Current BCBA Newsletter

The February 2012 Newsletter, Volume 27, Number 2, dated January 29, 2012, can be downloaded and viewed/printed in PDF format by clicking here. The contents also appear immediately below in browser-readable format

CLE Credit Available for February 8 Meeting

Attorneys Dave Angle and Matt Wilson will be the speakers for the CLE Presentation “Collection Actions- Debt Buyers, Debt Sellers, and Their Attorneys”, at the next regular BCBA meeting at lunchtime on Wednesday, February 8. For those who want to have the materials on hand for the presentation, they can be printed off a link on the website at http://www.bocomobar.org/cle_materials.htm.

As a former Assistant Attorney General, Dave has prosecuted consumer protection violations in the public and private sectors, and has testified to the U.S. Congress on consumer protection legislation. Dave's work has been recognized by judges, practitioners, and consumer advocacy groups around the country. Dave practices law in Columbia.
Matt has litigated hundreds of cases throughout Missouri regarding debt buyer collection efforts. Matt is currently the managing member of Sandberg Wilson Law LLC in Columbia, which specializes in consumer protection issues.

Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the County Room on the lower level of Boone Tavern, 811 E. Walnut St., and the presentation will begin about noon. A brief business meeting will precede the program. Lunch will cost $9, with checks payable to Boone Tavern.

RSVP: To reserve your spot for this meeting, contact BCBA Secretary Gretchen Yancey at 514-4061 or Gretchen@TheYanceyLawFirm.com by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 7.

February 9-10 Missouri Law Review Symposium on Cyberbullying

The University of Missouri Law School is offering 6.9 hours of CLE credit for attendance at this year’s Missouri Law Review Symposium entitled “Cyberbullying; Emerging Realities and Legal Challenges”. The program will explore the impacts of cyberbullying and its regulation. John Palfrey, co-director of Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School, will deliver the keynote address.

There is no fee for the symposium, but registration is required. Registration closed on January 27, but BCBA members are welcome to contact the office of Casey Baker, Director of External Relations at the law school, as a few seats are available. Contact information is 884-7833, email bakercd@missouri.edu. For more information, click here: http://law.missouri.edu/faculty/symposium/lawreview2012/index.html. 

Get Your 2012 BCBA Dues Paid

The BCBA is one of the most active and connected local bar associations in Missouri. We are able to provide our members with nearly all the required annual CLE requirements for the price of lunch, reach out to make our community better, and provide opportunities for our attorney members to keep up on our practice areas and local issues, as well as socialize with each other outside of the courtroom. All of this for the reasonable fee of $50 per attorney/$25 for public service attorneys.

Please send in your annual dues ASAP to replenish the operating budget and keep the BCBA thriving. Click here to print out a dues coupon to send in with your payment to BCBA Treasurer Julia Grus. 

April 4 Set for 2012 Bench-Bar Mixer

In coordination with the court and the Callaway County Bar Association the BCBA has scheduled the 2012 Bench-Bar Mixer from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 at the University Club in the MU Alumni Center on MU campus.

The annual bench-bar gathering is designed to allow lawyers, judges, and courthouse personnel to mingle and get better acquainted. The event is co-sponsored by the Boone and Callaway bars. It alternates two years in Boone and one year in Callaway. It will be in Callaway next year.

Like last year, the format will be a mixer with heavy hors d’ oeuvres rather than a sit-down dinner. Additional details will be provided once the arrangements are completed.

MU Law School Dean's Search Narrowed to Five Finalists

The Finalists are:

• Gary Myers, Associate Dean for Research, University of Mississippi School of Law;

• Andrew Klein, Chief of Staff, Office of the Chancellor, Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis;

• Robert J. Pushaw, Jr., James Wilson Endowed Professor, Pepperdine University School of Law;

• Marcella David, Associate Dean for International and Comparative Law, University of Iowa; and

• Beverly Moran, Professor of Law and Sociology, Vanderbilt University

Each finalist has made or will make an official visit to campus and participate in public forums in Hulston Hall, during which the faculty, staff, students, and general public will be given the opportunity to ask questions. Two of the forums were held prior to publication. The remaining three visits will be held January 30-31, February 16-17, and February 23-24. Additional information can be found below in Upcoming Events segment of this Newsletter, and at http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2012/0111-finalists-announced-for-mu-school-of-law-dean-search/. 

Volunteers Still Needed for High School Mock Trial Competition February 25

Special thanks to Judge Robert Aulgur, Michael Campbell, Ellen Haynes, Kim Burton, Sander Sowers, and Michael McCrary for stepping up to volunteer as judges and evaluators for the first round of the regional High School Mock Trial Competition on January 21.

Attorney volunteers are again needed to judge and evaluate the 2nd round of the competition on February 25. Please contact Bill Ellis at 573-777-3900 or at bill@billellislaw.com.

More Information Available on the 13th Circuit Website

As of January 1, the 13th Judicial Circuit has a new website. A few features may be of interest to members of the Bar:

- Daily dockets & courtroom assignments. Each afternoon both dockets and courtroom assignments are published to the web site for the next upcoming court date. This is the same information available on the table just past the courthouse security station. You may find these by clicking the DOCKETS link in the header of any web page.

- Forms. The number of forms and packets available on the web site has increased greatly to nearly 150. You may find these by clicking the FORMS link in the header of any web page.

- Search. The site now has a site-wide search feature. Click the SEARCH link in the header of any web page.

- For Attorneys. Information of interest to attorneys is available by clicking the FOR ATTORNEYS link in the header of any web page. Included are the portal to the courts Attorney Conflict Calendar, local court rules, information on use of the courthouse wireless, and more.

- The circuit's web site is available at http://www.courts.mo.gov/hosted/circuit13. 

BCBA Public Relations Committee Raises an Additional $95 for Food Bank

The BCBA Public Relations Committee [Lori Green, Chair] raised an additional $95 in January to supplement the generous donations from BCBA members to the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri made in December’s Holiday drive. Peggy Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of the Food Bank sent a kind “Thank You” letter to the BCBA with a story that illustrates the benefit of the donation. It can be read here.

Around the bar . . .

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, January 31, 4:00 p.m.: “Meet the Dean” Candidate Forum, Robert J. Pushaw, Jr., James Wilson Endowed Professor, Pepperdine University, School of Law, at Hulston Hall, Room 6. 

Friday, February 17, 4 p.m.: “Meet the Dean” Candidate Forum, Marcella David, Associate Dean for International and Comparative Law Programs, University of Iowa College of Law, at Hulston Hall, Room 6. [For those interested in attending, double check the time with the law school, as the Itinerary has not been finalized.]. 

Tuesday, February 21, 11:45 a.m.: The Young Lawyers Committee will meet for lunch at Shakespeare's Pizza, 225 S. 9th Street. For more information contact Sander Sowers at 875-1991 or sowers@learwerts.com. 

Friday, February 24, 4 p.m.: “Meet the Dean” Candidate Forum, Beverly I. Moran, Professor of Law and Professor of Sociology, Vanderbilt University Law School, at Hulston Hall, Room 6. [For those interested in attending, double check the time with the law school, as the Itinerary has not been finalized.]

Thursday, March 1, 11:45 a.m.: The Criminal Law Committee will meet at Room 38. NOTE: There will be no criminal law committee meeting in February. For more information, contact Jennifer Bukowsky at j@lawbuk.com. 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012-Sunday, - May 6, 2012: The law firm of Markel & Lingo will be hosting a Rule 88 Child Custody Mediation Training. This training will be held at Stoney Creek Inn & Conference Center. This interactive 5-day family and divorce mediation training led by experienced Attorney, Mediator and Adjunct Professor, Rebecca T. Magruder will provide participants with 40 hours of CLE [2.4 Ethics], and the requirements to be a court approved child custody mediator. An ‘early-bird’ discount is available until April 1. For more information, or to reserve your spot, click on this postcard or contact Emily at (573) 449-2740, e-mail at emily@markelandlingolaw.com. 

TRANSITIONS

Michael W. Hamilton has opened The Law Office of Mike Hamilton, 25 N. Ninth St., P.O. Box 7117, Columbia, MO 65201, phone 825-5698, fax 875-5055. 

NEW MEMBERS

Don Seitz, Modern Property Groups, LLC, 114 Clinkscales Rd., Columbia, 6520, phone 424-9669, fax 552-4366, email don@modernpropertygroups.com. Don has a B.S. in Economics and his Juris Doctorate (2003) from MU Law School. After gaining experience in the practice of law, Don started Modern Property Groups, a Real Estate Brokerage Company, which specializes in the buying and selling of residential real estate and in the management of rental property. He specializes in navigating even the most complicated real estate transactions. Don also holds a Missouri Real Estate Broker’s license and is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS®.

Grant J. Shostak, University of Missouri School of Law, 103 Hulston Hall, Columbia, 65211-4300, phone 882-6444, fax 882-9625, email shostakg@missouri.edu, website http://www.law.missouri.edu.

OTHER NEWS

The Heart of Missouri CASA will be temporarily relocated to the Lifestyles Building on 7th and Walnut.

Stan Clay continues to offer office-sharing space at a reduced price available in the Guitar Building, 28 N. 8th Street, Suite 517, Columbia, 65201. This is a prime location, right across from the courthouse. It includes a secretary/paralegal, receptionist, office supplies, postage, fax, DSL high speed internet, conference room, WestlawNext, and a new phone system. For more information, call Stan at 442-1646.

The 2012 BCBA Budget has been approved. It can be reviewed online at http://www.bocomobar.org/PDF/2012_BCBA_Budget.pdf.

About 70 BCBA members and guests attended last month’s luncheon to hear Missouri Senator Kurt U. Schaefer’s CLE Presentation “2012 General Assembly Preview and Legislative Process” .

Treasurer's Report by Julia Grus

Account balance as of 12/24/11	$2,820.04
Receipts 12/24/11 - 1/27/12
Bar Dues	$5,000.00
Interest	.12
Public Relations Committee [to be donated to Food Bank]	95.00
VOID [check to scholarship recipient]	1,000.00
TOTAL RECEIPTS	$6,095.12
Disbursements 12/24/11 - 1/27/12
Columbia Values Diversity Celebration	(100.00)
Thad Taylor (Webmaster Quarterly Invoice)	(750.00)
Central Missouri Food Bank [donation through Public Relations Committee	(95.00)
Check to 2011 Scholarship Recipient	(1,000.00)
Thad Taylor [reimbursement of payment to Network Solutions, LLC for renewal of BCBA domain name registration]	(37.99)
TOTAL EXPENSES	($1,982.99)
Account balance as of 1/27/12	$6,932.17

The Boone County Bar Association Newsletter is published monthly by the Boone County Bar Association, Inc. Send items for publication to the Editor/Webmaster, Thad Taylor, 1121 Business 70 East, Ste. 2D, Columbia, MO 65201, phone 445-4755, fax 445-4756, email thad@midwestelderlaw.com. Annual dues are $50 and may be sent to the Treasurer, Julia Grus, 401 Locust St., Ste. 406, 65205, Columbia, MO 65205, phone 443-3134. 2011-12 BCBA officers are: President, Marvin Tofle, 1805 Cliff Drive, 65201, 228-9768; Vice President, Steve Scott, 201 Westwood Ave., 65203-2871, phone 442-7268; Secretary, Gretchen Yancey, P.O. Box 584, 65205-0584, phone 541-4061; and Treasurer, Julia Grus, address above. Executive Committee members are the officers and Thomas Schneider, Glen Ehrhardt, and Scott Wilson. The BCBA web site is at www.bocomobar.org.