TCBA Bulletin, February 2015 Issue

BulletinFebruary 2015

Join us in Montgomery, Texas

Bench Bar Conference XXII

Thanks to our SponsorsKelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz, PLLCLaw Offi ce of Steven C. Laird

Thompson & Knight LLPLexisNexis

McDonald Sanders, PCWinstead PC

Haynes and Boone, LLPKoons Fuller Family Law

Robert E. AldrichBrackett & Ellis, P.C.

Brown, Dean, Wiseman, Proctor, Hart & Howell, L.L.P.Harris, Finley & Bogle PC

Michael J. HenryLively & Associates, LLP

Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLPState Bar of Texas

Bush Rudnicki Shelton, PCBarlow Garsek & Simon, L.L.P.

Justice Bill MeierParker Law Firm

Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Ray, LLP

Decker Jones McMackin McClane Hall, & Bates, PCFriedman, Suder & Cooke

Law Offi ce of Nancy GordonLaw Offi ce of Greg Lehrmann

Bench Bar Conference CommitteePeter BagleyKirk BryantSonya CarilloJanet DentonJacquelyn FlyntJustice Lee GabrielNancy GordonKyle Gray

Members Cynthia GustafsonKarmen JohnsonSteve LairdLisa LeatonJohn LivelyLyndsay NewellJudge Don PiersonShannon Pritchard

Joe ReganJulie SladekBob WestJeff WilliamsRoger WoodAngel Williams

Fritz Quast • Chair John Shaw • Chair Elect

Greg Lehrmann • Finance Chair

Mike Henry • President Nick Bettinger • Board Liaison

Trisha Graham • StaffSherry Jones • Staff

Guest Room Reservations • This facility is 100% non-smoking. Single $650 (very limited availability) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ Double $550 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$

Registration includes: Accommodations Friday and Saturday nights and six meals, hospitality suite and 8.0 hours MCLE credit

Non-Members: Add $125 to the registration fee to cover TCBA membership dues . . . . . .$

Add-on Thursday night stay (room only): $140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$

Gender: Male Female Roommate All roommates must be registered to attend. If a roommate is not designated, we will assign one for you.

If ADA requirements are necessary, please indicate.

# of years attended

Leisure ActivitiesGolf Friday $40 Saturday $60 Golf (Hdcp/Avg. score ) Golf (Hdcp/Avg. score _____) 9 holes with cart . . . . . . . . . . . .18 holes with cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

Gatsby’s Great Escape $50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$

Scholarship Contribution Please consider making a contribution toward scholarship fund. . . .$

Total Enclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$

First time attendee? Yes No * New attendee competition (see Conference Details)

If yes, invited by?

# of years practicing

Name

Firm/Offi ce

Address

Fax Cell Phone Email

Area of Practice / # of years in practice

My check is enclosed Please charge my registration fee to my: Mastercard Visa American Express

Card Number Expiration Date / /

Billing Zip Code Security Code

Signature Date

Casual attire only!Make checks payable to TCBA • 1315 Calhoun Street • Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6504

Phone: 817.338.4092 • Fax: 817.335.9238

Cancellations Are Allowed Until March 20, 2015, but Fee Of $50 Will Apply.After deadline, no refunds are allowed. No exceptions.

Tarrant County Bar Association • Bench Bar Conference XXIILa Torretta Resort & Spa • Montgomery, Texas

Registration Deadline: March 20, 2015(Registrations after March 20: Add $50 & Subject to Hotel Space Availability)Partial Scholarships Available - See Conference Details

Recruit Your Friends Returning Bench Bar attendees are challenged to recruit as many fi rst-time attendees for Bench Bar XXII as possible. The attorney who recruits the most fi rst-time attendees who register, pay and attend will win a free registration to Bench Bar XXIII (2016).

Scholarships:First-Time AttendeesFirst-time attendees who have been licensed for fi ve years or less are eligible for partial scholarships (based on double occupancy). For details and a scholarship form, call Sherry at 817.338.4092. Apply now!

Barlow Big Heart Award James B. Barlow was a loyal attendee and supporter of the TCBA Bench Bar Conference. Jim made everyone feel welcome and was a positive role model for all who attended the conference. In memory and special recognition of him, attendees will nominate a member who actively promotes positive relationships between the bench and bar during the conference. The attendee selected will receive the James B. Barlow “Big Heart” Award.”

Judges’ CupEnvy is a powerful emotion! If your name is not engraved on the “Judges’ Cup,” start practicing now. The traveling Judges’ Cup Trophy will be presented to the winners of the Saturday 18-Hole Golf Tournament during the Saturday evening Awards Presentation.

Gatsby’s Great Escape Spend Saturday afternoon with a fun group. The scenery will be beautiful and it will be a great opportunity to meet and socialize with fellow attorneys and judges.

Other Events And Activitiesat Bench Bar XXIILawyer OlympicsMiniature GolfWater Slides & Lazy RiverRacquetball CourtsSpa Facilities

MCLE CreditTCBA will be requesting8 hours of MCLE credit,including 2.5 hours of ethics.

Join fellow members of the Bench & the Bar at the La Torretta Lake Resort and Spa in Montgomery, April 24-26, 2015 for a memorable opportunity to network and build relationships while enjoying interesting speakers and presentations. This beautiful resort features numerous amenities, exceptional dining, and a perfect setting for our conference social activities.

2015 Conference Details

the “Judges’ Cup,” start practicing now. The traveling Judges’ Cup Trophy

including 2.5 hours of ethics.

Friday’s ScheduleBench Bar Conference XXII

Friday, April 24, 2015 9:30 a.m. Registration Opens

11:00 a.m. Opening Remarks / Welcome

11:15 a.m. Courtroom Technology PanelModerator: Nicholas S. Bettinger, McDonald Sanders Law Firm

12:30 p.m. Lunch CLE� e Aisle to Same-Sex DivorceSonya R. Carrillo, Nunneley Family Law Center

1:15 p.m. Why Doesn’t Law School Teach Us HOW to Practice LawSteve Laird, Law Offi ce of Steven C. Laird

2:15 p.m. Oops, I Spoliated Again: Electronic Discovery Issues Everyone Should KnowHeather L. King & Jessica Janicek, Koons Fuller, P.C.

3:15 p.m. Adjourn

3:30 p.m. 9-Hole GolfLawyer Olympics

7:30 p.m. Dinner

9:00 p.m. Casino Night

Moderator: Nicholas S. Bettinger, McDonald Sanders Law Firm

Saturday, April 25, 20158:30 a.m. Advising Clients on COBRA and the Affordable Care Act

Rhonda Hunter, Law Offi ce of Rhonda Hunter

9:15 a.m. Social MediaJudge J. Wade Birdwell, 342nd District Court

10:00 a.m. Overview of the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Offi ceSharen Wilson Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney

11:00 a.m. Legal MarketingSmoke, Mirrors and Snake Oil – Sorting Through It AllW. Bradley Parker, Parker Law Firm

11:45 a.m. Shotgun Topics:• Employment Law 2015: It’s About Technology

N. Sue Allen, Law Offi ce of N. Sue Allen• Ethical Indigent Criminal Defense

Don T. Hase, Ball & Hase• Slides That Work: PowerPoint in the Criminal Voir Dire

P. Mike Schneider, Schneider Law Firm

12:30 p.m. Adjourn / Lunch

1:00 p.m. Judges’ Cup Golf TournamentGatsby’s Great Escape

7:30 p.m. DinnerAwards PresentationDoor Prizes

9:00 p.m. Hospitality Villa Open

Sunday, April 26, 20158:30 a.m. Breakfast / Departure

Saturday & Sunday’s ScheduleBench Bar Conference XXII

Sunday, April 26, 20158:30 a.m. Breakfast / Departure

February 2015 � TCBA BULLETIN 1

by Mike Henry

Mike

President’s page

I hope everyone is enjoying a relatively warm win-ter. At the time of this writing the weather ap-pears to have been very kind to us, but living in Texas, things can change fairly quickly. One privilege I had in the month of January

was to attend several of the swearing in ceremonies of judges and investitures of other offi cials. We are very lucky as a county to have such qualifi ed people to step up to the plate and fi ll these vacancies that are so important to the administration of justice in Tar-rant County. It is even more rewarding that many of those who were sworn in are folks that I have known for over 30 years. As spring approaches we need to keep our eyes on some of the bigger events that will be coming up. The always-popular Tortfeasors is set for March 28, 2015. Besides being very entertaining and featuring some of our most talented attorneys, the money raised by Tortfeasors is well spent by our Tarrant County Bar Foundation in support of so many local charitable events. It’s truly an event worth seeing, and the mon-ey raised through ticket sales goes directly to helping someone or some cause that is well-deserved. The People’s Law School is April 10 , 2015, and is always a big event. Please place that on your calendar now. Also, the Bench Bar Conference is coming up. It is hard to believe that it’s been going on for 22 years. As last year, it will be held at the La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa on Lake Conroe in Montgomery, Texas. For those of you who went last year, you will recall it was a beautiful location. The seminars were well attended and the golf course provided a lot of fun. Please be sure to schedule your reservation or if at all possible become a sponsor when you are approached by a member of the staff. By the time you read this there will be Section meetings and luncheons in full swing as those very important parts of our Bar Association begin with the New Year. �

2 www.tarrantbar.org � February 2015

Tarrant County Bar Association817.338.4092 � Fax 817.335.9238website: www.tarrantbar.orge-mail: [email protected]

2014-2015 OfficersPresident . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael J. HenryPresident-Elect . . . . . . . David E. KeltnerVice President . . . . . . . . . Robert G. WestSecretary-Treasurer . . . .Dabney D. Bassel

2013-2014 Elected DirectorsNick Bettinger

Steven K. HayesClaudine Jackson

2014-2015 Elected DirectorsLeslie Barrows

John CayceLance Evans

2014-2015 Appointed DirectorsConnie Hall

Karmen Johnson

Immediate Past PresidentAnn Diamond

Fort Worth-Tarrant CountyYoung Lawyers Association

Ryan Scharar, President (Fall 2014)Chris Stoy, President (Spring 2015)

Executive DirectorPatricia Graham, PLS, CLAS

Ex-Officio MembersState Bar of Texas Directors

Robert E. Aldrich, Jr.J. Benjamin Barlow

ABA DelegateJanna W. Clarke

Bar BulletinJohn F. Murphy, Editor

H. Dennis Kelly, Assistant EditorAmeera Hallaq, Staff Editor

[email protected] • 817.338.4092Graphics/Production

Park Place Enterprises, [email protected] • 817.877.8901

The Tarrant County Bar Bulletin is a monthly publication of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Articles, photos, events for the calendar, suggestions, or comments should be directed to:

1315 Calhoun StreetFort Worth, Texas 76102-6504

Deadline for submission is the 1st day of the month, one month prior the date of the issue (e.g. April 1 for the May issue). Items for publication may be e-mailed to [email protected] in Word format.

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. Calendar listings, classifieds, advertisements, and feature articles should not be considered an endorsement of any service, product, program, seminar or event.

Contents

Stay CONNECTED to Us

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Features

Departments

7

1 President’s Page

3 CLE Membership Luncheon

4 Transition to Practice

5 New Members

4 Lawyer Referral and Information Service News

5 TCYLA Snapshot

6 LegalLine

8 Snippets

10 The IP Domain

12 Pilot TVAS Guardianship Program

14 Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

16 In Memoriam

17 100 Club Members

19 Lawyers on the Move & in the News

In every issue 18 Calendar of Events 20 Advertisers’ Index 20 Classified Ads 20 Other Associations

2015 Court Staff Awards Ballot

11 Foundation Chair Letter

13 2015 Tortfeasors5 Sponsorship

Keynote Speaker Sharen Wilson

A Special February CLE Mem-bership Luncheon will be held at the Fort Worth Club on Tuesday, February 10

from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will feature an address by Criminal Dis-trict Attorney Sharen Wilson honor-ing attorneys who have been licensed and have practiced law for 50 years. Sharen took her Oath of Offi ce as 14th Criminal District Attorney for Tarrant County on January 1, 2015, and is the fi rst woman to hold this position. Under her direction, the Offi ce will focus on crimes against the elderly, with an emphasis on elder fi nancial abuse and elder abuse. Additionally, all claims of actual innocence will be carefully examined to ensure that the guilty are convicted and the innocent are freed. Sharen served for 23 years as the Judge of Criminal District Court No.1. She was the founding judge of the Felony Alcohol Intervention Pro-gram, a post-conviction supervision effort that changed the lives of many alcoholics. Before becoming judge, she was an assistant district attorney for Tim Curry and in private practice with Simon, Anisman, Doby, Wilson and Skillern.

CLE Membership Luncheonto Honor 50-Year AttorneysTopic: “50 Years and Counting!”

Sharen graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law, and she is board certifi ed as a specialist in crimi-nal law. Her topic will be “50 Years and Counting!” The luncheon pro-gram will include acknowledgment of attorneys who, in 2014, reached the 50 status. Honorees for this year’s elite group include: David Farris, John B. Foster, James R. Handy, Ted D. Mayo III, J. Shelby Sharpe, George A. Sta-ples Jr., John R. (Randy) Thompson Jr., William L. (Bill) White, and W. Bernard Whitney. All past “50-Year-Attorneys” are invited to attend as guests of TCBA. This event will be co-hosted by the TCBA and the TCYLA. The cost of the buffet meal is $26 for members of either association with reservations and $31 for walk-ins. Guests may also join us for this event for $31. For res-ervations, please contact Sherry Jones at 817.338.4092 or e-mail: [email protected]. Reservations can also be made online by going to www.tarrantbar.org, selecting the “Home” tab, and then selecting “Calendar” from the drop-down menu. Locate February 10, then “Membership Lun-cheon,” and then select the “register”

link. Dress is business casual–suits and ties are not required. The Fort Worth Club is located at 306 West 7th Street, 12th fl oor. Parking is limited at the Fort Worth Club, but satellite parking may be available at nearby parking garages or parking meters. For directions, visit the Fort Worth Club’s website www.fortworthclub.com. �

2015 OUTSTANDING COURT STAFF AWARDS BALLOTThe Tarrant County Bar Association seeks your vote for the outstanding Court Staff for 2015. Court staff personnel of the courts of Tarrant County, including Deputy District Clerks, Deputy County Clerks assigned to judicial functions; Court Reporters, Court Coordinators, Bailiffs, Court Security Offi cers, Probate Auditors, and Judges’ non-lawyer clerical staff, and auxiliary court coordinators are eligible. Please cast your vote for your favorite!

Please vote for one proposed honoree in each of the following classifi cations:

1. Outstanding Court Staff, Civil(Appellate/District/County Courts At Law/Probate)

2. Outstanding Court Staff, Criminal 3. Outstanding Court Staff, Family (including Juvenile Courts)4. Outstanding Court Staff, Federal

Awards will be presented at the Annual Court Staff Appreciation Reception & Awards PresentationEvent THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at the Tarrant County Bar Center

Only TCBA members may vote and only one ballot per member.All Ballots must have full name, phone number and e-mail address.

Ballots must be received in the Bar offi ce no later than midnight, on February 20, 2015.

Civil (Appellate, District, County, & Probate) Courts:NAME:

COURT:

TITLE:

Criminal (District & County) Courts:NAME:

COURT:

TITLE:

Family (including Juvenile) Courts:NAME:

COURT:

TITLE:

OUTSTANDING COURT STAFF AWARDSPLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Federal (Magistrate, District & Bankruptcy):NAME:

COURT:

TITLE:

BALLOT SUBMITTED BY:

PRINTED NAME:

PHONE:

EMAIL: Return this form to: Tarrant County Bar Association

Attention Court Staff Appreciation Committee1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, 76102-6504

Fax 817.335.9238 or Email to: [email protected]

The Lawyer Sketch-Comedy Show Starring Tarrant County Attorneys & Judges

7PM • Saturday, March 28, 2015Fort Worth Community Arts Center • 1300 Gendy Street • Fort Worth, Texas

Sponsorship Deadline: March 2, 2015

Title Sponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 • Name recognition on all promotional items

• Full page ad in the show program• 40 tickets to the show with reserved seating• Special recognition in the Bulletin

Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,500 • Half-page ad in the show program

• 20 tickets to the show with reserved seating• Special recognition in the Bulletin

Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000 • Fourth-page ad in the show program


Actor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500 • Business-card-size ad in the show program


Stage Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250 • Special recognition in the show program


NAME PHONE

FIRM FAX

ADDRESS

CITY , TX ZIP

METHOD OF PAYMENT CHECK CHARGE MC VISA AmEX DISCOVER

CREDIT CARD NUMBER

EXPIRATION / / SECUTITY CODE

NAME ON CARD ZIP CODE ON CARD

EXPIRATION

NAME ON CARD

Please make your check payable toTarrant County Bar Foundation and mail to

Tortfeasors51315 Calhoun Street

Fort Worth, TX 76102-6504

817.338.4092 • www.tarrantbar.org/Foundation

Tarrant County Bar Foundation provides grants and/or contributions to various Tarrant County community service programs. The proceeds from this fundraiser will benefi t these various programs including the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans-Tarrant County Chapter (TLTV-TC) and Tarrant County Volunteer Attorneys Service (TVAS). As a 501(c)(3), a portion of your contribution to TCBF will be tax-deductible. For any questions or more information, please contact Trisha Graham 817.338.4092.

Individual Tickets are $25 each. I want to purchase tickets. (# of tickets)

13

GATEFOLD

14

1115 Board of Directors

Candidate Form


Keynote Speaker Sharen Wilson

A Special February CLE Mem-bership Luncheon will be held at the Fort Worth Club on Tuesday, February 10

from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will feature an address by Criminal Dis-trict Attorney Sharen Wilson honor-ing attorneys who have been licensed and have practiced law for 50 years. Sharen took her Oath of Offi ce as 14th Criminal District Attorney for Tarrant County on January 1, 2015, and is the fi rst woman to hold this position. Under her direction, the Offi ce will focus on crimes against the elderly, with an emphasis on elder fi nancial abuse and elder abuse. Additionally, all claims of actual innocence will be carefully examined to ensure that the guilty are convicted and the innocent are freed. Sharen served for 23 years as the Judge of Criminal District Court No.1. She was the founding judge of the Felony Alcohol Intervention Pro-gram, a post-conviction supervision effort that changed the lives of many alcoholics. Before becoming judge, she was an assistant district attorney for Tim Curry and in private practice with Simon, Anisman, Doby, Wilson and Skillern.

CLE Membership Luncheonto Honor 50-Year AttorneysTopic: “50 Years and Counting!”

Sharen graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law, and she is board certifi ed as a specialist in crimi-nal law. Her topic will be “50 Years and Counting!” The luncheon pro-gram will include acknowledgment of attorneys who, in 2014, reached the 50 status. Honorees for this year’s elite group include: David Farris, John B. Foster, James R. Handy, Ted D. Mayo III, J. Shelby Sharpe, George A. Sta-ples Jr., John R. (Randy) Thompson Jr., William L. (Bill) White, and W. Bernard Whitney. All past “50-Year-Attorneys” are invited to attend as guests of TCBA. This event will be co-hosted by the TCBA and the TCYLA. The cost of the buffet meal is $26 for members of either association with reservations and $31 for walk-ins. Guests may also join us for this event for $31. For res-ervations, please contact Sherry Jones at 817.338.4092 or e-mail: [email protected]. Reservations can also be made online by going to www.tarrantbar.org, selecting the “Home” tab, and then selecting “Calendar” from the drop-down menu. Locate February 10, then “Membership Lun-cheon,” and then select the “register”

link. Dress is business casual–suits and ties are not required. The Fort Worth Club is located at 306 West 7th Street, 12th fl oor. Parking is limited at the Fort Worth Club, but satellite parking may be available at nearby parking garages or parking meters. For directions, visit the Fort Worth Club’s website www.fortworthclub.com. �

Save theDate Saturday, March 28


The Transition to Practice mentor-

ing group will begin its sixth year of men-toring young law-yers with a seminar luncheon planned for Wednesday, March 25 from 12 noon-1pm! The top-ic will be “What To Do When You Find Out Your Client Lied Under Oath, or Plans To” and will be addressed by Donna Tipotsch from the Offi ce of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel State Bar of Texas. Lawyers seem to naturally panic when confronted with a client or their non-client witness fabricating at depositions, hearings or tri-als. Younger attorneys, especially, need to understand their duties and potential consequences under the Disciplinary Rules 1.05 and 1.15, and Rule 503 (d)(1) T.R.E. in such circumstances. Please join us at the TCBA with your r.s.v.p. to Cindy Rankin at [email protected] or 817.338.4092. �

Transition to Practice Gets Started for 2015! News

Lawyer Referral andInformation Service

Thanks to the following attorneys for payingtheir referral fees since last reported:

Borsellino, Josh

Duarte, Sylvia

Hendricks, Brad

Kisselburgh, Robert

McCombs, Jeff

Moore, Caleb

Phillips, Scott

Seibert, Andrew

If you need a referral or if you need to refer a client to the Lawyer Referral Service, please call 817.336.4101. If you are interested in membership in LRIS please email Cindy Rankin at [email protected] or call 817.338.4092.


Ryan

Ryan SchararPresident, TCYLA

YLASnapshotIt feels as if it were just yesterday

when I took over the role as TCYLA’s President, but now my term has offi -

cially come to an end. It has truly been a pleasure and an honor serving as a board member and offi cer of this great organization. I want to sincerely thank Cindy Rankin, Trisha Graham, Ameera Hallaq, the Board, the past leaders of TCYLA, and all of the TCYLA members for making my time so enjoyable and rewarding. Chris Stoy will soon take over as President, with Amber Altemose as your President-Elect. Congratulations to them for reaching these leadership roles, and I wish them all the best. As President of TCYLA, my goal was to serve the inter-ests of our members while giving back to the greater Tarrant County community. TCYLA members helped me achieve this goal by remaining active in TCYLA events and by volunteer-ing their time in the spirit of public service. Over the past year, our members have dedicated countless hours toward a variety of public service initiatives supported by TCYLA. We have also raised thousands of dollars to benefi t several local charities and worthy causes. A good example of our commitment to public service was on display recently when we hosted our fi rst-ever Su-per Bowl-themed party benefi ting the families and patients at Cook Children’s Hospital. We also just wrapped up our annual joint networking event at Martin House Brewery with the Fort Worth Chapter–Texas Society of CPAs. I hope attend-ees were able to visit with friends and to make some new connections that will turn into valuable professional ties for years to come. Through TCYLA, I have developed a close network of friends and colleagues who are attorneys practicing in differ-ent areas of the law in Tarrant County. It’s relationships like these that are the best resource for any young lawyer, and TYCLA is a great way to get involved with the Tarrant County Bar. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to join us for one of our events, I encourage you to come out, meet your peers, and get involved. This month is TCYLA board election month, so if you’re interested in running for a spot on our board, let me know and plan to attend our member luncheon on Febru-ary 17 at Reata, where the elections will be held. We’re also hosting another “Buzz for a Cause” happy hour at Little Red Wasp on February 19 benefi ting Clayton Yes! I look forward to seeing you all at one of our events soon. �


Contact Debara Herring ■ [email protected]

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O� ce Space and Record Storage SpaceAvailable Immediately

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with rates starting at $18.50 psf.■ Current o� ce tenant base includes attorneys,

private investment � rms and accountants.■ Executive suites for attornerys available,

call for details.■ Secure record storage facility conveniently

located on site with rates as low as $120/month■ Within walking distance to local restaurants and

Sundance Square

512.480.9074 / [email protected] / WWW.TLIE.ORG

AFFIRMEDJudgment upheld.

TLIE was voted best in Texas.

Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange has been voted best professional liability insurance company in Texas four years in a row by Texas Lawyer magazine. TLIE is also a Preferred Provider of the State Bar of Texas and has returned $32,800,000 to its policyholders. With all of these accolades as well as being in the business for over 35 years, doesn’t TLIE make the BEST all around choice for you?

Dinner served at 5:30 p.m. for all volunteers!

Please consider donating two hours of your time the 2nd and 4th Thursday, January through November from 6-8pm. Bring a friend.

LegalLine is a valuable community service outreach program that needs your time and skills. If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring, please contact Trisha at 817.338.4092 or [email protected].

Upcoming LegalLine dates will be February 12 & 26

WE ALWAYS NEED VOLUNTEERS!!!

Thanks to ourJanuary 8 & 22

AttorneyVolunteers!


2015 OUTSTANDING COURT STAFF AWARDS BALLOTThe Tarrant County Bar Association seeks your vote for the outstanding Court Staff for 2015. Court staff personnel of the courts of Tarrant County, including Deputy District Clerks, Deputy County Clerks assigned to judicial functions; Court Reporters, Court Coordinators, Bailiffs, Court Security Offi cers, Probate Auditors, and Judges’ non-lawyer clerical staff, and auxiliary court coordinators are eligible. Please cast your vote for your favorite!

Please vote for one proposed honoree in each of the following classifi cations:

1. Outstanding Court Staff, Civil(Appellate/District/County Courts At Law/Probate)

2. Outstanding Court Staff, Criminal 3. Outstanding Court Staff, Family (including Juvenile Courts)4. Outstanding Court Staff, Federal

Awards will be presented at the Annual Court Staff Appreciation Reception & Awards PresentationEvent THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at the Tarrant County Bar Center

Only TCBA members may vote and only one ballot per member.All Ballots must have full name, phone number and e-mail address.

Ballots must be received in the Bar offi ce no later than midnight, on February 20, 2015.

Civil (Appellate, District, County, & Probate) Courts:NAME:

COURT:

TITLE:

Criminal (District & County) Courts:NAME:

COURT:

TITLE:

Family (including Juvenile) Courts:NAME:

COURT:

TITLE:

OUTSTANDING COURT STAFF AWARDSPLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Federal (Magistrate, District & Bankruptcy):NAME:

COURT:

TITLE:

BALLOT SUBMITTED BY:

PRINTED NAME:

PHONE:

EMAIL: Return this form to: Tarrant County Bar Association

Attention Court Staff Appreciation Committee1315 Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, 76102-6504

Fax 817.335.9238 or Email to: [email protected]

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Court Staff AppreciationReception and Awards

Thursday, March 194:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Come and show your appreciationto the dedicated court staff

that help the legal community on a daily basis!

Please contact Sherry Jonesif you are interested in a sponsorship for this event.

[email protected] or 817.338.4092.


Civil and Criminalby Judge Bob McCoy � County Criminal Court No. 3

Snippets

Moses

RamsesRamses

Co-EditorLin Morrisett

Associate JudgeProbate Court

No. 2

Who’s That Street Named After?Bryant-Irving Road: It was given the name of two farmers who owned property in the area.From “Werner Magnus, Who Was Hulen? An Attempt to Find the Origins of Street Names in Fort Worth.”

Ask Judge BobJudge Bob, what is shock probation?“Shock probation” is the term used to describe a trial court’s action in awarding a convicted defendant probation after the defendant has already spent some time in confi nement. A trial judge may not grant shock probation unless the defen-dant is eligible for judge-ordered community supervision.

State v. Garza, 442 S.W. 3d 585, 587-88 (Tex. App.—San An-tonio 2014).

Ask The DanesRamses and Moses, if a veterinarian reports animal cruelty, is he opening himself up to a lawsuit from the ac-cused?No. A veterinarian who in good faith and in the normal course of business reports to the appropriate governmen-tal entity a suspected incident of ani-mal cruelty under Penal Code §§ 42.09 or 42.092, is immune from liability in a civil or criminal action brought against the veterinarian for reporting the inci-dent. Tex. Occ. Code § 801.3585.

The Danes’ Quote Of The Month“I once heard a woman who’d lost her dog say that she felt as though a color were suddenly missing from her world: The dog had introduced to her fi eld of vision some previ-ously unavailable hue, and without the dog, that color was gone.” –Caroline Knapp, “The Color of Joy”

CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST1. Interpreting Mandate on Remand “In interpreting the mandate of an appellate court, the

courts should look not only to the mandate itself, but also to the opinion of the court.”

Warren E & P, Inc. v. Gotham Ins. Co., 442 S.W.3d 360, 363 (Tex. App. —San Antonio 2014).

2. Attorneys Fees–Declaratory Judgment “When a claim for attorney’s fees is based on Chapter 38

of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the trial

court may take judicial notice of the usual and custom-ary attorney’s fees, and those fees are presumed to be reasonable, although the presumption may be rebutted. However, in a declaratory judgment action, a party en-joys neither the presumption of reasonableness nor the availability of judicial notice.. But unlike a suit under Chapter 38, attorney’s fees may be awarded to the nonp-revailing party in a suit for declaratory judgment.”

Griffi n v. Long, 442 S.W.3d 380, 389 (Tex. App. —Tyler, 2011) (internal citations omitted).

3. Choice of Law Provisions “[P]arties ‘cannot require that their contract be governed

by the law of a jurisdiction which has no relation what-ever to them or their agreement,’ and ‘they cannot by agreement thwart or offend the public policy of the state the law of which ought otherwise to apply.’ However, ‘application of the law of another state is not contrary to the fundamental policy of the forum merely because it leads to a different result than would obtain under the forum’s law.’ Moreover, the fact that the law of another state is materially different from the law of this state does not itself establish that application of the other state’s law would offend the fundamental policy of Texas.”

Gator Apple, LLC. v. Apple Tex. Rests., 442 S.W.3d 521, 532 (Tex. App. —Dallas 2014)(internal citations omit-ted).

4. Inferred Waiver “A party’s intention regarding waiver can be inferred

from conduct. However, no such inference of waiver can be drawn when the unambiguous language of the con-tract states a contrary intention.”


5. Venue Provisions “[W]hen parties agree merely that courts in a particular

jurisdiction have venue or are proper venues for disputes and do not provide that the jurisdiction has exclusive venue, the agreement does not establish the parties’ con-sent to the jurisdiction of the courts in question.”

Vak v. Net Matrix Solutions, Inc., 442 S.W.3d 553, 560 (Tex. App. —Houston [1st Dist.] 2014).

6. Informal Fiduciary Relationship “Informal fi duciary relationships, sometimes referred to

as “confi dential relationships,” may give rise to a fi du-ciary duty where one person trusts in and relies on an-other, whether the relation is a moral, social, domestic, or purely personal one. … A party claiming the existence

of an informal fi duciary relationship (confi dential rela-tionship) must have been accustomed to being guided by the judgment or advice of the other.”

Vanderpool v. Vanderpool, 442 S.W.3d 756, 764 (Tex. App.—Tyler, 2014)

CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST1. Complaint on Appeal “To avoid forfeiture of a complaint on appeal, all a par-

ty has to do is let the trial judge know what he wants and why he thinks he is entitled to it and do so clearly enough for the judge to understand the request at a time when the trial court is in a proper position to do some-thing about it.”

Bedolla v. State 442 S.W.3d 313, 316 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

2. Unlawful Carrying of Weapons “The UCW (unlawful carrying weapons) statute allows

a person to carry a handgun on any real property that is his own property or that he controls, whether it be a residence, a business, or even a vacant lot.”

Chiarini v. State, 442 S.W.3d 318, 320 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

3. “Improper Photography or Visual Recording Statute

“We hold that, to the extent it proscribes the taking of photographs and the recording of visual images, is un-constitutional on its face in violation of the Free Speech clause of the First Amendment.

Ex Parte Thompson, 442 S.W.3d 325, 351 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

4. Temporary Detention “An offi cer must suspect that ‘some activity out of the

ordinary is occurring or has occurred, some suggestion to connect the detainee with the unusual activity, and some indication the unusual activity is related to crime’ in order to temporarily detain a suspect. The detaining offi cer must have a particularized and objective basis for suspecting the particular person of criminal activity.

Boyd v. State, 442 S.W.3d 463, 46778 (Tex. App.—East-land 2013).

5. Self Defense “A defendant is entitled to an instruction on self-defense

if the issue is raised by the evidence, whether that evi-dence is strong or weak, unimpeached or contradicted, and regardless of what the trial court may think about the credibility of the defense.”

Lee v. State, 442 S.W.3d 569, 577 (Tex. App.— San Anto-nio 2014).

6. Judgment Nisi “‘A judgment nisi is prima facie proof that the statutory

requirements have been satisfi ed and the burden is on the defendant to affi rmatively show otherwise.’ . . . ‘Nisi means “unless,” so a judgment nisi is valid unless a par-ty shows cause why it should be withdrawn.’”

McCarter v. State, 442 S.W.3d 655, 658 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014)(internal citations omitted).

7. Custodial Interrogation “Custodial interrogation is questioning by law enforce-

ment offi cers after a person has been taken into custody or deprived of his freedom of action in any signifi cant way. To determine whether an individual was in cus-tody, a court must examine all of the circumstances sur-rounding the interrogation, but the ultimate inquiry is simply whether there was a formal arrest or restraint on freedom of movement of the degree associated with a formal arrest. A person is in custody only if, under the circumstances, an objectively reasonable person would believe that his freedom of movement was restrained to the degree associated with a formal arrest.”

Wilson v. State, 442 S.W.3d 779, 784 (Tex. App.— Fort Worth 2014) (internal citations omitted).

Quote Of The Month “The supreme value is not the future but the present. Who-ever builds a house for future happiness builds a prison for the present.” —Octavio Paz

Old News- The Dollar BillOn the backside of the dollar bill are two large circles that together comprise the Great Seal of the United States. Inter-estingly, inside these circles there are thirteen steps on the pyramid, thirteen letters in Latin above the pyramid, thir-teen stars above the eagle, thirteen bars on the shield of the eagle, thirteen leaves on the olive branch, thirteen arrows, and thirteen letters on the sash held in the eagle’s mouth. �


Civil and Criminalby Judge Bob McCoy � County Criminal Court No. 3

Snippets

Moses

Ramses

Co-EditorLin Morrisett

Associate JudgeProbate Court

No. 2

Who’s That Street Named After?Bryant-Irving Road: It was given the name of two farmers who owned property in the area.From “Werner Magnus, Who Was Hulen? An Attempt to Find the Origins of Street Names in Fort Worth.”

Ask Judge BobJudge Bob, what is shock probation?“Shock probation” is the term used to describe a trial court’s action in awarding a convicted defendant probation after the defendant has already spent some time in confi nement. A trial judge may not grant shock probation unless the defen-dant is eligible for judge-ordered community supervision.

State v. Garza, 442 S.W. 3d 585, 587-88 (Tex. App.—San An-tonio 2014).

Ask The DanesRamses and Moses, if a veterinarian reports animal cruelty, is he opening himself up to a lawsuit from the ac-cused?No. A veterinarian who in good faith and in the normal course of business reports to the appropriate governmen-tal entity a suspected incident of ani-mal cruelty under Penal Code §§ 42.09 or 42.092, is immune from liability in a civil or criminal action brought against the veterinarian for reporting the inci-dent. Tex. Occ. Code § 801.3585.

The Danes’ Quote Of The Month“I once heard a woman who’d lost her dog say that she felt as though a color were suddenly missing from her world: The dog had introduced to her fi eld of vision some previ-ously unavailable hue, and without the dog, that color was gone.” –Caroline Knapp, “The Color of Joy”

CIVIL ITEMS OF INTEREST1. Interpreting Mandate on Remand “In interpreting the mandate of an appellate court, the

courts should look not only to the mandate itself, but also to the opinion of the court.”

Warren E & P, Inc. v. Gotham Ins. Co., 442 S.W.3d 360, 363 (Tex. App. —San Antonio 2014).

2. Attorneys Fees–Declaratory Judgment “When a claim for attorney’s fees is based on Chapter 38

of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the trial

court may take judicial notice of the usual and custom-ary attorney’s fees, and those fees are presumed to be reasonable, although the presumption may be rebutted. However, in a declaratory judgment action, a party en-joys neither the presumption of reasonableness nor the availability of judicial notice.. But unlike a suit under Chapter 38, attorney’s fees may be awarded to the nonp-revailing party in a suit for declaratory judgment.”

Griffi n v. Long, 442 S.W.3d 380, 389 (Tex. App. —Tyler, 2011) (internal citations omitted).

3. Choice of Law Provisions “[P]arties ‘cannot require that their contract be governed

by the law of a jurisdiction which has no relation what-ever to them or their agreement,’ and ‘they cannot by agreement thwart or offend the public policy of the state the law of which ought otherwise to apply.’ However, ‘application of the law of another state is not contrary to the fundamental policy of the forum merely because it leads to a different result than would obtain under the forum’s law.’ Moreover, the fact that the law of another state is materially different from the law of this state does not itself establish that application of the other state’s law would offend the fundamental policy of Texas.”


4. Inferred Waiver “A party’s intention regarding waiver can be inferred

from conduct. However, no such inference of waiver can be drawn when the unambiguous language of the con-tract states a contrary intention.”


5. Venue Provisions “[W]hen parties agree merely that courts in a particular

jurisdiction have venue or are proper venues for disputes and do not provide that the jurisdiction has exclusive venue, the agreement does not establish the parties’ con-sent to the jurisdiction of the courts in question.”

Vak v. Net Matrix Solutions, Inc., 442 S.W.3d 553, 560 (Tex. App. —Houston [1st Dist.] 2014).

6. Informal Fiduciary Relationship “Informal fi duciary relationships, sometimes referred to

as “confi dential relationships,” may give rise to a fi du-ciary duty where one person trusts in and relies on an-other, whether the relation is a moral, social, domestic, or purely personal one. … A party claiming the existence

of an informal fi duciary relationship (confi dential rela-tionship) must have been accustomed to being guided by the judgment or advice of the other.”

Vanderpool v. Vanderpool, 442 S.W.3d 756, 764 (Tex. App.—Tyler, 2014)

CRIMINAL ITEMS OF INTEREST1. Complaint on Appeal “To avoid forfeiture of a complaint on appeal, all a par-

ty has to do is let the trial judge know what he wants and why he thinks he is entitled to it and do so clearly enough for the judge to understand the request at a time when the trial court is in a proper position to do some-thing about it.”

Bedolla v. State 442 S.W.3d 313, 316 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

2. Unlawful Carrying of Weapons “The UCW (unlawful carrying weapons) statute allows

a person to carry a handgun on any real property that is his own property or that he controls, whether it be a residence, a business, or even a vacant lot.”

Chiarini v. State, 442 S.W.3d 318, 320 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

3. “Improper Photography or Visual Recording Statute

“We hold that, to the extent it proscribes the taking of photographs and the recording of visual images, is un-constitutional on its face in violation of the Free Speech clause of the First Amendment.

Ex Parte Thompson, 442 S.W.3d 325, 351 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).

4. Temporary Detention “An offi cer must suspect that ‘some activity out of the

ordinary is occurring or has occurred, some suggestion to connect the detainee with the unusual activity, and some indication the unusual activity is related to crime’ in order to temporarily detain a suspect. The detaining offi cer must have a particularized and objective basis for suspecting the particular person of criminal activity.

Boyd v. State, 442 S.W.3d 463, 46778 (Tex. App.—East-land 2013).

5. Self Defense “A defendant is entitled to an instruction on self-defense

if the issue is raised by the evidence, whether that evi-dence is strong or weak, unimpeached or contradicted, and regardless of what the trial court may think about the credibility of the defense.”

Lee v. State, 442 S.W.3d 569, 577 (Tex. App.— San Anto-nio 2014).

6. Judgment Nisi “‘A judgment nisi is prima facie proof that the statutory

requirements have been satisfi ed and the burden is on the defendant to affi rmatively show otherwise.’ . . . ‘Nisi means “unless,” so a judgment nisi is valid unless a par-ty shows cause why it should be withdrawn.’”

McCarter v. State, 442 S.W.3d 655, 658 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014)(internal citations omitted).

7. Custodial Interrogation “Custodial interrogation is questioning by law enforce-

ment offi cers after a person has been taken into custody or deprived of his freedom of action in any signifi cant way. To determine whether an individual was in cus-tody, a court must examine all of the circumstances sur-rounding the interrogation, but the ultimate inquiry is simply whether there was a formal arrest or restraint on freedom of movement of the degree associated with a formal arrest. A person is in custody only if, under the circumstances, an objectively reasonable person would believe that his freedom of movement was restrained to the degree associated with a formal arrest.”

Wilson v. State, 442 S.W.3d 779, 784 (Tex. App.— Fort Worth 2014) (internal citations omitted).

Quote Of The Month “The supreme value is not the future but the present. Who-ever builds a house for future happiness builds a prison for the present.” —Octavio Paz

Old News- The Dollar BillOn the backside of the dollar bill are two large circles that together comprise the Great Seal of the United States. Inter-estingly, inside these circles there are thirteen steps on the pyramid, thirteen letters in Latin above the pyramid, thir-teen stars above the eagle, thirteen bars on the shield of the eagle, thirteen leaves on the olive branch, thirteen arrows, and thirteen letters on the sash held in the eagle’s mouth. �

THE IP DOMAIN:

By Tom Williams and Dustin Johnson

Last June, the United States Supreme Court held that Aereo’s system for transmitting over-the-air television broadcasts over the Internet violated copyright law, con-

cluding, in a 6-3 decision, that Aereo both performed the tele-vision broadcasts at issue and did so “publicly.” Am. Broad. Cos., Inc. v. Aereo, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2498 (2014). Aereo has ceased operations and fi led bankruptcy, but both policymak-ers and media companies have taken steps to respond to the market demand Aereo sought to fi ll. In its opinion, the Court emphasized that Aereo’s service was very similar to the cable-television systems Congress sought to regulate in the 1976 Copyright Act, and the Court accordingly held that Aereo’s performances were public and unauthorized. The catch-22 for Aereo was that under cur-rent Federal Communications Commission regulations, both the Copyright Offi ce and the Second Circuit determined that Aereo was not a cable system, and it was therefore ineligible to participate in the Copyright Act’s compulsory license sys-tem. Since the Supreme Court ruling, two possible solutions to this problem have begun to take shape. The fi rst is market based. Media companies do not in-fringe by simply transmitting content they own or appropriate-ly license. Therefore, for example, in October CBS introduced its own CBS All Access Internet-streaming service, which, for $5.99 per month, offers live CBS content (in certain markets) as well as on-demand access to “over 6,500” recent episodes and “classic TV hits.” Similarly, HBO has announced plans to launch a stand-alone, online streaming service in 2015, and while HBO has not publicized details of the proposed service, the announcement alone created a signifi cant buzz about the future of traditional cable systems. And on January 5, 2015, Dish Network unveiled its new Sling Television product—an

Internet-based streaming ser-vice that is untethered from Dish’s traditional television service and packages togeth-er some of the more popular channels from its television service, including the Disney Channel, Food Network, CNN, and ESPN. There are three signifi cant challenges to this model. The fi rst is price and specifi cally whether consumers will be willing to swap one large cable bill for several smaller bills and fewer channels. Second, ser-vice providers looking to “bun-dle” multiple channels into a

Internet TV in aPost-Aereo World


Tom Williams is a partner in the Fort Worth offi ce of Haynes and Boone, LLP. He may be reached at [email protected] or 817.347.6625.

Dustin Johnson is a partner in the Fort Worth and Richardson offi ces of Haynes and Boone, LLP. He may be reached at [email protected] or 972.739.6969.

Matthew Chiarizio, an associate in the Dallas offi ce of Haynes and Boone, LLP, assisted in the preparation of this article.

single streaming service must have content providers on board, an effort that has had limited suc-cess so far. Many content providers are torn between main-taining their lucrative relationships with traditional television providers and the fear of being left behind if—or when—the streaming television model takes over. Third, many of the tra-ditional television providers are also Internet service provid-ers and in many locations may be the only Internet provider. These traditional service providers may be forced to raise their prices for Internet service if they begin losing signifi cant tele-vision service market share to online rivals. The second possible solution to the problem of an In-ternet broadcast being unable to avail itself of the Copyright Act’s compulsory license system is policy based. On Decem-ber 17, 2014, the FCC released a notice of proposed rulemak-ing to “modernize” its interpretation of the term multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) to make it technolo-gy-neutral. Under current regulations, MVPDs must sell both content-serving channels and the transmission path of those channels, that is, the cable or satellite medium actually used to deliver the video programming. The requirement that an MVPD sell the transmission path has been a stumbling block for online video providers because online video providers do not sell the broadband connection over which they transmit programming. Thus, such services could not be classifi ed as MVPDs, as Aereo discovered. The proposed rulemaking could remove that requirement and has the potential to change the media landscape. Allowing online video providers to be classifi ed as MVPDs could give them many benefi ts, such as rights to the compulsory licensing scheme of the Copyright Act and access to other programming on nondiscriminatory terms and conditions. However, it may also come with many of the regulatory burdens that cable and satellite systems currently bear. While some commentators believe this is the fi rst step toward a la carte video service, others are less optimistic and are concerned about the possibility of increased regulation of Internet-based video. Still others point out that while the recent proposed rulemaking signals the FCC’s interest in allowing online competition, it is still trying to fi t a completely new product—streaming video service—into a framework that Congress and regulators designed decades ago for traditional over-the-air and coaxial cable video providers. While the market solution moves forward, policy changes crawl. The FCC’s proposed rulemaking merely opens the pub-lic comment period. Even if the proposed changes to the defi -nition of MVPD are enacted, many questions remain, most importantly, how the Copyright Offi ce, courts, and possibly even Congress might respond. While the Aereo decision lit a regulatory fi re, online video providers still have far to go before they are ready for primetime. �

ime deadlines being what they are, I’m stand-ing here on Christmas Eve thinking of writing this message for the upcoming year. You, on

the other hand, are in the upcoming year, 2015. But look back to 2014 with me. Looking back, you know what I’m thinking? I’m thinking how proud I am of our legal community. I’m thinking how fortunate we are, how challenged we are, and how capable we are in addressing challenges. At the moment, unfortunately, I’m also thinking how it always seems that we are los-ing wonderful lawyers due to their passing during the holiday season. Bet you thought that, too. I’m thinking how glad we are that young lawyers are always arriving. I’m thinking how much we are all looking forward to 2015. And I’m thinking that I’m particularly proud of the impact on our community of the charitable and educational programs provided through the efforts of our members, our Bar Associa-tion, and our Foundation. You’re thinking, “Rick’s rambling, and either his article is too late or his topics are too early.” But bear with me; I think you may be surprised at all you have done and all we’re going to do. Beginning in the late ‘90s, through the monetary contributions, perseverance, and good old-fashioned hard work of many, we acquired and renovated the Bar building. In doing so, we established a meeting place that we use daily to carry out your Foundation’s charitable and educational purposes, including the fur-therance of justice through legal education and legal aid for the indigent and the working poor. The commitment and follow through of you, the members of the Tarrant County Bar Association and the Tarrant County Bar Foundation, have made all the difference. As an overview of your impact, your Pro Bono Program Director, Megan Cooley, has provided me with a list of the highlights of the charitable and educational programs provided through these efforts:

• The promotion of pro bono involvement by Tar-rant County attorneys, judges, staff, and commu-nity volunteers through Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services. Since its inception in 2012, TVAS has assisted over 100 individuals with fam-ily law and estate planning matters.

• The legal support of over 1,800 veterans and their families through Texas Lawyers for Texas Veter-ans—Tarrant County Chapter. In 2013–2014, more than 400 attorneys provided advice and additional legal assistance to over 500 veterans in a wide range of areas, including bankruptcy, family, con-sumer, housing, and civil law.

• Opportunities for free le-gal advice for the public through LegalLine. During the past year, more than 130 attorneys provided over 250 hours of legal ad-vice to the general public.

• Over 1,900 hours of pro bono legal services in the past two years.

• Fellowship opportu-nities for law students at Texas A&M University School of Law as a result of a partnership with the Tarrant County Young Lawyers. In addition, law students support the pro bono programs by vol-unteering through the Equal Justice Program and receive internships and mentorship opportunities with area attorneys as a result.

• Free legal education on a number of topics offered through the People’s Law School.

• The development and distribution of the Elder Law Handbook, a comprehensive resource for the aging community.

• Community partnerships with Carter Blood Cen-ter, Habitat for Humanity, and Tarrant Area Food Bank. Through these partnerships, Tarrant County attorneys have collected food, built houses, and participated in numerous blood drives.

• A mentoring program by Tarrant County attorneys with Big Brothers Big Sisters that supports young students in surrounding schools.

• Support and involvement with National Adoption Day, an event that fosters awareness of foster care adoptions and results in the fi nalization of the adoptions for area foster care children and their families.

• Financial support of the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program’s provision of continuing edu-cation to its volunteers. CASA recruits, trains, and supervises local volunteer advocates who provide a voice for abused and neglected children.

I’m thinking that’s an impressive list. You’re think-ing I may have a point. Let’s carry on in 2015 and spread the word. One last thought: It is in giving that we receive. If you’re going to plagiarize—Go Big. Let’s keep on Thinking and Doing. Here’s to a great 2015. �

Rick Sorenson

T foundation chair

annual meeting tuesday, january 275:30PM - 7:00pm • TCBA Office


THE IP DOMAIN:

By Tom Williams and Dustin Johnson

Last June, the United States Supreme Court held that Aereo’s system for transmitting over-the-air television broadcasts over the Internet violated copyright law, con-

cluding, in a 6-3 decision, that Aereo both performed the tele-vision broadcasts at issue and did so “publicly.” Am. Broad. Cos., Inc. v. Aereo, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2498 (2014). Aereo has ceased operations and fi led bankruptcy, but both policymak-ers and media companies have taken steps to respond to the market demand Aereo sought to fi ll. In its opinion, the Court emphasized that Aereo’s service was very similar to the cable-television systems Congress sought to regulate in the 1976 Copyright Act, and the Court accordingly held that Aereo’s performances were public and unauthorized. The catch-22 for Aereo was that under cur-rent Federal Communications Commission regulations, both the Copyright Offi ce and the Second Circuit determined that Aereo was not a cable system, and it was therefore ineligible to participate in the Copyright Act’s compulsory license sys-tem. Since the Supreme Court ruling, two possible solutions to this problem have begun to take shape. The fi rst is market based. Media companies do not in-fringe by simply transmitting content they own or appropriate-ly license. Therefore, for example, in October CBS introduced its own CBS All Access Internet-streaming service, which, for $5.99 per month, offers live CBS content (in certain markets) as well as on-demand access to “over 6,500” recent episodes and “classic TV hits.” Similarly, HBO has announced plans to launch a stand-alone, online streaming service in 2015, and while HBO has not publicized details of the proposed service, the announcement alone created a signifi cant buzz about the future of traditional cable systems. And on January 5, 2015, Dish Network unveiled its new Sling Television product—an


Internet TV in aPost-Aereo World

Tom Williams is a partner in the Fort Worth offi ce of Haynes and Boone, LLP. He may be reached at [email protected] or 817.347.6625.

Dustin Johnson is a partner in the Fort Worth and Richardson offi ces of Haynes and Boone, LLP. He may be reached at [email protected] or 972.739.6969.

Matthew Chiarizio, an associate in the Dallas offi ce of Haynes and Boone, LLP, assisted in the preparation of this article.

single streaming service must have content providers on board, an effort that has had limited suc-cess so far. Many content providers are torn between main-taining their lucrative relationships with traditional television providers and the fear of being left behind if—or when—the streaming television model takes over. Third, many of the tra-ditional television providers are also Internet service provid-ers and in many locations may be the only Internet provider. These traditional service providers may be forced to raise their prices for Internet service if they begin losing signifi cant tele-vision service market share to online rivals. The second possible solution to the problem of an In-ternet broadcast being unable to avail itself of the Copyright Act’s compulsory license system is policy based. On Decem-ber 17, 2014, the FCC released a notice of proposed rulemak-ing to “modernize” its interpretation of the term multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) to make it technolo-gy-neutral. Under current regulations, MVPDs must sell both content-serving channels and the transmission path of those channels, that is, the cable or satellite medium actually used to deliver the video programming. The requirement that an MVPD sell the transmission path has been a stumbling block for online video providers because online video providers do not sell the broadband connection over which they transmit programming. Thus, such services could not be classifi ed as MVPDs, as Aereo discovered. The proposed rulemaking could remove that requirement and has the potential to change the media landscape. Allowing online video providers to be classifi ed as MVPDs could give them many benefi ts, such as rights to the compulsory licensing scheme of the Copyright Act and access to other programming on nondiscriminatory terms and conditions. However, it may also come with many of the regulatory burdens that cable and satellite systems currently bear. While some commentators believe this is the fi rst step toward a la carte video service, others are less optimistic and are concerned about the possibility of increased regulation of Internet-based video. Still others point out that while the recent proposed rulemaking signals the FCC’s interest in allowing online competition, it is still trying to fi t a completely new product—streaming video service—into a framework that Congress and regulators designed decades ago for traditional over-the-air and coaxial cable video providers. While the market solution moves forward, policy changes crawl. The FCC’s proposed rulemaking merely opens the pub-lic comment period. Even if the proposed changes to the defi -nition of MVPD are enacted, many questions remain, most importantly, how the Copyright Offi ce, courts, and possibly even Congress might respond. While the Aereo decision lit a regulatory fi re, online video providers still have far to go before they are ready for primetime. �


the other hand, are in the upcoming year, 2015. But look back to 2014 with me. Looking back, you know what I’m thinking? I’m thinking how proud I am of our legal community. I’m thinking how fortunate we are, how challenged we are, and how capable we are in addressing challenges. At the moment, unfortunately, I’m also thinking how it always seems that we are los-ing wonderful lawyers due to their passing during the holiday season. Bet you thought that, too. I’m thinking how glad we are that young lawyers are always arriving. I’m thinking how much we are all looking forward to 2015. And I’m thinking that I’m particularly proud of the impact on our community of the charitable and educational programs provided through the efforts of our members, our Bar Associa-tion, and our Foundation. You’re thinking, “Rick’s rambling, and either his article is too late or his topics are too early.” But bear with me; I think you may be surprised at all you have done and all we’re going to do. Beginning in the late ‘90s, through the monetary contributions, perseverance, and good old-fashioned hard work of many, we acquired and renovated the Bar building. In doing so, we established a meeting place that we use daily to carry out your Foundation’s charitable and educational purposes, including the fur-therance of justice through legal education and legal aid for the indigent and the working poor. The commitment and follow through of you, the members of the Tarrant County Bar Association and the Tarrant County Bar Foundation, have made all the difference. As an overview of your impact, your Pro Bono Program Director, Megan Cooley, has provided me with a list of the highlights of the charitable and educational programs provided through these efforts:

• The promotion of pro bono involvement by Tar-rant County attorneys, judges, staff, and commu-nity volunteers through Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services. Since its inception in 2012, TVAS has assisted over 100 individuals with fam-ily law and estate planning matters.

• The legal support of over 1,800 veterans and their families through Texas Lawyers for Texas Veter-ans—Tarrant County Chapter. In 2013–2014, more than 400 attorneys provided advice and additional legal assistance to over 500 veterans in a wide range of areas, including bankruptcy, family, con-sumer, housing, and civil law.

• Opportunities for free le-gal advice for the public through LegalLine. During the past year, more than 130 attorneys provided over 250 hours of legal ad-vice to the general public.

• Over 1,900 hours of pro bono legal services in the past two years.

• Fellowship opportu-nities for law students at Texas A&M University School of Law as a result of a partnership with the Tarrant County Young Lawyers. In addition, law students support the pro bono programs by vol-unteering through the Equal Justice Program and receive internships and mentorship opportunities with area attorneys as a result.

• Free legal education on a number of topics offered through the People’s Law School.

• The development and distribution of the Elder Law Handbook, a comprehensive resource for the aging community.

• Community partnerships with Carter Blood Cen-ter, Habitat for Humanity, and Tarrant Area Food Bank. Through these partnerships, Tarrant County attorneys have collected food, built houses, and participated in numerous blood drives.

• A mentoring program by Tarrant County attorneys with Big Brothers Big Sisters that supports young students in surrounding schools.

• Support and involvement with National Adoption Day, an event that fosters awareness of foster care adoptions and results in the fi nalization of the adoptions for area foster care children and their families.

• Financial support of the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program’s provision of continuing edu-cation to its volunteers. CASA recruits, trains, and supervises local volunteer advocates who provide a voice for abused and neglected children.

I’m thinking that’s an impressive list. You’re think-ing I may have a point. Let’s carry on in 2015 and spread the word. One last thought: It is in giving that we receive. If you’re going to plagiarize—Go Big. Let’s keep on Thinking and Doing. Here’s to a great 2015. �

Rick Sorenson

Opportunities for free le-gal advice for the public through LegalLine. During the past year, more than 130 attorneys provided over 250 hours of legal ad-vice to the general public.Over 1,900 hours of pro

Fellowship opportu-nities for law students at Texas A&M University School of Law as a result of a partnership with the Tarrant County Young Lawyers. In addition, law


the other hand, are in the upcoming year, 2015. But

T foundation chair

annual meeting tuesday, january 275:30PM - 7:00pm • TCBA Office



�

Tarrant County Attorney Volunteer Services is excited about its newest endeavor, a pilot guardianship clinic to be held in partnership with Tarrant County Probate

Court No. 1. In January, Judge Steve King taught a CLE to TVAS volunteers initiating them on what they need to know to fi le guardianship applications on behalf of qualifying par-ents of children who, upon turning 18, will need guardian-ships of the person. At the guardianship event, scheduled for April, TVAS volunteers will meet with their clients to prepare and fi le guardianship applications. “We are thrilled about this new opportunity to match those who need, but cannot afford, quality legal help with willing volunteer at-torneys,” said Tarrant County Pro Bono Programs director, Megan Cooley. “The guardianship program promises to be

Pilot TVAS Guardianship Programa perfect complement to TVAS’s existing estate planning, family law, and adoption programs.” TVAS thanks Judge King, Probate Court No. 1 Investigator Barrie Allen, and the Tarrant County Probate Bar for their generous assistance in organizing this program.

Pro Bono Volunteer Spotlight: Leslie Hunt

Leslie Hunt fi rst vol-unteered to provide pro bono legal services several years ago when she ac-cepted cases referred by Legal Aid of Northwest Texas helping low-income individuals prepare and probate wills. In Novem-ber 2014, she volunteered as part of the TVAS pro bono estate planning clinic, where she helped a low-income individual prepare estate planning and ancillary documents. Leslie, who practices civil litigation at Decker Jones, initially decided to get in-volved in pro bono simply because she became aware that somebody needed help, and she knew she was in a position to be able to offer that help. In addition to her pro bono service, Leslie also volun-teers with the Junior League of Fort Worth, where she helps place volunteers in various local social and community ser-vice agencies. She is a past-president of the Tarrant County Young Lawyers’ Association and is active in the Mahon Inn of Court, and recently served as a volunteer judge for Region 11, Fort Worth area high school mock trial competition. Leslie grew up in Clarksville, Arkansas; obtained her bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Mis-souri; and attended law school at Baylor. After graduating from law school in 2004, she joined Decker Jones. When not working or volunteering, Leslie spends her free time with her husband and their three-year-old daughter, Pearl. �

Leslie Hunt














NAME PHONE

FIRM FAX

ADDRESS

CITY , TX ZIP


CREDIT CARD NUMBER









Law Offi ces of Jason Smith

Board Certifi ed Civil Appellate Law

Amerian Board of Trial Advocates

Trials and AppealsEmployment, Personal Injury, Insurance

letsgotocourt.com

Jason Smith817.334.0880

600 8th AveueFort Worth, TX 76104















NAME PHONE

FIRM FAX

ADDRESS

CITY , TX ZIP


CREDIT CARD NUMBER



February 2015

EXPIRATION

NAME ON CARD







14 www.tarrantbar.org � February 2015 January 2015 � TCBA BULLETIN 14

Texas Lawyers for Texas VeteransTarrant County Chapter

by Megan Cooley Profi les of Service

As part of its series of volunteer profi les, TLTV high-lights the efforts of the many law students who con-tribute to TLTV’s programs by volunteering at the

legal clinics, as well as “behind the scenes” at the Tarrant County Bar Association. The involvement of law students in pro bono is a win-win proposition. While volunteering, law students are able to interact with attorneys and judges, as well as clients, during the legal clinics. In addition, law stu-dents volunteering with TLTV have been able to apply their research skills to assist attorneys who represent veterans. At the same time, TLTV relies on the regular involvement of law students to provide pro bono services to its clients. TLTV, for example, has benefi ted from the recent fellow-ship program for law students made possible by the Tarrant County Young Lawyers and the Tarrant County Bar Foun-dation. Past intern Sarah Burns and current intern Whitley Zachary (both third years at Texas A&M University School of Law) have worked closely with TLTV and TVAS through the fellowship program. This issue is dedicated to the law students who volun-teer for TLTV while balancing their academic commitments and make the provision of pro bono services possible as a result. Below are profi les of a few of the volunteers:

Daniel Gibbins: Daniel (pictured above, back row, third from right) is from Larue, a very small town in East Texas. His graduat-ing class consisted of only 42 students. He is a third-year student at Texas A&M University School of Law. As a result of witnessing the impact oil and gas production has on local communities, especially his hometown, Daniel is interested in practicing law in the energy fi eld. Daniel volunteers for TLTV monthly clinics and assists with the intake process and the preparation for the clinics. In Daniel’s words, “I en-joy being a part of the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans’ pro bono clinics because I get to work face to face with individu-als that have made great sacrifi ces in duty to our country. Above all, I thoroughly enjoy not only being a part of a great program making a difference, but a great program that is

making a difference in our own backyard here in the Fort Worth area.”

Beth Thurman: Beth Thurman (pictured below, front row, far right), a third-year law student at the Texas A&M University School of Law, grew up in upstate New York but considers Fort Worth home. She moved to the area with her family seven years ago after serving eight years in the United States Navy. Dur-ing her service, she fl ew as a Naval Flight Offi cer aboard a P3 Orion aircraft serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. As a Tactical Coordinator and Mission Commander, Beth fl ew in two deployments to the Middle East and the Pacifi c Rim. She also served with the Chief of Naval Air Training. After her service she enrolled in law school, and she considers public service an integral part of life and legal practice. Volunteer-ing at the TLTV legal clinics affords her an opportunity to serve the community that gave her so much.

David Welch David (pictured in the back row, second from right) is a third-year law student at the Texas A&M University School of Law, and he graduated from TCU in 2012 with a degree in sociology. During law school, he has enjoyed studying civil

law, and he has had the opportunity to sit with volunteer attorneys during TLTV clinics while they advise veterans on civil-law matters. In ad-dition, David helps set up for the legal clinics and assists with the intake process by interview-ing veterans prior to their legal consultations. In David’s words, “I enjoy the TLTV clinics because I feel like I am helping veterans who have given so much to this country. The pro bono clients help me to work on the skills needed when talk-ing to clients about their issues.”

Jimmy “Dwight” Tom Dwight (pictured above, front row third from right) is a regular fi xture at the TLTV legal clinics, and he volunteers by calling and interviewing veterans by phone prior to the clinics. Dwight worked for the United States Postal Service for 15 years and then decided it was time for a new chal-lenge. In his words, “I took a chance, applied to law school, and well, here I am.” As for his involve-ment with TLTV, Dwight believes, “Pro bono with TLTV has been the perfect fi t for me. As a Texas veteran, I am grateful for the opportunities I have been afforded at the USPS and now at TAMU Law. I feel a sincere obliga-tion to serve my fellow veterans.” �

Student volunteers at the TLTV clinic


Texas Lawyers for Texas VeteransTarrant County Chapter

by Megan Cooley Profi les of Service

As part of its series of volunteer profi les, TLTV high-lights the efforts of the many law students who con-tribute to TLTV’s programs by volunteering at the

legal clinics, as well as “behind the scenes” at the Tarrant County Bar Association. The involvement of law students in pro bono is a win-win proposition. While volunteering, law students are able to interact with attorneys and judges, as well as clients, during the legal clinics. In addition, law stu-dents volunteering with TLTV have been able to apply their research skills to assist attorneys who represent veterans. At the same time, TLTV relies on the regular involvement of law students to provide pro bono services to its clients. TLTV, for example, has benefi ted from the recent fellow-ship program for law students made possible by the Tarrant County Young Lawyers and the Tarrant County Bar Foun-dation. Past intern Sarah Burns and current intern Whitley Zachary (both third years at Texas A&M University School of Law) have worked closely with TLTV and TVAS through the fellowship program. This issue is dedicated to the law students who volun-teer for TLTV while balancing their academic commitments and make the provision of pro bono services possible as a result. Below are profi les of a few of the volunteers:

Daniel Gibbins: Daniel (pictured above, back row, third from right) is from Larue, a very small town in East Texas. His graduat-ing class consisted of only 42 students. He is a third-year student at Texas A&M University School of Law. As a result of witnessing the impact oil and gas production has on local communities, especially his hometown, Daniel is interested in practicing law in the energy fi eld. Daniel volunteers for TLTV monthly clinics and assists with the intake process and the preparation for the clinics. In Daniel’s words, “I en-joy being a part of the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans’ pro bono clinics because I get to work face to face with individu-als that have made great sacrifi ces in duty to our country. Above all, I thoroughly enjoy not only being a part of a great program making a difference, but a great program that is

making a difference in our own backyard here in the Fort Worth area.”

Beth Thurman: Beth Thurman (pictured below, front row, far right), a third-year law student at the Texas A&M University School of Law, grew up in upstate New York but considers Fort Worth home. She moved to the area with her family seven years ago after serving eight years in the United States Navy. Dur-ing her service, she fl ew as a Naval Flight Offi cer aboard a P3 Orion aircraft serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. As a Tactical Coordinator and Mission Commander, Beth fl ew in two deployments to the Middle East and the Pacifi c Rim. She also served with the Chief of Naval Air Training. After her service she enrolled in law school, and she considers public service an integral part of life and legal practice. Volunteer-ing at the TLTV legal clinics affords her an opportunity to serve the community that gave her so much.

David Welch David (pictured in the back row, second from right) is a third-year law student at the Texas A&M University School of Law, and he graduated from TCU in 2012 with a degree in sociology. During law school, he has enjoyed studying civil

law, and he has had the opportunity to sit with volunteer attorneys during TLTV clinics while they advise veterans on civil-law matters. In ad-dition, David helps set up for the legal clinics and assists with the intake process by interview-ing veterans prior to their legal consultations. In David’s words, “I enjoy the TLTV clinics because I feel like I am helping veterans who have given so much to this country. The pro bono clients help me to work on the skills needed when talk-ing to clients about their issues.”

Jimmy “Dwight” Tom Dwight (pictured above, front row third from right) is a regular fi xture at the TLTV legal clinics, and he volunteers by calling and interviewing veterans by phone prior to the clinics. Dwight worked for the United States Postal Service for 15 years and then decided it was time for a new chal-lenge. In his words, “I took a chance, applied to law school, and well, here I am.” As for his involve-ment with TLTV, Dwight believes, “Pro bono with TLTV has been the perfect fi t for me. As a Texas veteran, I am grateful for the opportunities I have been afforded at the USPS and now at TAMU Law. I feel a sincere obliga-tion to serve my fellow veterans.” �

Student volunteers at the TLTV clinic

Tarrant County Bar AssociationCandidate for Position on Board of Directors

Biographical InformationNote: Information must be typed. Please use additional plain sheets of paper as needed.

We reserve the right to edit copy to fit space requirements. Written bios are limited to 200 words.

NAME

POSITION SOUGHT

FIRM/AGENCY/CORPORATION

LAW SCHOOL

DATE/DEGREE

PRESENT POSITIONS/ACTIVITIES WITH TCBA

ORGANIZATION/ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

HONORS/AWARDS

TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR CANDIDATE REQUEST

Send this information with a photograph to: Tarrant County Bar Association 2015-2016 Election Committee 1315 Calhoun Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6504

I, , being an attorney member in good standing of the Tarrant County Bar Association, do hereby request that my name be submitted to the Election Committee for consideration as a candidate for the position of Director for the election to be held in April, 2015.

Signature

Printed Name

SBOT Bar Number

DEADLINE TO RETURN PETITION, BIO, AND PHOTO IS 5PM, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015.FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 817.338.4092


In MemoriamSusan Anderson Halsey passed

away on December 19, 2014, leaving a legacy through her

family, career, and accomplish-ments, all of which were abun-dant and deeply appreciated.It is requested that, in lieu of fl owers, memorial donations be made to Wom-en’s Center of Tarrant County (817-927-4006) or Cook Children’s Medical Center Pastoral Care (682-885-4030). Susan grew up in Monroe, Louisiana where she was valedictorian of her class of 1977. She went on to study as an undergraduate at LSU where she excelled scholastically and to which she remained a loyal and life-long fan. She went on to gain admission to the school’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, from which she graduated in 1983, thus fulfi ll-ing a promise she made to her father when she was 8 that one day she would be a lawyer. Upon her graduation, Susan joined the Jackson Walker law fi rm, where she practiced for more than 30 years. In 1988, Susan moved to Fort Worth to open Jackson Walker’s offi ce here and immediately became a permanent member of the legal and civic community. Dur-ing her career at Jackson Walker, she served on the fi rm’s Management Committee, became Managing Partner of the Fort Worth offi ce, and was recognized as a distinguished lawyer by numerous organizations on multiple occasions. Susan will be missed and fondly remembered by her many friends, colleagues, partners, and family members. She was preceded in death by her mother, Polly Anderson and is survived by her daughters Taylor and Brooke Halsey, as well as Gordy, her husband of nearly 30 years, her father, Paul Anderson, and numerous extended family members. �

John Michael Lee, 84, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2014. His memory may

be honored with a gift to Believ-er’s Bible Church, 7413 Calmont Aveenue Fort Worth, Texas 76116 in lieu of fl owers. He was born in 1930 in Oklahoma City and grad-uated from Baylor Law School, where he met and married the love of his life, Yvonnne Robbins, formerly of Henderson, Ky. For 19 years, they lived in Abilene, where he became a partner at McMahon, Surovik and Suttle. He moved his prac-tice to Fort Worth until he retired. He was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne Robbins Lee, and a brother, Harvey Lee. Survivors include his adoring daughter Marlee Robbins Bar-ton, his grandchildren Will, Avery and Emily Odom, as well as numerous extended family members. �

Susan Anderson Halsey

John Michael Lee

Frank Dean McCown of Arlington died Thursday, De-cember 18, 2014, having recently celebrated his 87th birthday. In lieu of fl owers, memorial donations may

be made in his name to Mission Arlington, 210 West South Street, Arlington, TX 76010. Frank came from a pioneer Texas family. He was born at home to Frank Henchman and Martha Dean McCown in Whitney on Dec. 15, 1927. The family later moved to Waco where Frank graduated from Waco High in 1945. He attended North Texas State University, did a stint as an en-listed man on active duty with the United States Army of Occupation in Japan, and then returned to Waco to complete law school with honors at Baylor University in 1951. Shortly after completing law school, Frank married his fi rst wife, Joyce Gray, of Denton, and the couple moved to Dalhart where Frank began a distinguished legal career. While in Dalhart he was elected as county attorney and then as dis-trict attorney. He later moved his practice to Dumas where he continued to be active in the community, and in addition to his law practice, opened a title company. He served on the school board and as president of the Jaycees and eventually, assistant United States attorney and chief of the Criminal Di-vision for the Northern District of Texas. In 1972, President Nixon appointed him as the United States attorney where he served with distinction in what were some of the happi-est professional years of his life. With the election of a new president in 1976, Frank returned to private practice in Fort Worth, where he practiced many more years representing clients in both civil and criminal cases as a board certifi ed criminal lawyer. In 1983, he married Ruth Snellings of Arlington, with whom he shared 31 happy years. It is thanks to Ruth that he spent his 87th birthday at, and passed away in his own home. He is also survived by his children, F. Scott McCown, Davis Gray McCown and Douglas Wade McCown; his step-children, Tommy Snellings, Johnny Snellings, Michael Snel-lings and Kathryn Magendie; his grandchildren and step-grandchildren. �

The Tarrant County Bar Associationhas made a donation to the

Tarrant County Bar Foundationin memory of

Susan Anderson Halsey,John Michael Lee

andFrank Dean McCown

�

See your name in lights!!!Or at least in theTCBA Bar Bulletin!

Become a member of the exclusive TCBA “2014-2015 100 Club” and see your fi rm’s or organization’s name in print in every issue of the Bar Bulletin for the remainder of this bar year!

To qualify, law fi rms, government agencies, law schools, and corporate legal departments of four attorneys or more must have 100% of their attorneys enrolled as members of the TCBA. If your fi rm is not listed, please contact our Director of Membership, Cindy Rankin, at 817.338.4092 or [email protected].

We are proud of the 100% 2014-2015 bar membership for the following law fi rms and other groups!

Adams Lynch & Loftin, PCAlbert Neely & Kuhlmann LLP

Allmand Law Firm, PLLCAnderson & Riddle, LLP

Anderson Law FirmBakutis McCully & Sawyer PCBarlow Garsek & Simon, LLP

Beadles Newman & Lawler PCThe Berenson Firm PC

Blaies & Hightower, LLPBourland, Wall & Wenzel, PC

Boyle & Lowry, LLPBrackett & Ellis, PC

Broude Smith & Jennings PCBourland, Wall & Wenzel, PC

Brown, Dean, Wiseman, Proctor, Hart & Howell, LLPBruner & Pappas LLPCantey Hanger LLP

City Attorney’s Offi ce-City of Fort WorthCook Childrens Health Care System

Cotten Schmidt & Abbott, LLPCurnutt & Hafer, LLPDawson Parrish, PC

Decker Jones McMackin McClane Hall & Bates PCForshey & Prostok, LLP

Friedman, Suder & CookeFTSI Services

Gardner Aldrich, LLPGordon & Sykes, LLP

Griffi th, Jay, & Michel, LLPHarris, Finley & Bogle, PC

Harrison Steck PCHaynes and Boone, LLP

Holland Johns & Penny LLPJohnston Legal Group, PC

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLPKoons Fuller, PC

Law, Snakard & Gambill, PCLinebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

Lively & Associates, LLPLovelace Killen, PLLCMacdonald Devin PC

McDonald Sanders Law FirmMellina & Larson, PC

Moses, Palmer & Howell, LLPMurphy Mahon Keffl er Farrier, LLPNaman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC

Nelson Bumgardner Casto, PCNoteboom Law FirmPadfi eld & Stout, LLPPhelps Dunbar LLP

Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Ray, LLPJim Ross & Associates Ross & Matthews, PC

Second Court of AppealsShannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP

Tarrant County DA’s Offi ceTaylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP

Texas A & M School of LawThe Berenson Firm PC

The Blum Firm, PCThe Colaneri Firm, PC

The Wolf Law Firm, PCThompson & Knight, LLPWallach & Andrews, PC

Watson Caraway Midkiff & Luningham LLPWhitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC

Whitley Penn, LLPWilson, White & Doby, LLP

Winstead PC

In MemoriamSusan Anderson Halsey passed

away on December 19, 2014, leaving a legacy through her

family, career, and accomplish-ments, all of which were abun-dant and deeply appreciated.It is requested that, in lieu of fl owers, memorial donations be made to Wom-en’s Center of Tarrant County (817-927-4006) or Cook Children’s Medical Center Pastoral Care (682-885-4030). Susan grew up in Monroe, Louisiana where she was valedictorian of her class of 1977. She went on to study as an undergraduate at LSU where she excelled scholastically and to which she remained a loyal and life-long fan. She went on to gain admission to the school’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, from which she graduated in 1983, thus fulfi ll-ing a promise she made to her father when she was 8 that one day she would be a lawyer. Upon her graduation, Susan joined the Jackson Walker law fi rm, where she practiced for more than 30 years. In 1988, Susan moved to Fort Worth to open Jackson Walker’s offi ce here and immediately became a permanent member of the legal and civic community. Dur-ing her career at Jackson Walker, she served on the fi rm’s Management Committee, became Managing Partner of the Fort Worth offi ce, and was recognized as a distinguished lawyer by numerous organizations on multiple occasions. Susan will be missed and fondly remembered by her many friends, colleagues, partners, and family members. She was preceded in death by her mother, Polly Anderson and is survived by her daughters Taylor and Brooke Halsey, as well as Gordy, her husband of nearly 30 years, her father, Paul Anderson, and numerous extended family members. �

John Michael Lee, 84, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2014. His memory may

be honored with a gift to Believ-er’s Bible Church, 7413 Calmont Aveenue Fort Worth, Texas 76116 in lieu of fl owers. He was born in 1930 in Oklahoma City and grad-uated from Baylor Law School, where he met and married the love of his life, Yvonnne Robbins, formerly of Henderson, Ky. For 19 years, they lived in Abilene, where he became a partner at McMahon, Surovik and Suttle. He moved his prac-tice to Fort Worth until he retired. He was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne Robbins Lee, and a brother, Harvey Lee. Survivors include his adoring daughter Marlee Robbins Bar-ton, his grandchildren Will, Avery and Emily Odom, as well as numerous extended family members. �

Susan Anderson Halsey

John Michael Lee

Frank Dean McCown of Arlington died Thursday, De-cember 18, 2014, having recently celebrated his 87th birthday. In lieu of fl owers, memorial donations may

be made in his name to Mission Arlington, 210 West South Street, Arlington, TX 76010. Frank came from a pioneer Texas family. He was born at home to Frank Henchman and Martha Dean McCown in Whitney on Dec. 15, 1927. The family later moved to Waco where Frank graduated from Waco High in 1945. He attended North Texas State University, did a stint as an en-listed man on active duty with the United States Army of Occupation in Japan, and then returned to Waco to complete law school with honors at Baylor University in 1951. Shortly after completing law school, Frank married his fi rst wife, Joyce Gray, of Denton, and the couple moved to Dalhart where Frank began a distinguished legal career. While in Dalhart he was elected as county attorney and then as dis-trict attorney. He later moved his practice to Dumas where he continued to be active in the community, and in addition to his law practice, opened a title company. He served on the school board and as president of the Jaycees and eventually, assistant United States attorney and chief of the Criminal Di-vision for the Northern District of Texas. In 1972, President Nixon appointed him as the United States attorney where he served with distinction in what were some of the happi-est professional years of his life. With the election of a new president in 1976, Frank returned to private practice in Fort Worth, where he practiced many more years representing clients in both civil and criminal cases as a board certifi ed criminal lawyer. In 1983, he married Ruth Snellings of Arlington, with whom he shared 31 happy years. It is thanks to Ruth that he spent his 87th birthday at, and passed away in his own home. He is also survived by his children, F. Scott McCown, Davis Gray McCown and Douglas Wade McCown; his step-children, Tommy Snellings, Johnny Snellings, Michael Snel-lings and Kathryn Magendie; his grandchildren and step-grandchildren. �

The Tarrant County Bar Associationhas made a donation to the

Tarrant County Bar Foundationin memory of

Susan Anderson Halsey,John Michael Lee

andFrank Dean McCown

�

See your name in lights!!!Or at least in theTCBA Bar Bulletin!

Become a member of the exclusive TCBA “2014-2015 100 Club” and see your fi rm’s or organization’s name in print in every issue of the Bar Bulletin for the remainder of this bar year!

To qualify, law fi rms, government agencies, law schools, and corporate legal departments of four attorneys or more must have 100% of their attorneys enrolled as members of the TCBA. If your fi rm is not listed, please contact our Director of Membership, Cindy Rankin, at 817.338.4092 or [email protected].

We are proud of the 100% 2014-2015 bar membership for the following law fi rms and other groups!

100 Club MembersAdams Lynch & Loftin, PC

Albert Neely & Kuhlmann LLPAllmand Law Firm, PLLCAnderson & Riddle, LLP

Anderson Law FirmBakutis McCully & Sawyer PCBarlow Garsek & Simon, LLP

Beadles Newman & Lawler PCThe Berenson Firm PC

Blaies & Hightower, LLPBourland, Wall & Wenzel, PC

Boyle & Lowry, LLPBrackett & Ellis, PC

Broude Smith & Jennings PCBourland, Wall & Wenzel, PC

Brown, Dean, Wiseman, Proctor, Hart & Howell, LLPBruner & Pappas LLPCantey Hanger LLP

City Attorney’s Offi ce-City of Fort WorthCook Childrens Health Care System

Cotten Schmidt & Abbott, LLPCurnutt & Hafer, LLPDawson Parrish, PC

Decker Jones McMackin McClane Hall & Bates PCForshey & Prostok, LLP

Friedman, Suder & CookeFTSI Services

Gardner Aldrich, LLPGordon & Sykes, LLP

Griffi th, Jay, & Michel, LLPHarris, Finley & Bogle, PC

Harrison Steck PCHaynes and Boone, LLP

Holland Johns & Penny LLPJohnston Legal Group, PC

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLPKoons Fuller, PC

Law, Snakard & Gambill, PCLinebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

Lively & Associates, LLPLovelace Killen, PLLCMacdonald Devin PC

McDonald Sanders Law FirmMellina & Larson, PC

Moses, Palmer & Howell, LLPMurphy Mahon Keffl er Farrier, LLPNaman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC

Nelson Bumgardner Casto, PCNoteboom Law FirmPadfi eld & Stout, LLP

Phelps Dunbar LLPPope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Ray, LLP

Jim Ross & Associates Ross & Matthews, PC

Second Court of AppealsShannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP

Tarrant County DA’s Offi ceTaylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam, LLP

Texas A & M School of LawThe Berenson Firm PC

The Blum Firm, PCThe Colaneri Firm, PC

The Wolf Law Firm, PCThompson & Knight, LLPWallach & Andrews, PC

Watson Caraway Midkiff & Luningham LLPWhitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC

Whitley Penn, LLPWilson, White & Doby, LLP

Winstead PC February 2015 � TCBA BULLETIN 17


alendar of EventsCFebruary 2015 March 2015WEDNESDAY, February 4

Noon-1 pm . . . . . . . . . . Intellectual Property Section LuncheonFort Worth Club

TUESDAY, February 10

11:45-1 pm . . . . . . . . . . Membership Luncheon Honoring our 50 Year AttorneysFort Worth Club

WEDNESDAY, February 11

Noon-1 pm . . . . . . . . . . Business Litigation Section LuncheonCity Club

THURSDAY, February 12

Noon-1 pm . . . . . . . . . . Energy Section LuncheonCity Club

6pm-8pm . . . . . . . . . . . LegalLineTCBA Offi ce

MONDAY, February 16

All day . . . . . . . . . . . . . TCBA Offi ce closed in observance ofPresidents’ Day


Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Labor & Employment Law Section LuncheonPetroleum Club


All day . . . . . . . . . . . . . Court Coordinators’ SeminarTCBA Offi ce

11:30- 1pm . . . . . . . . . . Fort Worth Business & Estate SectionLuncheonCity Club

Noon- 1pm . . . . . . . . . . Construction Law Section LuncheonTCBA Offi ce

FRIDAY, February 20

12:30pm-3:45pm . . . . . . Brown Bag SeminarTCBA Offi ce

MONDAY, February 23

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Bankruptcy Law Section LuncheonFort Worth Club


11:30am-1:30pm . . . . . . Tax & Estate Planning Section LuncheonCity Club

1pm-4pm . . . . . . . . . . . Last Tuesday CLETCBA Offi ce


5pm-7pm . . . . . . . . . . . Docket Call SocialLaw Offi ces of Mark Anderson


FRIDAY, February 27

11:45am-1pm . . . . . . . . Women Attorneys Section LuncheonCity Club

WEDNESDAY, March 4

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Corporate Counsel Section LuncheonTCBA Offi ce

THURSDAY, March 12


TUESDAY, March 17

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Real Estate Section LuncheonCity Club

THURSDAY, March 19

4:30-7pm . . . . . . . . . . . Court Staff Appreciation & AwardsTCBA Offi ce

TUESDAY, March 24


WEDNESDAY, March 25

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Transition To Practice Seminar“What To Do When You Find OutYour Client Lied Under Oath, or Plans To”TCBA Offi ce

THURSDAY, March 26

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Construction Law Section LunchTBCA Offi ce

5:30-8pm . . . . . . . . . . . Fort Worth Business & Estate Section DinnerPetroleum Club


FRIDAY, March 27

12:30-3:45pm . . . . . . . . Brown Bag SeminarTCBA Offi ce

SATURDAY, March 28

7pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tortfeasors5Fort Worth Community Arts Center

Mark your

Law Day 2015The evening of Tuesday, May 5

at the Fort Worth Club!

Calendar

Lawyers on the Move &in the NewsKelly Hart & Hallman LLP is pleased to announce the

following new partners: Brandon M. Hill represents lenders, borrowers, and

investors in interim, permanent, construction, tax-exempt bond, and other types of fi nancing transactions. Mr. Hill has extensive experience representing clients in connection with loans secured by or involving real estate, including offi ce, multifamily, retail, and other commercial projects. Mr. Hill earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from Texas Tech Uni-versity School of Law in 2006 and received his B.S., summa cum laude, from Texas A&M University in 2003.

Darren J. Keyes practices in a wide range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and development of real estate projects for owners, inves-tors, and Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Keyes earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, cum laude in 2006 and graduated in 2000, magna cum laude, from Abilene Christian University

Evan M. Malloy represents a variety of publicly traded and privately held corporate clients in complex mergers and acquisitions, and he regularly advises clients on various aspects of corporate and securities laws, including fi nan-cial reporting, SEC compliance, and corporate governance matters. Mr. Malloy earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, summa cum laude in 2006 and graduated in 2003, magna cum laude, from Trinity Univer-sity. Richard T. McMillan II focuses his practice on oil & gas/energy litigation and transactions. Mr. McMillan represents landowners and exploration companies in the negotiation of matters such as surface use disputes, lease termination dis-putes, as well as other issues pertaining to land and mineral ownership. Mr. McMillan earned his law degree from the University Of Texas School Of Law in 2006 and graduated in 2003, with honors, from The University of Texas at Austin.

Derek L. Montgomery’s practice is primarily devoted to representing clients in complex commercial litigation at the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Montgomery represents manu-facturers, individual investors and investment fi rms, on-line travel companies, oil and gas operators, mineral owners, and working interest owners. Mr. Montgomery earned his J.D., cum laude, from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2006 and received his B.B.A. from Texas A&M University in 2001.

Jody S. Sanders represents clients in a variety of ad-ministrative and arbitration proceedings. Mr. Sanders’s experience includes all stages of litigation in trial courts throughout the state, as well as appeals and original pro-ceedings in Texas’s intermediate courts of appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the Fifth Circuit. Mr. Sanders earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center, in 2005, and received his B. A., cum laude, from

Texas Christian University in 2001. McDonald Sanders Law Firm is pleased to announce

the addition of three associate attorneys: C. Ryan Heath joins the fi rm’s business transactions, organization, real estate and estate planning & probate prac-tice groups. Mr. Heath was a summer associate at McDon-ald Sanders in 2013. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. While in law school, he was an extern for the Honorable Jeffrey Cureton, United States Mag-istrate Judge, Northern District of Texas. Mr. Heath received his B.S. in Business Management, summa cum laude, from Louisiana State University. Kathy M. Kassabian joins the fi rm’s commercial litiga-tion, personal injury defense litigation, labor & employment and business transactions, organization practice groups. Ms. Kassabian was a summer associate at McDonald Sanders in 2013. Prior to joining McDonald Sanders, Ms. Kassabian was a law clerk for the Honorable Bonnie Sudderth, 352nd Dis-trict Court, Tarrant County, Texas, and a legal intern for the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney. Ms. Kassabian earned her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law, where she was the Symposium Editor of the Texas Tech Law Review. She received her B.B.A. from the University of New Orleans. Grant C. Sorenson joins the fi rm’s business transac-tions, organization, real estate, banking & fi nance, and oil & gas practice groups. Mr. Sorenson was a summer associate at McDonald Sanders in 2013. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Texas Tech University School of Law. He was a summer law clerk for the Offi ce of the Attorney Gen-eral of Texas, where he worked in the Consumer Protection and Antitrust divisions. Mr. Sorenson served as Staff Mem-ber and Articles Editor for the Texas Tech Law Review. He received his B.A. from Oklahoma State University. �


alendar of EventsCFebruary 2015 March 2015WEDNESDAY, February 4

Noon-1 pm . . . . . . . . . . Intellectual Property Section LuncheonFort Worth Club


11:45-1 pm . . . . . . . . . . Membership Luncheon Honoring our 50 Year AttorneysFort Worth Club

WEDNESDAY, February 11

Noon-1 pm . . . . . . . . . . Business Litigation Section LuncheonCity Club


Noon-1 pm . . . . . . . . . . Energy Section LuncheonCity Club


MONDAY, February 16

All day . . . . . . . . . . . . . TCBA Offi ce closed in observance ofPresidents’ Day


Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Labor & Employment Law Section LuncheonPetroleum Club


All day . . . . . . . . . . . . . Court Coordinators’ SeminarTCBA Offi ce

11:30- 1pm . . . . . . . . . . Fort Worth Business & Estate SectionLuncheonCity Club

Noon- 1pm . . . . . . . . . . Construction Law Section LuncheonTCBA Offi ce

FRIDAY, February 20

12:30pm-3:45pm . . . . . . Brown Bag SeminarTCBA Offi ce

MONDAY, February 23

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Bankruptcy Law Section LuncheonFort Worth Club



1pm-4pm . . . . . . . . . . . Last Tuesday CLETCBA Offi ce


5pm-7pm . . . . . . . . . . . Docket Call SocialLaw Offi ces of Mark Anderson


FRIDAY, February 27

11:45am-1pm . . . . . . . . Women Attorneys Section LuncheonCity Club

WEDNESDAY, March 4

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Corporate Counsel Section LuncheonTCBA Offi ce

THURSDAY, March 12


TUESDAY, March 17

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Real Estate Section LuncheonCity Club

THURSDAY, March 19

4:30-7pm . . . . . . . . . . . Court Staff Appreciation & AwardsTCBA Offi ce

TUESDAY, March 24


WEDNESDAY, March 25

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Transition To Practice Seminar“What To Do When You Find OutYour Client Lied Under Oath, or Plans To”TCBA Offi ce

THURSDAY, March 26

Noon-1pm . . . . . . . . . . Construction Law Section LunchTBCA Offi ce

5:30-8pm . . . . . . . . . . . Fort Worth Business & Estate Section DinnerPetroleum Club


FRIDAY, March 27

12:30-3:45pm . . . . . . . . Brown Bag SeminarTCBA Offi ce

SATURDAY, March 28

7pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tortfeasors5Fort Worth Community Arts Center

Mark your

Law Day 2015The evening of Tuesday, May 5

at the Fort Worth Club!

Calendar

Lawyers on the Move &in the News Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP is pleased to announce the following new partners: Brandon M. Hill represents lenders, borrowers, and investors in interim, permanent, construction, tax-exempt bond, and other types of fi nancing transactions. Mr. Hill has extensive experience representing clients in connection with loans secured by or involving real estate, including offi ce, multifamily, retail, and other commercial projects. Mr. Hill earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from Texas Tech Uni-versity School of Law in 2006 and received his B.S., summa cum laude, from Texas A&M University in 2003. Darren J. Keyes practices in a wide range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and development of real estate projects for owners, inves-tors, and Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Keyes earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, cum laude in 2006 and graduated in 2000, magna cum laude, from Abilene Christian University Evan M. Malloy represents a variety of publicly traded and privately held corporate clients in complex mergers and acquisitions, and he regularly advises clients on various aspects of corporate and securities laws, including fi nan-cial reporting, SEC compliance, and corporate governance matters. Mr. Malloy earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, summa cum laude in 2006 and graduated in 2003, magna cum laude, from Trinity Univer-sity. Richard T. McMillan II focuses his practice on oil & gas/energy litigation and transactions. Mr. McMillan represents landowners and exploration companies in the negotiation of matters such as surface use disputes, lease termination dis-putes, as well as other issues pertaining to land and mineral ownership. Mr. McMillan earned his law degree from the University Of Texas School Of Law in 2006 and graduated in 2003, with honors, from The University of Texas at Austin. Derek L. Montgomery’s practice is primarily devoted to representing clients in complex commercial litigation at the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Montgomery represents manu-facturers, individual investors and investment fi rms, on-line travel companies, oil and gas operators, mineral owners, and working interest owners. Mr. Montgomery earned his J.D., cum laude, from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2006 and received his B.B.A. from Texas A&M University in 2001. Jody S. Sanders represents clients in a variety of ad-ministrative and arbitration proceedings. Mr. Sanders’s experience includes all stages of litigation in trial courts throughout the state, as well as appeals and original pro-ceedings in Texas’s intermediate courts of appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the Fifth Circuit. Mr. Sanders earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center, in 2005, and received his B. A., cum laude, from

Texas Christian University in 2001. McDonald Sanders Law Firm is pleased to announce

the addition of three associate attorneys: C. Ryan Heath joins the fi rm’s business transactions,

organization, real estate and estate planning & probate prac-tice groups. Mr. Heath was a summer associate at McDon-ald Sanders in 2013. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. While in law school, he was an extern for the Honorable Jeffrey Cureton, United States Mag-istrate Judge, Northern District of Texas. Mr. Heath received his B.S. in Business Management, summa cum laude, from Louisiana State University.

Kathy M. Kassabian joins the fi rm’s commercial litiga-tion, personal injury defense litigation, labor & employment and business transactions, organization practice groups. Ms. Kassabian was a summer associate at McDonald Sanders in 2013. Prior to joining McDonald Sanders, Ms. Kassabian was a law clerk for the Honorable Bonnie Sudderth, 352nd Dis-trict Court, Tarrant County, Texas, and a legal intern for the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney. Ms. Kassabian earned her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law, where she was the Symposium Editor of the Texas Tech Law Review. She received her B.B.A. from the University of New Orleans.

Grant C. Sorenson joins the fi rm’s business transac-tions, organization, real estate, banking & fi nance, and oil & gas practice groups. Mr. Sorenson was a summer associate at McDonald Sanders in 2013. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Texas Tech University School of Law. He was a summer law clerk for the Offi ce of the Attorney Gen-eral of Texas, where he worked in the Consumer Protection and Antitrust divisions. Mr. Sorenson served as Staff Mem-ber and Articles Editor for the Texas Tech Law Review. He received his B.A. from Oklahoma State University. �



Advertisers’ IndexDebora Adame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Fort Worth JSB Companies, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Foster & East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Juris Fabrilis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Law Offices of Jason Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Law Pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

LexisNexis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside back cover

Stephens Anderson & Cummings . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover

Texas Lawyers’ Insurance Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Tindall Square . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6


For more information and photos,please like us on Facebook.

Classifi edAdvertisingOffi ce Space For LeaseSundance Square Offi ce. Attractive 992 sq. ft. corner suite, overlooking Sundance Square with great views, near courthouses. Two large offi ces, personal secretarial area, waiting area, reception; available for lease/sublease. 817.673.9456. [email protected].

ReminderDeadline for the

March issueof the

Bulletin is February 2

Other Associations’

FW-TC YLA 2014-2015 new Bar Year began September 1, 2014. If you need an application or meeting information, call 817.338.4092, email [email protected], or go to the website at tcyla.org.

Arlington Bar AssociationMeets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. President, Larry Gaydos. For location & information, email [email protected] or call 214.651.5622

MABA (Mexican American Bar Association)Meets on the last Thursday of each month at Rivas Mexican Restaurant, 5442 River Oaks Blvd., River Oaks 76114. For more information, contact President Eloy Sepulveda at 817.332.1285.

Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association (NETCBA)Meets for CLE luncheons on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at La Hacienda Restaurant, Hwy. 121. Contact President Leslie Barrows, 500 E. Belknap, Suite A, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, 817.481.1583, lbarrows@barrowsfi rm.com.

L. Clifford Davis Legal Association (f/k/a Tarrant County Black Bar Association) holds its meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact President Mary Panzu at 817.2600.9778.

Black Women Lawyers AssociationFor meetings and information, contact Sue Allen, President at 817.926.5005 [email protected].

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 Medlin at 817.877.3333.

Tarrant County Family Law Bar AssociationMeets at 12 noon on the 4th Tuesday of each month at Family law Center Assembly Room on the 2nd fl oor. For more information, contact President David Kulesz at 817.226.1100 or [email protected].

Tarrant County Trial Lawyers AssociationMeets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Joe T. Garcia’s. For more information, contact Coby Wooten at 817.632.8400.

Tarrant County Probate Bar AssociationMeets on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Petroleum Club—members free, guests $25. For more information, contact Monica Benson, 817.263.5190 [email protected]

Texas Association of Defense CounselMeets for lunch every 4th Wednesday at Angelo’s. Contact George Haratsis, McDonald Sanders, 817.336.8651 for more information.

The 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.

News & Information

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U. S. POSTAGE PAIDFORT WORTH, TX

PERMIT 1807

BAR BULLETIN • February 2015Tarrant County Bar Association1315 Calhoun StreetFort Worth, Texas 76102-6504

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

If any of your contact information is incorrect, please submit your corrected information to the TCBA office at 817.338.4092, fax to817.335.9238 or e-mail to [email protected]

Jason Stephens is licensed in Texas and Oklahoma. Seth Anderson is Board-Certified in Personal Injury

Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. John Cummings is Board-Certified in Personal Injury

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TCBA Member Benefi ts Vendor ListTCBA members may take advantage of discounts

provided by the following vendors:ABA Retirement Funds program provides full-service 401(k) plans to benefi t the legal community. To learn more, contact local rep. Jacob Millican at 817.451.5020 or visit www.abaretirement.com.AMO Offi ce Supply offers TCBA members the lowest price guaranteed on offi ce supplies, with next-day delivery and free shipping! Call 800.420.6421.Falcon Litigation Solutions offers discounts on copying, litigation displays, trial boards, etc. Call 817.870.0330.Fort Worth JSB Co., Inc., offers a 10% discount to TCBA members on printed materials—business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, brochures, fl yers, and more. For a quote, call 817.577.0572.Fort Worth Zoo, discount tickets - $9.50 adult, $6.50 for child or senior. For tickets, contact [email protected] or 817.338.4092. If mailing or charging tickets, add 50 cents.Sprint offers 15% off the monthly service. For info, contact [email protected] or 817.338.4092.UPS - TCBA has signed an agreement with UPS for TCBA members to receive discounts on shipping. The discounts vary according to the type of shipment, but check out UPS for your needs. www.ups.com or 1.800.PICK.UPS.For IT help:Juris Fabrilis-Cool Tools for Lawyers offers members dis-counted 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. Expanco is N.A.I.D. AAA-Certifi ed document-destruction service offering 40% off to TCBA members. Call TCBA offi ce for details on both.

Documents

TCBA Bulletin, February 2015 Issue