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MONROE COUNTY BRIEF
Published for the Monroe County Bar Association
Third Quarter 2014
Volume 19 Issue 3
Issue 3
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Monroe County Bar Association, 913 Main Street,
www.monroebar.org [email protected] 570.424.7288
President’s Message
Lori J. Cerato, MCBA President
As summer comes to a close, I’m pleased to report that the restoration of the porch at 913
Main St. is complete. Those of you who attended our member meetings and social hour on July 30
and September 8 enjoyed an up-close look while enjoying adult refreshments and hors d’oeuvres
catered by Kirkridge. Both events allowed members to socialize with a guest compliments of the
Association and were a huge success! Before the garden goes to sleep for the winter, we hope to
plant bulbs for a spring display!
Let me also report on the second goal of my Presidency – strategic planning. At the time I’m
writing this article, the strategic plan is complete and out for review by members of the Strategic
Planning Group and next will be considered by Executive Board. The final plan will be unveiled to
members at our Bench Bar Conference scheduled for October 16, 2014 at the Shawnee Inn. The
process of developing the plan was made worthwhile thanks to the efforts of the strategic planning
group, Denise Burdge and Ellen Freedman, as well as all of our members who took the time to
respond to the member survey. An essential part of the process, the survey results informed the
goals and objectives set forth in the plan.
Finally, a third goal was to create a historic archive of our Association prompted by plans for
our Centennial Celebration in 2015. David Brodsky has agreed to stay on part-time now that he has
resumed his studies for a Master’s Degree in History at East Stroudsburg University. David’s research was key to providing a
biography for A. Mitchell Palmer for this year’s dinner at the Elks Lodge. He has uncovered and organized useful and arcane pieces
of history – enthusiastically! And he has my sincere appreciation.
Veranda Restored
One of the issues
found underneath the
old deck floor
In spite of old tires used as fill, beams that were just
set in the pillars and housed little crawly things, the
Building Committee was committed to completing the
first major renovation since the second floor was
completed.
The traditional paint scheme, ferns hanging and the
beautiful flowerbeds takes you back to a more
peaceful time.
Now,
beautiful
and safe!
Our neighbors and guests enjoyed watching the
progression. If you haven’t seen the new veranda,
please stop by.
MCBA Members in the News
Malcolm MacGregor becomes President of PAJ
Kelly Lombardo joins Lori Cerato’s office
Syzane Arifaj leaves PD’s Office
Shamira Cooper joins Kash & Fedrigon
Andrew Kroeckel opens new firm
Law Clerks come, and Law Clerks Go
MCBA Members in the News continued on page 4
Monroe County Brief
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MCBA
YLD
Division
YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION
News from the YLD
Giving Back
The YLD continues to find ways to give back to our community, inspiring others to do so as well.
On August 16, 2014, Brian Jordan, representing the YLD members, delivered almost $500 worth
of school supplies for Head Start, Pocono Services for Families and Children. Donations came
from MCBA members, including YLD members, as well as MCBA staff. The Head Start “Stuff the
Bus” campaign is held annually at Staples in Bartonsville. Thank you to all those who donated!
You made the drive a success for the YLD and more importantly, Head Start.
Brian C. Jordan
President
Kathleen Walters
Vice President
Syzane Arifaj
Treasurer
Deborah Huffman
Secretary
Networking
th
Bowling with the Judges was held on Saturday, June 7 at Skylanes in East Stroudsburg. Many
of the local judges, MDJs and YLD members with their families took some time away from their
busy schedules and just had some good old fashion fun, bowling, eating and getting to know each
other outside the courtroom.
Don’t forget to watch for Friday night Happy Hours. These are open to all members, not just YLD.
Everyone can join in and the fun for a relaxing, informal hour of good company and fun.
On the left, Tim Lee Executive
Director of PSFC, Brian Jordan, YLD
President and Molly Jordan, expert
shopper and daughter of Brian
Monroe County Bar Foundation
William J. Reaser, Jr., MCBF Chairman
On behalf of the Trustees of the Monroe County Bar
Foundation, I am excited to announce Tom Casale has
joined the Foundation Board. As many of you know,
Tom is a Past President of MCBA and Past President of
Conference of County Bar Leaders (CCBL). He has been
an active member of MCBA since joining the Bar
Association in 1991. We welcome him and look forward
to working together on our many projects.
Join us as we celebrate the coming of fall as we host
Oktoberfest 2014. This year we’ve ramped it up a bit
with more German style food, more raffle prizes and,
and well more fun! (hot raffle prizes include Eagles and
Flyers tickets donated by Chicago Title Insurance
Company) Nestled under the beautiful Camelback
Mountain, the event will be held at Barley Creek
Brewery on Saturday, October 11, 2014 from 5:00 to
8:00 pm. With the full financial support of MCBA, again
this year all proceeds will go to charity. Beneficiaries
are the local public libraries children’s programs. Price
includes three drinks of Barley Creek beer, Mountain
View wine or soda and food for all three hours! Tickets
are $90 a couple and $50 for YLD couples. Tickets may
be purchased from any Trustee or at the MCBA building.
The evening promises lots of fun! Hope to see you all
there!
Bill Reaser
On the right, Denise Burdge,
MCBA/Ed, Dorothy Bordon,
PSFC, Chuck Seese, SBG Radio
Personality, Molly Jordan and
Brian Jordan.
Monroe County Bar Foundation
Board of Trustees
2014
William J. Reaser
Chairman
Elizabeth Bensinger Weekes
Treasurer
Thomas V. Casale
Trustee
Tom Dirvonas
Trustee
Diane Dagger
Trustee
Denise Murray
Trustee
Victoria Strunk
Trustee
Denise M. Burdge
Executive Director
Monroe County Brief
Social Hours on the Veranda
Members and guests enjoying our beautiful historic veranda!
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Page 4
Monroe County Brief
32nd “Race Judicata”
Donates Proceeds to
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge
From left to right: Commissioner Suzanne McCool, BBBS Board Member, Attorney Dan Coveleyn, Race
Committee Member, Jenna Sargent, BBBS Caseworker, Chief William Parrish, BBBS Board Member, Erica
Venlander, BBBS Board Member, Attorney Ed Krawitz, Law Day Race Chair, Attorney Steve Krawitz, Race
Committee Member and Attorney Elizabeth Field, Race Committee Member.
Monroe County Brief
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New Pennsylvania CLE Rules for 2015
By Mark A. Kearney, President, PA Bar Institute
The April and August compliance deadlines for CLE credits have passed and attorneys with those deadlines may have put
their CLE requirement out of mind for another year. Recent changes to the CLE Rules make that a bad strategy.
In January, the Supreme Court made these two changes:
•
•
Attorneys are now required to have at least two (2) ethics credits every year;
Attorneys have permission to use up to six (6) distance education credits to satisfy the annual 12 credit
requirement.
Both changes became effective for CLE compliance periods beginning May 1, 2014, which means that the increased ethics
requirement will be enforced for compliance periods ending on April 30, 2015.
Beware! After 20 years of satisfying the requirement with one (1) ethics credit, it will be easy for attorneys to find
themselves out of compliance with the ethics credit responsibility next April and through the remainder of 2015. The full
CLE requirement of 12 credits annually has not changed, only the minimum number of ethics credits as part of those 12
credits.
Many CLE courses include one hour of ethics training related to that field of practice. PBI offers a group of one hour ethics
courses near the end of each compliance period under the title Ethics Potpourri. Keep the new rule in mind to avoid getting
an unpleasant reminder and possible fine after your 2015 deadline.
The distance education changes offer 24/7 convenience in meeting the CLE requirement, but there is a nuance in that
change, too. “Distance education” credits, as defined by the CLE Rules, do not, like other credits, carry over to subsequent
years. For example, an attorney who viewed 6 hours of CLE from PBI’s Online Campus before her deadline in 2014 will not
be able to count 2 of those credits toward either her 2014 or 2015 requirement.
PBI simulcasts to bar associations and other facilities around the Commonwealth are not subject to this “cap” on distance
education credits. They combine the convenience of local programming with quality instruction by statewide experts. Time
spent in these outstanding seminars will help satisfy your full 12 credit requirement and can be carried forward to two
future years.
Live webcasts, viewed on an attorney’s own computer at his office or home, on the other hand, are subject to the six credit
cap. CLE “bundles” available from some national online providers may offer so many credits that will not be available to
satisfy the Pennsylvania CLE requirement.
PBI offers in-person training, simulcasts delivered to local communities statewide, practical course manuals, PBI Press
publications, webcasts, podcasts and the 24/7 convenience of our Online Campus, all focused on the substantive needs of
Pennsylvania practitioners. For 50 years, PBI has provided the practical training to help you become a better lawyer
throughout your career.
Meet Ashley Narwid, MCBA’s new Event Coordinator
In July, MCBA welcomed Ashley Narwid. Ms Narwid is a 2013 graduate of Shippensburg University
where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Communication Studies.
Ashley will coordinate the many events of the Association, including social, educational, and
fundraising /community service. In addition, she will manage the MCBA calendar, including
conference room reservations for both members and non-members. Ashley will be the internal lead
for the Find a Lawyer program and the membership database.
You can reach Ashley at [email protected] or by calling the office, 570.424.7288.
Please join the Board of Directors in welcoming Ashley Narwid to the MCBA family.
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Upcoming PBI Schedule at the Bar Center – Live-feed Group-casts & Video Replays
For more details or to register for any PBI seminar, go to www.pbi.org
Courses are subject to cancellation by PBI if a minimum number of attendees do not
pre-register.
Please go to the MCBA calendar to confirm seminar. www.monroebar.org
Canceled - PBI - The Most Frequently Encountered Landlord Tenant Issues - Video
Date and Time:
10/2/14 9:00 AM - 01:30 PM
Canceled - PBI - Trying a Case in State Court - Video
Date and Time:
10/7/14 9:00 AM - 05:00 PM
PBI - A Day on Health Law
Date and Time:
10/9/14 8:30 AM - 1 03:40 PM
PBI - Law and Policy after the Midterm Election
Date and Time:
10/10/14 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM
PBI - Succession Planning for Family and Closely Held Businesses
Date and Time:
10/14/14 9:00 AM - 04:30 PM
PBI - Ethical Issues in Federal Tax Representation: Serving Your Clients While Protecting Yourself
Date and Time:
10/21/14 12:30 PM - 02:30 PM
PBI - Diversity Summit 2014
Date and Time:
10/23/14 8:45 AM - 05:00 PM
PBI - Business Law & Ethics (PEG)
Date and Time:
10/24/14 8:30 AM - 03:30 PM
PBI - The Intersection of Legal &Mental Health Issues in Custody Cases
Date and Time:
10/27/14 9:00 AM - 04:30 PM
PBI - 18th Annual Family Law Update - Groupcast
Date and Time:
10/29/14 8:30 AM - 12:45 PM
PBI - 21st Annual Auto Law Update
Date and Time:
10/31/14 12:15 PM - 04:30 PM
PBI - Litigating Condominium & HOA Cases
Date and Time:
11/3/14 12:00 PM - 04:15 PM
PBI - Cybersecurity Law 101 - Video
Date and Time:
11/4/14 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
PBI UPCOMING COURSES continued on Page 7
Page 7
Monroe County Brief
Continued from Page 6
Please go to the MCBA calendar to confirm seminar. www.monroebar.org
PBI - Election Law 101
Date and Time:
11/7/14 9:00 AM - 01:15 PM
PBI - Elder Law Update
Date and Time:
11/10/14 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM
PBI - Nuts & Bolts of Adoption Practice in Pennsylvania
Date and Time:
11/12/14 9:00 AM - 01:30 PM
PBI - Third Annual Supreme Court Roundup - Video
Date and Time:
11/18/14 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
PBI - Estate Planning for Middle Market Client - Video
Date and Time:
11/26/14 9:00 AM - 01:30 PM
PBI - Thorny Issues in PA Landlord Tenant Law
Date and Time:
12/1/14 9:00 AM - 01:15 PM
PBI - Medical Malpractice Update
Date and Time:
12/2/14 12:00 PM - 04:15 PM
PBI - Private Eyes are Watching You: Privacy in the Workplace - Video
Date and Time:
12/5/14 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
PBI - General Practitioners' Update - Video
Date and Time:
12/9/14 9:00 AM - 05:00 PM
PBI - Uncovering Digital Evidence: Mobile Device Forensics - Video
Date and Time:
12/10/14 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
PBI - An Old, Dead Poet's Take on Justice, Mercy, and Getting Mine: A Lawyer's Life and "The Merchant of Venice" - Video
Date and Time:
12/12/14 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
PBI - Sell Yourself Ethically: Walk-through Website Design for Law Firms
Date and Time:
12/16/14 1:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Website Update
In April MCBA launched a new website with a sleeker more modern design. The format changed a bit, and the colors more
professional than our old site. As we continue to improve the new site, we will add more information for both the membership
and the public.
There have been a few changes already. Members now manage their own membership information allowing the public and
peers to always have the most up to date information. If you haven’t signed on and updated your information, we suggest you
do so.
One of the other major changes is the direct links to the Monroe County Courthouse website site, www.monroepacourts.us .
MCBA will link, whenever possible, to rules, forms and calendars included on the courthouse website. This again allows you
access to the most current information.
The Website/IT Committee has made several suggestions, which you will see over the next several weeks. Changes include
drop-down menus under each main menu category, clarification on “Find a Lawyer” vs Member Directory and a much easier to
locate “News and Photos” location to name a few. If you have questions or suggestions about the website, please email Denise
Burdge at [email protected] .
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Members
In the News and New Members
In the News
New Members
Malcolm MacGregor Elected State Trial Lawyers
President
Daniel E. Cummins, Esquire
Foley, Comerford & Cummins
507 Linden Street, Suite 700
Scranton, PA 18530
570.346.0745
Attorney MacGregor, a trail attorney and founding
partner of the law firm of McDonald & Macgregor, LLC
has been elected the 46th President of the Pennsylvania
Association for Justice. PAJ is the largest trial lawyer
association in the state with over 2,200 members.
MacGregor is President of the Lackawanna Bar
Association and a member of MCBA. His involvement in
the legal profession includes both local and state
positions including former Chair of the PBA’s Civil
Litigation Council.
Kelly L Lombardo joins Lori J Cerato
Attorney Kelly Lombardo has joined the office of Lori J
Cerato has a part-time associate. Lombardo will
concentrate on Elder Law in the private practice while
maintaining a part-time position in the District
Attorney’s office, where she has been since 2011.
Suzanne Estrella, Esquire
Effort, PA
Vern S. Lazaroff, Esquire
123 Blueberry Dr.
Milford, PA 18337
570.686.2824
Marc B. Shipon
RUch & shipon, PC
710 East Johnson Hwy
Norristown, PA 19401
610.277.4400
Syzane Arifaj moves to Northampton County
Law Clerks Arrive
Attorney Syzane Arifaj has left the Monroe County
Public Defender’s Office to join the Northampton’s
Public Defenders Office. Arifaj will also be opening
her own firm over the next weeks, primarily working in
the area of family law. Attorney Arifaj is the 2014 YLD
Treasurer.
Rachel Awan
The Hon. Arthur L. Zulick
Shamira Cooper joins Kash & Fedrigon
After interning for several years with Kash & Fedrigon,
Shamira Cooper joins the firm as their newest
associate. Attorney Cooper was most recently law
clerk to the Honorable Jonathan Mark before joining
the firm. Cooper will focus her time on family law,
including divorce, custody, and support.
Former Law Clerk Andrew Kroeckel in Private
Practice
Attorney Kroeckel opened his office in Bethlehem this
September. Kroeckel will work with individuals and
families needing services in family law, unemployment
law and landlord/tenant issues. Attorney Kroeckel was
most recently law clerk to the Honorable Jonathan
Mark.
Jami Bustamante
The Hon. Jennifer Harlacher Sibum
Ryan Campbell
The Hon. Margherita Patti Worthington
Lauren Cheever
The Hon. David J. Williamson
Eric Derr
The Hon. Jennifer Harlacher Sibum
Tia Dinh
The Hon. Jonathan Mark
Joseph Garbarino
The Hon. Jonathan Mark
James Sensor
The Hon. Margherita Patti Worthington
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YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
2014 Monroe County Bar Association
Officers and Directors
Lori J. Cerato
Todd W. Weitzmann
Jeffrey A. Durney
Timothy J. McManus
Jane Maughan
Mark Primrose
Elizabeth Bensinger Weekes
Brian C. Jordan
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Past President
Member at Large
Member at Large
Member at Large YLD
President
Estate Lawyers Lunch – 1st Wednesday
Real Estate Attorneys Lunch – 2nd Tuesday
Municipal Law Lunch – 3rd Tuesday
Willowtree Inn, Noon - 1:00 pm
Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Lunch – 4th
Tuesday
Sarah’s Cafe
Remember to notify the MCBA office if you have
any changes to your membership by emailing
info2@monroebar
Up-to-date member information is available on the
MCBA website: www.monroebar.org
FOR UP-TO-DATE MCBA NEWS
and
COURTHOUSE NEWS
GO TO
MCBA Legal Links Page
Save the Date
Bench Bar Conference – Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort
Member Meeting and CLE Luncheon – Friday, November 14, 2104 at Terraview, Stroudsmoor
Swearing in Ceremony - Friday, December 19, 2014
Holiday Open House - Friday, December 19, 2014
Monroe County Bar Association Holiday Schedule
Columbus Day, Monday October 13, 2014 – MCBA Office closed
Thanksgiving Holiday, Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28, 2014 – MCBA Office closed
Christmas Holiday, Wednesday, December 24, 2014
MCBA Office closes at 1:00 pm
Christmas Holiday, Thursday, December 25, 2014
MCBA Office closed
New Year’s Holiday, Wednesday, December 31, 2014
MCBA Office closes at 1:00 pm
New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, 2015
MCBA Office closed
MCBA Staff
Denise M. Burdge, Executive Director [email protected]
Mirtha Quintana, Journal Coordinator [email protected]
Ashley Narwid, Events Coordinator [email protected]