inside: attorney spotlight: katia desrouleaux bowman employee

Inside:Attorney spotlight: Katia Desrouleaux BowmanEmployee privacy challengesWhich job interview questions are off limits?

May 20162 Around the Bar

Register today for our annual conference in July!12.5 hours of CLE available • Golf Tournament at RoCk CREEk GoLf CLub

bRbA bench bar Conference

July 21-23, 2016Grand Hotel Marriott Resort • Point Clear, AlabamaTo reserve your hotel room, call Marriott Central

Reservations at 1-800-544-9933.

When you call, please reference the group name (BATON ROUGE BAR ASSOCIATION

BENCH BAR CONFERENCE 2016) OR one of the following three codes:

DELUXE RESORT VIEW ROOM: $229 per night — BBABBAA

DELUXE BAYSIDE ROOM: $259 per night — BBABBAB

SPA RESORT VIEW ROOM: $259 per night — BBABBAC

ConTACT Ann k. GREGoRiE wiTH Any quEsTions: 225-214-5563 oR [email protected]

s P o n s o R s H i P s A v A i L A b L E

REGisTER onLinE: www.bRbA.org

woRk • PLAy • PRACTiCE

SPONSORSDeCuir, Clark & Adams, LLP

Donohue, Patrick & Scott PLLC

Dr. Michael J. Goff / Louisiana Health & Injury Centers

Jolie Pearl • Jones Walker

Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer

Keogh Cox • Law Offices of Ossie Brown

Long Law Firm • Louisiana State Bar Association

Perry, Atkinson, Balhoff, Mengis & Burns, LLC

Rathmann-Richards Chiropractic Clinic

Saunders & Chabert • Taylor Porter, LLP

Thomson Reuters • Total Care Injury and Pain Centers

Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens, LLC

May 2016 Around the Bar 3

On the cover:

Featured on the cover of the May 2016 issue of Around the Bar magazine is the Law Day Committee. Photographed are (L to R) Hanna Thomas, Robert Savage (chair), Richard Bromfield, George Holmes, Donna Gregory and Talya Bergeron. Committee members are holding the winning Law Day posters. The first-place winner of the contest is Shaniah Bethley (Baton Rouge High School) (first-place poster is in center of image). The second-place winner is Savannah Bull (St. Jeanne Vianney Catholic School), and the third-place winner is Ashlyn Hazlip (SJVCS). Honorable mention winners are Hunter Gant, Jenny Pahm and Mason Braud (all from SJVCS), and Madeline Bourgeois (Baton Rouge High School).

The Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Law Day Activities, along with a Federal Court naturalization ceremony, will take place Monday, May 2, 2016, at the Baton Rouge River

Center Theatre.

Cover photography by Pamela Labbe.

insideMAy 2016

4 Contributors

5 Letter from the president “Sleeping on the job?” By JeAnne C. COMeAux

6 Gail’s grammar

7 Tales from the bar side “Animal crackers” By VinCenT P. FORniAS

10 Bar news

12 “Avoiding the elephant in the womb: Questions you can and cannot ask prospective employees during interviews” By GRAnT J. GuiLLOT

15 Attorney spotlight “Katia Bowman becomes an American citizen” By TOMMy SAnTORA

18 “employee privacy challenges in a brave new world” By JOHn H. FenneR

22 Foundation footnotes


AROunD THe BAR supports participation of the membership in its production. We encourage the submission of articles and letters to the editor. Articles should be less than 1,800 words, typed and single-spaced. A Word file should be emailed as an attachment to: [email protected].

For advertising information call Pamela Labbe at 225-214-5560. Display ads should be high-resolution attachments (.PDF), and classified ads as text only. Please email all ad artwork to [email protected]. Publication of any advertisement shall not be considered an endorsement of the product or service involved. The editor reserves the right to reject any advertisement, article or letter.

Copyright © by the Baton Rouge Bar Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. To request permission or for more information, contact Pamela Labbe at 225-214-5560 or [email protected].

Pamela Labbe is the communications coordinator of the Baton Rouge Bar Association.

Vincent P. Fornias, an assistant editor of Around the Bar, is a solo practitioner whose practice focus is alternative dispute resolution.

contributors

Gail S. Stephenson, an assistant editor of Around the Bar, is the director of legal analysis and writing and an associate professor of law at Southern university Law Center.

All Rights Reserved • Copyright ©2016

Published by the Baton Rouge Bar AssociationP. O. Box 2241, Baton Rouge, LA 70821

Phone (225) 344-4803 • Fax (225) 344-4805 • www.brba.org

The Baton Rouge Bar Association will be the beacon for the full spectrum of the legal profession by fostering professional courtesy;

increasing the diversity of the bar and the participation of under-represented groups; maintaining a sound financial base; enhancing

and developing member services and community outreach; and promoting and improving the image of the profession.

OFFiCeRSJeanne C. Comeaux, President ....................................381-8051Karli G. Johnson, President-elect ................................389-3704Linda Law Clark, Treasurer .............................................346-8716Amy C. Lambert, Secretary ............................................381-0283Robert J. Burns Jr., Past President ...............................767-7730

DiReCTORS AT LARGeShelton Dennis Blunt Melissa M. CressonLauren Smith Hensgens Christopher K. JonesMelanie newkome Jones David Abboud Thomas

ex OFFiCiOSDanielle Clapinski • Kara B. Kantrow • Robin Krumholt

Eric Lockridge • Jodi Bauer Loup • Matthew Meiners Judge Pamela Moses-Laramore • Anne Richey MylesDebra Parker • Michael Platte • Michelle Sorrells

ABA DeLeGATe Preston J. Castille Jr.

BAnKRuPTCy SeCTiOneric Lockridge ............................................................................Chair

BuSineSS/CORPORATe LAW SeCTiOnMichael Platte ......................................................................Co-chairMatthew Meiners ...............................................................Co-chair

COnSTRuCTiOn LAW SeCTiOnJodi Bauer Loup ........................................................................ChairCharles Hardie .................................................................. Past chair

FAMiLy LAW SeCTiOnAnne Richey Myles ...................................................................ChairJennifer M. Moisant ......................................................Chair-electVincent Saffiotti .................................................................SecretaryJoanna B. Hynes ............................................................... Past chair

PuBLiC LAW PRACTiCe SeCTiOnDanielle Clapinski .....................................................................ChairChristopher K. Odinet .................................................... Past chair

WORKeRS’ COMPenSATiOn SeCTiOnRobin L. Krumholt .............................................................Co-ChairDebra T. Parker ....................................................................Co-ChairMichelle M. Sorrells ...........................................................Co-ChairJudge Pamela Moses-Laramore ...................................Co-Chair

yOunG LAWyeRS SeCTiOn OFFiCeRSKara B. Kantrow, Chair .....................................................769-7473Loren Shanklin Fleshman, Chair-elect ......................223-6333Francisca M. M. Comeaux, Secretary .........................376-0216Scott M. Levy, Past Chair ................................................299-3059

yOunG LAWyeRS SeCTiOn COunCiL

BATOn ROuGe BAR ASSOCiATiOn STAFF

Ann K. Gregorie, executive Director 214-5563Kelsie Bourgeois , executive Assistant 344-4803Donna Buuck, youth education Coordinator 214-5556Caroline Cooper, Pro Bono Coordinator 214-5558R. Lynn S. Haynes, Asst. Teen Court Coordinator 214-5564Robin Kay, Pro Bono Coordinator 214-5561Susan Kelley, Office Manager 214-5559Pamela Labbe, Communications Coordinator 214-5560Carole McGehee, Lawyer Referral Coordinator 214-5557Julie Ourso, Bookkeeper 214-5572

PuBLiCATiOnS COMMiTTee

editor: ed Walters — 236-3636

Asst. eds.: Joseph J. Cefalu iii — 381-3176 Vincent P. Fornias — 769-4553 Grant J. Guillot — 346-1461 Gail S. Stephenson — 771-4900, ext. 216 Art Vingiello — 751-1751

Graphic Design / Ad Sales: Pamela Labbe — 214-5560

Gracella SimmonsRebecca WisbarJeff WittenbrinkRobert A. Woosley

Katherine DampfKathryn DufreneMelissa M. CressonRachel L. emanuelLane ewingJohn Fenner

Ashley n. ButlerJordan Fairclotherin Sayes Kenny

Greg GounerLexi HolingaDianne M. irvineDale LeeJohn McLindonChristopher K. Odinet

Grant J. Guillot, an associate with Shows, Cali & Walsh, LLP, is an assistant editor of Around the Bar.

Jeanne C. Comeaux, a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP, is the 2016 president of the Baton Rouge Bar Association.

Chelsea Gomez CaswellKellye R. Grinton

John H. Fenner, general counsel for Turner industries, is a member of the Publications Committee.

Ashlyn Rollins is the Spring 2016 public relations intern for the Baton Rouge Bar Association.

Volunteers Needed for the 2016

SUMMER YOUTH LEGAL INSTITUTEtaking place in late June.

Contact Lynn S. Haynes at [email protected] 225-214-5564 for more information.

Tommy Santora, director of marketing for Taylor Porter, is a contributing writer.


letter from the presidentBy JeAnne C. COMeAux Sleeping on the job?

Jeanne C. Comeaux

Are you sleeping on the job? Research shows that you probably are, or should. You just may be the one who puts a sign on your office door that reads “Do Not Disturb — Conference Call in Progress,” while you try to find a comfortable position in your desk chair or find a hospitable resting place for your head on your hard desk. But, what if your firm had a couple of nap rooms with recliners or sleep pods you could reserve to take a 20-minute power nap?

Companies across the country have recognized that need, and have accepted the research that shows that if their employees could get a brief respite during the work day, performance

would improve by 34 percent and alertness would increase by 54 percent. University of California researcher Sara Mednick concluded that napping on the job greatly reduces error and increases visual alertness, motor performance and creative thinking.

Why, then, is it taboo or a sign of laziness to need recharging during the day? Humans are programed to have a brief rest during the day, allowing us to enter the second REM stage of sleep. Unfortunately, having a good night’s sleep is not enough to get the sleep that a human’s “biphasic circadian rhythm” demands. Ignoring this basic fact costs the United States an average of $63 billion per year in lost productivity.

In the 1990s, NASA studied the effect of short naps during the work day on the performance of its astronauts. The results were remarkable; thus, the “NASA Nap” was born. NASA actually concluded that a 26-minute nap was ideal for people to regain clarity and alertness. Companies such as Google, Zappos, Ben & Jerry’s, Nike, Nationwide Planning Associates and

the Huffington Post Media Group recognize that not only would the employees enjoy such a benefit, providing designated nap rooms would also increase productivity and reduce costly errors, and that translates directly to profit.

The space can be as simple as an unused office, or even a large closet, outfitted with a recliner and a sleep sound machine, or as sophisticated as a specially-designed space furnished with modern sleep or energy pods. These pods are sleek, restorative units equipped with adjustable shields around the head area for privacy, adjustable leather chaise lounges, massage features and surround sound. Employees are encouraged to sign up to reserve 20-minute sessions.

If productivity, creativity and mental alertness can be improved by a NASA Nap, why wouldn’t nap rooms be a good idea for law firms? Research shows that nearly 30 percent of us report falling asleep or becoming very groggy after lunch. Maybe we should quit ignoring this reality, and instead, address it. Practicing law, and even working for/with lawyers, can be downright exhausting. Most of us start the day sleep-deprived, especially when we are in the midst of demanding and time-sensitive cases. A British study revealed that attorneys in their 50s are apparently the most sleep-deprived people in British society, mainly due to stress. These attorneys said that they tended to be ill-tempered and grumpy, and that they routinely under-performed.

The unforeseen consequences of sleep-deprivation could be greater than just injuring one’s health. In one such instance, a criminal defense attorney fell asleep at trial during the prosecution’s cross-examination of his client, who was charged with assault with the intent to commit murder. Post-conviction, the defendant challenged the verdict based on the denial of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel due to his “narcoleptic” attorney’s failure to object to questions during cross-examination. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the defendant’s argument, finding that prejudice to the accused could not be presumed in this particular set of circumstances. The Second, Fifth and Ninth Circuits have also spoken on whether a defendant has suffered a denial of counsel due to slumbering attorneys, and all three


found that prejudice to the accused can only be presumed if counsel sleeps through a substantial portion of the trial.What does that mean? How is that measured? When is it ever acceptable to sleep while one is seated at a counsel table? What really surprised me the most about this line of cases is that lawyers apparently fall asleep during trial with some regularity!

Attorneys are no different from the corporate staff of Google, Nike or Ben & Jerry’s — we all need our sleep in order to perform at optimum levels. I doubt that after reading this, the managing partners of Baton Rouge law firms are on their phones with MetroNaps ordering the latest and greatest sleep pod, but before a snooze during a client’s cross-examination gets someone into trouble, maybe a vacant office and a recliner would be in order. Sweet dreams.

Worse and worst are adjectives that compare degrees of bad or ill. Worse compares two conditions; worst compares more than two. Thus, conditions or things go from bad to worse (comparing the current condition to the next step) and from worse to worst (comparing the next step with all the steps). When a bad situation suddenly becomes worse, we use the expression “took a turn for the worse,” not “a turn for the worst.”

EXAMPLES:His bronchitis took a turn for the worse when he developed pneumonia. Of the many vacation options we considered, taking an Alaskan cruise in January was the worst.

Send suggestions for future Gail’s Grammar

columns to Gail Stephenson at [email protected], or call

Gail at 225.771-4900 x 216.

Gail’s Grammar


tales from the bar sideBy VinCenT P. FORniAS Animal crackers

I don’t know what it is about me, dear reader(s), that attracts so many potential submissions dealing with non-homo sapiens. A few are even not from John McLindon. Wishful (and grossly inaccurate) thinking would ascribe it to raw animal magnetism. And so, in the best tradition of late spring cleaning of my files, the following items culled from my Dr. Doolittle drawer are shared for your education and hopeful amusement.

~In Pennsylvania, the Department of Environmental Quality fired off a letter to a Ryan DeVries placing him on notice of certain reported unauthorized activity on his property. Specifically, there was evidence of the recent erection and maintenance of “two wood debris dams” across the outlet stream of Spring Pond, with no record of the issuance of a permit required by Pennsylvania law.

In response, Mr. DeVries confirmed that in fact, a couple of beavers were the culprits, and added that he did not believe that said beavers “are aware that they must

first fill out a dam permit” before the start of the start of “this dam activity.” He concluded by suggesting that if the Pennsylvania DEQ wanted to pursue a real health problem, they should turn their attention to the bears that are regularly defecating in the woods. Supposedly, he was proposing that as to the dam, they should “Leave It To [the] Beaver[s].”

~Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, a federal agent conducting a cruise-by inspection of a commercial fishing boat found seriously undersized red grouper in violation of conservation regulations. After instructing the ship’s captain to keep the puny groupers segregated from the rest of the cooler until the vessel returned to port, the skipper promptly dumped the catch overboard shortly after the agent’s departure. This resulted in his being charged with impeding a federal investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519, which prohibits destruction of “tangible objects” with intent to impede the Feds. His lawyer argued that


undersized grouper were hardly “tangible objects,” and this pressing issue made it all the way to the Supremes, wherein writing for the majority, Justice Ginsburg, applying the canons of noscitur a sociis and ejasdem generis (loosely translated as “Don’t believe all you see on ‘Ellen DeGeneres’”), held that since “tangible object” appeared in context of listed “Records or documents,” the grouper didn’t qualify. Left undecided was the issue of pint-sized choupique.

~In Tours, France, a local judge who dared think outside the [litter] box to solve a murder allowed a Labrador retriever named Tango to be called to the witness stand in a preliminary hearing in an attempt to confirm the identity of his master’s arrested alleged killer. The judge ordered the poor accused to wield a bat and threaten the canine with it, with the expectation that at that sight Tango would sing like a canary. In lame deference to the scientific method of keeping such courtroom experiments relatively fair, a second dog,

named Norman, was recruited to serve as the “control group.” Apparently the legal experiment failed when, exhibiting a certain amount of lassitude [Lassie-tude?], neither pooch uttered a whimper.

~In true testament to the overuse of animal analogies, a Kentucky circuit court judge, in issuing an order confirming the settlement of a matter pending before him, noted therein that news of the accord made the court “happier than a tick on a fat dog because it is otherwise busier than a one-legged cat in a sand box, and, quite frankly, would have rather jumped naked off a 12-foot stepladder into a five-gallon bucket of porcupines” than face the prospect of trying a case where the parties were “madder than mosquitoes in a mannequin factory.”

~Our own Bob Downing, who is rumored to have founded the original Zachary chapter of Buckskin Bill fan club back when rumor had it that he was planning a drive for a zoo near his neck of the woods, contributed

Teen CourT of GreaTer BaTon rouGeneeds attorneys to volunteer to assist with the program.

To find out more, contact Donna Buuck at 225-214-5556 or [email protected] or R. Lynn Smith Haynes at 225-214-5564 or [email protected].


a laminated business card he obtained from a local chef, complete with graphics depicting wild denizens of air, land and sea, whose slogan is “Can’t beat ‘em? Eat ‘em!”

~How could we conclude any piece dealing with animals in the law without your standard issue brouhaha du jour starring PETA? This time the advocates of all beasts and varmints filed suit in (talk about hunting a baited field) San Francisco seeking to enforce the rights

of an unnamed macaque monkey who took a celebrated selfie, the royalties to which were being claimed by the humanoid photographer who had bought the camera, positioned it in limitless angles, and braved the elements for untold hours before hitting the selfie jackpot featuring the smirking ape. When the U.S. Copyright Office issued a policy stipulating that it would register copyrights only for work produced by actual human beings, the undaunted folks at PETA asserted, in their best “just a flesh wound” spirit, that the policy was “only an opinion.”

If only Noah had known, dear reader(s), what a legal rainmaker he had inadvertently become. VolunTeers are needed To

help wiTh a monThly

law CluBfor youTh in

The Gardere area.

To volunteer or for more information, please contact Lynn S. Haynes at [email protected] or 225-214-5564.

The “Future Legal Eagles” law club is funded by a grant from

the South Burbank Crime Prevention and Development District.


BRBF easter event collects 17,695 eggs, surpassing collection goal by several thousand

The BRBF hosted its annual Easter Eggstravaganza March 21-24, 2016, with Easter egg hunts for children attending Bernard Terrace, University Terrace and St. Francis Xavier elementary schools. Because of donations from BRBA members, the committee was able to provide 17,695 eggs for the hunts.

The co-chairs of the event were Erik Kjeldsen, Ashley Meredith and Katherine Dampf, who organized the event along with Carole McGehee, staff liaison to the Volunteer Committee.

A very special thanks to the following individuals for egg, candy and monetary donations and for making this project possible: Kathleen Allen; Jesse Bankston; Alan J. Berteau; Nathan Braquet; Phyllis Cancienne; Mary Colvin; Rebecca Clement; Bridget Denicola; Jennifer Durham; Catie Gits; E.L. Henry; Rebecca S. Helveston; Meredith Locke; Patricia B. McMurray; Ashley Meredith; Tracy Morganti; Sheri Morris; Victor E. Murray; William D. Shea; Annie Smith; Rebecca G. Smith; Lauren Temento; and Melissa Watson.

Thank you to the law firms and other organizations who also made donations: Adams & Reese; Baker Donelson Bearman; Breazeale, Sasche & Wilson, LLP; Donohue, Patrick & Scott, PLLC; Kean Miller LLP; Jones Walker; Keogh Cox; Long Law Firm, LLP; Louisiana Public Commission; LSU Delta Delta Delta Sorority; LSU Pi Beta Phi Sorority; McGlinchey Stafford; Phelps Dunbar LLP; St. Joseph’s Academy; Taylor Porter; Taylor, Wellons, Politz & Duhe, APLC; Shows, Cali & Walsh, LLP; and Southeast Legal Services.

The committee would also like to thank everyone who assisted with hiding eggs at the Easter egg hunts: Talya Bergeron; Caroline Bond; Rebecca Clement; Mary Colvin; Francisca Comeaux; Katherine Dampf; Bridget

Denicola; Katherine Dufrene; Catie Gits; Theresa Hatfield; Erin Sayes Kenny; Heather Landry; Shanda McClain; Kristen Meeks; Ashley Meredith; Drew Nordgren; C. Kieffer Petree; Ashlyn Rollins; Mary E. Roper; Megan Stafford; Lauren Temento; Artis Ulmer; and Mac Womack.

More than 2,600 Easter eggs and candy were donated to the Children’s Outpatient Medical Center in Baton Rouge as part of this project.

bar newsBy ASHLyn ROLLinS

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Volunteers assisted with each hunt during the BRBF easter eggstravaganza Project. (Above) Three easter egg hunts were held Thursday, March 24, 2016, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis xavier elementary School. Photographed (L to R) are Katherine Dampf, Katherine Dufrene, Megan Stafford, Lauren Temento (Bunny), Mary Roper, Caroline Bond, Shanda McClain, Kristen Meeks; (front, L to R) Drew nordgren and C. Kieffer Petree.

Students from St. Francis xavier posed with the easter Bunny after the completion of their successful hunt.

easter Bunny (Artis ulmer), Mac Womack and Talya Bergeron helped hide eggs at the Bernard Terrace elementary School hunts.

easter egg hunts were held Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. at university Terrace elementary. Photographed (L to R) are Francis M. M. Comeaux, Catie Gits, Ashley Meredith, Lauren Temento (Bunny), erin Kenney, Heather Landry and Mary Colvin.

Photographed at Bernard Terrace on Monday, March 21, 2016, were Mac Womack, Ashlyn Rollins (intern), Teresa Hatfield, Talya Bergeron, Bridget Denicola and Rebecca Clement.

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Law Day ties into Supreme Court case anniversary

The BRBF Law Day will be held Monday, May 2, at the Baton Rouge River Center Theatre. Robert Savage will chair the 2016 BRBF Law Day Committee. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, this year’s theme is “Miranda: More than Words.” Essay, poster and video contests are available for middle and high school students.

The Law Day activities include a formal naturalization ceremony of new American citizens, followed by interactive sessions with a panel of judges, lawyers and law

enforcement officers at the various Baton Rouge courts. Approximately 1,000 students and their teachers are expected to attend the event. To volunteer, contact Donna Buuck: 225-214-5556 or [email protected].

June 14 Bar Luncheon to feature Sara “D-D” Breaux as guest speaker

LSU Gymnastics head coach Sara “D-D” Breaux will speak during the June Bar Luncheon at Ruffino’s Catering at De La Ronde Hall Tuesday, June 14, 2016.

Breaux has 38 years of coaching experience and was named 2015 SEC Coach of the Year after guiding LSU to a 13-1 overall regular season record. She was an assistant coach for Southeastern University’s Lady Lions for three seasons before transferring to LSU in 1976 to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The BRBA June Bar Luncheon is sponsored each year by the Young Lawyers Section of the BRBA. Partners at law firms are encouraged to invite and to introduce their summer law clerks during the luncheon. Contact Kelsie Bourgeois at 225-344-4803 or [email protected] to register to attend the bar luncheon.

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BRBA President Jeanne C. Comeaux, Gov. John Bel edwards and Board Member David Abboud Thomas were photographed prior to the start of the March 23, 2016, Bar Luncheon, which took place at Ruffino’s Catering at De La Ronde Hall. Gov edwards spoke to a 200-plus crowd of BRBA members.

BRBA Law expo celebrates 30th anniversary during September Bar Luncheon at L’Auberge Casino

The BRBA will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Law Expo event Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2016, at L’Auberge. CLE Luncheon speaker H. Alston Johnson III will provide his annual legislative update. Sponsorships are available. Contact Pamela Labbe at [email protected] or 225-214-5560.

Photographed with Gov. John Bel edwards (right) is the first place winning team of the Region iii High School Mock Trial Competition, which took place Feb. 26-27, 2016. The Zachary High School students were honored at the BRBA March Bar Luncheon. Lynn S. Haynes (first row, left) is the staff coordinator of the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Mock Trial Committee.


Avoiding the elephant

in the womb:Questions You

Can & Cannot ask ProsPeCtive

emPloYees during interviews

By GRAnT J. GuiLLOT

Imagine sifting through candidate after candidate for an employment vacancy you desperately need to fill. You think one or two of the individuals you have already interviewed may have sufficient attributes to perform the job in a satisfactory manner. However, you cannot help but feel like if you just interview a few more candidates, you will soon find not just a satisfactory person, but the perfect person for the job.

In walks a petite woman in a professional dress suit, looking every bit the part of the ideal employee you are seeking to hire. Having already reviewed her remarkable résumé, you are delighted to see that her professional appearance and the poise with which she carries herself are just as impressive as her written qualifications. As you both prepare to take your seats, she turns to the side. All of a sudden you notice an unmistakable basketball-sized baby bump nestled beneath her suit.

You are immediately torn. On one hand, you dread the prospect of hiring a new employee only to have her announce a few days later that she will be unable to come into the office for several weeks while she is caring for her newborn child. On the other hand, you would hate to miss out on employing an undeniably talented and qualified individual with an immense amount of potential. After all, you tell yourself, she clearly wants to pursue

a career even though she will soon welcome a child into the world, and it goes without saying that women have been successfully juggling motherhood and careers for quite some time now. Nevertheless, at this moment, you need someone who will be able to perform the job without missing much, if any, work during the first few months of employment.

So, what do you do? Do you outright ask her about her pregnancy and how she intends to balance her job with motherhood? Do you inform her that to receive the job offer, she will need to guarantee that she will make other arrangements for the care of her infant? Do you casually discuss your own children with the hope that she will bring up the child she is carrying? Or, do you bite your tongue and proceed with the interview as though she were no more obviously pregnant than the dozens of other individuals you have already interviewed?

Luckily, both federal and state statutes provide some guidance on how employers should address protected characteristics such as pregnancy, race, gender, and religion when contemplating whether to hire an individual who is a member of a protected class. More specifically, the statutes set forth certain discriminatory actions employers must refrain from undertaking to avoid liability.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits


a prospective employer from “failing or refusing to hire … any individual … because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”1 In addition, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 19782 amended Title VII to explicitly include discrimination based on pregnancy and related medical conditions within the definition of sex discrimination.3 Furthermore, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)4 provides that it shall be unlawful for an employer “to refuse to hire … any individual … with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s age.” Both the federal and state statutes require an individual to be at least 40 years old to assert an age discrimination in employment claim.5 In any event, the federal statutes provide that the restrictions regarding employment discrimination shall not apply if the characteristic on which an employer bases his employment decision is a “bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise.”6

Employers in the private sector are required to comply with the Title VII restrictions in regards to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability and genetic information if they have 15 or more employees “for each working day in each of twenty or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, and any agent of such a person ….”7 The employer must also be engaged in an “industry affecting commerce,” a term that is liberally construed and has been applied to private law firms.8 However, to be governed by the ADEA, an employer must have 20 or more employees and be engaged in an industry affecting commerce.9

As for state laws, the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law (LEDL) prohibits an employer from intentionally failing or refusing to hire “any individual with respect to compensation, or terms, conditions, or privileges of employment” because of the individual’s age,10 race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”11 To be governed by this provision of the LEDL, an employer must employ 20 or more employees within Louisiana “for each working day in each of twenty or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year.”12 Also, in line with the federal statutes, an employer is not prohibited from hiring an individual on the basis of any of the protected characteristics listed above if the characteristic is a “bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary for the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise.”13

In addition, the LEDL prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.14 However, an employer must employ 25 or more individuals to be governed by this provision of the LEDL.15 More

significantly, while Louisiana Revised Statutes 23:342(A)(1) provides that it shall be an unlawful employment practice (unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification)16 for an employer to refuse to promote or to terminate a pregnant employee, no provision of the LEDL specifically prohibits an employer from considering a prospective employee’s pregnancy when considering whether to hire her. Nevertheless, in interpreting the LEDL, Louisiana courts look to Title VII because it contains similar prohibitions against discrimination.17 Thus, claims under the LEDL are subject to the same analysis as discrimination claims under Title VII.18 As courts analyze the LEDL under the same framework as Title VII, it is likely that a court would consider pregnancy within the scope of sex discrimination. Therefore, an employer would be wise to refrain from engaging in any pregnancy-related discussion throughout the entire interview. The same is true for all other characteristics that are protected under federal and state law, as even inadvertent comments about a protected characteristic may result in liability for employment discrimination.19

A cautious employer would be wise to avoid discussing other issues aside from race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, and disability and genetic information in the course of interviewing prospective employees. Marital status, bankruptcy and garnishment, military service, union sympathies, work-related injuries, workers’ compensation claims, and lawsuits are all topics that an employer should refrain from discussing at all costs when conducting interviews.20 The recurring exception to the aforementioned prohibitions is that an employer may make decisions regarding employing individuals with a protected characteristic if the characteristic is a “bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise.”21

In light of the foregoing discussion, how should the employer in the example at the beginning of this article handle the situation? Chances are that any short-term inconvenience that the employer may face by hiring an employee who may soon ask to take leave will ultimately be outweighed by the long-term advantages the employer will gain by hiring a stellar, promising applicant. After all, the applicant’s written qualifications, professionalism and communication skills clearly demonstrate her ability to multitask, which is something mothers and fathers alike are being increasingly required to do in our changing society. Regardless of what the employer decides, one thing is for certain — he or she simply cannot acknowledge the “elephant in the womb” without risking exposure to liability under federal and state laws prohibiting employment discrimination.


1 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). 2 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(k).3 Stout v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 282 F.3d 856, 859 (5 Cir. 2002).4 29 U.S.C. § 623(a)(1).5 29 U.S.C. § 631(a); La. R.S. § 23:311.6 29 U.S.C. § 623(f)(1); 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(e).7 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(b).8 See 42 U.S.C § 2000e(b); Evans & Kunz, Ltd., 194 NLRB 1216 (1972); Kohn v. Royall, Koegel & Wells, 59 F.R.D. 515, 521 (S.D.N.Y. 1973). 9 29 U.S.C. § 631(a); 29 U.S.C. § 630(b).10 La. R.S. § 312(A)(1).11 La. R.S. § 23:332(A)(1).12 Id.13 La. R.S. § 23:332(H)(1).14 La. R.S. § 23:301, et sq. [23:341-42].15 La. R.S. § 23:341(A).16 La. R.S. § 23:342.17King v. Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P., 89-1805 (La. 6/4/99), 743 So.2d 181; Brooks v. Popeye’s Inc., 11-1086 (La. App. 3 Cir. 3/14/12), 101 So.3d 59.18 See Hicks v. Cent. La. Elec. Co., 97-1232 (La. App. 1 Cir. 5/15/98), 712 So.2d 656; Plummer v. Marriott Corp., 90-2425 (La. App. 4 Cir. 4/26/95) 654 So.2d 843.19Rick J. Norman, LA. PRAC. EMPLOYMENT LAW § 2:5 (2015), citing Haag v. ADVO Systems, Inc., 168 F.3d 732 (5 Cir. 1999).20 Id.21 See, e.g., 29 U.S.C. § 623(f)(1); 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(e); La. R.S. § 23:332(H)(1); La. Rev. Stat. § 23:342.


Katia Desrouleaux Bowman, a partner with Taylor Porter, became an American citizen on March 11, 2016, at the New Orleans field office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during a naturalization ceremony for approved applicants from more than 25 countries, including Caribbean island, Haiti, where she was born and raised.

For nearly 10 years, Katia held permanent resident status in the United States through a permanent resident card — commonly called a “Green Card.” As a permanent resident, Katia was entitled to reside and work in the United States permanently, but she was not able to vote. “I am excited to vote for the first time,” Katia said. “It means a lot to be able to participate in civic society in a more meaningful way and have access to all the rights and privileges of a United States citizen.” She proudly continued: “I officially feel like a full-fledged member of American society now.”

The story of Katia’s journey to citizenship began in 1997 when her uncle and United States citizen, Joel Desrouleaux, father of songwriter and national recording artist Jason Derulo (“Desrouleaux,” spelled phonetically), submitted a “petition for alien relative” through the USCIS to sponsor Katia’s father and his dependents for permanent residence in the United States. The petition allows an American citizen or lawful permanent resident to establish his or her relationship to certain alien relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States. As between siblings, there is a processing time of up to 10 years before the petition can come up for review. Katia was just 14 years old at the time and still lived “happily,” she added, with her family in Haiti. Katia explained: “At that time, leaving my country was the furthest thing from my mind; I had an awesome childhood, surrounded by an

attorney spotlightBy TOMMy SAnTORA

Katia Bowman becomes an American citizen

Katia Desrouleaux Bowman

exceptionally close and loving family, received a premier education at renowned all-girl catholic school Sainte Rose de Lima by the Sisters of St. Joseph de Clugny — the same school that my mother, aunts and cousins attended — and simply couldn’t imagine a better life.” She did not

know this at the time but Katia’s “North Star” would lead her out of Haiti after high school.

In 2001, Katia arrived in Baton Rouge on a full academic scholarship to Southern University and A&M College. Overcoming the initial culture shock of being away from her loved ones and having to communicate exclusively in English, a foreign language, she would complete her undergraduate studies at Southern, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in political science in 2005, with the highest grade point average in her

department that year, and earning a full ride to Southern University Law Center. After Katia’s first semester in law school, she ranked second out of a couple hundred students in her 1L class. Her success landed her an offer from Kean Miller to serve as a law clerk during the firm’s 2005 summer program, but Katia quickly found out that she would have to decline Kean Miller’s offer because her status as an international student prohibited her from working off-campus.

“It was at that point that I first realized that I couldn’t sit for the Louisiana bar exam or fulfill my dream of becoming a lawyer until I received permanent resident status,” Katia said. “All my law school friends were gaining experience through their law firm or judicial clerkships, but this was not an option for me at the time.” “Although my future seemed uncertain, I knew things would — or had to — work out, as I refused to believe that my hard work would be wasted.”

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Katia admitted she had forgotten that her uncle’s 1997 petition would soon be up for review. “I hadn’t thought about my uncle’s petition since my father first mentioned it a decade before,” she stated. As fate would have it, in summer 2007, following Katia’s second year in law school, Katia’s family received the good news. The petition was processed and approved following an interview at a United States Embassy in South Florida. Along with her father, Katia became a Green Card holder in July 2007.

At the beginning of her third year at SULC, Katia submitted several applications for clerkship positions with a number of Louisiana law firms, including Taylor Porter after discussing her ranking, grade point average

and membership on the Southern University Law Review with her then-law school professor, Taylor Porter partner Preston Castille Jr. Katia interviewed with Taylor Porter, accepted a clerkship position for fall 2007 with the firm, and was offered full-time employment following law school.

“I can remember being in the Law Review office and receiving the much-anticipated call from Arthur Abercrombie (former Taylor Porter Managing Partner) offering me a permanent position as an associate. I managed to keep my composure while on the phone but was hysterically overjoyed — I accepted the offer on the spot,” Katia said.


After receiving her juris doctor degree and graduating magna cum laude and among the top 10 students in the Southern University Law Center class of 2008, Katia took and passed the Louisiana bar exam in the summer of 2008 and immediately began her career at Taylor Porter.

In December 2015, Katia realized that she was only a year away from having to renew her permanent residence. Permanent residents may apply for a replacement Green Card every 10 years or apply for naturalization. Katia chose the latter option. This process took three months.

She studied American history and civic facts; took an oral and written test, including English reading and writing comprehension tests; and her husband, Spencer Bowman, also an attorney, quizzed her and made up songs and rhymes to help her remember historical facts as she prepared for the test. “Let’s just say I was thoroughly prepared heading into that interview,” she said. Katia passed the test and was inducted as an American citizen on March 11.

“I received so many congratulatory emails and thank you’s from my colleagues at Taylor Porter for doing

this the right way. There are several ways to become an American citizen. Choosing the proper designated process to achieve this was very gratifying,” said Katia. “The evening after my naturalization ceremony, my husband cooked me an All-American meal, complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, and beer …. We ate entirely too much,” she chuckled. Katia and husband Spencer met in law school in 2008, have been married for three years, and have a 19 month-old son, Victor. Katia’s parents and brothers, all naturalized American citizens, live in Florida.

“Taylor Porter, Baton Rouge and the United States have been good to me and my family. I will always love my country of birth, but I am proud to be a citizen of my adopted country — the country of my child’s birth.”

Katia is a Taylor Porter partner who practices primarily civil and appellate litigation. Within Taylor Porter, Katia serves as Chair of the Diversity Committee and as Vice Chair of the Recruiting Committee. In the community, Katia is on the Board of Directors of IDEA Public Schools Louisiana, Inc.


Technology is rapidly evolving, and within ten years, computing power will equal that of the human brain. Setting aside for the moment the potentially terrifying reality that notion portends, employers face ever increasing technical challenges in their relationships with employees. Gone are the days of the simple and straightforward break rooms and lunch rooms where employees conversed and communicated about workplace issues, or about other matters of a personal nature. The explosive growth of personal device technology — as well as social media — has empowered humanity, including employees of every trade, with multiple platforms upon which to express their views.

A substantial percentage of the population uses Facebook, LinkedIn or similar platforms. Very few employers consider it appropriate to police their employees’ activities on such platforms. Yet employers

remain mindful of comments that potentially impact the workplace.

The National Labor Relations Board has addressed employees’ rights to comment about the workplace in the context of Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) — “Employees shall have the RiGHT to self-organization, to form, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their choosing and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, and shall also have the RiGHT To REfRAin from any or all activities ….” A determination of “protected concerted activity” is based on whether the activity is a) between two or more employees, b) by one employee on behalf of others, c) by one employee about concerns that are the “logical outgrowth of group activity or concern of others” or d) by one employee to enforce

Employee privacy challenges in a brave new world By JOHn H. FenneR


a collective-bargaining agreement. One requirement is paramount — the activity must be for the purpose of mutual aid or protection.

Thus, Facebook postings that have resulted in employer discipline have been found to violate the NLRA when the posting was ostensibly found to be grounded in “protected concerted activity.” On the other hand, employee discipline over social media postings that have nothing to do with the advancement of mutual aid or protection of fellow workers have been confirmed as valid and appropriate. One cannot expect to be able to use social media to demean or disparage an employer’s protected classes.

Finally, an area of ever-increasing concern is data security for departing employees. Employers have legitimate expectations of privacy and confidentiality associated with data stored or accessible on devices issued to employees — and even on devices personally owned by the employee — but still accessible via network connection. Roughly two-fifths of employees who work for large enterprises use personally owned smart devices for some aspect of their work — and are subject to their employers’ “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy.

Generally, concern surrounding the practice of BYOD has been in regard to the risk of misappropriation of corporate data (including that of the employer’s customers). Employers are seeing a shift from an IT-department-driven culture to one in which employees are getting the newest, latest technologies ahead of their employers. Employees are finding their own personal devices are better suited for their work than those provided by employers.

The simple reality is that use of personal devices to handle corporate data on secure corporate networks is occurring regardless of whether employees have employer consent to do so. This raises several concerns for data security, as employers are generally not in control of the data accessed via personal devices where employees are using personal devices without the employer’s consent.

In Rajaee v. Design Tech Homes, Ltd., No. H-13-2517 (S.D. Tex. Nov. 11, 2014), 2014 WL 5878477, that court was faced with a BYOD dilemma that is probably occurring on vast basis.

In January 2012, Design Tech hired Rajaee in sales and marketing. Because Rajaee needed constant access to email, his personal iPhone was registered with Design Tech’s Microsoft Exchange Server.


In February 2013, Rajaee gave two weeks’ notice of resignation. A few days later, Design Tech reset Rajaee’s iPhone — effectively wiping out all his business and personal data. The wiped personal data allegedly included “more than 600 business contacts collected during the course of his career, family contacts (many of which are located overseas and some are related to family business), family photos, business records, irreplaceable business and personal photos and videos and numerous passwords.” Id. at 1 (emphasis added).

The employer’s infrastructure apparently could not protect personal data. It could only do a complete device wipe — not a selective wipe just of company information.

Rajaee brought federal and Texas state law claims — the latter of which included claims of misappropriation of confidential information, violation of the Texas Theft Liability Act, negligence and conversion. The plaintiff asserted that the federal court had supplemental jurisdiction to hear the state law claims. As to federal law claims, Rajaee alleged that Design Tech had violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled against Rajaee on both federal claims. The court held that Rajaee’s personal data on his iPhone was not protected under the ECPA. It also held that Rajaee had

not offered “evidence sufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact that he sustained $5,000 in cognizable ‘loss’ under the CFAA.” Moreover, the deletion of his personal data from the phone did not constitute an “interruption of service.”

Because the federal court dismissed the federal claims, it declined to exercise jurisdiction over the state law claims for misappropriation of confidential information, violation of the Texas Theft Liability Act, negligence and conversion. However, the court expressed its concern over these potential serious violations of Texas state law.

Some takeaways from the Rajaee case:• Employers who allow employees to access company

networks or other data from personal phones should have clearly stated BYOD policies, including any “remote wipe” capabilities.– Known as enterprise mobility management

solutions [EMMS]• Employers should procure and implement an EMMS

that allows separation of personal data from business data.

• Employees need to know and understand their employers’ BYOD policies.

• Employees need to back up personal data. • The Rajaee case is most definitely NOT the last word


foundation footnotesPRO BOnO & Teen COuRT RePORTS — MARCH 2016

The Pro Bono Project is financially assisted by the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program of the Louisiana Bar Foundation; Southeast Louisiana Legal Services; Franciscan Ministry Fund; Family, District and City Court Filing Fees and the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation. Teen Court of Greater Baton Rouge is finded by the South Burbank Crime Prevention and Development District and the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation. The Youth Education Program is financially assisted by the Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. The Future Legal Eagles Law Club is funded by a grant from the South Burbank Crime Prevention and Development District.

The Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project would like to thank all who volunteered in March 2016.

Ask-A-LAwyER voLunTEERs — Thomas Acosta; barbara baier, Louisiana Public Defender Board; siobhan Leger, Leger Law Group, LLC; Natalie Maples, Adams & Reese and Emily Ziober.

THiRsT foR JusTiCE voLunTEERs — Robert Chapman, Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers; Eldon Dominique, Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers; Peter Ellis, Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers; Deborah Gibbs; Mark Johnson, Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers; Ross Leblanc, Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers; Allen Posey; T. MacDougall womack, Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips, LLP; and James Zito.

sELf HELP REsouRCE CEnTER ATToRnEy voLunTEERs — Joseph ballard, Entergy Services, Inc.; sarah Jane bradley, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services; Ryan brown, Roedel, Parsons; sharon florence, Law Office of Sharon Y. Florence, LLC; Janeane Gorcyca, Joubert Law Firm; Todd Manuel, Entergy Services, Inc.; Michelle McDaniel, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services; Paula ouder; Jennifer Prescott, Joubert Law Firm; and Rebecca smith, Adams & Reese, LLP.

sELf HELP REsouRCE CEnTER LAw sCHooL voLunTEERs — kendale Thompson, LSU Law Center; Pearlina boyd, Southern University Law Center; kiara Taite, LSU Law Center; Joshua Edwards, Southern University Law Center; Draylan Gant, Southern University Law Center; yvonne Henshaw, Southern University Law Center; Pamela king, Southern University Law Center; needum L. Lakia, Southern University Law Center; and Alexis quiller, Southern University Law Center.

THosE ACCEPTinG PRo bono CAsEs in MARCH — Thomas Acosta; Harold Adkins, Hammonds, Sills,

Adkins, Guice, LLP; Denise Akers, Akers & Wisbar, LLC; John Andrishok, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson; Edward Atebara, The Law Office of Edward R. Atebara; Gregory bodin, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; fred Crifasi; E’vinski Davis, Terry J. Butcher &

Associates; virginia Dodd, Phelps Dunbar; bryanne farr, Farr Legal Services, LLC; J. keith friley; Deborah Gibbs; nicole Gould, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson; Teresa Hatfield, The Hatfield Law Office, LLC; Rena Hester; barrington neil; Edwin noland, Kean Miller LLP; Danielle Philippe, Philippe Law Firm, LLC; Gavin Richard; Gregory webb; Alicia wheeler; Anita white; T. MacDougall womack, Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips, LLP and John Zachary.

Thanks to all who volunteered for the BRBF Youth Education programs, including Teen Court and the Future Legal Eagles Law Club.

TEEn CouRT REPoRT — Jessica Engler and Monica vela-vick served as judges for the March Teen Court hearings. Caroline Donze, Austin Glascoe and Molly Gunnels, LSU Law Center students and Draylan Gant, Pamela king, needum Lekia and brittany Tassin, Southern University Law Center students, served as jury monitors.

Jamie flowers, Curtis nelson and Monica vela-vick conducted a Teen Court training session March 6, 2016, for the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. Magistrate Judge Erin wilder-Doomes performed the swearing-in ceremony.

youTH EDuCATion — Professor wendy shea, Southern University Law Center, and Lynn smith Haynes gave a presentation to the second- and third-grade classes March 9, 2016, at Southern University Lab School.

THE fuTuRE LEGAL EAGLEs LAw CLub — The club held its March monthly meeting at the Gardere Initiative Thursday, March 17, 2016.


CalendarDuty Court Schedule

*Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be held at the Baton Rouge Bar office.

For classified or display ad rates, contact Pamela at (225) 214-5560

or email: [email protected]

May 2016

19thJDC Civil CourtMay 2-May 6 Judge CaldwellMay 9-May 13 Judge CaldwellMay 16-May 20 Judge KelleyMay 22-May 27 Judge KelleyMay 31 Judge Morvant

19th JDC Criminal Court***May 1-May 6 Judge AndersonMay 7-May 13 Judge ErwinMay 14-May 20 Judge JacksonMay 21-May 27 Judge DanielMay 28-29, 31 Judge Moore

Baton rouGe City Court*April 25-May 5 Judge ProsserMay 2-May 8 Judge TempleMay 9-May 15 Judge SmithMay 16-May 22 Judge AlexanderMay 23-May 29 Judge PonderMay 30-June 5 Judge Prosser

family Court**May 2 Judge DayMay 3 Judge GreeneMay 4 Judge BakerMay 5 Judge Woodruff-WhiteMay 6 Judge GreeneMay 9 Judge DayMay 10 Judge GreeneMay 11 Judge BakerMay 12 Judge Woodruff-WhiteMay 13 Judge BakerMay 16 Judge DayMay 17 Judge GreeneMay 18 Judge BakerMay 19-20 Judge Woodruff-WhiteMay 23 Judge DayMay 24 Judge GreeneMay 25 Judge BakerMay 26 Judge Woodruff-WhiteMay 27 Judge DayMay 31 Judge Greene

Juvenile CourtMay 1-May 31 Judge Taylor-Johnson

NOTE: Duty Court changes at 5 p.m. each Friday unless otherwise specified. *City Court’s Duty Court schedule changes each Monday at 8 a.m. **Family Court’s Duty Court schedule is completely different each day, rotating on Fridays ***19th JDC Criminal Court changes each Friday at noon.

Classifieds

ongoing: Every Wednesday & Thursday, 3-5 p.m., Thirst for Justice takes place at St. Vincent de Paul.

ongoing: Every Tuesday & Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Self Help Resource Center,19th JDC.

2 Law Day Activities, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., BR River Center, City Court, 19th JDC

4 YLS Council meeting, 8:30-9:30 a.m.;

Volunteer Committee meeting, 12-1 p.m.;

Wills for Heroes, 3-4 p.m.

5 Finance Committee meeting, 8-9 a.m., Decuir, Clark & Adams;

Teen Court Comm. meeting, 12-1 p.m.

6 Wills for Heroes, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

9 Teen Court Hearing, LSU Innovation Park, 5:30-8 p.m.

10 Executive Committee meeting, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, 8-9 a.m.

11 Pro Bono Committee meeting, 12-1 p.m.

12 Ask-A-Lawyer, 9:30-11 a.m., Denham Springs-Walker Library (81801 U.S. Hwy. 190, Denham Springs, LA 70726)

13 6th Annual Kids’ Chance Fundraiser, BRBA Workers’ Comp Section, Moore Thompson, 6513 Perkins Rd.

14 Ask-A-Lawyer, Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 10-12 p.m.

16 Publications Committee meeting, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens, LLC

18 Ask-A-Lawyer, Catholic Charities, 9-11:30 a.m.;

Pro Bono SSI CLE seminar, 1-3 p.m.;

Board of Directors meeting, 6 p.m.

19 FLS Meeting & CLE, 12-2 p.m., Your Mom’s Restaurant & Bar;

Future Legal Eagles Law Club, Gardere Initiative, 5-6:30 p.m.

20 Youth Education Committee meeting, 12-1 p.m.

21 Ask-A-Lawyer, Jones Creek Regional Library, 6222 Jones Creek Rd.

30 BRBA Office Closed — Memorial Day

Court holiDayMonday, May 30 Memorial Day

offiCes for lease: Great location with individual offices, confererence room and upfront receptionist. 4609 Bluebonnet Blvd., Ste. A — call Chad at 225-757-9484 or email: [email protected].

Baton rouGe offiCe sPaCe: Established firm; 201 Napoleon St., Downtown near 19th JDC and Federal courthouses, area for support staff, off-street parking, conference room, copier, phone, fax, Internet, etc. Some over-flow work available.Call Scott Gegenheimer: 225-346-8722.

virtual offiCe serviCesEnjoy the benefits of having a Physical Office

without leasing an office.www.executivesuitesbr.com/virtual-offices

Downtown Baton rouGe, AV-rated law firm seeks 2-3 litigation attorneys to join its team. One opening is for a Partner-level position with 10+ years of litigation. The second opening is for an Associate-level position with 2-5 years litigation experience. A third opening is for an attorney with 2-10 years of litigation experience with an emphasis in construction and/or professional liability litigation. The positions offer competitive salary and benefits. Interested candidates should apply directly to Kristie Gros at [email protected].

Downtown law suite for lease— Kennon, Odom and Dardenne Building 356 St. Charles, circa 1866, one block from the Downtown Courthouse. Call Darry Gissel 252-0779, Owner/Agent.

Downtown viCtorian Beautyfor lease — The building offers 3,000 sf of useable space filled with exceptional historic character, 6 parking spaces included $3,375/mn. Oak Real Estate, LLC, Darryl Gissel Broker, 766-7077. 728 north BlvD for lease— 4,894 sf consisting of 13 private offices, plus a large conference room, full kitchen with break room. In addition the property has a second building of 800 SF, which can be used for office or residential purposes. Oak Real Estate, LLC, Darryl Gissel Broker, 766-7077.

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Baton Rouge Bar AssociationP.O. Box 2241Baton Rouge, LA 70821

Return Service Requested

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAIDBATON ROUGE, LA

PERMIT NO. 746

Accepting referrals in select commercial, personal injury and wrongful death cases

walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens, LLC, has more than 100 years combined legal experience. our attorneys have handled numerous multi-million dollar complex civil, commercial, and personal injury cases in Louisiana courts and in other state and federal courts.

www.lawBr.neT

12345 Perkins Rd., building one • baton Rouge, LA 70810

Phone: 225-236-3636 • Toll free: 866-257-6070 • fax: 225-236-3650

Walters, PaPillion,thomas, cullens, llcAttorneys At lAw

EDWARD J. WALTERS JR., DARREL J. PAPILLION, DAVID ABBOUD THOMAS AND J. E. CULLENS JR. ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THIS AD.

inside: attorney spotlight: katia desrouleaux bowman employee

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