THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
March 2026
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. All business, commercial & family law appeals. Kurt Greg Greg Cheney: 14+ years experience. Dedicated. Meticulous. Strategic. Kurt Rylander: 30+ years. All levels of appeal including before the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Contact us
March Hearsay Contributors
Laura Markee
Markee Valuations
Laura Markee, CFA, ASA, is a business appraiser and financial damages expert, as well as founder of Markee Valuations based in Clark County, Washington.
Chelsey Butchard’s practice is focused on family law. Chelsey is the current family law section president at the CCBA.
Amanda Hartman
Beaty Hatch
Amanda joined the Beaty Hatch team in February 2025 as a family law attorney. She focuses her practice on dissolutions, modifications and prenuptial agreements.
Jean McCoy’s practice focus is real estate transactions and conflict resolution, landlord/tenant and creditors’ rights.
Hon. John Fairgrieve
Clark County Superior Court J udge John Fairgrieve was appointed to the Superior Court bench by Governor Jay Inslee in April 2015.
Jean Mccoy Landerholm, P.S
Chelsey Butchard Butchard Law
Clients Don't Often See the Whole Board
Divorce can be like a chess match. In the midst of the emotions that come with it clients don't often see the whole board. Having a CDLP® on your client team will protect them now and when they're ready to make the next move. Contact Theresa Springer, CDLP® today!
Prepared Clients Are Better Clients
A Resource for Clients Exploring Divorce
Not all clients are ready for immediate legal action. Our workshops are ideal for those exploring their options. Referring them to Second Saturday prepares them for future steps, leading to more decisive clients for your practice.
Expand Your Network and Client Base
Presenting at Second Saturday Workshops showcases your expertise, builds connections, and attracts clients in the early stages of considering divorce. This exposure positions you as a trusted family law authority leading to new business opportunities.
Barrister’s Ball
page 10
FLS Party
page 16
d t h e w i d e r a n g e o f i n te r e s t s w i t h i n
e r a Wo n g ’ s U n s o l i c i te d A d v i c e f o r
c e s ) , H e r e t i c s o f D u n e , a d r a f t
o r k i n p r o g r e s s , a n d T h e I m m o r t a l L i f e
e n d e e s ) , w h i c h j u s t s o h a p p e n s to
a d i n g B a r ’ s t r a d i t i o n a l b o o k c l u b .
n g l o c a t i o n s to ke e p t h e g a t h e r i n g s
s s t h e c o m m u n i t y. P a r t i c i p a n t s a l s o
m f o r t a b l e s e a t i n g s u c h a s c o u c h e s
T h e g o a l i s s i m p l e : to c r e a te a r e l a xe d
n c o n n e c t , d e c o m p r e s s , a n d e n j o y
t o d a t e o n a l l R e a d i n g B a r
r e a c h o u t t o A m a n d a H a r t m a n
a d d e d t o o u r e m a i l l i s t !
The Silent Reading Bar
By Chelsey Butchard
confirmed--they miss us just as much as we miss them)! The true stars of the show, however, were the award winners. The section held nominations for five different categories: Volunteer of the Year, Rising Star, Mentor of the Year, Best Dressed, and Staff Person of the Year. Please join the Family Law Section in recognizing the award winners as follows:
Volunteer of the Year - Chelsie Elliott of Navigate Law Group
Rising Star - Amanda Hartman of Beaty Hatch (who swept the nominations, BTW!)
Mentor of the Year - Teresa Foster of McKinley Irvin
Best Dressed - Anna Vojovic of Navigate Law Group
Staff Person of the Year - Chriss Elliott of McKinley Irvin
Along with the presentation of awards, there was fun throughout the night with the FLS photobooth, delicious catered food, and yummy drinks provided by the wonderful staff at AC Marriott. If you missed the party, you should definitely be feeling some FOMO! Please consider joining the section and attending the FLS party next year so that you too can participate in all the fun we have!
Lastly, a special shout out to the board members for working so hard putting together such a fun and successful event!
The Heart of the Library: Celebrating Maria Sosnowski
O u r d e a r f r i e n d a n d l o n g t i m e C l a r k C o u n t y L a w L i b r a r i a n , M a r i a
S o s n o w s k y, h a s r e t i r e d . Fo r d e c a d e s , s h e h a s b e e n t h e ke e p e r o f
a l l k n o w l e d g e , t h e s t e a d y g u i d e t h r o u g h e v e r y t r i c k y q u e s t i o n ,
a n d a v a l u e d s o u r c e o f w i s d o m f o r o u r e n t i r e c o m m u n i t y. H e r
d e d i c a t i o n , k i n d n e s s , a n d c o m m i t m e n t h a v e l e f t a n i n d e l i b l e m a r k
o n a l l o f u s . Le t ’s c e l e b r a t e h e r r e m a r k a b l e c a r e e r !
In Her Own Words
W h a t f i r s t d r e w y o u t o l a w l i b r a r i a n s h i p , a n d w h a t ke p t y o u h e r e?
Wo r k i n g a s a f a m i l y l a w a t t o r n e y d i d n ' t re a l l y m a t c h m y p e r s o n a l i t y o r e x p e c t a t i o n s f o r
t h e j o b , a n d I w a s t i re d o f d re a d i n g g o i n g b a c k t o w o r k o n M o n d a y s a n d f a c i n g t h e
d r a m a a n d l a c k o f c i v i l i t y i n f a m i l y l a w. S o I q u i t , w o r ke d i n a c o m m u n i t y l i b r a r y f o r a
c o u p l e o f y e a r s , a n d d i d s o m e f re e l a n c e w r i t i n g . I ke p t o n e e y e o n t h e j o b l i s t i n g s a n d
w h e n t h i s j o b s h o w e d u p I t h o u g h t i t w o u l d b e a g o o d f i t a n d a l l o w m e t o u s e m y l e g a l
e d u c a t i o n a n d e x p e r i e n c e .
W h a t ke p t m e h e re . . . . D i s c o v e r i n g t h a t a t t o r n e y s a re m u c h n i c e r p e o p l e w h e n t h e y a re
n o t y o u r o p p o s i n g p a r t y. Fe e l i n g t h a t I w a s h e l p i n g p a t ro n s g e t o n e s t e p c l o s e r t o t h e i r
l e g a l g o a l s . B u i l d i n g c o n n e c t i o n s a n d p a r t n e r s h i p s t h a t i n c re a s e d s e r v i c e s o r m a t e r i a l s
a v a i l a b l e , s u c h a s o u r f o r m k i t s . C a m a r a d e r i e w i t h a t t o r n e y s , o t h e r l a w l i b r a r i a n s ,
c o u n t y s t a f f, a n d f o l k s a t o t h e r a g e n c i e s l i ke t h e V L P, C C B A , o r F V R L . A b o a rd t h a t
a p p re c i a t e d t h e w o r k t h a t I d i d . A p a r t - t i m e s c h e d u l e t h a t a l l o w e d m e t i m e t o s p e n d
w i t h m y c h i l d re n a n d t o c o n t i n u e f re e l a n c e w o r k o n t h e s i d e .
O v e r t h e c o u r s e o f y o u r t e n u r e , w h a t c h a n g e s i n l e g a l r e s e a r c h o r t h e p r a c t i c e o f l a w
s t a n d o u t m o s t t o y o u ?
W h e n I s t a r t e d , o u r p a t ro n c o m p u t e r s w e re n ' t o n t h e i n t e r n e t . We h a d a c o u p l e o f
l e g a l re s e a rc h s e r v i c e s t h a t m a i l e d u s C D - Ro m s q u a r t e r l y t o u p d a t e o u r c o m p u t e r s .
O n l i n e re s e a rc h i s o n e t h i n g t h a t s t a n d s o u t . H a v i n g i n s t a n t a c c e s s t o a w o r l d o f
i n f o r m a t i o n c h a n g e d w h a t l e g a l re s e a rc h m e a n s . N o w A I i s m a k i n g n e w i m p a c t s a n d
re d e f i n i n g t h e p r a c t i c e o f l a w a g a i n .
W h a t d o y o u t h i n k a t t o r n e y s m o s t m i s u n d e r s t a n d a b o u t t h e r o l e o f a l a w l i b r a r i a n?
L a w l i b r a r i a n s c a n b e a u s e f u l s o u rc e o f i d e a s f o r re s o u rc e s t o c o n s u l t w h e n a n a t t o r n e y
i s re s e a rc h i n g . T h e l a w l i b r a r y h a s a c o l l e c t i o n o f C L E s , p r a c t i c e g u i d e s , a n d o t h e r
m a t e r i a l s b a r m e m b e r s c a n c h e c k o u t f o r f o u r w e e k s . I f t h e l a w l i b r a r y d o e s n ’ t o w n a
p a r t i c u l a r i t e m w e m a y b e a b l e t o b o r ro w i t f ro m a n o t h e r l a w l i b r a r y f o r a n a t t o r n e y t o
u s e . I t h i n k a t t o r n e y s i n g e n e r a l a re re l u c t a n t t o a s k f o r h e l p . I t n e v e r h u r t s t o a s k , a n d t h e re a re n o d u m b q u e s t i o n s !
I s t h e r e a m o m e n t b i g o r s m a l l t h a t c a p t u r e s w h a t t h i s w o r k h a s m e a n t t o y o u ?
A p a t ro n t o l d m e t h a t w h e n s h e w a l ke d i n t o t h e l a w l i b r a r y s h e f e l t l i ke s h e h a d a n
e l e p h a n t s i t t i n g o n h e r c h e s t , a n d a f t e r t a l k i n g w i t h m e a n d l o o k i n g a t t h e re s o u rc e s I
s h o w e d h e r, s h e f e l t l i k e s h e c o u l d b re a t h e a g a i n . Pe o p l e l i ke t h a t ke p t m e i n t h e j o b f o r
o v e r 2 6 y e a r s !
W h a t a r e y o u m o s t p r o u d o f w h e n y o u l o o k b a c k a t y o u r t i m e w i t h t h e C l a r k C o u n t y
L a w L i b r a r y ?
P ro v i d i n g s o m e h e l p , b i g o r s m a l l , t o t h o u s a n d s a n d t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e o v e r t h e
y e a r s . T h e re a re m a n y p e o p l e w h o w e re m o re s u c c e s s f u l w i t h t h e i r c a s e b e c a u s e o f
i n f o r m a t i o n t h e y g o t a t t h e l a w l i b r a r y. O r t h e y g o t a re a l i t y c h e c k a b o u t h o w m u c h
w o r k d o i n g t h e i r o w n c a s e w o u l d b e a n d d e c i d e d t o h i re a n a t t o r n e y a f t e r a l l . O r t h e y
j u s t n e e d e d a q u i c k c o p y o f a s t a t e f o r m a n d w e w e re t h e re . O r t h e y f o u n d w h a t t h e y
n e e d e d o n o u r w e b s i t e a n d d i d n ’ t e v e n h a v e t o c o m e i n .
A l s o h e l p i n g t o c re a t e a d d i t i o n a l re s o u rc e s t o m a ke t h i n g s a l i t t l e e a s i e r f o r t h e p u b l i c :
O u r f o r m k i t s - w e h a d n o n e w h e n I s t a r t e d a n d c u r re n t l y h a v e 1 4 , w i t h 2 m o re i n
t h e w o r k s . T h e s e e x i s t t h a n k s t o t h e g e n e ro s i t y o f o t h e r s : o u r f o r m e r e v i c t i o n k i t
w a s w r i t t e n a n d m a i n t a i n e d b y D a v i d R i d e n o u r f o r m a n y y e a r s ( J u d g e L a d l e y, w h o
w a s o n t h e b o a rd a t t h e t i m e , " s u g g e s t e d " t h a t D a v i d c o u l d w r i t e t h a t k i t ) I w ro t e
o u r g a r n i s h m e n t k i t a n d D o n E s a u re v i e w e d i t . B e n M o o d y a n d h i s t e a m a t t h e V L P
j u s t c re a t e d a t e n a n t k i t . J o n a t h a n R i f f e y i s w o r k i n g o n a l a n d l o rd k i t . R a c h e l
B ro o k s h a s b e e n w o r k i n g w i t h a g u a rd i a n s h i p g ro u p t o g e t a g u a rd i a n s h i p k i t
t o g e t h e r. M o s t o f o u r c u r re n t k i t s a re w r i t t e n b y t h e K i n g C o u n t y L a w L i b r a r y a n d
I ' v e c u s t o m i z e d t h e m t o w o r k i n C l a r k C o u n t y, s o m e t i m e s a s k i n g q u e s t i o n s o f t h e
C l e r k ’s O f f i c e , a j u d g e , t h e S h e r i f f ’s O f f i c e , e t c . t o m a ke s u re t h e i n f o r m a t i o n w a s
a c c u r a t e .
O u r w e b s i t e - m y c o w o r ke r L i n d a S w e n t o n s u g g e s t e d t h a t w e s p e n d t i m e o n t h i s
d u r i n g C OV I D w h i l e w e w e re w o r k i n g re m o t e l y. We t o o k a w e b s i t e t h a t w a s n ' t
m u c h m o re t h a n s o m e FAQ s a n d t u r n e d i t i n t o a g re a t re s o u rc e f o r t h e p u b l i c t o
f i n d b a s i c i n f o r m a t i o n o n m a n y t o p i c s . I t h a s g ro w n t o 6 3 p a g e s w h i c h w e m a i n t a i n .
We w a n t i t t o b e a c e n t r a l s o u rc e o f i n f o r m a t i o n t o m a ke t h i n g s e a s i e r f o r t h e
p u b l i c . I t ' s a l s o a p l a c e w h e re t h e c o u r t c a n a d d h e l p f u l i n f o r m a t i o n s u c h a s t h e
m i n o r g u a rd i a n s h i p c h e c k l i s t s t h a t J u d g e Re t s i n a s w o r ke d w i t h m e t o d e v e l o p .
W h a t h a s s u r p r i s e d y o u t h e m o s t o v e r t h e y e a r s ?
A s t e c h n o l o g y c h a n g e s , p e o p l e n e e d l a w l i b r a r i e s m o re , n o t l e s s . We a l l o w a n y o n e t o u s e Le x i s a n d We s t l a w, b u t t h e y n e e d s o m e a s s i s t a n c e t o g e t s t a r t e d w i t h i t , o r t o u s e i t m o re e f f e c t i v e l y, a n d w e c a n h e l p w i t h t h a t . We o r g a n i z e a n d c u r a t e re l i a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n s o u rc e s o n o u r w e b s i t e - s o m u c h b e t t e r t h a n j u m p i n g o n G o o g l e t r y i n g t o s t u m b l e a c ro s s t h e r i g h t i n f o r m a t i o n f ro m a c re d i b l e s o u rc e ! N o w w i t h A I w e g e t
p e o p l e c o m i n g i n w i t h w h a t t h e y f o u n d o n C h a t G P T w h i c h i s o f t e n t o o g e n e r i c o r t o o
i n a c c u r a t e t o b e h e l p f u l . I n f o r m a t i o n l i t e r a c y i s a s k i l l t h a t m a n y p e o p l e l a c k , a n d
l i b r a r y s t a f f c a n h e l p p ro v i d e re l i a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n s o u rc e s .
W h e n y o u t h i n k a b o u t t h e f u t u r e o f t h e l a w l i b r a r y, w h a t d o y o u h o p e n e v e r c h a n g e s ?
I h o p e t h a t t h e l i b r a r y a l w a y s h a s s t a f f w h o p r i o r i t i z e t h e n e e d s o f t h e p a t ro n s , w h o s a y y e s t o o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o c re a t e n e w re s o u rc e s f o r p e o p l e o r n e w p a r t n e r s h i p s t h a t
b e n e f i t t h e p u b l i c , a n d w h o t a ke p r i d e i n m a k i n g t h e l i b r a r y a s h e l p f u l a s p o s s i b l e . I
h a v e f e l t l i ke t h i s i s " m y " l i b r a r y f o r t h e p a s t 2 6 y e a r s I w a n t t h e f u t u re p e o p l e t o f e e l
t h a t s a m e s e n s e o f p r i d e a n d o w n e r s h i p a n d m o v e t h e l i b r a r y f o r w a rd
Reflections on a Remarkable Career
M a r i a h a s b e e n a t r u e p l e a s u re t o w o r k w i t h o v e r t h e y e a r s . I h a v e a p p re c i a t e d h e r d e d i c a t i o n
t o p u b l i c s e r v i c e , h e r c re a t i v i t y a n d p re c i s i o n w h e n a d d re s s i n g b u d g e t a n d s p a c e c h a l l e n g e s ,
a n d h e r c o n s i s t e n t f o c u s o n i m p ro v e m e n t s t o t h e l i b r a r y a n d i t s s e r v i c e s . We w i l l m i s s h e r.
M e r i d e e P a b s t , C o - C h a i r, L a w L i b r a r y B o a rd o f Tr u s t e e s
O n e o f m y f i r s t c o m m u n i t y i n v o l v e m e n t s w h e n I w a s a n e w a t t o r n e y w a s t o b e o n t h e L a w
L i b r a r y C o m m i t t e e At t h a t t i m e i t w a s n ’ t a c t u a l l y a c o m m i t t e e o f t h e C C B A b u t w a s
s o m e t h i n g “o t h e r ” a s a p p o i n t e d b y t h e C o u n t y D o n G re i g w a s o n t h e C o m m i t t e e a n d a s ke d i f
I w a n t e d t o j o i n . I w a s t h e re w h e n M a r i a c a m e o n a s t h e l i b r a r i a n s o I h a v e k n o w n h e r a re a l l y
l o n g t i m e . S h e w a s a l w a y s s o c h e e r f u l t o e v e r y o n e . I t w a s c l e a r h e r m i s s i o n w a s t o f i n d
a n s w e r s f o r p e o p l e a n d t o h e l p t h e m n a v i g a t e a re a l l y c o n f u s i n g t i m e i n t h e i r l i v e s b y p o i n t i n g
t h e m i n t h e r i g h t d i re c t i o n . O n e o f m y f a v o r i t e s t o r i e s w a s w h e n a m a n c a m e i n a n d a s ke d h e r
f o r a l a n d l o rd / t e n a n t f o r m f o r n o n p a y m e n t o f re n t f o r t h e t e n a n t t o e i t h e r p a y o r v a c a t e .
Af t e r t h a t n o t i c e e x p i re d , h e c a m e i n a n d a s ke d f o r a 1 0 d a y n o t i c e t o c o m p l y o r v a c a t e . H e
t h e n c a m e i n a t i m e l a t e r t o a s k f o r a 2 0 - d a y n o t i c e t o v a c a t e . W h e n h e c a m e b a c k t h e f o u r t h
t i m e h e s a i d h e d i d n ’ t k n o w w h a t o t h e r n o t i c e t o a s k f o r b e c a u s e n o n e o f t h e m w e re w o r k i n g
– t h e t e n a n t w a s n ’ t c o m p l y i n g o r v a c a t i n g ! M a r i a w a s a l w a y s a b r i g h t l i g h t i n t h a t l i t t l e c o r n e r
o f t h e w o r l d . S h e w i l l b e m i s s e d !
J e a n M c C o y - At t o r n e y
I s t a r t e d w o r k i n g w i t h M a r i a a t t h e C l a r k C o u n t y L a w L i b r a r y d u r i n g t h e f a l l o f 2 0 1 9 D u r i n g
m y i n t e r v i e w f o r t h e a s s i s t a n t l a w l i b r a r i a n p o s i t i o n I h a d t h e f e e l i n g t h a t M a r i a w a s s o m e o n e
f ro m w h o m I c o u l d l e a r n m a n y t h i n g s . T h a n k f u l l y, I w a s o f f e re d t h e p o s i t i o n a n d w h a t I f e l t
d u r i n g t h e i n t e r v i e w p ro v e d t o b e t r u e ! M a r i a h a s b e e n a n i n c re d i b l e t e a c h e r a n d m e n t o r.
W h e n e v e r I h a v e b e e n s t u m p e d b y a q u e s t i o n , s h e h a s k n o w n e x a c t l y w h e re t o f i n d i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e t o p i c . T h o u g h s h e m a y d i s a g re e , I t h i n k s h e k n o w s w h a t ’s i n a l l 7 0 0 + p r i n t a n d o n l i n e re s o u rc e s i n t h e l a w l i b r a r y ’s c o l l e c t i o n .
D u r i n g t h e t i m e t h a t M a r i a h a s o v e r s e e n t h e l a w l i b r a r y t h e re h a s b e e n a m a j o r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n
i n l i b r a r y c o l l e c t i o n s w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f o n l i n e re s o u rc e s . S h e h a s e m b r a c e d t h e c h a n g e s t o
ke e p t h e l a w l i b r a r y c u r re n t a n d p ro v i d e a h i g h l e v e l o f s e r v i c e t o t h e c o m m u n i t y. M a r i a w a s a l w a y s o p e n t o m y i d e a s , a n d s h e a n d I h a d m a n y t h o u g h t f u l d i s c u s s i o n s a b o u t w h a t w e m i g h t a d d o r c h a n g e . W h e n t h e l a w l i b r a r y w a s c l o s e d t o i n - p e r s o n s e r v i c e s d u r i n g t h e p a n d e m i c s h e s a w i t a s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o re v a m p t h e l i b r a r y w e b s i t e . A s a re s u l t , v i s i t s t o t h e l a w l i b r a r y w e b s i t e i n c re a s e d m o re t h a n 1 0 0 0 % s i n c e 2 0 2 0 a n d n o w o t h e r c o u n t y l a w l i b r a r i e s u s e i t a s a
re s o u rc e . T h a n k s t o h e r l e a d e r s h i p , t h e C l a r k C o u n t y L a w L i b r a r y c o n t i n u e s t o b e o n e t h e
m o s t ro b u s t i n t h e s t a t e
L i n d a S w e n t o n - C l a r k C o u n t y L a w L i b r a r i a n
CLARK COUNTY MOCK TRIAL
By Hon. John Fairgrieve
The annual Clark County High School Mock Trial Tournament occurred this year on Wednesday and Thursday, February 18 and 19. Ten teams from seven different high schools competed in this year’s tournament. Sponsored by the Washington YMCA Youth and Government program, this year’s tournament was conducted in person in the Clark County courthouse and was coordinated by YMCA staff.
This year’s case, Cell to Cell, was written for the first time by Pierce County District Court Judge Lizanne Padula. It is a criminal case concerning an alleged vehicular assault involving cellular telephone use; a timely topic for high school students.
The teams competed in six rounds over the two days of the tournament. There were two individual awards, one for best witness and one for best attorney. There were 39 nominations for best witness. The winner was Nancy Nguyen from Seton Catholic High School. There were 36 nominations for best attorney. There was a two-way tie, with Maria Chende from Columbia River High School and Jonah Cady from Cedar Tree Classical Christian School receiving the most votes.
The top three teams in the Clark County Tournament this year move on to the state tournament March 20-22. Camas High School was the thirdplace team, Cascadia Tech Academy Red was second, and the first-place team and tournament champion was Columbia River High School.
I would like to thank all the teachers and attorney s who coached the teams and got them ready for the tournament. We cou ld not run the program without your hard work and dedication. I wo uld like to thank the approximately one hundred judicial office rs and attorneys who judged and rated the rounds and provided commen ts to the students. I would also like to thank Commissioner C hristina Phelan and Whitney Hawke who worked tirelessly to recruit judges and raters and coordinated logistics. Finally, I would like to thank all the student competitors who put in so much time and eff ort on the mock trial competition this year.
Photos from Camas High School and Cascadia Tech.
The Chameleon of Business Valuation:
Personal Goodwill in Oregon Divorce Cases
Written by Laura Markee, ASA, CFA with significant contributions
Personal goodwill remains one of the most unpredictable and heavily contested issues in Oregon divorce valuations. Despite decades of case law, outcomes remain inconsistent, factspecific, and at times untethered from valuation principles. For family law practitioners, goodwill often feels less like settled law and more like the Wild West.
That uncertainty traces back to a foundational concept articulated by the Oregon Court of Appeals: goodwill has a “chameleon capability.” Its character changes depending on context. Nowhere is this more apparent than in disputes over personal goodwill, where the same business can produce very different valuation outcomes depending on assumptions, expert framing, and judicial interpretation.
The instability matters not only within Oregon but across state lines. Professional practices, closely held businesses, and marriages frequently cross jurisdictional borders, making Oregon’s goodwill framework directly relevant to Washington practitioners and others advising clients with multi-state connections.
from Anna Pilcher
Goodwill has a ‘chameleon capability.’ Its character changes depending on context.
Slater as the Analytical Starting Point
Slater remains the starting point for analyzing goo dwill in Oregon divorce cases. The case involved a chiropractic practice in which the appraiser assumed the husband would sign a non-competition ag reement as part of a hypothetical sale.
The Court of Appeals rejected that assumption. A va luation may not rely on a non-compete the owner has not agreed to and cannot be compelled to sign. If goodwill can be transferred only through the own er’s future consent, participation, or restraint, it is personal goodwil l and must be excluded from the marital estate.
The rule itself is straightforward. Most disputes a rise not because Slater is unclear, but because its transferability requiremen t is diluted or replaced with assumptions that are not supported by the fact s or the governing legal standard.
What Is Goodwil l - and Why Is It So Hard to Classify?
Goodwill reflects a business’s ability to generate earnings beyond a normal return on assets. While goodwill can often be quant ified using standard valuation techniques, classification is far more di fficult.
Oregon courts typically frame goodwill as either en terprise or personal. Valuation professionals, however, often distinguish among three categories that are critical to applying Slater correctly:
1. Enterprise Goodwill. Goodwill that belongs to the business and is transferable without the owner’s continued involvem ent. It arises from systems, workforce-in-place, contracts, location, b randing, and businessheld licenses or accreditations, and is included in the marital estate.
2. Pure Personal Goodwill. Goodwill is inseparable from the individual and not transferable under any circumstances, including personal reputation, non-delegable skills, and unique relationships. Pur e personal goodwill is excluded from the marital estate.
3. T ransferable Personal Goodwill (the Gray Area). Goodwill that originates with the owner but might be transferred through noncompetes, transition agreements, or client introduc tions. Under Slater, courts may not assume those mechanisms exist. If tr ansfer requires the owner’s future agreement to restrictions or service s, the goodwill remains personal unless the business already contro ls those relationships or restrictions independent of the owner.
The third category is where most valuations go off the rails.
Why Oregon Goodwill Cases Feel Like the Wild West
Recent Oregon cases illustrate recurring analytical pitfalls. The following examples are offered to highlight patterns rather t han critique specific outcomes.
Misunderstanding the Business Model. In a recent low-bid contractor case, an appraiser allocated a majority of goodwill to pe rsonal goodwill even though the company operated in a price-driven envir onment where contracts were awarded based on cost rather than re lationships. In such industries, systems, scale, and cost structure, not individual reputation, drive earnings. The court ultimately selected a personal goodwill percentage of 35% without clear linkage to how value was actually created.
Substituting Intuition for Analysis.
In an Oregon dental practice case, the court attempted to distinguish prior appellate guidance by comparing chiropractors and dentists. Because chiropractors physically manipulate patients themselves while dentists often delegate routine care to hygienists, the court concluded the goodwill analysis should differ. From that premise, the court reached conclusions without fully addressing the core question under Slater: whether earnings were transferable independent of the individual owner. Occupational generalizations replaced an analysis of transferability.
Presumed, Not Proven.
Personal goodwill cannot be presumed; it must be proven through competent expert analysis.
In a recent Oregon divorce involving a CPA firm, opposing counsel objected to appointing a valuation expert altogether, asserting the firm consisted entirely of the husband’s personal goodwill. The objection skipped a critical step. Personal goodwill cannot be presumed; it must be proven through competent expert analysis evaluating whether the firm’s earnings are transferable independent of the owner.
Conclusion: Taming the Chameleon
Until Oregon courts apply more consistent analytica l boundaries, personal goodwill will continue to function as Slater’s cham eleon, changing character depending on context, assumptions, and presentation .
Recognizing the distinction among enterprise goodwi ll, pure personal goodwill, and transferable personal goodwill, and a pplying Slater’s transferability requirement as written, is essentia l to producing defensible valuations and more predictable outcomes in Oregon divorce cases.
Practice Takeaway
In Oregon divorce cases, personal goodwill cannot be presumed and may not be based on hypothetical non-competes or transition agreements. The central inquiry under Slater is whether the business’s earnings are transferable independent of the owner, which requires attention to industry structure, contractual controls, and how value is actually generated, not professional stereotypes or intuition.
For questions regarding personal goodwill analysis in marital divorce matters, or for consultation on complex valuation i ssues, the author welcomes inquiries from practitioners.
Laura Markee - Markee Valuations (360) 601-0713 laura@markeevaluations.us
By Amanda Har tman
O n M a r c h 9 , t h e C C B A R e a d i n g B a r h a d i t s f i r s t S i l e n t B o o k C l u b M e e t i n g ,
w h i c h w a s a n y t h i n g b u t s i l e n t ! T h e S i l e n t R e a d i n g B a r p r o v i d e s a p l a c e f o r
m e m b e r s to u n w i n d a n d c h a t , f o l l o w e d w i t h t i m e to r e a d w h a te v e r i t s
m e m b e r s w a n te d to r e a d . S e v e r a l m e m b e r s o f t h e C C B A j o i n e d to g e t h e r f o r
a n e v e n i n g t h a t b l e n d e d q u i e t r e a d i n g t i m e w i t h r e l a xe d c o n v e r s a t i o n i n a
w e l c o m i n g s e t t i n g .
We m e t a t B r e w e d C a f é a n d P u b i n d o w n to w n Va n c o u v e r , a s m a l l , c h a r m i n g
s p a c e w i t h a l i v e l y a t m o s p h e r e I t w a s q u i te p o p u l a r w i t h a l m o s t e v e r y t a b l e
o c c u p i e d w h e n p e o p l e s t a r te d a r r i v i n g . L u c k i l y, t h e l a r g e t a b l e w a s s t i l l
a v a i l a b l e f o r o u r a t te n d e e s to e n j o y t h e i r d r i n k s , f o o d , a n d o f c o u r s e , b o o k s .
T h e s p a c e w a s c o z y a n d f u n , b u t t h e c h a i r s w e r e p e r h a p s n o t i n te n d e d f o r
l o n g p e r i o d o f s i t t i n g . Fo r o u r n e x t l o c a t i o n , w e i n te n d to l o o k f o r s o m e c o z y
s e a t s o r c o u c h e s
S i l e n t B o o k C l u b m e e t i n g s a r e i n te n t i o n a l l y l o w - p r e s s u r e : t h e r e i s n o
a s s i g n e d r e a d i n g a n d n o r e q u i r e d d i s c u s s i o n . P a r t i c i p a n t s s i m p l y b r i n g
w h a te v e r t h e y a r e c u r r e n t l y r e a d i n g , e n j o y s o m e t i m e r e a d i n g to g e t h e r i n a
s h a r e d s p a c e , a n d c h a t b e f o r e o r a f te r a s t h e y w i s h . A t t h i s f i r s t g a t h e r i n g , t h e s o c i a l i z i n g p r o v e d j u s t a s e n j o y a b l e a s t h e r e a d i n g I n f a c t , t h e g r o u p w a s
h a v i n g s u c h a g o o d t i m e c h a t t i n g t h a t t h e e v e n i n g u l t i m a te l y o n l y i n c l u d e d
a b o u t t h i r t y m i n u te s o f a c t u a l r e a d i n g .
T h e g r o u p ’ s r e a d i n g s e l e c t i o n s r e f l e c te d t h e w i d e r a n g e o f i n te r e s t s w i t h i n
o u r l o c a l c o m m u n i t y T i t l e s i n c l u d e d Ve r a Wo n g ’ s U n s o l i c i te d A d v i c e f o r
M u r d e r e r s ( w h i c h m a d e t w o a p p e a r a n c e s ) , H e r e t i c s o f D u n e , a d r a f t
m a n u s c r i p t f r o m a f a m i l y m e m b e r ’ s w o r k i n p r o g r e s s , a n d T h e I m m o r t a l L i f e
o f H e n r i e t t a L a c k s ( a l s o r e a d b y t w o a t te n d e e s ) , w h i c h j u s t s o h a p p e n s to
a l s o b e t h e c u r r e n t s e l e c t i o n f o r T h e R e a d i n g B a r ’ s t r a d i t i o n a l b o o k c l u b .
T h e R e a d i n g B a r p l a n s to r o t a te m e e t i n g l o c a t i o n s to ke e p t h e g a t h e r i n g s
f r e s h a n d a c c e s s i b l e f o r m e m b e r s a c r o s s t h e c o m m u n i t y P a r t i c i p a n t s a l s o
s h a r e d i d e a s f o r f u t u r e v e n u e s , w i t h c o m f o r t a b l e s e a t i n g s u c h a s c o u c h e s
o r s o f t c h a i r s h i g h o n t h e p r i o r i t y l i s t . T h e g o a l i s s i m p l e : to c r e a te a r e l a xe d
s p a c e w h e r e m e m b e r s o f t h e C C B A c a n c o n n e c t , d e c o m p r e s s , a n d e n j o y
r e a d i n g to g e t h e r .
P l e a s e m a r k y o u r c a l e n d a r s f o r T h e
R e a d i n g B a r ' s u p c o m i n g e v e n t s :
O u r n e x t S i l e n t B o o k C l u b m e e t i n g
w i l l b e h e l d a t 5 : 4 5 p . m . o n
M o n d a y, M a y 1 1 , 2 0 2 6 , a t t h e H i l to n
a t t h e P a r k ( 3 0 1 W 6 t h S t ,
Va n c o u v e r ) . I f y o u h a v e i d e a s f o r
f u t u r e l o c a t i o n s , b e s u r e to j o i n u s !
T h e n e x t t r a d i t i o n a l b o o k c l u b
m e e t i n g i s s c h e d u l e d f o r M o n d a y,
A p r i l 1 3 , 2 0 2 6 , a t 5 : 4 5 p m a t W h i te
O a k B o o k s ( 1 70 0 M a i n S t . , S u i te D,
Va n c o u v e r ) w h e r e w e w i l l b e
d i s c u s s i n g T h e I m m o r t a l L i f e o f
H e n r i e t t a L a c k s b y R e b e c c a S k l o o t .
I f y o u ’d l i ke t o b e ke p t u p t o d a t e o n a l l R e a d i n g B a r
m e e t i n g s a n d u p d a t e s , p l e a s e r e a c h o u t t o A m a n d a H a r t m a n o r J e a n M c Co y t o b e a d d e d t o o u r e m a i l l i s t !
J o i n u s f o r a n e n c h a n t i n g a f t e r n o o n a t
o u r 2 0 2 6 G a r d e n P a r t y & A u c t i o n i n
s u p p o r t o f t h e 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 .
O n A u g u s t 2 n d , w e w i l l g a t h e r a t
J a c q u o t V i n e y a r d s f o r a r e l a x e d
s u m m e r c e l e b r a t i o n f e a t u r i n g
d e l i g h t f u l b i t e s , r e f r e s h i n g d r i n k s , a
c u r a t e d a u c t i o n a n d c l a s s i c g a r d e n
g a m e s f o r a l l a g e s , a l l i n s u p p o r t o f
e q u i t a b l e a c c e s s t o j u s t i c e i n o u r
c o m m u n i t y .
M o r e d e t a i l s a n d t i c k e t i n f o r m a t i o n
c o m i n g s o o n a t :
g i v e b u t t e r . c o m / 2 0 2 6 G a r d e n P a r t y
2 0 2 6 S P O N S O R S H I P O P P O R T U N I T Y :
G A R D E N P A R T Y & A U C T I O N
O u r 4 t h a n n u a l G a r d e n P a r t y & A u c t i o n i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r
C C V L P t o r a i s e u n r e s t r i c t e d f u n d s t h r o u g h e v e n t s p o n s o r s h i p s
a n d c o m m u n i t y s u p p o r t . T h e s e f u n d s a l l o w u s t o s u s t a i n a n d
g r o w o u r w o r k t o a d v a n c e e q u i t a b l e a c c e s s t o j u s t i c e f o r
a l l , r e g a r d l e s s o f i n c o m e , r a c e , g e n d e r , o r i m m i g r a t i o n s t a t u s .
B y s u p p o r t i n g C C V L P : T O R E S E R V E A S P O T , L E A R
Y o u h e l p s t a b i l i z e o u r c o u r t s . W h e n p e o p l e h a v e
l e g a l g u i d a n c e , t h e y a r e b e t t e r p r e p a r e d , a n d
p r o c e e d i n g s a r e m o r e e f f i c i e n t a n d e q u i t a b l e f o r
e v e r y o n e i n v o l v e d .
Y o u i n v e s t i n t h e p r o f e s s i o n . C C V L P m e n t o r s n e w
a t t o r n e y s , p r o m o t e s p u b l i c t r u s t i n t h e l e g a l f i e l d ,
a n d h e l p s a l l o f u s b e t t e r r e f l e c t t h e v a l u e s w e h o l d .
Y o u s t a n d w i t h y o u r c o m m u n i t y . F i n a n c i a l
s p o n s o r s h i p h e l p s s u s t a i n l i f e - c h a n g i n g s e r v i c e s i n
h o u s i n g , f a m i l y l a w , d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e s u p p o r t , a n d
i m m i g r a t i o n s e r v i c e s t h a t o f t e n m e a n t h e d i f f e r e n c e
b e t w e e n c r i s i s a n d s t a b i l i t y .
O u r w o r k i s a c o m m u n i t y e f f o r t , a n d y o u r p a r t n e r s h i p
a f f i r m s t h a t t h e l e g a l p r o f e s s i o n i n C l a r k C o u n t y s t a n d s
u n i t e d i n s u p p o r t o f a c c e s s , e q u i t y , a n d d i g n i t y .
S P O N S O R S H I P D E A D L I N E : J U N E 1 6 T H
T h e m e d t e a t i m e b i t e s , t e a , a n d a f u l l n o - h o s t b a r , i n c l u d i n g s i g n a t u r e
t h e m e d c o c k t a i l s .
, f o l k s i n t h e l e g a l c o m m u n i t y , a n d b e l i e v e r s i n
e q u a l a c c e s s t o j u s t i c e .
S h o r t p r o gr a m i n c l u d i n g a p r e s e n t a t i o n o f o u r 2 0 2 5 V o l u n t e e r o f
t h e Y e a r a w a r d
F a m i l y - f r i e n d l y e v e n t , o p e n t o a l l - a g e s . A c t i v i t i e s f o r k i d d o s !
T h i s w i l l b e C C V L P ’ s o n e s p o n s o r s h i p a s k t h i s y e a r !
S P O N S O R S H I P O P T I O N S :
I t e m
P r i c e Q u a n t i t y
A l l s p o n s o r s h i p
t i e r s i n c l u d e :
D e a d l i n e f o r s p o n s o r s h i p s : J u n e 1 6 t h
L o g o / n a m e o n e v e n t
l a n d i n g p a g e
L o g o / n a m e o n s o c i a l
m e d i a p o s t
L o g o / n a m e f e a t u r e d
n e a r y o u r s p o n s o r e d
i t e m a t t h e e v e n t
L o g o / n a m e o n o t h e r
s i g n a g e a t t h e e v e n t
x 2 t i c k e t s t o t h e e v e n t
L i n k t o E v e n t P a g e
T H E R U L E
O F L A W
f o r L a w y e r s
B y J e a n M c C o y
M y k i d s h a v e t e a s e d m e f o r y e a r s
b e c a u s e o f m y i n t e r e s t i n a g o o d
i n s p i r a t i o n a l p h r a s e . I h a v e a t l e a s t
f i v e o f t h e m t a p e d o r o n s t i c k y n o t e s
o n m y m o n i t o r a t w o r k a n d a f e w
m o r e o n o u r f r i d g e . T h e m o s t r e c e n t
a d d i t i o n s a r e a n a t t e m p t t o r e m i n d
m y s e l f t h a t w h i l e I c a n ’ t d o m u c h
a b o u t t h e t h i n g s h a p p e n i n g o n t h e
w o r l d s t a g e , I c a n d o s o m e t h i n g i n
m y o w n b a c k y a r d . T h e f i r s t q u o t e i s
a t t r i b u t e d t o f o r m e r P r es i d e n t J o h n
F . K e n n e d y a n d s a y s “ O n e p e r s o n
c a n m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e , a n d e v e r y o n e
s h o u l d t r y ” . A n o t h e r i s a p a r t i c u l a r l y
s e r i o u s m i s s i v e f r o m a f o r t u n e
c o o k i e s t a t i n g “ O n e c a n n o t d o
e v e r y t h i n g a t o n c e , b u t o n e c a n d o
s o m e t h i n g a t o n c e ”
“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” John F. Kennedy
R e c e n t l y w e h a v e s e e n u n p r e c e d e n t e d c h a l l e n g e s t o o u r U S C o n s t i t u t i o n , t h e
t r a p p i n g s o f d e m o c r a c y a n d t h e R u l e o f L a w i n o u r C o u n t r y F o r t h o s e , l i k e m e ,
w h o b e l i e v e w e k n o w w h a t t h e R u l e o f L a w i s , b u t h a v e a h a r d t i m e a r t i c u l a t i n g , i t
i s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a s :
T h e s a m e l a w s a p p l y t o e v e r y o n e
E v e r y o n e i s t r e a t e d e q u a l l y u n d e r t h e l a w
G o v e r n m e n t p o w e r i s b o u n d b y l a w
H u m a n r i g h t s a r e g u a r a n t e e d t o a l l
T h e s e r i g h t s a r e p r o m i s e d b y t h e U . S . C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d m u s t b e h o n o r e d b y a l l
b r a n c h e s o f g o v e r n m e n t ; j u d i c i a l , l e g i s l a t i v e a n d e x e c u t i v e . T h e R u l e o f L a w h a s
b e e n p o l i t i c i z e d b y s o m e l a t e l y , b u t t h e r i g h t s t h e m s e l v e s , a n d c o r r e s p o n d i n g
d i s c o u r s e s h o u l d n o t b e p o l i t i c a l T h e y a r e a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f o u r d e m o c r a c y i n
g e n e r a l
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r e c e n t l y w e n t o n t h e r o a d t o p r o m o t e i t s p r o g r a m “ S p e a k U p f o r J u s t i c e :
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s n a c k s f r e e o f c h a r g e .
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d e c i d e d t o s t u d y l a w a n d b o t h a r e l a w y e r s t o d a y . T h e i n t e r e s t i n g b a c k s t o r y o f M r .
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i n a n e d i t i o n o f t h e B a r N e w s p u b l i s h e d l a s t y e a r :
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y e a r s , t e a c h i n g a t U n i v e r s i t y o f W a s h i n g t o n , l i t i g a t i o n p a r t n e r a t B o g l e & G a t e s i n
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r e c e n t l y . J u d g e C o u g h e n o u r h a s n o t i c e d a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d s u r g e i n h o s t i l i t y
t o w a r d t h e j u d i c i a r y , i n c l u d i n g d e a t h t h r e a t s a n d i n t i m i d a t i o n t a c t i c s . J u d g e
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s i m i l a r s t o r i e s . h t t p s : / / w w w . m s n . c o m / e n - u s / n e w s / p o l i t i c s / j u d g e s - d e s c r i b e -
t h r e a t s - a m i d - t r u m p s - a t t a c k s - o n - j u d i c i a r y / a r - A A 1 X k a Q m A c c o r d i n g t o t h e U . S .
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t h e c o u r t r o o m a n d v a r i o u s t h r e a t s a n d u n e a s e a b o u t t h e c u r r e n t e n v i r o n m e n t a n d
r e p u t a t i o n o f t h e C o u r t s y s t e m i n o u r s o c i e t y
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c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h a c l e a r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d t h e R u l e o f L a w
h e l p g u i d e d i s c u s s i o n s E d u c a t i o n a b o u t o u r j u d i c i a l s y s t e m a n d t h e c h e c k s a n d
b a l a n c e s t h a t h e l p k e e p d e m o c r a c y a l i v e a n d w e l l p r o v i d e s t h e c o r n e r s t o n e t o
u n d e r s t a n d i n g w h y i t i s i m p o r t a n t .
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m i n d f u l o f h o w w e d e s c r i b e t h e m , o r c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e c o u r t s y s t e m S o m e t i m e s
t h i s i s t h e c l i e n t ’ s f i r s t e n c o u n t e r w i t h t h e j u d i c i a l s y s t e m I f w e a r e u n d u l y
n e g a t i v e w i t h o u r c l i e n t s o r t h r o w b l a m e a r o u n d f o r a d e c i s i o n w e d o n ’ t a g r e e w i t h
t o e n s u r e t h e c l i e n t d o e s n ’ t b l a m e u s , w e a r e u n w i t t i n g l y e r o d i n g t h e r e s p e c t f o r
t h e j u d i c i a r y a n d t h e R u l e o f L a w . J u d g e s a n d l a w y e r s a r e o n l y h u m a n a n d a s s u c h
e a c h e x p e r i e n c e w i l l r e f l e c t t h a t f a c t . I n m y e x p e r i e n c e e v e r y J u d g e o r j u r y I h a v e e n c o u n t e r e d h a s a t t e m p t e d t o d o t h e i r j o b t o t h e b e s t o f t h e i r a b i l i t i e s .
I n s u p p o r t o f e d u c a t i n g t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n s , W S B A h a s a p r o g r a m c a l l e d
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t h e i r c o m m u n i t y t o p r o v i d e a g e - a p p r o p r i a t e l e s s o n s a b o u t t h e j u d i c i a l b r a n c h a n d
h o w t h e c o u r t s y s t e m w o r k s : h t t p s : / / w w w c o u r t s w a g o v / e d u c a t i o n / l a w y e r s /
T h e r e a r e l e s s o n p l a n s a n d t a l k i n g p o i n t s f o r l a w y e r s t o h e l p g u i d e t h e d i s c u s s i o n
I f y o u k n o w a t e a c h e r o r h a v e k i d s a n d w o u l d l i k e t o o f f e r y o u r t e a c h i n g s k i l l s , t h i s
i s o n e w a y t o s u p p o r t t h e s y s t e m s i n p l a c e a n d e x p l a i n w h y t h e y a r e s o i m p o r t a n t
L o c a l l y t h e C l a r k C o u n t y c o u r t s y s t e m a n d C C B A s u p p o r t t h e M o c k T r i a l p r o g r a m
f o r h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s a n d t h e r e i s a l w a y s t h e n e e d f o r c o a c h e s a n d r a t e r s w h e n
t h a t p r o g r a m c o m e s u p . Y o u w i l l s e e m o r e a b o u t M o c k T r i a l i n t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n .
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h a s h o s t e d a S t r e e t L a w p r o g r a m a n d i s c o m m i t t e d t o u p h o l d i n g t h e R u l e o f L a w
f o r a l l . C o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g s a r e o p e n t o e v e r y o n e .
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a l m o s t 7 0 a t t o r n e y s a n d J u d g e s i n a c e l e b r a t i o n o f L a w D a y w h e r e p a r t i c i p a n t s
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l o c a l b r a n c h n a m e d t h e G e o r g e a n d D o n a l d S i m p s o n A m e r i c a n I n n o f C o u r t I n n s
o f C o u r t i s a p r o g r a m s u p p o r t i n g t h e h i g h e s t l e v e l s o f p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m i n t h e
p r a c t i c e o f l a w A s p a r t o f t h e m e e t i n g s J u d g e s a n d a t t o r n e y s f o r m t e a m s a n d
p r o v i d e c o n t e n t t o i l l u s t r a t e i m p o r t a n t i s s u e s s u p p o r t i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m a n d
c i v i l i t y i n t h e p r a c t i c e o f l a w . C o n t a c t J u d g e C h a d S l e i g h t f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n .
D o y o u p a r t i c i p a t e i n a c o m m u n i t y g r o u p o r o t h e r o u t r e a c h p r o g r a m t h a t r e l a t e s t o
e d u c a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e s e i s s u e s ? D r o p u s a l i n e a n d l e t u s k n o w !
Ways Lawyers Can Help
S p e a k u p a g a i n s t m i s i n f o r m a t i o n
M o d e l r e s p e c t f o r t h e c o u r t s
Vo l u n t e e r i n L a w y e r s i n t h e C l a s s r o o m
S u p p o r t M o c k Tr i a l
P r o m o t e c i v i l i t y i n p r a c t i c e
Clark County Bar Association
CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING
February 3, 2026
Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting February 3, 2026
1. Called to order 12:06 pm, Petersen, Rapp, Melnick, Larson, Mendoza, Sherman, Wechselblatt
2. Approval of January 6, 2025 board meeting minutes: (Melnick/Mendoza), Approved
3. Treasurer’s Report: (Melnick) Dues revenue is still down a bit. CLE revenue is even. Advertising revenue down slightly , however that could be due to the billing cycle.
4. To Discuss
a. Membership Update: Current: 386 members, 81 have not renewed, 18 are new members to the CCBA. Last year on February 1st we had ____ members. Staff memberships 42, 43 total last year.
b. CCBA Taxes: need attorney to review taxes. There are new WA taxes on advertising and lawyer referral service.
c. Section Bylaw Amendment: discussed additions and edits. Motion to approve amendment will be over email after edits.
d. WSBA individual board member statements (Mendoza): Board decided to publish letter in February Hearsay with publicity for WSBA Speak Up for Justice Washington event.
