MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE LBA FALL DINNER
The 2003 Fall Dinner has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2003 at the North Andover Country Club. A cocktail reception - with cash bar - will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed at 7:00 p.m. by dinner and the program. Check last week's mail for a reservation form and directions from Bob Gilbert . Note the new and improved menu choices!
We are very happy to be honoring our fifty year members at the dinner:
Atty. George W. Arvanitis
Hon. Robert L. Hermann
Atty. Albert S. Previte, Jr.
Atty. Jason Rosenberg
Atty. Ralph Stein
Atty. Bernard J. Tay
Each of these lawyers has been an important part of the legal profession in our area and in the Lawrence Bar Association through the years. We are glad to be able to take this opportunity to congratulate them on their long careers in the law.
We also will be honoring and thanking Matt Caffrey for his service to the LBA as 2002 president. Under his leadership, the Bar grew in number, serving as the meeting grounds for lawyers - new and experienced - as well as judges and clerks and a strong resource for lawyers in the Greater Lawrence area.
The judges and clerks serving in the Lawrence courts will be invited as guests of the LBA for the Fall Dinner. We are expecting a large turnout for this event, so sign up early and join in this celebration of some very special members!
BROWN BAG LUNCH SERIES KICKS OFF
A big congratulations goes to Jeff Renton for suggesting, organizing and chairing the September 26 th Brown Bag Lunch on the New District Court Rules and the Jury Process for Civil Cases. Judge Stephen Ostrach of the Lawrence District Court was the presenter. He and Jeff provided a written outline of the changes to the rules and their implications for practitioners in civil cases. Judge Barbara Savitt Pearson, Clerk- Magistrate Keith McDonough and Mark Micale of the Lawrence District Court also participated in the session along with 15 attorneys. Participants were uniform in their praise for the session and supported continuing the series. Jeff has agreed to organize the second Brown Bag Lunch, tentatively scheduled for early December. Suggested topics for future Brown Bag Lunches include summary process rules and practice and making the maximum use of an LBA website. If you have an idea for a Brown Bag Lunch and/or if you would like to organize one, please contact Jeff Renton - jrenton@gilbertandrenton.com.
Thank you to Judge Ostrach and the Lawrence District Court personnel for participating in this kick-off event. Thank you also to Susan Trippi and Paul Burke who hosted the gathering in the conference room of the Northeast Housing Court. And thank you to all those who attended and made this event a useful one for our practice.
E-MAIL ADDRESSES NEEDED
If you received the notice about the September 26 th Brown Bag Lunch by e-mail, that means that you are in our e-mail directory! If you did not receive an e-mailed notice, please tell us your e-mail address so that we can include you in the directory. We are hoping to increase the use of e-mail to get information out to members quickly, efficiently and inexpensively. If you are not in the LBA e-mail directory, please send an e-mail to Melissa West - mwest@gilbertandrenton.com or include your e-mail on your Fall Dinner reservation form. Thank you!
LBA WEBSITE IS ON THE WAY!
Plans are going forward to create a Lawrence Bar Association website. Matt Caffrey is working with Barbara Finck to design a website which is practical, user friendly and up-to-date.
If you have any ideas for content of the website, contact Matt Caffrey - mcaffrey@caffreyandsmith.com
MASSACHUSETTS BAR ASSOCIATION THANKS LOCAL MEMBERS WHO HELPED MAKE THE 2003 MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM A SUCCESS
Members of the LBA served as judges and coaches for the Massachusetts Bar Association's Mock Trial Program earlier this year. Attorneys and judges served as coaches for teams of high school students who prepared and presented a case before a volunteer acting as a judge for the competition. Lawrence Superior Court was one of the many venues across the state for the mock trials. Chelmsford High School was the state champion and represented the state as “Team Massachusetts” at the Mock Trial Nationals held in New Orleans.
Thanks to James Breslauer, Fairlie Dalton, Herbert C. Dike, Frederick Fairburn, David Hallinan, and Wendy Olinsky who volunteered for this program. As the May 2003 MBA Lawyers Journal says, “Their commitment to the program and the time and effort that they put forth at trials reminds us that the practice of law is so much more than courts, clients and contracts. Their support truly underscores the reality that our members are a positive influence furthering the MBA's mission to provide the Commonwealth with legal-education opportunities.”
--- Thought for the Day ---
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
- Albert Camus
In September Pamela Casey O'Brien, Register of Probate for the Essex Division of the Probate and Family Court, sent the following Memo concerning the Salem Registry Hours, Lawrence Satellite Registry Hours and Registry Files for the Lawrence Session:
“As you are all well aware, the Trial Courts continue to face difficult times due to yet another budget deficit in fiscal year 2004. The Essex County Probate and Family Court has lost (12) twelve employees. As a result, we will not be able to operate the Registry on a full time basis as of October 1, 2003.
Following is a proposed schedule of hours for the Lawrence Satellite Session :
Monday through Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. All emergencies will continue to be heard from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Following is a proposed schedule for the Salem Registry:
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. All emergencies will continue to be heard until 4:15 p.m.
After thoughtful consideration, unfortunately I will not be able to accommodate the request to store case files assigned to the Lawrence Satellite Session in Lawrence. Again, due to the current budget crisis resulting in shortage of staff and resources I cannot provide the additional staff needed to process and maintain those files on site in Lawrence. As a matter of fact, I had to decrease staff in Lawrence to cover the shortfall of resources that we are experiencing in Salem. However, in order to accommodate the bar, I am willing to revisit this issue when the Registry is adequately staffed.
Please include a self addressed stamped envelope with all filings and at the bench when the Court will be mailing an order back to your office.
In closing, please contact me directly with any suggestions or comments relative to the above proposals. Your continued patience and understanding is appreciated by myself and the Registry staff.”
Alice Kleinhans , pro bono coordinator for Merrimack Valley Legal Services, sent this notice of an educational and pro bono opportunity:
Basic Bankruptcy Training
Sponsored by Volunteer Lawyers Service, Massachusetts Justice Project, Worcester County Bar Association , and Merrimack Valley Legal Services, Inc.
Date: Friday, October 24, 2003
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Place: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 595 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Worcester, MA
Honorable Judge Joel B. Rosenthal will give his view from the bench. Attorneys Lucille B. Brennan, Janice G. Marsh, and Stephan M. Rodolakis will offer practice tips and substantive training for the new practitioner.
Free if you take two pro bono cases within the next year (either bankruptcy or family law cases). Materials are provided.
To sign up or for more information, call Alice Kleinhans at 978-458-1465 or e-mail at akleinhans@mvlegal.org
Items for the next newsletter should be sent to Fairlie A. Dalton , fax no. 978/685-2933, fdalton@nlsma.org