2019 May Hearsay

HEARSAY

The Official Magazine of the Clark County Bar Association | May 2019

Judge Rulli's Next Chapter MAY 2019 | CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

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Crossing the border?

We’ll help.

Available for consult, association, or referral for injury claims in Washington or Oregon.

JESSE JACOBS OTLA Guardian WSAJ Eagle

DON JACOBS Trial Lawyer of the Year, Clark County (2015) Past President, Oregon Trial Lawyers Assoc.

Washington 360-695-1624 Oregon 503-222-7757 nwinjurylawcenter.com 2

HEARSAY MAGAZINE | MAY 2019

CONTENTS 04

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President’s Message

By Jill Sasser Upcoming Events It's a Family Affair

By Tonya Rulli Mother's Day

By Christie Emrich Dean Langsdorf

By M. Erica Aquadro CCBA Board Meeting

By Le Ann Larson Hearsay Profile

By Blake VanZile Take Your Child to Work Day

By Skyler Tanner Bookkeeping Tips

By Emmanuela Sandri Lawyers Rating Restaurants

By Kathryn Unbehaun

HEARSAY MAGAZINE The CCBA’s Official Members’ Magazine The Clark County Bar Association is a professional organization that serves to support our local attorney community through providing education and networking opportunities designed to enhance and foster better relationships within the local legal community.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE WRONGFUL DEATH PERSONAL INJURY

Law office of:

JANE E. CLARK

AT TO R N E Y

AT

L AW

1014 Franklin Street Franklin Suites, Suite 108 Vancouver, WA 98660

Available for Referral or Association 360.859.3823 503.974.4161 Email Jane@janeclarklegal.com Vancouver Portland

Representing Injured Workers on Their Washington Claims

CONTRIBUTORS Special thanks to our marvelous committee Skyler Tanner | Editor-in-Chief Jesse Jacobs | Contributor Christina Phelan | Contributor Art Bennett | Contributor Jill Sasser | Contributor Kathryn Unbehaun | Contributor Lisa Darco | Contributor

Law Office of Steven L. Busick

(360) 696-0228 1915 Washington Street Vancouver, WA 98660

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age s s e M ’s t n e d i s e r P Dear Members: The best thing I read all month was this note from my kindergarten daughter, Mackenzie, that she wrote on my office whiteboard. It reads, “Good luck with everything Mommy. I hope you do great.” I hope that each of you are “doing great,” too, and that you have been able to get outside and enjoy the amazing sunshine!

This month we had a Landerholm firm happy hour at Pacific House. It’s my thirteenth anniversary at the firm this month. I started as a temporary, part-time summer clerk in May 2006 and somehow I have managed to just keep sticking around.

I attended the retirement party for Judge Rulli a few weeks ago.

I know we all wish him the best in his new endeavors at Rulli Law and I hope his new boss, Tonya Rulli, goes easy on him. The

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speakers at his event were great, and I especially enjoyed seeing Scott Horenstein wear the gorgeous Oregon green and yellow. Go Ducks!

I also attended a 90th anniversary celebration for the Heritage Bible Church on Puget Island, which is located in the Columbia River near Cathlamet, Washington. My great-grandparents immigrated to Puget Island from Norway, and they donated the land that the church is now located on. My mom and most of her cousins were in attendance to celebrate this event. Afterward, I took my kids on the ferry to Westport, Oregon, and then we went to Astoria to tour the Maritime Museum and get ice cream at Frite & Scoop (it’s amazing—a must try if you like ice cream).

Lisa Darco, our CCBA Executive Director, and I attended the swearing-in event at the courthouse for some of the newest Washington attorneys.

Six attorneys were sworn in by Judges Collier and Gregerson. Most of these attorneys were already licensed in other states, but it is always fun to watch this process. It’s a good reminder of the ideals we should all seek in our profession.

Finally, I attended the Share Glitz! Glam! Red Carpet gala event last weekend. The event raised more than $340,000 for the hungry and homeless in Clark County. Local attorneys Tonya “Wonder Woman” Rulli and Don “The Godfather” Russo competed for the title of “Best Dressed” and did an amazing job of entertaining the crowd and raising funds for this important charity. Other lawyers spotted in attendance were Christina Phelan, John Terry, Darryl Walker, Judge Rulli, Judge Olser, Judge Vanderwood, Camara Banfield, Deanna Rusch, Michelle Prosser, Mark Carter, Kelly Walsh, Paige Spratt, Ben Moody, Blake Van Zile, Anne Ajayi, Anna Russo, Brian Grambow, Matt Bisturis, and Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program Executive Director Elizabeth Fitzgearld. It was a really fun event, and great to connect with so many generous attorneys in our community.

Thanks for being a member of the CCBA, and I hope to see you at a CCBA event soon.

Jill

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CLE Schedule JUN 12 |

Nuts & Bolts: The Perfect Question

3:00pm – 5:00pm | WareHouse ’23 Event Space David Markowitz

Register now for any of our upcoming CLEs. Nuts & Bolts: $60.00 for Members $80.00 for Non-Members $30.00 for Non-Attorneys

Upcoming Events MAY 27

Memorial Day CCBA Office | Closed

JUNE 5

CCBA Board Meeting CCBA Office | Noon

JUNE 7

WSBA Listening Tour Red Cross Bldg | Noon

Serving Our Community Since 1990

JUNE 13

Your Knowledgeable, Local Agency for:

JUNE 14

Lawyers Professional Liability

Family Law Section Lunch & CLE Red Cross Bldg | 11:30am

Hearsay Committee Meeting CCBA Office | Noon

JULY 26

CCBA Barbeque Public Service Center Plaza | Noon 8

HEARSAY MAGAZINE | MAY 2019

360 -514 -9550 www.DavidsonInsurance.com

MAY 2019 | CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

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It’s a Family Affair:

Judge James Rulli Eases Into Retirement

By Joining Daughter’s Law Practice As A Mediator — Tonya Rulli Those that know Judge Rulli know that his greatest love, despite all outward appearances (and garish green garb), is not the Oregon Ducks, it's his family. It’s fitting then, that Judge Rulli, who retired on April 30, 2019, after 23 distinguished years on and off the bench, will be joining me to establish Rulli Law, a law firm dedicated to family law and mediations.

Judge Rulli’s career arc is long, distinguished, and full of memorable community service.

Judge Rulli began practicing law in Vancouver after graduating from Lewis and Clark Law School in 1974, when the practice of law was a bit rougher and less genteel than it is today.

Judge Rulli cut his teeth handling criminal defense, property and family law matters as a solo practitioner. After many years of private practice, Judge Rulli became a part time Court Commissioner and was subsequently appointed to the bench by Governor Lowry in 1996.

Over the course of the next 23 years, Judge Rulli handled a wide variety of family, civil, and criminal matters for the Superior Court until the conflicts created by my position in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office created too many problems and he happily decamped to Family Law. It was in Family Law that Judge Rulli found his true calling. Over the course of the next 11 years, the bulk of his judicial work came in the form of presiding over some of the most difficult and complex family law cases a judge can entertain—cases that, in no small measure, touched thousands of lives in the community of Clark County for the better. Relentlessly

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prepared and armed with a withering stare, Judge Rulli became a much loved and respected figure in the legal community and was seen as fair, patient, and caring by those who appeared before him. Did I mention the preparedness?

Judge Rulli was always armed with the pertinent facts of a case and had a startling ability to recall even the tiniest of minutiae. At least, that is what they tell me. I am the only family law attorney who has never argued a case in front of him, but I have seen the withering stare many times. Judge Rulli was named Family Law Judge of the Year for the State of Washington in 2010.

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Judge Rulli left an indelible mark in another area of the law—Drug Court. Twenty years ago, the idea of a Drug Court was somewhat of a novelty and was met with much skepticism by attorneys, the community, and especially me, his gung-ho prosecutor daughter. Judge Rulli was persistent in his belief that Drug Court could make a positive impact in offenders’ lives and over time, with his guidance and care (and that of his fellow judges), the Clark County Drug Court program became a model for other communities battling the scourge of drugs and the residue of the human lives left in its wake.

Judge Rulli touched countless lives in his work there and recognized that people could change if they were given proper direction, support and most of all, compassion. Drug Court became a passion for Judge Rulli and nurturing it to what it has become today—a full-fledged success— is surely one of the crowning achievements of his legal career. He even managed to convince me—over time—to soften my stance

and realize the benefits of rehabilitation over incarceration.

Upon retiring, Judge Rulli plans to spend time traveling with my mom, giving his grandkids courtroom pointers, mentoring (annoying??) me and helping resolve family law cases through mediation. He will begin taking cases on June 10th!

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Superior Court Bench/Bar Meeting Minutes— Clark County Superior Court | Bench Bar Committee | Meeting Summary April 9, 2019 | The meeting began at noon.

Persons in attendance were: Nicholas Alexander, Jolene Sell, James Smith, Emily Sheldrick, Shon Boger, Rachel Brooks, Dan Lloyd, Curtis Welch, and Judge Fairgrieve OLD BUSINESS

a.

No old business to report.

NEW BUSINESS

a.

James Smith: In a criminal case, after a finding of guilt the court will sometimes ask, or defense counsel will request, that counsel escort the defendant over to the jail to be processed. The PA is concerned about this process, though it is a long-standing custom, as this is effectively placing the defendant in the custody of defense counsel. This may raise ethical issues and could put counsel in a difficult situation if the defendant decides not to comply. The PA is also concerned about the potential for civil liability from the practice, and would ask the court to reconsider doing this and instead call CCSO to take the defendant into custody. i.

Judge Fairgrieve: late dockets, jail not having sheriff available causes these issues. Will be happy to bring up in judge’s meeting.

ii.

Shon Boger: If court asks, I can’t help but say, “Yes.”

b.

Shon Boger: Jail has converted attorney conference room, now being used for hearings.

Limits ability to meet with clients. Just happened but will be an issue very shortly. i.

Also, indigent defense funding [change] completely dead. Upcoming contract issue with criminal defense contract attorneys.

c.

Rachel Brooks: Wants to ensure that the new commissioners and judges know guardian ad

litems do not have the authority to put alleged incapacitated person on hospice ex parte –

should be cited in and heard in open court. i.

Issues with guardian ad litem payments - contact laurie.forster@clark.wa.gov to request expedited payment if causing extreme hardship.

ii.

Guardian/Elder Law Section to do a case study on MarCine Miles – panel discussion May 13 at noon.

Open to all attorneys, $15 non-member fee – free to section members.

d.

Dan Lloyd: I’ve been seeing an uptick in extreme risk protection order. Case scheduling

issues with CR 40 – there is general belief we don’t need initial witness disclosure; more to

come in the coming months. i.

Talk about dissolving the WSBA. Access to justice issue because of burden of paying dues.

Don’t know the local temperature.

e.

Emily Sheldrick: Updated/Revised form on Clerk’s form website.

f.

Jolene Sell: Sad to see Judge Gregerson leaving family law. Welcoming Judge Lewis.

Legislation pending that we’ll soon know more about Parenting Act. Respectfully submitted, Nicholas Alexander

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Mother’s Day — Christie Emrich

As any lawyer can tell you, being a lawyer doesn’t stop at 5pm. And any mom can tell you that being a mom is a 24 hr/7 day a week/for the rest of your life kinda gig. If you decide to put the two together my advice is 1) get the epidural, 2) find a great massage therapist, and 3) hire a house cleaner--all in that order.

Becoming a mom was arguably the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, but children are truly a shocking combination of your neediest client, your most exhausting opposing counsel,

and the most demanding judge you ever appeared in front of all wrapped up in a pint-sized version of your own smart-mouthed self. So, to all of the moms juggling the elusive “work-life balance” I salute you and remind you that despite what the mommy blogs say, there is no one right way to do this. Because the life part spills over into the work part of your life and vice versa, motherhood does not confine itself to an after 5 pm time slot; it has a way of intertwining itself in everything you do.

It is there when a co-worker finds you crying in the bathroom over a pregnancy loss. It is there when you dry heave in your car before walking into your office. It is there when you wear the same brown dress to court everyday for the last six weeks of your pregnancy because it is the only thing that fits. It is there when you ask for a recess during a trial so you can go pump. Motherhood is there when you realize there is no place in our courthouse for a mom to pump. It is there when you are filling out kindergarten registration packets in between client appointments. It spills over into your workday when the school calls because your child has a fever. It is there when you organize a staggering army of family, friends, nannies and daycare providers so you can get your kids from home to school to daycare to home to practice to home again all while you are at work.

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And work spills over too. There will be times when a client or a case takes precedence and you miss a game or a performance. You will cry in your car the first time you drop off your baby at daycare. Or you may feel an equal amount of guilt for not crying. You’ll get cited into court on a day when you promised to take the kids to the zoo. Or your matter will get called last on the docket and you will be late to pick up your little one from daycare. Sometimes work invades your home life when you cannot stop thinking about the troubling facts of a case or a loss in court.

When my oldest was a toddler and I was struggling with trying to “do it all,” I asked someone how she had balanced this profession with raising little kids. I was hoping for some career advice or maybe an organizational plan I could steal, but what she said surprised me. She told me that this time was fleeting and that, as her kids were getting older, she was thankful she has taken some time to savor the little moments of motherhood. She told me about holding her daughter and looking at her little hand and memorizing it.

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Motherhood is all consuming and our profession is not constrained by a time clock. Mixing the two can leave you reeling between them. There is a give and take in this whole mommy-lawyer thing and that is ok. Tonight, my four-year-old wanted me to sleep with her. But I needed to write this article. So, I laid down in her pink castle bed until she fell asleep and, now, I am sitting in a chair next to her, listening to her little snores and typing. A little give, a little take. And I would not change a thing.

I did not understand it at the time in my pottytraining, sleep-deprived mind, but soon I saw my baby turning into a little girl. And one afternoon when she did not want to nap and I desperately needed her to, I remembered her words. So, I held my squirming, tired baby girl and rocked her to sleep. I memorized the weight of her head against my chest. I committed to memory the chubby hand with four little dimples across the top and the dark ring of her lashes against her cheek. My daughter turned ten this year. I do not remember all the times I had to leave work early to pick her up. I do not remember all the times I worried I was not working enough or worried I was working too much. But I do remember that moment in vivid detail and that is more than enough.

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2019 DEAN LANGSDORF AWARD — M. Erica Aquadro As many who read this publication are aware, Dean Langsdorf passed away unexpectedly a few years ago leaving behind a legacy of professionalism and service to our community.

The following year, the Clark County Bar Association’s Family Law Section created the Dean Langsdorf Family Law Attorney of the Year Award in his honor. This award was proposed to be given to a family law attorney, judge, or commissioner in recognition of outstanding professionalism, community activism, mentorship to new attorneys, and a commitment to pro bono representation and access to equal justice.

This year, the Section was proud and honored to present the 2019 Dean Langsdorf Award to Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jolene Sell. The award was presented to her at the CCBA Barrister’s Ball on March 2, 2019, by Commissioner Jennifer Snider, who shared a few kind words on her behalf.

Jolene has dedicated her career to public service and she is known for being knowledgeable, professional, and generous with her time. She has always been willing to help newer attorneys and give input in cases with difficult situations or facts. She is patient and courteous in court to both counsel and pro se litigants. She is a pleasure to work with and has extensive experience and expertise in her field. She also makes time in her very busy schedule to speak at family law section events and proactively share useful information with the section and in court. Congratulations, Jolene!

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CCBA Board Meeting— Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting | April 10, 2019 Called to order 12:03 Larson, Emrich, Green, Sampath, Ellis, Sasser, Gasperino (Darco present) March 6, 2019 board meeting minutes: motion to approve (Sampath/Green) Approved March 21, 2019 General Meeting minutes: motion to approve (Gasperino/Green) Approved Treasurer’s Report regarding February 2019: Ellis explained the profit and loss reports for March 2019 which compared March 2019 to March 2018. Temporary spike in revenues due to Barrister’s Ball. CLE revenues still significantly down. CLE Committee looking at ways to increase attendance and revenues. Sampath requests to explore reasons for former CCBA members’ non-renewal. Sasser and Darco will meet and consider a subcommittee.

OLD BUSINESS A.)

Lease Review (Sampath)

a.

B.)

Employee Handbook (Sasser)

a.

C.)

Contract for Victoria Moon

a.

D.)

Membership overview (Darco)

a.

E.)

Sampath still negotiating lease contract proposal.

Still working with attorney on draft handbook. Attorney has volunteered service free of charge.

Tabled to May meeting.

Stands at 468 as of end of March. Darco will contact people who haven't revnewed.

General Meeting Recap a.

Could look into future brown bag meetings without lunch charge to increase attendance.

NEW BUSINESS A.)

Committee Updates

a.

Hearsay (Sasser) Continues to improve. Suggestions welcome.

b.

Social (Emrich) Up next: BBQ in July

B.)

President’s Report (Sasser Section)

a.

Employee Reviews: Spratt, Ellis, and Sasser will form committee

b.

Mentoring: Sasser will meet with Liz Christy to move program forward

c.

Judicial Poll/Forum: well attended, event went well

d.

Attorney Work Room: Located in the courthouse; CCBA has received request to outfit it with a new computer and printer, office supplies, and coffee. The room is the responsibility of Clark County. Ad can be taken out in the Hearsay for donations.

12:55 Adjourned 20

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FAMILY LAW SECTION MEETING — Emily Roberts The Family Law Section of the Clark County Bar Association had another fabulous monthly meeting on April 11, 2019, with lunch and CLE at the Red Cross Building at Fort Vancouver. The FLS was honored to have Heather Kmetz, a Partner at Sussman Shank LLP in Portland, present on divorce considerations under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. An experienced tax lawyer, Ms. Kmetz assists individuals and businesses in establishing tax-sensitive wealth preservation plans and transactions and serves as outside corporate counsel for a variety of closely-held businesses. She is licensed in both Oregon and Washington.

The next FLS meeting will be on Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Red Cross Building at Fort Vancouver. At this meeting, Eugene Graff will present on the ABC’s of Dependency for Family Law Practitioners. Mr. Graff earned his JD from Willamette University in 2001 and, prior to forming McKell Graff with his life partner Meredith, he spent nearly six years as an Assistant Attorney General in the Vancouver Regional Services Division of the Washington Attorney General’s Office (AGO), where he had an extensive litigation practice primarily in juvenile law in Clark, Cowlitz, and occasionally, Skamania counties. You can read more about Mr. Graff at www.mckellgraff.com/who-we-area.

As a friendly reminder, please make sure you RSVP. If you are not a member of the FLS, but would like to join, please contact Lisa Darco with the CCBA about joining at 360-695-5975 or ccbamanager@ccbawashington.org. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

DOUBLE HEARSAY Your esteemed colleague Raisa Judicata can’t be everywhere.

If you have a tidbit of news you would like the world to know, send a note to CCBA at ccbamanager@ ccbawashington.org. Raisa usually checks in the first Monday of every month. Remember, it is your civic duty to support your member organization with juicy gossip and goings on.

MAY 2019 | CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

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HEARSAY PROFILE Blake VanZile Home: Bothell, Washington Age:30 Profession: Associate Attorney at Stahancyk, Kent & Hook Hobbies: I like to spend my weeknights at the gym and my weekends in the mountains. My mother always says that the key to a happy life is staying busy and moving your body. I love a good road trip and hanging out with my brothers. I tend to take my sweet old French bulldog, Princess Leia, with me (almost) everywhere I go.

Last Book Read: I picked up a copy of My Friend Leonard by James Frey at a thrift store in Palm Springs on the way to the airport without really reading the description. It turned out to be terribly depressing, but I didn’t have anything else to read or watch so I suffered through the first half of it on my flight.

The second half was much more hopeful, I ended up loving it.

Legal Philosophy: Never get involved in a land war in Asia, and never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

When I feel especially lost as a baby lawyer, I remind myself to just keep going—doing the right thing for the right reason always gets the right result.

Why I Do What I Do: The practice of family law always feels important and necessary. My family is the most important part of my life and it took us a long time to recover from my parent’s litigious divorce. I went to law school and pursued family law to offer some light to families in conflict and crisis because I know that it gets better on the other side.

Profile: I graduated from the University of Washington in 2007 with a very useful (fun) degree in Comparative Literature and Film Studies. I worked in sales and recruiting for two years with a telecommunications start up before moving to Salt Lake City to attend the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law. I returned to the Pacific Northwest and started practicing family law in 2017. I am admitted to Utah (inactive), Washington (2017) and Oregon (2018). I currently serve as the Vice President of Clark County’s Young Lawyers Section and I am a Board Member for Girls Inc of the Pacific Northwest and Southwest Washington Committee Member. If you are interested in either, I would love to hear from you!

Beverage of Choice: Pamplemousse LaCroix, in true millennial fashion.

Latest Accomplishment: At the risk of sounding obnoxious, I just hit a comfortable 180lb squat and I am pretty proud of that.

MAY 2019 | CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

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THE BEST LITTLE COURTHOUSE IN WASHINGTON — Alfred (Art) Bennett Almost universally, going to court is an unpleasant experience. Almost, but not always.

Just ten miles North of Vancouver, quietly going about its business, is the Municipal Court of Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and La Center, located at 109 SW 1st Street, Battle Ground.

Generally referred to as the Battle Ground Municipal Court, or BGMC due to its location, this court has jurisdiction over any and all gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and traffic or civil infractions committed within the city limits of those entities. Municipal Courts, in the hierarchy of the Washington Court system are designated as Courts of Limited Jurisdiction, just like District Courts. Municipal Courts and District Courts are functionally identical in terms of legal 24

HEARSAY MAGAZINE | MAY 2019

authority and the types of matters heard, with the exception that Municipal Courts seldom exercise civil jurisdiction, and the Municipal Courts in Clark County have a smaller volume of cases, and of course, a much smaller budget than Clark County District Court.

The cities of Vancouver, Camas, and Washougal also technically have Municipal Courts, but those cities contract directly with Clark County to use the Clark County District Court’s services and judges.

On the other hand, Battle Ground, Ridgefield and La Center have a true independent Municipal Court, with its own employees, staff, and Judge.

Speaking of the smaller budget referred to above, that budget makes for some very creative and efficient use of judicial resources. BGMC has its own work crew, dedicated to providing services to the citizens of the three communities. Work crew is the preferred option to incarceration in appropriate cases, although, as in any justice system, for some offenders a stiff jolt of the Graybar Hotel is called for. Court is held each Thursday, with incarcerated defendants appearing by video transmission.

efficient. The court operates at a significantly lower cost per case than the Vancouver, Camas and Washougal Municipal Court, while still dispensing fair and evenhanded justice to those who come before the Court. The efficiency of the BGMC is demonstrated by recent statistics showing that BGMC processes each case at an average cost per case of $188.10, while, in comparison the Camas-Washougal Court processes its cases at an average cost per case of $294.86.

Probation services are provided by the Court, without any assistance of a Probation Department. The Court itself schedules and reviews compliance with conditions of probation, resulting in a hands-on, supportive approach to rehabilitation, similar to specialty court procedures in other jurisdictions.

Perhaps because of the size of the court and its caseload, the staff is able to develop a rapport with attorneys and clients alike. The Court and its staff have received high praise from legal practitioners.

BGMC is recognized by the lawyers who practice there as extremely cordial, professional, and

That staff includes Carol Landwehr, Chief Clerk and Court Supervisor; Kay Kammer, Court Administrator; and Caroline Sanderson and Olivia Warnock, Court Clerks.

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WSBA Board of Governors Report —Kyle Sciuchetti Last year the Washington Supreme Court convened the WSBA Structures Work Group to examine recent case law and decide whether changes should be made to the structure of the WSBA or the regulation of the practice of law in Washington. The Work Group consists of attorneys, judges and members of the public from around the state who have been appointed or recommended by the WSBA Board of Governors or appointed by the Washington State Supreme Court. That Work Group has met twice and has another meeting scheduled for May 6 at the WSBA Offices in Seattle. The Work Group will continue to meet in May and June, with the potential for additional meetings in July.

All meetings are open to the public and WSBA membership to attend or view via webcast.

At the first two meetings, the Work Group was educated on the history of the WSBA, the current structure of the WSBA and how it functions, the decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in Janus v. AFSCME, 138 S.Ct. 2448 (2018) and its potential implications to bar associations across the country. At its May 6 meeting, the Work Group will listen to presentations about how bar associations in other states operate and what measures they are taking in light of First Amendment and antitrust concerns.

Chief Justice Fairhurst recently sent a letter to select members of Washington’s legal community informing them of the Work Group and soliciting advice and recommendations on

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the process and/or what the structure of the bar association should look like in the future.

Members may e-mail any comments they may have to structureworkgroup@wsba.org.

At the same time, ESHB 1788 made its way through the Washington State House of Representatives and Senate. The bill would have repealed the majority of the State Bar Act. The WSBA Board of Governors opposed the legislation believing it to be premature until the Work Group finished its work in examining the future of the bar association. Despite passing both the House and the Senate, the bill did not get a concurrence vote in the House before the last day of the legislative session and was not enacted into law.

The WSBA Board of Governors is thankful to the members of the House of Representatives and Senate that listened to the testimony of the WSBA Board of Governors and took notice of concerns that the bar association expressed about the timeliness of the legislation. The WSBA Board of Governors is committed to working with the Legislature and the Washington Supreme Court on the Structures Work Group and potential future legislation to improve the bar association, both for its members and the public.

Kyle D. Sciuchetti is a partner with Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP and serves as District 3 Governor, Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors, representing all of Southwest Washington.

Tonya Rulli & James Rulli

ANNOUNCING THE FORMATION OF RULLI LAW LAW FIRM OPENS JUNE 1ST

MEDIATION APPOINTMENTS BEGIN JUNE 10TH 2019

VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON RULLILAW.COM • 360.695.9505 MAY 2019 | CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

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Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day —Skyler Tanner This year’s Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day was April 25. Law offices and courtrooms throughout the area hosted children to show them the good and interesting aspects of being judges, clerks, legal assistants and other legal professionals and to try to dissuade our youth from becoming attorneys (just kidding).

This yearly event, occurring on the fourth Thursday of April, was formally started in 1993 and singled out bringing daughters to work.[1] In 2003, it gained the current title and gender neutral focus.[2] Last year, more than 37 million Americans participated in the events of the day at over 3.5 million companies.[3] In our office, my two oldest children, ages 10 and 7, were able to tour the library, visit with staff members in our records department and office services—where they were able to decorate their own Redweld folder—see the basement of our building, and learn from the marketing

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department—where they designed their own Lane Powell logo.

can give her more opportunities to learn what different careers look like on a day-to-day basis.

In the midst of their fun, they also spent a couple hours in my office watching me draft documents.

Thankfully for them, they had the foresight to bring some homework, so they were able to work while I worked. I was surprised last year when my oldest daughter asked questions throughout her time in my office like, “What are you working on now?” “What type of document is that?” “Why do you need that?” I was pleased at her genuine interest and I hope this type of visit

My children were lucky enough to wrap up their day watching a movie in a conference room—if only that were a regular part of my workday.

As you can see from the pictures with this article, many other types of activities and circumstances occurred throughout the day for children in the area. Some even pounded gavels in courtrooms.

A big thank you to all those who took an interest in our children while they came to work with us and helped make their day enjoyable.

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[1] Stacey Vanek Smith, A history of Take our Daughters to Work — and why it now includes sons, April 25, 2013, Marketplace, https://www. marketplace.org/2013/04/25/business/historytake-our-daughters-work-and-why-it-nowincludes-sons.

[2] Id. [3] The Dos and Don’ts of Take Your Kids to Work Day, https://www.forbes.com/pictures/ efkk45eihdg/the-dos-and-donts-of-take-yourkids-to-work-day/#3a32fb667979.

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HEARSAY MAGAZINE | MAY 2019

—­­­Emanuela Sandri

Washington State B&O Tax Requirements for Legal Services

In Washington state, attorneys pay Washington Business & Occupation (B&O) tax of 1.5% on gross receipts less allowable deductions for recovered client costs advanced.

Washington describes client cost advance deductions in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 458-20-207 and Washington Tax Decisions (WTDs) 32 WTD 250 and 9 WTD 292-9, which can be found at dor.wa.gov under the link Laws & rules, located at the very top of the web page above the search box: •

For WAC 458-20-207, click on Excise Tax Rules under Washington Administrative Code (WAC), click on 458-20 and then click on 458-20-207.

•

For WTDs 32 WTD 250 and 9 WTD 292-9, click on Taxpedia, mark Washington Tax Decisions (WTDs) box, type attorneys in search box and then select the WTD.

Law Library — Maria Sosnowski, Law Librarian FOR SALE | Through June 2019 The law library is taking blind bids on the following items: 1.

Social Security Handbook 2018, Bernan Press

2.

Washington Business Law 2017, v. 31 Wa Practice, TR

3.

Trustee’s Legal Companion, 4th ed, NOLO

4.

Make Your Own Living Trust, 13th ed, NOLO

5.

Defending Drinking Drivers, 34th ed, James

6.

How Insurance Companies Settle Cases, 27th ed, James

Give your bid to the law librarian through the end of February.

Give your bid to the law librarian through the end of June. Bids must indicate your name, phone number, amount, and item(s) on which you are bidding.

Winners will be notified in early July. We reserve the right to withdraw an item from bidding.

MAY 2019 | CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

31

Lawyers in Vancouver Rating Restaurants • NONAVO •

Kathryn Unbehaun, Sampath Law Group Date: Friday, 4/27/19 | Grade: 5/5

The good: • We ordered a prosciutto pizza, pepperoni pizza, bergamot ice cream, and wild berry sorbet. They were good.

• Pizza was crisp. No soggy bottoms. A pleasing number of charred spots.

• The menu changes frequently, so you’ll have to come back.

• Wild berry sorbet = cat tongue mouth for the rest of the day.

• You can taste the garden the produce was grown in. So fresh.

• If you sit at the counter, you can watch the hipster waitstaff lovingly stretch the dough, slap it on a paddle, and shove it into a giant woodfired oven.

• The space is a bright, cheerful white.

There are stacks of logs for the woodburning oven. There are black line drawings on the walls.

• Parking is free on Saturdays! More money for snacks.

The bad: • We’re not personally allergic to gluten, but we are personally offended that there were no gluten free pizza options.

Ugh. Where are gluten-free people supposed to eat if not a pizza place?

• We desperately wanted tortas, but the line at Little Conejo was too much for us. Nonavo doesn’t sell tortas, so we were forced to eat pizza.

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HEARSAY MAGAZINE | MAY 2019

• The “pepperoni” isn’t curled up or bright red, and you can see actual chunks of black pepper. They also put leaves on top of the prosciutto—obviously trying to push vegetables on us.

• Each pizza is enough for 1 average American or 1 average family of 4 in Japan. So we had to eat again later that day.

• We ordered a disappointing glass of Rose, which is obviously Nonavo’s fault.

• I burned my tongue because I am impatient. Again, Nonavo’s fault.

• They only make ice cream, not gelato, which disappointed another customer.

Why does Nonavo even bother?

• Whatever Pandora/Spotify/radio station they selected played “Barbie Girl.” We requested that they play “That’s Amore” on loop, which the waitstaff shrugged at.

• We devoured 1.25 pizzas before remembering to get a picture, so you have a photo of a partial prosciutto pizza.

Washington Women Lawyers — ­­ Meghan Williams The Clark County/St Helens Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers held its second CLE event of 2019 on May 6. Jill Schmid from Sound Jury Consulting presented on the gender communication continuum by highlighting traits traditionally associated with the "masculine” and “feminine” ends of the spectrum that can increase one’s communication effectiveness and overall credibility. A special thanks to Kurtz & Paradis PLLC for sponsoring lunch!

Mark your calendars for our next planning meeting on June 3. It will be held from 121pm at the offices of Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, 500 Broadway, Suite 400. We will be planning our fall CLEs and several social events.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Meghan Williams, partner at Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP and President of the Clark County/St Helens Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers, at meghan.williams@millernash.com.

MAY 2019 | CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

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HEARSAY MAGAZINE | MAY 2019

Lawyer Referral The Southwest Washington Lawyer Referral Service referred 236 clients in the month of April.

ADA

0

Bankruptcy

o

Business and Corp.

73

Consumer

8

Criminal 14 Debtor/Creditor

News You Can Use The Hearsay editorial board is open to all CCBA members and meets on the second Friday of each month at noon in the CCBA office. Please join us on June 14, 2019!

3

Family Law

54

General Litigation

71

International Law

1

Labor & Employ.

21

Real Property

38

Taxation 2 Wills and Trusts

12

Workers Comp.

5

New Contact Information: Katie D. Buxman Maloney Lauersdof Reiner PC 1111 E. Burnside Street, Suite 300 Portland, OR 97214 MAY 2019 | CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

35

2018-/ 2019

CCBA Officers & Trustees Jill Sasser | President Telephone: (360) 816-2534 Email: jill.sasser@landerholm.com

Jack Green | Trustee Telephone: (360) 694-8718

Paige Spratt | Vice President

Email: jack@greenandritchie.com

Telephone: (360) 905-1433 Email: pspratt@schwabe.com

Dan Gasperino | Trustee Telephone: (360) 397-2261

Stefanie Ellis | Treasurer

Email: dan.gasperino@clark.wa.gov

Telephone: (360) 949-7451 Email: sellis@priestandellis.com

Mark Sampath | Immediate Past President Telephone: (360) 787-9200

Le Ann Larson | Secretary

Email: mark@sampath-law.com

Telephone: (360) 397-2265 Email: lelarson@wapa-sep.wa.gov

Lisa Darco | Office Manager Telephone: (360) 695-5975

Christie Emrich | Trustee

Email: ccbamanager@ccbawashington.org

Telephone: (360) 906-0211 Email: cemrich@barrarlaw.com

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RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE TODAY! CALL LISA AT 360.695.5975

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HEARSAY MAGAZINE | MAY 2019