2024 April Hearsay

HearSay

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION April 2024

JESSE

Clark County, WA Bar Association

OTLA Guardian

WSAJ Eagle DON JACOBS

Trial Lawyer of the Year, Clark County (2015)

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.

April Hearsay Contributors

Josh Sherman dedicates his practice to medical malpractice cases. Josh is admitted to practice law in Washington and Oregon, and he regularly litigates cases in both states.

NW Injury Law Center

Jesse Jacobs is a trial attorney representing personal injury clients in Southwest Washington. He is the immediate past president of the CBBA.

Courtney Mendoza represents clients in matters involving family law and criminal defense. Prior to working for Petersen Rothermel Law Firm, Courtney worked as a Clark County Criminal Prosecutor.

Mccoy Landerholm, P.S.

Jean McCoy’s practice focus is real estae transactions and conflict resolution, landlord/ tenant and creditors’ rights.

Clark County Prosecutors Office

Laurel Smith is the Senior Deputy Prosecutor for the Clark County Child Abuse Prosecution division.

Jesse Jacobs

Josh Sherman

Jane Clark Legal

Courtney Mendoza

Petersen Rothermel Law Firm

Laurel Smith

Jean

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page 39

Calling All Artists!

As we know, we have a pretty amazing group of musically-inclined attorneys in Clark County (see: our Battle of the Lawyer Bands fundraisers).

But what about those attorneys who are incredible visual artists? Who love to paint PNW scenery, cross-stitch funky designs, or make hand-crafted ceramics? Well, it’s your time to shine!

We are now accepting art submissions for our 2nd Annual Garden Party Silent Art Auction fundraiser! If the submission is approved, you and your art will be featured at the event and will be available for auction. If your piece sells, there will be a 50/50 split of the proceeds between the artist and CCVLP. Know an incredible artist but they’re not a lawyer? No problem! We are accepting submissions from all artists. You can submit your art at: https://ccvlp.org/submit-art/

If you have questions, email our fundraising chair: Mia Demay mia@ccvlp.org

Garden Party Date: TBD - Sometime in June*

*By the time you ’ re reading this, we may even have the date already! You can find updates on our website (ccvlp.org) and social media pages: @volunteerlawyers

Thank you to everyone who volunteered last month!

Anne Ajayi, Rachel Brooks, Chelsey Butchard, Alena Clark, Maggie Davis, Ed Dawson, Chelsie Elliott, Peter Fels, Philip Foster, Laurie Garber, Moloy Good, Marlene Hansen, Scott Horenstein, Rachel Johnson, Jeff Keddie, James Kemp, Juliet Laycoe, Beatrice Lucas, Jeffrey Peterson, Mercedes Riggs, Amber Rushbanks, Mark Tyler, Marisa Nelson, and Michelle Prosser. Thank you to support staff at Stahancyk, Kent & Hook, Navigate Law Group, and all the other amazing support staff that work with our volunteer attorneys.

We always welcome new volunteers. Contact our Volunteer Manager if you're interested in volunteering (attorneys and non-attorneys): mia@ccvlp.org

Breaking

Even under the best circumstances,

thorough nancial evaluation of the current and future mortgage nancing requirements and as well as realistic solutions to obstacles in negotiations.

4 Phases of Divorce Mortgage Planning

Vetting the House Qualifying Income Consumer Debt Analysis Home Equity Solutions

Theresa Springer brings a lifetime of experience in the mortgage profession, so you can be condent that whatever Home Equity solutions your client needs, she’ll help your team navigate them and provide guidance for making the right decisions.

Left to right: Steven Hogue, Amy Price, Erik Selden (Team Leader), Bryan Dent, Phil Czajka

Clark County Bar Association

CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEMBERSHIP BOARD MEETING

March 18, 2023

Minutes of the CCBA General Membership Meeting 3/18/2024

In Person at West Park Building and Via Zoom

CCBA President Whitney Hawke Called to order 12:21, Opening remarks and welcome REPORTS

A. Treasurer’s Report, Ben Melnick

The main source of revenue is association dues. CLEs and Hearsay advertising are the other sources. Since COVID, the CCBA has not had a revenue positive or neutral year. The last revenue positive year was 2017/2018. Reserves have been used. All social events now need to be revenue neutral or positive. Projected income for this year was $151k and $158k was projected for expenses. Income received to date is $137k and $98k expenses. Generally expenses are around $8k per month, with the exception of Barrister’s Ball and Summer Soiree months. The current figures include Barristers Ball expenses and revenue.

B. CCBA Committee Reports

Family Law Section: Pres. Chelsey Butchard The section has monthly CLEs via Zoom and hosts in person social events every other month. The section has approximately 100 members and attendance at CLEs is strong. Turn out at in person social events is increasing, so come on out and see your colleagues.

Young Lawyers Section: Sec. Heather VanNess The section recently partnered with the Family Law Section to host a Happy Hour and would partner with other sections for social or other opportunities. Suggestions welcome.

Guardianship Probate and Elder Law Section: Pres. Gabrielle Richards The section has 42 members. CLEs are presented regularly and are well attended. A CLE on the topic of Special Needs Trusts is scheduled for this month. Excellent CLEs are planned.

Membership Committee: Co-chair Nathan Petersen The committee is focused on outreach to get former members to renew and new members to join.

CLE Committee: Eric Hoffman The committee is looking for members; contact Lisa Darco if you are interested. A schedule of excellent CLEs has been planned so stay tuned. Contact the committee with any topic suggestions.

Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee: Co-chair Deb Wechselblatt The other committee co-chair is Courtney Mendoza. They are switching to an every other month meeting schedule. The two projects the committee is focusing on right now are Street Law and a CLE. The Street Law training was recorded if you want to volunteer to present but missed the training. A CLE is in the works for this summer. A tentative title is Raising The Bar: Ideas To Make The Bar Accessible, Equitable, and Diverse.

Hearsay Committee: Whitney Hawke: Meetings are the 1st Thursday of the month at noon via Zoom. Do you want to write articles? Do you have new ideas for content? If you want to write articles, know that you do not have to write monthly. If you have big ideas but do not want to write, know that you can contribute by sharing content ideas. Contact Whitney or Lisa Darco to join.

Social Committee: Whitney Hawke The Barrister’s Ball, held at the AC Marriott, was a great success. The event was revenue positive. Stay posted for Summer Soiree details.

Adjourned 12:45

CLE followed at 1:00 presented by Court of Appeals Judge Bernard Veljacic and Whitney Hawke, Intro to Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession

Clark County Superior Court

BENCH/BAR COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

March 12, 2024

Persons in attendance: Nicholas Alexander (nick@vancouverwillsandtrusts.com) Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp. org) Gabrielle Richards (gabby@cascadialawyers.com) Leslie Lopez (Leslie.Lopez@clark.wa.gov) LeAnn Larson (LeAnn.Larson@clark.wa.gov) Judge Fairgrieve (John.Fairgrieve@clark.wa.gov)

If you have matters that you would like to bring to the attention of the Bench/Bar, you are welcome to contact the above-mentioned members of the committee.

I. OLD BUSINESS: None.

II. NEW BUSINESS:

Gabrielle Richard: Great CLE on March 28, Eva Luchini on Supplemental Needs Trusts, free to section members nominal fee for nonmember; will be a Zoom event. Section Meeting in April, along with roundtable.

LeAnn Larson: Nothing from the Family Law front, we have two judicial officers on leave which is causing a little scheduling difficulty. CCBA general meeting Monday the 18th.

Jessi Anderson: April 27th 9 am to Noon Latin X event, mia@ccvlp.org to volunteer, particularly need Family Law and Immigration Law attorneys. Judicial evaluation committee Wednesday the 20th at noon, anyone that wants more info can email: Deb.Wechselblatt@clark.wa.gov

Leslie Lopez: Nothing today.

Judge Fairgrieve: Mock trial is finished, 11 teams from 9 high school – from Piece County to White Salmon; in the end Columbia River Purple won, second was White Salmon (which has developed a great program) and then Cascade Tech – all advance to state tournament at the Piece Co courthouse. 20 judicial officers and 75 attorneys for raters. Kids had a great time with the fact pattern of a probate problem involving a cat.

Public Defenders Office Update: Had solicited for the Directors position and interviews are next week. Once that person is on-board, they can then start the hiring of other key position; Great milestone to start the long-term transition. Still have a backlog of criminal cases from COVID that we still need to litigate and we will be litigating as the year progresses. Things are running smoothly in the criminal docket world; minor issues being addressed.

MEETING ADORNED 12:15 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nicholas Alexander