Tarrant County Bar Association Bar Bulletin (September/October 2020)

Bulletin September/October 2020

Tarrant County Bar Foundation

Justice

Advocates for

Advocates for Justice highlights the impact of the Bar Foundation’s work in Tarrant County and celebrates the Bar Foundation’s Fellows, volunteers, and community partners.

F eaturing

SPEAKER JOE STRAUS

Former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives (2009–2019)

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM g

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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O ffi ces

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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

by GARY MEDLIN

“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got til it’s gone”

I

(Or, Connecting During a Pandemic)

f you’re a boomer or a fan of ‘70’s music, you may recognize the above lyrics from Joni Mitchell’s song Big Yellow Taxi (also covered

by Counting Crows, Amy Grant, and Bob Dylan, but I digress). Currently we are finding out that we didn’t know what we had, or how great we had it, before Coronavirus.

And the connection we had with our colleagues and friends, we took for granted, is gone for the present and who knows how much longer. We are also missing the connection we had as members of the Tarrant County Bar Association.

Luncheons, docket call socials, in-person CLE’s, and section meetings, the list goes on, are on hold temporarily. If you are like me, you are missing all these things terribly. I did not know all the value we had in the Bar until now, now that the in-person aspect is gone.

And there is something more concerning than just the things we enjoyed that we are missing. Most of us need some amount of human interaction to stay healthy. For some of us, bar members and non-attorneys as well, we are experiencing more loneliness. Now would be a great time to pick up the phone and check on friends and colleagues we haven’t seen in a while, and just ask how they are doing. There may be someone out there who is not handling this difficult time well, and for whom such a call could really help.

Now would also be a great time to renew your Tarrant County Bar Association membership if you have not already done so. We are in the middle of our annual membership drive, and we need you all more than ever. We need you to reach out to other attorneys who are not members and let them know how much we need and want them, too.

But I think all of us need the Bar Association as well. The connection our association is continuing to provide at this time through virtual CLE’s and programs, many specific to the pandemic, are more valuable than ever and help us stay connected. The challenge of this difficult time to our bottom line is another reason why the networking you can uniquely accomplish through our organization is priceless. Did you

know that the Bar Association’s new online member directory is searchable by practice area? Take advantage of it and update your profile today. Professional referrals are still the best source of new clients (and far less expensive than any other form of marketing). The Lawyer Referral and Information Service can also help you grow your practice by connecting you with the public. The Bar Association receives hundreds of monthly calls and emails from individuals seeking an attorney.

Now more than ever the Tarrant County Bar Association plays a vital role in the professional and personal lives of our members. The Bar Association’s new website has a wealth of resources and free and low-cost CLE. Check out the list of free CLE and webinars that are available to our members on pg. 6. Our Covid Task Force is helping members stay abreast of the latest pandemic information affecting our practices.

Hundreds of attorneys, for example, have participated in the Task Force’s Family, Civil, and Criminal Courts panel discussions over the past month. Sections continue to meet virtually and provide free CLE and legal updates. As you will see in this issue, the Diversity Committee has planned opportunities throughout the year to meet, learn, and discuss ways to improve diversity and inclusion in our Bar. We know that virtual meetings and online resources are not a substitute for meeting together in person. And as Bar leaders, we want to return to in-person meetings and luncheons as soon as is safe to do so. In the meantime, we need to continue to meet however we can because too much time alone is not good for us. For that reason, I encourage you to join one of the Bar Association’s committees, participate in the Bar Association’s Wellness committee’s programs, or volunteer for LegalLine, Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, or our other programs that serve our community.

The Bar Association needs the support of the whole Tarrant County legal community. To continue the many ways the Bar Association supports our members it is imperative that we not just maintain our current level of membership, but that we grow to include more members. We need you and we all need each other during this challenging time.

I look forward to seeing you all in person soon! g

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Contents Features 3 11 12 14

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Tarrant County Bar Foundation’s Advocates for Justice Support the Tarrant County Bar Foundation on North Texas Giving Day

817.338.4092 ▪ Fax 817.335.9238 website: www.tarrantbar.org email: tcba@tarrantbar.org 2020-2021 Officers

TCBA/TCFLBA Blood Drive SIDE Bar Conversations: A 10-Part Conversation Series

President.....................................Gary Medlin President-Elect.....................Kimberly Naylor Vice President............................Karen Denney Secretary-Treasurer...........................Lu Pham

Directors Term Ends 2021

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

Departments 1 President’s Page 4 YLA Snapshot 5 100 Club 6 CLE Corner 8 Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans 18 Snippets 19 Lawyer Referral & Information Service News 21 Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services 22 Wellness Connections Committee 24 Benefits of Membership 26 Lawyers on the Move & in the News 26 Membership Report 27 A Word From Our Sections 28 Judicial Profile - Judge Beth Poulos 31 LegalLine 33 Other Associations’ News & Information 33 In Memoriam Advertisers' Index

Term Ends 2022

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Autumn Ridge Counseling and Wellness......................33 Bailey & Galyen.....................................................20, 30 BPW Law....................................................................32 Edward Jones.............................................................29 Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C.......Inside Front Cover LawPay..................................................................16 Parker Law Firm.........................................................13 Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange.............................29 Tindall Square Office Complex...................................12 2 www.tarrantbar.org

Tarrant County Bar Association

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Director....................................John Lively, Jr. Director........................................Dana Manry Director.......................................Lynn Winter

2020–2021 Appointed Directors

Appointed Director.................Ralph Duggins Appointed Director............Marvina Robinson

Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association

Fall 2020 President..................Andrea Palmer Fall 2021 President................Brian Singleterry Immediate Past President...............John Cayce 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.

Advocates for Justice highlights the impact of the Bar Foundation’s work in Tarrant County and celebrates the Bar Foundation’s Fellows, volunteers, and community partners.

FEATURING: SPEAKER JOE STRAUS FORMER SPEAKER OF THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (2009-2019)

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Former ofPM the Texas 11:45Speaker AM – 1:00

In Connection with

National Pro Bono Week October 25 - 31, 2020

F

Rising to Meet the Challenge: Pro Bono Response to Covid-19

ormer Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has spent his career at the intersection of public policy, business, and politics. He served as Speaker of the 150-member Texas House from 2009 to 2019, making him the longestserving Republican Speaker in state history, and today he is the Chairman of the Texas Forever Forward political action committee.

Under the leadership of Speaker Straus, the Texas House focused on improving public schools and workforce readiness, funding the state’s water plan, directing billions of additional dollars to transportation improvements, and balancing the biennial Texas budget amid both prosperous and challenging economic conditions. Speaker Straus also prioritized mental health care and the protection of abused and neglected children. In 2017, he led the fight against discriminatory legislation. For his strong, thoughtful leadership on this and other issues, the Dallas Morning News named him Texan of the Year.

Six months after leaving the Texas House, Speaker Straus launched Texas Forever Forward. The committee promotes principled leadership and supports candidates, emerging leaders, organizations, and causes that are focused on Texas’ future. Priorities championed by Texas Forever Forward include economic growth, public and higher education, inclusivity, mental health care, investments in infrastructure, and civic participation.

Nationally recognized for his commitment to public service, Speaker Straus serves on the Brookings Institution Board of Trustees, and he is a member of the Class of 2009 of the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership. He also continues to provide leadership with the national Republican Party by serving on the Board of

Whitney Beckworth Luz Herrera Jason Miller Bob Brown Lisa Jamieson George Muckleroy Directors of the Republican State Leadership Committee, Ola Campbell Sam Johndroe Lynn Rodriguez and he is a past Chairman of the Republican Legislative John Corbin John Sarah Seltzer Campaign Committee.

HeJohnson continues to engage with Ellen Dickerson Spencer Mainka Melissa Sircar the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, serves as a Tom Meigs Brandon Weaver member ofDuffy the HonoraryZoe Board of Directors at the SMU John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies, and serves on the Texas Biomedical Research Institute Board of Trustees. He is also Co-Chairman of Early Matters San Antonio, an organization that is working to rally the local business and civic community around the importance of high-quality early childhood education for all children.

Speaker Straus is a Principal with La Cima Partners, LLC, a strategic consulting business. He is also a Partner in Bennett & Straus, LLC, a San Antonio-based insurance, investments and executive benefits firm.

Speaker Straus is a fifth-generation Texan and a San Antonio native. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.

He and his wife, Julie, live in San Antonio and have two adult daughters. g The event will be held virtually. Ticket and sponsorship information will be distributed soon.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2020 NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF PRO BONO

Rising to Meet the Challenge: Pro Bono Response to Covid-19 October 25 - 31, 2020

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YLA Snapshot Andrea Palmer, President TCYLA

T

his is a challenging time to be a leader in the legal community. We are pushing through a pandemic, while participating in a social reckoning over race relations. However, I have decided to embrace this opportunity for growth as I begin my tenure as TCYLA President. I believe this year will make us a stronger and more resilient organization, with more connection to our members and community.

Recently, I attended the first session of the online Bar Leaders Speaker Series. Vicki Clark challenged us to use this year to innovate, change, and grow as an organization. To listen to our membership, and learn what was working and what wasn’t. To pivot and focus on events and programming that members are seeking, and be open to changing what we’ve always done.

Events are going to look different this year. Happy hours are still on hold, but our CLE lunches continue online – tune in monthly for free CLE. We’re planning a (socially distanced) golf tournament, fielding a (socially distanced) softball team, and working on a new fund-raising and membership drive event.

I had three goals coming into this year, and I’ve been working on refining them for the here and now.

1. Growing TCYLA Membership & Leadership We want to grow TCYLA membership, participation, and leadership, and reflect the diversity of the community we serve. Tarrant County lawyers are diverse in so many ways: ethnicity and race; class and socioeconomic status; in areas like firm size, practice group, and geography; and in who they are, whether they are working parents, first-generation attorneys, or had a career before becoming a lawyer. Research shows diverse groups make better decisions. Let’s ensure we’re hearing input from as many different members as possible, and let’s use our differences to create resiliency.

2. Building Bridges in Tarrant County and Fort Worth We’ll be looking for more ways for TCYLA to partner with other organizations, including non-profits, the arts community, and the organizations that support inclusivity in our profession, such as the L. Clifford

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Davis Legal Association, the Women’s Section of the TCBA, and Diversity Committee of the TCBA. We’ll also be finding socially distanced ways to grow our volunteer group and help our community—which needs lawyers now more than ever.

3. Growing the Legal Profession in Tarrant County and Fort Worth It’s no secret that a lot of young attorneys start their practice in the west side of the metroplex, and make a mid-career move to our sister-city to the east. I’d like to explore why that’s happening, and what we can do better to retain talent and jobs here in Tarrant County. The focus of this goal will also be on better understanding what young lawyers in Tarrant County need from TCYLA, especially now, when life has changed drastically.

This is an open invitation to young lawyers in Tarrant County. If you’re a current member, please reach out and let me know what you like about TCYLA, and what you would change. If you’re not a current member, please let me know why. You can email me (apalmer@higginbotham.net) or give me a call (817.349.2503).

In closing, I want to thank Martin Garcia, outgoing TCYLA President, for his leadership this past year. Martin is possibly our longest ever Board Member, joining as a student liaison while at Wesleyan (now Texas A&M) law school, and continuing onto President. Martin, enjoy your Tuesday evenings off – you’ve earned it!

Nothing would be possible in TCYLA without the hard work of all of the Officers and Board of Directors. Brian Singleterry is our President-Elect, and Elizabeth Haslam is Secretary-Treasurer. The returning Directors are Aulstin Gardiner, Kolter Jennings, Austin Franklin, Caroline Brownlie, Garrett Bradshaw, Spencer Nilsson, Collin Ashworth, and Harrison Smith. Our new Directors are Ola Campbell, Spencer Mainka, Jeffrey Tillman, and John Easter.

I’ll leave you with a (paraphrased) quote from Ms. Clark that I’m using to guide my thoughts during this time. “Don’t waste this year thinking, let’s just get through this and then we’ll get back to normal. Plan for now.” I’m planning for now, and there couldn’t be a better time. g

Members of the 2020–2021

100 Club

*List Reflected Below is as of August 28, 2020 Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C Albert Neely & Kuhlmann, LLP 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 Curnutt & Hafer, LLP Decker Jones, P.C. Freeman Mills, P.C. Friedman, Suder & Cooke, P.C. Gaydos Duffer, P.C. Griffith, Jay & Michel, LLP Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. Harrison Steck, P.C. Haynes and Boone, LLP Holland, Johns & Penny, LLP Jackson Walker, LLP K&L Gates LLP Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP KoonsFuller, P.C. Law, Snakard & Gambill, P.C. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

Lively & Associates, PLLC McDonald Sanders, P.C. Mellina & Larson, P.C. Moses, Palmer & Howell, LLP Murphy Mahon Keffler & Farrier, LLP Nelson Bumgardner Albritton, P.C. Noteboom Law Firm Padfield & Stout, LLP Pham Harrison, LLP Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, LLP Robbins Travis, PLLC Second Court of Appeals Seltzer & Dally, PLLC Sharen Wilson, Criminal District Attorney's Office Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP The Blum Firm, P.C. The Clark Firm, P.C. The Colaneri Firm, P.C. Thompson & Knight, LLP Udeshi Law Firm, PLLC Underwood Law Firm, PLLC Varghese Summersett, PLLC Watson, Caraway, Midkiff & Luningham, 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 2020–2021 bar year qualifies for the “100 Club.” The firms/organizations listed (above) have already paid their membership dues and qualify for 100 Club membership 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 our Membership Director Lauren St. Clair at 817.338.4092 or email her at laurensc@tarrantbar.org. g

CLE

Corner

TCBA Offers Free and Low Cost Online CLE to Its Members: Section Webinars:

Section members can access free online CLE that is available on the section’s e-community.

Topic: Intersections of Real Property and Immigration Law in Texas Speaker: Shae Armstrong, Partner, Stinson LLP CLE: 1 hour Topic: Real Estate and Bankruptcy: Issues that May Arise in light of Covid-19 Speaker: Machir Stull, Cantey Hanger LLP CLE: 1 hour

Missed a Brown Bag CLE? Check out the recordings below

If you are not a member of a section and want to access a particular recorded CLE, contact Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org to purchase the recording.

Appellate Section Meeting & CLE

Topic: The Office of Solicitor General: Twenty Years of Representing Texas’s Interests Speaker: Kyle Hawkins, Solicitor General CLE: .75 hour

Business Litigation/Construction Law Section

Topic: Zoom Trials - Lessons Learned in the First Fully Zoom Trial Speaker: Judge Nicholas Chu, Justice of the Peace, Pct. 5 Travis County, Texas CLE: 1 hour

Construction Law Section Meeting & CLE

Topic: Issues in Commercial Construction Bankruptcies Speaker: Jason Kennedy, Harrison Steck, P.C. CLE: .75 hour

Fort Worth Business & Estate Webinar

Topic: Recent Developments in Estate Planning Speaker: Professor Stanley Johanson, University of Texas at Austin School of Law CLE: 1 hour

Real Estate Section Webinars

Topic: Evictions in the Era of Covid-19 Speaker: Sam Johndroe, Johndroe Law, PLLC CLE: .75 hour Topic: Intersections of Real Property and Family Law in Texas Speaker: Martin Garcia, Simplified Title Company CLE: .75 hour

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and watch at your convenience. Contact Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org to purchase a recording.

Brown Bag Seminar (Webinar)

Topic: Quick Hits for Navigating Covid-19 CLE: 3.25 hours, including 1 hour ethics Presentations include: Moderator: Brian Singleterry, Cantey Hanger LLP • Employment Issues (Caroline Harrison, Pham Harrison, LLP; Jason Smith, Law Office of Jason Smith) • Virtual Mediations and Ethical Implications (Jennifer Caldwell, Jennifer M. Caldwell, P.C.) • Bankruptcy Issues (Mark French, Law Office of Mark B. French) • CARES Act – Small Business Incentives (Professor William Byrnes, Texas A&M School of Law; Professor Neal Newman, Texas A&M School of Law) • Judicial Panel (Judge Brooke Allen, Probate Court #2; Judge Patricia Bennett, 360th District Court; Judge Kimberly Fitzpatrick, 342nd District Court; Judge Chris Wolfe, 213th District Court)

Brown Bag Seminar (Webinar)

Topic: Real Estate, Construction, Planning and Zoning CLE: 3.0 hours Presentations include: Moderator: Mary Barkley, Cantey Hanger LLP • Texas Ad Valorem Property Tax Litigation Preston J. Dugas III, Preston Dugas Law Firm, PLLC • Planning and Zoning Law Justin Light, Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett, L.L.P. • Emerging Issues in Real Estate Drafting Suzanne Frossard, M. Suzanne Frossard, P.C. • Texas Lien Law Summary Stephen D. Harrison, Harrison Steck P. C. • Updates on Texas Construction Law Cara Kennemer, Underwood Law Firm

Free to TCBA Members: Covid-19 Task Force Presents: Tarrant County Family Courts Covid-19 Update (Webinar)

CLE: 2 hours Moderator: Kim Naylor, TCBA Task Force Board Liaison and 2020-2021 TCBA President-Elect Judicial Panel: • Judge Jesse Nevarez, Jr. (231st District Court) • Judge Kenneth E. Newell (233rd District Court) • Judge James Munford (322nd District Court) • Judge Jerome S. Hennigan (324th District Court) • Judge Judith Wells (325th District Court) • Judge Patricia Baca Bennett (360th District Court) • Judge Cherami Jenkins (IV-D Court No. 2)

September 18, 2020 | 12:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.

Brown Bag Seminar (Webinar)

Topic: Ethics CLE: 3 hours of Ethics Presentations include: Moderator: Brian Singleterry, Cantey Hanger LLP 12:30 p.m.

Professional Ethics

Magistrate Judge Hal R. Ray, Jr., United States

District Court Northern District of Texas 1:00 p.m.

Law Practice Disruptions Charles Awalt, Charles H. Awalt Law Office Dwayne Smith, Gardner & Smith, PLLC

1:45 p.m.

BREAK

Diversion Program Ethics Covid-19 Task Force Presents: Tarrant County Civil 1:50 p.m.

Leon Reed, The Law Office of Leon Reed, Jr. Courts Covid-19 Update (Webinar) CLE: 2 hours Moderator: Nick Bettinger, TCBA Task Force Co-Chair and TCBA Past President (2017-2018) Judicial Panel: • Judge David Evans (48th District Court) • Judge Don Cosby (67th District Court) • Judge Susan Heygood McCoy (153rd District Court) • Judge Josh Burgess (352nd District Court) • Judge Mike Hrabal (County Court At Law No. 3)

Covid-19 Task Force Presents: Tarrant County Criminal Courts Covid-19 Update (Webinar) CLE: 2 hours Moderator: Sherry Armstrong, 2020-2021 TCBA Board Director Judicial Panel: • Judge George Gallagher (396th District Court) • Judge Robb Catalano (Criminal District Court No. 3) • Judge Brent Carr (County Criminal Court No. 9) • Judge Deborah Nekhom (County Criminal Court No. 4) • Judge David Cook (County Criminal Court No. 1)

Upcoming CLE

September 15, 2020 | 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Real Estate Section Webinar

Topic: Lessons Learned Related to Water in a Real Estate Transaction Speaker: Mark McPherson, McPherson Law Firm, PLLC CLE: .75 hour

September 17, 2020 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Fort Worth Business & Estate Webinar

Topic: Hot Topics in Estate Planning Speaker: Steve Ackers, Bessemer Trust; Mike Bourland, Bourland Wall & Wenzel, P.C.; John Porter, Baker Botts, LLP; Lee Schwemer, Former Supervisory Attorney (Estate Tax), IRS; Current Lecturer - UTA CLE: 1 hour

2:20 p.m.

Tips and Traps to Avoid Malpractice Robert Tobey, Johnston Tobey Baruch, P.C. 2:50 p.m.

BREAK

2:55 p.m.

Technology Ethics Miles Brissette, The Law Offices of Gill &

Brissette (not a partnership) Bob Gill, The Law Offices of Gill & Brissette

(not a partnership) 3:40 p.m.

ADJOURN

Register Now at www.tarrantbar.org/bbethics

Pro Bono CLE Series Learn the Nuts and Bolts

Free CLE webinars are available to TCBA members. Each CLE webinar has been previously recorded and is 1 hour.

Visit www.tarrantbar.org/TVAS to sign up and get the link to the webinar.

• Landlord Tenant Basics in a Covid-19 World • Uncontested Divorces (with Covid-19 information) • Drafting Simple Wills and End of Life Planning Documents

Other Online Seminars Available (with no CLE) Topic: Remote Working Tips (available on the Covid-19 Task Force) Speakers: Nick Bettinger, McDonald Sanders, P.C. Jim Zadeh, Law Office of Jim Zadeh, P.C.

Wellness Connections Committee Program

Topic: Cooking Demonstration & Menu Planning Speaker: Ed Soto, Culinary Director at Fount Board and Table in Dallas’ Uptown neighborhood

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Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

Tarrant County Chapter

A

Happy 10th Anniversary to TLTV!

ugust 2020 marked 10 years of TLTV. Thank you to everyone who has contributed over the last 10 years to serve innumerable veterans and their families! Here are some stand out memories and thoughts about the program from former chairs and Pro Bono Programs Directors: “My proudest moment was when TLTV won the State Bar’s Pro Bono Award, because it represented so much hard work and dedication from the many people who volunteer at the clinics, accept pro bono cases, and serve on the TLTV committee. I was so honored to be part of it. My favorite memories revolve around the clinics when I got to see the interactions between attorneys and veterans, and the impact a consult can have on both. I loved the camaraderie between the regular volunteers. It has been a year since I left the TCBA, and one of the biggest reasons I still participate in TLTV is the friendships I made among this group of incredible volunteers. I encourage everyone to participate if they can: attorneys, paralegals, law students, community members—everyone can play a role.”

—Melissa Sircar, Pro Bono Programs Director 2017-2019 “TLTV is important to me not only because it connects veterans to great attorneys, but also because of the amazing people I have met along the way. From TCBA staff to law students to our attorney volunteers, it has been an honor to serve with some of the best people Tarrant County has to offer.”

—Melissa Wilks, TLTV Committee Chair 2017-2018 Joy. It happens so rarely in the family law context and I have had the undeserved honor to experience it through TLTV. An Army Veteran twice my size with a single tear down his cheek as he says "Thank you" (even though no words actually came out) after a Judge declared that his kids weren't moving across the country;

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or the Navy mother who hadn’t seen her son in 6 months, coming out of the courtroom and jumping up and down together crying because her little boy would be coming home.

Serving Veterans through TLTV has brought me more joy than I can imagine and certainly more than I deserve.”

—Sarah Seltzer, TLTV Committee Chair 2019-2020 “$500 and a group of dedicated attorneys was all it took to start TLTV in Tarrant County. The support and the commitment from the TCBA, TCBF and community partners was key to the success of the program.

I can recall each and every hug, every tear and so many thank you’s throughout the years. I still recall one time that I went to a meeting to present the program and a veteran told me he went to a clinic thinking it was going to be ultimately a ruse for attorneys to get more business and that at the end we were going to be asking for money for our services; he told me he could not believe that attorneys really cared. I believe that the impact to the legal profession is as marked as the impact in the life of each veteran we served throughout the years. I am the proud daughter of a Marine who served in Vietnam and it has been a privilege and an honor to have the opportunity to be part of TLTV.” —Aleed Rivera, Pro Bono Programs Director 2012-2017 “My favorite memory of TLTV is how a small group of volunteers worked over a weekend to find a single mom/ veteran a pro bono counsel in Central Texas to join her at a hearing early the following week to help her with her efforts to keep her child. This veteran was scared and desperate for help, and our team did all that needed to be done to get her through a tough moment. It was a beautiful demonstration of the spirit of TLTV and of pro bono in general.”

—Jeff Whitfield, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS!

Thank you to those that recently did a TLTV phone consult!

Kee Ables Katherine Allen Whitney Beckworth Bob Brown Ola Campbell John Corbin Carole Cross Ndidi Gbulie Wendy Hart Luz Herrera Sam Johndroe John Johnson Kate Kim

Deborah Krane Spencer Mainka Mike McBride Zoe Meigs Jason Miller George Muckelroy David Pritchard Hannah Recker Joe Robles Lynn Rodriguez Melissa Sircar George White

Thank you to the TLTV attorneys that recently accepted a case for TLTV: David Speed Hannah Recker George White

Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

Tarrant County Chapter

Thank you to the Law Office of Aleed J. Rivera, PLLC for sponsoring August’s Free Legal Advice Clinic For Veterans.

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Support The Tarrant County Bar Foundation on North Texas Giving Day

S

AVE THE DATE for the 12th annual North Texas Giving Day on September 17, 2020! On September 17, individuals can support the Bar Foundation community and pro bono programs by visiting www.

NorthTexasGivingDay.org/TCBF and making a donation on the Tarrant County Bar Foundation’s profile page.

Donations made on North Texas Giving Day are multiplied by bonus funds provided by Communities Foundation of Texas—that means your donation has a greater impact!

Gifts made to the Tarrant County Bar Foundation on North Texas Giving Day will support community programs like LegalLine, the People’s Law School, and the Elder Law Handbook. Gifts will also allow the

Tarrant County Bar Foundation to continue to devote resources to the two pro bono programs supported by the Tarrant County Bar Association’s volunteers: Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans–Tarrant County Chapter (TLTV) and Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services (TVAS).

These programs provide legal education to the Tarrant County community and free legal resources to veterans and low-income residents in Tarrant County.

Please share this giving opportunity among your colleagues, friends, and law firms. For more information, contact Megan Cooley at megan@tarrantbar.org. g

Early Early Giving Giving begins begins September September 1st!

1st!

From September 1– 16, donors can make real-time gifts through the NTxGivingDay website in support of the Bar Foundation campaign.

Donations can be made online at www.northtexasgivingday.org/TCBF. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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FREE COVID-19 Antibody Testing for Blood Donors

TCBA/TCFLBA Blood Drive

Benefitting

There ’ s still time to help save lives!

This year you can participate in the Tarrant County Bar Association/Tarrant County Family Law Bar Associations’s Blood Drive by donating at a Carter BloodCare Donor Center or mobile drive.

When you donate, please tell the phlebotomist you are with the TCBA/TCFLBA and give them this Sponsor Number: SPON034013 To honor social distancing, please make an appointment, complete donor question online using QuickScreen and plan on bringing/wearing a mask.

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To find a Donor Center or mobile drive near you and to make an appointment, please go to: https://bit.ly/TCBABloodDrive ARLINGTON DONOR CENTER 4780 Little Rd. Arlington, TX 76017 (817) 274-0812

KELLER DONOR CENTER 101 Town Center Ln Keller, TX 76248 (817) 337-1520

HEB DONOR CENTER 1731 W. Airport Freeway Bedford, TX 76021 (817) 283-4787

MANSFIELD DONOR CENTER 920 US Hwy 287 N, Suite 210 Mansfield, TX 76063 (817) 539-0244

HULEN DONOR CENTER 4995 S. Hulen St. Fort Worth, TX 76132 (817) 263-5810

ROSEDALE DONOR CENTER 1263 W. Rosedale St. Suite #100 Fort Worth, TX 76104 (817) 335-4935

▪ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

â–ª TCBA BULLETIN 13

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

TCBA’s Diversity Committee Invites The Bar Association’s YouTarrant to SaveCounty the Date and Participate Diversity Presents in these Committee Upcoming Activities:

SIDE* Bar Conversations * SIDEStrivingBAR CONVERSATIONS for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity inside the Bar StrivingAfor Inclusion 10-P a r t CoDiversity nve r s aand t i o nEquity S e r i in e sthe Bar

A CO N V E R SAT I O N S E R I E S

*TCBA and the Diversity Committee’s “SIDE Bar Conversations” (Striving for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity inside the Bar) is intended to foster conversations and address matters related to inclusion, diversity, and equity. SIDE Bar is a safe forum for the Bar to have frank and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about race, relationships, and cultural sensitivities in order to improve inclusion, diversity, and equity in the Bar and community.

�e R Word: How to Talk About Race and Racism

All conversations in this series will be virtual until further notice in light of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Syllabus below includes proposed topics for the series (subject to change) and suggested reading. Reading and other assignments are not required to engage and enjoy the discussion series.

(3) Let’s Talk About It: Race and Racism in the Practice of Law – Part 2 October 29, 2020 at Noon

How can we tackle the issues we have discussed so far regarding race and racism in the practice of law? This program will focus on tangible steps to tackle racism in the practice of law. We will look at both the experience for BIPOC lawyers, and also for BIPOC clients. We will explore the idea of Anti-Racism as a way to activate the sentiment against racism to create change.

Book Study: How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi Homework: Take the Harvard University Implicit Bias Test; Reflect on whether unconscious cultural biases impact how you view and/or interact with clients, colleagues, judges, and opposing counsel.

An Open Discussion Moderated by the BridgeField Group

(2) Let’s Talk About It: Race and Racism in the Practice of Law – Part 1 September 24, 2020 at Noon

Monday, August 24, 2020 | 12:00 PM

The first topic gave a framework of how to talk about race and racism, now let’s actually talk about it and identify racism in our own backyards. The conversation will explore the experiences of people of color in legal careers, addressing concepts like microaggressions, code-switching, and unspoken requirements of cultural assimilation; a discussion of the current forms of racism in the legal system, including the impact of past racism on the present; the role of white privilege in legal education, hiring, business development, and practice. Finally, we will address how lawyers of the majority community can play a role in the dynamics discussed.

Book Study: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson Homework: Write notes to yourself on how racism exists in the practice of law. Consider personal, interpersonal, institutional, and structural racism.

Volunteer Activity: Offer mentorship to a minority law student. (virtual coffee break)

(4) The Role of Allies, Leaders, and the White Majority November 19, 2020 at Noon

The burden of creating a society free of racism should not fall on the minority or marginalized communities. Often, minority communities are tasked with identifying racism, calling it out, and working to eradicate racism. Learn how leaders, allies, and all attorneys can play a bigger role in combatting racism.

Book Study: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo Homework: Read Getting Over Your Fear of Talking About Diversity by Daisy Auger-Dominguez on the Harvard Business Review website.

RSVP at www.tarrantbar.org/SIDEbar - Link in Bio Co-hosted by: by: L. L. Clifford Clifford Davis Davis Legal Co-hosted Legal Association Association & Black Women Lawyers Association & Black Women Lawyers Association

(5) Systematic Racism: Does it Exist in the Criminal programs to address racism and create more equitable workplaces. This conversation will discuss how we measure Justice System?

January 28, 2021 at Noon

Discuss the unequal application of the law in the criminal justice arena. From mass incarceration, policing, bail systems, mandatory-minimums, and a justice system slanted in favor of the wealthy—this conversation covers some of the ways our current criminal justice system unfairly harms black and brown communities. We will hear from leaders in this area of law, and also discuss an attorney’s role in upholding the legal principle of equal justice.

Book Study: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander; History of Fort Worth in Black and White Homework: Watch 13th by Ava DuVernay Volunteer Activity: Volunteer to help as a pro bono lawyer for an Expunction Clinic.

(6) Titans of Law: Celebrating Fort Worth’s Black Legal Heavyweights February 25, 2021 at Noon

How can we tackle the issues we have discussed so far regarding race and racism in the practice of law? This program will focus on tangible steps to tackle racism in the practice of law. We will look at both the experience for BIPOC lawyers, and also for BIPOC clients. We will explore the idea of Anti-Racism as a way to activate the sentiment against racism to create change.

Book Study: How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi Homework: Take the Harvard University Implicit Bias Test; Reflect on whether unconscious cultural biases impact how you view and/or interact with clients, colleagues, judges, and opposing counsel.

the effectiveness and barriers of these programs. We will also explore affirmative action and other minority recruitment and promotion efforts in the profession and in education.

Book Study: Implementing Diversity by Marilyn Loden Homework: Learn more about your firm’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts, and share resources or ideas that might be helpful.

(9) The Intersection of Race and Gender May 21, 2021 at Noon

Women of color experience unique barriers in the legal field, and in the world. We will discuss intersectionality, the wage gap, and inclusion of women as part of the conversation to create a more equitable legal field.

Book Study: TBD Homework: Read Why Women and People of Color in Law Still Hear “You Don’t Look Like a Lawyer” by Tsedale M. Melaku, available on the Harvard Business Review Website.

(10): LGBTQ Awareness and Inclusion June 24, 2021 at Noon

Celebrate Pride Month and hear from local leaders fighting for LGBTQ rights and inclusion. This conversation series will discuss the LGBTQ lawyer’s experience, the development of the law over the years, and the ways we can create a more inclusive Bar. It will also mark the conclusion of the S.I.D.E. Bar Conversation Series.

Book Study: TBD Homework: Read Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, 140 S. Ct. 1731 (2020).

(7) The Future of Diversity and Inclusion: Hearing Continued Education List: • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coats from Students March 25, 2021 at Noon

This law student led discussion will focus on what the next generation sees as critical for diversity, inclusion and equity in the legal field. What barriers do students still see in the processes to get into law school and create a successful legal career? In a profession that is slow to evolve, we will hear ideas from students about how the profession can change for the best.

Homework: Check out the American Bar Association Syllabus: 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge©.

Will you commit to the 21-day challenge to keep this process of learning going? (https://www.americanbar.org/groups/labor_law/membership/ equal_opportunity/) Volunteer Activity: Volunteer for a virtual career day, mentor a student, or donate to a minority-student focused scholarship fund.

(8): Is your Diversity & Inclusion Program Falling Short?

April 29, 2021 at Noon

For years, professionals have turned to Diversity and Inclusion

• •

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together In the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD

TCBA Diversity Committee Members Involved in Creating this Program

Antonio Allen, Pham Harrison, LLP Paul S. Balanon, BNSF Herschel Bowens, Texas A&M University School of Law Diversity Council Student Liaison Julie Camacho, Camacho Law Firm, PLLC Derek Carson, Cantey Hanger LLP MarQuetta Clayton, The Clayton Law Firm, P.C. Megan Cooley, TCBA Veronica Garza, The Law Offices of Veronica Garza, PLLC Punam Kaji, The Ben E. Keith Company Neal F. Newman, Texas A&M University School of Law Diversity Council Faculty Liaison Angel G. Williams, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office Harrison M. Smith, Anthony | Kennedy, PLLC

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 15

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â–Ş SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Advertise in TCBA’s Bar Bulletin

The Tarrant County Bar Association’s award winning* Bar Bulletin is a multi-faceted journal that is published six times a year for the TCBA’s members. It includes substantive articles, as well as information about membership events and activities. The Bar Bulletin is distributed digitally and by hard copy to the TCBA’s membership. It is also available online on the TCBA’s website.

Advertising rates vary, depending on the size and frequency. Rates are available by contacting Elizabeth Banda, Communications Director at elizabeth@tarrantbar.org or by calling 817.338.4092.

* TCBA’s Bar Bulletin received the 2018 and 2019 “Stars of Texas Bars Award for Overall Newsletter” from the State Bar of Texas.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 17

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 a “blanket easement”?

Under Texas law, a “blanket easement” is “an easement without a metes and bounds description of its location on the property.” . . .“Blanket easements have been commonly used in Texas history, particularly for long route utility projects such as pipelines and electric power lines.” “The purpose of a blanket easement is for the practical convenience of the easement holder to alter the exact location of the lines during construction.”

Atmos Energy Corp. v. Paul, 598 S.W.3d 431, 446 (Tex. Fort Worth 2020).

MOSES’ AND NOAH’S MONTHLY PARAPROSDAKIAN

(a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous) When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the fire department usually uses water.

Moses

Noah

DANES’ QUOTE OF THE MONTH For me a house or an apartment becomes a home when you add one set of four legs, a happy tail, and that indescribable measure of love we call a dog.

—Roger Caras, former President of the ASPCA

CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. Entrapment

To warrant an instruction for entrapment, a defendant “must present a prima facie case that: (1) he engaged in the conduct charged; (2) because he was induced to do so by a law enforcement agent; (3) who used persuasion or other means; and (4) those means were likely to cause persons to commit the offense.”

Zarate v. State, 551 S.W.3d 261 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2018).

2. Witness Subpoena

The law prescribes a three-step process for preserving error

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▪ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

when a subpoenaed witness does not appear. First, the party must request a write of attachment and secure a denial of the request from the trial court. Second, the party must show the substance of the witness’s prospective testimony. Third, the party must show that the testimony the absent witness would have given would be relevant and material.

Campbell v. State, 551 S.W.3d 371 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018).

3. Punishment Evidence

It has long been the rule that, in assessing punishment, “a trial judge is entitled to consider a defendant’s truthfulness as he testifies.” It is both necessary and proper for a trial judge to evaluate a defendant’s credibility, as manifested by his conduct at trial and testimony under oath.

Thomas v. State, 551 S.W.3d 382 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018).

4. Outcry Statement

To qualify as an outcry, “the statement must be more than words which give a general allusion that something in the area of child abuse was going on.” For a statement to qualify as an outcry, however, the record must show that the child described the alleged offense in some discernible manner.

Hines v. State, 551 S.W.3d 771 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2017).

5. Right of Confrontation

The Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause states that “in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to be confronted with the witnesses against him.”

The Confrontation Clause’s primary purpose is to secure for the defendant the opportunity to cross-examine adverse witnesses because that is “the principal means by which the believability of a witness and the truth of his testimony are tested.”

Ette v. State, 551 S.W.3d 783 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2017).

6. Enhancements

It is well established that under Texas law only convictions that are “final” can be used for enhancement purposes. “It is equally well established that a conviction is not final for enhancement purposes where the imposition of sentence has been suspended and probation granted.” “A successfully served probation is not available for enhancement purposes.”

The imposition of a sentence is required to establish the finality of a conviction.

Ex parte Pue, 552 S.W.3d 226 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018).

7. Corpus Delicti Rule

The possibility that a defendant could be convicted of murder when the victim is not even dead has been one motivation for adopting the corpus delicti rule, which requires that a defendant’s extrajudicial confession be corroborated by some other evidence showing that a crime has been committed.

Nisbett v. State, 552 S.W.3d 244 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018).

CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. Settlement vs. COA Opinion

A settlement does not automatically require the vacating of a court of appeals’ opinion—either by [the Supreme Court of Texas] or by the intermediate appellate court. Because “courts are endowed with a public purpose, a private agreement between litigants should not operate to vacate a court’s writing on matters of public importance.

Reverse Mortgage Funding v. Robertson, 599 S.W.3d 52, 55 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2020).

2. One Satisfaction Rule

“Under the one satisfaction rule, a plaintiff is entitled to only one recovery for any damages suffered.” “When a plaintiff files suit alleging that multiple tortfeasors are responsible for the plaintiff’s injury, any settlements are to be credited against the amount for which the liable parties as a whole are found responsible, but which only the non-settling defendant remains in court.”

Duffey v. Sleep Center of Longview, 598 S.W.3d 711, 714 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2020).

3. New Trial

The “significant discretion” of a trial court to grant a new trial “should not, and does not, permit a trial judge to substitute his or her own views for that of the jury without a valid basis.” . . . When granting a new trial, a trial court must explain with reasonable specificity why it has set aside a jury verdict and granted a new trial. The trial court may not simply parrot a pro forma template but must instead articulate the reasons from the facts and circumstances of the case.

In re Norton, 598 S.W.3d 718, 723 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2020).

Jefferson Cty. v. Reyes, 598 S.W.3d 278, 282 (Tex. App.— Beaumont 2018).

6. Judgment

“A judgment for money damages in excess of the amount pleaded cannot be supported,” and such a judgment must be reformed.”

Guillory v. Dietrich, 598 S.W.3d 284, 295 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2020).

7. Termination of Parental Rights

Termination requires clear and convincing evidence that the parent “knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the child to remain in conditions or surroundings which endanger the physical or emotional well-being of the child.” “Endanger” means to expose a child to loss or injury or to jeopardize a child’s emotional or physical health. . . . “Environment” refers to the acceptability of living conditions, as well as a parent’s conduct in the home.

In re V.A., 598 S.W.3d 317, 328 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2020).

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

There is no grievance that is a fit object of redress by mob law.

—Abraham Lincoln

OLD NEWS

The Dollar Bill On the backside of the dollar bill are two large circles that together comprise the Great Seal of the United States.

Interestingly, inside these circles there are thirteen steps on the pyramid, thirteen letters in Latin above the pyramid, thirteen stars above the eagle, thirteen bars on the shield of the eagle, thirteen leaves on the olive branch, thirteen arrows, and thirteen letters in the sash held in the eagle’s mouth. g

Lawyer Referral &

Information Service

News

4. Summary Judgment Response

“Where nothing appears of record to indicate that late filing of a summary judgment response was with leave of court, it is presumed the trial court did not consider the response.”

B.C. v. Steak n’ Shake Operations, Inc., 598 S.W.3d 256, 259 (Tex. 2020).

5. TTCA Notice

For a governmental unit to have actual knowledge, the governmental unit must have knowledge of: “(1) a death, injury, or property damage; (2) the governmental unit’s alleged fault producing or contribution to the death, injury, or property damage; and (3) the identity of the parties involved.”

G

Join the LRIS Today!

row your practice through the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) program. LRIS helps the public find an attorney by providing referrals to members of the LRIS program. LRIS receives over 12,000 calls or emails a year from individuals who want to hire an attorney and offers referrals in a wide range of practice areas including family, criminal, civil, and probate law. TCBA members receive a membership discount to join the LRIS. To find out more about the LRIS program, visit our website at this link: www.tarrantbar.org/LRISdocuments or contact Carolina Ibarra at carolina@tarrantbar.org. g

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 19

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â–ª SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services Sign Up to Assist with the Uncontested Divorce Clinic

T

VAS has been partnering with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas to assist with tenants in eviction proceedings due to Covid-19. One of the volunteers, Brian Singleterry, an associate at Cantey Hanger, commented on his experience: “From the initial email to the concluding email, the case lasted less than a week and took about eight hours—including learning the law. At the hearing, I showed the judge a pleading defect that the client would not have been able to articulate, and got the eviction thrown out.

Although the victory may have only bought her an extra few weeks in her apartment, she was very thankful. The experience was rewarding and let me feel like a real trial lawyer for an hour. I would gladly help again.” Email kayla@tarrantbar.org to volunteer.

The Summer 2020 HEROES Wills Clinic is complete!

Thanks to the many volunteers who devoted time to preparing wills and end-of-life planning documents for veterans and their spouses. For the will executions, the applicants came through a drive thru, socially distanced will formalization ceremony.

Save the Date

LANWT/TVAS Uncontested Divorce Remote Clinic is October 1.

True Worth Legal Resources

T

VAS is excited to move forward with the Legal Resource Center in True Worth Place. Legal Resources are now stocked at True Worth Place, and other legal resources will be available soon! g Kayla Dailey Pro Bono Programs Director

Sign up for the September 10 Driver's License Clinic Free 1 hour CLE

training (.75 ethics) for those who volunteer.

Email

kayla@tarrantbar.org for more information.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 21

Wellness Connections Committee Office Workshop – Pilates at Your Desk Wellness Connections Committee Meeting

Register at www.tarrantbar.org September 16, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

Committee business to be conducted after presentation, at approximately 4:50 p.m. | FREE Event Laura West Strawser will start with a short introduction on the background, history, and benefits of Pilates followed by taking you through a few exercises that can done while sitting in your desk chair. Q&A session will follow.

Strawser teaches Pilates at the School for Classical and Contemporary Dance at Texas Christian University where she aided in developing the TCU Extended Education Pilates Teacher Training Program. She is a Certified Pilates Teacher with the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA-CPT) and served on the Board of Directors of the Authentic Pilates Union.

The Wellness Committee Monthly Podcast Club

A

re you interested in making a small investment in your overall wellness with the potential for a lasting pay off? If so, then join The Wellness Committee's monthly Podcast Club. Each month we will listen to a designated podcast, each at their own convenience, and gather for lunch hour discussion. The discussion will be led by Kate Casey, JD, LPC of Autumn Ridge Counseling and Wellness in Southlake.

We will meet via Zoom on September 22 at 12 p.m. to discuss “The Scarcity Trap: Why We Keep Digging When We’re Stuck In A Hole”. (https://n.pr/3b8zChJ) This podcast is based on the enlightening book, Scarcity, co-authored

by Sendhil Mullainathan, a behavioral economist, and Eldar Sharif, a cognitive psychologist. It is sure to make you think of scarcity, be it your own or that of someone in your life, much differently. g Please mark your calendar for our additional 2020 lunch hour podcast discussions: Register at • October 20, 2020 www.tarrantbar.org • November 17, 2020 • December 15, 2020 Julie Sladek Wellness Connections Committee Chair

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▪ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Recommended Reads from Wellness Committee Members Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much

By Sendhil Mullainathan, Eldar Shafir Why do successful people get things done at the last minute? Why does poverty persist? Why do organizations get stuck firefighting? Why do the lonely find it hard to make friends?

These questions seem unconnected, yet Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir show that they are all examples of a mind-set produced by scarcity.

Drawing on cutting-edge research from behavioral science and economics, Mullainathan and Shafir show that scarcity creates a similar psychology for everyone struggling to manage with less than they need. Busy people fail to manage their time efficiently for the same reasons the poor and those maxed out on credit cards fail to manage their money. The dynamics of scarcity reveal why dieters find it hard to resist temptation, why students and busy executives mismanage their time, and why sugarcane farmers are smarter after harvest than before. Once we start thinking in terms of scarcity and the strategies it imposes, the problems of modern life come into sharper focus.

Mullainathan and Shafir discuss how scarcity affects our daily lives, recounting anecdotes of their own foibles and making surprising connections that bring this research alive.

Their book provides a new way of understanding why the poor stay poor and the busy stay busy, and it reveals not only how scarcity leads us astray but also how individuals and organizations can better manage scarcity for greater satisfaction and success.

My Grandfather’s Blessings : Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging

By Rachel Naomi Remen In My Grandfather's Blessings, Rachel Naomi Remen, a cancer physician and master storyteller, uses her luminous stories to remind us of the power of our kindness and the joy of being alive. Dr. Remen's grandfather, an orthodox rabbi and scholar of the Kabbalah, saw life as a web of connection and knew that everyone belonged to him, and that he belonged to everyone. He taught her that blessing one another is what fills our emptiness, heals our loneliness, and connects us more deeply to life. Life has given us many more blessings than we have allowed ourselves to

receive. My Grandfather’s Blessings is about how we can recognize and receive our blessings and bless the life in others. Serving others heals us. Through our service we will discover our own wholeness—and the way to restore hidden wholeness in the world.

Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal

By Rachel Naomi Remen Enthusiastically praised by everyone from Deepak Chopra to Daniel Goleman to Larry Dossey, Rachel Remen has a unique perspective on healing rooted in her background as a prominent physician, a professor of medicine, a therapist, and a long-term survivor of chronic illness. In the form of a deeply moving and down-to-earth collection of true stories, this prominent physician shows us life in all its power and mystery and reminds us that the things we cannot measure may be the things that ultimately sustain and enrich our lives. Kitchen Table Wisdom addresses spiritual issues: suffering, meaning, love, faith, courage and miracles in the language and absolute authority of our own life experience.

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women

By Kate Moore The Curies’ newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War. Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these “shining girls” are the luckiest alive — until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America’s early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come.

Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

Wide Sargasso Sea

By Jean Rhys Wide Sargasso Sea, a masterpiece of modern fiction, was Jean Rhys’s return to the literary center stage. She had a startling early career and was known for her extraordinary prose and haunting women characters.

With Wide Sargasso Sea, her last and best-selling novel, she ingeniously brings into light one of fiction’s most fascinating characters: the madwoman in the attic from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. This mesmerizing work introduces us to Antoinette Cosway, a sensual and protected young woman who is sold into marriage to the prideful Mr. Rochester. Rhys portrays Cosway amidst a society so driven by hatred, so skewed in its sexual relations, that it can literally drive a woman out of her mind. A new introduction by the award-winning Edwidge Danticat, author most recently of Claire of the Sea Light, expresses the enduring importance of this work. Drawing on her own Caribbean background, she illuminates the setting’s impact on Rhys and her astonishing work.

The foregoing book summaries are courtesy of Goodreads, www.goodreads.com. g

More Recommended Reads from Wellness Committee Members Sacred Duty:

Inheritence:

A Soldier's Tour at Arlington National Cemetery

By Tom Cotton

A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love

By Dani Shapiro

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Killers of the Flower Moon:

The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

By David Grannn

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 23

The 2020–2021 TCBA Bar Year has begun!

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.

The new and improved tarrantbar.org helps you to stay informed and connected with many member-only resources and features to help you track your TCBA involvement, committee and sections happenings, and upcoming TCBA events and CLE. Networking opportunities through joining a TCBA section or committee. Not sure how to get involved with TCBA? We can help! Contact laurensc@tarrantbar.org if you have any questions about a TCBA section or committee.

Access to discounts and free professional services, including free document shredding and a discount for Lawyer Referral & Information Services (LRIS) membership.

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. We look forward to your renewal for the 2020–2021 bar year. Please contact Lauren St. Clair at the bar office at 817.338.4092 or by email at laurensc@tarrantbar.org.

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Updates from the Covid-19 Task Force he mission and purpose of the (TCBA) Covid-19 How You Can Help Task Force is to identify and assess the needs of the

TCBA members and the public arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, make recommendations to address those needs, and help mobilize relevant TCBA committees, volunteer lawyers, and other legal professionals to implement those recommendations.

1

How We Can Help You

Visit TCBA’s Covid-19 Resources for the Legal Community page for court and statewide orders, resources for remote depositions, and other items.

Missed the recent Tarrant County Family, Civil, and Criminal Courts Covid-19 updates? CLE webinar recordings are available on the TCBA’s Covid-19 Task Force eCommunities page. 2 Hours of CLE requested for each webinar.

2

3

If you have questions or suggestions for the TCBA Covid-19 Task Force email the following: Megan Cooley – megan@tarrantbar.org Nick Bettinger – nickb@mcdonaldlaw.com Kimberly Naylor – kim@naylorfamlaw.com

#GiveForLife - Donate Blood and Get a Free Covid-19 Antibody Test Participate in the TCBA/TCFLBA’s Blood Drive by donating blood at a Carter BloodCare donor center or mobile drive. Details on page 12.

Get Involved, Make a Difference: Volunteer for the Tarrant County Food Bank

NEW! TAFB MOBILE EVENTS ADDED. Looking to help distribute food to neighbors in need? Sign up today at www.tafb.org/volunteer.

Donate Your Time and Expertise at an Upcoming Pro Bono Program

The TCBA has a variety of remote pro bono volunteer opportunities. No need to leave your home to make a positive impact! Contact Kayla Dailey, Pro Bono Programs Director, at kayla@tarrantbar.org to sign up. g

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 25

Welcome New Members of the TCBA: ATTORNEYS Jerry Brooks Sarah Brown Gregory Butz Chelsea Carlton Zoe Courtney Malorie Crosley Robert “Bobby” Delafield Robert DuBoise Lindsey Hale Adam Hill Brent Huffman Maria Jackson Stuart Neal Meaghan Nowell Kali Park Rick Poster Tamara Pullin Brittany Rupple Alexander Selig Monique Sneed Lauren Trimble Andrew Van de Kop Terri Wilson

Lawyers on the Move & Patricia Burns Cole, previously a partner with Decker Jones, P.C. in Fort Worth, Texas, has been named legal counsel for Texas at TFI Family Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing foster care and case management in West Texas.

Antonio Undrea Allen, who has built a labor and employment law practice that focuses on the representation of large and small business clients, has been named a Partner at Pham Harrison, LLP. Allen’s work is focused on employment related disputes, including litigation, trials, arbitration, mediation and governmental agency investigations. In addition, he advises, consults and trains on managing workplace issues, preventing employment lawsuits, conducting internal investigations, reviewing and drafting employment and severance agreements, terminating employees and drafting and defending non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements. He earned his J.D. in 2012 from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now Texas A&M School of Law).

ASSOCIATES James Frank

PARALEGALS Ninfa Cruz Kathryn Rodriguez

Kerry E. Braxton has joined Acme Brick Company as Associate General Counsel. Kerry’s distinguished legal career includes global Fortune 500 corporations, a Top 10 international law firm and recognitions as Marquis Who’s Who in America for Achievements in Law, America’s Most Honored Lawyers by Martindale-Hubbell and Texas Top-Rated Lawyer by MartindaleHubbell among his many other notable recognitions of achievement. His areas of expertise include real estate transactions and finance, corporate risk management and insurance and federal and state regulatory compliance. Kerry is a published author of real estate and corporate risk management and insurance legal publications and a frequent speaker at national and international legal conferences. 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.

Membership Report - Stay Connected

STUDENTS Meina Heydari Jose Martin del Campo Blair McCall Leslie McKee

in the News

W

hile Summer comes to an end and Fall is just around the corner, we at the TCBA are hard at work to continue our mission of providing our members with the best resources and benefits.

If you have not already logged on to the new www.tarrantbar.org website, we encourage you to do so now so you can continue to stay plugged in and well-informed of all TCBA happenings and upcoming programs.

Now is still the perfect time to get involved with the TCBA as our committees and sections have just begun their new year. To join a section, simply login to your MyTCBA portal and update your subscriptions. If you are interested in joining a committee, you can fill out the committee volunteer form at www.tarrantbar.org/CommitteeVolunteerForm. If

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▪ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

you have any questions about joining a TCBA section or committee, please feel free to contact me at laurensc@tarrantbar.org.

July 1, 2020, marked the beginning of the 2020-2021 bar year. If you have not renewed already, stay connected and renew your TCBA membership today! TCBA members have access to free and reduced-rate CLE, exclusive networking events and opportunities, and legal news and updates through TCBA's weekly emails and bi-monthly Bar Bulletin publication.

If you are unsure of your membership status, please feel free to send me an email at laurensc@tarrantbar.org. We appreciate your continued support of the TCBA and look forward to another great year! g Lauren St. Clair Membership Director

. . . And Now a Word

T

From Our Sections

he Tarrant County Bar Association has eighteen (18) sections consisting of members with similar professional interests. Each section plans and holds an average of eight meetings a year and elects its own officers. Section meetings afford opportunities for interprofessional liaison as well as specialized continuing legal education. If you have renewed your dues and included your section dues, you will begin receiving notices about upcoming events. This is a good way to get CLE credit and network with others in your area of law, all during the workday.

If you are interested in joining a section, login to your MyTCBA portal and update your subscriptions. Have questions about joining a TCBA section? Contact Lauren St. Clair at laurensc@tarrantbar.org.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Dan Paret, Brown Pruitt Wambsganss Dean Forman & Moore, P.C. 817.338.4888 – dparet@me.com Dues: $25 Appellate Law Section Leslie Robnett, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP 817.878.3520 – leslie.robnett@kellyhart.com Dues: $25 Bankruptcy Law Section Nancy Ribaudo, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP 817.878.3574 – nancy.ribaudo@kellyhart.com Dues: $50 Business Litigation Section Graigory Fancher, Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C. 817.877.1088 – gfancher@bwwlaw.com Dues: $30 Collaborative Law Section Lauren Duffer, Gaydos Duffer, P.C. 817.548.5643 - lauren@gaydosduffer.com Dues: $20 Construction Law Section Patrick Sheridan, Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones, LLP 817.405.6916 – patrick.sheridan@bondsellis.com Dues: $30 Corporate Counsel Section Andrea Palmer, Higginbotham Insurance Agency, Inc. 817.349.2503 – apalmer@higginbotham.net Dues: $20 Criminal Law Section Brad Clark, The Clark Firm, P.C. 817.332.7739 – brad@texasclarkfirm.com Dues: $15 Energy Law Section Brian Smith, Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC 817.878.0587 - bsmith@whitakerchalk.com Dues: $25 Environmental Law Section Stephen Tatum, Environmental Protection Agency 817.713.9492 – sltatumjr@gmail.com Dues: $15

FW Business & Estate Section Walter “Chip” May, May Financial Solutions 817.878.3288 – chip@mayfinsolutions.com Dues: $45 Intellectual Property Law Section Jeff Slattery, Texas A&M University School of Law 817.212.4051 – jslattery@law.tamu.edu Dues: $25 International & Immigration Law Section Margarita Morton, Morton Law, PLLC 817.755.1075 – mmortonlaw@gmail.com Dues: $20 Melissa Wilks, Wilks Law Office 817.870.9733 – melissa@wilkslawfw.com Dues: $20 Labor & Employment Law Section Lauren McDonald, Tarrant County College District 817.515.5242 – lauren.mcdonald2@tccd.edu Dues: $20 Real Estate Section Jessica Sangsvang, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC 817.215.5563 – jessica.sangsvang@oncor.com Dues: $15 Solo & Small Firms Section Antoinette Bone, The Law Office of Antoinette Bone, PLLC 817.462.5454 – antoinette@abonelaw.com Dues: $20 Tax & Estate Planning Section Mark Maples, Brackett & Ellis, P.C. 817.339.2444 – mmaples@belaw.com Dues: $35 Women Attorneys Section Kelly Decker, Decker Poole, PLLC 817.348.9060 – kelly@deckerpoole.com Dues: $30

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 27

Judicial Profile

By Perry Cockerell, Perry Cockerell, P.C.

Judge Beth Poulos

A

ssociate Judge Beth Poulos came from a family of 8 children and was the 3rd child of George and Patricia Poulos of Midland, Michigan. Her father died in a car accident when she was 17 years old, leaving her mother with 8 children still at home and no money for college.

After graduation from high school, Poulos enlisted in the United States Army as a Private First Class and was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for boot camp. After boot camp, she remained at Fort Jackson as Headquarters Company Clerk for the next year and a half and was in charge of tracking troops.

Her next assignment was to Fort Greely military installation in Alaska, where she served the remainder of her 3-year enlistment. As an administrative clerk for a small cadre who developed and tested cold weather equipment, she often went into the field with the unit, testing skis, clothing, and field equipment in the frigid weather of interior Alaska.

“I had a blast and met wonderful people in the state. I was fortunate to work with great people and thoroughly enjoyed my time there.”

After her three-year tour ended with the Army, she returned to Michigan in 1979. At that time the state was experiencing a high unemployment rate and a crippling recession. Texas, on the other hand, had a much healthier economy, and Judge Poulos moved to the Fort Worth area to find work and pursue her education made possible by the GI Bill. After moving to Fort Worth, she worked in a print shop during the day, attended the University of Texas at Arlington in the evenings, and worked food and beverage jobs on the weekends. The GI Bill provided her with college tuition and a monthly stipend. “It was generous in those days, and the GI Bill made it possible for me to buy my first house at a relatively young age.”

After taking time out to have her daughter, she graduated in 1986 from UTA with a BA in political science and a minor in history. She was accepted into Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 1987 and worked as an intern during the summers for the Civil Division of the Tarrant County District Attorney's office. She recalls learning a lot and enjoyed working with Ann Diamond, Dana Womack, and Randy Moore, who were Assistant District

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▪ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Attorneys at the time.

After graduating from SMU in 1990 and passing the Texas bar exam, she and her family went skiing in Colorado, where she suffered a severe accident that severed a major ligament in her knee, requiring ACL reconstruction surgery.

She was unable to work for months and continued to spend time in Colorado while she recovered from knee surgery.

During this time, she decided to obtain a Colorado law license in the event she relocated at some future date to work in the state. She passed the Colorado Bar in 1991 and held two state licenses until relinquishing the Colorado license after several years of non-use.

Her first position as an attorney in Texas was with Hill Heard Gilstrap Goetz & Webster in Arlington, where she worked primarily in the insurance defense section of the firm. As an associate with Hill Heard, she spent a lot of time in the library researching and writing trial briefs.

“Courtroom action is rare for associates in large firms since the partners in the firm generally appear when necessary,” and it was through the few family law cases that came her way that she first realized how much she enjoyed litigation and being in the courtroom.

In 1993 she opened her solo practice and shared an office with Bonnie Cade, an Arlington family lawyer whose office was next door to Hill Gilstrap on Abram Street in Arlington.

“Bonnie mentored me and provided me with cases that she didn’t have time to handle. I can't say enough good things about Bonnie Cade. She was always ready to help. She gave my practice direction and made the move from civil litigation to a family practice effortless.”

When Bonnie Cade was appointed as the Associate Judge of the 325th District Court, Poulos continued her practice in Cade’s building until it was sold in 1997. Poulos next shared office space with Jerry Hennigan, also on Abram Street in Arlington, and they spent five years as officemates and friends. “Working 60 hours a week (sometimes 80 hours during jury trials), it was a busy, busy, practice. The phone just kept ringing with good cases,” first from Cade’s referrals and then from Poulos’ own network of former clients and other attorneys. During this time, Poulos was also heavily involved in the Arlington Bar Association, first on the board of directors and then as President of that bar. She also had a substantial pro bono case load from the monthly clinic the bar sponsored and generally left the clinic with at least one case a month.

In 2006 when Jerome Hennigan took the bench of the 324th District Court, he appointed Poulos as the Associate

Judge of the court. She has held the position for the past fourteen years.

Life in the 324th District Court after Covid-19

Historically, Poulos’s court scheduled several cases in the morning and a single special setting occurred in the afternoons. The morning docket gave attorneys the opportunity to work on settling their cases while waiting for the court to deal with them, which resulted in the majority of cases settling without the necessity of a hearing. “If the attorneys weren’t able to settle the case, we would try it at the first setting if there was time. If not, it would be rescheduled for an afternoon special setting.”

But things changed when the Covid-19 crisis occurred.

Now she sets specific hearings by zoom starting at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30. Phone conferences begin at 8:30 for short attorney-only issues such as pre-trial scheduling orders and motions to sign orders. In-person hearings are rare and generally include protective orders, writs, and recently enforcements and some “non-essential” matters.

“All of the courts are handling their dockets differently” and changes can occur overnight after the Governor, the County Commissioners, or the Supreme Court issue new directives.

“I used to hear cases in which attorneys could take whatever time they needed, but we can't do that any longer.

Since there can be no more negotiating settlements in the hall, attorneys and pro se litigants either make their agreements on their own or the case must be set and tried. That makes for many more hearings than we had before Covid-19.” With the Zoom format, the attorneys must come to court prepared for a hearing and forward their exhibits to my bailiff the day prior to the setting. “Trying so many more cases means we can’t take as long with hearings and that means attorneys must be prepared well ahead of time.”

Consistency is an important element of Judge Poulos’ approach to the cases assigned to her. “I want to be consistent so there can be some sense of expectations. If I did it today, that generally means I did it yesterday and will do it again tomorrow, all things being equal.” Poulos also believes this allows attorneys an advantage in that they are more able to properly advise their clients on strategy going forward and will be more effective in their representation. “Attorneys who are prepared and who know the parameters of what they can expect from the Court are in a better position to advise their clients. They’re also in a better place at the end of a hearing when they’ve advised their client of the likely ruling rather than to have to make excuses for a bad result.”

The judge wants the attorneys and the litigants to respect the judicial process. “There should be a certain amount of solemnity in court proceedings and we need to respect the process. Divorce and child related issues affect not only the parties’ marriage but also their children, their home, their money, their relationships, their jobs; literally their entire world. We must always remember how all-encompassing this is to the people we serve and never forget just how serious it is to them.” g

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 29

What Does Your Profile Look Like?

Did You Know? The TCBA’s new website has a member only online directory that is searchable by firm name, practice area, and other filters.

Updating Your MyTCBA Profile - Step

2

Use this form to update your information and save changes when you are finished.

Below are some tips on making the most of your TCBA membership by updating your MyTCBA profile.

If you’ve not already created a new login for the site, you can do so easily by visiting the website at www.tarrantbar.org and hovering over the Member Center button as seen below. You will be prompted to create new login credentials and once logged in, will have access to your MyTCBA page and other members-only features.

Updating Your MyTCBA Profile - Step

1

Hover over and select the “Update My Profile” link.

You will be taken to your information updating page.

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▪ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

TCBA Membership Directory - Step

3

As shown below, your directory listing will display contact information as well as any committees, sections, or other TCBA groups you are involved with for the bar year. g

LegalLine Legal I

Sign Up to Volunteer

n the last two months 276 people have been served by 23 attorneys through Remote LegalLine. Attorneys volunteered for a total of 102 hours! If you’d like to know more about volunteering, email carolina@tarrantbar.org.

Thank you to everyone who had volunteered for LegalLine in the last two months: Norma Bazán Nick Bettinger Julie Camacho Ola Campbell Andrea Casanova Linda Gregory Katherine Kim Bryce King Cynthia Maragoudakis Zoe Meigs

Margarita Morton David Moss Kim Naylor David Pritchard Lynn Rodriguez Josh Ross Ali Crocker Russell Melissa Sircar Lucas Turner “My LegalLine nights are a highlight of that particular week every time!”

—Lynn Rodriguez

Upcoming LegalLine Dates

Kim Naylor

September 10 September 24 October 8 October 22

JOIN A SECTION OR COMMITTEE TODAY! To Join a Section: Login to your MyTCBA portal and update your

subscription.

To Join a Committee, visit:

https://www.tarrantbar.org/CommitteeVolunteerForm

Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

Tarrant County Chapter

Looking for ways you can support TLTV but unable to volunteer?

Consider sponsoring a remote or in person clinic!

Contact kayla@tarrantbar.org for more details.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 31

32 www.tarrantbar.org

â–ª SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Other Associations’ News & Information Arlington Bar Association

Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. President, Duncan Price. For location & information, email duncan@manesslaw.net or call 817.300.1196.

Arlington Young Lawyers Association

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

Black Women Lawyers Association

For meetings and information, contact Marvina N. Robinson, President, at 817.884.1623 or mnrobinson@tarrantcountytx.gov.

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 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact President Angel Williams at 817.884.1830.

MABA (Mexican American Bar Association)

Follow us on

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

Instagram

Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association (NETCBA)

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

@tarrantcountybar

Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCCDLA)

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

For more information, contact President Gary D. Smart at 817.419.0023 or gsmart1053@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, P.C. at 817.481.2710 or dana@koonsfuller.com.

In

Memoriam

Tarrant County Probate Bar Association

Meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Petroleum Clubmembers free, guests $30. For more information, contact Beth Hampton at 817.334.0066 or bhampton@theblumfirm.com.

Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association

Meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Joe T. Garcia’s. For more information, contact Rieker Carsey at 817.294.1900.

Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association

The 2020–2021 TCYLA year began September 1, 2020. If you need an application or meeting information, call 817.338.4092, email laurensc@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.

George R. Trimber 1947–2020

G

eorge R. Trimber, a longtime, well-respected, criminal defense and family law attorney in Fort Worth and loving husband and father of three, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. g Published in Star-Telegram on Aug. 16, 2020.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

▪ TCBA BULLETIN 33

Bar Bulletin â–Ş September/October 2020 PRESORTED STANDARD Tarrant County Bar Association TCBA members may take advantage of discounts U. S. POSTAGE PAID 1315 Calhoun Street provided by the following vendors: FORT WORTH, TX AMO Office Supply offers TCBA members the Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504 PERMIT 1807 lowest price guaranteed on office supplies, with next-day ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Member Benefits Vendor List

delivery and free shipping! Call 800.420.6421.

Falcon Document Solutions, provides quick, efficient and reliable process service, doument scanning, printing, copying and electronic discovery, litigation displays and trial boards. We are available 24 hours 7 days a week at 817.870.0330 or at www.falcondocs.com. Discounts available to TCBA Membership.

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 - $13.00 adult, $10 for child or senior. For tickets, contact anne@tarrantbar.org or 817.338.4092.

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.

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 940.783.6580 for details.

Thomson Reuters Exclusive TCBA offer of 15% off new Westlaw subscriptions or upgrades to current subscriptions*, including our latest AI enhanced platform, Westlaw Edge. Please contact your local Account Executive, Ben Galloway, for more information: Ben.Galloway@ TR.com. *Restrictions apply, please contact your AE for details. g

http://www.tcyla.org

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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.

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