The Week That Became a Month Jonathan W. Kunkel

I can safely say that this past month was, by far, the busiest yet during my time

as President. The first week of May marked Law Week, which our organization

celebrated for the entire month. In my opinion, the numerous events and

community outreach activities sponsored by our organization epitomized the

very spirit of the DCBA. The celebration of our profession officially began on

Monday, April 29th with the opening of the “Ask a Lawyer” booth in Strawberry

Square. During the entire work week, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., members of our association

generously gave of their time to meet our neighbors and provide guidance for our legal system by

suggesting ways to resolve legal issues. I would like to sincerely thank all of the participants for

taking part in this valuable outreach program. Without their expertise and enthusiasm, it simply

would not exist. I would also like to thank Law Week Chair Fran Chardo and his entire committee

for executing such a spectacular celebration of our legal system.

The Law Week festivities continued on Wednesday, May 1st at the Hilton with our Law

Week Membership Breakfast. It was a fantastic event and was even covered on the evening news as

WHTM anchor, Valerie Pritchett, was presented with the Liberty Bell Award for her many years of

volunteer service to the community. Our Guest Speaker, Chris Abruzzo, the Department of

Environmental Protection Acting Secretary, also set the tone for Law Week by providing his insight

into the importance of community involvement.

Law Week then continued throughout May as fifty-one of our members visited over sixty

local classrooms to educate our youth about the legal system. This spectacular program, organized

by the Young Lawyer Section, is yet another way our association serves our community and creates

awareness of the legal system. I would like to thank all of the volunteers and, in particular, program

chair Kristen Sinisi and Judge Cherry for his never ending support and dedication to the Back to

School program.

I particularly enjoyed participating this year as I chose to speak at the John C. Kunkel

Elementary School in Middletown. I arrived early and waited in the front of the classroom as the

school wide morning announcements were being made. I was quite surprised when the

announcements began with, “Good morning Kunkel.” I almost blurted out, “why thank you and

good morning to you as well” before realizing that the announcer wasn’t talking directly to me but

was addressing the entire school. It is humbling to learn that it isn’t always about me.

This past month was highlighted by our biennial Bench/Bar Conference which was held in

Annapolis, Maryland. I always look forward to traveling south every two years to spend the

weekend with fellow members and our esteemed Judges. I have mentioned in past articles my firm

belief that collegiality is one of the cornerstones of our profession and this weekend exists to

encourage and cultivate cordial discourse among our members and the Bench. This event is

highlighted in the many pictures that follow.

The most memorable event for me was performing in the show that has been dubbed, “The

Rocky Lawyer Picture Show.” Joe Curcillo, the fearless leader of the Not Ready for Front Street

Players, meticulously inserted, frame by frame, the images of our Judges into an edited version of

the film. I was given a part that truly took me out of my comfort zone. In fact, Dick Placey was

overheard during my song telling his wife that, “I’m glad I didn’t have to do that when I was

President.” It was all certainly worth it as everyone in attendance, especially the cast, had an

awesome time laughing and cheering together.

My article did run a bit long this month, but there was a great deal to cover. The events

and outreach activities of our organization this past month have made me truly proud to be a

member and extremely honored to serve as your President. Have a wonderful summer and I hope to

see you at Volleyball!

D C B A J U N E N e w s l e t t e r

Board of Directors

Jonathan W. Kunkel

President

John D. Sheridan

President Elect

Pamela C. Polacek

Vice President

J. Michael Sheldon

Secretary

James J. McCarthy Jr.

Treasurer

Brett M. Woodburn

Past President

Jennifer M. Caron

Young Lawyers Chair

Anthony F. Andrisano, Jr.

YL Chair Elect

Directors

William L. Adler

C. Grainger Bowman

Robert E. Chernicoff

Salvatore A. Darigo, Jr.

James R. Demmel

Jeffrey A. Ernico

John W. Frommer, III

S. Barton Gephart

Joshua A. Gray

Matthew M. Haar

Dale E. Klein

Terrence J. McGowan

Renee C. Mattei Myers

Narciso A. Rodriguez-

Cayro

Gail Guida Souders

L A W D A Y B R E A K F A S T P H O T O S

2 0 1 3 B E N C H B A R P H O T O S

F R I D A Y N I G H T B O A R D M E E T I N G & R E C E P T I O N

From Left to Right: Joseph Curcillo, Chair, DCBA Court Relations Committee; Judge

Curcillo, Judge Lewis, Judge Coates, Judge Cherry, Judge Clark, Judge Dowling &

Jonathan Kunkel, DCBA President

Front Row Left to Right: Pamela Polacek, DCBA Vice-President; Elizabeth Simcox, DCBA

Executive Director; Nicole Antos, YLD Representative

Back Row Left to Right: John Sheridan, DCBA President-Elect; Jonathan Kunkel, DCBA

President & Matthew M. Haar, DCBA Board Director

2 0 1 3 B E N C H B A R P H O T O S

F R I D A Y N I G H T R E C E P T I O N C O N T I N U E D

2 0 1 3 B E N C H B A R P H O T O S

F R I D A Y N I G H T R E C E P T I O N C O N T I N U E D

2 0 1 3 B E N C H B A R P H O T O S

S A T U R D A Y C L E S E S S I O N S & Y O U N G L A W Y E R S L U N C H

2 0 1 3 B E N C H B A R P H O T O S

S A T U R D A Y N I G H T R E C E P T I O N A N D D I N N E R

WHY WE DO “LAWYERS AND JUDGES GO BACK TO SCHOOL”.

Last week I received a message from Judge Turgeon where she remarked on the thank you notes she received from the

students she visited at North Side Elementary School. Her comments were “they are a treasure” and also that “it inspires

me every year I do this to keep doing it!” I was fortunate to be able to read all of these notes and I concur with the

Judge. They are priceless!

Quotes from the children on brightly decorated cards included messages like, “I wonder how hard it is to be a judge” and

“I bet it was hard finding time in that busy schedule.” It is for these responses that we as DCBA members volunteer to go

into the schools to speak about our justice system. Sending a positive message to children in our community about the

law is critical and I wish to thank Judge Cherry and Kristen Sinisi for supporting and managing the program again this

year and a shout out to all of our members and Judges who participated. I too went into a school in Middletown and so

enjoyed the visit. The only question that gave me pause was when one little boy asked me when I was going to retire. I

guess I look old……

Thanks to all who make this program successful. I am quite sure if you are Judge Turgeon’s chambers that she would be

most pleased to show you these “treasures” if you ask to see them.

Liz Simcox

“CAN UNREPRESENTED LITIGANTS RECEIVE EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW”

This spring, as we mark Gideon v. Wainwright’s 50th anniversary (establishing the right to counsel

in serious criminal matters), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-

Montgomery, Bucks) is chairing public hearings entitled “Civil Legal Representation of the Indi-

gent: Have We Achieved Equal Access to Justice?” Hearings were held in Harrisburg, Philadelph-

ia and a third will be held in Pittsburgh.

The hearings’ purpose is to explore the unmet need for civil legal services by low-income Pennsyl-

vanians confronting legal problems involving basic human needs. Low-income Pennsylvanians

and the lawyers who help them testified along with business leaders and judges.

As lawyers we may know that a poor person who commits a serious crime has the right to an attorney, yet the same poor person

in a civil case does not -- even though the person is at risk of losing his/her home, or child, or protection from abuse.

However, “many people don’t know there’s no right to representation in civil matters,” said Sam Milkes, director of the Penn-

sylvania Legal Aid Network. “We’re meeting about 20 percent of the need.” That “need,” Milkes and others noted, encom-

passes tens of thousands of people statewide: in landlord/tenant cases, where 90% of tenants have no lawyer; in child-custody

cases, where both sides are often unrepresented; in domestic-violence cases, where those seeking protection have no right to

counsel.

Those needs have been largely unmet due to a “perfect storm” of sustained, repeated and severe cuts in federal and state funding

and a tight charitable fund-raising environment that have resulted in layoffs of legal aid staff and office closings. The gulf be-

tween client need and availability of legal help has been termed “the civil justice gap.”

Dauphin County President Judge Todd A. Hoover testified that a majority (69%) of all custody cases proceed with one or

more party being unrepresented. Judge Hoover emphasized that these custody cases are some of the most difficult cases a Judge

must face. Judge Hoover further elaborated in his written testimony:

“Providing representation to vulnerable, unrepresented litigants not only helps the litigants, but helps safeguard the

integrity of the legal system as a whole.”

“As judges, we have difficulty ascertaining the facts in these cases, because the unrepresented party fails to properly

present necessary evidence. Unrepresented litigants are rarely aware of the burden of proof associated with their case.

The testimony from an unrepresented litigant is usually excessive and unrelated to any of the issues at trial.”

“As you can probably imagine, it is difficult to remain neutral in a proceeding in which unrepresented parties face able

counsel, and the unrepresented party lacks the ability to introduce into evidence a decisive document, or even ask the

right question. This difficulty in maintaining neutrality is particularly challenging in cases in which a party’s home,

access to health care, ability to feed, clothe or educate one’s children, or escape from domestic violence, are at stake.”

“Judges are not the only ones in the courthouse walking this ethical tightrope. Opposing counsel must avoid overstep-

ping lines when the opposing party is unrepresented. Finally, the entire courthouse staff faces the struggle of attempt-

ing to explain the legal process to the unrepresented litigants, help them understand the pleading procedures, and pro-

vide the correct forms, without crossing the line to improperly providing legal advice.”

“Dauphin County is blessed to have an excellent courthouse self-help center and a top-notch pro bono program. Dau-

phin County’s model self-help center continues to expand its offerings to increase access to the legal system. In my

opinion, the courthouse doors are indeed open to all. I can say with confidence that the filing fees for in forma pauperis

status persons allow equal access to justice. However, the real question is, once they have that access, can unrepresent-

ed litigants receive equal justice under the law?”

“It’s not fair,” said Senator Greenleaf. “People are walking into courtrooms by themselves.” He called equal access “one of the

most critical justice issues we face today.”

Supreme Court Chief Justice Ron Castille testified on May 23 and echoed Judge Hoover’s concern, “The question is are peo-

ple representing themselves really going to get justice?”

Sandy Ballard

BAR BRIEFS

Kenneth W. Lee has joined the law firm of Post & Schell, P.C. effective June 1. (no photo available)

Paula Sanders was recently named chair of the health care practice group at Post and Schell in the Harris-

burg office.

Laura H. Williams, received a Central Penn Business Journal Women of Influence award.

Serratelli, Schiffman & Brown, P.C. is pleased to announce that John D. Sheridan and Cara A.

Boyanowski have become shareholders in the firm. Mr. Sheridan who holds both his CPA and

Masters of Science in taxation will continue his tax preparation practice in addition to represent-

ing clients in tax matters before the IRS as well as the PA Department of Revenue. He also is

involved in business succession planning and wealth preservation. Mr. Sheridan is Past President

of the South Central Chapter of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPA’s and President- Elect of the

Dauphin County Bar Association. Ms. Boyanowski, Past President of the Dauphin County Family Law Section will

continue in her family law practice encompassing Dauphin and all surrounding Central PA counties, as well as her estate

and probate practice.

Kathryn Deringer Sallie, received a Central Penn Business Journal Women of Influence award.

Kara W. Haggerty, is now with the PA Board of Probation and Parole. (no photo available)

DCBA INTALLS NEW PHONE SYSTEM

As of Tuesday, May 28, 2013, the DCBA has a new phone system. This will allow us to stream-

line our work flow in the office and as such, when a caller calls the DCBA number they will be

greeted with a phone message and an option tree. All employees are listed with extensions but

the prime purpose is to have all Lawyer Referral calls go directly to Sandy. The first prompt is

for the Lawyer Referral line. Listed below are individual extensions:

Joyce 3

Bridgette 4

Mike 5

Liz 6

Sandy 7

At any time you can press 0 to be connected to a staff member. This is for DCBA member access only and should not be

communicated to the public. (not a state secret but we want to be sure Lawyer Referral calls do go directly to Sandy on

option 2)

Thank you for your patience with this transition and we are looking forward to greater efficiencies in the office due to the

change. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

“ASK A LAWYER” BOOTH

We would like to thank the following individuals for volunteering their time to work the “Ask a Lawyer” Booth at Straw-

berry Square during the week of April 29 through May 3, 2013. This year, 194 individuals were assisted.

Special thanks to the Paralegals who participated from the Central PA Paralegals Association.

William L. Adler

John R. Beinhaur

Andrew T. Bockis

Paula Knudsen Burke

Brian W. Carter

Rosemary Chiavetta

John A. Davidson

Benjamin C. Dunlap, Jr.

Lawrence G. Frank

Richard R. Gan

Corky Goldstein

Matthew M. Haar

Raymond C. Hedger, Jr.

Philip M. Intrieri

Hon. David H. Judy

Cheryl L. Kovaly

Frank J. Lafferty, IV

Gina L. Lauffer

Laura Reyes Maloney

John J. McNally, III

Melissa B. Melewsky

Heather L. Paterno

Douglas R. Roedeer

Patricia J. Romano

Marianne E. Rudebusch

John D. Sheridan

J. Michael Sehldon

Kelli B. Statt

Melissa P. Tanguay

Jan M. Tamanini

Tracy L. Updike

Brett M. Woodburn

LAWYERS AND JUDGES GO BACK TO SCHOOL

We would also like to thank the following individuals for volunteering their time to return to the Classroom during the

month of May for the Lawyers and Judges Go Back to School. We had 51 attorneys and judges.

John M. Abel

William L. Adler

Nicole R. Antos

Karen M. Balaban

Andrew W. Barbin

John R. Beinhaur

Lisa M. Benzie

Lindsey A. Bierzonski

Zachary D. Campbell

Francis T. Chardo III

Hon. John F. Cherry

Rosemary Chiavetta

David R. Chludzinski

Hon. Bernard L. Coates, Jr.

Michael J. Crocenzi

Joseph R. D’Annunzio

John A. Davidson

Allison M. Domday

David J. Evenhuis

Michael F. Faherty

John W. Frommer III

Corky Goldstein

Allison C. Gossett

Schaun D. Henry

Emily Long Hoffman

Anthony M. Hoover

Neeka H. Jones

Robert E. Kelly, Jr.

Jonathan W. Kunkel

Amanda LoPiccolo

David L. Lutz

Edward M. Marsico, Jr.

Marisa McClellan

Stephen Moniak

Renee C. Mattei Myers

Elizabeth L. Pettis

Nicole J. Radziewicz

Charles E. Schmidt, Jr.

Kristin Sinisi

Steven R. Snyder

Gail Guida Souders

Jordan G. Spahr

Craig J. Staudenmaier

Richard B. Swartz

Elizabeth R. Triscari

Todd F. Truntz

Hon. Jeannine Turgeon

Jill Vecchio

Madelaine N. Baturin Weinstock

Bradley A. Winnick

Sarah C. Yerger

OTHER UPCOMING NON-DCBA EVENTS

Monday, June 10, 2013 - Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Workers’ Compensation Conference; Hershey Lodge &

Convention Center. For more information click here: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/

annual_conference/12991

HARRISBURG AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARALEGAL INTERNS

Harrisburg Area Community College is seeking to place paralegal interns with local firms and attorneys for its summer

and fall internship programs. Internships can be full or part time, paid or unpaid. Interested parties may contact Heather

Paterno at hlp@goldbergkatzman.com to receive more information.

P R O B O N O R E C O G N I T I O N

The following participants provided pro bono service during the month of May by accepting new clients, making a

financial contribution to MidPenn Legal Services, participating in one of our pro bono programs, or conducting one of our

family law clinics:

Attorneys:

Amy H. Backenstose

Bernadette Barattini

Thomas E. Brenner

Guy H. Brooks

Paula Knudsen Burke

Richard E. Burridge

Robert E. Chernicoff

Devin J. Chwastyk

Richard E. Connell

Jesse Jay Cooper

James L. Cowden

Michael J. Crocenzi

Karen L. Cummings

Timothy L. Czekaj

Clayton W. Davidson

Robert H. Davis Jr.

Karen Lynn DeMarco

John W. Dornberger

Brian P. Downey

Natalie Grill Einsig

Jeffrey B. Engle

Jeffrey A. Ernico

Donna L. Fisher

Mary Jane Forbes

Clarissa L. Freeman

John W. Frommer III

Samara A. Gomez

Teri L. Henning

Elizabeth A. Hoffman

Emily Long Hoffman

Lisa Mary-Frances Hopkins

Timothy A. Hoy

Deborah A. Hughes

John M. Hyams

Stephen R. Krone

Richard C. Lengler

Laura C. Reyes Maloney

Brian E. McDonough

Laurie L. McGowan

Sandra L. Meilton

Karen Wetzler Miller

John P. Milliron

Dorothy L. Mott

Troy B. Mouer

Maryann Murphy

Linda J. Olsen

Peter J. Ressler

Marc Roda

Douglas R. Roeder

Patricia J. Romano

Gary L. Rothschild

Mark T. Silliker

Jessie L. Smith

Richard B. Swartz

Rhodia D. Thomas

Sheila A. Thurston

Todd F. Truntz

Steven V. Turner

Melanie L. Vanderau

Theresa Shade Wix

Paralegals:

Rose Merrick

P R O B O N O

P E R F O R M A N C E

So far in calendar year 2013, our Pro Bono

Program has:

Assisted 332 clients

(based on new cases)

Donated 1,149 hours of legal services

(based on closed cases)

Valued at 172,395

Conducted 10 Pro Se Clinics

Additionally, our Lawyer Referral Program

has fielded 1,569 calls and referred 997

clients, including 37 clients who qualified

for Modest Means Panel. Thanks to all

those who helped maintain this tradition of

community service.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/annual_conference/12991http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/annual_conference/12991mailto:hlp@goldbergkatzman.com

June 2013

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3 4 5:00pm - CAMP

Dinner

5 6 5:30 Volleyball

7 8

9 10 11 11:30am Lunch

12 Noon program

“Agriculture Law

Primer for the Non-

AG

Lawyer”

https://www.dcba-

pa.org/Calendar/

Signup.aspx?

EventNo=244

12 13 5:30 Volleyball

14 15

16 Happy Father’s Day

17 18 19 12:00pm Family

Law Section

Subcommittee

20 4:30 Board of

Directors Meeting

5:30 Volleyball

21 Summer Begins

22

23 24 25 11:30am Lunch

12 Noon program

“What the Afforda-

ble Care Act Means

for Pennsylvania”

https://www.dcba-

pa.org/Calendar/

Signup.aspx?

EventNo=245

26 27 5:30 Volleyball

28 29

30

https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=244https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=244https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=244https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=244https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=245https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=245https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=245https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=245

July 2013

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 Independence Day

DCBA Closed

NO Volleyball

5 6

7 8 First of Ramadan at

sundown

9 11:30am Lunch

12 Noon Program

“PACFile: Efiling

in the Appellate

Courts”

https://www.dcba-

pa.org/Calendar/

Signup.aspx?

EventNo=247

10 11 5:30 Volleyball

12 13

14 15 16 17 12:00pm Family

Law Section

Subcommittee

18 5:30 Volleyball

19 20

21 22 23 11:30am Lunch

12 Noon program

“PA Right to Know

Law - The Agony

and the Ecstasy”

https://www.dcba-

pa.org/Calendar/

Signup.aspx?

EventNo=249

24 25 DCBA & CCBA

Golf Outing

https://www.dcba-

pa.org/Calendar/

Signup.aspx?

EventNo=248

&

Joint Picnic

Allenberry

https://www.dcba-

pa.org/Calendar/

Signup.aspx?

EventNo=18

No Volleyball

26 27

28 29 30 31

https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=247https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=247https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=247https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=247https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=249https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=249https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=249https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=249https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=248https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=248https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=248https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=248https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=18https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=18https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=18https://www.dcba-pa.org/Calendar/Signup.aspx?EventNo=18

“The purposes of the Dauphin County Bar Association are to advance the science of jurisprudence, to promote

the administration of justice, to encourage a thorough legal education, to promote continuing legal education,

to uphold the honor and dignity of the Bar, to encourage the fulfillment of the obligations of the profession

among its members to the courts and to society, to promote programs to provide effective, affordable legal ser-

vices to all segments of society, to cultivate cordial intercourse among the members of the Association and to

perpetuate the history of the profession and the memory of its members and such kindred purposes as the Asso-

ciation may from time to time determine.”

DAUPHIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCATION STAFF

Elizabeth G. Simcox Executive Director Liz@dcba-pa.org

Joyce A. Tambolas Administrative Assistant Joyce@dcba-pa.org

Bridgette L. Hilbish Receptionist/CLE Coordinator Bridgette@dcba-pa.org

Sandra A. Ballard Public Services Coordinator Sandy@dcba-pa.org

Michael P. Furjanic Accounting Mike@dcba-pa.org

Jose Burgos Maintenance

JULY NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

If you would like an event or member updated advertised in our next newsletter, please submit it NO LATER THAN FRI-

DAY, June 21, 2013 to bridgette@dcba-pa.org. Newsletter set up and designed by Bridgette.

Thank you.

mailto:Liz@dcba-pa.orgmailto:Joyce@dcba-pa.orgmailto:Bridgette@dcba-pa.orgmailto:Sandy@dcba-pa.orgmailto:Mike@dcba-pa.orgmailto:bridgette@dcba-pa.org