Tarrant County Bar Association Bar Bulletin (January/February 2020)

Bulletin January/February 2020

Start the New Decade at the Bar! The TCBA has several programs, events, and volunteer opportunities planned for 2020.

Steve Laird

Steve Laird is one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas* There’s a Reason

It takes years to establish a good reputation Handling Personal Injury Wrongful Death & 18-Wheeler Cases *Texas Super Lawyers, Top 100 (2005-2013, 2015-2019) - Thomson Reuters

Now One of Only 9 Texas Lawyers Board Certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

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S t e v e n C . L a i r d, P. C .

817.531.3000

1119 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, FORT WORTH, TX 76104

www.texlawyers.com

President’s Page

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2020 Vision

appy New Year and welcome to a new decade!

I hope you had a festive and fun holiday season surrounded by friends and family. Many thanks to the Holiday Party Committee and its chair, Cynthia Gustafson, for the great job in helping us all celebrate the 2019 season with the “Annual Holiday

by JOHN CAYCE Party Who-Bilation.” It was the best attended holiday party in recent memory.

Like many of you, I spent the last few days of 2019 reflecting on events of the past year, and looking ahead to next year’s challenges with a short list of resolutions.

In addition to some personal goals (such as losing 10 pounds!), that list includes a commitment to be more proactive in promoting the judiciary and its independence.

2020 Judicial Poll

One way we can all do that is by participating in the judicial evaluation process. With the new decade comes a new election year with many contested judicial races on the ballot. In Tarrant County alone, there will be several contested judicial races. And as we have done since 1992, the TCBA will be asking its members to participate in a non-partisan preference poll prior to the March 2020 primaries. This is the one time during an election year that we, as an association of lawyers, can use our institutional voice to promote a strong and independent judiciary through our recommendations to the Tarrant County community about the candidates we believe are best qualified for the bench. Among those qualifications, of course, should be a commitment to “decid[ing] cases, faithful to the law, without ‘fear or favor’ and free from political or external pressures.”1 The TCBA Board is grateful for the valuable work of the Judicial Evaluation Committee, chaired by Thomas Michel, in designing our 2020 judicial poll.

Law & Civics Committee Update

Another way the TCBA will be promoting and protecting justice in 2020 and beyond is through the efforts of the newly formed Law & Civics Committee. The Committee is chaired by Judge R.H. Wallace and its members include: Justice Dabney Bassel, Judge George Gallagher, Judge Jess Nevarez, Heather King, Roland Johnson, Steve Maxwell, Brian Newby, and Brad Parker.

The Law & Civics Committee met twice last fall to address how it can best achieve the goal of improving public education

about the role of the judiciary (and other civics topics), and identified a number of resources for material to assist attorneys in educating the public on these topics. Those resources include, among others, the “Rule of Law Toolkit” prepared by the State Bar of Texas, “White Papers” published by the American College of Trial Lawyers,” and materials available from the “Informed Voters Project” of the National Association of Women Judges. The committee is also exploring how the TCBA may be able to assist the “iCivics” project, which recently presented the program on Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Conner at the November TCBA luncheon.

The Law & Civics Committee plans to work with members of the TCBA staff in updating the TCBA website to provide access to websites containing this information through links on the TCBA website. The committee then plans to educate lawyers (and others) how to access that information and encourage them to use it to educate members of the public through schools, civic groups, and other public forums.

50 Year Attorneys

The annual “50 Year Attorneys” luncheon will be held at the City Club at 11:45 am on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.

Several of the attorneys to be honored have already made reservations to attend and are looking forward to the event.

Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means will deliver remarks on the significance of their long service as officers of the courts and offer some suggestions as to where to go from the 50 year milestone. This is always an uplifting and inspiring occasion, and this year’s luncheon chair, Rick Sorenson, has done a tremendous job organizing the 2020 luncheon.

Women in the Law Luncheon

The annual “Women in the Law” Luncheon will be held on Tuesday February 25, 2020, at the Fort Worth Club.

This year’s theme is “A Life in Leadership,” and the speakers include former State Bar of Texas President Lisa Tatum.

Immediately prior to the luncheon, there will be roundtable discussions on a number of topics including judicial and in-house careers, wellness, community involvement, and leadership. The roundtables will be moderated by local judges, lawyers, and community leaders.

The Women in the Law Committee, chaired by Whitney Beckworth, have put together an outstanding program. Please be looking for sponsorship information and make your reservations early.

There are many other exciting events planned for the second half of the 2019–2020 bar year. I look forward sharing them with you! g

Judicial Independence: A Cornerstone of Democracy Which Must be Defended, American College of Trial Lawyers (2006).

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Contents Features

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7 Tarrant County Bar Foundation Annual Meeting 18 Women in the Law Luncheon 30 The Greatest Bench Bar on Earth Departments 1 President’s Page 4 YLA Snapshot 25 5 Calendar of Events 6 100 Club 8 LegalLine 9 Judicial Profile - Chief Justice Joseph Atwood McDonald 10 Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services 12 Snippets 14 CLE Corner 15 Lawyers on the Move & in the News 20 Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans 22 Benefits of Membership 24 Vendor List 24 Lawyer Referral & Information Service News 24 A Word From Our Sections 29 Wellness Connections Committee 35 In Memoriam 36 It’s All Happening Around the Bar Advertisers' Index

Autumn Ridge Counseling and Wellness......................27 BPW Law....................................................................28 Deborah Adame.........................................................11 Dispute Resolution Services.........................................7 Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C.......Inside Front Cover LawPay..................................................................26 Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee, PLLC.............................17 Noteboom - The Law Firm.............................................8 Parker Law Firm.........................................................23 Pyke & Associates, P.C...................................................8 Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange............................27 Tindall Square Office Complex....................................11

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Tarrant County Bar Association 817.338.4092 ▪ Fax 817.335.9238 website: www.tarrantbar.org email: tcba@tarrantbar.org

2019–2020 Officers President................................................John Cayce President-Elect...................................Gary Medlin Vice President...............................Kimberly Naylor Secretary-Treasurer..................Karen Denney Directors Term Ends 2020

Director.........................................Cody Cofer Director.................................Veronica C. Law Director..............................................Lu Pham

Term Ends 2021

Director..............................Sherry Armstrong Director.............................Katherine Hopkins Director......................................Scott Lindsey

2019–2020 Appointed Directors Appointed Director..........................Sue Allen Appointed Director......................David Cook Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association Fall 2019 President....................Martin Garcia Fall 2020 President..................Andrea Palmer

Immediate Past President..................Lance Evans Executive Director..........................Megan Cooley Ex-Officio Members State Bar of Texas Director.......................................Steve Naylor Director................................Jason C.N. Smith Bar Bulletin Editor..............................................John F. Murphy Graphics/Production..................Elizabeth Banda The Tarrant County Bar Bulletin is a bi-monthly publication of the Tarrant County Bar Association.

Articles, photos, suggestions or comments should be directed to: elizabeth@tarrantbar.org 1315 Calhoun Street ▪ Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504 Deadline for submission: December 1........................................January/February February 1...................................................March/April April 1...............................................................May/June June 1.............................................................July/August August 1..........................................September/October October 1.....................................November/December Articles published in the Bar Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Tarrant County Bar Association, its officers or the Board of Directors.

Advertisements and feature articles should not be considered an endorsement of any service, product, program, seminar or event.

YLA Snapshot Martin Garcia, President TCYLA

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taying true to our 2019–2020 term commitment, I’d like to first report on our Community Enhancement and Involvement initiatives. The TCYLA has partnered with the Methodist Justice Ministry and has begun the framework for what it hopes to be a landmark new program for its membership body for years to come. Young lawyers in the area will soon be equipped with some of the tools necessary to aid the Ministry in tending to families experiencing neglect and domestic violence and children who need proper care. Additionally, the TCYLA is proud to report that its membership volunteered at the Big Brothers Big Sisters holiday party in a renewed collaboration between the two. Last, the TCYLA looks forward to serving the Ronald McDonald house on January 4. Volunteers are needed, so please sign up after reading this by e-mailing Martin@SimplifiedTitleCo.com.

It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Tarrant County Bar and the TCYLA. Both bodies are led by dynamic and diverse boards; new programs and new traditions are starting, and I’m excited to see what the next year holds.

One thing I know we can all stand behind is helping local educators teach students about the rule of law. Through its partnership with the State Bar of Texas and other bar leaders, the TCYLA looks forward to implementing Law

Related Education—a program for K-12 development designed to improve the administration of justice and promote civic education and participation. More on that in the coming months as well!

As if you needed another reason to celebrate a good year, the TCYLA looks forward to seeing you at its “Keep the Holiday Parties Going” event on January 9. Instead of overloading your holiday party schedules in December, we thought this would be a better fit. We look forward to saluting a new year with you soon.

My best to you for a great Q1. g

Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans Tarrant County Chapter Thank you to Seltzer & Dally, PLLC for sponsoring January’s Free Legal Advice Clinic For Veterans.

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Calendar of Events

January 2020

9 LegalLine 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, TCBA Office Volunteers needed. Light dinner served at 5 pm.

10 Wellness Connections Committee Meeting – Attorney Wellness -Yoga, Meditation and Breath Work 12 pm - 12:30 pm, TCBA Office Guest Speakers: Mary Johndroe, JD, RYT, Cantey Hanger LLP; Grace Yoga MW; and the Fort Worth Yoga Club Committee business to be conducted after presentation.

15 Tarrant County Bar Foundation’s Annual Meeting 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, TCBA Office 16 Fort Worth Business & Estate Section Luncheon 1:30 pm, City Club Topic: What You Should Know About Fiduciary Duties Speaker: Judge Chris Ponder, Probate Court #1 16 Construction Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, TCBA Office

February 2020

6 Collaborative Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, Bizzi’s Bistro, Bedford Topic: Using a Child Specialist in Collaborative Cases and the Value Added Speaker: Chris Farish, Quaid Farish, LLC 6 Court Staff Seminar 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, TCBA Office 7 Wellness Connections Committee Meeting – Nutrition 12 pm - 12:30 pm, TCBA Office Guest Speaker: Ruth Thompson Murillo, Registered Dietician, Amon Carter Downtown YMCA Committee business to be conducted after presentation 11 Membership Luncheon Celebrating 50 Year Attorneys 11:45 am - 1:00 pm, City Club 13 Energy Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, Petroleum Club

16 Women Attorneys Section Cooking School 6:00 pm, Sur la Table - Waterside; $75 per person

13 LegalLine 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, TCBA Office Volunteers needed. Light dinner served at 5 pm.

17 TLTV Clinic 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Veterans Affairs Outpatient Facility 2201 SE Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76119

17 President's Day Holiday Office Closed

20 MLK Holiday Office Closed 21 Real Estate Section Luncheon 12 pm, City Club Topic: Intersections of Real Property and Tax Law in Texas Speaker: C. Corey Fickes, Capital Partner, Fort Worth Office, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP 22 Portrait Hanging Ceremony for Justice Mike Wallach 3:00 pm, 348th District Court - Tom Vandergriff Building 23 LegalLine 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, TCBA Office Volunteers needed. Light dinner served at 5 pm.

24 Brown Bag Seminar – Appellate Law 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm, TCBA Office 3 hours CLE requested, .5 of Ethics CLE requested 27 Bankruptcy Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, Petroleum Club 29 Pro Bono Awards Luncheon Resource Fair : 11:00 am - 11:45 am Luncheon: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, City Club

18 Labor & Employment Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, City Club 20 Fort Worth Business & Estate Section Luncheon 11:30 am, City Club Topic: FAST - Family Governance: Wealth Transfer Speaker: Marvin Blum, The Blum Firm, P.C. 20 Construction Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, TCBA Office 21 Brown Bag Seminar – Business Organizations and Transaction Updates 12:00 pm - 3:45 pm, TCBA Office 3 hours CLE requested 24 Bankruptcy Law Section Luncheon 12 pm, Petroleum Club 25 Women in the Law Luncheon Roundtable Discussions: 10:30 am - 11:45 am Luncheon: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Fort Worth Club 27 LegalLine 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, TCBA Office Volunteers needed. Light dinner served at 5 pm.

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Members of the 2019–2020

100 Club

*List Reflected Below is as of December 26, 2019 Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C Albert Neely & Kuhlmann, LLP Allmand Law Firm, PLLC Anderson & Riddle, LLP Baker Monroe, PLLC Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP Blaies & Hightower, LLP Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones, LLP Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C. Brackett & Ellis, P.C. Broude, Smith, Jennings, & McGlinchey P.C. Brown, Proctor & Howell, LLP Bruner & Bruner, P.C. Cantey Hanger LLP City Attorney's Office - Fort Worth Cook Children's Health Care System Curnutt & Hafer, LLP Dawson Parrish, P.C. Decker Jones, P.C. Forshey Prostok, LLP Freeman Mills, P.C. Friedman, Suder & Cooke, P.C. Frost Bank Gardner & Smith, PLLC Griffith, Jay & Michel, LLP Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. Harrison Steck, P.C. Haynes and Boone, LLP Holland, Johns & Penny, LLP Hutchison & Stoy, PLLC Jackson Walker, LLP JP Morgan Chase Bank K&L Gates Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

KoonsFuller, P.C. Law, Snakard & Gambill, P.C. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Lively and Associates, PLLC McDonald Sanders, P.C. Mellina & Larson, P.C. Moses, Palmer & Howell, LLP Murphy Mahon Keffler & Farrier, LLP Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee, PLLC Nelson Bumgardner Albritton, P.C. Noteboom Law Firm Padfield & Stout, LLP Pham Harrison, LLP Phelps Dunbar, LLP Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, LLP Second Court of Appeals Seltzer & Dally, PLLC Sharen Wilson, Criminal District Attorney’s Office Stephens, Anderson & Cummings, LLP Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP The Blum Firm The Colaneri Firm, P.C. Thompson & Knight, LLP Udeshi Law Firm, PLLC Underwood Law Firm, P.C. U.S. Trust, Bank of America Varghese Summersett, PLLC Watson, Caraway, Midkiff & Luningham, LLP Weaver and Tidwell, LLP Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz, PLLC Whitley Penn, LLP Wick Phillips Winstead, P.C.

100 Club

To be eligible for the 100 Club, any law firm, government agency, law school, or corporate legal department that has four or more members and attains 100% TCBA membership compliance for the 2019–2020 bar year qualifies for the “100 Club.” The firms/organizations listed (above) have already paid their membership dues and qualify for 100 Club mem-

bership for the new bar year. Any firm/organization that qualifies in the future will have its name published in every issue of the Bar Bulletin for this bar year.

TCBA is proud of the participation of these law firms and other groups. The new bar year began on July 1; if you have not paid your renewal invoice, contact the TCBA at 817.338.4092. g

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LegalLine

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ark your calendars for the next upcoming LegalLine on Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring, please contact Carolina Ibarra at 817.338.4092 or carolina@tarrantbar.org. g

Upcoming LegalLine Dates: January 9 & 23, 2020 February 13 & 27, 2020 March 12 & 26, 2020 April 9 & 23, 2020 May 14 & 28, 2020 June 11 & 25, 2020

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Judicial Profile

By Perry Cockerell

Chief Justice Joseph Atwood McDonald

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oseph Atwood McDonald was the fourth Chief Justice of the Court of Civil Appeals, Second Supreme Judicial District, and served eleven years on the court from 1941 to 1951.

McDonald was born in Azle, Texas, in 1899 and moved to Fort Worth in 1914 where he spent the next seventy five years of his life.

He served in the Army during World War I. In 1924 he graduated from the University of Texas School of Law and returned to Fort Worth, where he practiced law for the next sixteen years.

In February 1940, at the age of 40, he announced his candidacy for chief justice of the Court of Civil Appeals in Fort Worth. The move was bold because it meant taking on the incumbent Chief Justice Irby Dunklin, whose judicial career spanned 42 years as a trial judge and appellate justice. Twenty-four of those years were spent on the court of appeals. Dunklin was seeking his second full term on the court and was 83 years old. McDonald won the bitter primary race and carried all 12 counties.

During his time on the court McDonald authored over 300 judicial opinions. One notable case was Brown v. Kelley, 212 S.W.2d 834, 837 (Tex. Civ. App.—Fort Worth 1948, no writ), where the court found that the statutory procedure for the establishment of public roads and highways did not abolish the common law forms of acquisition by dedication and prescription. In Travelers Ins. Co. v. Blazier, 228 S.W.2d 217, 219–20 (Tex. Civ. App.—Fort Worth 1950, writ dism'd), he wrote that the opinions of experts, although persuasive, are not conclusive under most circumstances, but there are subjects about which only the opinions of experts have any value as evidence and about which it cannot properly be assumed that laymen can form correct opinions either from their own knowledge and experience or from opinions express by lay witnesses.

In 1946 Texas U.S. Senator W. Lee O’Daniel recommended Chief Justice McDonald and Frank P. Culver, Jr., a trial judge, to President Harry Truman for the federal district judgeship for the Northern District of Texas to replace retiring James C. Wilson. Truman ultimately selected Joseph Brannon Dooley for that position.

In 1951 McDonald resigned from the court to open the law firm of McDonald, Sanders, Nichols, Ludlum, Wynn & Ginsburg. On occasion he served as a special judge in civil

cases. In one high profile probate case in Johnson County he ruled that the decedent was sane when he died and was a resident of Johnson County and that the will being offered for probate was a forgery.

In the 1960s McDonald served as president of the Fort Worth Good Government League, an influential non-partisan organization consisting of more than 500 business and professional leaders who supported local candidates for public office, except for legislative races or statewide campaigns. McDonald explained that “the Good Government League’s sole purpose is to get a slate of candidates and present them to the public.”

In 1960 he served as chair of the Tarrant County campaign of Democrats for Nixon-Lodge during the presidential election. He told the Fort Worth Star Telegram: “Except for support of Nixon and Lodge, we will continue to support and work for the Democratic Party of Texas and will vote for its duly nominated candidates.”

McDonald served twelve years on the Fort Worth School Board and was the board’s president from 1962 to 1965 where he worked to propose a desegregation plan to comply with a deadline set by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to end racial segregation in the Fort Worth public schools.

The School Board proposed a $27 million bond proposal to open two new elementary schools as part of the remedy.

The bond proposal passed, and for his leadership, the School Board named one of the schools the “Atwood McDonald Elementary School” when it opened in 1967.

McDonald served as president of the Texas Civil Judicial Council, chairman of the State Bar Association, president of the Judicial Section of the Texas State Bar and a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and chairman of the Tarrant County Chapter National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis. He was active in the Tarrant Masonic Lodge No. 942, Fort Worth Chapter 58, Council 42, Worth Commandry 19 Knights Templar and Moslah Shrine Temple. He was a member of Meadowbrook United Methodist Church.

In 1971 he was awarded the Blackstone Award by the Tarrant County Bar Association.

He retired from the practice of law in 1977, and six days after his retirement he suffered a stroke at the age of 78. He recovered and remained active in the community.

He died on July 29, 1989, at the age of 90 and was buried at Shannon Rose Hill Memorial Park in Fort Worth.

McDonald was married to Ripple Ruth Sweet, who died on June 18, 1994, and is buried next to him. Together they raised three children—Paul McDonald, Myrna Jacobs, and Marilyn Ligon—and had five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. g

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Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services TVAS Fall Clinics

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arrant County Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) held three clinics in October and November 2019.

On October 17, attorneys met and began representing low-income individuals identified by Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) needing assistance with uncontested divorces. On October 24, Kelly Hart attorneys met with women at The Morris Foundation for Women and Children’s Center and provided legal advice in various areas of law. On November 7, in partnership with Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, Texas A&M School of Law, and LANWT, veterans and their spouses received free wills and end-of-life documents at the biannual Heroes Wills Clinic. Thank you to all of those who volunteered at the volunteered in 2019.

We look forward to assisting many more low-income Tarrant county residents in 2020!

TVAS thanks Judge Judith Wells for attending the uncontested-divorce clinic and speaking to the TVAS volunteers. TVAS also thanks Philip Vickers (Cantey Hanger) and Lori Spearman (Law Office of Lori Spearman) for conducting the free CLE provided to TVAS volunteers prior to the Uncontested Divorce clinic.

TVAS extends its appreciation to the following attorney, paralegal, law-student, and community volunteers who attended the October and November clinics:

Uncontested Divorce Clinic Attorneys & Attorney Mentors: N. Sue Allen Norma Bazan Allison Carroll John Corbin Karen Denney Kate Hancock Katherine Kim Dawn King Monique Lopez-Hinkley Andrew McAlester Taylor McPherson

Gary Nickelson Malathi Ravi Lynn Rodriguez Josh Ross Karon Rowden Cheryl Schwarzer Melissa Sircar Lori Spearman Benson Varghese Philip Vickers

Paralegals: Ninfa Cruz Susan Davis Megan Goor Susy Johnson

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Trisha Klement Stephanie Reid Julie Sherman

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Shane Landers

Law Students:

Amanda Watts

Volunteers: Daniel Caldwell

Laura Cruz

The Morris Foundation for Women and Children’s Center (sponsored by Kelly Hart) Attorneys: Whitney Beckworth Elizabeth Cuneo Katherine Hopkins Meredith Knudsen David Miles Nirav Patel

Jonathan Petree Joanna Raines Karon Rowden Taylor Spalla Emily Steppick

Paralegals: Susan Davis Trisha Klement

Julie Sherman

Law Students: Megan Barbre Samantha Brown Linsey George

Jessica Mason Kirsten McIntyre Emily Teel

HEROES Wills Clinic Attorneys & Attorney Mentors: Alimah Akande Bob Brown Tyler Craig Shawn Crawford Amy Fuqua Ellen Gastil Shelli Harveson Jamika Hilliard Katherine Kim Sam Johndroe Karen Johnson Shirela Patterson Orsen Paxton

Malathi Ravi Martin Rechnitzer Lynn Rodriguez Rob Schmid Melissa Sircar Julie Sladek Ethel Steele Kimberly Stoner Amber Tilley Kristina West Zshoná Workman Whitney Zwieg

Space For Lease

Paralegals: Susan Davis Nancy Honeycut Doris Jackson Starlene Moore

Michele Rayburn Stephanie Reid Brenda Rodgers Julie Sherman

in the historic

Tindall Square Office Complex in Downtown Fort Worth

Law Students: Kaitlyn Amundson Claire Brown Reilly Garrett Forrest Gothia Mackenzie Redman Cameron Saenz

Grant Schauer Grant Singleton Katelyn Tigner Amanda Watts Megan Weiershausen

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Parking available Up to 10,000 square feet of office space available with rates starting at $19.50 psf.

Current office tenant base includes attorneys, private investment firms and accountants.

Executive suites for attorneys available, call for details.

Secure record storage facility conveniently located on site with rates as low as $120/month Within walking distance to local restaurants and Sundance Square Office Space and Record Storage Space Available Immediately

Contact Debara Herring ■ 682.316.2072 dherring@rochester-group.com 500 East 4th Street, Suite 175 ■ Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Membership Luncheon Celebrating 50 Year Attorneys

Remarks by Judge Terry Means United States District Court, Northern District of Texas

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | City Club $26 for Members | $31 for Non-Members

0.5 Hour Ethics CLE RSVP to Sherry Jones at sherry@tarrantbar.org.

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▪ TCBA BULLETIN 11

Snippets

Co-Editor Judge Carey Walker, County Criminal Court No. 2

Civil and Criminal

by Judge Bob McCoy g County Criminal Court No. 3

ASK JUDGE BOB

Judge Bob, what is quasi-estoppel?

Quasi-estoppel precludes a party from asserting, to another’s disadvantage, a right inconsistent with a position previously taken. The doctrine applies when it would be unconscionable to allow a person to maintain a position inconsistent with one to which he acquiesced or from which he accepted a benefit.

Sebastian Cotton v. Willacy City Appraisal, 581 S.W.3d 804, 811 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2019).

MOSES’ AND NOAH’S MONTHLY PARAPROSDAKIAN Moses

(a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous)

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

DANES’ QUOTE OF THE MONTH “It is of the highest importance in the art of detection to be able to recognize Noah out of a number of facts which are incidental and which are vital…I would call your attention to the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.”

“The dog did nothing in the night-time.”

“That was the curious incident,” remarked Sherlock Holmes.

—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. Due Process

Due process requires a neutral and detached hearing body or officer. A defendant has an absolute right to an impartial judge at both the guilt/innocence and punishment stages of the trial. A ruling or decision made in reliance on an extrajudicial source is sufficient to show bias and deprivation of due process because it results “in an opinion on the merits on some basis other than what the judge learned from his participation in the case.”

Segovia v. State, 543 S.W.3d 497 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018).

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2. Hearsay

“Hearsay” is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Tex. R. Evid. 801(d). Hearsay is not admissible unless it comes within an exception prescribed by statute or the Texas Rules of Evidence. One exception to hearsay includes public records, reports, statements, or data compilations setting forth matters observed pursuant to a legal duty to report such matters. However, in criminal cases, matters observed by police officers and other law enforcement personnel are excluded from this exception.

Belle v. State, 543 S.W.3d 871 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018).

3. Accomplice Testimony

“A conviction cannot be had upon the testimony of an accomplice unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the offense committed; and the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense.” Under this standard, the corroborating evidence need not prove the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt by itself. Rather, in determining whether non-accomplice evidence tends to connect a defendant to the offense, “the evidence must simply link the accused in some way to the commission of the crime and show that rational jurors could conclude that this evidence sufficiently tended to connect the accused to the offense.” There is no set amount of non-accomplice corroboration evidence that is required, and each case must be judged on its own facts.

Spiers v. State, 543 S.W.3d 890 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018).

4. Evidence

Relevant evidence is generally admissible; irrelevant evidence is not. Relevant evidence is evidence which has any tendency to make the existence of any fact of consequence more or less probable than it would be without the evidence. Evidence does not need to prove or disprove a particular fact by itself to be relevant; it is sufficient if the evidence provides a small nudge toward proving or disproving a fact of consequence.

Gonzalez v. State, 544 S.W.3d 363 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018).

5. Voluntary Intoxication

Voluntary intoxication is not a defense to the commission of an offense. Tex. Penal Code § 8.04(a). However, a defendant is entitled to a mitigation instruction on intoxication in the punishment phase of a trial if there is evidence of temporary insanity caused by intoxication. Evidence of temporary insanity caused by intoxication may be introduced by the actor in mitigation of the penalty attached to the offense for

which he is being tried. When temporary insanity is relied upon as a defense and the evidence tends to show that such insanity was caused by intoxication, the court shall charge the jury in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Lopez v. State, 544 S.W.3d 499 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018).

6. Expert Witness

Texas Rules of Evidence 702 provides that a witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an opinion if the expert’s scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge will help the fact finder to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue. Thus, before the trial court admits expert testimony under Rule 702, it must be satisfied that: (1) the witness qualifies as an expert by reason of his knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education; (2) the subject matter of the testimony is an appropriate one for expert testimony; and (3) admitting the expert testimony will actually assist the fact finder in deciding the case.

Mitchell v. State, 546 S.W.3d 780 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018).

7. Confession and Avoidance

Confession-and-avoidance defenses do not negate any element of an offense, including intent; instead, they excuse what would otherwise constitute criminal conduct. The doctrine requires a defendant to first admit that he engaged in the proscribed conduct by admitting all elements of the underlying offense, then claim that his commission of the offense is justified because of other facts.

Estrella v. State, 546 S.W.3d 789 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018).

CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. Medical Malpractice

An expert’s statement or opinion is conclusory when: (1) he asks the jury to take his word that his opinion is correct but offers no basis for his opinion or the bases offered do not actually support the opinion; or (2) he offers only his word that the bases offered to support his opinion actually exists or support his opinion. Windrum v. Kareh, 581 S.W.3d 761, 769 (Tex. 2019).

2. Taxation

Liability arises out of actual property ownership, not the appraisal roll and tax roll reflection of ownership. . . .

Simply put, tax liability exists independently of the appraisal roll or tax bill. Sebastian Cotton v. Willacy City Appraisal, 581 S.W.3d 804, 811 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2019).

3. The Texas Citizens Participation Act

“The Texas Citizens Participation Act is a bulwark against retaliatory lawsuits meant to intimidate or silence citizens on matters of public concern.” . . . [Section] 27.003(a) dismissal requires two steps. First, the defendant must show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the “legal action is based on, relates to, or is in response to [its] exercise of the right of free speech.” Upon this showing, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to establish “by clear and

specific evidence a prima facie case for each essential element of the claim in question.” Baumgart v. Archer, 581 S.W.3d 819, 825 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2019).

4. Co-tenancies

Texas recognizes two types of co-tenancies which may be deeded: a tenancy in common and a joint tenancy.

Under a tenancy in common, the deeded interest descends to the heirs and beneficiaries of the deceased cotenant and not to the surviving tenants. . . . In a survivorship, “[u]pon the death of one joint tenant, that tenant’s share in the property does not pass through will or the rules of intestate succession; rather, the remaining tenant or tenants automatically inherit it.” Wagenschein v. Ehlinger, 581 S.W.3d 851, 857 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2019).

5. Rule 202 Proceeding

A Rule 202 proceeding “is not a separate independent lawsuit” but is instead “in aid of and incident to an anticipated suit. . . . A Rule 202 petition “asserts no substantive claim or cause of action upon which relief can be granted.”...

A successful Rule 202 petition “simply acquires the right to obtain discovery—discovery that may or may not lead to a claim or cause of action” upon which relief can be granted.

Rodriguez v. Cantu, 581 S.W.3d 859, 868 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2019).

6. Premises liability

To prevail on a claim for premises liability, the invitee must prove, among other elements, that a condition on the premises posed an unreasonable risk of harm. In determining whether a condition posed an unreasonable risk of harm, the trier of fact may consider a variety of factors, including “whether the condition met applicable safety standards.”

Hous. NFL Holding L.P. v. Ryans, 581 S.W.3d 900, 910 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2019).

7. Immunity

A governmental unit waives immunity from liability when it contracts with a private party, but immunity from suit must be waived by legislative enactment or constitutional provision. City of Pharr v. Garcia, 581 S.W.3d 930, 932 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2019).

LEGAL QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish. —Quintilian

OLD NEWS

BEVO Gets His Name On a November afternoon in 1915 at Kyle Field in College Station, so the story goes, the Texas A&M football squad drubs the University of Texas 13-0 in an annual rivalry that dates to 1894. In a burst of postgame exuberance, some Aggies traveled to Austin, tracked down the longhorn steer then serving as the UT mascot, and branded “13-0” on its right side. UT students were furious, but ingenious. They turned the 13 into a “B,” the hyphen into an “E,” added a “V” and left the “O.” Thanks to the Aggies, the UT mascot got a permanent name: “B-E-V-O.” g

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 13

2020 OUTSTANDING COURT STAFF AWARDS BALLOT The Tarrant County Bar Association seeks your vote for the outstanding Court Staff. Court staff personnel of the courts of Tarrant County, including Deputy District Clerks, Deputy County Clerks assigned to judicial functions; Court Reporters, Court Coordinators, Bailiffs, Court Security Officers, Probate Auditors, Justice of the Peace staff, Judges’ non-lawyer clerical staff, and auxiliary court coordinators are eligible. Open to TCBA members.

Voting ballots can be downloaded at https://tarrantbar.org/ballot/.

Ballots must be received in the Bar office no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 6, 2020. For more information, please contact Sherry Jones at sherry@tarrantbar.org or 817.338.4092.

Tarrant County

Court Staff Appreciation Reception & Awards Mark Your Calendar for the Appreciation Reception & Awards Presentation and Plan to Join Us in Honoring Our Outstanding Court Staff!

CLE

Corner

Sherry Jones Associate Executive Director

S

tart the new year keeping up with getting your CLE hours done. The TCBA strives to provide reasonably priced CLE programs for its members. The seven yearly Brown Bag Seminars are recorded and used to provide CLE credit for those unable to attend the live seminars. Those who are Brown Bag Season Pass holders can check out a DVD and get appropriate CLE credit. Those without the Season Pass can rent the DVDs and get appropriate credit. Topics for the remaining Brown Bag Seminars are Appellate Law (January 24), Business Organizations and Transactional Law (February 21), Real Estate Law (March 27) and Immigration, Bankruptcy and Criminal Law (May 8).

We now have Appointment Wheel CLEs that are also being recorded so that if you miss the live session you can rent the DVD later. These do NOT fall under the Brown Bag Season Pass rules. The first seminar was on Juvenile Law. The March seminar will be on Child Welfare.

I am looking forward to another year of good programs.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! g

The Tarrant County Bar Association is hosting its Annual Tarrant County Court Staff Appreciation Reception & Awards on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. at the TCBA Office. This reception is an opportunity for the legal community to say “Thank You” to the court staff for all courts (federal, state, and county) in Tarrant County who work very hard to serve our courts, assist the public, and facilitate efficiency in our legal system.

BE A SPONSOR!

Sponsors will be listed on signage at the reception and be recognized in the Bar Bulletin. Sponsors will also be recognized in flyers for the event on the TCBA’s social media. Join TCBA in honoring those who help to make the legal community of Tarrant County a great place to practice law by becoming a sponsor. Your sponsorship will assist in underwriting the food, beverages, and related expenses to host the reception. If you or your firm would like to be listed as a sponsor of this event, please contact Sherry Jones at sherry@tarrantbar.org no later than February 24, 2020. g

14 www.tarrantbar.org

▪ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

SAVE the DATE Blood Drive

May 21, 2020 | 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building Committee Chair: David Garza

Welcome New Members of the TCBA: ATTORNEYS Braden Allman Dallas Andersen Devin M. Arnold Edward Bochini Jon R. Boyd Mark Broom Rachel Brucks Nathaniel Castillo Zachary S. Cate Maria Conoley Dvorah Cristol Laurel Curtis Paul Duncan Kassandra Galvez Grant R. Hamilton Alyssa A. Jacobs Laura Lang Matthew T. Loeffelholz Megan McIntyre Michael J. Moore Christopher John Morris Ronald “Ron” B. Parent Morgan Parker Krista Paschke Kaitlyn Pound Aarti Puskoor Joanna Raines Mason W. Smith Marylynn Smitherman Emily Raye Steppick Stephanie Turkett

STUDENTS Jason Benham Shannon Dugan Cameron Kawato Jonathan Petree

ASSOCIATES Trent Gilley

Lawyers on the Move &

in the News

Kelly Hart welcomes associates Edward “Teddy” Boschini, Jonathan Petree, Marylynn Smitherman, and Emily Steppick to its Fort Worth office.

Smitherman interned for the Honorable Jane T. Milazzo at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans.

Edward “Teddy” Boschini joins the firm as an associate in the Estate Planning and Nonprofit Organizations sections. Mr. Boschini earned his J.D., cum laude, from SMU Dedman School of Law in 2019 and graduated from Texas Christian University with a B.S. in Political Science. While in law school, Mr. Boschini served as a congressional intern for Congressman Roger Williams at the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., and was a corporate council extern at CEC Entertainment, Inc. in Irving, Texas.

Emily Steppick joins the firm as an associate in the Litigation section. Ms. Steppick earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2019 and served as articles editor of the Texas Tech Law Review.

She graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a B.B.A., in Marketing.

While in law school, Ms. Steppick interned for Federal Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cureton at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas and for the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office Special Victim’s Unit in Fort Worth.

Jonathan Petree joins the firm as an associate in the Litigation section. Mr. Petree earned his J.D., cum laude, from SMU Dedman School of Law, where he served as lead articles editor for the SMU Law Review; he graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in Philosophy. During law school, Mr. Petree was a corporate counsel litigation and regulatory intern at BNSF Railway in Fort Worth.

Marylynn Smitherman joins the firm as an associate in the Litigation section. Ms. Smitherman earned her J.D. from Baylor University School of Law in 2019. She graduated from Louisiana State University Honors College with a B.S., magna cum laude, in Psychology and Philosophy. While in law school, Ms.

Kathy Roux is pleased to announce that her law office has moved. Her new office location is 4501 Merlot Avenue, Suite 100-A, Grapevine, Texas 76051.

The Family Law Bar Association selected Wayne Ward as this year’s recipient of the Eva Barnes Award for his years of dedication and work in the field of Family Law and for his services as a volunteer with the Family Law Bar Association.

The Fort Worth office of Pennington Hill, LLP has relocated its Fort Worth office and is pleased to announce its new address at 500 West 7th Street, Suite 1702, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. g

If you are a TCBA member and would like to place an announcement in the Bar Bulletin, we would like to hear from you.

Please submit information by email to elizabeth@tarrantbar.org.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 15

TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION PRESENTS Brown Bag

APPELLATE LAW

Judgments, Collection and Fees, Oh My!

Seminar Series

Tips and Tricks for Counseling Clients Post-Judgment

JANUARY 24, 2020 Join us for CLE credit at the TCBA Office, 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth Moderator: Leslie Ritchie Robnett, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Noon

Registration

12:30 pm

1:15pm

Drafting Winning Federal and State Court Judgments Judge Mark Pittman, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Anne Johnson, Haynes & Boone, LLP

1:45 pm

BREAK

2:00 pm 2:30 pm

Supersedeas Bonds Jody Sanders, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

3:00 pm

BREAK

3:15 pm

4:00 pm

Attorneys’ Fees Justice Mike Wallach, Second Court of Appeals

Post-Judgment Collection Mark Stout, Padfield & Stout LLP

Texas Supreme Court Panel: Ethical Considerations in Counseling Clients Post-Judgment Justice Paul W. Green, Supreme Court of Texas Justice Jeffrey S. Boyd, Supreme Court of Texas

Adjourn with Supreme Court Welcome Reception

3 hours of CLE with .5 hours of Ethics CLE credit requested (This program will be videoed for showing throughout the year.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Brown Bag Registration: Appellate Law

_____ $70 TCBA Member

January 24, 2020

_____ $95 non-TCBA Member

_____ Brown Bag Season Pass Holder

_____ $35 TCBA Member Staff

_____ $12 for a boxed lunch

Add $5 if registering after January 22 Please complete this form and return to the TCBA office at 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 with a check payable to TCBA or with credit card information. If you have questions, please call Sherry Jones at 817-338-4092 (Fax: 817-335-9238).

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________ Firm: ____________________________________________________________ Fax: ___________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Billing Zip: _____________ Method of Payment: _____ Check

_______ Check Number

______ MC

______ Visa

_____ Am Ex

Credit Card Number ________________________________________________ Expiration ______________________ Name on Card _____________________________________________________ Security Code ___________________

306 West 7th Street, Suite 405 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817.509.2025 namanhowell.com

David B. “Brad” Dowell Joins Fort Worth Office Naman Howell is proud to announce the addition of David B. “Brad” Dowell As a Member in the firm’s Fort Worth office, where he will handle Labor and Employment, General Litigation, Personal Injury and Medical Liability matters.

Prior to joining Naman Howell, Mr. Dowell spent 27 years practicing at Cantey Hanger after graduation from Baylor University School of Law. After spending many years as a trial lawyer working on numerous different personal injury and general civil litigation matters, his practice evolved into more complex managed-care litigation, serving as counsel for one of the State’s largest health insurance companies. This, coupled with his experience in arbitration, eventually brought him to focus his practice on labor and employment matters.

This focus led to his founding, alongside Partners Lu Pham and Caroline Harrison, of Dowell Pham Harrison in Fort Worth, Texas, where he has practiced ever since.

Mr. Dowell has tried or arbitrated cases involving alleged violation of collective bargaining agreements, breach of distribution agreements, wrongful termination, alleged employment discrimination and retaliation, as well as numerous personal injury matters, ranging from slip and fall cases to alleged negligent security.

“I have known and been friends with Brad for over 30 years, from when we were first starting out as new lawyers at Cantey Hanger. I’ve since had the privilege of working alongside Brad and his partners as co-counsel and watching his practice expand over the years.

I am both personally and professionally thrilled that he will be joining Naman Howell. His extensive experience in both labor and employment and personal injury matters will be a great compliment to our Naman Howell is pleased to announce the growing presence in the Fort Worth election of J.K. Leonard as the Firm’s new area.” said Naman Howell President, J.K. Leonard.

President, by a unanimous vote of the Firm’s

J.K. Leonard Elected Firm President

members. Previously the Executive Committee Member for the San Antonio office, Leonard succeeds L. Hayes Fuller, III who is assuming new duties as the Firm’s Chairman of the Board.

Leonard is the first President of the Firm outside the original offices in Waco, Texas.

Naman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC Austin | Fort Worth | San Antonio | Waco

WOMEN in the LAW LUNCHEON A Life in Leadership Roundtable Discussions: TUESDAY 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

F ebruary 25, 2020

FORT WORTH CLUB 306 W. 7TH STREET, FORT WORTH

Luncheon:

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Registration to begin at 11:30 a.m.

Luncheon and Program to begin at 11:45 a.m.

LUNCHEON PANEL MEMBERS: Christina Melton Crain

The University of Texas System Board of Regents, Founder and President of Unlocking DOORS, Former Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice

Lisa Tatum LM Tatum, PLLC and former State Bar of Texas President Melinda Westmoreland Nag Former Tarrant County Prosecutor, Owner and Founder of Soul Sweat Hot Yoga, and Dallas Cowboys Yoga Coach

Premier Sponsor Roundtable Sponsor

I

mmediately prior to the luncheon, there will be roundtable discussions on a number of topics including judicial and in-house careers, wellness, community involvement and leadership, and other topics. The roundtables will be moderated by local judges, lawyers, and community leaders.

$35 to attend Roundtables ($25 for TCYLA members) $75 for Roundtable & Luncheon $40 per person for Luncheon

2019 Roundtable Moderators

To make your reservations, contact Sherry Jones at 817.338.4092 or by email at sherry@tarrantbar.org

Space is limited.

Sponsorship O pportunities Event Sponsor - $1500

Includes a reserved table (10 seats) to the event, 5 tickets to the roundtable discussion, and a 1/2 page color ad in the Bar Bulletin. Event sponsors will be recognized at the event and publicized on TCBA’s website, in the Bar Bulletin, and on TCBA’s social media.

Table Sponsor - $1000

Includes a reserved table (10 seats) to the event and 3 tickets to the roundtable discussion. Table sponsors will be recognized at the event and publicized on TCBA’s website, in the Bar Bulletin, and on TCBA’s social media.

Gift Sponsors - $500-$1000

Gift sponsors will be recognized at the event and publicized on TCBA’s website, in the Bar Bulletin, and on TCBA’s social media.

Reserved Luncheon Table - $500

Includes a reserved table of 10 and 1 ticket to the roundtable discussion.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 19

Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

Tarrant County Chapter

T

he Tarrant County chapter of Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans finished the 2019 clinics strong. In October and November, 96 veterans received free legal advice at the monthly clinics. TLTV partnered with Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services in November for the biannual HEROES Wills Clinic, where 23 veterans and their spouses received a will and other end-of-life planning documents.

TLTV also attended the Feast of Sharing and Veterans Stand Down, sharing legal resources with thousands of attendees.

There were many success stories from the TLTV clinics in 2019. One came from TLTV attorney volunteer Lori Dally, Seltzer & Dally, PLLC. Here’s her story in her words: “I initially went to the TLTV Clinic to help out with intake, as our law firm was sponsoring that particular clinic. Due to my heavy case load that month, I didn't anticipate being able

to take on a pro bono case. But when I met Michael Cook, I knew I had to make time to help him. Michael had been caring for his three grandchildren by himself and was attempting to get legal custody of them to ensure their safety and well-being. The legal situation regarding his grandchildren was complex as it involved two separate cases and would need an intervention in an ongoing divorce. I knew that this situation would be difficult for a non-attorney to handle of their own.”

“In the end, after a trial, Michael was awarded sole managing conservatorship of all three of his grandchildren and now has the peace of mind knowing that they are safe in his care. In the beginning, I thought that I would be the one helping Michael, but in the end that was not the case.

Beyond providing service to our country in the United States Military, Michael also helped me remember why I do what I do. Michael periodically sends me pictures of his grandchildren at their school and extracurricular events, and those remind me of the impact that I as an attorney can make in people's lives. The TLTV Clinic has not only impacted Michael and his family's lives, but also mine—and for that I am grateful!”

Thank you to all the volunteers that assist our veterans and sponsor different clinics. If you would like more information about sponsorship opportunities or how to volunteer, contact kayla@tarrantbar.org. g Kayla Dailey Pro Bono Programs Director

Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans Tarrant County Chapter Thank you to Kelly Hart for sponsoring February’s Free Legal Advice Clinic For Veterans.

20 www.tarrantbar.org

▪ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

TCBF’s “Justice for All” Gala

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 21

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

Follow us on social media Tarrant County Bar Association - Fort Worth @tarrantbar @tarrantcountybar

The Tarrant County Bar Association is comprised of over 2600 members and offers the best way to connect with the legal community in Tarrant County.

Membership benefits include: • • • • • •

Free and reduced cost CLE events offered through the TCBA's 18 substantive law sections, Brown Bag CLE pass, and other CLE events. In addition, TCBA offers many of its CLE events online at a discounted rate for its members.

Exclusive networking events, including Docket Calls, Breakfast with the Judiciary, Women in the Law Luncheon, and the annual Bench Bar Conference.

Professional development and law practice management programs, including free Transition to Practice seminars, technology classes, and mentorship opportunities.

Access to discounts and free professional services, including free document shredding, a discount for Lawyer Referral & Information Services (LRIS) membership, and discounts on meeting space rentals at the TCBA. An online subscription to the Bar Bulletin, the TCBA’s bi-monthly magazine, and weekly emails detailing news and events in the Tarrant County legal community.

Opportunities for community service at annual events like National Adoption Day, People's Law School, and the Blood Drive. The TCBA also provides pro bono volunteer opportunities at legal clinics through Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS) and Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans- Tarrant County Chapter (TLTV).

Visit the website to learn more about all the great things the TCBA is doing for its members and the community. www.tarrantbar.org

We thank you for your continued support of our organization. If you have not renewed for the 2019–2020 bar year, please contact the bar office at 817.338.4092 or by email at tcba@tarrantbar.org.

Refer your clients with confidence.

Narrowly Tailored Representation for

WRONGFUL DEATH • SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY • TRUCKING AND AUTO ACCIDENTS

As a highly respected attorney in your field of law, clients look to you for the best legal counsel possible. For those personal injury issues that lie outside your expertise, place your valued clients in capable hands. My firm will give them the personal attention they deserve and keep you fully informed as the case progresses. We honor all referral agreements.

Trust us to treat your personal injury referral with the same care and tenacity as you would.

2317 Plaza Parkway, Ste. 100 Bedford, Texas 76021 parkerlawfirm.com

Call Me: O: 817.438.2600 C: 817.925.2272

Member Benefits Vendor List TCBA members may take advantage of discounts provided by the following vendors:

ABA Retirement Funds Program provides full-service 401(k) plans to benefit the legal community. To learn more, contact local rep. Jacob Millican at 817.451.5020 or visit www.abaretirement.com.

AMO Office Supply offers TCBA members the lowest price guaranteed on office supplies, with next-day delivery and free shipping! Call 800.420.6421.

Falcon Litigation Solutions offers discounts on copying, litigation displays, trial boards, etc. Call 817.870.0330.

Fort Worth JSB Co., Inc., offers a 10% discount to TCBA members on printed material - business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, brochures, flyers, and more. For a quote, call 817.577.0572.

Fort Worth Zoo discount tickets - $11.00 adult, $8 for child or senior. For tickets, contact anne@tarrantbar.org or 817.338.4092. If mailing or charging tickets, add 50 cents.

Lawyer Referral &

Information Service

T

News

he Lawyer Referral Service ended the month of November with $71,590.10. Specials thanks to our members who have paid referral fees: Christopher Albert, Jason Blatt, Ali Crocker, Anthony Cuesta, Lori Dally, Andrew Gore, Joshua Graham, An Lee Hsu, Christian Jenkins, Bryce King, Michael Martinez, Lauren Powell, David Robinson, Daniel Smith, and Kunal Udeshi.

Thinking about Joining? The LRIS is a great way to develop or supplement your client base. If you are interested in joining, you can download the 2019-2020 application at https://tarrantbar.org/membership/lawyer-referral-information-service/ or call Carolina Ibarra at 817.338.4092. g

. . . And now a Word From Our Sections

H

UPS - TCBA has signed an agreement with UPS for TCBA members to receive discounts on shipping. The discounts vary according to the type of shipment, so check out UPS for your needs at www.ups.com or 1.800.PICK.UPS.

APPY NEW YEAR! We are half-way through the bar year. And since we are at the half-way point, it wouldn’t hurt to start thinking about who will chair your section for the 2020-2021 year, which begins on July 1.

The new officers will need to be in place by June 1, so give some thought to whether the current chair will stay on, or if a new chair will be elected. g Sherry Jones Associate Executive Director

For IT Help: Juris Fabrilis - Cool Tools for Lawyers offers members discounted rates on web-based tools to help you manage your law practice. 817.481.1573 ext. 101.

Now Accepting

For Shredding and Document Disposal: Magic Shred is a secure shredding business that shreds your documents on-site. Magic Shred offers a 10% discount to TCBA members. Call the TCBA office for details.

Expanco is N.A.I.D. AAA-Certified documentdestruction service offering 40% off to TCBA members.

Mention your TCBA membership when scheduling an appointment to receive this discount on your invoice.

Thomson Reuters Exclusive TCBA offer of 10% off Firm Central subscriptions to Bar members* Please contact Amanda Olson, your local Account Executive, for more information at: Amanda.Olson@tr.com. g

24 www.tarrantbar.org

â–Ş JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Nominations for 2020 Law Day Professionalism Award

T

he Tarrant County Bar Association will present its Professionalism Award at the Annual Law Day Banquet on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

Nominations Deadline: January 31st by 5 p.m.

Download nomination form at https://tarrantbar.org/2020-nomination-form/.

Annual Holiday Party Who-Bilation!

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

â–ª TCBA BULLETIN 25

New Year’s resolution to do more pro bono work?

Join TVAS and LANWT at our Driver’s License Clinic

March 24, 2020 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the TCBA Free CLE on March 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (lunch provided)

T

housands of people in North Texas receive traffic tickets, and many of them can’t afford it. The people we serve have to choose between paying their rent and electric bill and buying clothes for their kids or paying a traffic ticket. The tickets go unpaid. The drivers' licenses are suspended. But they continue to drive because they have to get themselves to work and their kids to school. The drivers then receive additional tickets for driving with suspended licenses, and the vicious cycle repeats itself.

This project proposes to make sure that people can get IDs so that they can drive, get jobs, find housing, and stay out of jail. For lawyers seeking to make a difference through pro

26 www.tarrantbar.org

▪ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

bono work, the cases are a wonderful opportunity to achieve substantial justice for those in need. Cases take an average of 2-4 hours from drafting to order phase, but the impact on the client is tremendous. I’ve helped clients earn a first driver's license and helped others restore a long-lapsed license to active status. This work opens up the door for jobs, housing, and education opportunities that were closed before clients received our help with this very basic necessity. g Brettney Moore Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Staff Attorney

Meet the newest TCBF Pro Bono Intern:

Yasmeen Aboellhasan

Where do you go to law school?

I am currently a 2L at Texas A&M University School of Law.

What’s your favorite part of working with the pro bono programs so far?

My favorite part is how much of this job is hands-on with those who call. Getting to hear the relief in their voices when I get to tell them we have the capability of helping them in a very rough time in their lives is a very fulfilling experience.

How were you introduced What’s an interesting fact about you? to the TCBF pro bono I have a passion for everything pineapples. I will happily programs? g

My first introduction to pro bono was a friend of mine asking me to help out with the TLTV Clinic. My experience there listening to the veterans’ stories and watching the sheer amount of attorneys in action and willing to help was amazing and inspired me to find more ways to help which led to my internship here.

enjoy slices of pineapples out of a pineapple-shaped cup.

Save the Date TVAS, LANWT, and MHMR Guardianship clinic

Contact kayla@tarrantbar.org for more information about volunteering.

FEBRUARY

18

2020

The Attorney’s Therapist As a former practicing attorney, Kate understands the overwhelming feelings of stress, burnout, and isolation that often accompany the art of balancing life with the practice of law.

Kate will help you evaluate your choices, identify areas for change,

Kate Casey, LPC, JD

and implement a plan which will allow you to become the best version of yourself.

Contact me. Together we will chart the course for your success.

817.881.1914 • Kate@AutumnRidgeLPC.com AutumnRidgeLPC.com | 270 Miron Dr. #112, Southlake, TX 76092

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 27

28 www.tarrantbar.org

â–ª JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

W e l l ne s s C on n e ct i o n s Co m m i t t e e

WELLNESS CONNECTIONS COMMITTEE (WCC)Its Second Year

By Angela Robinson, Chair, Wellness Connections Committee

M

uch attention has been paid to enhancing the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of attorneys and law students throughout the nation. While Texas has typically pioneered progressive movements (example: Women’s Bar Section), it is has lagged behind other states in joining the national wellness movement.

The WCC began its inaugural year in 2018/2019. Judge Terry Livingston (retired), Judge Sue Walker (retired), and Joseph Horn co-chaired the committee. The co-chairs put together a list of TCBA attorneys who had a passion for attorney wellness. Many in-roads were accomplished during that first year, made possible only by the dedication of the committee members.

The WCC met monthly to discuss the direction of the WCC and the best way to meet the goals of that direction. Of course, the main topic was “what does ‘wellness’ mean to the WCC?” The committees’ mission is to enhance the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of the Bar. After much work, the WCC developed strategic values and objectives to carry out that mission. The strategic plan included promoting conditions that make all attorneys successful, professionally and personally and to promote healthy connections within our community, with our colleagues, and with ourselves.

In addition to the monthly meetings, WCC held a social at Mutts Cantina where TCBA members enjoyed the fellowship of other TCBA members and their pets. TCBA members also enjoyed Painting with a Twist, which was held in January 2019.

Advancing the goals for the WCC and for the wellness of the TCBA in general, has been the never-ending work of Sherry Jones, Megan Cooley, and the entire staff of the TCBA. The work performed by these employees has been passionate and boundless. They clearly recognize the importance of the WCC work and have been working hard to be support the mission of the WCC. The first year of the WCC gave it the “legs” to kick off the second year. What has been surprising in this second year is the community support for the wellness of the attorneys that serve this community. For each meeting attorneys and community leaders have volunteered their time to speak to the TCBA members on topics important to Bar members.

Non-attorney groups such as banks, health care professionals, and attorney vendors have sponsored healthy lunches.

The October WCC meeting included a presentation from Tim Tarpley, president and owner of Trident Sports. Tim addressed the best exercises for fitness, the best exercises for weight loss, and how to overcome exercise barriers. Tim has been involved in a lifetime of sports, but his most recent passion is endurance sports. Because of his passion, Tim is a regular guest lecturer for the City of Fort Worth Wellness Department as well as the YMCA Wellness Department. If you see Betsy’s Brigade on the streets of Fort Worth, you will see Tim not far behind. The luncheon sponsor was Promises Behavioral Health, Valerie Proctor, Territory Outreach Manager.

The December WCC meeting speaker was Kate Casey, JD LPC with Autumn Ridge LPC. Kate spoke to the TCBA about Suicide Prevention. Kate addressed the demographics and statistics of suicide, the risk factors and protective factors, and the four questions you should ask if you fear a colleague, friend or family member is struggling with suicidal ideation. The luncheon sponsor was Affiliated Bank.

For 2020 the WCC has speakers who will discuss Yoga and Meditation (Mary Johndroe J.D.), Nutrition (Ruth Thompson Murillo RD LD), A Medical Perspective of Depression (Dr. Deanne Mitchell), and The Depressed Lawyer and Practical Advice for Dealing with Depression (William Greenhill). There are plans for a cooking class on January 16th, a social at Mutts Cantina on March 26, and a free yoga/meditation class taught by Mary Johndroe in January/February. All TCBA attorneys are encouraged to attend the committee meetings and any of the planned events. Notices of the meetings and events will be sent in the weekly notices distributed by the TCBA staff.

Attorney wellness should be the goal of every member of the Bar. Formation and continuation of the WCC is only one step towards that goal. It takes the involvement of all attorneys to achieve this goal. If you want to get involved you may contact Angela Robinson at angela@robinsonattorney. com or Sherry Jones at sherry@tarrantbar.org. https://www.tlaphelps.org/ Call 1.800.343.8527 (TLAP) • • •

Wellness Stress & Anxiety Depression & Bipolar

• • •

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Suicide Prevention Substance Abuse Cognitive Decline

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 29

The Greatest Bench Bar on Earth 2020 Conference Details

Friday April 17, 2020

April 17-19, 2020

Horseshoe Bay Resort

9:00 a.m.

Conference Check-In Opens

9:50 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Welcome and Announcements Steve Laird (2019–2020 Bench Bar Committee Chair) and John Cayce (2019-2020 Tarrant County Bar Association President)

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Voir Dire In Action & Legal Update

11:30 a.m.

Lunch – Welcome and Introduction of First Timers & Guests

12:30 p.m.

Tarrant County Judicial Panels

1:30 p.m.

An Ethics Presentation Like No Other Lewis Sifford (Sifford, Anderson & Co., P.C.)

2:15 p.m.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Panel

3:15 p.m.

Reception hosting Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Whitewater Golf Young Lawyers & First Timers Mixer with Judiciary Lawyer Olympics

7:00 p.m.

Dinner

8:00 p.m.

Casino Night (sponsored by the Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C.)

Saturday April 18, 2020 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast

8:45 a.m.

The Kidnapping of Howard Hughes Rick Harrison (Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP)

9:45 a.m.

Return to YFZ Ranch - FLDS Cases Eric J.R. Nichols (Butler Snow LLP)

10:45 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m.

Supreme Court of Texas Panel

12:00 p.m.

Luncheon hosting Supreme Court of Texas Justices AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Judge’s Cup Golf Wine Tasting

7:00 p.m.

Dinner, Awards, and Trivia

PLEASE SUPPORT THE TCBA THROUGH A CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP:

CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP LEVELS: BENCH BAR LEGEND $5,000 BENCH BAR CHAMPION $2,500 - $4,000 BENCH BAR SUPPORTER $1,000 - $2,250 BENCH BAR FRIEND up to $1,000

Golf Hole Sponsorships: $150 per hole Golf hole sponsors have the opportunity to have a table set up at a golf hole and meet members as they play the 18-hole Judges’ Cup Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Vendor Packages are also available.

All sponsorship levels include the sponsor’s name appearing on a sponsorship sign at the event, recognition in the Association’s Bar Bulletin, and recognition in all event advertisements including the Association’s social media.

CONTACT:

Megan Cooley at megan@tarrantbar.org or Nick Bettinger at nsb@mcdonaldlaw.com with questions or interest.

First-Timer? TCBA Has a Scholarship for You. A first time Bench Bar attendee is eligible for a partial scholarship to the Bench Bar Conference. Contact the TCBA for more information.

The Janna Clarke Bench Bar Scholarship Fund The mission of the Janna Clarke Bench Bar Scholarship Fund is to honor Janna Clarke’s legacy of involvement in and support of the Tarrant County legal community. The Janna Clarke Bench Bar Scholarship Fund is intended to provide female attorneys in Tarrant County with an opportunity to engage in bar activities and further their own professional pursuits by attending the Bar Association’s annual Bench Bar Conference.

“Many years ago this Big-Wig Lady lawyer approached me and said I should go to Bench Bar (I didn’t know what that was!) because women attorneys needed the contacts and camaraderie to really succeed as a lawyer. It was true! The friendships I have made over the years at our Bench Bar have inspired me, pushed me and helped me succeed. I am gratified that we have the Janna Clarke Bench Bar Scholarship so that other women attorneys can secure that same advantage. Besides, it is such a fun event!!!”

Barbara Nunneley Bench Bar Convert!

Tarrant County Adoption Day 2019

T

arrant County’s celebrated National Adoption Day on November 15, 2019. Committee member Michele Rayburn lead the décor effort. Thanks to her, some generous volunteers, and the wonderful bailiffs that arrived early that morning, the courthouse was transformed into an inviting and happy place for the families. Shortly after, the family law center was filled with superheroes, volunteers, and spectators to witness the Tarrant County Adoption Day festivities. This year, Volunteer Coordinator Shawna Smith was able to secure and assign jobs to over 200 volunteers, who helped make sure the event was a happy, successful day for everyone involved. At the end of the day, 19 children, ranging in age from 11 months to 15 years, were adopted by their “forever” families.

Families had the opportunity to take their first official family photo courtesy of Gary Edwards, and they received a commemorative frame and necklace for each child engraved with their new names. Gil Daley really out did himself and provided everyone with food and refreshments, while Nick Bettinger made balloon animals for the children. Local author Jake Brittain was on site to sign and personalize his book, Keep Dreaming sponsored by Juris Fabrilis. Cause to Play’s superheroes returned this year and even brought along some Disney princesses and Star Wars characters to make the day magical.

A special thank you to the family-court judges, all members of the planning committee, the hundreds of volunteers who donated their time, the community partners who helped support the event, and all of the attorneys and CPS caseworkers who worked hard to prepare the cases and families for the event. This year’s proclamation was presented to Tom Wilder and the district clerks. Every year, the clerks work endlessly to prepare the files and facilitate all of the paperwork involved. They truly are amazing! National Adoption Day would not be possible without the help of these people and organizations, as well as everyone who graciously donates stuffed animals or has bear drives.

THANK YOU!!!

Most importantly, we send our appreciation to the amazing families who chose to bring these children into

32 www.tarrantbar.org

▪ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

their families and who allowed us to bear witness and take part in such a special moment in their lives. Those families are the true superheroes, and we wish them nothing but joy and happiness in the years to come.

National Adoption Day is a collective, national effort to raise awareness of the more than 125,000 children that are in foster care waiting for permanent and loving homes.

Over 1,220 of these children are in Tarrant County. Since its inception, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of over 75,000 children come true nationwide. Next year, we will celebrate Tarrant County’s 20th National Adoption Day and hope to have the biggest celebration and largest turnout yet! g

Special Thanks to Our Planning Committee: Dawn King, Chair Sherry Armstrong, Leslie Barrows, Anita Cutrer, Gil Daley, Katherine Gardner, Ellen Gastil, Samantha Gowans, Gary Lee Hach, Elaine Hambright, Kayla Harrington, Stacey Holtzman, Jill Johnston, Katherine Kim, Megan Legar, Marcus Marsden, Michele Rayburn, Amanda Sanchez, Sarah Seltzer, Christina Sherwood, Matthew Smid, Lori Spearman, Linda Webber, and Brett J. Wyatt

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

CASA of Tarrant County Department of Family and Protective Services Family District Courts of Tarrant County Juvenile Courts of Tarrant County our community. our kids.

Tarrant County Bar Association Tarrant County District Clerk

Special Thanks to Our Donors: ACH Child & Family Services Arrow Child & Family Ministries Barrows Firm, PC Bob Leonard Law Group Brawner Intermediate School Cause to Play Chick Fil-A CK Family Services Fort Worth Paralegal Association

Haynes & Boone, LLP Hope Fort Worth Jake Brittain, Author Juris Fabrilis Keller Center for Advanced Learning Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP Kennebug Boutique The Law Office of Gil Daley, II, PC Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Michael Board Mike and Miriam Richard The Parenting Center Pearl Snap Kolaches The Parenting Center Tarrant County Bar Association Tarrant County District Clerk’s Office Tarrant County Employees Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Tarrant County Young Lawyer’s Association Texas Aggie Moms

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 33

TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION PRESENTS Brown Bag

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS AND TRANSACTION UPDATES

Seminar Series

FEBRUARY 21, 2020 Join us for CLE credit at the TCBA Office, 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth Moderator: Mary Barkley, Cantey Hanger LLP

Noon

Registration

12:30 pm

Tax Law Update Julie Bergkamp, Cantey Hanger LLP

1:00 pm 1:30 pm

Basics of Insurance and Indemnification Andrea Palmer, Higginbotham

Emerging Issues in Commercial Leases Kathryn D. McGlinchey, Broude Smith Jennings & McGlinchey, PC

2:00 pm

BREAK

2:15 pm 3:00 pm

Corporate Entities 101 J.B. Strong, Assistant City Attorney, Fort Worth

3:45 pm

Adjourn

Closing the Deal: Employee Issues in Business Transactions Karen Denney, Haynes and Boone LLP

3 hours of CLE credit requested (This program will be videoed for showing throughout the year.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Brown Bag Registration: Business Organizations and Transaction Updates

_____ $70 TCBA Member

_____ $95 non-TCBA Member

_____ Brown Bag Season Pass Holder

February 21, 2020

_____ $35 TCBA Member Staff

_____ $12 for a boxed lunch

Add $5 if registering after February 19 Please complete this form and return to the TCBA office at 1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 with a check payable to TCBA or with credit card information. If you have questions, please call Sherry Jones at 817-338-4092 (Fax: 817-335-9238).

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________ Firm: ____________________________________________________________ Fax: ___________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Billing Zip: _____________ Method of Payment: _____ Check

_______ Check Number

______ MC

______ Visa

_____ Am Ex

Credit Card Number ________________________________________________ Expiration ______________________ Name on Card _____________________________________________________ Security Code ___________________

In Jerry Charles Walker 1943–2019

J

erry Charles Walker, 76, passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. Jerry was born July 11, 1943 to Perry (Percy) and Dauththula (Mutt) Walker in Fort Worth, Texas.

He graduated from Poly Technical High School.

Following High School he attended Sul Ross University and Tarleton State University where he actively participated in the Rodeo club riding bareback and bulls. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a BS in Animal Science. At Tech, he continued to rodeo and even built the rodeo arena.

He began his career as an Aggie at Texas A&M University by earning an MS Degree in Poultry Science. He then went to work at M&M Farm Supply in Franklin, Texas managing 800,000 laying hens and the egg processing plant. Jerry also raised hogs and even started one of the first food trucks selling Champion Bar-B-Q with his sister and nephew at Walmart in Marlin and Stephenville, Texas. Fulfilling his quest for more education, he pursued a JD from Texas Wesleyan School of Law (now Texas A&M University School of Law) and practiced law in Marshall and Fort Worth in the areas of criminal, family and personal injury.

Jerry loved spending time with his family and friends, fishing, reading and hitting golf balls. He had a very kind heart and was honest “to a fault” which made being an attorney difficult at times. He was a faithful Christian and a member of the First Baptist Church in Franklin, Texas.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pamela Walker; a devoted daughter, Julie Walker; a sister, Jan Cason and husband, Jim; a nephew, Kurt Cason; a friend, Debbie Zimmerman; and loyal legal assistant and co-horts in rescue, Sonya Parker; and his cat, KitKat. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents. g

Memoriam Charlene A. Berry 1932–2019

C

harlene A. Berry, 87, passed away Monday, November 11, 2019.

Charlene graduated with a degree in history from the University of Texas in 1953. Mrs. Berry attended UT law school at a time when only a few women were in a classroom and was one of the first women in Texas to attain a law degree.

Early in her career, in 1959 -1962 she was the executive director of Legal Aid Clinics of Tarrant County. Charlene then worked in private practice in Benbrook until 1969, when she joined HUD to work on litigation where she worked a bulk of her career. Mrs. Berry then left the government in 1995 to focus on mediation, where she handled family law, personal injury, contract and other types of cases.

Charlene has led the Women Attorneys Section of the Tarrant County Bar Association and has been a past president of the Federal Bar Association's Fort Worth Chapter. She was the parliamentarian of the Texas Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs and was awarded the Blackstone Award from this same organization. She was volunteer for the Dispute Resolution Services, Habitat for Humanity, Union Gospel Mission, and at the visitor center at the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, William B. Berry. Survivors: Two sons, Greg and Eric; and grandson, Will. g Published in Star-Telegram on November 14, 2019

Bette Nelon Alexander 1937–2019

B

ette Nelon Alexander passed away November 9, 2019. She was born December 18, 1937 in Fort Worth. Bette worked as a legal secretary for Marion Massey for several years prior to her employment at the Tarrant County Bar Association. As a legal secretary she served as President and was awarded

Legal Secretary of the Year.

While working at the TCBA, Bette held the position of Lawyer Referral Service Director. She was also very active with the Community Service Committees. She had a beautiful smile and strong heart for giving. She was a member of North Richland Hills Church of Christ - The Hills Church.

Bette leaves one sister, Mary; two children and their families and several nephews. g

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 35

It’s All Happening Around the Bar 2019 Texas Supreme Court Reception

Swearing-In Ceremony

36 www.tarrantbar.org

▪ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

It’s All Happening Around the Bar November Membership Luncheon

Author Evan Thomas and Book Club Members

Docket Call Social

Appointment Wheel CLE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 37

PRESORTED Bar Bulletin ▪ January/February 2020 Other Associations’ STANDARD Tarrant County Bar Association U. S. POSTAGE PAID Calhoun Street News & Information 1315 FORT WORTH, TX Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504 Arlington Bar Association

Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. President, Jonathan Heeps. For location & information, email arlingtonbarassociation@ yahoo.com or call 682.738.6415.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PERMIT 1807

Arlington Young Lawyers Association

For meetings and information, contact President Jane Fowler at 817.560.1878 or jane@janefowlerlaw.com.

Black Women Lawyers Association

For meetings and information, contact Judge Maryellen Hicks, President, at 817.451.7100 or hicks8776@sbcglobal.net.

Dee J. Kelly Law Library Welcomes Bar Members!

For the latest Texas A&M University School of Law library hours and information, please visit http://law.tamu.edu or call 817.212.3800.

Fort Worth Chapter Association of Legal Administrators

Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the City Club, 301 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, 76102. For more information, contact Lisa Boyd at 817.339.2478 or LBoyd@BELaw.com.

Fort Worth Paralegal Association

General Membership Meetings are held at noon every 4th Thursday of the month at Joe T. Garcia’s, 2201 N. Commerce. FWPA Board of Directors meets at noon every 1st Tuesday of the month at the Bar Center. For more information, go to www.fwpa.org.

L. Clifford Davis Legal Association

(f/k/a/ Tarrant County Black Bar Association) holds its meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm. For more information, contact President Angel Williams at 817.884.1830.

MABA (Mexican American Bar Association)

Meets on the last Thursday of each month with location to be announced. For more information, contact President Eloy Sepulveda at 817.332.1285.

Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association (NETCBA)

Meets for CLE luncheons on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at La Hacienda Restaurant, Hwy. 121. Contact President Cynthia Williams at 817.318.0523 or cynthia@cynthiawilliamslaw.com.

Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCCDLA)

If any of your contact information is incorrect, please submit the corrected information to the TCBA office at 817.338.4092, fax to 817.335.9238 or email to tcba@tarrantbar.org.

Classified Advertising NOTICE Classified Ads no longer appear in the Bulletin.

They can be found on our website at www.tarrantbar.org.

Stay CONNECTED to Us

Meets every 2nd Thursday at Joe T. Garcia’s, 2201 N. Commerce.

For more information, contact President Rose Anna Salinas at 817.624.9733 or roseannasalinas@aol.com.

Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association

Meets at noon on the 4th Tuesday of each month, with location to be announced. For more information, contact president Dana Manry of KoonsFuller PC at 817.481.2710 or dana@koonsfuller.com.

Facebook

Tarrant County Probate Bar Association

Meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Petroleum Clubmembers free, guests $30. For more information, contact Jeffrey N. Myers at 817.877.1088 or jmyers@bwwlaw.com.

Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association

Meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Joe T. Garcia’s. For more information, contact Mike Freden at 817.726.1636.

Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association

The 2019–2020 TCYLA year began September 1, 2019. If you need an application or meeting information, call 817.338.4092, email kimmie@tarrantbar.org, or go to the website at tcyla.org.

Texas Association of Defense Counsel

This civil defense organization offers local lunches and happy hours, as well as CLEs geared toward the defense practice. Contact Brittani Rollen of McDonald Sanders at 817-336-8651 or visit www.tadc.org.

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