December 1999

Changing Venues

What Do the WSBA, Garry Trudeau and George W. Bush Have in Common?

The Yale newspaper’s exposé of George W. Bush’s fraternity rituals, involving the alleged branding of the backsides of pledges, was reported by none other than WSBA member Hugh Spitzer. At the time (1967), publication of the story propelled Spitzer to the paper’s managing editor position. And the student cartoonist who caricatured the fraternity rituals then and more recently? Garry Trudeau, of course.

Two New Law Schools in One Weekend

Both Seattle University and Gonzaga University recently dedicated new law schools in the same October weekend. Festivities at both schools included official dedication ceremonies and distinquished alumni speakers.

Honors and Awards

Kim Dunn and William Stewart have been appointed Washington state’s newest Administrative Law Judges for the Office of Administrative Hearings. Both will be based in Spokane, where Dunn will conduct hearings and decide cases primarily involving unemployment benefits, and Stewart will hear cases primarily involving public assistance and child support issues.

Pamela A. Cairns and Theodore J. Collins were recently elected Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. The Fellows is an honorary organization of practicing attorneys, judges and law teachers whose professional, public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities.

The Spokane Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers has elected its 1999-2000 Board: President Jody M. McCormick, Vice President Patricia Walker, Secretary Kathleen Paukert, Treasurer Margot Hamstra-Havermann. First Past President Rosanna Peterson has been elected President-elect of the state chapter of Washington Women Lawyers.

Robert C. Mussehl of Mussehl & Rosenberg was recently elected Vice-chair of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section.

Movers and Shakers

J. Todd Tracy has joined Reed McClure’s Seattle office as a principal in the bankruptcy practice group.

The law office of Paine Hamblen in Spokane has added Robert H. Leeds, Jr. as Of Counsel and Michael T. Olsen and A. Stephen Waldrip as associates. Leeds practices in the areas of real estate, probate, guardianship, personal injury, domestic relations, and small business formation and representation. Olsen’s practice will emphasize intellectual property matters, including patent litigation, copyright, trademark, trade secret and unfair competition law. Waldrip’s practice will focus on corporate taxation, mergers and acquisitions, and estate planning.

Ada Ko has joined the Seattle office of Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP as Counsel to the Firm. She concentrates her practice in international business and taxation, and state and local taxation. Gabriel Baker, who practices in the insurance litigation area, has joined the firm as an associate.

Terry F. Berman and Kevin B. Hansen are new associates in the Seattle office of Miller Nash LLP. Berman’s practice concentrates on transactions and federal and state regulatory matters relating to telecommunications and Internet law. Hansen practices in the labor department.

Gordon Murray Tilden in Seattle has welcomed Maura Scott Blank and Christie L. Snyder as associates. Blank will continue her practice in a broad range of complex civil litigation. Snyder maintains a broad-based civil litgation practice, which includes representation of policy-holders in insurance coverage disputes.

In Memoriam

Harold C. Fosso, partner at Julin Fosso McBride & Barnett, and molder of Washington state’s auto insurance statutes, passed away October 12, 1999 at the age of 72.

George Henry Revelle, Jr., former King County Superior Court Judge, passed away in August. A 1936 graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, he was on the Superior Court bench for 28 years and performed numerous leadership roles in the judiciary, including President-Judge of the Association of Superior Court Judges of Washington State, Chairman of the National Conference of State Trial Judges, and member of the American Bar Association Special Committee on Standards of Judicial Conduct. Judge Revelle served for over 30 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a Colonel of Infantry.

Charles Sheldon, Washington State University professor and state Supreme Court expert, passed away in September 1999.

Roland "Wightie" Wightman, a Spokane attorney and life-long advocate for the disabled, passed away September 10, 1999 at the age of 78. He served on the Spokane County Developmental Disabilities Board.

David Woolston, of the Seattle law firm of Woolston & Wheeler, passed away September 28, 1999 at the age of 37. He had a great love for the outdoors, and a passion for skiing, soccer, biking, hiking and fly fishing. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, determination, love of adventure, and loyalty to his friends and family.

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