THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION August 2022 HearSay
Injury law in Oregon and Washington Available for consult, association, or referral. Portland 503.222.7757 • Vancouver 360.695.1624 • nwinjurylawcenter.com “Been there, done that.” “Still there, still doing it.” JESSE JACOBS DON JACOBS JESSE JACOBS Clark County, WA Bar Association President OTLA Guardian WSAJ Eagle DON JACOBS Trial Lawyer of the Year, Clark County (2015) Past President, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
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.
August Hearsay Contributors Ben Cornell University of Washington Jesse Jacobs NW Injury Law Center Jesse Jacobs is the current CCBA President. His practice at NW Injury Law Center primarily focuses on Personal Injury law. Ben Cornell is a software engineer at the University of Washington Information Technology. Amber Rushbanks focuses her practice on family and relationship legal issues. She is a founding member of Navigate Law Group. AmberNavigateRushbanksLawGroup
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The Law Firm of Greenen & Greenen, PLLC has an immediate opening for an experienced part time or full time paralegal/legal assistant in the areas of guardianship, probate, personal injury, real estate and business. Our law firm has served the community for over 100 years and m ost of our attorneys and employees have been with us for over 20 years. This position requires that the applicant be able to independently draft legal documents, pleadings and letters, be detail oriented, organized and b e familiar with litigation procedures and rules. The applicant should have good client skills and pleasant professional demeanor, be able to organize and prioritize work, as well as be reliable with good attendance, a non smoker, a non drug user of any kind and qualified to be licensed and bonded as a notary send your resume to lisag@greenenpllc.com. Please include the following information for proper consideration
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SummerCCBA’s Soiree page 14 6
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● Work experience with dates of employment and compensation received ● Reason for leaving past employment and, if employed, wanting to leave current employment Prior employer references, including person to whom you reported
Clark JudgeWelcomesCourtSuperiorCountyCornell page 10 7
For all the procedural nerds out there (lawyers?), the CCBA Annual Meeting and Lunch is back inperson at the Red Cross building at Fort Vancouver. Look for updates from the Superior and District Court benches, Clerk’s Office, along with all our great CCBA sections and committees. This is also where the changing of the guard happens and we welcome our new board. A reminder that this event is FREE for members. All happens the day after the softball game, September 12th from 12-1, so only tasteful gloating allowed.Rounding out a very busy season of events is the Clark County VLP’s annual band extravaganza—The CCVLP Battle of the Bands. Rumor has it that the talent search is on for the best lawyer bands to compete for the only prize that matters. Demo tapes that fit into a boom-box held over John Cusack’s head should be sent to Audra Morrison. The event goes down on September 22. Mark your calendars now.
Happy very hot August to all our members. We are now officially in the dog-days of summer. I’m happy to report that our first annual CCBA Summer Soiree was a roaring success. Read the article herein for information. Although the Soiree is behind us, there are even more events on the horizon. Regular President’s Message readers will know that the both the Golf Tournament and the Softball Game are back this year. These events are in-person, outside and come with as much exercise as you can muster. Softball captains are Judge Sleight and Katie Sinclair. A reminder that the team who was around waaayyy before e-filing has won six years in a row. Coincidence? The Golf Tournament happens July 31, 1-7 at Tri-Mountain Golf Course. The Softball Game goes-on September 11, 12-4 at Pacific Community Park. As always, more details at www.ccbawashington.org/event-calendar.
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Jim: In terms of legal practice, unfortunately, bringing up domestic violence in a family law case, is more likely to hurt rather than help in a custody battle. The statistics are frankly depressing on it. Figuring out how to do that in a way that doesn't potentially hurt our case is a challenge. The most rewarding is when you get a client back with their kids.
Can you give a brief explanation of what the Survivor Support program is and what legal issues you help with?
Colin: I'm really excited to be able to dedicate more time and energy towards working more with our partner organizations. I'm hoping that with the addition of new staff, we'll have some more opportunities to get out and interface with the community. What is your favorite thing to do when you're not at work?
Colin: My garden is finally taking off and I've been really enjoying taking care of that. Otherwise, I love biking around Portland and relaxing with my two cats, Taro and Miko. Meet the team! Jim LeBlanc is the managing attorney for our Survivor Support program and Colin Newton is the program manager. We could not do it without them!
Out - Survivor Support
Jim: We work on protection orders and family law cases for survivors of domestic abuse. We work with the YWCA and receive many of our referrals from the Safe Choice program there. The level of involvement varies from case to case, from as little as just doing a quick advice clinic to as much as a full representation in a long divorce or parenting case. What is the most challenging part of this job? What is the most rewarding? This program is experiencing some growth, with another full-time attorney and a legal assistant on the way. For you, what is the most exciting part of this program expansion?
Program Shout
Colin: I would say the most challenging part of the job is feeling like we're not doing enough. That said, I find that the most rewarding part of the job is being able to form relationships with my clients. In doing so, I've been able to see many of them start to rebuild their lives. Abuse often takes away a survivor's sense of agency, and watching our clients regain that can be a really beautiful thing.
Jim: Two big things for me. We will be able to provide services to many more clients, which is exciting. Also, I am constantly aware of ways I want to improve my practice. Having a bigger team to help with ideas to improve is something that I am looking forward to a great deal.
Jim: Complicated strategy board games. Also, any chance to have a bite or drink with some friends and just enjoy each other's company, especially after the last couple of years.
BATTLE OF THE LAWYER BANDS S E N D D E M O T A P E T O ( O R A R R A N G E A U D I T I O N W I T H ) : 7th Annual -Calling all Lawyer BandsC O M M I T T E E C H A I R A U D R A M O R R I S O N S o l o A c t s M u l t i - m e m b e r b a n d s A n y g e n r e A c t s C a n B e : a u d r a f m o r r i s o n @ g m a i l . c o m A c t s M u s t H a v e : A t l e a s t o n e l a w y e r a s a l e g i t i m a t e m e m b e r ( n o f u n n y b u s i n e s s ) TALENT TSEARCH! ALENT SEARCH! " B A T T L E " D A T E : S E P T E M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 2 " B a t t l e o f t h e L a w y e r B a n d s " i s a n a n n u a l f u n d r a i s e r f o r C l a r k C o u n t y V o l u n t e e r L a w y e r s P r o g r a m , a 5 0 1 ( c ) 3 n o n p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n
QuickBooks Desktop - How to Reconcile Statements Using Bank Feeds by: Emanuela Sandri | Attorney Bookkeeping Services, Inc.
Bank Feeds are connections that automatically download transactions from your bank account to QuickBooks. You can then work with the data by creating new transactions as needed or match bank transactions to your QuickBooks transactions. The beauty of Bank Feeds is that you can easily see if an entry is missing and improves the reconciliation process since transactions can be reviewed more frequently. When it’s time to reconcile the statement, the Matched button in the reconciliation screen is quite useful. First, mark the Hide transactions after the statement’s end date in upper right corner and then click the Matched button located toward the bottom of the screen. A window appears to enter the statement ending date. To avoid unchecking transactions cleared through Bank Feeds that cleared after the bank statement ending date, instead of entering the statement ending date, enter the date closes to the last transaction that cleared on the bank statement and then manually clear any additional transactions on the bank statement.
Cynthia V. auc476@yahoo.com(626)Bradley7955441AccountingforConservatorshipsTrustsEstates
Local Experience ~ Local References
Retirement Celebration of Judge Collier
The Clark County legal community recently celebrated Judge Collier’s retirement with an afternoon together at Heathen Brewing on June 30, 2022. Folks enjoyed refreshments and appetizers, all while catching up, cherishing each other’s company, and sharing stories about Judge Collier’s 23+ years on the Superior Court Bench. Former Superior Court administrator Jessica Gurley even made the trek up from the other Clark County to surprise the Judge on this important day. We thank him for his service to our community and hope that he keeps us updated on his upcoming retirement adventures and wish him all the best!
2. What motivates you to work hard? As many throughout history have said, “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?” It’s my responsibility as a human being and as a member of this planet to work hard everyday to make sure this place is better than how I found it. I’m lucky to have had such incredible role models and mentors in my life, and I aspire to hopefully be the same for others too.
3. What makes you laugh the most? By FAR my husband takes this cake. We spend hours sometimes laughing at the most ridiculous things.
New-ish to Practicing Family Law in Clark County Profiling Attorney Courtney Mendoza
By Amber Rushbanks Courtney was born and raised in Southern California. She attended college at UC Davis in Northern California and attended law school at her dad’s alma mater, Western State College of Law in Southern California. During law school, she interned with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, in the Sexual Assault Unit and the Homicide Unit; and externed for Hon. Kimberly Menninger, who presided over a spectrum of cases, including civil commitments of Sexually Violent Predators. After graduating law school and passing the Washington State Bar, Courtney relocated to Vancouver with her now-husband, and started working as a Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney at the Clark County PA’s Office. She worked there for three years, across several units, and eventually left to join the practice of Family Law with Nathan Petersen and Ryan Rothermel. Courtney’s continued to work at the Petersen Rothermel Law Firm since joining in November 2021, and she’s loving it! In her free time, Courtney enjoys being outdoors, camping, attending live music events, playing boardgames, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and her dog - Shaggy!
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1. Why family law? Long story short, I was ready to continue my advocacy for equitable justice and learn more about interesting perspectives, which is how I just so happened to find myself chatting with a couple of friends in Family Law! Everyone in the Clark County Family Law community have been incredibly friendly and welcoming. The more I say I’ve been enjoying myself, the more folks tell me they’ll check back in with me after maybe a year into Family Law, ha! But they haven’t scared me off yet!
5. What’s your favorite vacation you have been on? We went on a cruise for our honeymoon at the end of December 2019 and one of our stops was in the Dominican Republic. While we were there, we went on a beautiful tour of a coffee farm where we got to meet the local folks, help plant over 100 coffee plants, help hand-grind coffee for everyone, and then shared an incredible meal together. They let us know we could come back in a few years and tell them what month and year we visited and they’d be able to bag us some of the beans from our plants. We hope to go back one day and stay for even longer!
8. What’s your favorite holiday? Halloween!
6. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Time travel!! Is that cheating?
4. What did you want to be when you were young?
I’ve wanted to be an attorney since I was 6! One could say that my parents all but brainwashed me into it; considering they both went to law school, my mom still practices corporate and franchise law, and my dad raised me on bedtime stories about a girl who went on adventures with her pet bird named “Constitution” sitting on her shoulder for advice! But it somehow just felt natural for me and I’ve steadied/studied the course ever since! At one point, I thought I might become a Teacher, Astronomer, or Doctor; but, my husband does’t think my overly ambitious Med School jokes are funny anymore since surviving Law School!
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9. What’s one of the most daring thing you’ve ever done? Besides being a young woman pushing for growth in a historically male-dominated pro fession? Haha! I’d have to say there are probably a number of daring things I’ve done; but truthfully, trying to use my voice and elevate the voices of other folks, my commitment to advocacy for equitable justice, and trying to help lead by my own examples are some of what I’m the most proud of. Advocating for equal rights and equitable justice for everyone shouldn’t have to be daring, and yet somehow, here we are.
10. What’s your favorite thing about your career? How much we’re actually capable of bettering things that have massive impacts on the lives of our community members. Attorneys wield immense power and have the ability to positively and negatively impact lives every single day, even if it seems like the tiniest little thing. It’s folks who truly dedicate themselves to this hard work — pro bono, gov ernment, private practice, etc. — that’s got to be my favorite thing about this profession.
7. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? If I have to cook it, chicken nuggets, hands down; I’m basically a toddler and my husband rules our kitchen if I’m not in there baking up a storm. But, if it magically appears in front of me and I don’t have to prep, cook, or clean up after it; then street tacos for sure!
Clark County Bar Association
Membership Committee (Darco) this committee needs a chairperson
needed! The committee is seeking sponsors for a fall CLE. It will be a two part implicit bias series with David Hoffman, the founder of Boston Law Collaborative; contact Aquadro, Wechselblatt, or Darco to help out. Judge Sheldrick is working on a mentorship program. Judges Banfield, Smith, and Bartlett are working to start a Street Law program.
Treasurer’s
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DEI Committee:(Aquadro)Sponsors
Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting
Called to order 12:11 p.m. Jacobs, Phelan, Melnick, Larson, Aquadro, and Executive Director Darco June 2022 board meeting minutes: Motion to Approve (Melnick/Aquadro) Approved with change
Ongoing
CLE Committee: (Darco) board chair needed for this committee; Erica Aquadro graciously stepped up and volunteered her time and talents to chair this committee.
Bench Bar Committees/Court Eval (Jacobs) No Updates
Previous Action Items
Formation of a Membership Committee (Jacobs) Needs a chair. The committee’s purpose is to increase involvement and membership in the CCBA. Per President Jacobs, this will be an issue for the Phelan Administration to revisit in September.Tiered
CommitteeHearsayReports:Committee: (Darco) no updates Social Committee:(Phelan) Summer Soiree is in the final stages of planning. Planning for a return of Barristers Ball next March.
Reviewed and discussed a tiered membership proposal. Discussed donations and creating a Mock Trial fund. Motion to approve free memberships for law school students, Rule 9 interns, and Rule 6 interns and also to approve a $25 per person support staff memberships (Jacobs/Aquadro) Approved Hearsay hard copy subscription as a stand alone for non members (Darco)
Membership (Jacobs)
Report (Melnick): Reviewed financial reports for June 2022; in the black by about $20, the months coming are low to no revenue months; projects a possible $15k shortfall for this year due to less revenue and increased expenses. Action Items
Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting July 5, 2022; hybrid meeting in person and via Zoom
CCBA Judicial Evaluation (Jacobs) Subcommittee to evaluate our bar poll will meet when Deb returns
July 5, 2022
Current Action Items
HEADER (CHANGE ON MASTER B) We have 8 nonmember subscribers to hardcopies of The Hearsay. Discussed the annual fee for subscription and the costs to produce and mail hardcopies. 2022/2023 Board of Directors Nominating Committee: Jacobs, Phelan, Hawke; Current board and vacancies: President: Christina Phelan Vice President: Whitney Hawke Secretary: Le Ann Larson Treasurer: Ben Melnick Trustee: Erica Aquadro (1 year remaining) Trustee: open (2 year term filling Whitney’s spot) Trustee: open (3 year term) Immediate Past President (Jacobs) The nominating committee will meet to propose a slate of officers. Annual CCBA Meeting Discussed potential September meeting dates. UpcomingFYI Events: Soiree (July 23), Golf (August 31), Softball (September 11) Adjourned 12:56
e. Account request form should be up on the Clerks Office webpage by Monday.
3. OnBase Questions
a. Where do we find the LEA?
i. The LEA is located in JIS after the case is filed ii. You can place an asterisk at the end of the case number if you don’t know the LEA. This will bring up a list of case numbers to select from.
b. The Clerk’s Office is coordinating OnBase accounts just like they were for Liberty.
d. All licensing questions can be directed to Chelsea Olver at 564-397-2298.
2. OnBasea.There is an OnBase training video available on our website for community partners.
b. To all criminal attorneys there is a new plea form on our website.
d. Reminder that court documents must have real signatures or a certified electronic signature such as DocuSign.
HEADER34 (CHANGE ON MASTER B) Clark County District Court
July 07, 2022
1. Updatesa.Efile will be unavailable starting August 1st at 10 am through August 2nd at 8 am.
c. District Court Local Rules state to use the forms on our website or the most current version of the AOC form when filing paperwork.
Bench Bar Committee Meeting
Present: Judge Kristen Parcher, Bryan Farrell, Jen Cook, Rebecca Demoss, Donald Esau, Andrew Wheeler, Katie Sinclair, Jessi Anderson, Commissioner Erin Priest, Alicia Hensley, Jonny McMullen, Barry Brandenburg, Bennett Brandenburg, Jonathan Schetky, Erica Hulden, Eric Hoffman, Veronica, Thomas Foley, Nicole Dalton, Jon Fritzler, Alex Uskoski, Roger Priest, Amanda Keller, Erin McAleer
e. Starting August 1st, the District Court Lobby will be open over the entire lunch hour.
f. Starting July 1st, interstate compact transfer fees will be eliminated.
g. District Court invites our community partners to provide feedback on how you think our dockets are running.
h. DV MRT will be implemented later this year.
i. 2 Watch Monitoring is raising its rates starting August 1st. The rate increase is to combat employee turnover and to offset the raise in rates from its vendors.
c. Fees for OnBase licensing should be established by July 22nd.
a. Judge Parcher informed everyone of the change to civil protection orders. The new forms are on our website and took effect on July 1st.
35 HEADER (CHANGE ON MASTER B) 4. General Questions
a. Katie Sinclair mentioned the waiver of attorney form still references appendix A. District Court will fix the form.
c. Alex Uskoski asked if our practice had changed when it comes to filing violations on positive UA’s for cannabis. A few clients were violated a few days after being sentenced or ordered to pretrial release even though the cannabis in the client’s system was residual. District Court hasn’t changed our practice and will remind case managers.
b. The District Court Website still has the old, deferred prosecution order and petition. District Court will update the website.
d. Nicole Dalton mentioned concern about judges not being able to assign supervision levels. Judge Parcher explained the best practice behind this change and attorneys can ask for no probation. Protection Orders Changes
5.
