January 2026 Hearsay

HearSay THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

January 2026 2026

December 2019

Welcome, Commissioner Lopez!

CCBA CONNECTS!

Don’t get lost in Oregon or Washington Got an injury law case in Oregon or Washington?

We can put you on the right path. Available for consult, association, or referral for injury claims. Let’s talk soon.

JESSE JACOBS OTLA Guardian / WSAJ Eagle Past President, Clark County Washington Bar Association

DON JACOBS Past Trial Lawyer of the Year, Clark County, WA Past President, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

Portland 503.222.7757 | Vancouver 360.695.1624 | nwinjurylawcenter.com

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.

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January Hearsay Contributors Ben Melnick Schauermann Thayer

Ben Melnick is a partner at Schauermann Thayer, where he handles personal injury, wrongful death, and insurance bad faith matters.

Jason Rosenbaum Chenoweth Law Group, P.C.

Jason focuses his practice on real estate, business and commercial, and construction litigation.

Jason represents both plaintiffs and defendants.

Jean Mccoy Landerholm, P.S

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

teresa foster

partner in charge vancouver

We protect what our clients value most. ®

McKinley Irvin attorneys are known for their relentless pursuit of successful results, whether representing individuals in financially complex divorce or high conflict parenting disputes.

But perhaps our most noted distinction is our steadfast commitment to protecting what our clients value most.

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Billable Miles page 10

Showing Up Looks Different in December page 12

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CCBA

President’s Message

By Nathan Petersen

We had a low-key holiday with some family in town. We were able to take the kids to watch the Blazers beat the Celtics, we hosted Leaa’s family Christmas party the Friday following Christmas and, despite intentions of spending New Year’s Eve on the town, we wound up staying home so our 16-year-old could go out and see the f inal episode of Stranger Things in the theater. We also got to see the local lawyer band, Warball, play at the Atlantis Lounge in Portland.

Is there any dispute that the worst day of the year is the f irst day back in the off ice after winter break? All the fun holidays behind you. The looming end of the football season. The fact that there are no major holidays or breaks for months to come. Despite all that, there is a nice calm to this season. More time at home and more time with family.

As for life at the CCBA, the Stroll Patrol has set some new dates for the new year, the Readng Bar is meeting on February 9th, and the Nuts and Bolts CLE “Inside the Jury Box” is on February 11th.

We hope to see you there.

NATHAN PETERSEN | CCBA PRESIDENT 8 NATHAN@THEPRLAWFIRM.COM | 360.326.4577

CCBA GUARDIANSHIP PROBATE AND ELDER LAW SECTION CLE Topic: Office of Public Guardian Training Date: February 24, 2026 Time: 12pm-1pm Presenter: Samar Malik (he/him) - OPG Program Navigator | Office of Guardianship and Elder Services Location: Zoom This CLE will be free for section members and $10 for non-section members.

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CCBA CONNECTS!

BILLABLE MILES

BY BEN MELNICK

The conversation was casual, flowing. The pace was comfortable, ambling. It was the first-ever meetup for “Billable Miles” running group. We were a small, not-so-elite group of runners—Thomas Hackett and Jim Sikora joined co-organizer Nick Cody and me on a perfectly crisp and sunny fall day.

We met at the Spike on the Waterfront, and set off toward the Confluence Land Bridge. We wound around the Fort and Pearson Airfield, pretending like we weren’t winded. The masquerade was over as we huffed and puffed up the parade grounds, finally steadying our breaths near the Grant House. We (safely) made our way down Evergreen Boulevard, thankful for the gravity-assisted descent past The Columbian, and finally back to where it all started.

Running should not be intimidating, and our ragtag bunch was proof that literally anyone can shuffle around for forty minutes.

Of course, we needed to replenish our lost carbs. The cheesy bread and beers at Ruse Brewing Crust Collective did the trick.

We plan to meet up periodically. Plans for another meetup are always in the works.

We’d like to get a lunchtime run organized. We’d like to do another happy hour.

Mostly, we just want to run when we can with other lawyers.

The email thread has about twenty brave souls, battling injury and excuse to try and find the time to come out. We’d love to have you on that list. Contact Lisa Darco or me (benm@stlaw.com) to be added. Pace does not matter. Experience does not 10 matter. We just want good vibes. And if you aren’t into running, join us for a happy hour anyway!

Clients Don't Often See the Whole Board

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Theresa Springer, CDLP® : 360.798.4161 l Dale Carstensen, CDRE : 541.659.1370 2ndsaturdayclarkcounty@gmail.com

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SHOWING UP LOOKS DIFFERENT IN DECEMBER Service projects don’t always look like group photos and packed calendars.

Sometimes it’s a few people, a shopping list, and a commitment to just… do the thing.

That’s what happened in late December when the CCBA DEI Committee partnered with the Dandelion Tea House for a community pantry service day.

It wasn’t a big crowd. It didn’t need to be. What mattered was that help arrived.

One of our volunteers shared a recap that said it plainly: “the committee collected $900 in cash donations and several boxes of pantry staples.” The funds went straight to work. Mila Boyd and Pam Finch handled the store run — just the two of them. No entourage. No committees-within-committees. Just a long day of shopping, loading carts, unloading carts, and then doing it again.

And honestly? That part deserves its own standing ovation.

After the shopping marathon, the pantry got restocked and 126 meal kits were packed for community members who rely on the pantry for a warm, reliable dinner option. There were extra pantry items donated, too. The kind that quietly stretch a little longer than anyone expects.

The volunteer email ended with the most important line of all: “Thank you all for your time, funds, and/or items to make this community project happen!”

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No frills. Just gratitude. The real kind. The kind you feel when you’re tired at the end of a good day.

DEI didn’t measure success by attendance. We measured it in kits packed, shelves filled, and the willingness to show up even when the RSVP list is short.

Late December reminded us of something simple and true — community care doesn’t require a crowd. It requires people who care. And this time, it looked a lot like volunteers in checkout lines and around packing tables, doing more than most folks ever see, for neighbors most of us will never meet.

That’s the work. Quiet, unglamorous, necessary. And deeply CCBA.

If you’re interested in joining the CCBA DEI Committee, contact Deb Wechselblatt or Courtney Mendoza.

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CCBA CONNECTS:

The Reading Bar

By Jason Rosenbaum On December 8, 2025, the CCBA Reading Bar convened at White Oak Books on the corner of Main Street and West McLoughlin Boulevard to discuss Coded Justice, a thriller by the talented Stacey Abrams. The group's consensus was that Stacey Abrams' third entry in the Avery Keene series is a unique delve into the ethics of artificial intelligence and data privacy that is marred by poor pacing, lukewarm romance, and forced melodrama that fails to inject any intrigue into an otherwise sterile cast of characters.

Despite the tedious start, the novel's exciting final act is worth the climb. The Reading Bar's verdict—7 out of 10.

On February 9, 2026, at 5:45 p.m. the Reading Bar will reconvene at White Oak Books to discuss its second book—Pretty Girls, a murder mystery by the aptly named Karin Slaughter. Feel free to join us to discuss this "viscerally grotesque thriller" that the staff at White Oak Books promised "will have you gasping and shaking!"

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Life of a Juror

By Jean McCoy

I seem to be called for jury duty around every three or four years. The only time I was ever seated on a jury was in 1996 after I first started practicing. The case was a criminal case in front of Judge Tom Lodge and was a Third-degree Rape case. I was pretty far back on the list, but only one challenge was left by the time it made it to my number and it was between me and the rape counselor.

I guess I seemed to be the better choice considering the type of case.

The case dealt with a victim and a defendant where it was uncertain whether either party understood what the charges meant. Our jury struggled with the charge but were told we could not take into account facts we did not have. We ultimately voted to find the defendant guilty. After the trial was over and the jury was excused, Judge Lodge invited us back into the Courtroom to answer questions or talk about our verdict. We found that this defendant already had two strikes with similar charges and this was the 16

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third. It did assuage some concerns the jury had about whether this case was just an innocent misunderstanding. From this point I have been called numerous times but never picked.

At the CCBA General Meeting in September, Judge Bartlett discussed some of the improvements to the jury process, including texting and emails to registered jurors so they are notified more easily of their service obligations.

Using a QR card on the post card sent to prospective jurors and utilizing cell phones has increased juror participation. The new post cards and process were unveiled in February of this year. Over 40,000 people are summoned for jury duty in Clark County every year. Since over 56% of Americans use mobile devices and are more comfortable with portals, emails and texts, the hope was an updated experience would make the process more streamlined and easier to access.

Since I am apparently an aficionado of the juror experience, I do agree that the new process was easy to access, the reminders and follow up were appreciated and the jury room now includes unlimited snacks. The coffee and granola bar was very much appreciated at 8 am on a Monday morning.

My fellow jurors (around 70 of us) were very attentive and took their job very seriously – not one person had their cell phones out scrolling during the orientation.

Part of orientation is watching a video created by the Washington Federal District Court on unconscious bias. I have watched this video several times in various settings, including the jury duty I was called to in 2021. It is very impactful and explains how our brains automatically come to conclusions about things we see, and how our first conclusion may need to be addressed and challenged so we can ensure we are acting in a fair and unbiased manner when we are making judgments about a case. Here is the video if you have not seen it: https://www.wawd.uscourts.gov/jury/unconsciousbias Our Judges are very committed to fairness and impartiality in how defendants are viewed and that verdicts rendered are fair and based on the facts of the case, not bias or stereotypes.

I was not chosen for service, but the administrators were well organized, gave good data about timing and what to expect, and the process was less painful than it might have been. All of us walking out in relief after we were not selected for the jury felt a camaraderie and appreciated that we were an important part of the system of justice in Clark County. Ten stars; would recommend.

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Clark County Superior Court

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BENCH/BAR COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

January 13, 2026

Persons in attendance: Judge Camara Banfield (Camera.Banfield@clark.wa.gov), Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp. org), Amanda Willden (Amanda.Willden@clark.wa.gov), Curt Welch (cwelch@sussmanshank.com) Riley Gavigan (riley.gavigan@nwjustice.org) - 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, February 10th at 12:00. Please email Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp. org) for the Zoom link if you would like to attend.

Meeting commenced: 12:01 pm

Meeting adjourned:12:09 pm

Meeting Updates: We are just over a month away from the 2026 Clark County High School Mock Trial Tournament. It will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, February 18 and 19. There will be three rounds each day starting at 11:00 am, 2:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. Please watch your email for information on how to volunteer your time for this event.

No other updates this month.

Respectfully submitted, Jessi Anderson

We are looking for the will of Carol Sue Hall.

Born June 21, 1949.

Please contact Karen Malella-Manker if you have any information.

(360) 448-7504 karen@kmankerlaw.com

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Clark County Bar Association

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CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING

December 2, 2025

Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting December 2, 2025 1.Called to order 12:06 pm, Petersen, Rapp, Melnick, Larson, Busby, Mendoza, Sherman, Wechselblatt, Executive Director Darco.

2.Approval of November 4, 2025 board meeting minutes: (Sherman/Mendoza), Approved, members not present abstained 3. Treasurer’s Report: (Melnick) Dues revenue is near same as last year. Advertising revenue is down however that is largely due to invoice/contract timing. Expenses are near the same as last year.

4. To Discuss a. Membership Update (Darco): Current: 368 members, 88 have not renewed from last year, 16 are new members to the CCBA. b. Ranked Choice Voting – Bar Poll (Petersen): Suggestion to add a question to the bar poll to rank all candidates in order of preference. Update: it has now been tech tested and proven feasible. Board decided to use rank choice voting for all future polls.

c. CCBA Connects update: People have been strolling, running billable miles, and reading up for book club. An Emeritus group is in development. Come join us! If there is an activity you don’t see that you would like, contact Lisa Darco to start it up. d. DEI Committee Update (Mendoza/Rapp) In the works: 1) Coffee and Conversations: attorneys and court staff talk to teens about various jobs in the legal system. Mila Boyd is organizing. FLS is donating event food. 2) Food Donation to Dandelion Tea House for distribution. Food collection at Wheeler Boyd and at Uptown Injury Law. There will be a 12/20/25 event at Dandelion Tea House. 3) CLE planning is underway. The next committee meeting is 1/26/26. e. Jean McCoy is working with the Boys and Girls Club to organize a drive for gifts for teens.

6. Upcoming Events a. Holiday Party - December 9th at the Kiggins- 6pm to 10pm b. Ethics CLE 12/9/25 c. Barrister’s Ball - March 7, 2026 adjourned 12:45 pm

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