2025 September Hearsay

HearSay THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

September 2025

December 2019

Welcome, Commissioner Lopez!

2025 CCBA Colleague of the Year

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September Hearsay Contributors Josh Sherman Jane Clark Legal

Josh Sher ma n ded icates his practice to representing plaintiffs in med ic a l ma lprac t ice c a ses.

Commissioner Christina Phelan Clark County Superior Court

Commissioner Christina Phelan was inducted to the Clark County Superior Court on June 27th, 2025.

Jean McCoy Landerholm, P.S.

Jean McCoy’s practice focus is real estae tra nsactions a nd conf lict resolution, landlord/tenant and creditors’ rights.

Mia Demay Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program

Mia Demay started at the CCVLP in March 2025 as Co-Executive Director. She primarily focuses her work on Community Engagement.

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McKinley Irvin Family Law Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch® 2026

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Espresso Yourself! Find Your Fit at the CCBA page 12

2025 CCBA Summer Soire page 14

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CCVLP: 2024 Volunteers of The Year page 20

t to right: Cassia Gehl (CCVLP Family Law Program Manager), Mia Demay (CCVLP r of Community Engagement), Karen Houghset (SKH Intake Specialist), Michelle r (SKH Managing Shareholder, Attorney), Natassia Tuhovak (SKH Attorney), and Marisa Nelson (SKH Attorney)

going support of SKH proves just how essential the legal community is to ccess to justice real for our neighbors. The Clark County legal community is because of Marisa, Natassia, and Michelle’s example. We’re deeply grateful for Sale Price — $2.55M m, and we’re proud to celebrate them as our 2024 Volunteers of the Year.

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Celebrating our 2024 Volunteers of the Year: By: Mia Demay

In the past, we have presented our Volunteer of the Year awards at our summer Volunteer Appreciation Event. This year, we switched things up, combined two of our favorite events, and presented the award at our annual Garden Party fundraiser.

This way, not only could we as an organization celebrate the people who make our work possible, our volunteers, but the rest of our community and attendees could too.

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At CCVLP, our volunteers are truly the heart of everything we do. We are so fortunate to have 8 (absolutely fabulous) attorneys on our staff; however, many of our programs are staffed entirely by volunteer attorneys. One such program is also one of our most in-demand programs: family law. This year, we were honored to recognize our 2024 Volunteers of the Year: three of those extraordinary family law attorneys, Marisa Nelson, Michelle Prosser, Natassia Tuhovak, and intake specialist Karen Houghset of SKH Family Law and Estate Planning.

For years, SKH has been a cornerstone of our Family Law Program.

Family can HEADER (CHANGE ON law MASTER B) be some of the most challenging, and most meaningful, work, yet Marisa, Natassia, and Michelle consistently show up with compassion, expertise, and generosity. They dedicate their time outside of their already full practices to sit with people who are often navigating some of the hardest moments of their lives. In doing so, they bring hope, dignity, and stability to families in crisis. Because of their leadership and care, countless clients are safer, more secure, and empowered to move forward with confidence.

From left to right: Cassia Gehl (CCVLP Family Law Program Manager), Mia Demay (CCVLP Director of Community Engagement), Karen Houghset (SKH Intake Specialist), Michelle Prosser (SKH Managing Shareholder, Attorney), Natassia Tuhovak (SKH Attorney), and Marisa Nelson (SKH Attorney)

The ongoing support of SKH proves just how essential the legal community is to making access to justice real for our neighbors. The Clark County legal community is stronger because of Marisa, Natassia, and Michelle’s example. We’re deeply grateful for them, and we’re proud to celebrate them as our 2024 Volunteers of the Year.

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More Fun from our Garden Party Our 3rd annual Garden Party Art Auction was filled with: beautiful local art and other fun auction items, brunch bites from the amazing Hidden House, a build your own bouquet bar from donated flowers from amazing local farms, and an all around lovely day in the sun with our community. With the help of generous sponsors, artists, and community supporters, this year’s event bloomed bigger than ever and raised over $17,000 for legal aid!

Clark County Bar Association

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CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING

August 5, 2025

Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting August 5, 2025 1. Called to order 12:06 pm, Wechselblatt, Melnick, Larson, Hawke, Executive Director Darco; (no quorum) 2. July 8, 2025 board meeting minutes: tabled to next meeting 3. Treasurer’s Report: (Melnick) Discussed the financial reports in board folder. We’re in the red; only $1,100 left with one month to go in the fiscal year. This does not include reserve funds.

4. CCBA Big Picture a. Membership Kick Off Mentorship Pivot: discussed doing “meet up” type events to connect our members through shared interests. Decided to focus on creating opportunities for professional and personal connection that can lead to mentorship. b. Bar Poll for District Court Timeline: August 8th release of applicant names, August 14th Candidate Forum, August 21 Poll Deadline 4:00 pm, Results to the County Council August 22nd, Council Meeting/Executive Session August 27th, Interviews September 8th and 9th c. Board Nominating Committee The nominating committee is Deb, Nathan, and Marla. Discussed the format of the board application. Reviewed the Shared Leadership handout which specifies the responsibilities of the board compared to the responsibilities of the executive director.

5. Upcoming Events a. Summer Soiree: 8/16/25 b. Coffee Cart for Membership Kick Off 9/5/25, West Park Room d. Annual Meeting: 9/15/25 noon to 1:00 at Artillery Barracks CLE following meeting: View from the Bench with Judge Banfield and Judge Bartlett Adjourned 12:45

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Clark County Superior Court BENCH/BAR COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES September 9, 2025

Persons in attendance: Judge Banfield (Camara.Banfield@clark.wa.gov), Judge Fairgrieve (John.Fairgrieve@ clark.wa.gov) Carl Snodgrass (carl.snodgrass@nwjustice.org) Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp.org), Alex Reaganson (alexander.reaganson@nwjustice.org) Jordan Taylor (jordan@hlf-law.com), LeAnn Larson (LeAnn.Larson@clark. wa.gov), Curt Welch (cwelch@sussmanshank.com) -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. The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 14th at 12:00.

Please email Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp.org) for the Zoom link if you would like to attend.

Meeting commenced: 12:06 pm

Meeting adjourned:12:37 pm

Updates: Judge Banfield: (Civil Division Updates) •

In October Judge Vanderwood moves to the Criminal Division and Judge Gonzales moves over into Civil.

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There is a judicial retreat happening in the next week or so and there likely will be more updates after that takes place.

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UD Docket: Washington case law indicates that once someone has been found to be indigent, they have a right to an attorney at all points in the action, including an appeal, however there doesn’t seem to currently be a process set up for appointing counsel at the appeal stage. Is wondering if a workgroup needs to be set up to work on that.

-Jessi response: Jessi will communicate with CCVLP’s Housing Director and Housing Programs

Managing Attorney so that they are aware and can be responsive to that need.

-Carl response: NJP is also happy to be part of that workgroup.

Alex Reaganson: (Northwest Justice Project) •

NJP has continued concerns about the way that LFOs are being treated at the clerks office. The clerks have been requiring forms requesting information that is not required under the statute and this information being filed openly rather than under seal. NJP has begun using a financial declaration form that is similar to the GR 34 QLSP fee waiver form.

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NJP is also seeing some misappropriation of LFO monies by the clerk’s office--payments being diverted to restitution to the insurer when there are still restitution payments owed to the victim. Would like to make sure that payments are being applied as directed by statute.

-Judge Banfield: Regarding the form question: She has discussed this with Judge Snider, Judge Snider set up the

process for what information the clerk is supposed to get, so while the clerk is requesting it,

that directive was given to the clerk by the judge currently responsible for handling the LFOs.

Thinks it would be healthy for NJP to have a conversation with Judge Snider about the concerns that NJP has noted.

Also believes it would be beneficial for a representative from the clerk’s office to join Bench/Bar meetings, perhaps once every other or every third month with the goal of increasing awareness of the division of roles/duties between the bench and the clerk’s office and to increase accountability to address issues.

-Jessi will reach out and try to get participation in this group by someone in the Clerk’s Office.

Judge Fairgrieve: (Criminal Division Updates) •

Issue with capacity at the public defender’s office (currently approximately 5 attorneys in that office). This is potentially a serious problem. Over the last six months or so Public Defense has been letting the court know that they have an insufficient number of public defenders to meet the need. What has been happening is that at the afternoon 1st appearance dockets, the PD’s office has been saying they don’t have any attorneys to appoint.

-Currently there is a mixed hybrid program where there are a number of county employed attorneys, and some private contract attorneys, who take appointments. The county pd’s office has been communicating that they are at max caseloads. Recently out-of-custody defendants at first appearance have been asked if they’re willing to waive their speedy trial rights because of this capacity issue. However, the pd’s office has communicated to the court that they are no longer comfortable advising defendants to waive their speedy trial rights, so the issue has come to a critical juncture.

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-There is communication happening. The Superior Court Administrator is working to set up a meeting with the County Administrator’s office and Public Defense.

-The Washington Supreme Court substantially decreased public defender caseloads based on findings in an ABA study. The caseload has been reduced to 47 felony cases per year, however counties have 10 years to move to this number. Basic math indicates that we’d have to about triple the number of indigent defense attorneys to handle that caseload, which is a significant change and increase to the county’s budget.

-The long term plan is to increase attorneys at the Public Defender’s Office and move away from private contract attorneys, aside from those needed for conflict cases.

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Overall, the Criminal Division is likely to hit a record for criminal trials this year, though not criminal filings.

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Judge Fairgrieve will provide information on whether another judge from the Civil Division will be able to join Bench Bar after he departs for the Family Law Division, or whether the bench will decide that one judicial representative will bring updates and questions back to the full bench instead.

LeAnn Larson: •

Changes to the law:

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Supreme Court of Washington by order changed CR12 (defenses and objections). They added to CR 12 that if service of summons and petition is made on someone who is in jail, prison, or a detention facility pursuant to Rule 4, then that person has a 60 day response period (there are some exceptions) This expands the response time.

-For purposes of family law, the Child Support Enforcement office updated their summons forms to include that language as they do sometimes serve people in jail/prison.

-This is effective September 1st, so it should be in all the summons being served now. It’s possible that pattern forms have not been updated yet. Be watching for that.

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HB 1014: passed last session. The majority of it was delayed for implementation, but on January 1st the first round of changes happens. This very much affects worksheets and proposals that are being filed during the end of this year. People need to be aware of this and know that this change is coming.

-January 1st: For people making higher earnings, the schedule used to top out at a combined net at $12,000 that is now going to go up to $50,000 per month. For low income earners, it really changes as well. The self-support reserve changes from 125% of the FPL to 180% of the FPL. This will likely be a big change for minimum wage earners.

Jessi Anderson (Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program): •

No updates from CCVLP

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Inns of Court is kicking off next week on Wednesday, October 17th, with a BBQ behind Wheeler/Boyd and also Phelan’s parking lot.

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Theme this year is Famous Cases Through History–which is different from past years. Hoping to get additional and new people into Inns. Please reach out to Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp.org) or Judge Sleight for more information on joining.

Respectfully submitted, Jessi Anderson