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Page 1: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was
Page 2: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

Publications Committee

Officers of the Bar Association

Officers of the Barristers Association

PresidentWendy M. Seto

Vice PresidentJeremy K. Hanson

Charles P. Boylston

TreasurerDanielle G. Sakai

SecretaryRobyn A. Beilin

John D. Higginbotham

Riverside County Lawyer is published 11 times per year by the RiversideCounty Bar Association (RCBA) and is distributed to RCBA members, RiversideCounty judges and administrative officers of the court, community leaders andothers interested in the advancement of law and justice. Advertising and an-nouncements are due by the 6th day of the month preceding publications (e.g.,October 6 for the November issue). Articles are due no later than 45 days pre-ceding publication. All articles are subject to editing. RCBA members receive asubscription automatically. Annual subscriptions are $25.00 and single copiesare $3.50.

Submission of articles and photographs to Riverside County Lawyer will bedeemed to be authorization and license by the author to publish the material inRiverside County Lawyer.

The material printed in Riverside County Lawyer does not necessarily reflectthe opinions of the RCBA, the editorial staff, the Publication Committee, or othercolumnists. Legal issues are not discussed for the purpose of answering specificquestions. Independent research of all issues is strongly encouraged.

Co-Editors ....................................................... Michael BazzoJacqueline Carey-Wilson

Design and Production ........................ PIP Printing Riverside

Cover Design ........................................ PIP Printing Riverside

PresidentMary Ellen Danielstel: (909) 684-4444email: [email protected]

Vice PresidentTheresa Han Savagetel: (909) 248-0328email: [email protected]

SecretaryDaniel Hantmantel: (909) 784-4400email: [email protected]

President ElectMichelle Ouellettetel: (909) 686-1450email: [email protected]

Chief Financial OfficerDavid T. Bristowtel: (909) 682-1771email: [email protected]

Past PresidentBrian C. Pearcytel: (909) 686-1584email: [email protected]

Riverside County Bar Association4129 Main Street, Suite 100Riverside, California 92501

Telephone909-682-1015

Internetwww.riversidecountybar.com

Facsimile909-682-0106

[email protected]

LAWYERC O N T E N T S

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . 28 Membership . . . . . . . . . . 27

RiversideCountyRobyn Beilin

Yoginee BraslawCharlotte ButtMike CappelliJoshua DivineDonna HechtJames Heiting

Aurora HughesGary IlmanenRick LantzRichard ReedAndy SheffieldMichael TrenholmLisa Yang

Director-at-Large

Executive DirectorCharlotte Butt, [email protected]

E. Aurora Hughestel: (909) 682-3246email: [email protected]

Janet A. Nakadatel: (909) 779-1362email: [email protected]

Jay E. Orrtel: (909) 955-5516email: [email protected]

Michael Trenholmtel: (909) 781-9231email: [email protected]

Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 1

Columns:3 ......... President’s Message by Mary Ellen Daniels

7 ......................... Barristers by Robyn A. Beilin

21 ............................. Humor by Michael J. Cappelli

22 ................ Current Affairs by Richard Brent Reed

Features:8 ......................... In Memoriam: Gloria Temple Rich

Larry Maloney

11 ......................... In Memoriam: Gloria Temple RichMichael J. Clepper

12 ..................... Anthony Capozzi, State Bar President David Bristow

13 ............................................ The California WildfiresThomas D. Jex

14 ...............................Volunteerism Touches EveryoneIn The Community

articles written by various authors

23 ........................................................................... BOGJames Otto Heiting

25 ......................... Barristers Profile: Jennifer Seltzer,Deputy District Attorney

Robyn A. Beilin

Departments:

Members-at-Large

Page 3: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

MISSION STATEMENT

Established in 1894The Riverside County Bar Association, established in 1894 to fos-

ter social interaction between the bench and bar, is a professional or-ganization that provides continuing education and offers an arena toresolve various problems that face the justice system and attorneyspracticing in Riverside County.

RCBA Mission StatementThe mission of the Riverside County Bar Association is to:Serve its members, and indirectly their clients, by implementing

programs that will enhance the professional capabilities and satisfac-tion of each of its members.

Serve its community by implementing programs that will provideopportunities for its members to contribute their unique talents to en-hance the quality of life in the community.

Serve the legal system by implementing programs that willimprove access to legal services and the judicial system, and will pro-mote the fair and efficient administration of justice.

Membership BenefitsInvolvement in a variety of legal entities: Lawyer Referral Service

(LRS), Public Service Law Corporation (PSLC), Tel-Law, Fee Arbitra-tion, Client Relations, Dispute Resolution Service (DRS), Barristers,Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court, Inland Empire Chapter of the Federal BarAssociation, Mock Trial, State Bar Conference of Delegates, and Bridg-ing the Gap.

Membership meetings monthly (except July and August) with key-note speakers, and participation in the many committees and sections.

Eleven issues of Riverside County Lawyer published each year toupdate you on State Bar matters, ABA issues, local court rules, openforum for communication and timely business matters.

Social gatherings throughout the year: Installation of RCBA andBarristers Officers dinner, Annual Joint Barristers and Riverside LegalSecretaries dinner, Law Day activities, Good Citizenship Award cere-mony for Riverside County high schools, and other special activities.

Continuing Legal Education brown bag lunches and section work-shops. RCBA is a certified provider for MCLE programs.

MBNA Platinum Plus MasterCard, and optional insurance pro-grams.

Discounted personal disability income and business overhead pro-tection for the attorney and long-term care coverage for the attorneyand his or her family.

CALENDAR

December12 Annual RCBA/SBCBA General

Membership Meeting“State of the State Bar”State Bar President, Anthony CapozziRiverside Marriott Hotel – Noon(MCLE)

16 Family Law SectionRCBA 3rd Floor – Noon(MCLE)

RCBA BoardRCBA – 5:00 p.m.

17 EPPTL SectionBBK – Noon(MCLE)

19 LRS CommitteeRCBA – Noon

22 Judicial Liaison CommitteeRCBA – Noon

2 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

Ron Hamlin, GRIRealtor®

Full Service Real Estate SalesDivorce, Probate, Bankruptcy, Short Sales

1031 Tax Deferred ExchangesMobile Notary Services available

OVER 12 YEARS EXPERIENCE

RE/MAX All Stars RealtyOffice: (909) 774-1300

24 hr. Pgr.: (909) 344-5555www.ronhamlin.com

Page 4: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

continued next page

A Few Thoughts

Ihad always thought that being the Presidentof such an organization would be a cake walk. Thathas not been the case. Many things are happening inRiverside — with the closing of some of our Courts,a fire which devastates homes owned by many of myfriend’s, watching our citizenry trying to recoverfrom the loss of everything, making sure that I makeall my court appearances and keeping my practicegoing. No, it’s not what I expected, but yes, this tooshall pass and hopefully I will be able to look back onit and say that it was a task that I completed andcompleted well.

Our LossOur friends, Robert Holstein and Gloria Rich,

passed away this year. Bob was a young man that lefta young family. Although Bob tried to calm down thelast few years of his life, he was taken away from usearly. We have lost several friends this year. Thesemen and women, from what I recall, worked diligent-ly and continuously. They took very little time forthemselves. When we think about the loss of a friend,we should not allow their passing to go without thismessage – “enjoy your life while you have it.”

Gathering Together To Support OurFire Victims

Riverside County Bar Association recently joinedwith San Bernardino County Bar Association toassist the residents and our own colleagues in SanBernardino and San Diego who have been affected bythe devastating fires in these communities.

We have not only encouraged all of our members to supportthe various agencies by collecting financial donations for the firevictims, but many of our members have provided legal servicesto these victims. On November 8, 2003, a clinic was set upwhereby volunteer lawyers assisted in presentations to groups offire victims which addressed the needs of the victims and alsoindividual consultations between volunteer lawyers and victims.

In speaking with Attorney Tom Jex, he indicated that therewas talk that the volunteers may need to get together again inapproximately one month to put on a follow-up clinic. Riversideattorneys volunteered their services and have agreed to appearagain if the need arises. The Bar thanks all of it’s attorneys fortheir help and assistance. Mr. Jex discussed donating some of thegolf tournament proceeds to our victims.

Welcoming Our Newest JudgeI am very proud to say that I know Judge Craig Riemer and have

had the opportunity to work with him for years prior to his servingas President of the RCBA and prior to his becoming a Judge.

I did not form an opinion about Judge Craig Riemer whileserving on the Board of Directors with him as a member andserving as the President. I have spent several years on the Boardwith different members and still feel, in some cases, that I trulydo not know that person and really have no desire to know them,but, Craig Riemer was different.

The knowledge that I have of this gentle man, does not comefrom my relationship with him as a board member but as a resultof a conversation that we had, one day, while we sat alone, in acoffee shop. We had met there by chance and we were both hav-ing lunch alone. I was amazed to find that his thinking was inline with mine (that is a rarity). After our lunch meeting andafter talking to others, I was able to understand the true powerof this man’s personality, his ideas, and desires for our commu-nity. He is a man who is about fairness, equality and true justice.Not just for the elite, the rich, the famous and the strong, but forus all. Judge Riemer is soft spoken, but as I learned, a man ofstrong principal who feels that Justice really is blind. As a resultof being born in Riverside, I have seen Judges come and go. Ihave seen bad judges and good judges. Riverside is blessed tohave Judge Riemer sitting in judgment.

Riverside Legal Professional AssociationMaria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal

Professionals Association. I was very proud to be the speaker attheir most recent luncheon, which was held at the SpaghettiFactory in Riverside. In listening to the conversation amongstthis group of legal professionals, it is evident that they desire toadvance the level of professionalism that they bring to the work-place. Their most important job description was that of advanc-ing their attorney’s job performance in court and making theiroffices run effectively and efficiently.

Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 3

by Mary Ellen Daniels

Page 5: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

4 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

In speaking with President Hoff, thisyear she intends to increase the membershipof this organization by at least 50%. As mostof you are aware, allowing your professionalsto become involved in this association meansthat networking between offices will resultfrom the relationships that are establishedamongst this group of Legal Professionals.

Golf Tournament (photos on page 28)

The Riverside County Bar Association’sFist Annual Golf Tournament was a success!Not only did we make money (approximately$6,000.00) for our continuing events, but allthat attended had a great time.

James Heiting’s team took home the firstplace trophy that will remain in theRiverside County Bar Association office untileternity. He will keep the trophy until thewinners names can be engraved on it.

It was surprising how much support ourorganization received. The following spon-sors paid $250.00 to sponsor a hole and ateach hole, a sign was displayed with theirbusiness names: The Law Offices of Evans &Plott; Holstein, Taylor, Unitt & Law; The LawOffices of Geoffrey H. Hopper & Associates;Varner, Saleson & Brandt, LLP; Reid &Hellyer; Middlebrook, Kaiser & Popka;Thompson & Colegate; Klute & Pinnell;Citizen’s Business Bank; IBM Real Estate;Preston and Simons Mortuary; The LawOffice of Bell, Orrock and Watase; The LawOffice of Bridges and Leahy; FindLaw; TimCorcoran; Harmon & Harmon; The LawOffice of Kinkle, Rodiger & Spriggs; TheOffice of Haight, Brown & Bonesteel; Peach& Weathers; Unisource; The Law Offices ofHarry J. Histen, III; Hartnell, Horspool &Fox; Diane Castleman at Allstate; Lexis-Nexis; Westlaw.

In addition to the $250.00 sponsors, thefollowing sponsors gave $1,000.00 towardsthis event: Hutchings Court Reporters, LLC;Talbot Insurance and Financial Services;Best, Best & Krieger, LLP; IVAMS; SouthernCalifornia School of Law.

PIP Printing / printmystuff.com donatedall the signs and made all the banners. Wethank these businesses and look forward totheir support in the coming years.

The bar association gives a big thanks to our Golf TournamentCommittee and to Roxanne and Stan Orrock. Roxanne Orrock is theowner of a business called “Designs by Roxanne.” Mrs. Orrock put ourgolf tournament together and she and her husband Stan donatedmoney, gifts, time and leadership. Roxanne has agreed to continue to bethis year’s Events Organizer. Although Stan has not agreed to assist hiswife, I am sure that he will continue to support our organization as hehas this year.

The Riverside and San Bernardino County Bar Associations areplanning a really big social event that will be a “bonding” event to eat,drink and be merry. The bar associations would like to pay the majori-ty of the expenses for this event as a way of showing appreciation to ourmembers. (More information will be forthcoming.)

Judicial ForumJudge Doug Miller, Supervising Judge of the Riverside Superior

Court’s recently announced that he intends to put together a “JudicialForum” for the Judges and the attorneys. Judge Miller has asked theRiverside County Bar Association to assist in planning an affair wherethe judges and attorneys will meet and discuss issues as are related tothe Jury System, various community programs, the Judicial Liaisoncommittee, the court committees, the State of the Court, the State ofthe Bar, various budget issues (which include the fee structure andstaffing of the Courts), Court Technology, the Court Mediation Programand other issues which face our court system.

We Take Pleasure in Announcing That

DAVID T. BRISTOWHas Joined The Firm As A Senior Attorney

Mr. Bristow has practiced law since 1993.He is a member of the Board of Directors of the

Riverside County Bar Association,a Director of both the Riverside Municipal Museum

and the Riverside Public Library Foundation,and is a past President of Riverside Hospice.

He is a member of the Leo E. Deegan Inn of Court.

Mr. Bristow’s practice emphasizes business litigation,real estate law, intellectual property litigation,

and environmental land use.

R & H R e i d & H e l l y e r

A Professional Corporation

continued next page

Page 6: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 5

Time For OurselvesThis year, I hope that I can be instrumental

in allowing us to get together as members ofthe Bar; to take a look at our lives; how themajority of us (myself included) have becomeworkaholics; and trying to make money to sat-isfy our standards of living which, in mostcases, are too high and result in working toomany hours.

As all of you are aware, recently the RCBAsent out a survey that went to all of our mem-bers. As a result of that survey (of the 101 attor-neys that responded), over half of the attorneysstated that, “If I were again contemplating lawas a profession, I would either consider it cau-tiously or choose another field.” The majority ofus do not like what we are doing. We arestressed out with and in our practices. As aresult of that stress, the effect spills over intoour everyday lives. These results indicated tome, that most attorneys do not take time to giveto their families or themselves. We do not relax.We spend an enormous amount of time takingcare of others and worrying about client’s who,most of the time, do not appreciate our efforts.We do not take care of ourselves. It is sad that

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You may also call (909) 827-7820, x11616, e-mail [email protected] or drop by the UC Riverside Extension Center, 1200 University Avenue, Riverside

Attorneys and ParalegalsEarn your MCLE credit at the University of California, Riverside Extension

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UC Riverside Extension offers more than 40 courses eachquarter for MCLE credit.

For more information about current and upcoming MCLE coursesvisit our Web site at www.UCRExtension.net/law/mcle.

Priority Code 5682

we have spent the majority of our lives taking care of others, for themost part, and have forgotten about being kind to ourselves.

I believe that each one of us needs to concentrate on givingsomething to our families and to ourselves. This does not need to bein the form of material things, but giving of our time, our attention,our emotions and our thanks to our families and our friends. That is,if we have had time to create friendships outside of the Bar. I cannothelp but think that if we took more time off, we would have morehappiness in our lives.

FriendshipsThis year your Board is trying to sponsor more social activities.

We want our members to attend these events and to become morefamiliar with each other. Friendship breeds settlement. Settlementbreeds more free time. We are asking that all of our bar membersparticipate, somehow, in the events we have scheduled (or to bescheduled). These events will allow our members and others to talktogether, laugh together, drink together, dance together, sing togeth-er and win together. I hope that you will all make an effort to bondwith your fellow attorneys.

Mary Ellen Daniels is president of the RCBA and is a solepractitioner in Riverside.

Page 7: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

6 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

1 BANKRUPTCY: A MAP OF THE ROAD TO THE BANKRUPTCY COURT AND BACK

❑ Friday, January 23, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. / 1.0 CLE

2 THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD TO EQUALITY IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION

❑ Friday, January 23, 1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. / 2.0 Elimination of Bias

3 JURY SELECTION IN THE PERSONAL INJURY CASE: PLAINTIFF vs. DEFENSE

❑ Friday, January 23, 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. / 1.0 CLE

4 INSURANCE LAW UPDATE-A SURVEY OF INSURANCE LAW CASES FROM 2003

❑ Friday, January 23, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. / 1.0 CLE

5 ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND OTHER ADDICTIONS

❑ Friday, January 23, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. / 1.5 Substance Abuse

6 YOUR CODE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY – AN ETHICS OVERVIEW WITH PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

❑ Friday, January 23, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. / 1.5 Legal Ethics

7 LAW & MOTION: THEORY & PRACTICE – WHAT EVERY LAWYER SHOULD KNOW

❑ Saturday, January 24, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. / 1.0 CLE

8 WHO WANTS TO BE AN ETHICAL MILLIONAIRE?

❑ Saturday, January 24, 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. / 1.0 Legal Ethics

9 UPDATE ON THE CALIFORNIA JUDICIAL COUNCIL’S NEW JURY INSTRUCTIONS

❑ Saturday, January 24, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. / 1.5 CLE

10 BASIC FAMILY LAW FOR THE NON-FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

❑ Saturday, January 24, 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. / 1.0 CLE

11 THE DISEASE MODEL OF ADDICTION

❑ Saturday, January 24, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. / 2.0 Substance Abuse

12 THREE JUDGES ON TRIAL TIPS

❑ Saturday, January 24, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m./ 1.0 CLE

13 THE ATTORNEY’S USE OF ELECTRONIC DATABASE SEARCHES: DISCOVERING, UNCOVERING AND RECOVERING

❑ Saturday, January 24, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. / 1.5 CLE

14 A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO HANDLING DUI/DMV ISSUES

❑ Saturday, January 24, 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. / 1.0 CLE

15 REALLY INTERESTING LAWYER STUFF ALL ETHICS – ALL THE TIME

❑ Saturday, January 24, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. / 1.0 Legal Ethics

16 YOUR ROADMAP TO A WINNING CASE

❑ Saturday, January 24, 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. / 1.5 CLE

17 DEALING WITH TRAFFIC TICKETS

❑ Saturday, January 24, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. / 1.0 CLE

18 ELIMINATION OF BIAS

❑ Saturday, January 24, 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. / 1.0 Elimination of Bias

19 EVERYTHING EVIDENCE AND EVIDENCE IS EVERYTHING

❑ Saturday, January 24, 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. / 1.0 CLE

20 UNBUNDLING 101

❑ Saturday, January 24, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. / 1.0 Legal Ethics

21 (AT LEAST) 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE FILING A WRIT PETITION WITH THE COURT OF APPEAL

❑ Saturday, January 24, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. / 1.0 CLE

22 THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT: SOME PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR DIFFICULT ETHICAL DILEMMAS

❑ Saturday, January 24, 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. / 1.0 Legal Ethics

FRIDAY l SATURDAY11 12 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 1 0 11 12 1 2 3 4 5SEMINARS MCLE

S E M I N A R S

R E G I S T R A T I O N F O R MTo register, identify the program you wish to attend,determine the number of credit hours for the programand calculate your fee using the schedule below. Markthe boxes next to each program for which you wish toregister, complete the form, and send/fax with paymentto the OCBA.

Name_______________________________

Firm Name___________________________

Phone_____________Bar #_______________

Address______________________________

City_________________________________

State______________Zip________________

VISA/MASTERCARD#

________________________Exp. Date_____

Cardholder Name________________________

Signature_____________________________

PROGRAM NUMBER(S) YOU WISH TO ATTEND

___ /___ /___ /___ /___ /___ /___ /___ /___

___ /___ /___ /___ /___ /___ /___ /___ /___

Please Print Number(s) Clearly

Enclosed / To Be Charged $ __________________

Mail the entire form with payment to: P. O. Box 17777, Irvine, CA 92623-7777 or FAXwith credit card information to (949) 440-6710

TWELFTH ANNUAL LAST DASH FEESCREDIT MEMBERS NON-MEMBERS

pre-reg/ at door pre-reg/ at door-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1.0 $22 $32 $32 $47--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1.5 $33 $43 $48 $63-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2.0 $44 $54 $64 $79-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPTIONAL PRE-PAID BOX LUNCH FOR $8.75 AVAILABLE ONSATURDAY, JANUARY 24th: Please mark your selection below.

Continental Breakfast provided.-------- Tuna --------- Turkey -------- Roast Beef -------- Vegetarian-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MEMBER PRICESCALL OCBA Fast Fax for a membership application

949-440-6700, ext. 4 document #210

Registration must be received by January 9, 2004.PRE-REGISTRATION UNAVAILABLE AFTER JANUARY 9th.

Walk-in registrations accepted only if space is available.Cancellation must be received in writing by

January 9, 2004.Cancellation subject to a $5.00 per session

non-refundable administrative fee.OCBA reserves the right to substitute speakers.

HURRY... REGISTER BEFORE JANUARY 9, 2004AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PRE-REGISTRATION PRICES!

2004January 23 & 24,

LAST DASHORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION’S12TH ANNUAL MCLEFor Attorneys whose names begin with ‘A’ -’G’.

RCL

Page 8: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 7

by Robyn Beilin

Another year of Barristers is uponus! The October meeting, which was held atthe Cask ‘n Cleaver, was a big success.Speaking on effective writing to the court,Jody Isenberg and Yoginee Braslaw of theCourt of Appeal and Bob Schnabel of theRiverside Superior Court, Civil Division,made excellent presentations and hadinsightful suggestions for all in attendance.For those of you who didn’t have the oppor-tunity to join us for our November meeting,Barristers was pleased to have Diane Roth ofRoth & Roth speak about civil rights. Onbehalf of the entire Barristers Board, I’d liketo offer a special thanks to Jody, Yoginee, Boband Diane for taking time out of their busyschedules and coming to our meeting.

If you are not already familiar with thisorganization, Barristers is a division of theRiverside County Bar Association for mem-bers who have been in practice less thanseven years and/or who are less than 37 yearsold. However, any member of the RCBA iswelcome to attend our meetings! There is nocost to come to the meetings (unless youdecide to get a cocktail or dinner) and noreservations are required.

On the second Wednesday of each month,at the Cask ‘n Cleaver on University Avenuehere in Riverside, starting at 6:00 p.m., ourmembers meet for a social hour. Followingthat social hour, we have a guest speaker dur-ing dinner, for which attendees receive onehour of Continuing Legal Education credit.These speakers provide a great deal of infor-mation on relevant topics that are helpful toyoung attorneys. Most importantly, Barris-ters enables new attorneys to network with

other local attorneys and get to know the colleagues with whom theywill be practicing.

Barristers is excited to announce that this year it will be hosting an“Old-Timers” cocktail party at 6:00 p.m. on March 10, 2004, at BMW ofRiverside, which is co-sponsoring the event. All RCBA members areinvited to join us for this special event, at which time newcomers to theRiverside legal community will have the opportunity to meet its moreestablished members. We are also hoping to have a fundraiser at thisevent for the fire victims in our own legal community. Additional infor-mation will be forthcoming, but mark your calendars now!

I would encourage you to come to our upcoming meetings, whichare outlined below. If you have any questions regarding Barristers or ifyou would like to participate, including by being a speaker, please feelfree to contact me. I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.

BARRISTERS’ SCHEDULEJanuary 7, 2004 “Ethics”Speaker to be announced

February 11, 2004 “Mediation”Speaker: Honorable John Kennedy, Retired

March 10, 2004 OLD-TIMERS MEETINGSpeaker to be announced

April 14, 2004 “Carving Your Niche”Speaker: Randy Stamen, Esq.Law Offices of Randall Stamen

May 12, 2004 “Elder Abuse”Speaker: Harlan B. Kistler, Esq.Law Offices of Harlan B. Kistler

June 9, 2004 “Taking an Effective Deposition”Speaker to be announced

Robyn Beilin is with the Law Offices of Harlan B. Kistler andSecretary of Barristers.

ROBERT A. MCCARTY, SR.4046 Chestnut Street, Riverside, CA 92501

(909) 686-1583

Mediation of the following types of disputes: Estate (probate);Trust and Real Property Disputes; Contractual Disputes and FamilyLaw Property Division Disputes.Experience: Mediation of many appellate court and superior courtcases over the last 10 year period.Background: California attorney for over 39 years and formerly alicensed California Real Estate Broker.If the mediated case is not settled, the mediator will waive his fee.

Page 9: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

8 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

IN MEMORIAM: GLORIA TEMPLE RICH

by Larry Maloney

I first met Gloria Temple Rich whilesitting on a bench behind old Department 9. We were debating themerits of one visitation arrangement over another. She impressedme as someone who was willing to look for solutions for kids ratherthan just blindly following the usual formulas. Her career was char-acterized by a never-ending search for unique solutions. Shefocused on the best interest of children long before those were thelegal words of choice.

Some in the legal community may have known Gloria longerand others may have known her more intimately, but I knew GloriaTemple Rich as more than the sum of the roles she played – friend,supervisor, teacher, chef de cuisine, confidant, craftsman, client,colleague, landlord and lawyer.

Gloria graduated from WaZoo (Western State University,Fullerton) in June 1975. She began practicing law in Fullerton. Atthat time, she was also managing a large dental practice at night.For law was not Gloria’s only career. She had been a housewife; shehad raised six children (four step-children and two biological chil-dren); she had been an elementary school teacher.

Gloria came to Riverside in 1978. She set up an office and beganbuilding a legal practice and reputation. She allied herself early onwith the notoriously self-advertising firm of Jacoby & Meyers. Theirnotoriety combined with her position as a female attorney in themen’s world of family law made for a rocky start. But Gloria thrivedon challenges. She worked harder – and she succeeded.

I joined Jacoby & Meyers and Gloria’s office in 1981 as a staffattorney. Although we worked under the banner of J&M and theyset policy, Gloria set the tone. The office had a unique mélange ofpersonalities, with Gloria as the chief. No matter how much or howhard we worked (J&M wanted us to see three clients an hour, everyday), it was a palpable pleasure to work there.

Toward the end of 1981 (it seems like yesterday), Gloria decid-ed to leave J&M. As she was also their landlord, this meant, ofcourse, that they had to get out. They did not take the news well. Inthe midst of all the confusion, I decided to stay in Gloria’s office. Iremained there for the next sixteen years. I had the privilege andpleasure of getting to know Gloria better. I observed her determi-nation first hand. When she set her mind on a goal, she followedthrough and completed the task. I saw her meticulous attention todetail and her heartfelt dedication to her clients.

Gloria approached her clients with a mix-ture of unstoppable determination and a beliefthat each client could succeed. This resonatedwith many of her female clients. They came tobelieve that they, too, could succeed. She did-n’t show them mushy sympathy or politicallycorrect compassion. Instead, she pushed herclients, with the determination that they, too,could overcome problems. Her office was a “nowhining zone.” She never accepted the “I can’tdo it” excuse. She was frequently heard tellinga whining client, “If I can, you can!”

Gloria did not take many things quietly.When she had a problem or had some obstacleconfronting her, we would hear her exclaim“Oh, my God...!,” as she came through theoffice door.

Gloria was a zealous advocate for herclients, but she also had respect for the otherside, and especially for the children. When aclient once complained that she didn’t seem tobe “on my side,” she responded, “I’m on theside of the children!” She was an early sup-porter of mediated settlements, especiallywhere children were involved. Gloria’sapproach meshed well with that of JudgeRobert Garst and our first mediator, BillBrockley. Gloria even tried to set up a media-tion service in the late 1980’s. She was muchmore than a good lawyer. She worked hard,she prepared hard and she presented her caseswith respect and gusto. The verbal exhibitionsbetween Michael Clepper and Gloria Rich wererenowned.

Gloria was also concerned about thosearound her. For many years, she provided thecoffee for the tiny attorneys’ room at theBrockton Family Law Court. I think she wasconcerned that, without a morning dose of caf-feine, her fellow attorneys might be more less-than-civil with each other.

But Gloria was not all work. She becamewidely known for her parties – especially theannual Christmas party. Gloria would cook,

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Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 9

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bake and plan for more than a month. Oneyear, she even arranged to have the yardoutside the office covered with snow – realsnow! From sundown to midnight or laterthere were wall-to-wall people, includingjudges and bar presidents, family law attor-neys and clerks, court reporters, bailiffs anddeputy district attorneys. Everyone in fami-ly law was there. Her parties were partiesthe likes of which we will never see again.Her candies, her meatballs, her cookies, awarm Brie for Clepper, special drinks for alland goodwill made her Annual ChristmasParty the event of the season.

Of course, one cannot forget her cook-ies. Many asked for the recipe but few, if any,ever learned the secret ingredient. I can’tsay for certain, but I’ve come to believe thatthe secret ingredient was Gloria.

Gloria was especially proud of her fami-ly – her daughter, Gayle, her son, Gary, andher grandchildren. And she had a very spe-cial place in her heart for her daughter-in-law, Claire. She said, “I couldn’t have pickeda better wife for my son!”

Many talk of retirement. Gloria actuallybegan it in 1998. She finally finished herlast case in 2000. She always tried to finishwhat she started. Free from the limitationsof the office, she stepped up her travelschedule. She frequently traveled with herdaughter, Gayle. She went to China, Africa,Europe (several times), Australia, the SouthPacific, South America, the Panama Canaland the Middle East. Of all these, she mostloved Rome. She felt as if, in an earlier life,she must have lived in “Roma.”

I knew Gloria Temple Rich for overtwenty years. I have known her in manycapacities. Most of all, I remember her asone of the most unique personalities I haveever known. She was a friend, but she wasmuch more. One would not use words like“warm” or “cuddly” to describe Gloria, but ifhelp (of any kind), or advice, or an honestopinion was what you needed, Gloria wasalways there. You could count on herstraightforward honesty. You knew she real-ly cared.

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10 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

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Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 11

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IN MEMORIAM: GLORIA TEMPLE RICH

by Michael H. Clepper

The Riverside Bar has lost one of itsgood old family law attorneys. Gloria TempleRich came to Riverside in 1975. She hadalready had a career as a dentist. Apparentlyshe got tired of looking into people’smouths, quit her practice, and went to lawschool. She graduated from Western Stateand immediately moved to Riverside.

Now it becomes interesting. She boughta home on Arlington Avenue and convertedit into a business office. She rented it toJacoby & Meyers and at the same time shealso became an associate attorney for thelaw firm. It was an odd arrangement – shewas a landlord and an employee. During thisperiod of time, Jacoby & Meyers was run-ning a commercial claiming: “It is abouttime.” They implied that at long last therewas a law firm that was going to providegood services at a reasonable price. Thatcommercial irked me. And so when I had myfirst case with Gloria, I decided that I wasn’tgoing to be my usual sweet, loveable self,and instead made her run the full gamutwith no stipulations. She did not flinch andgave as well as she took. Later, she wasappointed as the child’s attorney in one ofmy cases. She did an excellent job in theexamination of both parents. I am confidentthat the court made its decision concerningcustody based on her examination.

I think when Gloria started in law, shewanted to specialize in dental malpracticecases, but she did such a good job in familylaw that she soon found herself with almostall of her cases in that area. She representedher clients well without taking ridiculouspositions. She did everything first class,except write letters. I have got to reviewsome of my old files and preserve those let-ters. There were no complete sentences;paragraphs would go on forever; after-

thoughts would be written in the margins. A letter from Gloria would look like a RubeGoldberg diagram.

Gloria enjoyed cooking and would bring big trays of cookies to theattorneys’ room for special holidays. Naturally, I wasn’t going to giveher praise, but instead told her that I was taking a dozen of them backto my office for paperweights. She also hosted an annual Christmasparty and everyone looked forward to it. The food was all homemadeand the booze was plentiful. It was always a joyful occasion.

In the early 1980’s, six or seven of us would attend an annual sem-inar in Los Angeles. It was held on Saturday and we decided to make anice day of it, so everybody would meet at my home for light breakfastand then go out after the seminar for a good dinner in the big city. Oneyear, everyone was ready to leave my home and I was still brushing myteeth. Gloria came back to look for me and, as a former dentist, she crit-icized how I brushed my teeth. For years later, when Gloria and I wouldhave a case together and she would tell the judge that I did not knowwhat I was talking about, I would merely explain that Gloria always crit-icized everything I did. “Your Honor, you won’t believe it, but she does-n’t even like the way I brush my teeth in the morning.” I would leave itat that and would not give her a chance to explain.

Gloria saved her money and, after just 25 years as an attorney, shewas able to retire. She loved her family and enjoyed vacationing withthem. Gloria and her daughter Gayle would take cruises together.Gloria just liked curling up in corner and reading a good book. She wascontent knowing that her family was with her.

Gloria Temple Rich had a good reputation in the community. Shewas loved by many. She will be missed. As for me, I don’t know what Iwill do for paperweights.

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12 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

Newly elected State Bar President,Anthony Capozzi addressed a joint generalmembership meeting of the Riverside and SanBernardino County Bar Associations on Friday,

December 12, 2003, at the Riverside Marriott.A private practitioner from Fresno, Capozzi discussed the current state

of the State Bar, including his goals as President, the challenges which theBar and the profession currently face, and what the future holds.

“He started out being a critic of the State Bar, and he has become areal supporter,” said RCBA member Jim Heiting, the local representativeon the State Bar Board of Governors. “He’s very dedicated, and a realgreat guy.”

The 58 year old father of two was sworn in as the Bar’s 79th Presidentin September, taking over for Santa Barbara attorney James Herman.Among Capozzi’s goals for the coming year are improving the Bar’s rela-tionship with the legislature, encouraging attorneys to engage in morepro bono work to increase access to justice, and stabilize court finding.

ANTHONY CAPOZZI, STATE BAR PRESIDENT

by David Bristow

Capozzi, a native of New York,obtained his undergraduate degree in phi-losophy from State University of New Yorkat Buffalo, and his law degree from theUniversity of Toledo. After clerking for afederal judge in Springfield, Illinois, hewas hired by the U.S. Attorney’s Office inFresno. Following six years as a federalprosecutor, he went into private practiceand now specializes in white collar crimi-nal defense, as well as civil litigation.

Prior to his election as State BarPresident, Capozzi served as the Presidentof the Fresno County Bar Association(while serving simultaneously as thePresident of the San Joaquin Federal BarAssociation) as well as the CaliforniaWater Quality Control Board. Since beinginstalled, he has traveled throughout thestate meeting with his constituents.

“Right now he’s dancing around thestate like spit on a griddle,” said Heiting,referring to Capozzi’s hectic schedule.“Remember, he’s a sole practitioner. Sowhen I say he’s dedicated, he’s dedicated.”

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Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 13

THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES:A TRAGEDY THAT BROUGHT COMMUNITIES TOGETHER

by Thomas D. Jex

Those of us who live in Southern Californiaknow that the wildfires come every year. We justdon’t know exactly when. This year in California,late October and early November brought blisteringheat and fire-generating winds. Along with the heatand the winds came the fires, which have led to somuch devastation and sorrow for many. However, aswith many tragic events our country has experiencedrecently, we are able to see the inherent goodness inpeople as communities pull together to help eachother manage and rebuild their lives.

The WildfiresAs we are all aware, the recent wildfires caused

enormous destruction throughout Southern Califor-nia, mainly affecting three areas, the Inland Empire,Ventura/Los Angeles County and San Diego County.The fires in San Diego County burned more than391,000 acres and the fires in Ventura and Los AngelesCounties burned approximately 180,000 acres. Closerto home, the Grand Prix and the Old Fires directlyaffected those of us here in Riverside and SanBernardino Counties. The Grand Prix Fire started onHunter’s Ridge above Fontana and burned north toLytle Creek and Devore as well as west above Fontana,Rancho Cucamonga, and Claremont. This fire even-tually joined the Old Fire, which started north of SanBernardino and burned northeast to Rim of the Worldand Lake Arrowhead and north to Hesperia.

Tens of thousands of people were displaced bythese fires, which destroyed 3,577 homes and burnedmore than 745,000 acres – approximately 1,156square miles. As a comparison, Rhode Island isapproximately 1,045 square miles. At the peak of thefires, the number of evacuees was up to 95,000.More than 12,700 firefighters were brought in tofight these fires and authorities estimate the cost ofthe wildfires, which burned from the Mexican borderto northeast of Los Angeles, to be $2 billion.

In spite of this devastation, communities andgovernment organizations pulled together to provideneeded relief to those affected by the fires. Locally, incooperation with federal, state and city agencies, the

County of San Bernardino established the Fire Emergency LocalAssistance Center at the San Bernardino International Airport.This center provides an array of government services in a cen-tral location to the victims of the wildfires. Its purpose is to pro-vide a one-stop help center where fire victims have access toagencies and organizations to help them begin the process ofputting their lives back together.

Legal Aid Clinic to Help Fire VictimsStatistics, however, can tell only part of a story; especially

when dealing with a natural disaster, only the people directlyaffected can tell the real story. In an effort to reach out and pro-vide individual help to those directly affected by the wildfireshere in our own backyard, the Legal Aid Society of SanBernardino, Inland Counties Legal Services, and the SanBernardino County Bar Association sponsored a free legal clin-ic for fire victims on Saturday November 8, 2003, at theFeldhyme Library in San Bernardino. Attorneys from both theSan Bernardino and Riverside County Bar Associations, as wellas lawyers from Los Angeles offices of Akin Gump StraussHauer & Feld and Foley & Lardner participated in this event.

The Feldhyme Library has a large auditorium which provid-ed a nice setting for the morning portion of the legal clinic,including presentations from various agencies, and generalinformation from attorneys on such topics as insurance claims,fraud, public benefits, housing, and taxes. Fire victims were ableto sit in on the general presentations and also to meet with vol-unteer attorneys for individual counseling and advice both dur-ing and after the group presentations. In addition to receivingadvice on specific legal questions, fire victims could also meetwith representatives from the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency and the California Office of Emergency Services whowere present to answer questions and assist victims.

The issues facing the fire victims who attended the legalclinic ranged from repairing soot and smoke damage to obtain-ing new addresses in order to receive mail (such as assistancechecks) again because their homes and mailboxes had beendestroyed. Most fire victims needed assistance in locating addi-tional copies of important documents, such as insurance poli-cies, which had been destroyed in the fires. Others had gener-al legal questions on insurance issues in connection withrebuilding their homes and similar issues relating to personalproperty destroyed in rental homes. Overall, the legal clinicwas very successful, as volunteer lawyers in cooperation with

continued on page 16

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14 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUNDby Andrew Sheffield

Have you ever thought theAmerican Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)and other similarly situated organiza-tions have gone too far? Their master-ful usage of the U.S. legal system andthe sympathy of politically motivatedjudges has led to a constant assault onthe foundations upon which thiscountry was built under the guise ofdefending “civil liberties.” This assaulthas led to the degradation of familyvalues, religious freedom, and thesanctity of human life.

There is a check to this assault.The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) is aChristian based legal organization cre-ated to confront the assault the ACLUhas waged on the United States. Thealliance Defense Fund was founded in1994 to combat the dramatic loss ofreligious freedom and the ability ofpeople of faith to live and share theGospel.

Beginning as a grass roots organi-zation, seeking donations to engage inlitigation, the ADF has grown into aforce to be reckoned with. In additionto funding cases, the ADF is now train-ing attorneys to continue the fightagainst the ACLU and working withother like minded groups to create a

VOLUNTEERISM TOUCHES EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY

cohesive and coordinated strategy for defending our religious freedoms inAmerica and to restore religious freedom as it was originally envisioned by theframers of the Constitution.

The ADF is a non-profit organization. If you would like to contribute orhave a case that may require their assistance, they may be contacted as follows:

Alliance Defense Fund, 15333 North Pima Road, Suite 165, Scottsdale, AZ85260; www.alliancedefensefund.org; phone 1-800-TELL-ADF.

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICAby Joshua Divine

I have been affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America since I was 8 yearsold, when I began as a cub scout. My parents made me stick with it, probablyto keep me out of trouble, even bribing me with golf clubs so I would earn myeagle scout award. For the past 4 years I have been involved with boy scouts asan assistant scout master, or just being available to camp with the scouts.

Boy Scouts is a wonderful organization that teaches young boys the toolsthat they will need to succeed in life: responsibility and preparedness. Weteach the boys to take responsibility for their actions, including their mistakes,and to always be prepared - looking out for the future. I am pleased to be asso-ciated with this organization.

For information about Boy Scouts of America and to find local councils foryour area, visit the website www.scouting.org.

COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE (CASA)by Rick Lantz

Each year, thousands of children in Riverside County are thrust into courtthrough no fault of their own. Some are victims of violence, psychological tor-ment or sexual abuse. Others have been neglected or even abandoned by theirown parents. Most of them are frightened and confused.

Enter the CASA concept, based on the commitment that every child has theright to a safe, permanent home. Court-Appointed Special Advocate volunteersgo through a rigorous training program which leads to being appointed an offi-cer of the court and thereafter assigned to a child, with three main responsi-bilities: To serve as a fact-finder for the judge by thoroughly researching thechild’s background; to speak for the child in the courtroom; and to continue toact as the child’s advocate and mentor during the life of the case.

CASA volunteers offer children trust and hope during very trying times bybeing consistent mentors, role models, support system people and advocates.If you, too, wish to help in this most worthy cause, please call Barbara Hofmanat 909-358-4305.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILDby Michael L. Bazzo

Operation Christmas Child is a project of international Christian relieforganization Samaritan’s Purse. Samaritan’s Purse is currently working inmore than 120 countries, including many countries in Sub-Saharan Africadevastated by HIV/AIDS. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has hand-delivered more than 24 million shoe box gifts, valued at more than $480 mil-

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Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 15

lion, to needy children. The 24 million shoe boxes collected since 1993,if stacked one atop the other, would rise more than 250 times higherthan Mount Everest! Some 6 million suffering children in more than100 countries on six continents will receive personal, gift-filled shoeboxes through this kids-helping-kids project. For many of these chil-dren, the gift will be the first present they have ever received.

Families, schools, churches, scout troops, civic clubs, and otherorganizations around the world will fill some 6 million shoe boxes withpersonal gifts, school supplies, candy, necessity items, family photos, andnotes of encouragement this year. In all, more than 75,000 volunteersworldwide and 56,000 volunteers in the United States will drop off shoebox gifts at one of more than 1,200 drop sites located in all 50 states.

Once the boxes are transported to some 100 countries around theworld, Samaritan’s Purse representatives and national partners willtravel by truck, bus, train, helicopter, boat, foot, dog sled, and evenmule to hand-deliver the gifts, along with a colorful children’s book ofthe Christmas story. For drop-off locations or information regardingwhat to put in your box call 1-800-353-5949 or visit www.samari-tanspurse.org.

My wife and I and our kids have enjoyed participating in this heart-warming charity. Our kids delight in choosing just the right items toput in the shoe boxes, including some of their own toys that they thinka child might enjoy. We make an event out of going to the store to gath-er the necessary items. I can’t think of a better way to teach your chil-dren the gift of giving than participating in operation Christmas child.

How to pack your shoe box gift:1.) Find an empty shoe box. You can wrap it, lid separately, if you like,

but wrapping is not required.

2.) Fill the box with a variety of non-breakable, non-perishable gifts liketoys, school supplies, hygiene items,and hard candy for a boy or girl.

3.) Include a hand written note of encour-agement and a photo. (Optional)

4.) Send your shoe box to: Samaritan’sPurse, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC28607

RCBA ELVES PROGRAMby Brian C. Pearcy (see photos on page 21)

Want to give back to a needy member ofthe community by doing more than justwriting a check? Then participate in a highlyrewarding program that does good — and isfun. Are you interested in helping your barassociation in overcoming the common per-ception that the legal profession are takers,not givers. Come join your fellow membersand become Elves for the holiday season.

What is Riverside County BarAssociation’s Elves Program? The ElvesProgram is your opportunity to become oneof Santa’s Elves and directly adopt and sup-port a local family that would otherwise beunable to provide gifts for their children dur-ing the holiday season. We specificallysought to assist those families that had fallenthrough the cracks, those who missed theexisting social safety nets provided by localchurches, social organizations or govern-mental programs. The families assisted byThe Elves Program consisted of grandpar-ents who had a difficult time providing any-thing more than the bare essentials to theirgrandchildren. The Elves Program’s goal wasto provide each family a holiday season theycould only dream about.

Last year we were was able to assist sixfamilies living in some of the poorest areas ofRiverside County, which included 17 chil-dren (from ages one to 13 years old) andseven adults. This was truly a county orient-ed program with the families from GoodHope, Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto andRiverside.

Last year 29 Elves were generous withtheir time, energy and pocket books. Thisenabled us to raise nearly $1,800.00 andmade Christmas for six families a time of joyand thanksgiving. I would like to once againthank the following individuals for their par-

continued on page 17

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16 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

Union address for more volunteer service and for all Americans to beactive citizens, not spectators. Second, the outpouring of help providedover the last few weeks at various assistance centers, such as this clinic.Those in need of assistance were amazed. One family, whose home wasdestroyed in the fire, commented that something good will come out ofthis tragedy and they were already beginning to see it with all the helpthat they have received.

At the end of the day, one of the volunteers pointed out the diversenature of those in attendance at the clinic. The individuals there werefrom different ethnic, social and economic backgrounds, yet the com-munity came together to help each other and in so doing confirmedthat something surprisingly good could come from this sad event.

Thomas D. Jex is an associate with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer &Feld and a member of the RCBA.

CA Wildfires (continued from pg. 13)

government agencies were able to provideinformation and a bit of solace to those whonow face the monumental task of not onlyrebuilding their homes, but rebuildingtheir lives.

Two things stood out from the legalclinic: First, the number of people who vol-unteered to assist the fire victims. Therewere approximately 25-30 attorney volun-teers and about that many additional vol-unteers from government agencies.Everyone there expressed a desire to helpout in any way possible, perhaps heedingthe call in President Bush’s State of the

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Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 17

ticipation as shopping, wrapping and delivery elves: Jeff Smith, MaryEllen Daniels, Reggie Sampaga, Dan Buchanan, Michelle Volk, AuroraHughes, Julianna Strong, Dan Hantman, Noelle Natoli, Jay Orr,Michelle Winston, Charles Boylston and David Bristow.

Next, I would like to thank the following Money Elves for openingup their hearts and their pocketbooks: Judge Becky Dugan, JudgeDallas Holmes, James Heiting, Kennis Clark, Michelle Ouellette, ElaineSchrader, Kirk Lauby, David Bristow, Diane Huntley, Aurora Hughes,Robert and Adriana Burkhart.

Finally, I would like to thank the following individuals who spentthe time making this happen so quickly: Marcia Gilman, Bob Brunson,Charlotte Butt and Rosetta Runnels.

If you would like to be a Money Elf, please send your contributionsto the RCBA office as soon as possible. This year we hope to double thedonations so we can perhaps double or even triple the number of adopt-ed families. Therefore, please help us make this holiday season brighterfor many more families.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OFMENTAL HEALTH — CHILDREN’S SERVICESby Yoginee Patel Braslaw

Riverside County Department of Mental Health Children’s Servicesprovides mental health treatment to young people up to age 18 whohave emotional and/or behavioral problems. These youths receive indi-vidual, group, and family mental health treatment, among other ser-vices, throughout Riverside County.

Parent Support provides nontraditional support to identified fami-lies and youths who have particular needs and who are participating inmental health treatment. One of the responsibilities of Children’sServices is to seek out individuals and organizations to donate targetedservices, goods, or money for the disadvantaged youth they serve.

For the holiday season, there are three specific programs throughwhich individuals and/or organizations can help: (1) Thanksgiving FoodBasket; (2) Snowman Banner; and (3) Adopt-a-Family.

For the past five years, I have been involved in the ThanksgivingFood Basket and Adopt-a-Family programs. I truly enjoy working withChildren’s Services and knowing the joy I may bring to others withoutyearning for anything in return. The first year my husband and I deliv-

ered a Thanksgiving Food Basket toChildren’s Services was the most memo-rable, because, following Thanksgiving, wereceived a heartfelt letter that brought tearsto our eyes from one of the children in thefamily that received our ThanksgivingBasket. That letter certainly changed myoutlook on volunteering and the hard-to-describe joy and satisfaction one receivesfrom helping others; that child’s words willforever be etched in my memory. Last year, Ihad the support of my wonderful, kind andgenerous colleagues at the Court of Appealin adopting a family. The Adopt-a-Familyproject was such a success at the Court thatI had coworkers informing me that weshould have adopted two or three families.Following Christmas, the Court also receiveda kind and touching letter from the childrenof that family.

If you would like further informationabout how members or employees of yourorganization, agency, business or club mightjoin together in making a Thanksgiving foodbasket for next year, please contact Ms. LuzNegron of Children’s Services at 909-358-6858. Children’s Services has a sign-up flyerthat describes what kinds of food might gointo a basket to feed a large family.

You can also display one of Children’sServices Snowman Banner wall hangings atyour business, club or organization inNovember/December of each year. The fabricwall hangings are covered in papersnowflakes and each snowflake contains theholiday wish of a single child receiving ser-vices in the Parent Support program.Individuals may then pick a snowflake fromthe wall hanging and purchase the requestedgift, valued at $10 to $25. You can contactMs. Nancy Olsen-Saouli for information.

If you would like further informationregarding the Adopt-a-Family program,please contact Ms. Erlys Daily, Mental HealthService Supervisor, Children’s Services, at909-358-6858. Last year, Children’s Servicesadopted 97 families, who otherwise wouldnot have had the means of obtaining foodand presents for their children duringChristmastime. Unfortunately, however, dueto budget cuts, this year Children’s Servicescan service only about 30 families. Hence,this program gravely needs volunteers to

Volunteerism In The Community (continued from pg. 15)

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18 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

help in sorting presents, organizing lists, wrapping pre-sents, etc. If you would like to volunteer your time tohelp Children’s Services with this project, please con-tact Ms. Daily.

VOLUNTEERS IN PAROLE, INC.by Judy Davis, VIP Program Director

Volunteers In Parole, Inc. (VIP) is a community ser-vice program that recruits attorneys, and only attorneys,to mentor parolees from the California Department ofCorrections. In 1969, U.S. Chief Justice Warren E. Bergerchallenged lawyers to help develop the AmericanCorrectional System into “something other than a revolv-ing door process.” VIP was established as a nonprofit orga-nization in 1972. The program is endorsed and supportedby civic leaders, local county bar associations, and theCalifornia Department of Corrections Parole andCommunity Services Division. VIP, which operates in var-ious major counties, has been working in RiversideCounty since April 4, 2000.

VIP is a simple program based on the premise of peo-ple helping people through the power of personal influ-ence. Volunteer attorney mentors help volunteer paroleesto get past the tough re-entry problems they face uponrelease from prison. A mentor invests about four hoursper month developing a friendship with their menteethrough mutual activities. The individual attention fromthe attorney mentor usually has a positive impact on theparolee finding employment, achieving educational goals,and effectively coping with personal and family problems.More frequently, the rewards are intangible and are expe-rienced by both individuals in the match.

Local attorney mentors Jody Isenberg and Pat Harvillhave said that their involvement as mentors has beenvaluable to them in a number of ways. Pat said, “You’llgain from them as much as they’ll gain from you.” Jody’sexperience as a mentor has also taught her that when youthink you’re doing, as much as, you can there’s alwaystime and more to do. VIP mentee Michel Pierre said thathis match has been important to him because of the time,encouragement, and direction his mentor has given him.Another VIP mentee, Marta Patterson, shared that herrelationship with her mentor has grown into a warm andstrong friendship that they both cherish. Darryl Exum’smentee Rasheed Bismillah said, ”VIP has shown me a dif-ferent type of friendship I need.”

Appreciation and recognition goes out to the followingattorneys who are mentors currently in the RiversideCounty VIP program: Yoginee Braslaw, David Bristow, SeanCarter, Kennis Clark, Doug Edgar, Mary Flores, CarolGreene, Pat Harvill, Mike Hestrin, Abby Hyman, JodyIsenberg, Albert Johnson, Heather Moorhead, Nancy Mohr,David Philips, Richard Reed, Richard Swanson, ReginaldTaylor, Jeff Van Wagenen, John Vineyard, and Forest Wright

Appreciation and recognition also goes out to the followingindividuals who are a part of the local VIP advisory committee:Chair John Vineyard, Magistrate Judge Stephen Larson, MikeHestrin, David Philips, Judge Craig Riemer, Darryl Exum, JeffVan Wagenen, Jim Husen, Vicki Broach, Paul Abril, JoeMendoza, Jeff McCool, Doug Johnson, and Liz Benner-Wick.

To learn more about this program, please call (909) 782-4814.

VOLUNTEER CENTER OF RIVERSIDE COUNTYby Jacqueline Carey-Wilson

Since 1966, the Volunteer Center of Riverside County hasoperated as a private nonprofit agency offering a variety of freeservices to Riverside County residents. The Volunteer Centeris a crucial link between people in need and resources in thecommunity that would assist them. The Volunteer Centeraddresses issues such as homelessness, people in crisis, andsenior needs by offering such programs as:

HELPline Crisis/Suicide Hotline: Twenty-four hours aday people in crisis can call 909-686-HELP (4357) and beconnected with a trained counselor who will listen and pro-vide support. Last year, HELPline counselors assisted 9,944people.

INFORM Riverside County: When individuals need infor-mation about obtaining some resource from the community,such as food, housing, clothes, or rental, mortgage, or utilityassistance, they can call 800-464-1123. The staff will respondwith appropriate referrals and will instruct callers on how torequest help, what to expect, and what documents they shouldhave ready before making the call. Last year, INFORMRiverside assisted 12,959 people with referrals.

Senior Ombudsman Program: Volunteers with theCenter are trained and certified as Ombudsmen to make reg-ular facility visits to nursing homes and residential care facil-ities. The Ombudsman investigates complaints of poor careand elder abuse. The Ombudsman acts as an advocate to pro-tect the senior’s rights and ensure that the highest quality ofcare is received. Last year, Ombudsmen served 45,037 seniors.In September of each year, in honor of Grandparents’ Day, theVolunteer Center’s Ombudsman Program distributes bou-quets of flowers to seniors in nursing homes for a donation of$10 to the Volunteer Center. Last year, 165 seniors receivedflowers and a visit from an Ombudsman.

Transportation Access Program (TAP): Nonprofit andgovernment agencies in Western Riverside County can regis-ter with TAP to receive bus tickets for their clients. Serviceproviders distribute the tickets to their qualifying clients fordoctor appointments, job interviews, and other urgent oremergency needs. Last year, TAP distributed 7,080 ticketsthrough this program.

Post-Assistance Self-Sufficiency Program (PASS): ThePASS program assists former welfare-to-work clients in careerplanning to increase their earning potential. Last year, PASSassisted 429 individuals.

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Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 19

Shared Housing: To provide an affordable housing alternative,individuals who cannot afford a home on their own are referred toindividuals who need help staying at their present home. Last year,Shared Housing assisted 60 individuals with their housing needs.

Alternative Sentencing Programs:— Community Service: Individuals are referred to the Center by

the Riverside Superior Court to perform community service in lieu offines. These individuals have an opportunity to make restitution to thecourts and learn new skills for prospective employment. Last year, indi-viduals performed 38,955 hours of volunteer service to the community.

— Monitoring: The Volunteer Center provides referrals to peoplewhom the court orders to complete classes in domestic violence, angermanagement, parenting, and ignition interlock systems. The Centerthen monitors each individual’s compliance with the program. Lastyear, 2,912 individuals were monitored through this program.

— Teen Mentoring Program Option (TEMPO): TEMPO educatesfirst-time juvenile offenders on the effects of alcohol and drugs.TEMPO’s goal is to reduce recidivism through early intervention. Lastyear, 326 teens were educated through TEMPO.

Volunteer Connection: The Volunteer Connection matches theinterests of volunteers with community agencies and consults withthe agencies to provide training and advocacy for volunteerism. Lastyear, volunteers contributed 11,232 hours of community servicethrough the Center. Agencies in the county are invited to honor theirmost valuable volunteers at the Volunteer of the Year Receptionsponsored by the Volunteer Center. Last year, 59 volunteers were rec-ognized for their outstanding contributions to their organizations.

Thanksgiving/Christmas Basket Program: The Volunteer Centerkeeps a list of all the nonprofit agencies in Riverside County that dis-tribute baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas. This list also includes

the programs that offer Thanksgiving andChristmas dinners. If you know someone inneed during the holidays or would like to donateto this program, please contact the VolunteerCenter at 909-686-4402.

I have been active with the VolunteerCenter since November 1999. I began by serv-ing hot lunches to the homeless when theVolunteer Center operated REACH; I am cur-rently Vice-President of the Board of Directors.I have seen the impact of the Volunteer Centerfirst-hand and know the commitment of itsdedicated staff. If you would like to volunteeryour time or know someone who needs assis-tance from one of the programs offered by theVolunteer Center, please call 909-686-4402.

YWCA by Robyn Beilin

Since its inception in 1858, the YWCA ofthe U.S.A. has worked for the empowerment ofwomen and girls, addressed pressing socialissues and built coalitions across the lines ofclass, age, race and ethnicity. The YWCA’s suc-cesses are built by thousands of individuals whodonate their time, resources and imaginationto create programs, initiatives and an organiza-tion tirelessly devoted to women and girls.There are countless ways to become involvedwith the YWCA - as a member, volunteer, donoror staff member. The YWCA of Riverside, whichis united under the nationwide umbrella of theYWCA, is a critical resource for women in ourcommunity. It provides shelter services forwomen and their families, is a leader in vio-lence prevention, and is a source for breast can-cer referrals, screenings, and education ser-vices. The YWCA also provides sports and phys-ical fitness programs for women and girls aswell as outstanding child care services, includ-ing after-school programs. Every year, theYWCA also hosts an annual “Men Who Cook”dinner, a charity event that benefits variousprograms at the YWCA.

The strength of the YWCA rests in the spiritand energy of its dedicated volunteers who con-tribute both time and talent to the 324 YWCA’sthroughout the country. YWCA volunteers engagein all types of activities, including mentoring,membership on the board of directors, fundrais-ing and program assistance. If you are interestedin finding out more about the volunteer opportu-nities that exist at the YWCA of Riverside or if youwould like to become a YWCA member,please call (909) 687-9922.

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Page 21: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

20 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

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Page 22: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 21

Hints For The HolidaysFrom this point on, we’re in a death race to get as much done

as possible while, theoretically, celebrating several of our mostimportant holidays. It’s like playing chicken with cars – the onlydifference being that the cars have turned to shopping carts andinstead of facing down the onslaught of one demented driver,we’re dodging lunatics from every direction.

In both the literal and figurative sense, I more closely resem-ble the turtle than the hare. Feats of “Olympian” stature are notin my cards unless they have something to do with a pie-eatingcontest. No, the “mall-athons” and shopping “til I drop” are cir-cumstances destined to bring me to my knees to beg for mercyand relief. Nor do I revel in the thought of decorating my housewith enough electrical crap to power a nuclear submarine. On theother hand, I know that some of you are so “amped” up at theprospects of a Holiday “blitzkrieg,” you completed half your shop-ping shortly after you dropped that last turkey bone on yourThanksgiving plate. Don’t tell me you haven’t already wheeled outthe generators and extension cords? This article is not for thebrave of heart. Rather, it’s for those of us who cannot multitaskand wish only a little peace on earth (and some quiet too) duringthese allegedly cheerful times. Let me offer some helpful hints, ifit’s not too late:• If you have a spare closet, keep your fake Christmas tree fully

decorated year round covering it in a green Hefty bag (so thatyour neighbors won’t realize you really are a lazy ass). Rightafter Thanksgiving dinner, whip out the tree, peel off the bagand you will amaze and awe all of your friends who are still try-ing to find the crap they put in that spot they wouldn’t forgetnext year.

• If you’re doing pretty good in your practice, hire one of thoseChristmas “gurus” to decorate your house. Have them comeduring the week while all of your friends are at the office. Comehome early that day, just as the guru drives off with the check.Smudge up your face and leave your ladder in the drivewayuntil your neighbors get home. Then make sure they see youputting it away as you admire your handiwork.

• If you’re not doing so well in your practice, dig a hole in youryard and plant a holiday bush backed by the following orna-mental sign: “Have a Merry and Environmentally ResponsibleChristmas!”

• If you’re a pack rat, save yourself the headache of anothergarage sale. Search for those wonderful family “heirlooms”

by Michael J. Cappelli

HUMOR

you’ve been stashing in your garage. Wrap them upand give them away. Your friends and family will beimpressed at the unique nature of the gift – so long asyou don’t tell them you bought it for a “quarter” at athrift shop.

• If you’re not a pack rat, go to the nearest thrift shopand pick up some “family heirlooms” for a “quarter.”Just don’t tell the recipient of your gift that it’s fromsome “unknown” family.

• If you’re artistic, soothe your heart, soul and mind bycreating your gifts and giving a little piece of yourselfto your loved ones.

• If you’re not artistic, take out your frustration bythrowing paint against a canvass, banging on a rock,or twisting some metal junk together. Tell your lovedones that this is “non-representational” art when theygive your “piece” a jaundiced eye.

• If you have to buy gifts for kids over the age of 10,never underestimate the power of an envelope withcash. Thoughtless? Perhaps? Effective? Absolutely!

• If you’re a culinary enthusiast, you are certain to havechefs as friends. Coax one into preparing the holidaymeal taking pains to give the chef his or her appropri-ate props. Chefs are like we are, they thrive on egogratification.

• If you’re not a culinary enthusiast, invite all those youintend to have as guests over early to help prepare theholiday meal. Rent an “Emeril” video and assign eachguest specific tasks. One of two things will happen.Either the feast will be a success with everyone havinghad fun in the process or the feast will be inedible andyour guests will only have themselves to blame. Thisis what we lawyers call a “win-win” situation!

If all of the above is still too much work, considertaking a vacation to some far away place with a strangesounding name. Let your family and friends know thatthe thought came to you suddenly in a dream. Tell themthe impulse is so strong that you must go, or foreverwonder what you might have lost. Stay for as long as pos-sible, sending an occasional post card and rememberingto bring back lots of pictures and a few trinkets to shareat Easter or over the Fourth of July. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Michael J. Cappelli is a partner in the law firm ofBabcock & Cappelli and a member of the RCBA’sBar Publications Committee.

Page 23: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

22 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

CURRENT AFFAIRS

by Richard Brent Reed

What To Call The Recall?“The Tree of Liberty must, from time to time, be watered with the blood

of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” – Thomas JeffersonIf Thomas Jefferson were alive today, he would probably character-

ize California’s recent recall election as a bloodless revolution: animpeachment by plebiscite. If ex-governor Gray Davis were alive today,he would, no doubt, regard the recall election that ousted him as aRepublican take-over. Conservative commentator George Will was crit-ical of the whole process as short-circuiting an otherwise republican(small “r”) form of government.

Elections are the churns of democracy where good and not-so-goodideas get separated. The recent recall election in California put forwardthe ideas that elected officials shouldn’t get too comfortable in theircozy offices—a lesson not lost on political leaders around the world.But the “Republican take-over” may have both immediate and long-term effects on California jurisprudence:

The statute providing for the recall of elective officials should be lib-erally construed (Hilleker v. City Council of Seal Beach).

The legislation affording people a right to initiate legislation, orrecall public officials is to be given the same liberal construction as thatextended to election statutes generally (Reites v. Wilderson).

Let’s face it: laws in California are liberally (emphases added) con-strued and everybody knows it. That may change now that ATG (actor-turned-governor) Schwarzenegger has taken office. He, after all, will bemaking judicial appointments for at least the next three years, unlesshis three-year term is cut short by yet another recall election. If heplaces enough conservative bottoms on the California bench, theRepublican “take-over” may treat this state to a Republican make-over.

So Many Lawyers, So Little TimeLos Angeles has about 52,000 attorneys. Sixteen of them are going

to prison. Eight more are in the process, not counting the dozen underinvestigation. The Integrity Division of the Los Angeles DistrictAttorney’s office is cleaning house, weeding out lawyers, mostly solopractitioners, who have skimmed, siphoned, and, in some cases, lootedtheir clients’ trust accounts. They have a 100% conviction rate, so far.Who are the victims of these errant attorneys? They include widows,pensioners, and sick people. One woman died on the job, working to payfor her chemotherapy, while her attorney pocketed her settlement.Three prosecutors are on the job, going after dishonest attorneys,though they have yet to uncover corruption in L. A. County’s larger lawfirms. Are there plans to institute an Integrity Division in this jurisdic-tion? Stay tuned.

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Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 23

Abarrage of smoke and flameso intense there is no looking up. Likefist after fist after fist in the face. Andthen into the gut, when you realize that

all you treasured, all your history, your pictures of your mom anddad and you on your family’s first vacation when you were one,your pictures of your children as babies, and when they took theirfirst steps, and when they were in the school play; and the weddingalbum, and the palm print in plaster of Paris of your Tommy, themiddle child; the letters from your first love, the poetry from col-lege, the drawings and paintings that meant so much; the deeds,the will, the birth certificates; your first baseball glove and yourletterman’s jacket; Grandma’s diamond and rose brooch, yourdad’s wristwatch, your mother’s wedding ring, your anniversarycrystal; the Bible that held the births and deaths of your family;even the piano that you practiced on when you were six and thatPenny and Angel, your first and third children, practiced on... allof it is gone. Home. A simple word with a whole world of meaning.I read once that, “in a home, you notice the trees getting taller.” Itis a place of dreams and memories and fulfilled expectations, aplace of comfort and retreat, solace and peace; a place to grieve andrejoice. But now it is gone, too. And not even time to say goodbye.

I cannot begin to imagine the loss suffered by those whosehomes were consumed in the recent fires. I know it pulls at me,though, and tears at my heart. I can only imagine the confusion,fear, and darkness that has descended on the lives of those soulsdisplaced and rendered without home or roots by those voraciousflames: “Where do I go? Where do I begin? Who can help me? Whowill help me? All that I am or have ever been... did it ever, does itstill exist?” These questions must swirl like swarming bees, requir-ing every moment and effort of thought, but seeming to have norespite, no immediate or clear answer.

But we have answers for them. We have the strong shouldersto lean on, and the arms to put around our brothers and sisters inneed. We have the ability and the right to say, “Life will be okayagain. It will be all right. Lean on us while you need to; we will bethere for you as long as you need us. Let us help.”

And I am proud that we are helping. Our local bar associationswere immediately up and running with the State Bar and theAmerican Bar Association in developing programs and assistancefor fire victims. Attorneys did not hesitate to volunteer at

BOG

Evacuation Centers and to do whatever they couldto assist, from digging ditches and manninghoses, to rounding up animals and donatingclothing, toothpaste, soap and other necessities.We have taken advantage of the work the YoungLawyers Division of the American Bar Association,the State Bar and FEMA have put into place fornatural disasters generally, and for the Californiawildfires specifically. Information hotlines havebeen activated, volunteers have been working inthe communities and in places like the County ofSan Bernardino’s “OneStop Help Center,” andcounty bars and legal services staff and volunteershave been meeting and organizing informationcenters and action plans. Members of the SanBernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, San FernandoValley, Ventura County, and San Diego bar associ-ations, along with representatives of the AmericanBar Association Young Lawyers Division,Neighborhood Legal Services, the Legal AidFoundation of Los Angeles, the Public ServicesLaw Corporation of the Riverside County BarAssociation, Inland Counties Legal Services, theSan Bernardino County Barristers, the Legal AidSociety of San Bernardino, the Legal Aid Societyof San Diego, the California Indian Legal Services,the California Young Lawyers Association, and theState Bar Office of Legal Services immediatelyorganized and set up a Disaster ServicesConference that took place with all these partici-pants on November 3. Listening to the partici-pants as they put in place the distribution of infor-mation, and made available necessary services,experience and talent, was comforting and gratify-ing. These volunteers are quick, dedicated andwithout any expectation of recognition. What acredit they are to our profession. What a wonder-ful group of people.

Our help continues to be needed, though. Thedisasters wrought upon these victims by the firesmust not be compounded by disasters wroughtupon them by merciless vultures and carpetbag-

by James Otto Heiting

James O. Heiting

continued next page

Page 25: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

24 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

gers who will prey on them in their confu-sion and need. We must insure that qualityhelp is made available, and that those whowould take advantage unfairly are dealt withquickly and effectively. Education, throughthe organizations listed above and the“Disaster Legal Services Hotline Manual”published by FEMA and the ABA, and volun-teering, at places like San BernardinoCounty Bar’s “Volunteer Attorneys for FreeClinic for Fire Victims” held at various placesaround the county, can be of inestimablevalue to those in need. Just knowing whereor to whom to refer people can be a key totheir future. The lawyer referral services ofour various counties should have (or shouldhave by now) panels that are of specific helpin this situation.

Some of the areas of special need involveinsurance, mortgages and financing, land-lord/tenant, contractors and rebuilding,employment, income resources and avail-ability, temporary housing and schooling,education, FEMA services, small businessissues, zoning, land use, permits, water andother rights, and the like.

And we should not let those few whowould take advantage fuel the fires of disdainfor attorneys and spoil the ability and desire ofthose in need to get appropriate help by rely-ing on responsible and respectable lawyers.The Office of Chief Counsel of the State Barhas put in place a strike force that addressessolicitation issues in disaster situations.

I close with a letter from Allen Turner(San Bernardino County Bar executive direc-tor) to me, “extending our deepest sympathyto those who lost their homes and who weredisplaced by the fires. [We] especially appre-ciate and acknowledge the generosity of ourBar Members in providing support to ourcolleagues and counsel to the public.”

You can help. Thank you.

James Otto Heiting, of Heiting and Irwin, waspresident of the Riverside County BarAssociation in 1996. Mr. Heiting is the currentDistrict 6 representative to the State BarBoard of Governors.

BOG (continued)

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Page 26: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 25

BARRISTERS PROFILE:JENNIFER SELTZER, DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

by Robyn A. Beilin

Ihave to admit that I am aLaw and Order junkie. I watchthem all – Law & Order, SpecialVictims Unit, Criminal Intent.Like most civil attorneys, I findthat there is something fascinat-ing about the criminal justice sys-tem. When I get bogged down in

written discovery and tedious motions, I tune in to watchJack McCoy give an amazing closing argument and I wonderwhat it would be like to really practice criminal law.

This month, I decided to satisfy that curiosity and findout if being a member of the district attorney’s office was asglamorous as it seems. To that end, I had the pleasure of pro-filing Jennifer Seltzer, a member of Barristers and a deputydistrict attorney with the Riverside County DistrictAttorney’s office.

Prior to joining the Riverside District Attorney’s office in2003, Jennifer began her legal education by obtaining adegree in Legal Studies from Chapman University in 1997and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, also fromChapman University, in 1998. Jennifer then attended lawschool at Western State University School of Law, fromwhich she graduated in 2001. She successfully sat for theCalifornia bar exam in 2002 and was admitted to the bar inthat same year.

After beginning law school, Jennifer initially thoughtthat she wanted to practice Estate Planning. However, astime went by, Jennifer’s predisposition to criminal justicetook over. Jennifer explained that she grew up around crim-inal law, as her father is a police officer. So, while in lawschool, she changed her plans and set the goal of becominga deputy district attorney.

To make her goal a reality, Jennifer began working at theOrange County District Attorney’s office as a post-bar lawclerk. “I actually clerked with them during law school. Iclerked at different courthouses in Orange County. And thenpost-bar is strictly writs and appeals.” After Jennifer wasadmitted to the bar and her law clerk position ended, sheobtained a position with a civil firm that focused primarilyon lemon law. However, she continued to work towardsobtaining a position at the district attorney’s office until shesucceeded in that endeavor.

Jennifer began her career as a deputy district attorneyin the juvenile division. In July 2003, she began workingin misdemeanors, where she does calendar and trials.Jennifer explained, “It’s a rotation that everyone in ouroffice does in their first eighteen months. First you areplaced in juvenile and then misdemeanors. The ordervaries, depending on how they rotate you in. I’ll do anoth-er six months in misdemeanors, and then, in June, I willgo to felonies.” Ultimately, Jennifer would like to tryhomicide cases. “I also want to focus on SACA, which isour sexual abuse/child abuse unit.”

Of course, I wanted to hear all about Jennifer’s trialexperiences while at the district attorney’s office.Although she admitted that trying cases could sometimesbe nerve-wracking, she explained that the overall experi-ence has been rewarding because “I’ve had the opportuni-ty to get a lot of trial experience.” In fact, when asked whather favorite part of being a deputy district attorney was,Jennifer said, without hesitation, “Going to trial.” One ofher favorite aspects of being a trial attorney is picking thejury, which Jennifer described as being “so exciting.”

So what are the drawbacks of being a deputy districtattorney? “Sometimes my own victims think that I workfor them but I work for the State of California and thePeople of California. They think that we work for themand that we are their own attorneys so that’s kind of aproblem sometimes. But, for the most part, once you tellthem, ‘I know that you are the victim but I have to look atthe interests of everyone in general and consider you aswell,’ they seem to get it.”

A resident of Orange County, Jennifer explained thatshe is extremely happy with her choice to work here inRiverside. “The legal community in Riverside is fabulous.I love working out here.” In addition to being a deputy dis-trict attorney, Jennifer is also a member of the Inns ofCourt and the Riverside County Bar Association.

I’m happy to note that Jennifer admitted to being afan of Law and Order herself and even went on to tell methat she has been told by many attorneys that they watchthe show for ideas on their own courtroom tactics. Inspeaking with Jennifer, I was pleased to hear that being adeputy district attorney is just as rewarding as it seems.Jennifer and I look forward to seeing you at the nextBarristers meeting on January 7, 2004.

Robyn Beilin is with the Law Offices of Harlan B. Kistler and Secretary of Barristers

Page 27: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

26 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

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Riverside Judge Panel List Riverside Attorney ListJudge Karl Jaeger Raymond T. Gail, Esq.

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Judge Kathleen Bryan

Page 28: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003 27

MEMBERSHIP

Bernhard A. AaenThe Partners, Riverside

Lorna Didavide (S)Law Student

Katie GreeneSole Practitioner, Riverside

Gregg M. GuOffice of the City Attorney, Riverside

Ruben Francisco GutierrezBest Best & Krieger, LLP, Indian Wells

Margaret T. D. Ieng (A)Affiliate Member

Richard Jacobs (S)Law Student

Sunmi Kim (S)Best Best & Krieger, LLP, Riverside

Mathew L. Larsen (S)Best Best & Krieger, LLP, Riverside

Isabel Lua (S)Law Student

Rebekah Ryan Main (S)Law Student

David V. MunneckeAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld,LLP, Riverside

Kimberly R. Naucler (S)Law Student

Donnasue Smith OrtizSole Practitioner, Rancho Cucamonga

W. Greg Perron (S)Law Student

Bryan E. QuiloThompson & Colegate, Riverside

Mario RivasSole Practitioner, Riverside

May Saetang (S)Law Student

Madeline Tucci TannehillTannehill & Tannehill, Laguna Hills

The following persons have applied for membership in the Riverside County Bar Association. If there are no objections, theywill become members effective December 30, 2003.

Booklet available at RCBA FREE OF CHARGE!

Frank O. TetleySole Practitioner, Grand Terrace

Lorraine A. ThomasBest Best & Krieger, LLP, Riverside

Delmar G. WilliamsBest Best & Krieger, LLP, Riv.

Page 29: Officers of the Bar Association · 2012-09-05 · Riverside Legal Professional Association Maria Hoff is the new President of the Riverside Legal Professionals Association. I was

28 Riverside County Lawyer, November/December 2003

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Job OpeningRiverside County Superior Court –

Family Law Facilitator position in Indio.Application (required) is available online atwww.co.riverside.ca.us/depts/courts/jobs or callthe job line, (909) 955-8181. Closing date isDecember 31, 2003. (For full job description andqualification guidelines, RCBA members mayemail [email protected] for a copy of the jobannouncement.)

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