October 2003
Around the State
Bankruptcy Bar
Denice L. Patrick has been appointed Washington state chair of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. NACBA is a national organization of consumer bankruptcy attorneys dedicated to protecting the rights of consumer debtors in need of bankruptcy relief. NACBA helps consumer bankruptcy attorneys to more effectively represent their clients, files amicus briefs in selected appellate and Supreme Court cases that could significantly impact consumer bankruptcy rights, and lobbies against anti-debtor legislation in Washington, D.C.
Cowlitz County Report
by Our Local Correspondent
Jim Morgan recently completed a triathlon (swimming two miles, riding a bike 112 miles, running a marathon), and in 14 hours, no less. Next year, he'll compete in the pentathlon, which adds the "suing the pants off someone" and "collecting a healthy fee" events to the race.
Alfred A. "Art" Bennett has moved law offices. His new address is 415 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98666. Art says that after eight years in one office, moving to a new office is an interesting experience. Although all went smoothly at first, things quickly went awry. Even though his phone numbers remained the same, a real estate company started receiving Art's office calls. "No, Mr. Bennett is not here today, but we do have a wonderful piece of property available." Likewise, Art had filed his change of address with the Post Office, but most of his mail was marked "Returned to Sender, Address Unknown." Art says he now knows how Elvis felt.
Dustin Richardson returned to the prosecutor's office following the July bar exam. With an equally grand entrance, Wes Johnson marched in the children's parade that kicked off the Cowlitz County Fair. When he's not marching, Wes also serves on the board of the Ethnic Support Council.
Judge Steve Warning held his annual bar party this summer. Angela Warning was sorely missed, but was reported to have been enjoying Italy at the time. Dennis Maher won the raffle for a weekend at Alex Styve's beach house in Rockaway Beach, OR. The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Bar Association raised over $500 for the Legal Aid Society.
Roberto Castro is relocating out of state. In other moves, Paul Brachvogel has replaced Pat Kubin as the Kelso municipal court prosecutor at the city attorney's office.
Welcome to the three newest honorary members of the CWBA: Alexander, son of Gary Bashor and his wife; Peyton, daughter of Andra and Kevin Blondin; and Gus, son of Toby Krauel and his wife.
Information for the December issue must be received by October 15 at CWBA news@hotmail.com.
King County Report
by Jim Varnell
Tee It Up
The Riverbend Golf Course in Kent was the site of the annual Phil Biege Open, commonly referred to on the PGA Tour as the "fifth major" tournament of the year. Division winners this year included John Curry (attorneys' division) and, in an Annika-like performance, the Honorable Julie Spector (judges' division), defeating her fellow superior court peers: Dick McDermott, Brian Gain, and Jimmy Cayce. Tom McElmeel was honored on the 25th anniversary of his "drive for show and putt for dough" win at the Enumclaw Golf Links in 1978. It just happens that this correspondent was in the 1978 foursome of "Tiger" McElmeel, and also in the 2003 winning foursome, which included McElmeel, winner Curry, and Dan "You're the Man" Williams.
Serious golfers may note that this correspondent's mere presence in a foursome inspires top-flight play and a guaranteed win. Accordingly, this correspondent is making himself available for anyone who might have a slot open while playing at Augusta National, Pebble Beach, the Plantation Course on Maui, or even Newcastle in King County.
Honors
Nina Dillon received the Judge David Soukup Award for Legal Advocacy presented by the King County Dependency CASA Program. Leslie R. Weatherhead has become a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Lawrence R. Besk was admitted as a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Julie A. Gaisford has been elected to the board of overseers of Whitman College. Leslie Boyd was honored by the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center for her work as an outstanding community partner with that organization.
Office Moves
The law firm of Thompson Gipe, home of Lindsay Thompson, who was recently described by a reputable legal tome as "razor sharp and technologically savvy" (unusually complimentary words for a boy from North Carolina), recently moved its office to Fisherman's Terminal on Salmon Bay in Seattle. Richard P. Matthews was recently named a shareholder in and Brent L. Nourse an associate at Carney Badley Spellman. Matthews is a summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, the alma mater of this correspondent. (Would someone please explain to me what summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa mean?)
Kay S. Slonim, another razor-sharp and technologically savvy attorney, has joined Lane Powell Spears Lubersky as counsel to the firm in the tax group. Ogden Murphy Wallace announces the elections of Wayne D. Tanaka to serve as managing member, and Karen Sutherland as assistant managing member. Vicki E. Orrico has been elected to the board of directors of Women Business Owners. Holly B. Benton and Nicolette L. Pias have been named associates at Williams, Kastner & Gibbs. Jean-David Larson has joined Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson as an associate. Amy W. Meyer has joined Cowan & Miller as an associate. Jeannette Adams Gorman is now a partner at Betts Patterson & Mines. Nadine R. Weiskopf (a member of the California Bar) and Eugene W. Wong are now with Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson. Jeffrey C. Grant is of counsel and Katherine A. Walter is a new associate at Helsell Fetterman. Kevin Montler is now with Holland & Knight. Matthew Le Master has been elected a principal. Richard D. Ross has joined Riddell Williams as an associate.
Gwynne L. Skinner and Nancy S. Chupp have formed The Public Interest Law Group; of counsel to the firm are Elizabeth A. Fiattarone and Karen L. Mitterer. George Ferrell is special counsel to the firm.
Volunteer Directors
The Epilepsy Foundation of Washington, a nonprofit organization, is seeking additional board members. Those persons interested should contact Heidi Alessi at Bullivant Houser Bailey.
Pierce County Judiciary
Pierce County's superior court judges and commissioners exchanged their robes and gavels for work clothes and paintbrushes this summer, and painted a disabled Tacoma woman's residence.
Headed by Judge Stephanie Arend, the 21 judges and six commissioners held six work parties during June, July, and August at the home of Cloris Floyd. They pressure-washed and scraped the one-and-a-half-story house; then they caulked and glazed; finally, they primed and painted. Along the way they did some pruning, carpentry, sanding, insulating, electrical work, window cleaning, and general cleanup. There was 100 percent participation from all judicial officers of the Pierce County Superior Court bench, either through work at the site or through monetary donations to feed the crew. By the time they finished, they had logged more than 250 hours in volunteer time, with a total of 42 people contributing to the success of the project.
"They did a beautiful job on my property," said Mrs. Floyd, 64, who suffers from lung fibrosis and lives alone. "They are wonderful people, and I am so thankful for their help."
Mrs. Floyd and her late husband purchased the house in 1964 and reared their three children there. Her illness forced her to retire from Weyerhaeuser Co., where she was a sales assistant in the Northwest hardwoods export division. "It just broke my heart to leave," she said.
The judges were assigned the Floyd home after responding to Paint Tacoma-Pierce Beautiful's annual call for volunteers to paint homes of low-income senior and disabled citizens. Sallie Shawl, the project's coordinator, said more than 100 homes are being painted this year by crews from churches, service clubs, unions, businesses, local government and military agencies, and individuals. By the end of this summer, more than 1,375 homes will have been painted since the program started in 1985.
"We wanted to participate in this project because, as judges and commissioners, most of the public's interaction with us in court is in an unpleasant circumstance, such as a criminal proceeding or a divorce," Arend said. "We want people to know that we are members of the community, that we care about it, and that we want to contribute to its betterment."
Other judges expressed a similar sentiment. "The feeling I get in helping others is a rewarding one. It's win-win, in that you are giving something back to the community, hopefully improving your skills, and creating a closer bond with other volunteers," said Judge Beverly Grant. Commissioner Ed Haarmann agreed. "The project gives us (judges and commissioners) the opportunity to give something back to the community and prove that we are human by getting paint all over ourselves just like everybody else," Haarmann said.
"For me, meeting the homeowner, Cloris Floyd, is what made the entire project worthwhile and meaningful. It personalized it. We weren't just painting, we were helping Mrs. Floyd," expressed Judge Tom Larkin. Judge Kathryn Nelson echoed his sentiments. "I felt I was able to be helpful even though I had never painted a house before. The homeowner was so appreciative. She was thrilled as soon as we got the primer coat painted," Nelson said.
Judge Vicki Hogan assisted Arend with project coordination. "When Judge Arend suggested that the judicial officers join together in this endeavor, it felt like a terrific idea. Meeting with and working on Mrs. Floyd's home confirmed the importance of the program for individual citizens of our community. However, it was due to Judge Arend's organization, dedication to the project, and willingness to be present at all the work parties that kept us moving forward to complete the house."
The Judiciary
by Lindsay Thompson
Governor Locke appointed Allen C. Nielson to the superior court for Stevens, Ferry, and Pend Oreille counties, effective October 1, 2003. He succeeds Judge Larry Kristianson, who retired.
King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer attended a four-week course on "History and Theory of Jurisprudence" in July at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. The course focused on historic, philosophic, and sociological perspectives on judicial decision-making. Judge Shaffer, who was accepted last year by the University of Nevada as a candidate for a master's degree in judicial studies, also attended graduate classes at the National Judicial College on "comparative law" and "law and economics" during this period. The Judicial College is located on the University's Reno campus.
Judge Shaffer's attendance was supported by a scholarship awarded by the State Justice Institute, a nonprofit organization established by federal law to award grants to improve the quality of justice in state courts nationwide; facilitate better coordination between state and federal courts; and foster innovative, efficient solutions to common problems faced by all courts. See www.statejustice.org.
Chief Justice Gerry L. Alexander has been elected to the board of directors of the National Conference of Chief Justices.
The Conference of Chief Justices works to improve the administration of justice in the states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. Alexander's two-year term will conclude at the conclusion of the annual meeting in 2005.
Alexander was first elected to a seat on the Supreme Court in 1994. He joined the state's highest bench at that time with over two decades of trial and appellate court experience behind him, having served as a judge of the superior court for Thurston and Mason counties from 1973 through 1984, and as a judge of the Court of Appeals, Division II, from 1985 through 1994.
He expressed intentions to focus on several priorities through the Conference of Chief Justices: supporting adequate funding and resources for the judiciary, and promoting the vitality, independence, and effectiveness of state judicial systems.
Alexander chairs numerous committees aimed at improving court operations, including the state's Board for Judicial Administration and the Bench-Bar-Press Committee of Washington.
Northwest Indian Bar Association
The Northwest Indian Bar Association gathered August 28 at the Tulalip Tribes' Quil Ceda Village Conference Center for a meeting and celebration of NIBA's resurgence. During the past 15 months, the 12-year-old organization has seen unprecedented growth, and credits its leadership in legal education, advocacy, mentorship, and pro bono legal work with the increase. NIBA's resurgence comes in large part from the support of Washington tribes like the Tulalip, who are renowned for employing and nourishing Indian attorneys.
The rise in the number of Native American attorneys in the Northwest signals a nationally recognized trend toward greater involvement in the legal profession and more informed decision-making by Indian people. "We provide our people with a voice on the legal issues and decisions that affect the very essence of life in Indian country," said two-term NIBA President Gabriel Galanda. "I believe it is that voice that has begun attracting so many Indian people to the legal profession in Washington state and beyond."
"When NIBA was created there were only a handful of Native attorneys practicing in the Northwest, and virtually no Indian attorneys working in corporate law firms," said past-NIBA President Rion Ramirez. However, during the past 15 months, NIBA has grown its membership to more than 150 attorneys; expanded its membership to Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska; and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and (6) nonprofit organization. NIBA members now practice for high-powered national and regional law firms, state and federal governments, and on all 42 Northwest Indian reservations. Six NIBA members, four of whom are Native, practice on the Tulalip Reservation.
Additionally, NIBA raised nearly $20,000 to fund scholarships for Northwest Native law students in Washington state. The Tulalip and Muckleshoot tribes each donated $5,000 to NIBA's scholarship program to enable more Indian students to enter law school and the legal profession. NIBA has now turned its attention toward adding a requirement to the Washington bar exam regarding testing on Indian law. Currently, New Mexico is the only state to require testing on Indian law in its bar exam.
NIBA's recent achievements are of particular importance when considered against statewide and national research findings. According to Galanda, Indians are the most underrepresented ethnic demographic in the legal profession. Indian attorneys constitute just 0.7 percent of the Washington Bar. Nationally, 4.1 million people identify themselves as Native American but there are only 3,000 Native practitioners (Census 2000).
"We recognize that the rise in Native American attorneys in the Northwest is only just beginning," said Galanda. "But we are proud to be leading the charge."
Founded in 1991, NIBA is a nonprofit organization of Native and non-Native Indian law attorneys, judges, spokespersons, and students in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory. NIBA works to increase the number of Native attorneys in the Pacific Northwest through legal education and advocacy. See www.nwiba.org.
Spokane County
Dennis Cronin has opened the Law Offices of D.C. Cronin in Spokane. Steven Bertone has joined Paine Hamblen Coffin Brooke & Miller as an associate in patent and trademark law. He was previously general counsel for Seattle Scientific Corporation.
Governor Locke awarded Tom Foley the state of Washington's Medal of Merit in July. The state's highest civilian honor recognized Foley's decades of service to his state and nation. A Spokane native, Foley served in Congress from 1965 to 1995 as chair of the House Agriculture Committee, majority whip, majority leader, and speaker of the House of Representatives. He was ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2001, and now practices law in Washington, D.C.
Thurston County
Celia M. Rivera has joined the Law Offices of Terry W. Church in Olympia, concentrating on plaintiffs' personal-injury law. A fluent speaker of Spanish, Rivera sits on the board of the Washington State Hispanic Bar Association.
Stephen Henderson has been named liaison of the WSBA Board of Governors to the trustees of the Superior Court Judges' Association by President David Savage.
Whatcom County Report
by Mick Moynihan
Twice a year we set aside a time and have a very nice ceremony in which we swear in the new attorneys. This also is a time when these captive attorneys get to hear the lecture from Judge Steve Mura about practice in Whatcom County. This year there were 10 who were sworn in and (I am sure) took Judge Mura's words to heart. Of the 10, seven are expected to practice here in Whatcom County. These are Edward S. Alexander, Mark E. Bratlien, Gae MacKenzie, Eugene Keay, Judy Leaming, Amy Robinson, and Jesse M. Salomon.
We have a fair number of bikers here in Whatcom County, even some who will pedal around without any motors on their two-wheel conveyances: Jim Doran, Greg Greenan, Doug Hyldahl, Eric Richey, Eric Weight, and Travis Stearns, and Judge Matt Elich, who recently spent a few days in the hospital in Spokane as a result of not keeping his bike on the roadway. Judge George Bowden (another avid bicyclist) from Snohomish County was here recently as the result of a judge trade. Like Judge Elich, he could use a lesson or two on keeping his bike on the road.
As for the motorized brigade, Judge Dave Nichols, Judge Steve Mura, Dave Anderson, Ron Morgan, and Dave McEachran are thoroughly enjoying the recent batch of great weather. Ron Hardesty's wife recently suggested that they needed a bigger bike, and Pete Dworkin is planning a cross-country trip to Sturgis, wherever that is.
A new attorney has arrived in Bellingham, yet he does not have to worry about hourly billings, angry clients, or advertising. Father Dave Mulholland is the new pastor at Sacred Heart. He graduated from UPS law school in 1988, and practiced for 10 years in Tacoma and Alaska before entering the seminary and being ordained two years ago. I guess that raises client confidentiality to a new level.
Yakima County
Lyon, Weigand & Gustafson PS welcomes Marcus J. Fry, who was sworn in as a Washington attorney June 6, 2003. A Pullman native, Fry graduated from Washington State University. He served in the NCAA Compliance Office at Washington State University while attending law school at the University of Idaho College of Law. He will practice estate planning and litigation for the Yakima firm.
In Memoriam
Remembering our colleagues and friends
R. Wayne Cyphers
Seattle attorney for over four decades
Wayne Cyphers came to Seattle in 1939 to attend the University of Washington in pre-law. Following service in the Army in World War II, Cyphers worked swing shift at Boeing while clerking under the Law Clerk Program during the day, and was admitted to the Bar in 1952. He was in private practice in the Central Building in downtown Seattle until 1975, and then practiced in North Seattle until his retirement to Florida in 1996.
Survivors include his wife, Claire; three daughters, including Seattle attorney Jeannette (Jackie) Cyphers; three sons; five stepchildren; and many grandchildren.
Ronald Wayne Cyphers was born in Missler, Kansas, on July 25, 1915, and died on July 19, 2003, in East Point, Georgia, aged 87.
Judge Bertil E. Johnson
Tacoma native was Bar member for three quarters of a century
"I've had a very interesting life," Judge Bertil Johnson told an interviewer at age 80. His mother would have liked him to go into the ministry, but he believed that only those who felt a special calling should do so. He didn't have that. He started out studying business administration, but decided to go into law his junior year. One of four children of Swedish immigrants, Bertil Johnson grew up in Tacoma. While attending Stadium High School, Bertil worked for the Tacoma Butter Store; he worked for one year after graduating in 1919, in order to save money for college. Johnson was admitted to practice January 1,1925.
Johnson's career got off to a fast start. He was appointed assistant U.S. attorney in Tacoma in 1926. After 13 months, Johnson was appointed prosecuting attorney for Pierce County and served until 1935. From 1935 until 1951, he was in private practice in Tacoma, drawing a Scandinavian clientele attracted by his ability to speak Swedish. He was active in the Swedish Order of Valhalla and the Scandinavian Fraternity, and at one time participated in the Swedish Order of Vasa and the Scandinavian Old-Timers. Over the course of his career he was also active in the Elks, Tacoma Lions Club, Tacoma Boys Club, United Good Neighbor Fund, the Salvation Army, and the Allenmore Medical Foundation. Johnson and his wife, Pearl Tate, had three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Johnson moved to the Pierce County Superior Court bench in 1951 and served into the 1970s.
"Compassionate honesty, profound integrity, and practical good judgment with a sense of humor is a shorthand description of my Dad in his profession and in his life," recalled his son, Tacoma attorney Bertil F. Johnson. "A very decent man and a good guy to boot."
Bertil Edward Johnson was born on May 7, 1901, in Tacoma, Washington, and died January 27, 2003, aged 102.
Thomas F. Kingen
Longtime Spokane and Pullman lawyer
Tom Kingen graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law and was Pullman's city attorney until his death. He was also a trial lawyer for the city of Spokane and, over the years, worked on most of its major litigation. Kingen died suddenly on a bicycle trip in Canada, July 16, 2003. Survivors include his wife, attorney Cheryl Demers Kingen, and three children.
R.E. Mansfield
Okanogan native was fixture in civic life
A lifetime resident of Okanogan County, "Reese" Mansfield was born in Pateros on August 28, 1912. He entered the University of Washington and graduated from UW School of Law in 1935. After he married Patti Woolery in Seattle in 1935, they moved to Pateros in 1936, where he took over the law practice of the late Charles T. Borg. In 1944, Mansfield joined an Okanogan firm and practiced law there until the 1980s.
R.E. Mansfield was a longtime lay reader and member of the vestry of the former St. John's Episcopal Church in Okanogan. Active in his community, he was a lifelong Democrat, a Mason, and member of the Okanogan County Bar Association, the Okanogan Kiwanis Club, the Okanogan County Historical Society, and the Lewis & Clark Heritage Foundation.
Survivors include his brother, two daughters, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Rhesa Everett Mansfield was born in Pateros August 28, 1912, and died in Okanogan June 25, 2003, aged 90.
George Newsham
Former Seattle attorney spent a decade in Alaska
George Newsham graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1976 with a B.A., and from the University of Washington in 1978 with a J.D. He was a partner at Prince, Kelley, Newsham & Marshall in Seattle until his move to Alaska in 1992.
Newsham was a former member of the Washington, Alaska, and Ohio bar associations.
Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Cathi Newsham, and two children.
George M. Newsham was born in Nebraska, November 3, 1953, and died July 20, 2003, in an auto accident in Wasilla, Alaska, aged 49.
Gerald A. Palm
Mercer Island attorney tried over 130 cases in 36-year career
His friends said Jerry Palm never knew a stranger. He played tennis and basketball, ran, water-skied, snow-skied, scuba-dived, hiked, fished, and boated. He was a deacon in his church and led a Bible study group, served on boards and committees, and loved travel.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Palm was admitted in Washington in 1967 and spent his career as a defense trial lawyer in Seattle. Survivors include three siblings, his wife, two children, and an extended family.
Gerald Albert Palm was born in Seattle November 4, 1942, and died on Mercer Island June 22, 2003, aged 60.
Bar News has been advised of the deaths of these WSBA members:
Catherine M. Anderson, July 13, 2003
Judge Daniel Kershner, July 20, 2002
Obituaries and remembrances of WSBA members are welcome. Please forward to the editor at the WSBA office or by e-mail to tradelaw@thompson-law.com.
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