TCBA JulyAugust Bar Bulletin

BulletinJuly/August 2016

Robert G. WestTCBA President2016-2017

PagePresident’s

by Robert G. West

July/August 2016 ▪ TCBA BULLETIN 1

July 1 is the begin-ning of the new Bar year at TCBA. This is my fi rst President’s Page, and I will use it to introduce myself and to mention just a few of the plans for the 2016–2017 Bar year. I grew up in Wich-ita Falls, Texas, and was part of the fi rst graduating class of S.H. Rider High School, where I attended

all four years of high school. I admit to being part of the academic nerd crowd in high school, and I competed in de-bate and speech events as a senior. Both my parents are now deceased, but I still have family in the Wichita Falls area. None of my relatives have ever been attorneys or judges, but the law appealed to me as a potential career from watching Perry Mason and The Defenders on television. Following high school, I attended Midwestern Uni-versity, which was two blocks from my home. I was part of the “Honors Program” there, and I became active in debate and student government. I served as the elected President of Student Government during my junior year. I graduated from Midwestern in May 1969, and drove to Austin the next day, on Monday morning, to en-roll in the University of Texas School of Law for the sum-mer term, with classes beginning on Tuesday. My life as a law student included Tort classes from the always entertain-ing and quick-witted Dean Page Keeton, Oil & Gas Law, from renowned Professor Ernie Smith, Antitrust Law, from a then-young but brilliant attorney from Houston named Harry Reasoner, and several Procedure and Evidence classes from then Assistant Dean Frank Elliott, who later served as Dean of the law schools at Texas Tech and Texas Wesleyan. I served as Editor-in-Chief of the Texas International Law Journal during my third year, where I learned to edit with a red pen, a practice that I still follow but which my law fi rm associates and legal assistants often do not appreciate. Dur-ing all three years of law school, I worked part-time in the State Capitol at the Texas Legislative Council, which is the research and bill-drafting agency for the Texas Legislature. It was an excellent part-time job for a law student! In my fi nal semester of law school, a job offer opened a door for me to work in downtown Fort Worth, as the twelfth and youngest lawyer in the fi rm then known as McGown, Godfrey, Decker, McMackin, Shipman & McLane, which has

subsequently morphed by various name changes and a merger into what is now the “Decker Jones” fi rm, where I still have many good friends. I worked there for twenty-one years as a general practice attorney, as an associate, and later as a partner, mostly working under the fi ne mentoring of John McMackin, John McClane, and Bob Decker, with both transactional and litigation projects. I was a fi rst chair attorney in both state and federal court in construction and real estate disputes, collec-tions, and breach of contract cases in front of state civil district court judges Charlie Murray, Walter Jordan, Clyde Ashworth, Hal Lattimore, Jim Wright, Ardell Young, Joe Spurlock, and Albert White, federal judges Eldon Mahon and David Ballew, and bankruptcy judges John Flowers and Massie Tillman. It was also while working at the McGown Godfrey Decker fi rm that I met and became friends with a wonderful and extremely competent Professional Legal Secretary and Certifi ed Legal Assistant named “Trisha,” who is now my “boss” as Execu-tive Director of the TCBA. I look forward to working with her this Bar year. Many attorneys make a “lateral” move during their career, but in early 1993, I made a “vertical” move from the 24th fl oor of City Center Tower II to the 35th fl oor of the same building. I joined the fi rm then known as “Gandy, Michener,” which has evolved into what is now Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC, where I have sat in the same offi ce and at the same desk for the past twenty-three years. I have been encouraged in my TCBA activities by my law partner and past TCBA President, John Allen Chalk. My current lawyering is mostly on real estate, oil & gas, and corporate transactions. My wife, Marsha, and I, our two grown and married daughters, and their husbands and children have found Fort Worth to be a wonderful place to live and grow a family and become active in the community. My wife and I are both graduates of Leadership Fort Worth. My wife served eight years as an elected member of the Fort Worth School Board in the 1990s. I served six years on the City Board of Adjust-ment and three years on the City Zoning Commission. I now frequently represent clients before those bodies and before the City Council of Fort Worth and other area municipalities. I am active as a member, committee member, elder, and for-mer trustee of Ridglea Presbyterian Church on Camp Bowie, and in matters of Grace Presbytery as the regional governing council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in north Central Texas. I became active in the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association as a rookie lawyer in 1972,

continued on page 11

WELCOME TO A NEW BAR YEAR

Tarrant County Bar Association817.338.4092 ▪ Fax 817.335.9238

website: www.tarrantbar.orgemail: [email protected]

2016-2017 Offi cersPresident...............................Robert G. WestPresident-Elect....................Nick BettingerVice President...........................Lance EvansSecretary-Treasurer...................John Cayce

DirectorsTerm Ends 2017Tawana Gray

Gary L. MedlinJason C. N. Smith

Term Ends 2018Cody L. Cofer

Veronica C. LawLu Pham

2016-2017 Appointed DirectorsRaul A. CanezJulie A. Sladek

Tarrant County Young Lawyers AssociationPresident2016 SpringErin Cofer

2016 FallSusan Smith

Immediate Past PresidentDavid E. Keltner

Executive DirectorPatricia Graham, PLS, CLAS

Ex-Offi cio MembersState Bar of Texas, Directors

J. Benjamin BarlowGary L. Nickelson

ABA DelegateJanna ClarkeBar Bulletin

John F. MurphyEditor

H. Dennis KellyAssistant Editor

April HollandStaff Editor/Graphics/Production

The Tarrant County Bar Bulletin is a monthly publication of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Articles, photos, suggestions or comments should be directed to:[email protected] Calhoun Street ▪ Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504Deadline for submission is the 1st day of the month, one month prior the date of the issue (e.g. April 1 for the May issue). Items for publication may be emailed to [email protected] in Word format. Articles published in the Bar Bulletin do not necessarily re�lect the opinions of the Tarrant County Bar Association, its of�icers, or the Board of Directors. Advertisements, and feature articles should not be considered an endorsement of any service, product, program, seminar or event.

ContentsFeatures

Departments

2 www.tarrantbar.org ▪ July/August 2016

3 CLE Membership Luncheon

6 Charity Golf Tournament

14 Advocates for Justice

27 LegalLine

28 Glimpse into the Past

1 President's Page

3 YLA Snapshot

4 2016-2017 Offi cers & Directors

7 100 Club

8 Judicial Profi le

10 Here is Your TCBA Staff

12 Snippets

15 Lawyer Referral and Information Service News

16 Other Association's News & Information

17 Membership Report

17 Benefi ts of Membership & Vendor List

18 Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services

20 In Memoriam - Herschel Winn & Ira Goodrich

22 Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

23 CLE Corner

26 It's All Happening Around the Bar

Advertiser's IndexDispute Resolution Services......................................15Edward Jones................................................................23Jensen & Associates....................................................24Juris Fabrilis...................................................................25KoonsFuller.......................................Inside Front CoverLaw Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C............................19LawPay...................................................................5LexisNexis...........................................Inside Back CoverParker Law Firm..............................................................9Stephens Anderson & Cummings..........Back CoverTexas Lawyers Insurance Exchange.......................16Tindall Square Office Complex................................25

Arlington Bar AssociationMeets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. President, Larry Gay-dos. For location & information, email [email protected] or call 214.651.5622.Black Women Lawyers AssociationFor meetings and information, contact Sue Allen, President, at 817.926.5005 or [email protected] 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.Fort Worth Chapter Association of Legal AdministratorsMeets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the City Club, 301 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, 76102. For more information, con-tact Lisa Boyd at 817.339.2478 or [email protected] Worth Paralegal AssociationGeneral Membership Meetings are held at noon every 4th Thursday of the month at Joe T. Garcia’s, 2201 N. Commerce. FWPA Board of Directors meets at noon every 1st Tuesday of the month at the Bar Center. For more information, go to www.fwpa.org.L. Clifford Davis Legal Association(f/k/a/ Tarrant County Black Bar Association) holds its meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm. For more information, contact President Crystal Gayden at 817.496.8408 or by email at [email protected] (Mexican American Bar Association)Meets on the last Thursday of each month at Rivas Mexican Res-taurant, 5442 River Oaks Blvd., River Oaks, 76114. For more infor-mation, 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 Leslie Barrows at 817.481.1583 or [email protected] County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCCDLA)Meets every 2nd Thursday at Joe T. Garcia’s, 2201 N. Com-merce. For more information, contact President Randy Bowers at 817.348.8094 or [email protected]. Tarrant County Family Law Bar AssociationMeets at noon on the 4th Tuesday of each month at the Family Law Center Assembly Room on the 2nd floor. For more information, con-tact president Kevin Schmid, 817.377.3000 or [email protected] County Probate Bar AssociationMeets on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Petroleum Club-members free, guests $30. For more information, contact Tena Fox at 817.280.0811 or [email protected] County Trial Lawyers AssociationMeets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Joe T. Garcia’s. For more information, contact John S. Jose at 817.288.8988.Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association The 2016-2017 new TCYLA Year begins September 1, 2016. If you need an application or meeting information, call 817.338.4092, email [email protected], or go to the website at tcyla.org.Texas Association of Defense CouncilMeets for lunch every 4th Wednesday at Angelo’s. Contact George Haratsis, McDonald Sanders at 817.336.8651 for more information.

Other Associations’ News & Information


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Celebrating20 Years 20 Years 20 Years

Sherry Jones

CelebratingJoin the TCBA

20 Years 20 Years

Sherry JonesSherry Jones

20 Years

Sherry Jones

20 Years with

Thursday, August 11, 20165:00pm - 7:00pmTCBA Bar Center

1315 Calhoun Street

16

11

25


CLE Membership Luncheon

Frank Stevensonis a partner in

the Dallas offi ce of Locke Lord LLP, where he has prac-ticed real estate, transportation, gov-ernmental, and fi -nance law for the past 36 years. He was a member of

the State Bar Board of Directors from 2010 to 2014 and chaired the board. He served on the board of the Dallas Bar Association for 14 years and was DBA president in 2008. He is a trustee and Vice Chair of the Dallas Bar Founda-tion, serves on the Texas Commission to Expand Civil Legal Services and on the State Bar’s Pro Bono Workgroup, won two awards from his region’s legal-aid provider, and was honored for founding programs to advance professionalism for beginning lawyers and to expand diversity. Stevenson is president of the Sammons Center for the Arts (an arts incuba-tor/performance facility), an associate member of the Dallas Citizens Council, on the board of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and an elder and teacher at Northridge Pres-

byterian Church. He has served his alma mater in numerous capacities, including as chair of the Executive Committee of the Alumni Council, and was awarded its Medal for Eminent Service. Stevenson received a Presidential Citation from the State Bar in 2013 and the “Best Series of Articles-Features/General Interest” award (for his DBA President’s Columns) in 2009. Stevenson graduated with a B.A. magna cum laude from Amherst College in 1977 and received his J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1980. He and his wife, Helen, have three intermittently adult children, Caroline, Louise, and John. g

Tuesday, July 12 g City Club g 11:45am

This year's luncheon, co-hosted by the Tarrant County Bar As-sociation & the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, will be held at the City Club on Tuesday, July 12, at 11:45am. The City Club is located at 301 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, 2nd fl oor. Lunch will be $26 for members with advanced reserva-tions and guest and walk-ins will be $31. Dress is business ca-sual - suit and tie not required.

To make your reservation, please contact Sherry at 817.338.4092 or [email protected] or go to the calendar section of our website at www.tarrantbar.org. For directions and contact information, please visit the City Club website at www.cityclub-ftw.com.

SnapshotYLAErin Cofer, President TCYLA

The summer heat has ar-

rived in Fort Worth and with it a little summer fun. On Saturday, June 4, the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Board of Directors

participated in a team building exercise with Cowtown Cy-cle Party. Our board cycled our way around downtown Fort Worth and worked our leg muscles! We learned that our Outstanding Mentor Award recipient, Judge “Bill” Harris, won the statewide honor of Outstanding Mentor. This is a huge honor as all the Young

Lawyer affi liates from around the state submit nominations and a statewide committee selects the candidate from a very large applicant pool. Congrats again to Judge Harris on this exceptional recognition. Susan Smith continues her Dress for Success—Clothes for the Indigent project. This week our Board has worked to collect and sort hundreds of busi-ness clothes donations for the indigent. Soon these clothes will be available in the criminal and family law court-houses for the indigent to wear in court. g

TCBA Welcomes its 2016-2017

PresidentRobert G. West

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC

President-ElectNick Bettinger

McDonald Sanders Law Firm

Offi cers & Directors

Vice PresidentLance Evans

Evans, Daniel, Moore, Evans and Biggs

Secretary-TreasurerJohn Cayce

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Director (Term ends 2017)Tawana Gray

Law Offi ce of Tawana H. Gray, PLLC

Director (Term ends 2017)Gary L. Medlin

The Medlin Law Firm, PLLC

Director (Term ends 2017) Jason C.N. Smith

Law Offi ce of Jason Smith

Director (Term ends 2018)Cody L. Cofer

Cofer Law, P.C.

Director (Term ends 2018)Veronica C. Law

Brackett & Ellis, P.C.

Director (Term ends 2018)Lu Pham

Dowell, Pham & Harrison, LLP

Appointed DirectorRaul A. Canez

Canez & Associates, PLLC

Appointed DirectorJulie Sladek

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services



Executive DirectorPatricia Graham, PLS, CLAS

Tarrant County Bar Association

TC Young Lawyers Association President (2016 Spring)Erin Cofer

Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Offi ce

TC Young Lawyers Association President (2016 Fall)Susan Smith

Gardner & Smith, PLLC

Immediate Past PresidentDavid E. Keltner



SPONSORSHIPSSponsorships are Tax Deductible and available for $400

Your sponsorship will include a tee box sign, recognition in promotional materials, recognition at the awards ceremony and tournament, and 10% off 1 team entry.

All sponsorship funds will benefit the Tarrant County Bar Foundation, which was established in 1997 to support and expand its commitments to “justice, service, and professionalism” by funding important community service projects. These projects include crucial legal services to needy citizens and education

of the public about their rights and responsibilities under the law.

For more information please contact [email protected]

6600 Mira Vista Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76132 www.miravistacountryclub.com

1:00 PM Shotgun Start • $125 per Golfer4 Person Team Scramble. Register as a team or individually.

Winning Team, Closest to the Pin, and Longest Drive

Players: 1. Email

2. Email

3. Email

4. Email

Please submit the entry form with your check made payable to TCYLA to 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102.

You may also fax your form to 817.335.9238 or email it to [email protected]. Contact Clark Rucker at [email protected] for further questions.

Golfers: x $125 = $

Apply Sponsor Discount (10%) $ [ ]

Separate $400 Check to TCBF Enclosed

Total Amount Paid $

Entry Form

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Members of the 2016-2017Members of the 2016-2017

100 Club100 ClubAdams Lynch & Loftin P.C.

Baker Monroe PLLC

Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP

Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, PC

Brackett & Ellis, P.C.

Broude Smith & Jennings PC

Brown, Dean, Wiseman, Proctor, Hart & Howell LLP

Cook Children’s Health Care System

Curnutt & Hafer, L.L.P.

Dawson Parrish, PC

Dowell, Pham & Harrison, LLP

Edison, McDowell & Hetherington, LLP

Friedman, Suder & Cooke

Gordon & Sykes, LLP

Griffi th, Jay & Michel, LLP

Haynes and Boone, L.L.P.

Holland Johns & Penny LLP

Jackson Walker, L.L.P.


Lacy Lyster Malone & Steppick, PLLC

Law, Snakard & Gambill, P.C.

McDonald Sanders Law Firm

Mellina & Larson, P.C.

Moses, Palmer & Howell, L.L.P.

Murphy Mahon Keffl er Farrier, LLP

Naman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC

Noteboom Law Firm

Paup, Shutt & Associates, P.C.

Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Ray, L.L.P.

Stephens, Anderson & Cummings

Thompson & Knight, LLP

Underwood Law Firm

Varghese Summersett, PLLC

Wallach & Andrews, P.C.

Watson Caraway Midkiff & Luningham L.L.P

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC

Wick Phillips

Winstead PC

The Wolf Law Firm, P.C.

To be eligible for the 100 Club, any law fi rm, government agency, law school, or corporate legal department that has four or more attorneys and attains 100% TCBA member-ship compliance for the 2016-2017 bar year qualifi es for the “100 Club.” The fi rms/organizations listed (above) have already paid their membership dues and qualify for 100 Club membership for the new bar year. Any fi rm/or-

ganization that qualifi es in the future will have its name published in every issue of the Bar Bulletin for this bar year. TCBA is proud of the participation of these law fi rms and other groups! The new bar year began on July 1, if you have not paid your renewal invoice, contact our Mem-bership Director Sandy Tilley at 817.338.4092 or email her at [email protected].

This list represents fi rms/organizations as of July 1, 2016

Profi leJudicial by Perry J. Cockerell


In October 2015, Judge Dana Womack announced that she would not run for a sixth four-year term as Judge of

the 348th District Court. Her current term will run through December 31, 2016, and at that point, she will have served twenty years as a Civil District Judge in Tarrant County. Her career as a judge has been fi lled with numerous accolades and appreciation from peers. Her decision to announce that she would not run for re-election was out of respect for the election process and “to give everyone a fair shot.” Four attorneys entered the race for the opportunity to serve in the 348th District Court. She says that she likes to “stay under the radar,” but her offi ce tells a different story. On one wall is a handwrit-ten note and photograph that reads: “To Dana Womack, with appreciation, every good wish and very best regards, Ronald Reagan.” Certifi cates of appreciation from the Tarrant County District Clerk’s Offi ce and the Tarrant County Commissioners Court line other walls. She has served as President of the Fort Worth Republican Forum, and she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of North Texas, Inc. and Dispute Resolution Services of North Texas, Inc. Judge Womack was born in Dallas, and her father was a Dallas fi refi ghter. When he became Fire Chief of Cor-sicana, her family moved there while she was in high school. In her senior year in high school, she was captain of the drill team. She graduated in 1978 from Corsicana High School as the class valedictorian. Then she was off to Baylor University, where her best friend attended. Judge Womack obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology from Baylor in 1982. In 1983, she graduated from Baylor Law School. How did she fi nish law school one year after college? She had begun tak-ing college courses at Navarro College while attending high school in Corsicana. She transferred those credits to Baylor and then was permitted under an existing program to enroll in Baylor Law School before graduating. Once in Baylor Law School, she studied straight through every quarter without a summer break until she graduated in November 1983. She met her future husband, Keith Branyon, in law school, where they were partners in Practice Court. They were told that if they could make it through Practice Court together, marriage would be a snap! The prognosticators were correct; Judge Womack and Keith celebrated their thir-ty-second wedding anniversary in March. Judge Womack began her career as an Assistant County Attorney in Odessa (Ector County). She handled civil and criminal cases during her time in that offi ce. She and Keith moved to Fort Worth in early 1985, and she began the second phase of her career as an Assistant District Attorney for Tar-rant County shortly thereafter. Judge Womack always did civil work while in Fort Worth, representing Tarrant County and its offi cials. During her time in Tarrant County, she also became Board Certifi ed in Civil Trial Law and Civil Appellate Law. In late 1995, Judge Womack decided to run for judge of the 348th District Court. Although the fi rst-ever judge of

that court, Michael Schattman, was not seeking re-election, Judge Womack had four opponents in the race. The cam-paign was long and grueling, and in the midst of it, her father died in January 1996. She took her oath of offi ce in January 1997, and has proudly served since that time. Judge Womack’s judicial philosophy has always been to treat everyone who comes to her court with the ut-most respect. When she was listed in 2011 as a Power Attor-ney by the Fort Worth Business Press, the newspaper quoted her as saying, “I know this sounds trite, but I believe every time I go into the courtroom, I treat it as the most important case because of the people in front of me. This, to them, is the most important case there is. I fi nd it diffi cult to elevate one case above another.” In looking back over the past twenty years, she said that “we used to routinely try multi-week jury trials. Things have changed. Now I do a lot of non-jury trials, shorter jury trials and more motion practice.” Judge Womack has not decided what she will do in the next phase of her life. She loves animals and she loves to travel. When she can combine the two, she does so. She and Keith fell in love with the Canadian Rockies in the late 1980s, and she looks forward to hiking and photograph ing elk, deer, moose, black bears, griz-zly bears, wolves, and coyotes on her trips there. In the summer of 2015, they traveled to the Arctic Circle where they saw polar bears, seals, puffi ns, and walruses. Having worked for Tarrant County for more than thirty-one years and for the State as a judge for nearly twenty years, Judge Womack has had the privilege of working with a wonderful staff. “We in Tarrant County are blessed to have terrifi c clerks, coordinators, reporters, and bailiffs. I recom-mend that attorneys tap into the resources of the great staff and their vast knowledge.” She added, “I do not have local-local rules, which can sometimes act as stumbling blocks for attorneys. Any-one working in the 348th District Court is happy to answer questions, including inquiries about all of the new equip-ment in our civil courtrooms.” She welcomes visitors and appreciates attorneys who come to investigate the new sys-tems and the courtroom in advance of their trials. “Come early; we are happy to help. Folks who practice in Tarrant County are lucky to be here, and my goal has always been to make the experience as pleasant as possible.” g

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Here is Your TCBA Staff

Patricia GrahamExecutive Director

Sherry JonesAssociate Executive Director

Megan CooleyPro Bono Programs Director

April HollandCommunications Director

Sandy TilleyMembership Director

Carolina IbarraLRIS Staff

Anne PalmerReceptionist/Offi ce Manager

Brittany GilbertLRIS Staff


regularly attending educational lunches at the old Press Club and playing on the softball team, but I never served as an offi cer of that group. I became active in TCBA when my friend and former law colleague Louis Sturns telephoned me shortly after he was elected TCBA President to ask that I chair a new committee for local CLE events, which resulted in the Brown Bag Seminars of which I am proud to have been the organizing Chairman. More recently, I have served on and as Chairman of the All Star CLE Committee and the Bench Bar Committee. I was casually nicknamed “Skipper” by my friend Nick Bettinger (now TCBA President-Elect) since I helped arrange the Saturday afternoon boat cruises on Possum Kingdom Lake the three years the Bench Bar Conference was at The Cliffs Resort. I probably will wear my offi cial “Skipper” hat to some of the Bar events this year so that you can fi nd me in the crowd! Speaking very briefl y of Bar events for the coming year, the Board of Directors and I want to build up our mem-bership by encouraging your attendance and participation in the Docket Call Social Events, the periodic Membership CLE Lunches, the Brown Bag Seminars, and at least one of

our Sections (and we may add a new Section or two, includ-ing one for Senior or “Emeritus” Attorneys). We will work to increase the attendance at the annual Bench Bar Conference next April. The best way to keep Tarrant County the friendly and cordial legal community that it has been for many years is for you to meet your fellow attorneys in a non-adversarial setting in one or two (or more) of the TCBA activities of most interest to you. If there is not yet something that in-terests you, give us your suggestions for improvements to the existing programs or for new programs or activities that might be added to help support you in your law practice and your life. The fi rst Membership CLE Lunch of the new Bar year will be on Tuesday, July 12, at 11:45am, at the City Club, at which our guest speaker will be the incoming Presi-dent of the State Bar of Texas, Frank Stevenson, who is a native of Fort Worth. I look forward to meeting each of you during the coming year. g

-“Skipper” Bob West

continued from page 1

John P. White, Jr., 1977-1978 & 1981-1982Honorable Louis Sturns, 1978-1979Thomas L.G. Ross, 1979-1980Mattie Peterson Compton, 1980-1981Jessie Gaines, 1982-1983Anthony Vaughn, 1983-1984Donald Fleming, 1984-1985Dianne Stanley, 1984-1985Leon Haley, Jr., 1985-1986Honorable Maryellen Hicks, 1986-1987Michael Heiskell, 1987-1988Honorable Glenn Lewis, 1988-1989Nelda Faye Harris, 1989-1991

Winfred Colbert, 1991-1992Cheryl Williams, 1992-1993Terry Boone, 1993-1994Stanley Hatcher, 1994-1995Bobbie Edmonds, 1995-1996 & 2002-2003Brian Newby, 1996-1997Marla Dean Lee, 1997-1998Douglas C. Greene, 1998-1999Cicely Nedd-Thomas, 1999-2000Faye Denson Watson, 2000-2001Sandra Randle-Fordjour, 2001-2002Sonyia Clay-Byrd, 2003-2004Gwinda Burns-Gaines, 2004-2005

Tawanna Lynn Cesare, 2005-2006Roderick White, 2006-2007Samuel Williams, 2007-2008Leon Reed, Jr., 2008-2009Brian Salvant, 2009-2010Tiff any Burks Hamilton, 2010-2011Loren Green, 2011-2012Nikki L. Chriesman-Green, 2012-2013David M. Patin, Jr., 2013-2014Mary Panzu, 2014-2015Crystal. L. Gayden, Current President

The L. Clifford Davis Legal Association held an “In Your Honor” reception where they honored the former Associa-tion's Presidents. The recepetion was held on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at the Texas A&M University School of Law

“Law School Conference Center.” The Association was organized in 1977 with 14 local attorneys. The following former Presidents were honored:

L. Cliff ord Davis Legal AssociationHonors Former Presidents

SnippetsCivil and Criminalby Judge Bob McCoy g County Criminal Court No. 3

Co-EditorLin Morrisett

Associate JudgeProbate Court

No.2

Ramses

Moses


WHO’S THAT STREET NAMED AFTER? Z-Boaz Place: William J. Boaz was City Councilman in 1873. He was a banker and large landowner. —From Werner Magnus, Who was Hulen? An Attempt to Find the Origins of Street Names in Fort Worth.

ASK JUDGE BOBJudge Bob, in a criminal case, what is “rebuttal evidence” from the State’s perspective?“Rebuttal evidence is evidence that is offered in reply to new matters, even if it overlaps with the evidence presented in the State’s case-in-chief, as long as the testimony is responsive to evidence presented by the defense. The scope of a rebuttal witness’s testimony is accorded wide latitude and will not be restricted merely because it could have been presented on direct examination. . . . The State may not ask questions of a defendant during cross-examination that are ‘designed to manufacture a rebuttal situation for a presentation of the State’s evidence that belonged in its case in chief.’” Jackson v. State, 474 S.W.3d 525 (Ark. App. 2015).

ASK THE DANESRamses and Moses, does strict li-ability have any part in the laws concerning dog bites?Possibly. Our Supreme Court has stated that “suits for damages caused by vicious animals should be governed by principles of strict liability.” Marshall v. Ranne, 511 S.W.2d 255, 258 (Tex. 1974).

THE DANES’ QUOTE OF THE MONTH“Dogs watch for us faithfully. They

love and worship their masters. They hate strangers. Their power of tracking scent is extraordinary. Great is their keen-ness in the chase. What can all this mean but that they were made for man’s advantage?” –Cicero, De Ofi cius

CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST1. Brady

“Under United States Supreme Court precedent begin-ning with Brady, the State is required to disclose evi-dence known to it that is favorable or material to a defen-dant’s guilt or punishment, whether or not the defendant requests it. . . . This duty encompasses both impeachment

as well as exculpatory evidence . . . The good or bad faith of the prosecution is irrelevant.”Fears v. State, 479 S.W.3d 315 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2015).

2. Wiretap “It is well settled that a warrant or order is not required for law enforcement to record a conversation with a sus-pect when, as here, a private party to the conversation has consented to the recording.”Allen v. State, 479 S.W.3d 341 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2015).

3. Theft“In a theft case, the State has the burden to prove the prop-erty’s value through evidence of either ‘(1) its fair market value at the time and place of the offense, or (2) the cost of replacing it within a reasonable time after the theft if fair market value could not be ascertained.’ . . . ‘Fair market value is the amount of money that the property would sell for in case, given a reasonable time for selling it.’”Bullock v. State, 479 S.W.3d 422 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015).

4. Possession of Marijuana“A person commits the felony offense of possession of marijuana if that person knowingly or intentionally pos-sesses a useable quantity of the drug. . . . To prove unlaw-ful possession of a controlled substance, the State must establish that the accused exercised care, control, or man-agement over the contraband and knew that the substance was contraband. . . . Mere presence in the same place as the controlled substance is insuffi cient to support a pos-session fi nding.”Hung Phuoc Le v. State, 479 S.W.3d 462 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015).

5. Investigative Detention Is Justifi ed“Individual circumstances may seem innocent enough in isolation, but if the circumstances combine to reasonably suggest the imminence of criminal conduct, an investiga-tive detention is justifi ed.”Bledsoe v. State, 479 S.W.3d 491 (Tex. App.— Fort Worth 2015).

6. New Trial“A trial judge ‘cannot grant a new trial on mere sympa-thy, an inarticulate hunch, or simply because he person-ally believes that the defendant is innocent or received a raw deal.’ . . . Instead, even where a defendant urges a new trial on interest of justice grounds, ‘[a] motion for a new trial, whether for guilt or punishment, requires a valid legal claim.’”State v. Ramos, 479 S.W.3d 500 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2015).


7. General Warrant“With the exclusion of an essentially general warrant, the appropriate remedy when presented with a partially invalid warrant ‘is not to suppress the fruits of the entire warrant but to strike the offending clauses and exclude evidence that does not fit within the warrant as modified.’”Spotwood v. State, 479 S.W.3d 511 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2015).

8. Habeas“If the applicant presents [newly discovered evidence that affirmatively establishes his innocence], the habeas court then determines whether the applicant proved by clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable juror would have convicted him in light of the newly discovered evidence. The habeas court must examine the ‘newly discovered evi-dence’ and determine whether the ‘new’ evidence, when balanced against the ‘old’ inculpatory evidence, unques-tionably establishes the applicant’s innocence.”Collins v. State, 479 S.W.3d 533 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2015).

9. Equal Protection Clause“The State has a legitimate interest in preventing the sex-ual exploitation of students by educators and in preserv-ing an educational environment conducive to learning.”Collins v. State, 479 S.W.3d 533 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2015).

CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST1. Statutory Prerequisites

“Statutory prerequisites to suit are jurisdictional require-ments for governmental entities, and, as such, are prop-erly asserted in a plea to the jurisdiction. . . . While the burden is ordinarily on the plaintiff to affirmatively estab-lish jurisdiction, the underlying jurisdictional fact here—whether the political party filed the written estimate of primary-election expenses—was not in dispute at trial. The secretary, of course, knows whether a statement was filed because the statement is filed with his office, and he does not assert that none was filed. Rather the secretary argues that the political party failed to establish jurisdic-tion conclusively by obtaining a stipulation of that fact. Like the court of appeals, we decline to dismiss the case on such tenuous grounds.”Cascos v. Tarrant Cty. Democratic Party, 473 S.W.3d 780, 784 (Tex. 2015).

2. Consideration “What constitutes consideration is a question of law and is reviewed de novo.”Marx v. FDP, Ltd., 474 S.W.3d 368, 378 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2015).

3. Money Had and Received“A cause of action for money had and received arises when the defendant obtains money which in equity and good conscience belongs to the plaintiff. It is an equitable

doctrine applied to prevent unjust enrichment.”Freesia v. IS Storage Venture, LLC 474 S.W.3d 379, 386 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015).

4. Ambiguity“A lack of clarity will not create an ambiguity.”St. Paul Fire & Ins. Co. v. Petroplex Energy Co., 474 S.W.3d 454, 460 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2015).

5. Malice“[I]t is not enough for a defamed individual to simply be a public official before the yoke of proving actual malice can be thrust upon him. The defamation must also ‘clear-ly relate’ to the complainant’s conduct as a public official or his fitness for office.”Abraham v. Greer, 474 S.W.3d 731, 735 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2014).

6. Less Burdensome Restriction“The restriction requiring Mother to be ‘off work’ and ‘present’ to exercise her summer period of possession exceeds that which is required to protect the best inter-ests of the children because a less burdensome restriction can serve the trial court’s reasonable requirement that the children be properly supervised at all times."In re H. D. C., 474 S.W. 3d 758, 764 (Tex. App.—Hous-ton [14th Dist.] 2014).

7. Sua Sponte Reconsideration“A trial court has the authority to reconsider its original ruling on a motion for summary judgment either on a proper motion or on its own initiative.”Note Inv. Group, Inc. v. Assocs. First Capital Corp., 476 S.W.3d 463, 495 Tex. App.—Beaumont 2015).

QUOTE OF THE MONTH “Ninety percent of politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.”–Henry Kissinger

Legal Quote of the Month“It is justice, not charity, that is wanting in the world.”–Mary Wollstonecraft (whose daughter, Mary Shelly, wrote Frankenstein)

OLD NEWSOregon held the first ever popular election primary in 1910. Prior to that, various systems of state caucuses and congressio-nal caucuses chose the nominees, except for George Washing-ton, who was nominated and elected by the Electoral College. State primaries and caucuses did not really catch on quickly, with only 20 states employing them by 1920, and that number grew and contracted over the years, with only 12 states em-ploying them as late as 1968. In that year, Hubert Humphrey’s selection at the Democratic Convention, despite not having one single state primary, gave an impetus to establishing a binding public process for selecting nominees.Wikipedia, United States Presidential Primaries

Tarrant County Bar Foundation

LuncheonSupporting the community & legal service endeavors of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation& Tarrant County Bar Association and celebrating their volunteers and community partners.

Keynote Speaker: Chief Justice Nathan Hecht27th Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Texas

Thursday, October 13, 201611:30 - 1:00pm

City Club

Sponsor Name___________________________________________________________________________________I would like__________________________tickets (at $150 each) for a total of $_______________________________ I am unable to attend, but I would like to make a tax-deductible contribution in the amount of $______________Name__________________________________________ Firm____________________________________________Phone__________________________________________ Fax_____________________________________________Address__________________________________________________________________________________________Method of Payment Check/Check#_______________ Credit Card#________________________________ MC Visa AmEx Expiration___________________________ Security Code____________________Name on Card___________________________________________________ Billing Zip Code___________________

Please make your check payable to Tarrant County Bar Foundation and mail with this ticket order form toTarrant County Bar Foundation 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102 g 817.338.4092 g www.tarrantbar.org

Champion of Justice, includes a table at the luncheon, prominent placement in all brochures and sponsorship material, and a law student fellowship named for you or your organization.

Soldier of Justice, includes a table at the luncheon, recognition in all brochures and sponsorship material, and named sponsorship of a legal clinic held by Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans - Tarrant County Chapter in 2017.

Guardian of Justice, includes a table at the luncheon, placement in all brochure and sponsorship material, and named sponsorship of a general advice, family law, or wills and estate clinic held by Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services in 2017.

Patron of Justice, includes a table at the luncheon and recognition in all brochures and sponsorship material.

Supporter of Justice, includes a one-half table at the luncheon and recognition at the luncheon.

$10,000

$7,500

$5,000

$2,500

$1,250

Tables will seat 10 persons. Individual tickets for the luncheon cost $150 and all other donations in connection with the Advocates for Justice program will be listed in the luncheon program.

For affordable Basic and Family MediationTraining, contact DRS of North Texas Inc.Acquire the qualifications and experience needed to become a skilled mediator.

Receive training from professionals with years of mediation experience at the best price. Available in September is a 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training followed by a 30-Hour Family Mediation Training in November. Dates and times are listed on our website.

All courses are accredited by the State Bar of Texas for MCLEs including credit hours for ethics.

Download an application at drsnorthtexas.org.

4304 Airport Freeway, Suite 100Fort Worth, Texas 76117

817-877-4554

Uncommon attention to reach common ground.

Lawyer Referral and Information Service News


Calendar of EventsPlease visit our website for a

complete list of upcoming events.

www.tarrantbar.org

Don’t forget that the new bar year begins on July 1, 2016, and the last referral for 2015-2016 members will be

given on June 30, 2016. If we have not received your 2016-2017 renewal by July 1, you will receive no more referrals. The LRIS has purchased new software called “Case Management.” This is a self-reporting database that will enable LRIS attorneys to fi ll out their reports online. This means no reports going out to everyone each month, but instead, monthly reminders to go online and manage your cases. This will also include online payment ability. Watch for e-mails inviting you to the annual LRIS luncheon, where we will demonstrate the program. The luncheon date has not been set yet because we are waiting on completion of the software.

Once again, SPECIAL THANKS to our LRIS attor-neys who make all of this possible with their referral fees:

Bradley ClarkRashelle Fetty

Lacie FridayStephen Geis

Phillip HallEarl HargraveJeff rey KaitcerBreanne Lilley

Mansfi eld & Mansfi eld, P.C.Caleb MooreJerry Murad

Sean PevsnerWill Pruitt

Amanda RodriguezLeigh Ann SchenkKaren Schroeder

Sarah SeltzerMorris Sheats

Anthony SimpsonJoyce Stevens

Carey ThompsonVeronica Veyhl

Arlington Bar AssociationMeets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. President, Larry Gay-dos. For location & information, email [email protected] or call 214.651.5622.Black Women Lawyers AssociationFor meetings and information, contact Sue Allen, President, at 817.926.5005 or [email protected] 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.Fort Worth Chapter Association of Legal AdministratorsMeets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the City Club, 301 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, 76102. For more information, con-tact Lisa Boyd at 817.339.2478 or [email protected] Worth Paralegal AssociationGeneral Membership Meetings are held at noon every 4th Thursday of the month at Joe T. Garcia’s, 2201 N. Commerce. FWPA Board of Directors meets at noon every 1st Tuesday of the month at the Bar Center. For more information, go to www.fwpa.org.L. Clifford Davis Legal Association(f/k/a/ Tarrant County Black Bar Association) holds its meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm. For more information, contact President Crystal Gayden at 817.496.8408 or by email at [email protected] (Mexican American Bar Association)Meets on the last Thursday of each month at Rivas Mexican Res-taurant, 5442 River Oaks Blvd., River Oaks, 76114. For more infor-mation, 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 Leslie Barrows at 817.481.1583 or lbarrows@barrowsfi rm.com.Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCCDLA)Meets every 2nd Thursday at Joe T. Garcia’s, 2201 N. Com-merce. For more information, contact President Randy Bowers at 817.348.8094 or [email protected]. Tarrant County Family Law Bar AssociationMeets at noon on the 4th Tuesday of each month at the Family Law Center Assembly Room on the 2nd fl oor. For more information, con-tact president Kevin Schmid, 817.377.3000 or [email protected] County Probate Bar AssociationMeets on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Petroleum Club-members free, guests $30. For more information, contact Tena Fox at 817.280.0811 or [email protected] County Trial Lawyers AssociationMeets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Joe T. Garcia’s. For more information, contact John S. Jose at 817.288.8988.Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association The 2016-2017 new TCYLA Year begins September 1, 2016. If you need an application or meeting information, call 817.338.4092, email [email protected], or go to the website at tcyla.org.Texas Association of Defense CouncilMeets for lunch every 4th Wednesday at Angelo’s. Contact George Haratsis, McDonald Sanders at 817.336.8651 for more information.

Other Associations’ News & Information


TLIExperience

512.480.9074 / [email protected] / WWW.TLIE.ORG

Because of our 36 years in the business, Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange has been voted best professional liability insurance company in Texas four years in a row by Texas Lawyer magazine. That same experience and our exceptional employees are why TLIE is also a Preferred Provider of the State Bar of Texas. Not to mention, we have returned over $41,550,000 to our policyholders. See why experience makes the difference.

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Amanda Azua, Lead Amanda Azua, Lead Amanda Azua, Lead Underwriting Specialist/Underwriting Specialist/Underwriting Specialist/Social Media CoordinatorSocial Media CoordinatorSocial Media Coordinator


Celebrating20 Years 20 Years 20 Years

Sherry Jones

CelebratingJoin the TCBA

20 Years 20 Years

Sherry JonesSherry Jones

20 Years

Sherry Jones

20 Years with

Thursday, August 11, 20165:00pm - 7:00pmTCBA Bar Center

1315 Calhoun Street

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 deliv-ery 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 material - 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 [email protected] or 817.338.4092. If mailing or charging tickets, add 50 cents.Texas Rangers Baseball discount tickets are available by going to www.texasrangers.com/tickets, selecting a game and enter coupon code. Contact Sherry Jones for coupon code by email at [email protected] - 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 at www.ups.com or 1.800.PICK.UPS.For IT Help:Juris Fabrilis - Cool Tools for Lawyers offers members dis-counted 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% dis-count to TCBA members. Call the TCBA office for details.Expanco is N.A.I.D. AAA-Certified document-destruction service offering 40% off to TCBA members. Call the TCBA office for details. g

Member Benefits Vendor ListTCBA members may take advantage of discounts

provided by the following vendors: Why be a member of the Tarrant County Bar Associa-tion? Besides wonderful networking opportunities

and camaraderie in the legal community, membership has other benefits such as:

1. The TCBA has eighteen Substantive Law Sections offering CLE and networking with members inter-ested in the same areas of law.

2. Reduced rates on CLE (Brown Bags, Luncheons, Sec-tion Meetings, Last Tuesday CLE).

3. Reduced rates on room rental at the TCBA Bar Center.4. Monthly Bar Bulletin (by email or mail) and updates

on upcoming events by e-mail.5. Community Service Opportunities through the

Foundation: LegalLine, Texas Lawyers for Texas Vet-erans-Tarrant County Chapter, Tarrant County Volun-teer Attorney Services; and through community ser-vice committees: People’s Law School, Annual Food Drive, Blood Drive, Elder Law Committee, and others.

6. Reduced rates on advertising in the Bar Bulletin and on the TCBA website.

7. Mentoring or being mentored through the Transi-tion to Practice program.

8. Reduced rates on office supplies, UPS, shredding documents, and the Fort Worth Zoo and more.

9. The all-important fun networking opportunities.So the next time someone asks you why join the TCBA,

please let them know. We thank you for your continued membership. This Bar Association is great because of its members like YOU!

If you have any questions regarding your membership, please contact Sandy at the bar office at 817.338.4092 or by email at [email protected]. g

Benefits of Membership


AttorneysMichael H. Cooper

Robyn TrosperRobert "R.L.” Florance

Elizabeth TibletsKevin Lee

Christin D. Day Dena Stroh

Jordan McCarrollNicholl B. Wade

Blake C. BillingsNathan McCuneSamuel C. Vinson

James GreerMichael Mendoza

Blakely MohrGlenn Holley

Associates

Sarah Oliveira-McDonald

Membership Report2016-2017 Bar Year Begins

The 2016-2017 TCBA Bar Year began July 1. Mem-

bership renewals have been emailed to current TCBA members with email addresses and mailed to others. Invoices were also sent to firm adminis-trators. Please check with your administrator to see if they

have received the renewal invoices and if they have paid them before you submit payment. Note: If you wish to continue to receive a hard-copy of the Bar Bulletin, please include an additional $20 with your invoice. All others will receive the E-Bulletin. We encourage everyone to re-join and get involved. The local bar association is only as good as the committees,

sections, and members make it. We couldn’t do the award-winning programs that we do without YOU, the members. If you have any questions regarding your mem-bership, please contact Sandy at the bar office or email her at [email protected]. Current memberships are good through September only.

Welcome to Our New Members


Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney ServicesTarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services

Save the DateGeneral Advice Clinic on July 26, 2016

Tarrant County Vol-unteer Attorney Ser-

vices (TVAS) is holding its third general advice clinic at Presbyterian Night Shelter on Tues-day, July 26, 2016 at 7 p.m. At the legal clinic, law students and parale-gal volunteers conduct the initial interview and intake of the shelter residents. Volunteer at-torneys and staff attor-neys from Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) then provide free legal consultations to the residents on a variety of legal areas, including criminal, so-cial security, family, and housing matters.

If you are interested in volunteering for this clinic, please contact Megan Cooley at [email protected].

Join The TVAS Committee The Tarrant County Bar Association recently dis-tributed its 2016-2017 Community Volunteer Form to its members. If you are interested in serving on the TVAS com-mittee, please fi ll out the form and return it to Sherry at [email protected]. You may access and download the form on our website at www.tarrantbar.org.

Join A TVAS Project TVAS is working on several legal projects to ben-efi t different areas of the community. For example, TVAS is seeking volunteers interested in putting together legal re-sources for the homeless community. If you are interested, please contact Megan Cooley at [email protected].

Volunteer Profi leJulie K. Sherman, TBLS-BCP

Julie is a Board Certifi ed Paralegal in the litigation section at Cantey Hanger, LLP. Her primary areas of law are health law and civil litigation. Julie has been a paralegal for thirty-two years. She just celebrat-ed her twentieth anniversary with Cantey Hanger. Julie at-tended the paralegal studies program at Tarrant County College. She is Board Certi-fi ed in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Julie is a member of the Fort Worth Paralegal As-sociation, Paralegal Division; the State Bar of Texas; Tar-rant County Bar Association; the College of the State Bar of Texas; and the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas. Julie has served on numerous boards and committees, and she was 2010 President of the Fort Worth Paralegal Associa-tion. Julie is now the TVAS Chair for the Fort Worth Para-legal Association and the Marketing Co-Chair for the 2016 Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar for the Paralegal Divi-sion-State Bar of Texas. She is a member of the Paralegal Division Annual Meeting Committee and the Tarrant County Brown Bag Committee. Julie received the 2006 FWPA’s Paralegal of the Year Award, the 2012/2013 PD-SBOT Exceptional Pro Bono Ser-vice Award, the 2013 TCBF’s Paralegal Pro Bono Award, the 2014 Tarrant County Young Lawyer’s Liberty Bell Award, and the 2014 Texas Young Lawyer’s Liberty Bell Award. g

Julie Sherman (L);Shauna Wright-former TVAS Chair (R)

Steve Laird is one of the Top 100 Lawyers

in Texas*

There’s a Reason

It takes years to establisha good reputa on

Handling Meritorious Personal Injury and

Wrongful Death Cases

*Texas Super Lawyers, Top 100(2005-2013, 2015) - Thomson Reuters

l a w O f f i c e s o f

Steven C. Laird, P.C.

817.531.30001824 8TH AVENUE FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76110

www.texlawyers.com

Proud Sponsor of the Tarrant County Bar Association Bench Bar Conference XXIII

Steve Laird&

Wade Barrow

Proud Sponsor of the Tarrant County Bar Association Bench Bar Conference XXIII

MemoriamHerschel was born in Grand-

view on December 14, 1931, to Alta Fay and Herschel Clyde Winn Sr. He graduated from Grandview High School in 1948 at the age of 16. From 1953 to 1955 he served with the

U.S. Army in England as a court reporter. After he returned home, he completed his B.B.A. in 1958, followed by his L.L.B. in 1960, both at the University of Texas. While at-tending law school, he met Carolyn Martin, a UT student, and they married in June 1961. After working for the Texas Highway Department and International Service Insurance Company, he was appointed Johnson County Judge in April of 1964 at the age of 32. In November 1968, he was hired by Tandy Corporation in Fort Worth as the company’s fi rst in-house attorney. He retired in November 1997 after 29 years of service as senior vice president and secretary. During his career, he was active in community and professional organizations including the Burleson Li-ons Club (president), Burleson Chamber of Commerce, State Junior Bar of Texas (director), North Texas Council of Governments (vice president), The Van Cliburn Founda-tion (treasurer), Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau (director), and the First United Methodist Church of both Burleson and Fort Worth. In 2010, he was honored by the State Bar of Texas as a "50 Year Lawyer." Although the “facts” about Herschel are evidence of a life well lived, it is the “intangibles” that will leave a mark

on those what knew and loved him. His honesty, integrity, work ethic, negotiation skills, attention to detail, and tenac-ity were legendary, just ask any of his former employees who worked more than a few all-nighters with him. He was fi ercely loyal to Tandy Corporation, where he worked for 29 years. Described as the “conscience of the corporation,” he was known as a staunch advocate for ethical conduct during his tenure. More than one person might describe Herschel as “thrifty.” In the fi scal sense, that was true, but he was ex-travagant with his love for his family. He spent most of his life chasing after blonde headed women Carolyn, as well as his two daughters, Celia, born in 1962, followed by Macey in 1963, and later his fi ve granddaughters. A devoted and proud husband, Herschel loved Carolyn and the life they built together. He was an attentive and involved father, never wasting an opportunity to teach his daughters the value of hard work, respect for authority, the importance of life-long friendships, the qualities of a strong leader, commitment to the church and, most of all, the meaning of unconditional love. His fi ve granddaughters were also the benefi ciaries of his sharp wit, love of travel, generous spirit, appreciation of a good meal, sense of humor, and the bottom line: His pres-ence in their lives. Herschel was preceded in death by his parents, Herschel and Alta Winn; wife of 53 years, Carolyn Winn; daughter Celia Winn Spaans; his brother Gerald Winn; and sister Marcheta Henson. g

Article taken from the Fort Worth Star Telegram

In

Ira Michael “Mike” Go-odrich, 59, loving father,

devoted husband and loyal friend, was called home to heaven on Friday, March 18, 2016, with many fam-ily members and friends by his side. He fought the good fi ght valiantly against a rare and vicious strand of cryp-togenic organizing pneu-monia.

Mike was born March 6, 1957, and raised in Austin. He was the oldest of three boys to Ira “Red” Goodrich and Ernestine “Rock” Goodrich. Mike graduated from Anderson

High School in 1975. He enjoyed anything related to the Boy Scouts and set the bar exceptionally high for his brothers by achieving the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 14. He loved his time as a counselor at Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico. Mike’s love for Boy Scouts continued throughout his life. He mentored many Scouts, several of whom also attained the Eagle rank. Mike graduated with honors from Baylor Univer-sity in 1979. He followed his bachelor’s degree with a juris doctorate in 1981, and a master’s in business administration in 1982, all from Baylor University. Mike was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship which he used to ob-tain his LLM in international tax law from the University of Exeter in Exeter, England. He subsequently earned his CPA after starting his career in estate planning and wealth

Herschel Clyde Winn

Ira Michael Goodrich



management. In 2013, Mike fulfi lled a lifelong dream of successfully opening and operating his own estate planning fi rm, Goodrich Planning Strategies, LLC, in Arlington. Pre-viously, he was a founding partner and a managing director of View Capital Advisors. Mike was a brilliant entrepreneur, lawyer, accountant and fi nancial advisor who cared about each of his clients and colleagues immensely. Mike and his adoring wife, Kathy, loved to travel, especially with friends from their Sunday School class. They backpacked together in Zion National Park, Yosemite Na-tional Park and the Pecos Wilderness Area. Mike and Kathy enjoyed several cruises, toured the Holy Land, and took fun-fi lled family trips around the U.S. and Europe. Many of Mike’s favorite memories involved numerous multi-day backpacking and canoeing adventures he made to beautiful places with his closest friends. In July 2014, Mike and his brave compadres trained for and climbed Mount Rainier. Mike adored being outside and was always a cheerful ex-plorer and a guiding presence. He was in his element sitting around a campfi re talking about the big and small things that make life glorious and the love of God manifested in the beauty of His creation. Mike made every campsite a happy camp regardless of weather, adversity of terrain or physical exhaustion. Mike was a hearer and doer of the Word. He brought joy, happiness and a can-do attitude into any room he en-tered. Christ’s love was evident in his ever-present smile and generous nature. Mike is best known to his family and friends as a gracious and giving man, and was always at the

forefront of any project dedicated to serving others. Mike served each and every day as the hands, feet, and heart of Christ. He made a difference everywhere he went in ways both big and small. Mike is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Kathy Casner Goodrich and his adoring daughters, Kate and Laura Goodrich, who were the apples of his eye. He leaves behind more friends, colleagues and mentees whom he cared deeply about than could ever be counted. This obituary is but a brief sketch of the generous and glorious life of our friend, Mike Goodrich. It ends with Mike’s customary salutation, “Blessings.” g

SAVE the DATESJuvenile Brown BagFriday, October 14, 2016

11:30amLynn Ross Juvenile Detention Center

If any sections would like to sponsor the event (Solo Section or Criminal Section) please contact Leslie Bar-rows via email lbarrows@barrows-fi rm.com. The event will be record-ed by Juris Fabrilis.

National Adoption DayFriday, November 18, 2016

8:30amTarrant County Family Law Center

If interested in being on the NAD committee or being a vendor, please email [email protected]. Remember that kids are being ad-opted year-round! Please continue to donate bears in the bins located at the Tarrant County Bar offi ce and the Tarrant County Family Law law-yer’s lounge. Opening remarks will be recorded by Juris Fabrilis.

Bench Bar Conference XXIVApril 28-30, 2017Rockwall, Texas

We will meet the fi rst Tuesday of ev-ery month at 4pm at the TCBA offi ce. If interested in joining the fun Bench Bar team, please contact the BBC chair Leslie Barrows via email lbar-rows@barrowsfi rm.com. If you are an associate TCBA member and are interested in becoming a vendor at this event, please email lbarrows@barrowsfi rm.com.

Article taken from the Fort Worth Star Telegram

@TarrantBar @TLTVinTarrant @TVASFW

Tarrant County Bar Associati on - Fort WorthTarrant County Volunteer Att orney Services

Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans - Tarrant County Chapter

Stay to Us


Stay CONNECTED to Us

TLTV Holds United Way Clinic in May at University of Texas at Arlington

TLTV held its second legal clinic under the United Way of Tarrant County’s Veteran Fund Grant on Friday, May 6, 2016. The clinic was held at the Veterans Upward Bound Building on the University of Arlington campus. Veterans Upward Bound is a free program for qualifi ed veterans. The program motivates and assists veterans to develop academic and other necessary skills for acceptance and success in a program of postsecondary education. You can fi nd more in-formation about Veteran Upward Bound at http://www.uta.edu/veteransub/. Through the United Way of Tarrant County’s Vet-eran Fund Grant, TLTV has been able to assist returning vet-

erans (i.e., those deployed after September 11, 2001) who might not have otherwise been able to receive assistance under TLTV’s programs. These veterans are cur-

rently receiving bankruptcy, criminal, and family law related assistance from TLTV’s volunteers.

Harris Finley & Bogle SponsorsTLTV’s May 20th Legal Clinic

TLTV thanks Harris Finley & Bogle for its gener-ous sponsorship of TLTV’s legal clinic on Friday, May 20, 2016. The clinic was held at Tarrant County College’s Trin-ity River Campus. TLTV also thanks the following attorneys from Harris Finley & Bogle for volunteering at the clinic:

Volunteer Profi leMichele Delotto, Hurr Law Offi ce, P.C. L. Michele DeLotto is a TLTV committee member, and she frequently volunteers at TLTV’s monthly clinics. Michele also takes pro bono family law cases. Michele is licensed to practice law in all state, county, and municipal courts of Texas. She concen-trates her practice in family law, including marital issues,

Tarrant County ChapterTexas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

Thanks for Taking a CaseThanks to the following volunteer attorneys for

taking a veteran’s pro bono case:

John Johnson, (Johnson & Johnson)is assisting several veterans with criminal matters.

Atticus Gill, (Gill Law Firm)is assisting veterans from TLTV's United Way

Clinic with criminal law issues.

Sarah Seltzer, (Seltzer & Dally, PLLC )is assisting a veteran from TLTV's United Way

Clinic with his family law case.

Carley Amyx, (Parker Straus, LLP)is a new volunteer and has agreed to help a veteran

with an expunction of his criminal record.

Caroline CyrierPaul Elkins

Merrill JonesPhillip Vaden

Paul WestbrookAdam Simmons

Tennessee Walker

News from TLTV


L-R: Phillip Vaden, Caroline Cyrier, Adam Simmons,Tennessee Walker, Paul Westbrook, Merrill Jones and Paul Elkins

child custody, adoption, paternity, and modifications. She also practices in the probate courts. Michele holds a B.A. in English from Texas Wesleyan University, a M.A. in politi-cal science from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Juris Doctor from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Her family has deep roots in Tarrant County. Michele’s first career began as a high school English teacher in her hometown of Mansfield. She has also served on the faculty of Tarrant County College, and she has served as a judge for Arlington’s Teen Court. She has been recog-nized annually in Fort Worth Magazine as a Top Attorney in Family Law since 2010, and as Mansfield’s Best Attorney.Why do you enjoy volunteering for TLTV? Many times people only have partial understand-ing of what their legal situation really is, and talking to the veterans helps sort out what the needs are and how to take the next steps. I find most people genuinely want to seek the proper pathway to resolving their legal issue. It’s satisfying to see the relief in the client’s face when I can say to them, “We can find someone to help you with that.”

Want to Help? TLTV is always looking for new volunteers to get involved with the committee, attend a clinic, or take a case. You can sign up for the TLTV committee via the Tarrant County Bar Association’s 2016-2017 Community Volunteer Form and return it to Sherry at [email protected]. You may access and download the form on our website at www.tarrantbar.org.

At this time, TLTV is trying to place income-eligi-ble veterans with family law attorneys. Please contact Me-gan Cooley at [email protected], if you are interested in assisting a veteran from the TLTV program. g

www.edwardjones.com

The Brown Bag Seminars will begin September 2016. Each year we usually have seven Brown Bag Semi-

nars, providing a minimum of three hours of CLE credit per seminar. The Brown Bag Season Pass is an inexpensive way to get some CLE credit without having to travel. We do have a few scheduled: September 30 – Ethics October 14 – Juvenile Law November 11 – TBD

When you purchase your 2016-2017 Brown Bag Season Pass for $125, it will allow you to attend all of the Brown Bag Seminars at no additional cost, unless you want to pur-chase lunch. Please let me know if you plan to attend so I can have enough handouts printed for everyone. g

CornerCLE

Brown Bag Seminar & Season Pass

Sherry JonesAssociate Executive Director


Blaies & Hightower, L.L.P. is pleased to announce that Steve Litke has joined the firm as a partner. Steve brings nearly 20 years of experience in corporate, securities, merg-ers and acquisitions, commercial contracting, and licensing and technology-related matters to the firm. Steve is return-ing to private practice after serving in a general counsel role the past five years. He can be contacted at [email protected] or 817.529.2889.

Hawkins & Walker, P.C. has announced they have moved their firm to a new location at 320 Purcey Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Call the office at 817.877.3355 or fax to 817.877.3356.

Craig Dameron has announced they have moved to a new location at 320 Purcey Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. He can be contacted at 817.222.0624 or by fax at 817.2229731.

Lawyers on the Move &in the News

&Keith M. Jensen is honored to announce a charity:

This scholarship fund was created to provide college or graduate students the opportunity to compete for scholarship funds on a need and merit basis. Benefactors will be determined by 2 factors: a) total rank amongst other essay submissions; and b) their and their family’s financial status classifying them as a need based recipient.

In 2011, in the middle of a trial which turned out to be nine weeks long, I announced to my father who I learned in trial was diagnosed with cancer that I was going to start a scholarship fund in his honor. Thankfully, my father is “cured” and plays tennis 7 days a week! 2016 will be the inaugural essay competition.

Putting clients first for over 25 years.

“Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty.” - Lyndon Baines Johnson

Fund is an IRS section 501(c)(3) public charity. Keith Jensen will match all donations made to the fund up to $250,000.00.

If you would like more information, are interested in making a donation or are willing to volunteer your time for essay review, please contact Jack McDuffie at Jensen & Associates. 817.334.0762

Keith M. Jensen is able to spend his time, effort and resources on this charity, because he has successfully put his clients’ interests first for 25 years. See, www.Jensen-Law.com/results.

Three scholarships awards will be granted based on the amount in the fund and the results of the performance of its investments. With monies Keith Jensen has donated to date, the Fund anticipates being able to provide annual scholarships, hopefully in perpetuity, as follows:

$3000-$5000 1st place$2000-$3500 2nd place$1500-$2000 3rd place

The Jensen Annual Scholarship Essay

Jensen & Associates | 1024 N. Main St., Fort Worth, TX 76164 | 817.334.0762 | www.jensen-law.com

May/June 2016 ▪ TCBA BULLETIN 25

Contact Debara Herring ■ [email protected]

505 Pecan Street, Suite 101 ■ Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Space For Leasein the historic

Tindall Square Office Complexin Downtown Fort Worth

Office Space and Record Storage Space Available Immediately

■ Parking available■ Up to 10,000 square feet of office space available

with rates starting at $18.50 psf.■ Current office tenant base includes attorneys,

private investment firms and accountants.■ Executive suites for attorneys available,

call for details.■ Secure record storage facility conveniently

located on site with rates as low as $120/month■ Within walking distance to local restaurants and

Sundance Square

Hanging in the Tarrant County Bar Association

office is a unique painting titled the “Native American Council Chamber.” A print copy of this particular painting was featured at a local cultural center art ex-hibit and very well received.

The artist of this painting is Hulda K. Sellingsloh. Hulda became a member of the State Bar of Texas on Au-gust 12, 1940. Although she doesn’t practice law, she is well known throughout several states including Texas, New Mexico and New York for her civic leadership. Hul-da has been a part of Bar activities for years and annually contributes to the TCBA. She became an active member of the Tarrant County Bar Association when she moved to Fort Worth, and she regularly participated in the Women Attorneys Section. Hulda currently resides in New York and will be 104 in November. She says “my heart and mind will al-ways be with the Bar activities wherever!” g

Hulda K. Sellingsloh

Hulda presenting the picture to the TCBA in 1994

It’s All HappeningAround the Bar

May Solo & Small Firm Mixer

Women Attorneys Section 'End of Year Happy Hour'

Thank you to Our Volunteers

LegalLineHow important is volunteering for LegalLine? Well,

without those wonderful lawyers who agree to vol-unteer 2 hours twice a month, the citizens of our commu-nity who cannot afford an attorney would have no place to call and ask a lawyer a few questions regarding their legal issue. LegalLine is not all glitz and glamour and it will not make you rich and famous, but I believe the lawyers who volunteer each and every month are a vital part of the TCBA and I know the lawyers who volunteer enjoy the experience. I have had the privilege of volunteering

for at least 3 years and I have seen the same lawyers over and over again giving up their time for this wonderful pro-gram.

LegalLine is the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. In the grand scheme of things, it is only a scintilla of a lawyer’s time, but it really does impact the community.

Please consider volunteering –we need new faces! g

-Norma A. Bazán


A Glimpseinto the Past

The history of the bar in Tarrant County predates the es-tablishment of the county itself as the fi rst lawyer ar-

rived just months after Fort Worth was established in 1849.By 1873, there were nearly 20 lawyers in Fort Worth, includ-ing R.E. Beckham, who would become mayor in 1878 and later judge of the 29th Judicial District Court. Joining him were J.Y. Hogsett, author of the city charter, and J.J. Jarvis, a brother-in-law of Major K.M. Van Zandt and at one time the largest property owner in downtown. In 1882, William Capps and Samuel B. Cantey Sr. created a law partnership that became Cantey & Hanger, the oldest fi rm in Fort Worth. By 1885, 44 attorneys were practicing in Fort Worth, among them Capps, who would later defend Luke Short after the fa-tal shootout with "Longhair" Jim Courtright. By 1890, more than 100 lawyers were working in the city. In 1892, Capps, along with W.C. Strong, clerk of the Court of Civil Appeals, raised $10,000 and incorporated the Law Library Company to acquire 4,500 volumes to outfi t a proper law library for the county. With more than 150 lawyers in town in 1902, there was apparently a growing concern that not all were uphold-ing the highest standards of the profession. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Col. Richard M. Wynne, a can-didate for governor in 1898 and a senior member of the Fort Worth legal fraternity, called for the creation of a Tarrant County Bar Association "to improve the character of practice in the various courts of the city and county, the claim being made that it does not refl ect the credit in many instances due the profession." One hundred lawyers endorsed the proposi-tion and Wynne set a meeting at the courthouse for Saturday, September 27, 1902 at which he was elected president. The new organization apparently didn't last a year, but it set the stage for the establishment of a permanent organization rep-resenting the Tarrant County Bar. On January 4, 1904, local lawyers met to organize the Fort Worth Bar Assocation. Meetings were scheduled on the fi rst Monday of January, April, July and October at 9a.m. at the courthouse. The fi rst president was B.D.Tarlton, who had served as the fi rst chief justice of the Second Court of Appeals. His fi rst vice-president was Samuel J. Hunter, who had arrived in Fort Worth in 1884, and was later ap-pointed by a group of local lawyers to lead the campaign in the legislature to assure that Fort Worth was designated as the permanent seat for the Court of Appeals. Judge Hunter succeeded Tarlton as president in 1905, retaining the posi-tion until 1917. Presumably, the outbreak of World War I led to a suspension of regular meetings, and the Fort Worth Bar As-

sociation disappeared from the record until 1923. At some time during the year, a group of lawyers began meeting again at the courthouse on the designat-ed fi rst Mondays. They named the recon-stituted organization the Tarrant County Bar Association and elected Lloyd H. Burns as president. By 1924, the meet-ings were held at the courthouse "on call," and W.E. Allen served as president. Leroy A. Smith assumed the presidency in 1925, followed by J.H. Barwise, Jr. in 1926 and S.R. Sayers in 1927. By the time Sayers was elected, the organization had changed the name again, this time to the Fort Worth and Tarrant County Bar Association. When interviewed for the 1949 city centennial edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Theodore Mack, then one of the oldest practicing attorneys in town, recalled that in the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Tarrant County Bar As-sociation "didn't amount to anything." Others apparently shared his asses-ment, and in 1933, the bar reorganized again as the Fort Worth Bar Association. Among the incorporators was Atwood McDonald, who would later serve as chief justice of the Second Court of Ap-peals. The Star-Telegram reported that the fi rst full set of offi cers was elected in 1936 and maintained a regular sched-ule of monthly meetings. In 1949, the membership totaled 450 and was one of the most active bar associations in the country. g

Article taken from Celebrating 100 Years of The Tarrant County Bar Association

B.D. Tarlton1904-1905

Samuel J. Hunter1905 - 1917

Lloyd Burns1923-1924

W.E. Allen1924-1925

Leroy A. Smith1925-1926

J.H. Barwise, Jr.1926-1927

S.R. Sayers1927-1928

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U. S. POSTAGE PAIDFORT WORTH, TX

PERMIT 1807

Bar Bulleti n ▪ July/August 2016Tarrant County Bar Associati on1315 Calhoun StreetFort Worth, TX 76102-6504ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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They can be found on our websiteat www.tarrantbar.org

If any of your contact information is incorrect, please submit the corrected information to Sandy at the TCBA of�ice at 817.338.4092, fax to 817.335.9238 or email to [email protected]

@TarrantBar @TLTVinTarrant @TVASFW


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