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March 2004Around the StateAround the State reports are welcome from county and specialty bar associations. There are no rules for writing them, except to mention lots of your members. We leave it up to each organization to decide who does it, and to the correspondent to decide how often. Many counties are still available. Contact the editor at tradelaw@thompson-law.com for more information. Cowlitz County Report Congratulations to Jamie Imboden and his wife, Shannon, on the arrival of their son, Noah James. Jamie is again playing for the Shamrock Softball team. Last year the team took first place in the state of Washington in the National Softball Association (the team did not have sufficient funding to participate in nationals). Jamie is also taking over the Castle Rock municipal prosecutor duties from Craig McReary, and just in time. For the first time in years, Castle Rock is about to have a jury trial. Dennis Ott is opposing counsel. The local bar presented a CLE in mid-January entitled Judges' Evidentiary Pet Peeves. It drew one of the largest turnouts to date for a local CLE (approximately 35 attendees). Superior Court Judges Steve Warning and Jim Stonier described what makes them peevish on the bench, while Judge Jill Johanson seemed peeved that Judge Jim Warme, rather than she, was lying on a sunny beach in Mexico. Defense attorney John Hays and Prosecuting Attorney Sue Baur were featured in a newspaper article reporting on overcrowded courts, while Judge Warme said, "You think the courts are overcrowded? You should see the beaches!" Dainen Penta recently left Cowlitz County Title Company and has hung up his own shingle for a general practice emphasizing bankruptcy, taxation, trusts and estates. Dainen states that he'd love to handle any of the local bar's research, writing, contract, project, and overflow work. Dainen can be found at 880 11th Avenue, Suite 103, Longview, WA 98632; phone: 360-414-9292, fax: 360-423-7170; e-mail: dnplaw@earthlink.net. The bar association is sad to announce the closing of the venerable staple of the local trial lawyer's lunch diet . . . Charlie's Restaurant. For years, Charlie's has shared a parking lot with the Cowlitz County Hall of Justice. The CWBA News will be accepting nominations for a new home for frozen cucumbers, $2 slices of cheese, and laminated menus featuring Dennis Ott. Information for the May issue must be received by March 15 at CWBAnews@hotmail.com. Judiciary Report King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Richard D. Eadie has been elected president of the National Conference of Metropolitan Courts, an independent charitable, educational, and research organization founded in 1963 by Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark. It is made up of presiding judges and court administrators of major trial courts in the nation's largest metropolitan areas, and seeks to promote the effective administration of justice. The NCMP will hold its annual conference in Seattle, September 29-October 4. Governor Gary Locke has appointed Snohomish County District Court Judge Stephen Dwyer to complete the Superior Court term of Judge Joseph Thibodeau, who has retired. Dwyer has served as a district court judge since 1994. In 2001, WSTLA named him its Judge of the Year; in 2002 he won the WSBA's Outstanding Judge Award. Seattle Municipal Court's judges have elected their executive committee for 2004: Judge Fred Bonner, presiding; Judge Ron Mamiya, acting presiding; Judge Jean Rietschel, past presiding; and Yolande Williams, court administrator. Court of Appeals Judge Karen Seinfeld has announced her retirement, effective May 1. After 12 years, Seinfeld said the demands of the job take so much time there is little time for any personal activities or interests, but that she had enjoyed the privilege of helping shape the law for future generations. Prior to joining Division II in 1992, Seinfeld was a Pierce County Superior Court judge, a Division II commissioner, a Pierce County deputy prosecutor, and an attorney for the county council. She was the first woman to serve as a commissioner in the Tacoma-based court. Kitsap County Report Kitsap County Bar Association has chosen its officers and directors for 2004. They are: president, Ione George; vice president, Ron Anderson; secretary, Jeff Jahns; treasurer, Ed Wolfe; trustees: Kathy Schultz (last year's president), Christian Franz, Greg Wall, and Alyse Collins. Pierce County Report Laura L. Weselmann is a partner in Tacoma's Harlowe & Hitt LLP firm, effective January 1, 2004. Spokane County Report Prosser native Marletta Giles-Ward has joined Kirkpatrick & Startzel, PS, a Spokane firm. She holds undergrad and law degrees from Gonzaga University, has previously worked in the Attorney General's Office and with another Spokane firm, and practices in the areas of criminal law and insurance defense. Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Report Walla Walla County Prosecuting Attorney James L. Nagle has been elected president of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. Other newly elected officers are: Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney Russell D. Hauge, vice president; Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Ronald B. Shepherd, secretary; San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney Randall K. Gaylord, treasurer. These terms began January 1, 2004. Thurston County Report TCBA's annual Christmas luncheon was held December 5, 2003, at the Olympia Golf & Country Club. For the last 10 years, under the able leadership of Frank "Santa Claus" Groundwater, TCBA members have donated money ($2,100 this time) and have volunteered time to shop for 21 needy families for Christmas. Kudos to Frank for leading us. Rob "Alan Jackson" Hill provided entertainment. Jeanne Sockle did it the hard way (by clerking for Frank Morris) congrats to Jeanne for passing the summer bar exam and becoming one of the new TCBA rookies. She will join Frank in his practice. Other new Thurston County lawyers include Dario de la Rosa, Steven N. Driggers, Alicia A. Kinney, Jamie I. Richardson, Justice Joy R. Rillera, Thaddeus D. Sikes, Joshua D. Sundt, Michael J. Urbaitis, and Annette Mikow. Each was introduced to Judge Daniel J. Berschauer by TCBA president Cecelia Clynch at a swearing-in ceremony. The Morgan Hill Annual Christmas Bash took place December 19 at the Jacob Schmidt Mansion. As usual, it was a smashing success, with no significant injuries or arrests. Whatcom County Report Old lawyers never die. They go to work for Jake Smith. At this time, Lynn Seelye, an old classmate of Jake's, and Bob Burks, who is just plain old, are practicing in Lynden. Actually, Bob Burks said that he will keep practicing until Washington State beats Washington in the Apple Cup. He won't be retiring anytime soon. Karen Funston and Phil Buri have set up practice in Richard Kimberly's former office. After changing the ownership and dιcor, they hope to hire a secretary. Their practice will be generally business related. And, continuing the exodus from the Bellingham mega-firms (a mega-firm in Bellingham is an office with more than four lawyers), Jennifer Willner will be doing labor and employment law in the Crown Plaza, and Heather Wolf expects to make a living with Brownlie & Evans in the Bellingham Towers. Gene Moses, after many years at the Crown Plaza, has located just above Sheenan's Irish Pub for convenience. Sharing space with Gene is Hugh Lewis, who is recovering nicely from surgery. And Leon Henley was commenting how large his house seemed and how quiet it was now that the last of his kids had gone off to seek fame and fortune. Judge Theresa Pouley of the Lummi Tribal Court is now well situated in the new Tribal Courthouse, complete with two brand-new courtrooms and sufficient office space for the entire staff, including the Drug Court. I have seen Drew Pettus and Bill Johnston regularly at Gold's Gym. They are both staying in shape and following a planned regimen. On the other hand, Matt Peach thinks that all he needs to do to stay in shape is keep paying his monthly dues.
L. Pauline Corthell Pauline Corthell was born March 25, 1934, and died December 19, 2003, aged 69. Charles B. Jackson Charles died of complications following heart surgery January 7 in Seattle. In Friday Harbor, Judge Stewart Andrew announced his death from the bench. The news shocked his friends in the tight-knit community; the surgery had been expected to be routine. At one time or another, Charles served on the San Juan County Commission; was president of the San Juan County Bar Association; and served as counsel to the Port of Friday Harbor. Port Director Steve Simpson told The San Juan Journal that Jackson, with whom he lunched once a month, "was always kind of like the English professor very meticulous. When I'd send him an ordinance to review I felt like I was submitting a paper. It would come back with everything but the grade, full of red marks. But I appreciated his style and caution. He taught me to read contracts line by line, which I don't like doing." His colleague John Linde called Charles "a gentle person" who was "as honest as the day is long." One story friends tell is that when his and neighboring lawyer Tony Vivenzio's home were among those vandalized by some teenagers, Jackson and Vivenzio represented them and helped them make amends to their victims. I met Charles when he joined the WSBA's Editorial Advisory Board in the mid-90s. He brought his professional skills to bear on Bar News immediately. His service was so exceptional he was appointed chair of the board in 1994 and 1995. He had a quiet, unruffled demeanor that was enormously valuable during long stretches when Bar News had few allies and someone WSBA administration, senior staff, or Board of Governors members was always circling the magazine looking to get control of it. We talked frequently after he left the EAB and, later, when I left Bar News. We talked about cases we were handling, and the joys of research mastering the sixth sense of finding the case not digested in the obvious place, and savoring the juggling of facts and law to make a creative legal argument. But above all we loved talking about Bar News, writing, and editing. Last fall I thought I had just about talked him into writing the Around the State Report for San Juan County. He said he had some things to get done first. I guess his operation was one of them. I will miss him. I hope one of his friends in the local bar will pick up the county report in his memory. He was a Bar News man to his toes. His high-school sweetheart and wife, Phyllis; five daughters; and a number of grandchildren survive Charles Jackson. He was 67 years old. John P. Mucklestone John was a WSBA member for over 50 years. Most of that time he practiced in what he called a "mom and pop" operation with his wife, Patricia Mucklestone. Fresh out of law school, I practiced with them for a few years. I learned a lot about the practice of law and a lot about John. John loved being a lawyer. His clients didn't just have a cause of action; they had a cause, which John would fight for to the best of his ability. I remember one particular client whose case went on for years. It seemed John made a weekly trek from Seattle to Bellingham for the Whatcom County motions calendar every Friday for this client. The case went from Superior Court to the Court of Appeals and back to both again. At one point the client gave John a gold pen engraved, "Never Say Die." It ended up the only fee the client paid, but John took solace and pride in a job well done, and never felt cheated. He also loved trying a case. He loved the drama of examination and cross-examination, the theatrics of trial. He would try a case any chance he had. Once he agreed to help out a fellow lawyer defending a client who had once been sued by Chevron in federal district court. The other attorney failed to do any discovery, and the discovery deadline passed. He came to John two weeks before trial. A large and well-prepared firm, of course, represented Chevron. Armed with only what his client gave him, John tried the case for a week and won. The verdict was upheld on appeal. John taught me a lot of practical things about the law. He taught me to treat all the people at the courthouse respectfully. I learned professional courtesy is a two-way street. Excusing or extending a deadline for another attorney is a favor you will need to ask in the future. I learned to listen to the judge during oral argument and if it seemed to be going my way, to just shut up and sit down. In a close case, I learned that if the judge rules in your favor on a motion and the other side keeps arguing, thank the judge and leave the courtroom ASAP before the judge's mind changes. These are just a few of my memories of my friend John. He is survived by his wife, Patricia a lawyer and four children, three of whom are lawyers: Johnny, Jeannie, and Jimmy. I want to thank them for having shared their father with me. They, and the Bar, have suffered a great loss. *Mr. Mucklestone's obituary appeared last month in Bar News; this remembrance was provided later by a friend of Mr. Mucklestone's. Also, because of incomplete information, Bar News failed to mention all of Mr. Mucklestone's children in last month's obituary. They are correctly identified above. Walter J. Robinson Jr. Robinson had a hand in every civic arena in Yakima at one time or another, and the city council honored him on his 90th birthday for his long service. He and his wife, Kay, adored travel and managed to visit six continents. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Kathryn Boston Robinson; three children; six grandchildren; a brother; and two sisters. Walter Jesse Robinson Jr. was born in Pomeroy May 15, 1911, and died in Yakima December 2, 2003, aged 92. Michael J. Welch His wife, Pam, and his three children, Amy, Katie, and Michael, survive Mike. He is also survived by his parents, John and Bernice Welch; his siblings, Pat, Mary Mastro, Marty, Terry, Tim, Dick, and Tom; his stepsons, Kelly, Kyle, and Justin Bland; and his granddaughter, Taylor Bland. Also surviving him are numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Mike was born on July 24, 1945, in Seattle, to Irish-Catholic parents. He was the first of eight children, seven boys and one girl. He attended St. Therese Grade School, O'Dea High School (1963), Seattle University (Magna Cum Laude, 1967), and the University of Washington School of Law (1970). He went to work as an assistant attorney general for Slade Gorton in 1971, handling workers' compensation cases for the Department of Labor and Industries. He provided advice to the department, tried cases before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, and also handled appeals in almost every superior court in the state. In 1976, he entered private practice in Tacoma. In 1978, he associated with Dave Condon, and founded Welch & Condon, where he would practice for the next 25 years, emphasizing workers' compensation, social security disability, and personal-injury cases. Mike was also very active in WSTLA, serving as chair of its Workers' Comp Section; he sat on the WSTLA Board of Governors for many years; he was the WSTLA vice president legislative, a founding Eagle member, and a contributor to the WSTLA Amicus Foundation. He dedicated many years of service to LAWPAC and FORUM. In recognition of Mike's work on behalf of injured workers, and in light of the significant effort necessary from those involved in the system to work toward changes, legislative and otherwise, to better the plight of the injured worker, WSTLA has announced the creation of a new award named after Mike to be awarded to those persons who exhibit that level of extraordinary energy, effort, and commitment, long epitomized by Mike, in helping to protect and improve the workers' compensation system for injured workers. Mike was, above all, a good and decent person who loved people and valued relationships. He was a caring son, a role model for his younger brothers and sister, an involved and focused dad, a quality lawyer dedicated to the welfare of his clients, and a generous and loyal friend. He touched many during his life who will always remember his strong character and integrity, his infectious sense of humor, and his gregarious laugh. Mike will be missed by many of us. His memory will be within us forever. Alton S. White Jr. Survivors include his wife, two children, one grandchild, and one great-grandchild; and his wife's five children and grandchildren. Alton Sanford White Jr. died in Renton September 14, 2003, aged 76. Bar News has also been advised of the deaths of these WSBA members: Judge Thomas J. Majhan, Jefferson County Superior Court, Port Townsend, admitted May 13, 1977, died January 18, 2004. Jacqueline Newcomb, Spokane, admitted November 20, 1990, died January 1, 2004. Theadore E. Ripley Jr., Port Angeles, admitted March 6, 1967, died January 9, 2004. De'Wayne Taylor, Bremerton, admitted June 19, 2000, died December 31, 2003. ___________________ 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. |
