Dallas Bar Association
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Focus | Probate, Trusts & Estates/Tax Law
December 2022 Volume 47 Number 12
Jerry and Sherri Alexander Support DVAP Jerry and Sherri Alexander have generously come forward to support this year’s Equal Access to Justice Campaign with an outstanding contribution of $25,500. The Alexanders have a long and distinguished history of contributing to the Campaign. Including this gift, they have donated more than $214,000 to legal aid for low-income people in Dallas since 2006. The Equal Access to Justice Campaign is the annual fundraising campaign that supports the activities of the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP). Jerry Alexander practices complex business litigation at Passman & Jones, served as the 107th President of the Dallas Bar Association, was Chair of the Board of the State Bar of Texas in 2019-2020, and presently is a candidate for President-Elect of the State Bar of Texas. Sherri Alexander serves as Chair of the Health Care Litigation practice at Polsinelli. Together, the Alexanders believe in supporting and benefiting the Dallas community. They know that their contributions to DVAP benefit the Dallas community in many ways. This year, Jerry would like to highlight the people working behind the scenes. “DVAP is difficult to execute. Think about it. Attorneys must be encouraged to volunteer, then matched up with a qualified client in need and the services monitored and rendered successfully, and funds need to be raised yearly to keep it going. But, in many ways, it is the most important thing we do. Michelle Alden and Alicia Hernandez, before her, have done a splendid job of making all this happen. But beyond Michelle and Alicia, here is a listing of the people who also deserve the credit. They work day in and day out, just like the courts: Holly Griffin (Managing Attorney), Kristen Salas (Mentor Attorney), Katherine Saldana (Mentor Attorney), Carolyn Johnson (Paralegal), Charnese Garrett (Legal Secretary), Andrew Musquiz (Paralegal), Whitney Breheny (Referral Paralegal), Alicia Perkins (Paralegal), Miriam Caporal
(Paralegal), Susan Matthews (Paralegal), Tina Douglas (Paralegal), Laci Payton (Program Assistant), and Marisela Martin (Community Engagement Coordinator). Sherri and I sincerely thank these dedicated staff who are such an integral part of the program!” The DVAP staff have seen the number of people seeking help rise substantially this year. Low-income residents of Dallas have faced many additional challenges during the pandemic and urgently need legal assistance. Sole practitioner Jaha Thomas helped Rita, one recent applicant. According to Jaha, “I represented an upstanding citizen who was down on her luck. She faced eviction as an employee who was paid hourly and caught Covid twice. Her employer did not provide sick leave and required employees to quarantine if they were exposed to Covid. She did everything she could to pay her rent, but due to her illness and the employer’s quarantine rules, she was stuck. We had three hearings. The first two were continued, but in the third hearing, Rita received an abatement of 60 days, which was just enough time for her to get a new job and move to a different apartment. The joy and gratitude in her voice helped me understand DVAP’s mantra ‘billable hours for your soul.’” Rita’s story shows what a profound difference a few hours of a pro bono attorney’s time can make in a DVAP client’s life. In addition to wonderful volunteers like Jaha, the reality is, helping people like Rita requires financial support too. As Sherri stated, “A little legal guidance at the right time is sometimes the difference that prevents someone from becoming homeless. Attorneys should contribute, if they can, but should always remember they can contribute their time, and that ‘office work’ is just as important as ‘courthouse work’ in helping those who cannot afford an attorney.” Jerry emphasizes the importance of access to the civil court system for all: “It is the place where citizens go to resolve their disputes, and without it, people would be forced
$1.4 Million $900,000 $800,000 $700,000
To Give: www.dvapcampaign.org.
BY MICHELLE ALDEN
$600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $350,000 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000
Sherri & Jerry Alexander
to take matters into their own hands. Our society works because people do not do so, but instead find a lawyer to address their disputes in court. Everyone must be given access to the system--otherwise, societies and even entire civilizations can fall if enough citizens are denied access. The Equal Access to Justice Campaign is there to prevent that—it facilitates access to the civil courts for people who really need help and truly cannot afford an attorney. For such citizens to have their day in court is the goal. No one feels as if they were turned away—the courts are for everyone, and
$50,0000 the outcome is sometimes not as important as simply not being excluded.” “Contributing to DVAP is something we have done for years and hopefully can continue. It simply feels like the right thing for us, as lawyers, to do,” said Sherri. DVAP is a joint pro bono program of the DBA and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. For more information, or to donate, visit www. dallasvolunteerattorneyprogram.org. HN Michelle Alden is the Director of the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program. She can be reached at aldenm@lanwt.org.
Thank You to Our Major Donors PRESIDEN T’S COUNCIL
GOLD PATRON
Capital One Margaret & Jaime Spellings
Hartline Barger LLP
CHAIRMAN ’S COUNCIL Jerry & Sherri Alexander Kirkland & Ellis LLP Morrison Foerster Sidley Austin Foundation Toyota Motor North America/ Toyota Financial Services
DIAMOND SPONSORS
Anonymous Foundation Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP Haynes and Boone Foundation Nexstar Charitable Foundation Vistra Corp.
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP AT&T Business Litigation Section Condon Tobin Sladek Thornton Nerenberg PLLC Covington & Burling LLP Jackson Lewis Foundation Jackson Walker LLP Latham & Watkins LLP Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. Rosewood Foundation Vinson & Elkins LLP *As of November 14, 2022
Inside 8
Options for Correcting Mistakes and Omissions on Tax Returns
14 What About Fido!? Planning for Pets Upon Incapacity or Death 25 John Goren Receives Kim Askew Distinguished Service Award 32 Pro Bono Attorney & Firm of the Year 37 The Reach out and Pluck Statute
DBA MEMBER REMINDER – RENEW ONLINE NOW You may renew your 2023 DBA Dues now! Go to dallasbar.org and click on the My DBA button to log in and Renew online. Your 2023 DBA DUES must be paid by December 31, 2022 in order to continue receiving ALL your member benefits.
Thank you for your support of the Dallas Bar Association!