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A MCBA PUBLICATION FOURTH QUARTER Volume 24 Issue 1 Changing of the Guard!
A MCBA PUBLICATIONFOURTH QUARTERVolume 24 Issue 1
Changing of the Guard!
Cover Photo: Mark Primrose accepts his Past
President plaque from Elizabeth Weekes
Monroe County Bar Association 913 Main Street, Stroudsburg PA [email protected] 570.424.7288
Mission Statement
The mission of the Monroe County Bar Association is to maintain the honor and dignity of the pro-fession of law, to cultivate social interaction among its members and to increase its usefulness in the administration of justice.
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President’sMessage
As I draft my first article as your 2019 President memories of many of our past presidents, including my Dad, Alex “Buzz” Bensinger come to mind. All the men and women who have contributed so much of their time and talent is a history we can all be proud of. I hope that I can come close to living up to many of these legends!
Congratulations to Mark Primrose for a very successful year. Several new programs were launched or revamped. Remember these programs are here to assist you with your practice of law. Our Mentor Program, Alternative Dispute Resolution Program and Lawyer to Lawyer Networking are benefits available to assist you and your clients.
We say “thank you” to Tim McManus as he takes on the new role of Member. Tim gave so much of his time and talent to the Board and his absence will be missed by those of us who remain on the Board. Joining us on the Board is Don Gual, YLD President. Don has been active in the Bar Association long before he was a member. We are looking forward to tapping the energy and talent he brings.
Between this year and next our community will continue to see a decrease in mortgage foreclosures for both residen-tial homes and time-share units. This is a positive move for our community. Naturally though, this will affect the cash flow of our organization. The Investment Committee has been planning for this day since the housing market deteriorated and they watch over our reserves and contin-ue to squirrel money away for that proverbial rainy day. I bring this up because it is survey time again and I strongly encourage you as members of the Monroe County Bar Association to take the ten minutes to carefully answer the detailed questions that will be presented to you. Your input will help guide us to our future.
If you didn’t notice, we had a very busy first quarter! Judge Mark and Hillary Madden teamed up and gathered up a large group of volunteers as we hosted both the district and the regional mock trials. The competitions were incredible with Pocono Mountain East taking districts. They then went head to head with Holy Cross from Dunmore where,
just barely, Holy Cross came out the victor. Thank you to all the volunteers who supported us and made the competi-tions an event to be proud of.
I was excited to present Mark with the traditional gavel plaque and officially take the reins at our first member meeting. The meeting included a presentation by Brian Quinn of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. We’ve all heard similar stories of drug and alcoholism, but there was just something about his that really touched me. I hope we all remember the resource we have in LCL.
It hasn’t been all work for the members however. The annual St. Patrick’s Day party at the Bar Center was a huge success. Members and their families gathered together bringing lots of delicious food to share and just having a wonderful day enjoying the parade. It’s a tradition we hope to continue for years to come.
Mark your calendars for now for three major events. The 37th Annual Law Day Race Judicata in memory of Ed Krawitz will run on Sunday, April 28th with all proceeds benefiting the Valor Clinic Foundation. Equally important, the Law Day Ceremony is on Thursday, May 16th where Kenneth Gustafson will be honored as our 2019 Liberty Bell Award winner! Student creativity contest winners will also be recognized. Then Toy Story rolls into Stroudsburg as a cast of characters head to court. Participation and atten-dance at all strongly recommended!
As I close, I encourage you to join committees, attend MCBA developed CLE programs, signup for PBIs held at the Bar Center and attend our many events. Come learn, enjoy the company of your peers and take advantage of what MCBA has to offer. Together let’s make 2019 an awe-some MCBA year!
Elizabeth Bensinger Weekes
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Monroe County Bar Association Officer and Directors - 2019
Elizabeth Bensinger Weekes, Esquire
President
Brian C. Jordan, Esquire Vice President
Hillary A. Madden, Esquire
Secretary
Deborah L. Huffman, Esquire Treasurer
Mark A. Primrose, Esquire
Immediate Past President
Vincent Rubino, Esquire Member at Large
David Marra, Esquire
Member at Large
Don Gual, Esquire Member at Large/YLD President
Monroe County Bar Foundation Board of Trustees - 2019
William J. Reaser, Jr., Esquire Chairman
Thomas V. Casale, Esquire
Vice Chairman
Victoria A. Strunk, Esquire Secretary
Diane L. Dagger, Esquire
Treasurer
Christopher Brown, Esquire Trustee
Matthew Field, CRPC
Trustee
Hillary A. Madden Trustee
Young Lawyers Division Officers and Board - 2019
Don Gual, Esquire
President
Jessica Jones, Esquire Vice President
Noelle Wilkinson, Esquire
Secretary
Kaitlin Fulmer, EsquireTreasurer
David Marra, Esquire
Member at Large
Chynna R. Beisel, Esquire Member at Large
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YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION NEWS
February Trivia Contest Winners: Victoria Strunk, Noelle Wilkinson,
& James Fuller & with mascot Nicholas
January 1st welcomed new YLD board members. The Board has creat-ed three committees lead by the board members. Covering the social aspect is Jessica Jones and Kaitlin Fulmer. Jones and Fulmer will develop or assist with events such as the Member Mixers, Rafting on the Delaware, and the NYC bus trip. Chynna Beisel and Noelle Wilkinson will spearhead education. They have two main focus area. One will be to select the mentors and en-courage attendance at the YLD mentor lunches. The second is to orga-nize a CLE event for the general members of MCBA. Community service will be led by Don Gual and Dave Marra. Service projects include the annual Wills for Heroes day, presenting the Stepping Out Program to local high school students and participating in commu-nity events such as Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kid’s Sake. We look forward to a very successful 2019 and working with all the MCBA members, both longstanding and YLD!
This year will mark our fifth year since MCBA and MCBF worked together to create the MOU taking the MCBF to be a more powerful giving entity in our community. Together, representing MCBA and our members, we have contributed to charitable organizations through grants and sponsorship plus awarded numerous scholarship to students seeking to continue their education to an amount in excess of $360,000. This is only since 2015 and doesn’t include what we hope to distribute this year. Grant applications for 2019 have been mailed to local non-profit agencies. Scholarship applications have been sent to the public schools. With this years support from MCBA and the members we hope to break the $500,000 mark. With your continued support, we may just make it!
The Board of Trustees are pleased to officially welcome Attorney Chris Brown to our Board. Chris accept-ed our invitation to join us when Tom Dirvonas made the decision to retire from the Board. Tom has been a mainstay since 2011. His commitment to making our Foundation great is unparalleled and for this we will be forever grateful. Enjoy Colorado Tom and Bev! William J. Reaser, Jr., Chairman Page 5
Monroe County Hosts 2019 Mock Trial District
and Regional Competitions
Thank You to all our Volunteers!
Holy Cross High School 2019 Northeast Regional Champions
Front Row Left to Right: Attorney Advisor Jim Wetter, Teacher Coach Janine Wetter, Olivia Zehel, Sarah Mies, Elizabeth Arbie, Maggie Arcuri, Lau-ren Palmiter, Mia Sandy Back Row Left to Right: Christian Ceccoli, Joe Lennon, Jordan McAndrew, Serge Grega, Gianna Sacchetti, Nicholas Klein, Ericka Pica, Attorney Adviser Francesa Kester. Missing from picture: Caroline Kranick and Dawson Errigo
The Hon. Kristina Anzini Chynna Beisel Brandie BelangerChandra BleiceMary Boothe Gerald Brunell Janet Catina Eric Closs Daniel Corveleyn Diane DaggerJustin Davenport Michelle Farley Kevin Foley Matthew Forrester Kaitlin Fulmer James Fuller Don Gual The Hon. Dan Higgins The Hon. Stephen Higgins Deborah Huffman
Deb HuffmanJessica JonesSteven KrawitzThe Hon. Daniel KresgeDaniel Lyons Hillary Madden, Co-Chair The Hon. Jonathan Mark, Co-ChairDave MarraDave Martino Dominic Mayle Tim McManus The Hon. Paul MendittoJen MenichiniThe Hon. Michael MuthMark Primrose Brandon Reish Gary Saylor The Hon. Jennifer Harlacher Sibum Martin Souto-DiazVictoria Strunk
Richard TomshoThe Hon. Danielle TravaglineMichael Ventrella CharlieVogt Jill Walsh Todd Weitzmann Elizabeth Bensinger Weekes Noelle WilkinsonThe Hon. David Williamson Andy WolfThe Hon. Arthur Zulick
A special “THANK YOU” to President Judge Margerita Patti Worthington, Sheriff Todd Martin, John Goldner, Sheriffs and Security Guards, and all courthouse personnel for making the competitions a huge success!
District winners Pocono Mountain East High school
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Welcome New Members!Lauren E. Allu, Esq. ARM Lawyers 18 North Eighth Street Stroudsburg PA 18360 570.424.6899 [email protected] www.armlawyers.com
Focusing on criminal and civil law, Attorney Allu has joined ARM Lawyers in Stroudsburg. Allu obtained her undergraduate degree from Lehigh University and her J.D. from Fordham University. In addition to being licensed in Pennsylvania, she is licensed in New York and New Jersey.
Gerald Brunell, Esq. Monroe County Court of Common Pleas Law Clerk for Judge Jonathan Mark 570.517.3984 [email protected]
Attorney Gerald Brunell is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University where he majored in philosophy. After graduating from ESU, Brunell went on to earn his law degree from Widener University Delaware Law School. Already an active member of MCBA, Attorney Brunell plans on focusing on family law and criminal defense after his clerkship with Judge Mark ends.
John Jerome Martin II, Esq. Law Offices of John J. Martin, Esq. 1022 Court Street Honesdale PA 18431 570.235.6899, F 570.253.8975 [email protected]
A graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Ohio Northern University, Attorney John Martin, has opened his practice in Honesdale. Martin will primarily be working with clients in the area of family law, civil litigation and real estate.
Kimberly D. Martin Law Offices of John J. Martin, Esq. 1022 Court Street Honesdale PA 18431 570.235.6899, 570.253.8975 [email protected] www.martinandmartinnepa.com
Prior to earning her law degree from Ohio Northern University, Attorney Martin attended the University of Maryland - Baltimore County. At UMCB she obtained a B.A. in English and History. With offices in both Wayne and Monroe Counties, Martin practices bankruptcy, real estate and family law.
Dominic Mayle Monroe County Court of Common Pleas Law Clerk for Judge Higgins 610 Monroe Street, Suite 221 Stroudsburg PA 18360 570.517.3009 [email protected]
Dominic Mayle is the newest clerk on Judge Higgins’ team. Mayle was a chemistry major at the University of Akron. A recent graduate of Duquesne University, School of Law he plans to take advantage of his clerkship and the opportunities it provides.
Bernard F. Pettit, Esq. Bernard F. Pettit, Esq. 3114 Pine Lane Canadensis PA 18325 267.663.8716 [email protected]
Attorney Bernard Pettit earned his law degree from Temple University after graduating from LaSalle University. In addition to be admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, Pettit has been admitted to practice in Federal District Court. Primary areas of practice are ad-ministrative law, negligence and tort defense.
Meredith Rettaliata, Esq. 215.520.3247 [email protected]
Primarily a real estate attorney, Rettaliata is a graduate of Villanova where she received a B.S. in Accountancy. Immediately following, Attorney Rettaliata earned her Juris Doctorate from Temple University.
Jill L. Walsh, Esq.Hardwick Benfer, LLC179 North Broad SteetDoylestown PA [email protected]
After graduating from the University of Scranton, Attorney Walsh went to the University of Baltimore where she earned her J.D. At Harwick Benfer, Walsh focuses on employment law. In addition to being licensed in the state of New Jersey, she is admitted to the Eastern and Middle District Courts of Pennsylvania, and the US Court of Appeals for the Third District.
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Member Moves and Updates
Members in the News
Jason Zac Christman Fisher Christman 530 Main Street
Stroudsburg PA 18360 570.234.3960
Fax: [email protected]
Gary J. Saylor II Cramer, Swetz, McManus & Jordan, P.C.
711 Sarah Street Stroudsburg PA 18360
570.421.5568 Fax: 570.421.5720
[email protected] www.csmjlawyer.com
Christopher S. Brown Christopher S. Brown Law Offices
John L. Dewitsky, Jr. [email protected]
Jill Radomsky FisherPO Box 78
Kresgeville PA 18333-0078
Brian Gaglione 513 Main Street
Stroudsburg PA 18360
Donald Leeth513 Main Street
Stroudsburg PA 18360
Donald P. Russo 20 East Broad Street Bethlehem PA 18018
Jennifer Ann Wise [email protected]
Attorney Syzane Arifaj has been named one of the Lehigh Valley’s Forty Under 40 winners. The awards program celebrates 40 of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s most accomplished young business persons who have been making a difference in their field. Congratulations Syzane!
Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano attorney Casey Schweppenheiser has been selected to serve on the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s workers’ compensation bench bar committee. Schweppenheiser was a law clerk for the Honor-able Arthur L. Zulick prior to joining Pond Lehocky. Attorney Schweppenheiser is licensed in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and focuses her practice on PA workers’ compensation law.
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