackson
2012-2013 Appointed Directors
Dabney D. Bassel
Karmen Johnson
Immediate Past President
J. Benjamin Barlow
Fort Worth-Tarrant County
Young Lawyers Association
Justin P. Huston, President
Executive Director
Patricia Graham, PLS, CLAS
Ex-Officio Members
State Bar of Texas Directors
Robert E. Aldrich, Jr.
J. Benjamin Barlow
Judge Jo Ann Reyes
ABA Delegate
Janna W. Clarke
Bar Bulletin
John F. Murphy, Editor
H. Dennis Kelly, Assistant Editor
Ameera Hallaq, Staff Editor
ameera@tarrantbar.org • 817.338.4092
Graphics/Production
Park Place Enterprises, Inc.
ggpark@flash.net • 817.877.8901
The Tarrant County Bar Bulletin is
a monthly publication of the Tarrant
County Bar Association. Articles, photos,
events for the calendar, suggestions, or
comments should be directed to:
1315 Calhoun Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6504
Deadline for submission is the 20th day
of the month, two months before the date
of the issue (e.g. April 20th for the June issue). Items for publication may be sent by
fax to 817-335-9238 or e-mail to ameera@
tarrantbar.org in Word format.
cover gatefold
2 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
President. . . . . . . . . . . . Ann L. Diamond
President-Elect . . . . . . . Michael J. Henry
Vice President. . . . . . . . . David E. Keltner
Secretary-Treasurer. . . . . . Robert G. West
Articles published in the Bar Bulletin do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of
the Tarrant County Bar Association, its
officers, or the Board of Directors. Calendar
lisitngs, classifieds, advertisements, and
feature articles should not be considered
an endorsement of any service, product,
program, seminar or event.
CLE Membership Luncheon to Honor 50-Year Attorneys
Topic: Congratulations to You All – Well Done
T
he February CLE Membership Luncheon will be held at
the Fort Worth Club on Tuesday, the 11th at 11:45 a.m,
will feature Terry Gardner as keynote speaker, and honor
attorneys who have been licensed and have practiced law
for 50 years.
Gardner of Gardner Aldrich, llP graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law, is board
certified in Civil Trial law (since 1978) and Personal injury
Trial law (since 1988) and has been in private practice in
Fort Worth since 1967. Gardner has been very active in the
Tarrant County Bar Association for a number of years and
served as TCBA President during the 1991-1992 Bar Year.
Recognized in various “Best lawyer” lists nationally, at
the state level and locally, Gardner has conducted numerous seminars and workshops on trial practice. His topic will
be “Congratulations to You All.”
The luncheon program will include acknowledgment
of attorneys who in 2013 reached the 50-year status. Honorees for this year’s elite group include: Joseph W. Colvin, Walter S. Fortney III, Ed Winton McKinney, Henry
Meyer, Judge Billy D. Mills, James F. Thompson, Melinda
Terry Vance, James Wagner, Bill J. Zimmerman. All past
“50-Year-Attorneys” are invited to attend as guests of TCBA.
Co-hosted by the TCBA
and the FW-TCYlA, the cost
of the buffet meal is $23 for
members of either association.
Reservations are required. The
cost for guests and walk-ins is
$28.
For reservations, contact
Sherry Jones at 817-338-4092
or e-mail: sherry@tarrantbar.
org. You can also make reservations online. Go to the TCBA
Keynote Speaker Terry Gardner,
website www.tarrantbar.org, past president of Tarrant County
click on the “Home” tab, then Bar Association and recipient of
click on “Calendar,” find Feb- the 2007 Blackstone Award.
ruary 11 and this program, and
click the “register” button.
Dress is business casual – suits and ties are not required.
The Fort Worth Club is located at 306 West 7th Street, 12
floor. Parking is limited at the Fort Worth Club, but satellite parking may be available at nearby parking garages or
parking meters. For directions, visit the Fort Worth Club’s
website www.fortworthclub.com. ■
Docket Call
Social
THURSDAY
February 27
5PM
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
817-348-0080
813 Main Street • Fort Worth
sponsored by
February 2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
3
Ameera HallaqJoins TCBA Staff
T
his new Year is also the official start of a new career for
Ameera Hallaq. She has been volunteering for the Tarrant County Bar Foundation’s Pro Bono Programs since
november of 2012, and she has now come aboard as Communications & Community Services Coordinator/Pro Bono
Paralegal for the Tarrant County Bar Association (TCBA).
Ameera is taking over Pat leake’s responsibilities, and she
will also serve as the Paralegal for Texas Veterans-Tarrant
County Chapter (TLTV) and the Tarrant County Volunteer
Attorney Services (TVAS) programs.
Ameera’s first career was in the rocky airline industry,
where she rode the ups and downs as a pricing analyst for
American Airlines for a number of years before deciding it
was time for a change. She was always interested in the legal
field and decided that it was time to pursue that path. After
researching her options, she chose the Paralegal School at
UT Austin because of its excellent program and reputation.
To pursue her passion, Ameera drove a six-hour round-trip
between Fort Worth and Austin twice weekly for a six month
period. She completed her Paralegal Studies in an accelerated program and was ready to start her career in the legal
field. Ameera’s compassion for those in need and her commitment to practice all that she had learned inspired her to
start volunteering for the TVAS and TLTV programs. She
4 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
excelled and impressed all that had the
opportunity to work with her because of
Ameera’s resourcefulness, attention to
detail, and treatment of her volunteer
work as any paying job. Her commitment to the pro bono programs earned
her recognition as the 2013 Paralegal
of the Year for TLTV during the Annual Foundation Meeting on January 28.
Ameera truly enjoys her work at the Ameera Hallaq
Bar Association, and she is happy that Communications &
she can bring together both her analyti- Community Services
Coordinator/Pro Bono
cal and artistic sides in this new posi- Paralegal
tion. She says it is the first place she has
worked where she is passionate, not only about her own work,
but about the organization she works for and its mission.
When she’s not working at the TCBA, Ameera spends
her spare time applying her love of art and color to various
art forms, particularly in the use of textiles, and in such hobbies as face-painting, restoring and upholstering furniture,
painting, and photography. She also tries to find time to restore her 1917-vintage house in the Fairmount Historic District, where she lives with her family, which includes dog,
Bindy, and cat, Scout. ■
I
t
o
h
s
p
a
n
S
AYLA
t feels as if it was just yesterday when i took over the role as
TCYlA’s President, and now i am writing my last address to
you. Having served first on the Board of Directors, and then
as an Officer, i have been a part of TYClA for over four years.
The time has flown by, and i have made more friends and acquaintances than I could possibly count (and consumed more
Reata food than i care to admit).
To say that being a part of TCYlA has bettered my life
would be an understatement. i would not be where i am today
without the friends and connections i made with the TCYlA.
i encourage each young attorney to consider becoming
more a part of TCYlA. elections will be held at the luncheon
later this month, and committees abound all year long. This
has truly been a gratifying experience and one I wholly recommend.
To the Board, both past and present, it has been a pleasure
to serve with each of you, and i wish you all the best moving
forward. To the Fort Worth attorneys i have met along the way,
i could not be happier or more proud to be a part of this community; you will never cease to amaze me with your courtesy,
generosity, and selflessness. There could not be a better place
to practice.
Before I completely sign off, a quick update on our recent
and upcoming events:
On January 18, the TCYlA, along with TYlA, embarked
upon Generation Generosity, a one-day community service
event throughout greater Fort Worth. TCYlA and TYlA were
present at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, northside inter-Community Agency, Ronald
McDonald House, and more throughout
the day. A big thank you goes out to the
TYlA Board and our members for making this a great success.
The upcoming spring is really when
things start to heat up around here, both literally and figuratively. Planning for TCYlA’s Spring Fiesta is
starting now, so if you were looking for a place to get involved
with the TCYlA, this is it. There is lots to do, and lots of great
people help every year. enjoy some pictures from last year to
get the spring blood flowing.
TCYlA will also be helping out with northside inter-Community Agency’s 7th Annual Taste of Fort Worth on March 22,
2014, at The River Ranch in the Fort Worth Stockyards. More
information will be coming soon, but if you have ever attended this event, you know the food and beverages are always
AMAZING.
last but not least, this time of year is when the TCYlA
Board of Directors begins considering nominations for Outstanding Young Lawyer, Outstanding Mentor, and the Liberty
Bell Award (service to the Bar by a non-attorney). if there is
someone you think may qualify for one of these awards, I
encourage you to reach out to Cindy at cindy@tarrantbar.org
and let us know.
That about wraps it up. i seriously will not know what to
do with myself when this is all over. Maybe I’ll take a vacation. ■
Justin Huston
President, FW-TCYLA
February 2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
5
Snippets
Civil and Criminal
by Justice Bob McCoy
■
2nd Court Of Appeals
Eloquence – A Lost Art
CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST
“i’ll take a drug test . . .if you’ll take an iQ test.”
1. Inverse Condemnation
“The united States Supreme Court has identified three
key factors to guide our analysis: (1) the economic impact on the claimant; (2) the extent of interference with
the claimant’s investment-backed expectations; and (3)
the character of the government’s action.” City of Lorena v. BMTP Holdings, L.P., 409 S.W.3d 634, 644 (Tex.
2013).
Senator Fritz Hollings when challenged by his Republican
opponent during a televised debate.
Thanks to Roger Towery for this item.
Who’s That Street Named After?
Ferdinand FOCH (1851-1929), a French soldier, ended up as
Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in World War i.
From “Who was Hulen? An attempt by Werner Magnus to
find the origins of Street names in Fort Worth.”
Who’s The Justice?
Jack M. Langdon served as an Associate Justice from 1963
to 1974. Born in Stamford, Texas in 1910, Justice Langdon
received his education at Texas Christian University, where
he was a three-year football letterman. From 1937 to 1940
he served two terms in the Texas Legislature. From 1940 to
1945 he was a Special Agent for the F.B.i. Following this,
Justice langdon went into private practice in Fort Worth
for six years. In 1951, he became judge of the 17th District
Court, where he served until 1963. At such time, he was
elected to the Second Court of Appeals, where he served until his retirement in 1974. Following his retirement from the
bench, Justice langdon lived and practiced law in Granbury.
Ask Judge Bob
Judge Bob, what is a registered accessibility specialist? The
administrative code defines a registered accessibility specialist as “[a]n individual who is certified by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation [TDLR] to perform review
and inspection functions of the TDLR.” Rogers v. Orr, 408
S.W.3d 640, 643 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 2013).
Ask The Danes
Moses
Ramses and Moses, can a court issue
a protective order on a pet? Yes, in a
protective order, the court may prohibit
the person found to have committed
family violence from: harming, threatening, or interfering with the care,
custody, or control of a pet. See Tex.
Fam. Code Ann. §85.022 (b)(7).
The Danes’ Quote Of The Month
Ramses
“A living dog is better than a dead
lion.” — ecclesiastes 9:4
6 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
2. Motion to Dismiss
“The decision to dismiss a cause of action against a party is a matter ordinarily within the sound discretion of
the trial court.” In re Estate of Whittington, 409 S.W.3d
666, 669 (Tex. App.–Eastland 2013).
3. Assigned Causes Action
“The five instances in which assigned causes action are
void as against public police are as follows: (1) The assignment of an interest in an estate is void if used to
contest a will; (2) The assignment of plaintiff’s claim to
a tortfeasor in settlement is void when tortfeasor asserts
the claim against a joint tortfeasor; (3) “Mary Carter”
agreements are void; (4) The assignment of a defendant’s claims against his insurer to the plaintiff is void
under certain circumstances; and (5) The assignment of
client’s legal malpractice claim arising out of litigation is
void.” Magill v. Watson, 409 S.W.3d 673, 677–78 (Tex.
App.–Houston[1st Dist.] 2013). (internal citations omitted).
4. Media Defendants
“Media defendants cannot be liable for varying subjective impressions that may have been generated from the
broadcast of true statements.” KTRK Television, Inc. v.
Robinson, 409 S.W.3d 682, 690-91(Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2013).
5. Jury Charge Instruction
“For a jury charge, ‘[t]he court shall submit such instructions and definitions as shall be proper to enable
the jury to render a verdict.’ Tex. R. Civ. P. 277. ‘An instruction is proper if it (1) assists the jury, (2) accurately
states the law, and (3) finds support in the pleadings
and evidence.’” D&M Marine, Inc. v. Turner, 409 S.W.3d
693, 698 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2013.
6. Decisions for Other States
“We may rely on federal decisions and decisions from
other states as persuasive authority.” Little v. Delta
Steel, Inc., 409 S.W.3d 704, 717 n.17 (Tex. App.–Fort
Worth 2013).
CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST
1. Warrantless Search or Seizure
“When police conduct a warrantless search or seizure,
the state has the burden to show that the officer has
reasonable suspicion to believe that an individual was
violating the law. We have held that the officer must
have specific, articulable facts that, when combined
with rational inferences therefrom, lead him to reasonably conclude that a particular person actually is, has
been, or soon will be, engaged in criminal activity. This
standard is objective, thus there need be only an objective basis for the stop; the subjective intent of the officer
is irrelevant.” Arguellez v. State, 409 S.W.3d 657, 663
(Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
2. Equal Protection
“On appeal, the appellant’s contention must comport
with a specific objection made at trial. Equal protection
claims are subject to this rule.” Moreno v. State, 409
S.W.3d 723, 428 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2013).
3. Court Reporter
“[e]ven if Rule 13.1 does impose a preliminary burden
on the trial court to ensure the presence of a court reporter at all proceedings, our case law also imposes an
additional, independent burden to object when the official court reporter is not present, as he is required to be
under Rule 13.1, in order to preserve any error that may
occur for appeal.” Johnson v. State, 409 S.W.3d 738, 741
(Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2013).
4. Accomplice-Witness Instruction
“A defendant is egregiously harmed by the trial court’s
omission of an accomplice-witness instruction if a rational jury ‘would have found the corroborating evidence
so unconvincing in fact as to render the State’s overall
case for conviction clearly and significantly less persuasive.’ We consider the extent of any harm ‘in light of the
entire jury charge, the state of the evidence, including
the contested issues and weight of probative evidence,
the argument of counsel and any other relevant information revealed by the record of the trial as a whole.’”
Torres v. State, 408 S.W.3d 400, 404 (Tex. App.–Houston
[1st Dist.] 2012).
5. Right to Terminate an Interview
“‘The right to terminate questioning is among the procedural safeguards that Miranda establishes’ to protect
the Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. This right
requires police officers to immediately terminate questioning when a suspect ‘indicates in any manner, at any
time prior to or during questioning, that he wishes to
remain silent.’” Kupferer v. State, 408 S.W.3d 485, 489
(Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2013).
6. Videotape Evidence
“Although the trial court’s findings are afforded almost
total deference, when evidence is conclusive, such as
‘indisputable visual evidence,’ any trial-court findings
inconsistent with that conclusive evidence may be disregarded as unsupported by the record, even when that
record is viewed in a light most favorable to the trial
court’s ruling. Thus, when a videotape presents indisputable evidence contradicting essential portions of an
officer’s testimony, that testimony cannot support a trial court’s finding even though the officer’s testimony
might, by itself, be read to support the finding.” Thompson v. State, 408 S.W.3d 614, 622 (Tex. App.–Austin
2013).
Quote Of The Month
“let us reform our schools, and we shall find little reform
needed in our prisons.” –John Ruskin
Old News
The County seat of upshur County is Gilmer, both named
for two men who were accidentally killed at the same time.
Abel Parker upshur, who was secretary of state for President
John Tyler, was aboard the war ship Princeton sailing on
the Potomac River, along with Thomas W. Gilmer. During a
demonstration of the ship’s firing power, a breach of the gun
exploded and killed Upshur and Gilmer. Interestingly, the
present 1933 courthouse in Gilmer is on Tyler Street, named
for the president. ■
NOTICE: Election of the 2014-2015
Board of Directors
The TCBA Election Committee is accepting candidates for the
position of Director. If you are interested in serving on the
Board of Directors, please contact the TCBA office for a Director Candidate Request form by contacting the Bar Offices at
(817) 338-4092 or by emailing trisha@tarrantbar.org and submit your form to the Election Committee by March 1, 2014. ■
February 2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
7
The Annual
Lawyer Sketch Comedy Show
le
nt y St y
u
o
C
t
n
a
r
r
Ta
Starring Tarrant County Attorneys & Judges
4
Saturday, March 22, 2014 • 7PM
Fort Worth Community Arts Center
Tickets: $25/person • Sponsorships Available.
Call Trisha 817.338.4092
facebook.com/tortfeasors
Join us.
Court Staff
Appreciation
Reception and Awards
4:30 p.m. • Thursday, March 27, 2014
Tarrant County Bar Center
Show your appreciation to the court staff
who help the legal community on a daily
basis, and see the presentation of the
Outstanding Staff Awards to
Civil (including district/county courts at law/probate)
Criminal
Family
Federal Courts
Sponsors needed.
Contact Sherry Jones • 817-338-4092 • sherry@tarrantbar.org
Give a meaningful gift this year
for Valentine’s Day, and win a
gift for yourself too!
Donate blood at the Annual Blood Drive to be held on February 13! All donors will be eligible for entry into our drawing
for door prizes! Come and join in a friendly competition
and support your firm with the most donations!
Did you know...
• Donating blood usually takes about 10 minutes; the entire
process from sign-in to juice-and-cookie takes about an hour?
• Blood drives hosted by organizations supply roughly half of all
blood donations across the United States?
• Someone needs blood every two seconds?
• One unit of blood can be separated into red blood cells, plasma
and platelets, and can save up to three lives?
• A patient could be forced to pass up a lifesaving organ, if
compatible blood is not available to support the transplant?
• If only one more percent of all Americans would give blood,
blood shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future?
James Harrison is a blood donor known as the “Man
with the Golden Arm.” He has been donating blood since
the age of 18, and has donated over 1000 pints of blood,
holding the world record. Because of his unique blood composition, his blood has been used to save the lives of thousands of RH(D) positive babies with Rhesus disease, including his own daughter. His unique blood composition was
considered so important that his life was insured for one
million dollars.
★ ★ ★ There is no substitute for human blood ★ ★ ★
8 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
February 2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
9
Tricks Traps
and
Practical Tips for Your Appellate Practice
by Mary H. Smith
N
o single topic in Texas appellate law has gotten more
attention over the past couple of years than supersedeas practice. Because supersedeas issues arise in
almost every civil appeal, it is important to stay abreast of
these legal developments.
Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 24.1 provides that a
judgment-debtor may supersede enforcement of a judgment
by: (1) filing with the trial court clerk a written agreement
with the judgment creditor for suspending enforcement of
the judgment; (2) filing with the trial court clerk a good and
sufficient bond; (3) making a deposit with the trial court
clerk in lieu of a bond; or (4) providing alternate security
ordered by the trial court.
When the judgment is for money, the amount of the
bond, deposit, or security must equal the sum of compensatory damages awarded in the judgment, interest for the
estimated duration of the appeal, and costs awarded in the
judgment.1 However, the amount must not exceed the lesser
of fifty percent of the judgment-debtor’s current net worth or
twenty-five million dollars.2
Despite this basic statutory framework, several questions have arisen.
1. Are Attorney’s Fees Compensatory
Damages or Costs That Must Be Superseded?
The Texas Supreme Court recently held that, in most
cases, attorney’s fees are neither compensatory damages nor
costs for purposes of suspending enforcement of a judgment
pending appeal.3 Prior to this opinion, Texas courts of appeals were split on the issue.4
A. Generally, Attorney’s Fees Are Not
Compensatory Damages.
To determine whether attorney’s fees are included in the
1
2
3
4
Tex. R. App. P. 24.2(a)(1).
Id.
In re Nalle Plastics Family, Ltd. P’ship, 406
S.W.3d 168, 174-75 (Tex. 2013).
See, e.g., Fairways Offshore Exploration, Inc.
v. Patterson Servs., Inc., 355 S.W.3d 296, 30103 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no
pet.) (attorney’s fees are compensatory damages that must be superseded); Corral-Lerma
v. Border Demolition & Envtl., Inc., no. 0811-00134-CV, 2012 WL 1943763, at *3-5 (Tex.
App.—El Paso May 30, 2012, orig. proceeding
[mand. pending]) (same); Clearview Props.,
L.P. v. Prop. Tex. SC One Corp., 228 S.W.3d 262,
264 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, no
pet.) (per curiam) (attorney’s fees are costs
that must be superseded); Shook v. Walden,
10 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
5
6
7
8
definition of “compensatory damages,” the Texas Supreme
Court used basic principles of statutory construction. The
Court first looked to the statute itself to see if it defined
the term “compensatory damages.”5 Because it did not, the
Court consulted Black’s Law Dictionary.6 ultimately, the
Court relied upon its precedent and the ordinary meaning of
the phrase “compensatory damages.”7
Since 1876, the Texas Supreme Court has distinguished
between attorney’s fees and damages by emphasizing the
difference between compensation owed for an underlying
harm and fees that may be awarded for counsel’s services.8
The legislature also has made such a distinction. indeed,
the primary statute that designates when attorney’s fees
may be recovered provides that “[a] person may recover reasonable attorney’s fees from an individual or corporation,
in addition to the amount of a valid claim and costs” when
certain claims are at issue.9
Courts interpreting that statutory language have held
“that the phrase ‘in addition to’ suggests that the legislature
intended to differentiate between attorney’s fees, damages
awarded for a valid claim, and costs.”10 The Texas Supreme
Court confirmed this construction in 2009, noting that “suits
cannot be maintained solely for the attorney’s fees; a client
must gain something before attorney’s fees can be awarded.”11 Therefore, as a general rule, attorney’s fees are not
compensatory damages for purposes of suspending enforcement of a judgment pending appeal.
There is one notable exception to this general rule that
practitioners should be aware of. if the underlying suit concerns a claim for attorney’s fees as an element of damage—a
claim of unpaid fees, for example—then an award of fees
may properly be included in the definition of “compensatory
damages” for purposes of superseding the judgment.12
304 S.W.3d 910, 922 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010,
no pet.) (attorney’s fees excluded from definitions of compensatory damages and costs and
need not be superseded); PopCap Games, Inc.
v. MumboJumbo, LLC, 317 S.W.3d 913, 914
(Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, no pet.) (same).
In re Nalle Plastics Family, Ltd. P’ship, 406
S.W.3d at 171.
Id. at 171-72.
Id. 172-74.
Id. at 172 (citing Landa v. Obert, 45 Tex. 539,
544-45 (Tex. 1876) (holding “that the decided
weight of authority is against the proposition
that the plaintiff has the right to claim his
counsel fees . . . as a part of his damages”)
& Wm. Cameron & Co. v. Am. Surety Co. of
N.Y., 55 S.W.2d 1032, 1035 (Tex. Comm’n App.
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1932) (noting that “[c]ounsel fees incurred in
prosecuting a suit for or defending against a
wrong are not ordinarily recoverable as actual
damages”)).
Id. (citing Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 38.001)
(emphasis added).
Id. at 173 (citing Shook v. Walden, 304 S.W.3d
910, 922 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010, no pet.)).
MBM Fin. Corp. v. Woodlands Operating Co.,
L.P., 292 S.W.3d 660, 663 (Tex. 2009) (emphasis added).
In re Nalle Plastics Family, Ltd. P’ship, 406
S.W.3d at 174-75.
Id. at 175.
Id. (quoting BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY 398 (9th ed.
2008)).
Id. (citing McClelland v. McClelland, 37 S.W.
B. Attorney’s Fees Are Not Costs.
To determine whether attorney’s fees are “costs” for
purposes of superseding a judgment—a term undefined by
the statute—the Texas Supreme Court first consulted Black’s
Law Dictionary.13 Black’s Law Dictionary defines “courts
costs” as “[t]he charges or fees taxed by the court, such as
filing fees, jury fees, courthouse fees, and reporter fees . . .
.”14 The Court also noted that both courts and the legislature have recognized that the term “costs” generally does
not include attorney’s fees.15
even though attorney’s fees are like costs in that both
may be taxed against a losing party, Rule 24.2 requires security only for costs themselves—not everything similar to
them.16 Attorney’s fees are not costs for purposes of superseding the judgment.
2. Is the Judgment Included in a
Judgment-Debtor’s Net Worth Calculation?
Although the Texas Supreme Court has yet to weigh in
on this issue, the Dallas and El Paso courts of appeals both
held in 2012 that “the plain language of [TRAP 24.1] does
not include a contingent money judgment in calculating net
worth.”17 indeed, TRAP 24.2 speaks in terms of the judgment-debtor’s “current net worth.”18 until the liability set
forth in the judgment is certain (after the appellate process
has concluded), the existence and amount of the liability is
contingent on future events. When the existence or extent
of a liability depends on future events, it cannot be deducted
when calculating a judgment-debtor’s current net worth.19
3. Do Consolidated Financial Statements
Override the Requirement of Individual
Net Worth Determinations?
Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 24.2(c) provides that,
when a creditor contests a judgment-debtor’s net worth affidavit, the court “must issue an order that states the debtor’s
net worth and states with particularity the factual basis for
that determination.” Courts have construed this to mean
that, “[i]n setting the amount of supersedeas security pending appeal, the trial court is required to consider the separate
financial condition of each judgment-debtor.”20 However, oftentimes in business litigation, the parties are not individuals or even individual companies, but rather conglomerate
businesses that include subsidiaries and affiliates.
under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(“GAAP”), accountants must create consolidated financial
16
17
350, 359 (Tex. Civ. App. 1896, writ ref’d)
(“[A]ttorney’s fees, in this state, in view of
our various statutes on the question of costs,
cannot be classed as costs, and that the court
would have no power to so declare such fees as
costs, and to give judgment therefor.”) & Tex.
Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 38.001 (providing that
“[a] person may recover reasonable attorney’s
fees . . . in addition to the amount of a valid
claim and costs”) (emphasis added)).
Id. at 176.
Bus. Staffing, Inc. v. Jackson Hot Oil Serv., 392
S.W.3d 183, 187 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2012)
(op. on motion) (emphasis added) (citing McCullough v. Scarbrough, Medlin & Assocs., Inc.,
362 S.W.3d 847, 848-49 (Tex. App.—Dallas
2012) (op. on motion) & Anderton v. Cawley,
18
19
20
21
22
23
statements for affiliated companies rather than individual
financial statements for each company.21 The rationale is
that consolidated financial statements are necessary for a
fair presentation of these companies’ true financial situations.
So what happens when a party obtains a joint-and-several judgment against several affiliated companies and those
companies seek to supersede the judgment pending appeal?
in setting the bond amount, must the trial court consider
the net worth of each individual entity, or should it consider
only the consolidated financial statement of the controlling
entity? Houston’s Fourteenth Court of Appeals answered
this question in April.22
even though courts generally calculate net worth according to GAAP principles, Houston’s Fourteenth Court
held that the GAAP consolidation rule does not displace the
legal requirement that the net worth of each individual judgment-debtor must be determined separately, unless there is
a finding of alter ego.23 Without a finding of alter ego, the
court held that using the GAAP consolidation rule would
impermissibly comingle the companies’ assets.24 This holding is consistent with a 2009 holding by the Texas Supreme
Court that consolidated financial statements constitute no
evidence of an entity’s ability to satisfy a judgment.25
4. Is an Expert’s Testimony or Report
Required To Establish Net Worth?
Houston’s Fourteenth Court also held that a judgmentdebtor does not have to present audited net worth evidence
with a certification from a CPA that all requirements of GAAP
have been met.26 instead, a judgment-debtor can meet its
burden of proof by (1) preparing its own balance sheet and
swearing to its own net worth or (2) presenting evidence
from a bookkeeper with knowledge of the debtor’s records
and a balance sheet of the debtor using GAAP principles to
show net worth.27
5. Conclusion
The trick under TRAP 24.2 is knowing what is included in the bond calculation and how to establish net worth.
When faced with a supersedeas issue, just remember these
four facts: (1) attorney’s fees are neither compensatory damages nor costs; (2) the trial court’s judgment is just a contingent liability; (3) consolidated financial statements cannot
be used to prove an entity’s net worth; and (4) expert testimony is unnecessary. ■
326 S.W.3d 725, 726 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010,
no pet.) & Tex. R. App. P. 24.2(a)(1)(A)); see
also Montelongo v. Exit Stage Left, Inc., 293
S.W.3d 294 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2009, no pet.).
Tex. R. App. P. 24(a)(1)(A) (emphasis added).
Bus. Staffing, Inc., 392 S.W.3d at 188 n.6.
G.M. Houser, Inc. v. Rodgers, 204 S.W.3d 836
(Tex. App.—Dallas 2006) (op. on motion).
FASB Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) Topic 810, available at http://www.
fasb.org.
Hunter Bldgs. & Mfg., L.P. v. MBI Global, L.L.C.,
No. 14-12-00246-CV (Tex. App.—Houston
[14th Dist.] April 30, 2013) (op. on motion),
available at http://www.14thcoa.courts.state.
tx.us.
Id. at 6.
24
25
26
27
Id. at 7 (citing In re Smith, 192 S.W.3d 564,
568-69 (Tex. 2006) (holding alter ego finding
in a post-judgment net worth proceeding is relevant to the determination of a judgment-debtor’s net worth for purposes of Rule 24 but may
not be used to enforce the judgment against
the unnamed alter ego or any other non-judgment debtor)).
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. v.
Nat’l Dev. & Research Corp., 299 S.W.3d 106,
115-16 (Tex. 2009) (“The consolidated financial
statements . . . are not evidence that a judgment would have been collectible from Panda
international as of or after February 2000.”).
MBI Global, L.L.C., No. 14-12-00246-CV, at 7-8.
Id.
February 2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
11
John F. Green Jr., 93, passed
away on December 26, 2013. He
was born in Hamlin, TX on April
30, 1920. He began his law career
with one of the oldest law firms in
the country. He came to Fort Worth
in 1964 and joined Hudson, Keltner,
Smith and Cunningham, where he
John F. Green
practiced for over 10 years. in 1975
1920-1913
he moved, as partner, to The law
Firm of John McBryde and Bill Bogle, which, at that
time, became McBryde, Bogle and Green, and where he
remained until he retired from full-time practice. John
remained a member of the TCBA until 2012.
John graduated from Hamlin High School, and went
on to attend the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). While there, he became a member of, and was later
elected chapter president of the Sigma Phi epsilon Fraternal order. After leaving school for a time, and serving in the military, Green returned to uT-Austin where
he finished his Bachelor of Arts degree and went on to
attend and graduate from the University of Texas Law
School with honors. While attending law school he was
a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and served as
editor for the Texas Law Review.
John’s military career began in 1942, when he was
inducted into the u. S. Army, shortly after his marriage
to Madye Jo Bailey. He served as a second lieutenant
after graduating from Officer Candidate School and went
on to become a staff officer for the 275th engineer Combat Battalion of the 75th Infantry Division, and was sent
with his unit to the european theater during WWii. After surviving several high profile campaigns, and serving honorably, he was awarded the Bronze Star. After
the war he was transferred to Germany where he was
assigned to military government through the end of his
service. He held the office of captain upon his discharge.
John married again in 1966 to Donna Jean Dunlap.
He is survived by his son John F. Green iii of San Angelo,
a granddaughter and two great-grandchildren. Funeral
services were held on January 3, 2014 in Greenwood Funeral Home Chapel. ■
LAW DAY MAY 8
10% SAVINGS
for all TCBA Members
Business Cards • Letterheads
Envelopes • Binders • Labels
Color • Copies • Forms
Brochures • Form Management
Ask for Alan to get special discounted rate
817.577.0572
817.656.5131 fax
email: ftworthjsb@aol.com
Full Service Printer Since 1989
12 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
Law Day Awards Dinner
Fort Worth Club
Tickets $65
Volunteer your time and skill to a valuable
We Need You!
Bring a friend… Free pizza for
all volunteers! 6 pm to 8 pm the
2nd & 4th Thursday of every month.
Lawyers
on the Move &
in the News
Kelly Hart and Hallman announce three new partners as
of January 1, 2014. Natalie J. Carlgren, a graduate with
honours from The University of Oklahoma, J.D., in 2004 and
a summa cum laude graduate from Austin College in 2001;
David W. Cook who graduated summa cum laude from
Texas Wesleyan School of Law (now known as Texas A&M
University School of Law), J.D. in 2005 and graduated from
Baylor university in 2002; and Christopher S. Greer, who
earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of
Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2005 and graduated in 2001,
magna cum laude, from Angelo State university.
community service outreach program
To participate, call Carolina at 817-338-4092 or
email carolina@tarrantbar.org
New
Members
Attorneys
Joel Eckhardt
Kyle Fonville
Megan Leger
James Patrick Murphy
Charles Ocampo
Jessica Phillips
Judge Vera Verhoeven
Student
Bryan J. May
Lawyer Referral and
Information Service
News
The TCBA’s lawyer Referral Service is ahead of where
we were financially this time last year. We would like to
thank the following attorneys who have paid referral fees
since last reported: Tawanna Cesare, David Cook, Christopher DeLisio, Margaret Fonville, Carlos Galliani, Andrew
Gore, James Graham, Earl Hargrave, An Lee Hsu, Jeffrey
Kaitcer, Michael Martin, Mike McBride, George Muckleroy,
Stephen O’Rear, David Pritchard, Anthony Simpson, Jerry
Walker, Mark Whitburn, and Bill White.
Don’t forget to look for the LRIS billboard! If you are
traveling south on i-35W, look to the left at Rosedale. This is
the lRiS advertising for YOu!
If you need a referral or if you need to refer a client
to the Referral Service, please ask them to call (817) 3364101!
NOTE!
If you are giving clients the LRIS phone number, please give them
817-336-4101,
rather than the main number to TCBA.
In order to better serve clients
with referrals, LRIS is under a different telephone system, so
clients must use 817-336-4101 to receive referrals.
February 2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
13
Tarrant County Bar Association
Salutes Its 2013-2014
100 Club Members
Adams Lynch & Loftin P.C.
Albert Neely & Kuhlmann LLP
Allmand Law Firm, PLLC
Anderson Law Firm
Bakutis McCully & Sawyer PC
Barlow Garsek & Simon, L.L.P.
Barrett Daffin Frappier Turner
& Engel, LLC
Beadles Newman & Lawler PC
The Beal Law Firm
The Berenson Firm P.C.
Blaies & Hightower, L.L.P.
The Blum Firm, P.C.
Bourland & Kirkman, L.L.P.
Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, PC
Brackett & Ellis, P.C.
Broude Smith & Jennings PC
Brown, Dean, Wiseman,
Proctor, Hart & Howell, LLP
Bruner & Pappas LLP
Burford & Ryburn, LLP
Suzanne I. Calvert & Associates
Cantey Hanger LLP
City Attorney’s Office-Fort Worth
The Colaneri Firm, P.C.
Cook Children’s Health Care System
Curnutt & Hafer, L.L.P.
Dawson Parrish, PC
Decker Jones McMackin
McClane Hall & Bates PC
Dismuke, Waters & Sweet, P.C.
Ebert Law Offices PC
Edison, McDowell & Herrington, LLP
Eggleston Flowers & King
Forshey & Prostok, L.L.P.
Friedman, Suder & Cooke
FTS International
Gardner Aldrich, LLP
Goodrich Postnikoff & Associates, LLP
Griffith, Jay & Michel, LLP
Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C.
Harrison Steck P.C.
Haynes and Boone, L.L.P.
Holland Johns & Penny LLP
Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
Jim Ross & Associates
Johnston Legal Group, P.C.
JP Morgan Chase Bank
K & L Gates LLP
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Kirkley & Berryman, LLP
Koons, Fuller, Vanden Eykel & Robertson
Law Offices of Art Brender
Law, Snakard & Gambill, P.C.
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Linebarger Goggan Blair &
Sampson, L.L.P.
Lively & Associates, LLP
Loe, Warren, Rosenfield, Kaitcer, Hibbs,
Windsor, Lawrence & Wolffarth, PC
McDonald Sanders, P.C.
Mellina & Larson, P.C.
Moses, Palmer & Howell, L.L.P
Murphy Mahon Keffler Farrier, LLP
Noteboom Law Firm
Nunneley Family Law Center
Padfield & Stout, LLP
Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell,
Kelly & Ray, L.L.P.
Ross & Matthews, P.C.
Sanford, Baumeister & Frazier, LLP
Second Court of Appeals
Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP
Tarrant County DA’s Office
Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP
Texas A & M University School of Law
Thompson & Knight, LLP
Wallach & Andrews, P.C.
Watson Caraway Midkiff &
Luningham L.L.P.
Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC
Wilson, White & Doby, L.L.P.
Winstead PC
The Wolfe Law Firm, P.C.
This is a list of the “100” Club law firms. if your firm is
not listed, then membership renewals for 100% of the
firm’s attorneys have not been received. For information,
contact Membership Director Cindy Rankin at 817-3384092 or e-mail cindy@tarrantbar.org.
law firms, government agencies, law schools, and
corporate legal departments, with 100% of their attorneys
(four or more) enrolled as members, qualify for the “100
Club.” TCBA is proud of the participation of these law
firms and other groups in the 2013-2014 Bar year.
TCBA Membership Cards Available As the TCBA
gets more and more benefits, there are those who
may want to carry a Tarrant County Bar Association
membership card. They are available, upon request.
Contact cindy@tarrantbar.org or call 817-338-4092.
We will prepare your card and you may come by the
office, or we will send it to a section, committee,
luncheon meetings, etc.
14 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
Texas Lawyers
for Texas Veterans
Tarrant County Chapter
by Christopher DeLisio,
committee member and volunteer
A
h, February! Home of Presidents’ Day, Ground Hog Day,
and that ever notorious day for romantics, chocolates,
and flowers: Valentine’s Day. It is traditional to honor this
day by doing something special for our loved one or ones to
show them our appreciation. But it can also be a day where
we think of doing for others in general. This month TLTV
would like to take this opportunity to appreciate both our
Veterans and the volunteers that make the TLTV program
possible and to show them some “love!”
During 2013, these folks made it possible for TLTV to
perform 503 intake interviews, to place 114 cases, and to offer excellent legal advice to countless others during 10 clinics. “We offer legal assistance to veterans and the spouses
of deceased veterans. if they are within our income guidelines, we’ll try to place them with an attorney to handle
their case pro bono,” explains Aleed Rivera, Director of the
TCBF Pro Bono Programs. “And if they are over income,
we’ll still make sure we give them a chance to be heard
and offer advice on how to proceed. none of this could
have been accomplished without the outstanding assistance
and dedication of TLTV volunteers: attorneys, paralegals,
law students, and veterans, and we want to make sure they
know how much their continued volunteer service means to
the program.”
One of those dedicated volunteers during 2013 was
Stephanie Davis, who started volunteering while still a
paralegal student at Tarrant County College and working for
The Seibert law Firm part-time.
“With a veteran population of nearly 10% in Texas, outreach and service to this group of people is imperative,”
Stephanie states with passion. “The veterans who reside in
our community have sacrificed their own comforts of home
in order to ensure that our own comforts of home endure
for generations to come.”
“As a military spouse, i witnessed the daily sacrifices
that our service men, women, and their families make in
order to allow our military to remain the great protector of
freedoms that it is,” says Stephanie, who is also the widow
of an Iraqi war hero who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“One of the reasons why Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans is so important to me is because veterans devote their
lives to the service of our country, yet ask for little in return. Providing pro bono legal services for this part of our
community is one way that we, as legal
professionals, can serve those who so
selflessly served us.”
If you would like to join TLTV,
contact Aleed Rivera at the Tarrant
County Bar at 817-338-4092, and let
us know. no matter your specialty,
we need to hear from you! ■
Other Associations’
News & Information
FW-TC YLA 2012-2013 new Bar Year began September 1,
2013. if you need an application or meeting information,
call 817-338-4092, email cindy@tarrantbar. org, or go to the
website at tcyla.org.
Arlington Bar Association
Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. President,
Deborah R. Hinds. For location & information, email
arlingtonbarassociation@yahoo.co
MABA (Mexican American Bar Association)
Meets on the last Thursday of each month at Rivas
Mexican Restaurant, 5442 River Oaks Blvd., River Oaks
76114. For more information, contact President Eloy
Sepulveda at 817-332-1285.
Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association (neTCBA)
Meets for CLE luncheons on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
at la Hacienda Restaurant, Hwy. 121. Contact President
Michael Jaskowak at 817-949-2161 or mjaskowak@aol.com.
L. Clifford Davis Legal Association (f/k/a) Tarrant County
Black Bar Association holds its meets on the 3rd Tuesday
of each month at 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact
President David Patin, Jr. at 972-230-4458.
Black Women Lawyers Association
For meetings and information, contact Sue Allen, President
at (817) 926-5005 sue@sueallenlaw.com.
Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
(TCCDlA) meets every 2nd Thursday at Joe T. Garcia’s,
2201 n. Commerce. For more information, contact
President Gary Medlin at 817-877-3333.
Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association
Meets at 12 noon on the 4th Tuesday of each month at
Family law Center Assembly Room on the 2nd floor. For
more information, contact President Lindsay DeVos at
817-453-0101 or lindsay@devoslaw.com.
Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association
Meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Joe T.
Garcia’s. For more information, contact Coby Wooten at
817-263-5190.
Tarrant County Probate Bar Association
Meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Petroleum
Club—members free, guests $25. For more information,
contact Monica Benson, (817) 263-5190 or mbenson@
kattenbenson.com
The Dee J. Kelly Law Library Welcomes Bar Members!
For the latest Texas A&M University School of Law library
hours and information, please visit http://law.tamu.edu, or
call 817- 212-3800.
February 2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
15
Transition to Practice 2014
Next Meeting - March 26 “Setting up a Legal Office”
The Transition to Practice Mentor Program kicked off
the 2014 program on Wednesday, January 22. Mentors and
Mentees listened to Steve Hayes and Constance Hall, previous
mentor/mentee pair, talk about how the program works and
the success of the program for them.
The program, entitled “introduction to Transition to
Practice and Practicing in Tarrant County,” heard 348th District Court Judge Dana Womack talk about practicing in the
Tarrant County courts. She touched on local rules, do’s and
don’ts for judges in Tarrant County and what a mentee should
expect when they first step into the courtroom here.
TCBA Member Benefits
Vendor List
TCBA members may take advantage of discounts
provided by the following vendors:
ABA Retirement Funds program provides full-service
401(k) plans to benefit the legal community. To learn
more, contact local rep. Jacob Millican at 817-451-5020 or
visit www.abaretirement.com.
AMO Office Supply offers TCBA members the lowest
price guaranteed on office supplies, with next-day delivery
and free shipping! Call 800-420-6421.
Falcon Litigation Solutions offers discounts on copying, litigation displays, trial boards, etc. Call 817-870-0330.
Fort Worth JSB Co., Inc., offers a 10% discount to
TCBA members on printed materials—business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, brochures, flyers, and
more. For a quote, call 817-577-0572.
Fort Worth Zoo, discount tickets - $9.50 adult, $6.50
for child or senior. For tickets, contact cindy@tarrantbar.
org or 817-338-4092. if mailing or charging tickets, add 50
cents.
Sprint offers 15% off the monthly service. For info, contact cindy@tarrantbar.org or 817-338-4092.
UPS - TCBA has signed an agreement with uPS for TCBA
members to receive discounts on shipping. The discounts
vary according to the type of shipment, but check out uPS
for your needs. www.ups.com or 1-800-PICK-UPS.
For IT help:
Juris Fabrilis-Cool Tools for lawyers offers members
discounted rates on web-based tools to help you manage
your law practice. 817-481-1573 ext. 101.
For Shredding and Document Disposal:
Magic Shred is a secure shredding business that shreds
your documents on-site. Magic Shred offers a 10% discount to TCBA members.
Expanco is N.A.I.D. AAA-Certified document-destruction
service offering 40% off to TCBA members. Call TCBA office for details on both.
16 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
The Transition to
Practice luncheons and
Cle are sponsored by the
TCBA. if you know a lawyer, licensed three years or
less, who might be interested in the program, encourage him or her to join the TCBA. For more information
on the program, contact Cindy Rankin at (817) 338-4092 or
cindy@tarrantbar.org. The program members will meet again
on Wednesday, March 26 for “Setting Up a Legal Office.” ■
“New Look” for the Bulletin
You may have noticed a new look for the Bulletin. Effective with the January 2014 issue, TCBA engaged the services
of Park Place Enterprises, Inc, a local graphic arts firm, to
handle our pre-press production.
Trisha had worked with G.G. Park, president of Park
Place, on various projects including the Tortfeasors logo
and poster design, photographed the front cover of the Directory, designed the LRIS billboard and the Bench Bar XXI
Conference logo.
G.G. comments, “We love what we do and it has been
gratifying to receive such positive feedback about the January Bulletin. Most of our clients turn into long-term relationships, and we hope to include TCBA/TCBF in that category.”
Operating continuously in Fort Worth since 1982, Park
Place has handled magazine production for American Airlines’ Flight Safety, an in-house publication for pilots. Other
publications outsourcing to Park Place include, The Short
Round, Texas Hereford, and The Cattleman plus numerous
newsletters for a variety of businesses.
In addition to magazine production, other services offered by Place Place include design for print advertising,
copywriting, logo development and design, and photography.
Past clients include the Dallas Cowboys football club,
Little Caesars Pizza, textbook publisher Modern Curriculum
Press and Haltom City Economic Development Corporation.
Current clients include some of the top cutting horse
breeders in the nation, one of the largest ranches in Texas,
an agri-business insurance company, a manufacturer of
upscale men’s shoes, a construction company, a national
mortage company, a home health care business, a few local
companies and we donate our services to help promote a
non-profit mental health organization.
The Park Place offices are located in the cultural district at 3301 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 109, Fort Worth, Texas
76107 and G.G. can be reached at 817-877-8901; ggpark@
flash.net. ■
Pro Bono Volunteer Spotlight
Aaron Young got bit by the pro bono bug early on while at-
tending Willamette university College of law (Willamette) in Salem,
Oregon. He and his classmates organized an annual fundraiser to
allow students to receive stipends for public-service internships. The
beneficiary of one of these stipends, Aaron worked as a summer
intern at Marion-Polk County Legal Aid, Inc., assisting clients with
Social Security hearings and helping one client successfully navigate
the Oregon state healthcare system. Because of the number of hours
he devoted to pro bono service, Aaron received Willamette’s Pro
Bono Award.
After graduating law school in 2004, Aaron worked for the u.S.
Small Business Administration and subsequently for American Airlines Federal Credit union (AAFCu), where he has been employed
since 2008 and is currently Assistant General Counsel. He has also
continued devoting a substantial amount of time and energy to pro
bono work. Aaron is a regular volunteer at legalline, legal Aid of
NorthWest Texas’s (LANWT) clinics, and at Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services’ (TVAS) pro bono events, taking pro bono divorce cases and assisting low-income clients with the preparation of
estate planning and ancillary documents. in 2013, Aaron performed
approximately 80 hours of pro bono work and received LANWT’s
Volunteer Attorney of the Year award because of his faithful attendance at lAnWT’s clinics. in 2014, Aaron began serving on the
TVAS Committee, helping plan and coordinate pro bono events for
the Tarrant County legal community.
Aaron enjoys pro bono work because he believes that it gives
the people he assists a sense of hope and the comfort that they are
not facing their legal problems alone. He sees having a legal license
as a privilege and believes that he should use this privilege to help
people who cannot afford to pay for legal services access our legal
system and the benefits that it provides. Aaron also admits that he
gets a lot personally out of his pro bono cases and his interactions
with his clients.
He and his wife of 13 years, Donna, are also teaching the next
generation of Youngs to give back to the community. Aaron and
his eight-year-old son, Shawn, regularly serve and attend dinners at
The Presbyterian night Shelter’s Patriot House, where Shawn talks
with, and learns from, homeless veterans. Aaron also recently spearheaded a canned food drive for the Tarrant Area Food Bank, asking
AAFCu employees to “Can the lawyer.” The AAFCu employees
resoundingly answered the challenge, donating six pallets of food
and effectively evicting Aaron from his office, which was the storage
site for the donated food.
Aaron, who is originally from Gilmer, Texas, is a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University and is frequently seen at soccer practices on
weeknights and soccer games on the weekend. He coaches Shawn’s
team, the Wolfpack; his five-year-old daughter Gillian’s team, the
(mighty) Cupcakes; and an adult soccer team, the Wyld Stallyns, on
which he also plays. ■
Katherine Thomas first became involved in
pro bono work in 2012 when Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP (Kelly Hart), where she practices bankruptcy law, partnered with in-house-attorney clients and took divorce cases referred by legal Aid
of NorthWest Texas (LANWT). After her first pro
bono divorce case, she also volunteered at Tarrant
County Volunteer Attorneys Services’ (TVAS) first
pro bono event in november 2012 and took another divorce case, which unexpectedly resulted in
a trial in 2013.
Over the past year, Katherine has spent approximately 60 hours performing pro bono work.
She initially decided to take a pro bono case to give
back to the community. However, Katherine also
found her pro bono cases to be extremely interesting, as they allowed her to learn an area of law
outside of her regular area of practice. Additionally,
she enjoyed helping her client resolve legal problems and move on with her life.
In addition to her pro bono service, Katherine also volunteers at the Tarrant Area Food Bank
and is a member of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County
Young Lawyers Association’s Board of Directors.
Moreover, she is an active member of the Dallas
Association of Young Bankruptcy lawyers, a group
that encourages mentoring and networking among
bankruptcy attorneys in the DFW area.
Katherine grew up in Ennis, Texas, obtained
her bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and her juris doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of law. upon graduating law school in
2009, Katherine clerked for the Honorable Ronald
B. King, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Texas, before beginning her privatepractice career at Kelly Hart. When not working
or performing volunteer work, she is currently
spending her limited free time making wedding arrangements for her upcoming marriage to Travis
Hopkins of Fort Worth. ■
TVAS Event Sponsorships Available
if you or your firm, company, or other organization is interested in totally or partially sponsoring a Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services
pro bono event by funding supplies and any other
costs associated with the event, please contact
Aleed Rivera at aleed@tarrantbar.org for more information. ■
February 2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
17
C
alendar of Events
February 2014
March 2014
TUESDAY, February 4
noon . . . . . . . . . . Collaborative law Section luncheon
TCBA Office, $10 members; $15 non-members
WEDNESDAY, February 5
noon . . . . . . . . . . Corporate Counsel Section luncheon
TCBA Office, $17 members; $23 non-members
FRIDAY/SATURDAY, February 7-8
6pm (Friday). . . . . Women Attorneys Section Retreat
Hilton Garden inn, Granbury
MONDAY, February 10
4:30pm . . . . . . . . . Board of Directors Meeting
TCBA Office
TUESDAY, February 11
11:45am . . . . . . . . TCBA Membership Luncheon
Fort Worth Club. $23 members; $28 non-members
WEDNESDAY, February 12
noon . . . . . . . . . . international & immigration Section luncheon
TCBA Office, $15 members; $20 non-members
THURSDAY, February 13
9am to 4pm . . . . . Blood Drive
TCBA Office
MONDAY, February 17
President’s Day Holiday
Office Closed
TUESDAY, February 18
noon . . . . . . . . . . labor & employment law Section luncheon
City Club, $23 members; $28 non-members
WEDNESDAY, February 19
noon . . . . . . . . . . intellectual Property Section luncheon
City Club, $25 members; $30 non-members
THURSDAY, February 20
11:30am . . . . . . . . Fort Worth Business & estate Section luncheon
City Club, Free to members; $30 guests
noon . . . . . . . . . . Construction law Section luncheon
TCBA Office, $12 members; $17 non-members
MONDAY, February 24
noon . . . . . . . . . . Bankruptcy law Section luncheon
Petroleum Club, $23 members; $28 non-members
TUESDAY, February 25
11:30am . . . . . . . . Tax & Estate Planning Section Luncheon
Petroleum Club, $15 members; $25 non-members
1pm to 4pm . . . . . last Tuesday Cle
TCBA Office, $80 members; $105 non-members
THURSDAY, Februay 27
9am to 4pm . . . . . Court Coordinators Seminar
TCBA Office
noon . . . . . . . . . . environmental Section luncheon
Reata Restaurant, $15 members; $25 non-members
5:00pm . . . . . . . . . Docket Call Social
Sponsored by lone Star Ag Credit
Ruth Chris, 813 Main Street, Fort Worth
FRee to TCBA members; $10 guests
FRIDAY, February 28
12:30 to 3:45pm . . Brown Bag Seminar
TCBA Office, $70 members; $95 non-members
TUESDAY, March 4
noon . . . . . . . . . . Collaborative law Section luncheon
TCBA Office, $10 members; $15 non-members
MONDAY, March 10
4:30pm . . . . . . . . . Board of Directors Meeting
TCBA Office
TUESDAY, March 18
11:30am . . . . . . . . Tax & Estate Planning Section Luncheon
Petroleum Club, $15 members; $25 non-members
noon . . . . . . . . . . Real estate Section luncheon
City Club, $15 members; $20 non-members
THURSDAY, March 20
Cocktails 5:30pm. . Fort Worth Business & Estate Section Dinner
(Cash Bar)
Dinner 6:00pm . . . Speaker 6:30 p.m.
Petroleum Club, Dinner FREE to members;
$30 guests
noon . . . . . . . . . . Construction law Section luncheon
TCBA Office, $12 members; $17 non-members
TUESDAY, March 25
1-4pm . . . . . . . . . . last Tuesday Cle
TCBA Office, $80 members; $105 non-members
4:30pm . . . . . . . . . Solo & Small Firms Section Mixer
Parker law Firm, 2317 Plaza Parkway, Suite 100
Bedford 76021
THURSDAY, March 27
11:15am. . . . . . . . . Court Coordinators Half-Day (PM) Seminar
4:30pm. . . . . . . . . Court Staff Appreciation Reception
TCBA Office
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
12:30 to 3:45pm . . Brown Bag Seminar
TAMU School of Law, $70 members;
$95 non-members
18 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
To make reservations for any of these events,
contact Sherry Jones at 817-338-4092
or sherry@tarrantbar.org.
For more upcoming events,
visit www.tarrantbar.org
February2014
■
TCBA Bulletin
19
Advertisers’ Index
Classified
Advertising
Affiniscape. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chuck Noteboom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Clark R. Cowley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ernest (Skip) Reynolds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Fort Worth J.S.B. Companies, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Office Space For Lease
2 Executive Office Suites Available at Tivoli Court law Office. Front office reception, telephone, copy and data network facilities included. To inquire, please call 817-479-0565.
J. Michael McBride, P.C.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Executive Suites Exclusively for Attorneys. Receptionist,
conference room, telephone system, parking, etc. One block
from Family Law Center. 400 E. Weatherford. Call 817-3364451 or come by.
Juris Fabrilis, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Services
LexisNexis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside front cover
Raúl Cáñez for assistance with your immigration issues in
english or Spanish.
Raúl Cáñez para ayuda con sus asuntos sobre la inmigración
en español o inglés.
Raul.Canez@Canezlaw.com
817-886-0651
Fort Worth Mediation Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
M Beth Kurgler, JD, MS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover
Stephens Anderson & Cummings. . inside back cover
Structured Annuities, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . back cover
Texas Lawyers Insurance Exchange. . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Tindall Square. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Zelli. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Mark Your Calendar
for Future Events
February 11, 2014 . . . . . . . . 50-year Lawyer Celebration, Fort Worth Club
February 13, 2014 . . . . . . . . Annual Blood Drive, Tarrant County Bar Center
February 27, 2014 . . . . . . . . Docket Call Social
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
March 22, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . Tortfeasors 4
Fort Worth Community Arts Center
March 27, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . Court Staff Appreciation & Awards,
Tarrant County Bar Center
April 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110th Anniversary Celebration Party
Sheraton Hotel
April 25, 26, & 27, 2014. . . . Bench Bar Conference,
La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa,
Montgomery, TX
May 8, 2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . Law Day Awards Dinner, Fort Worth Club
20 www.tarrantbar.org ■ February 2014
BAR BULLETIN • February, 2014
Tarrant County Bar Association
1315 Calhoun Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6504
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED
STANDARD
U. S. POSTAGE PAID
FORT WORTH, TX
PERMIT 1807
If any of your contact information is incorrect,
please submit your corrected information to the
TCBA office at (817) 338-4902, fax to
(817) 335-9238 or e-mail to tcba@tarrantbar.org