March/April 2013 Across the Bar
Transcription
March/April 2013 Across the Bar
Acrossthe The Official publication of the San Joaquin County Bar Association March/April 2013 Immigration: New Changes in Immigration Law: The Provisional Waivers are Coming! Pg. 7 Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Available in Juvenile Dependency, Guardianship and Family Court Proceedings Pg. 20 Also in This Issue: The Supreme Court Ponders Whether Monsanto's Patents on "Roundup Ready" Seeds Survive Resale Pg. 4 2013 New Laws Affecting Civil Practitioners Pg. 11 The San Joaquin County Bar Association San Joaquin county Bar Association Board of Governors 20 North Sutter Street, Suite 300 Stockton, CA 95202 (209) 948-0125 Fax: (209) 948-1361 www.sjcbar.org San Joaquin County Bar Association Rebekah Burr-Siegel, Executive Director ...................rburr-siegel@sjcbar.org Melissa Dooley, CAC Billing..................................mdooley@sjcbar.org Linda Mussat, CAC Coordinator/ Deputy Dir........lmussat@sjcbar.org Jennifer Riggs, MCLE Coordinator............................jriggs@sjcbar.org Fatima Ruelas, LRS Intake.......................................fruelas@sjcbar.org Natalie Vernon, Communications Coordinator........nvernon@sjcbar.org LRS...............................................LRSRequest@sjcbar.org Allan Jose....................................President Michael J. Mulvihill, Jr............... President-Elect James T. C. Nuss......................... Past President Lisa Ribeiro.................................Secretary Mary Aguirre Kerry Krueger Michael Belden Allison Lafferty Jenny Dennis David Wellenbrock Lisa Blanco Jimenez Moses Zapien ACROSS THE BAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS Michael R. Tener....................... Editor/Chair Janette Rossell Fernanda Pereira Terry Costa Joseph Ferraro Rebekah Burr-Siegel Natalie Vernon To contact us via email - ATB@sjcbar.org Across the Bar is published bi-monthly by the SJCBA. Subscription rate is included in membership dues, or $50 per year for non-members. Across the Bar welcomes letters and article suggestions from readers. The SJCBA reserves the right to edit comments or letters to the editor. Please send e-mail to ATB@sjcbar.org. Submissions and advertising deadline 1st of the month prior to publication. Submit your articles to ATB@sjcbar.org. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the San Joaquin County Bar Association. The information contained in this publication is not intended as legal advice and may not be relied upon as such. Page 2 Across the Bar March/April 2013 FCCU for All Your Financial Needs! (No Argument!) As a member of the San Joaquin County Bar Association, you’re privy to an exclusive benefit—Financial Center Credit Union membership for you and your staff ! Joaquin, Financial Center is the most trusted credit union in the Valley. Time and time again, we offer our members the lowest rates on their loans as well as the safest place to save their money. In a time when the safety and soundness of funds is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, Financial Center membership is the perfect solution for peace-of-mind. Voted Best Of San Follow your logic and call us today. And don’t forget to pass this message onto your staff – they (and their wallets!) will thank you. 209-948-6024 • www.fccuburt.org Federally insured by the NCUA. March/April 2013 Across the Bar Page 3 The Supreme Court Ponders Whether Monsanto's Patents on "Roundup Ready" Seeds Survive Resale Joseph Ferraro The lowly soybean is providing the United States Supreme Court with the chance to decide how the patent laws will be applied to self-replicating technologies of the future. On February 19, 2013, the Court heard oral argument in Monsanto Co. v. Bowman,1 an appeal from a decision of the Federal Circuit that affirmed a patent infringement judgment against Bowman arising out of his use of the offspring of Monsanto’s patented soybeans. The case gives the Court the opportunity to define the scope of the doctrine of patent exhaustion as it applies to self-replicating technologies. The doctrine of exhaustion provides that when a patent holder sells a patented article, or one that cannot be used without practicing the patent, the purchaser is free to do whatever it wants to do with the purchased item, without further obligation to the patentee. The Supreme Court stated the principle broadly in Quanta Computer, Inc. v. LG Electronics, Inc.,2 where it said, “[t]he authorized sale of an article that substantially embodies a patent exhausts the patent holder’s rights and prevents the patent holder from invoking patent law to control postsale use of the article.” Bowman is the third case—but only the first to reach the Supreme Court—in which the Federal Circuit rejected the defense of patent exhaustion and sustained an infringement judgment obtained by Monsanto against a farmer who used the progeny of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready® soybeans without authorization. Monsanto is the holder of several patents that cover the making and use of genetically altered soybeans that are resistant to certain herbicides. By planting Monsanto’s Roundup Ready® soybeans, a farmer can spray his fields with glyphosatecontaining herbicides (such as Monsanto’s Roundup) to kill the weeds without harming the beans. Subsequent generations of the patented soybeans retain the glyphosate-resistant trait. Monsanto markets its patented soybeans through seed manufacturers and dealers who are prohibited from reselling the seeds without making the sale subject to a limited use license that Monsanto calls Page 4 a “technology agreement.” The limited use license provides that the soybeans may be used only to plant a single season commercial crop; that neither the seeds nor the crop may be supplied by the buyer to others for planting; that the buyer may not save the progeny of the licensed seeds for replanting; and that the seeds may not be used for research or seed production. In Monsanto Co. v. McFarling,3 the defendant had signed Monsanto’s technology agreement, but had violated it by saving soybeans from his crop and replanting them in subsequent years. Monsanto sued for breach of contract and for patent infringement. The defendant contended that the restrictions in the technology agreement were unlawful and that, in any event, the first sale of the patented beans to him had exhausted Monsanto’s patent rights, leaving him free to use subsequent generations of the beans without liability for patent infringement.4 The Federal Circuit rejected these arguments, making a distinction with respect to the doctrine of exhaustion between seeds actually purchased from Monsanto and the progeny of those seeds grown by the defendant. As the court stated, “[t]he ‘first sale’ doctrine of exhaustion of the patent right is not implicated, as the new seeds grown from the original batch had never been sold…. The original sale of the seeds did not confer a license to construct new seeds, and since the new seeds were not sold by the patentee they entailed no principle of patent exhaustion.”5 In the second case, Monsanto Co. v. Scruggs,6 the defendant purchased seeds from seed companies but, contrary to Monsanto’s policies, had never been required to sign the technology agreement. The District Court held that the doctrine of exhaustion did not apply because Monsanto had never made an unrestricted sale and because the second generation seeds are new articles, not included in the first sale. The Federal Circuit affirmed, and stated the principle even more broadly. The court said, “[w]ithout the actual sale of the second generation seeds to Scruggs, there can be no patent exhaustion. The fact that a patented technology can replicate itself does not give a purchaser the right to use replicated copies of the technology. Applying the first sale doctrine to Across the Bar March/April 2013 The Supreme Court Ponders Whether Monsanto's Patents on "Roundup Ready" Seeds Survive Resale Continued subsequent generations of self-replicating technology would eviscerate the rights of the patent holder.”7 In Bowman, the defendant purchased “commodity” soybeans from a local grain elevator. Because more than 90% of the soybean crop in Indiana, where Bowman purchased and planted the seeds, consists of Roundup Ready® soybeans, the “commodity” soybeans were likely to contain a substantial percentage of Roundup Ready® seeds. Bowman planted the beans, successfully using Roundup for weed control, and saved and replanted the progeny of the “commodity” beans for a number of years. It was undisputed that, under Monsanto’s technology agreement, farmers who purchase Roundup Ready® seeds are entitled to sell the crop as a “commodity” to grain elevators. It was also undisputed that the grain elevators were not subject to any contractual restrictions on their sale of “commodity” soybeans. Bowman argued that, because the sale of “commodity” beans to him was authorized, the doctrine of exhaustion applied and permitted him to use the purchased beans and any crop resulting from them. The Federal Circuit again sided with Monsanto, citing the “eviscerate” language from Scruggs and holding that, “[e]ven if Monsanto’s patent rights in the commodity seeds are exhausted, such a conclusion would be of no consequence because once a grower, like Bowman, plants the commodity seeds containing Monsanto’s Roundup Ready® technology and the next generation of seed develops, the grower has created a newly infringing article.”8 Although the questions and comments of the Justices during oral argument cannot be relied upon to predict how the Supreme Court may rule, the Court seems to be comfortable with the idea that, if the exhaustion doctrine applies, it allows the buyer only to “use” the articles originally sold by the patentee, and not to “make” subsequent generations. Yet it is this distinction that gives rise to the Court’s dilemma, for it ignores what one commentator refers to as the “elephant in the room.”9 The language used by the Federal Circuit appears to suggest that, in the case of self-replicating technologies, the March/April 2013 lawful “use” of the first generation article inevitably and necessarily results in the unlawful “making” of an infringing copy. For a farmer who purchases soybeans for use as seed, it would be impossible to use the beans lawfully without unlawfully replicating them. It can be argued that, if the doctrine of exhaustion is restricted in this way, it will be rendered meaningless in the case of self-replicating technology. Yet, if the doctrine of exhaustion permits the purchaser of a first generation article to replicate it without limit, then the patentee’s rights will be similarly rendered meaningless. The Court’s challenge will be to avoid both of these extremes. 1 657 F.3d 1341 (Fed. Cir. 2011), cert. granted, 133 S. Ct. 420 (2012) 2 128 S.Ct. 2109, 2122 (2008) 3 302 F.2d 1291 (Fed. Cir. 2002). 4 McFarling relied on “the statement in United States v. Univis Lens Co., 316 U.S. 241, 249, 62 S.Ct. 1088, 86 L.Ed. 1408, 53 USPQ 404, 407 (1942), that when a patented product has been sold the purchaser acquires ‘the right to use and sell it, and ... the authorized sale of an article which is capable of use only in practicing the patent is a relinquishment of the patent monopoly with respect to the article sold.’” 302 F.3d at 1298. 5 Id. at 1299. 6 459 F.3d 1328 (Fed.Cir.2006). 7 Id. at 1336. 8 Id. at 1348. 9 “But, of course, the application of the use/make a distinction in the Roundup-Ready cases ignores the elephant in the room: the only and intended ‘use’ of seeds or any other self-replicating technology necessarily ‘makes’ a newly infringing article—this is the defining characteristic of self-replicating technologies.” Sheff, Jeremy N., Self-Replicating Technologies (December 3, 2012), Stanford Technology Law Review, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 229, 2013. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2184589 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2184589. Across the Bar Joseph Ferraro is a lawyer and mediator who concentrates on business and commercial litigation, including the litigation and trial of patent disputes. He can be reached at 209-785-4198 or jferraro@ferraromediation.com. Page 5 The San Joaquin County Bar Association The Criminal Law Section of the San Joaquin County Bar Association Presents Pretrial Discovery in Criminal Law Cases: Obligations & Remedies Honorable Elizabeth Humphreys Judge Humphreys continues to sit as an active Judicial Officer for the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin May 1, 2013 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm SJCBA $35.00 Non-SJCBA Members • $25.00 SJCBA Members • $20 Section Members Lunch is included The Honorable Elizabeth Humphreys will address the pretrial discovery obligations of Counsel in criminal law proceedings as well as available remedies for non-compliance with those obligations. This activity has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of one (1) participatory hour, of which one (1) hour credit will apply to the Criminal Law/Ethics MCLE Requirement.The SJCBA certifies that this activity conforms to the standards for approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education. Name:____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ Payment by (choose one): Pay at the door ( ) Check ( ) Credit Card ( ) Credit Card No.: ___________________________________Exp.: ____________Signature:________________________________ Please complete this form and return it with your payment to: San Joaquin County Bar Association, Attention: Jennifer Riggs 20 N. Sutter Street, Suite 300, Stockton, CA 95202; Fax: (209) 948-1361 Register Online at www.sjcbar.org Page 6 Across the Bar March/April 2013 New Changes in Immigration Law: The Provisional Waivers are Coming! Fernanda M. Pereira Many changes have taken place in the field of immigration law recently, from allowing youth to apply for work permits and deferred action to procedural modifications that, while affecting only the immediate relatives of United States citizens, will make the immigration decision process more consistent, faster and more efficient, while allowing families of U.S. citizens to remain together throughout the process. The next change is scheduled to be implemented on March 4, 2013 and is a longawaited modification, not in substantive law but in procedure. This change creates a “Provisional Waiver” that will allow foreign-born immediate relatives of United States citizens to apply for a waiver of unlawful presence before they depart to complete their application for lawful permanent residence at required immigrant visa interviews in their countries of origin. Current law requires that foreign-born immediate relatives of United States citizens, who entered the United States without a valid entry document, leave the U.S. in order to complete the immigration process. However, upon departing the U.S., the foreign national becomes ineligible to re-enter the United States for a period of either 3 or 10 years, depending on how long he has been in the U.S. undocumented. This is where the Provisional Waiver will make a difference in the lives of many families. The existing process requires that the foreign national leave the U.S. and travel to their home country where an interview will take place at the local U.S. Embassy. The U.S. citizen has the opportunity to submit a waiver for unlawful presence for his relative only after an initial denial based on inadmissibility is issued. With the Provisional Waiver, this waiver will be submitted before the applicant departs from the U.S. The new procedure will allow U.S. Embassies to be more efficient by diminishing the number of appointments an applicant will have to attend to have a final decision on his case, and will give families more certainty with regards to the possibility of return to the U.S. of his loved one. March/April 2013 Under the existing procedure, when an applicant departs the U.S., there are no guarantees that he will be able to return to the U.S. within a reasonable time: if his waiver is denied, the applicant will be required to be outside of the U.S. for a period of 3 or 10 years. In certain cases, the adjudication of the waiver alone can take up to 18 months, during which the applicant must be outside of the country. There are five basic eligibility requirements in order to obtain the new Provisional Waiver of Unlawful Presence: 1. The applicant must be the immediate relative of a United States citizen. Immediate relative includes the spouse or child (under the age of 21) of a U.S. citizen, or the parent of a U.S. citizen 21 years of age or older. It may also include persons protected under the Child Status Protection Act and qualified widowers of U.S. citizens; 2. The applicant must be physically present in the United States when the application is filed and for biometrics collection; 3. The applicant must be otherwise admissible to the United States. The provisional waiver will only waive unlawful presence and no other inadmissibility issues that may exist, such as criminal convictions or fraud; 4. Applicants must be awaiting scheduling of their consular interview as of January 4, 2013 or later; and 5. Applicants must demonstrate extreme hardship to a qualifying relative. The extreme hardship standard remains the same, and as difficult and tricky to meet as ever, as extreme hardship for these purposes “is not a definable term of fixes and inflexible content or meaning. It necessarily depends upon the facts and circumstances peculiar to each case.”1 The standard has been interpreted to mean hardship “unusual or beyond that which would normally be expected” upon deportation,2 and the standard met only in cases where “great actual or prospective injury” to the qualifying party will occur. There must be an “extreme impact” on the citizen or lawful permanent 1 Matter of Hwang, 10 I&N Dec. 448, 451 (BIA 1964). Hassan V. INS, 927 F.2d 465, 468 (9th Cir. 1991). 2 Across the Bar Page 7 New Changes in Immigration Law: The Provisional Waivers are Coming! Continued resident family member.3 Meeting the extreme hardship standard is a subjective finding, and this uncertainty caused additional stress and fear for many families that were already experiencing very difficult circumstances. Submitting the waiver prior to the applicant’s departure from the U.S. will allow the family to plan how long the person will be abroad and give some assurances of his return within a short period of time. Also, having all the waivers submitted to same location will allow for consistency in the decision making which until now was non-existent, and will shorten the period of separation between the applicant and his United States citizen family members. As indicated in the first requirement, this change will only apply for individuals that are immediate relatives of United States citizens; all others that require the submission of a waiver of unlawful presence, or immediate relatives who have additional inadmissibility grounds that apply to them, will need to follow the existing waiver process. Having a pending or approved Provisional Waiver will not provide interim benefits such as employment authorization, will not provide lawful status, and will not provide protection from removal. Above all, the approval of the Provisional Waiver does not guarantee that an immigrant visa will be issued or that the applicant will be admitted to the United States. However, even though the Provisional Waiver is merely a procedural change and does not impart any substantive benefits regarding their immigration status, for eligible families this change will give them some guidance on how to plan their future. While this change is good news for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, many individuals will remain ineligible to apply for lawful permanent residence despite their close relationship to a U.S. citizen. Detentions for immigration violations are more numerous than they have ever been, and Provisional Waivers do not provide protection against deportation. Thus, applicants can be in the process of submitting their Provisional Waiver and still be removed from the U.S. In his 2013 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama said immigration reform is a top priority; the bipartisan framework for comprehensive immigration reform seems to indicate that a deep change in the immigration laws is coming, and that Congress will act. However, many groups are concerned that the substantive changes will fall short of solving many serious issues that make the transition from undocumented to legal status very difficult and in some cases practically impossible. Other groups are concerned that relaxing any of the existing immigration laws will encourage more undocumented immigration. It remains to be seen if anything at all will be done to change the existing laws. Fernanda M. Pereira is a partner at Meath & Pereira, and practices exclusively in the field of immigration law. She can be contacted at fernandapereira@hotmail.com or at (209) 942-3300. 3 Shooshtary v. INS, 39 F.3d 1049 (9th Cir. 1994), citing Matter of Ngai, 19 I&N Dec. 245 (BIA 1984). Page 8 Across the Bar March/April 2013 Presents ABA Telebriefing Developments & Trends in Fiduciary Litigation Thursday, May 2, 2013 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (9:30 Continental Breakfast) Bank of Stockton Trust & Investment Group 240 N. San Joaquin Street Stockton CA 95202 Skip Fox, partner with McGuireWoods LLP, Charlottesville, VA and Tom Abendroth, partner with Schiff Hardin LLP in Chicago, IL will discuss issues, developments and trends in fiduciary litigation. Get your questions answered by these nationally-recognized attorneys during this two-hour, live telephone briefing. The topics discussed will help the trust professional recognize new areas of opportunities and reinforce the use of both common and unique estate planning techniques. Topics to be discussed include: • Diversifications • Concentrated Investments • Keeping Beneficiaries Informed • Fiduciary Exception • State Income Taxes • Alleged Failure to Make Distributions To Register: Contact Cherry Chan (209) 929-1517 or ctchan@bankofstockton.com no later than Monday, April 29, 2013. Bank of Stockton does not charge to attend the telebriefing. However, there is a nominal cost for your credits: $20 for SJCBA Members and $25 for Non-Members. This activity has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of two (2) participatory hours, of which two (2) hours credit will apply to the General MCLE Requirement. The SJCBA certifies that this activity conforms to the standards for approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education. This briefing has been approved for 2.5 CTFA (FID), 2.0 CPE for CPA credit hours in the field of study: Business Law and 2.0 CFP continuing education credits. March/April 2013 Across the Bar Page 9 The Women Lawyers Section of the San Joaquin County Bar Association Cordially Invites You to The Annual Luncheon Casa Flores-Marina 3201 West Benjamin Holt Drive Stockton, California Thursday, May 2, 2013 11:45 am to 1:00 pm • A vegetarian option will be offered • No charge to Section Members • $15.00 for Non-Members • or pay $15.00 to join Section Please RSVP by April 29, 2013 to: Erin Guy Castillo at eguycastillo@parishlegal.com Page 10 Across the Bar March/April 2013 2013 New Laws Affecting Civil Practitioners Michael R. Tener Several new laws affecting civil practitioners have recently gone into effect. While there are too many new laws to attempt to cover in one article, eight of the most significant are discussed below. Except where noted, these laws went into effect on January 1, 2013. 1. Filing Fees Increased. Fees for filing a first paper in any unlimited civil action went up by $40 (e.g., fees to file a complaint or answer are now $435). (Gov. Code § 70602.6.) Uniform fees for filing motions, applications, or other papers requiring a hearing (e.g., orders to show cause) and filings under the Probate Code rose from $40 to $60. (Gov. Code §§ 70617, 70657, 70677.) Additionally, a $50 fee was established for delivering a will to the court under Probate Code section 8200 (Gov. Code sec. 70626(d)). An additional $30 fee was established for court reporter services in civil proceedings lasting under an hour. (Gov. Code § 68086(a)(1)(A).) Complex case filing fees also increased. (Gov. Code § 70616.) The fees to file a notice of appeal or a petition for writ within the original jurisdiction of a court of appeal have increased from $485 to $605. (Gov. Code § 68926.) Fees for filing documents in the Supreme Court have increased as well. (Gov. Code §§ 68926, 68927.) 2. Nonrefundable Jury Fees Required from Each Side, not Each Party, Demanding Jury Trial. Code of Civil Procedure section 631(b) was modified effective September 17, 2012 to provide “[a]t least one party demanding a jury on each side” of a civil case must pay the nonrefundable $150 jury fee to avoid waiver of a jury trial. This section clarifies that if there are multiple parties on a side, only one of them need pay the $150 fee to avoid waiver. 3. Depositions Limited to Seven Hours. Code of Civil Procedure section 2025.290 was added, limiting the deposition examination of a witness by all counsel to seven hours’ total testimony. The seven-hour limitation does not apply: (1) where the court orders otherwise; (2) where the parties stipulate otherwise; (3) to an expert witness deposition; (4) to a person-most-qualified deposition; (5) in a complex case, except that two seven-hour days of March/April 2013 testimony are permitted upon a doctor’s certification of a substantial medical doubt that the deponent will live another six months; (6) in a case brought by an employee against an employer for “acts or omissions arising out of or relating to the employment relationship;” or (7) to a party that appeared in the action after the deposition had concluded. The court “shall” allow additional time “if needed to fairly examine the deponent or if the deponent, another person, or any other circumstance impedes or delays the examination.” 4. Statute Amended to Require Privilege Log “If Necessary” When Objecting Based on Privilege or Work Product. Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.240 was amended pursuant to a bill introduced by former Assemblywoman Alyson Huber to require that any objection to discovery based on privilege or work product provide “sufficient factual information for other parties to evaluate the merits of that claim, including, if necessary, a privilege log.” The statute does not specify the contents of the privilege log but states that the requirement is meant to codify the concept as that term is used in case law and is not intended to constitute a substantive change in the law. 5. Timing for Notice of Intent to Move for New Trial. A party intending to move for a new trial must file and serve a notice of that intention after the decision is rendered and before entry of the judgment, or within the earlier of (1) fifteen days after service by the court or another party of notice of entry of the judgment or (2) 180 days after entry of the judgment. Once the first notice of intention to move for a new trial is filed, all other parties have 15 days to file and serve one of their own. (C.C.P. § 659.) 6. Sixty-day Limitation on Court’s Jurisdiction to Set Aside and Vacate Judgment. Code of Civil Procedure section 663a was amended to provide that a court loses the power to rule on a motion to set aside and vacate a judgment 60 days after the court or a party serves notice of entry of the judgment. If no such notice is given, then the court’s power to rule on a motion terminates 60 days after the first notice of intention to move to set aside or vacate the judgment is filed. Across the Bar Page 11 New Laws for 2013 Continued 7. Debtor’s Exemptions in Bankruptcy Cases Increased. Exemptions available pursuant to section 703.140 of the Code of Civil Procedure to debtors filing for bankruptcy protection in California increased effective April 1, 2013. (See Judicial Council form preceding C.C.P. § 703.010 for current exemption values.) 8. Exemption from Wage Garnishment Increased. Effective July 1, 2013, the maximum wages subject to levy under an earnings withholding order shall not exceed the lesser of twenty-five percent of the individual’s disposable earnings for that week or the individual’s disposable earnings for that week in excess of 40 times the state hourly minimum wage. (C.C.P. § 706.050.) The foregoing discussion derives in large part from the 2013 Summary of Court-Related Legislation produced by the Judicial Council. The full summary, which contains additional details on much of the legislation discussed above and many other Page 12 new laws including those affecting criminal, probate, juvenile, and family law practices, can be found at http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/2012_LegSummary.pdf. Across the Bar Michael R. Tener is an attorney with Neumiller & Beardslee in Stockton practicing civil and bankruptcy litigation. Contact Michael at (209)948-8200 or mtener@neumiller.com. March/April 2013 The San Joaquin County Bar Association The LPM&T Section of the San Joaquin County Bar Association Presents BYOD: (Bring Your Own Device) How to Better Use Your Smartphone or Tablet Brown Bag May 7, 2013 12:00 Noon Neumiller & Beardslee 509 W. Weber Avenue, 5th Floor Stockton, CA FREE to LPM&T Section Members • Non-Members can join for $15.00 Bring your smartphone and/or tablet for an informative but relaxed question and answer discussion with LPM&T Section Members and technology professional Jeff Gilbert of Verve Networks. Come prepared with a question about how to better utilize your device, to show others what you have found to help use your device in your practice, or just to learn from others. Not a LPM&T Section Member? Come to the Brown Bag and join the Section. Section membership costs only $15 per year. For more information about the Section contact the Section Chair Nathan McGuire at nmcguire@neumiller.com. To join the Section please visit www.sjcbar.org or just come to the Brown Bag! Bring your own lunch. Name:____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ Payment by (choose one): Pay at the door ( ) Check ( ) Credit Card ( ) VISA ( ) M/C ( ) AmEx ( ) Credit Card No.: ______________________________________________Exp.: __________________ Signature:_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please complete this form and return it with your payment to: San Joaquin County Bar Association, Attention: Jennifer Riggs 20 N. Sutter Street, Suite 300, Stockton, CA 95202; Fax: (209) 948-1361 Register Online at www.sjcbar.org March/April 2013 Across the Bar Page 13 President's Message Allan Jose “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” This famous opening line raced through my mind when I took office as the president of the San Joaquin County Bar Association’s Board of Governors in January of this year. Although it is with a tremendous amount of pride and honor that I serve as a member and officer of our bar association, I am also aware that it is a tenuous time for the residents of our county and the members of our legal community. The fiscal crisis that started five years ago continues to plague California, its counties, and millions of residents. Its effects resonate in all aspects of state, county, and city life. One of the hardest hit sectors of our state is the courts. Over the last five years, our state’s courts have been subjected to budget cuts that have seen hundreds of court houses closed, hundreds of courtrooms shuttered, and thousands of court personnel laid off. And this says nothing of the thousands of Californians who are deprived of access to the courts. Many counties, including San Joaquin, have closed courthouses in outlying areas in order to concentrate their resources. Californians are subjected to long lines – many waiting for hours for services – because there are less staff to help members of the public file their documents or answer their questions. But amidst these dire times I am thankful for the continued dedication and service of our county’s legal community. Despite the challenges of this economy, many of our lawyers and paraprofessionals continue to dedicate their time and knowledge to our bar association’s causes. Programs such as the upcoming Law Day, the annual New Lawyers Reception, the Free Legal Clinic, and the numerous community outreach programs would not be possible without the support of professionals who volunteer their time to make a difference in our community. And this dedication extends to the non-lawyers in our community, as well. The clerks and administrators of our legal system – the backbone of Page 14 our judicial administration – continue to provide services despite layoffs and reduced office hours. And countless other individuals continue to volunteer their time selflessly to ensure that residents of our county benefit from the experience of our legal professionals and have access to our courts. In the upcoming months, I look forward to meeting with many of our community members and participating in events that benefit not only our legal community but our county as a whole. Because although it may seem like difficult times still lay ahead, I know I can always count on the spirit and generosity of our legal professionals to support our county and its residents. Across the Bar Allan F. Jose is the current President of the San Joaquin County Bar Association and practices mostly criminal defense. Contact Allan at (209) 948-2369 or allanjose@sbcglobal.net. March/April 2013 The San Joaquin County Bar Association together with The San Joaquin County Bar foundation present Law Day Luncheon 2013 Tuesday, May 14, 2013 11:45 am - 1:15 pm Stockton Golf & Country Club 3800 Country Club Blvd Stockton CA Check-in: 11:45 am - 12:00 pm Luncheon and Program: 1:15 pm Please join us as we honor the 2013 Law Day Award Recipient: San Joaquin County District Attorney James P. Willett Tickets: $40 per person, until May 9, 2013 $50 per person, May 10 - May 14, 2013 This is a ticketless event. Reservations may be purchased by calling (209) 948-0125, visiting our website: www.sjcbar.org or mailing a check along with your name(s) and menu selection(s) to: SJCBA: 20 N. Sutter Street, Suite 300, Stockton, CA 95202 Please RSVP with your paid reservation and lunch option by Thursday, May 9, 2013 March/April 2013 Across the Bar Page 15 New Lawyers Reception Recap February 2013 The Bank of Stockton hosted a reception on February 6, 2013 honoring the newest members of the San Joaquin County legal profession. Twelve attorneys who had passed the California State Bar Exam gathered with more than 100 community members, family, veteran lawyers and judges in the expansive Bank of Stockton headquarters on Miner Avenue in Stockton. The keynote speaker for the evening was Francis J. Mootz III, Dean of the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific. From Top: The 2013 New Lawyers with SJCBA President Allan Jose and Keynote Speaker Francis J. Mootz, III. Middle row from left: Keynote Speaker Francis J. Mootz, III; Thomas Keeling and SJCBA President Allan Jose; Daniel Fargo, Vice President of Bank of Stockton. Bottom row from left: Judge David P. Warner and Ann Baird; Judge Carter P. Holly, Dale Balcao and Robert Fay; Kristine Eagle and Dan Quinn. Page 16 Across the Bar March/April 2013 The San Joaquin County Bar Association The Paralegal Committee of the San Joaquin County Bar Association Presents The Dos and Don’ts of Bankruptcy Loris Bakken Loris Bakken has been practicing law in the Central Valley since 2001. Her practice areas include bankruptcy, business law, family law, personal injury, and mediation. Ms. Bakken has represented Chapter 7 Trustees for almost three years. She represents several bankruptcy trustees from all over the Eastern District. Ms. Bakken is also a certified mediator. She is a graduate of the prestigious Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and is on the panel of mediators for the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Ms. Bakken also has experience as a mediator of family law matters and has received specific training and education in this area. Ms. Bakken is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and a member of the San Joaquin County Bar Association, Family Law, Women Lawyers, and Business Sections. Ms. Bakken is an associate at The Suntag Law Firm. May 15, 2013 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm SJCBA $35.00 Non-SJCBA Members • $30.00 SJCBA Members Common mistakes that petition filers make. More and more people are seeking legal representation to assist them in filing for bankruptcy. This presentation examines the necessary information to include in the bankruptcy petition and schedules and the common mistakes that petition preparers make in collecting information and preparing the documents for filing. This activity has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of one (1) participatory hour, of which one (1) hour credit will apply to the General MCLE Requirement.The SJCBA certifies that this activity conforms to the standards for approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education. Name:____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ Payment by (choose one): Pay at the door ( ) Check ( ) Credit Card ( ) VISA ( ) M/C ( ) AmEx ( ) Credit Card No.: ______________________________________________Exp.: __________________ Signature:_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please complete this form and return it with your payment to: San Joaquin County Bar Association, Attention: Jennifer Riggs 20 N. Sutter Street, Suite 300, Stockton, CA 95202; Fax: (209) 948-1361 Register Online at www.sjcbar.org March/April 2013 Across the Bar Page 17 San Joaquin County trial lawyerS aSSoCiation Chapter of the Consumer attorneys of California San Joaquin County trial lawyerS aSSoCiation Masters seMinar anatoMy oF a spinal injury case co - sponsors Friday • May 17, 2013 Valley Brew Restaurant 157 West Adams Street, Stockton, CA 95204 (209) 464-2739 pRogRam 12:00-1:30 pm mcle 1.5 geneRal 11:45 AM RegIStRAtION RegistRation includes Lunch • Seminar Materials • MCLe Certificate Moderator: lawRence m. knapp Law Office of Lawrence M. Knapp CO-CHAIRS: Lawrence M. Knapp and David B. Walker COMMIttee: Brian S. Kabateck, Lisa Maki, Brent Bixby, Davey turner, Nancy Drabble, Lori Sarracino, Wendy Murphy Speaker: This program has been approved for minimum continuing legal education credit by the State Bar of california in the amount 1.5 General credits. cAoc certifies this activity conforms to the standards for approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of california governing minimum continuing legal education. cAoc will maintain your records on this seminar. Provider #00324. seminaR pRe-RegistRation fees aRe good thRough 5/14/13. After this date, add $5 to the below fees. Registration includes appetizers, syllabus, and CLe certificate. $50 Attorney/CAOC Member ($55 after May 14) $60 Attorney/Non Member ($65 after May 14) $40 paralegal/Legal Assistant ($45 after May 14) $35 Add’l paralegal/Legal Asst. ($40 after May 14) $10 Law Students ($15 after May 14) Free - Current Sitting judges and justices method of payment: Check enclosed. Check #_______________ Charge my credit card: MC Visa 12:00 pM pROgRAM lawRance a. Bohm Bohm Law Group 1:30 pM ADjOuRNMeNt CAOC reserves the right to substitute speakers and/or topics. pRe-RegistRation please pRint cleaRly oR type: CAOC#_________________________State Bar#_______________________ Name___________________________________________________________ Firm____________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________ City____________________________________St______Zip______________ email___________________________________________________________ Amex Card No.______________________________________________ exp___________Signature_______________________________ RetuRn this foRm to: CAOC, 770 L St., Ste. 1200, Sacramento, CA 95814 phone: (916) 442-6902 • Fax: (916) 442-7734 ph:(_____)______________________Fx:(_____)________________________ CAOC has permission to communicate with me by fax and email. Refund Policy: Refunds will be honored only if a written request is submitted to cAoc at least seven days prior to the date of the seminar and will be subject to a $25 service charge. Registration substitutions may be made only when the substituting party holds the same membership category as the original registrant. wB call caoc to RegisteR (916) 442-6902 Page 18 Across the Bar March/April 2013 The San Joaquin County Bar Association The LPM&T Section of the San Joaquin County Bar Association Presents The Law Practice Technology Series: Using Video Conference Technology in your Law Practice This Program is a Webinar May 22, 2013 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm Facetime, Skype, ooVoo, Webex. Whether you have a smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer or server farm, learn how you can use inexpensive and readily available video conference technologies to make your law practice more efficient and productive. Whether it is getting more face time with clients, expanding your reach, interviewing witnesses, taking depositions, or making court appearances, this webinar will get you on your way. And the best part is, you don’t need to be tech savvy to do it. This webinar will also cover confidentiality, encryption and security issues as they relate to one’s practice. With Speakers Joy Heath Rush Joy is a frequent author and presenter on legal technology issues. She is the past President of the International Technology Association (ILTA), an organization on a mission to provide information to maximize the value of technology in the legal profession. She is also the Director of Enterprise Multimedia Services for a global law firm with 1700 attorneys in 18 offices. She is responsible for the firmwide audiovisual, presentation, collaboration and videoconferencing technologies. Among other awards, Joy was named ILTA’s 2011 Communications Technologies Champion and 2008 IT Champion of the year by Law Technology News magazine. and Tom Spalding Tom Spalding is a communication technology consultant with Red Tonka who helps users identify their communication needs and apply technology solutions. He has consulted on dozens of federal courtrooms and worked with large and small law firms to implement videoconferencing solutions in 6 countries. Generously Hosted by Neumiller & Beardslee Webinar access ifnormation will be provided uopn regsitration. $15.00 LPM&T Section Members • $25.00 SJCBA Members • $40 Non-SJCBA Members This activity has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of one (1) participatory hour, of which one (1) hour credit will apply to the General MCLE Requirement.The SJCBA certifies that this activity conforms to the standards for approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education. Register Online at www.sjcbar.org March/April 2013 Across the Bar Page 19 Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Available in Juvenile Dependency, Guardianship and Family Court Proceedings Janette L. Rossell Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”) is a special green card program whose purpose is to help foreign children in the United States that have been abused, abandoned or neglected.1 Children who obtain green cards through the SIJS program can live and work permanently in the United States. SIJS is only available to unmarried aliens under the age of twenty-one. 8 C.F.R. § 204.11(c). A request for an order making the necessary limited factual findings will enable the juvenile to petition the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“CIS” – formerly “INS”) for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status pursuant to Section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”). The relevant provision of the INA is codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J). The Code of Federal Regulations sets forth the standard for implementing the statute at 8 C.F.R. § 204.11. Please note that the regulations do not yet reflect the December 2008 statutory changes Congress made to SIJS via the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (“TVPRA”), Pub. L. No. 110-457, § 235, 122 Stat. 5044, 5079-80. To be eligible to apply to CIS for SIJS, a juvenile or state court must first make several factual findings. Under the law, these courts do not make any immigration decisions, but rather, make factual findings concerning the juvenile. The juvenile or state courts—and not CIS—make these findings because these are the courts with expertise in juvenile matters. The required findings are as follows: 1. The child is dependent upon the juvenile court or has been legally committed to, or placed under the custody of, an agency or department of a state, or an individual or entity appointed by a state or juvenile court, within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a) (27)(J) (again, note that the accompanying regulations found at 8 C.F.R. §§ 204.21 (a) and (d)(2)(i) do not reflect the 2008 statutory amendments); 2. The child’s reunification with one or both parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment or similar basis found under state law within 1 See http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis. Page 20 the meaning of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) (again, the accompanying regulations found at 8 C.F.R. §§ 204.21 (a) and (d)(2)(i) do not reflect the 2008 statutory amendments); and 3. It is not in the “best interest” of the child to be returned to her or her parents’ previous country of nationality or country of last habitual residence within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(27)(J) and 8 C.F.R. § 204.11(d)(2)(iii). A. Juvenile Dependent upon the Court Immigration regulations define the term “juvenile court” as “a court located in the United States having jurisdiction under State law to make judicial determinations about the custody and care of juveniles.” 8 C.F.R. § 204.11(a). California Superior Courts do no split jurisdiction between different courts. Williams v. Superior Court, 14 Cal.2d 656, 662-663 (1939) (holding that jurisdiction is vested in all California superior courts concurrently and “not in any particular judge or department thereof,” such that any one department may assume jurisdiction over a case that could also properly be heard in another department). Because California Superior Court judges have concurrent jurisdiction, any Superior Court judge has jurisdiction to hear SIJS petitions. The California Legislature provides the Superior Court with authority to make “any orders regarding the physical or legal custody” of children which the court determines to be in the “best interest” of the child. See Family Code § 3020(a). This authority is granted to facilitate the public policy of this State to “assure the health, safety and welfare of children.” Id. The Court, “[m]ay, during the pendency of a proceeding or at any time thereafter, make an order for the custody of a child during minority that seems necessary or proper.” Cal. Fam. Code § 3022. Therefore, if the court places the juvenile within the custody of an individual it appoints, then the juvenile meets the first threshold for SIJS eligibility. Prior to the TVPRA amendments to the INA, an undocumented minor alien only qualified for SIJS if the minor was “declared dependent on a juvenile court located in the United States” or was “legally Across the Bar March/April 2013 Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Continued committed to, or placed under the custody of, an agency or department of a State.” Pub.L.No. 105119, § 113, 111 Stat. 2440, 2460 (1997). After the INA amendments, an undocumented minor now qualifies for SIJS if the minor has been placed under the custody of a juvenile- or state court-appointed individual. 8 U.S.C. § 1101 (a)(27)(J)(i). Accordingly, the juvenile need not be dependent on the court or legally committed to or under the custody of the State of California in order to satisfy the requirements or this finding. B. Reunification with Parent Not Viable Prior to the TVPRA, the INA based eligibility for SIJS on a determination that a child was eligible for “long-term foster care due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.” Pub.L.No. 105-119, § 113, 111 Stat. 2440, 2460-61 (1997); see also 8 C.F.R. § 204.11(a). The TVPRA removed any reference to long-term foster care from the INA. The amendments also extended SIJS to immigrant minors who have been abused by one, but not both, biological parents. Now, an immigrant minor can qualify for SIJS if “reunification with 1 or both of the immigrant’s parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis found under State law.” 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(7)(J)(i). Although any California Superior Court has authority to issue SIJS factual findings, the California family courts are uniquely situated to help children pursue SIJS after the TVPRA expanded the categories of children who qualify for relief. The TVPRA amendments leave open the possibility that a child can remain in the custody of one viable, supportive biological parent, even though the child should not be reunified with the other parent. In such an instance, the child is not eligible for long-term foster care or a guardianship, the traditional mechanisms through which a child pursued SIJS eligibility findings prior to the TVPA amendments. Rather, the child is limited to pursuing custody arrangements through the family court, making the family court the only available forum for SIJS eligibility findings. In recognition of this unique position, the family courts March/April 2013 in San Francisco and Los Angeles County have already granted orders making the factual findings required for minors to petition CIS for SIJS. C. Return to Country of Nationality Not in Best Interest of Juvenile To address the issue of whether or not a juvenile should be returned to their country of nationality, the INA’s Special Immigrant Juvenile provisions were specifically drafted to take advantage of such state court expertise in determining issues of child welfare and children’s best interests. See Gao v. Jenifer, 185 F.3d 548, 555-556 (6th Cir. 1999) (holding that state courts may exercise jurisdiction over juveniles in INS custody and recognizing that “the INA specifically delegates determinations of dependency . . . and the best interest of the child to state juvenile court”). Thus, California family courts have unique expertise to offer in the context of determining eligibility for SIJS. Indeed, the California Family Code instructs family courts to specifically address questions of the best interests of children. See Fam. Code § 3011 (instructing courts to consider a history of abuse in evaluating the best interests of children); Fam. Code § 3020 (declaring “the health safety, and welfare of children” should be the court’s “[p]rimary concern in determining the best interest of children when making any orders regarding the physical or legal custody or visitation of children”); see also Manela v. Superior Court, 177 Cal.App.4th 1139, 1150 (2009) (holding that the court’s “primary” concern for the best interests of a child outweigh a parent’s privacy interest in personal medical records when the court decides whether that parent should have legal custody of the child); In re Marriage of Stoker, 65 Cal. App.3d 878, 882 (1977) (holding that a trial court commits reversible error when it makes a custody decision based on any consideration other than the best interest of the child, such as the equitable doctrine of unclean hands). Thus, the Court must weigh all available evidence that addresses the best interests of the juvenile when determining if the juvenile should be returned to her Across the Bar Page 21 Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Continued country of origin. D. Factual Findings Not Grant of Immigration Relief – only Prerequisite Factual findings by the juvenile or state court will not entitle the juvenile to SIJS or to lawful permanent residence in the United States. Rather, the court’s findings are a prerequisite to filing a petition for immigration relief. See 8 C.F.R. § 204.11(d) (2). Without the requested court order, the juvenile cannot petition CIS for SIJS. Id. The juvenile must submit the order to CIS as part of her petition for SIJS. Based on that SIJS petition, the juvenile can also submit an application for lawful permanent residency. CIS ultimately will adjudicate the juvenile’s petition and application at an adjustment of status interview. CIS thus retains the discretionary authority to approve or to deny the petition for SIJS and application for permanent residence. Janette Rossell is an attorney with the Rossell Law Office in Stockton handling juvenile delinquency (defense) and minor's counsel (guardianships). Contact Janette at (209) 473-1811. Place Your Ad Here! Advertise Your Business to the Local Legal Community and Beyond Contact Natalie Vernon at the SJCBA for more information nvernon@sjcbar.org Page 22 Across the Bar March/April 2013 Bar Calendar & Member Announcements April 2013 Monday Tuesday Wednesday 1 2 LPM&T Ex Comm 3 9 Family Law Ex Comm Cesar Chavez Holiday Courts Closed LRS & SJCBA Open 8 Probate, Trusts, & estate Planning Ex Comm MCLE Comm 15 16 22 Program Comm 29 30 Board of Governors Ex Comm Criminal Peer Review Of Counsel/Emeritus 10 Barristers Ex Comm Paralegal Ex Comm 17 Civil Lit Ex Comm CAC Comm MCLE: An introduction to Minor’s Counsel 23 24 Legal Clinic-Stockton Thursday Friday Humphreys Student Bar Gala 4 5 11 12 18 19 25 26 Women Lawyers Ex Comm Criminal Law Ex Comm Judicial Liaison Foundation Ex Comm Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings start at 12 noon and are held at the SJCBA office. Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson is pleased to announce that Jamie M. Ryker has become an associate with the firm. Jamie is a 2005 graduate of the University of California, San Diego, with a B.A. in Political Science. Jamie received her J.D. in 2009, cum laude, from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. Jamie is admitted to the California Bar, the U.S. District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts, and is a member of the State Bar of California as well as the San Joaquin County Bar Association. New SJCBA Members • Ms. Dolly D. Ares • Ms. Ann K. Craig • Ms. Francoise C. Espinoza • Ms. Anna Y. Maples • Mr. Jesse Ortiz • Ms. Michelle C. Pomicpic • Ms. Kim Rodriguez • Ms. Jamie M. Ryker • Mr. Elias Salas Jr. • Mr. Paul E. Schultz • Ms. Mary L. Swanson • Ms. Parveen K. Tumber March/April 2013 Across the Bar Page 23 Bar Calendar & Member Announcements May 2013 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday ABA Telebriefing: 1 Criminal Law MCLE Pretrial Discovery in Criminal Law Cases 6 Board of Governors Ex Comm 7 LPM&T Brown Bag BYOD: Bring Your Own Device At Neumiller & Beardslee 13 20 21 27 Memorial Day Holiday Courts, LRS & SJCBA Closed Family Law Section w/ Bench 14 15 Paralegal MCLE: The Dos and Don’ts of Bankruptcy 22 Barristers Ex Comm 28 10 16 17 23 24 30 31 Board of Governors CA State Bar MCLE: Big Firm Services on Small Firm Budget Legal Clinic-Stockton Foundation Ex Comm 29 Family Law MCLE: The Evidence Code is Alive and Well in Family Court Program Comm 9 LPM&T MCLE: Videoconferencing Webinar Legal Clinic-Tracy 3 Criminal Law Ex Comm Civil Lit Ex Comm CAC Comm 2 Casa Flores Marina Paralegal Ex Comm Law Day Luncheon Stockton Golf & Country Club Law Day Educational Program 8 LRS Comm Women Lawyers Annual Luncheon Developments & Trends in Fiduciary Litigation LPM&T Ex Comm Probate, Trusts, & estate Planning Ex Comm Friday ATB Comm Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings start at 12 noon and are held at the SJCBA office. Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson is proud to announce that Kerry L. Krueger has become a partner in the firm. Kerry joined Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson in September 2006, after completion of her J.D. (with Distinction) at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Her undergraduate studies were completed at Western Washington University, earning a B.A. in 1985 and then continuing her education at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, earning an M.S. in 1988. She is a member of the State Bar of California and the San Joaquin County Bar Association, where she serves on the Board of Governors and is active in the Page 24 Women Lawyers Section. Kerry is also an active member of the Consuelo Callahan Inn of Court. She serves as a Trustee of the Board of the Haggin Museum and as a Director on the Board of Delta Health Care. She is an active Rotarian and teaches Higher Education and the Law at the University of the Pacific. Across the Bar March/April 2013 Classified Ruhl Building - Reduced Price Cort Tower Office Space Available 523 East Main Street, Stockton, CA 95202 • Three excellent ground floor suites available with new building facade • Property Type: Office or Retail • Rental Rate: $0.75 psf negotiable (+PG&E) • Suites 521 - 2,432 sf • Suites 523 & 527 - 2,000 sf • Directly across from the San Joaquin Superior Court Family Law Courthouse 343 E. Main Street, Stockton, CA 95202 For More Information Please Contact Mahala Burns, Broker (209) 235-5231 • 10 story classic office tower • National Historic Landmark with all modern amenities • Rental Rate: $.95 psf (+PG&E) • Two high-speed elevators • Secure code access entry • Free use of Executive Conference Room for tenants For More Information Please Contact Mahala Burns, Broker (209) 235-5231 mburns@cortco.com • www.cortco.com mburns@cortco.com • www.cortco.com Missing Will Looking for the will of Nancy Browning. Ms. Browing passed away on March 18, 2013. She lived at 1225 Country Club Blvd in Stockton, CA. Please contact Richard Young at (209) 474-0196 if you have any informaion. March/April 2013 Across the Bar Page 25 Classified Elks Building Kress Building - 3rd Floor 42 N. Sutter Street, Stockton, CA 95202 • Office space available • Single office to full floor • Newly renovated offices • Lease Rate: starting at $.50 psf • Tenant pays PG&E and janitorial • Professional tenant mix • Located in the Central Parking District • Walking distance to business/government offices and restaurants 20 N. Sutter Street, Stockton, CA 95202 • 952 Square Feet • Single office to full floor • Tenant pays PG&E and janitorial • Located in the Central Parking District • Walking distance to business/government offices and restaurants For More Information Please Contact For More Information Please Contact Mahala Burns, Broker (209) 235-5231 mburns@cortco.com • www.cortco.com Mahala Burns, Broker (209) 235-5231 mburns@cortco.com • www.cortco.com Page 26 Across the Bar March/April 2013