A M E S S A G E F RO M O U R P R E S I D E N T R E B E C C A J . B E R T R A M , E S Q U I R E

MARCH 2013

2012-2013 Officers

Rebecca J. Bertram President

Jospeh M. Chiarello Vice President

Justin R. White VP of Fundraising

Charles J. Wettstein Secretary

Lauren A. Van Embden Treasurer

Board of Trustees

Teri L. Bard

Nicole J. Curio

Michael J. Gaffney

Matthew W. Ritter

Demetrica Todd-Hunter

Beth Hellriegel White

Jr. Trustee

Megan R. Mazzoni

Sr. Trustee

Susan M. Romeo

Immediate Past President

Louis Charles Shapiro

ET SEQ. MARK YOUR CALENDERS

APRIL 19th– CCBF Casino Night at Levoy Theatre

MAY

1st– Law Day Breakfast at Gia’s

I will focus this month’s article on the upcoming Casino Night on April 19, 2013. Please make every effort to attend this upcoming event. It is the first event of this kind for our Foundation and we are all looking forward to it being a great success. The fundraising committee is spending a lot of time and effort to make sure that the event is a great success so that the programs we fund may continue. If you are unable to attend the event, please remember that sponsorships are available and welcomed. Please remember that even if you do not gamble (with play money), we still have things for you to come and enjoy. Come out and enjoy a great night with friends and colleagues. We have a fantastic prizes and an 80s band that will also be playing. Tickets are on sale! Please buy them early so that our committee does not have to remind you to attend (it is only 19 days away!). We appreciate in advance those who will attend and support our event. All proceeds of this event help support the many projects the Bar Foundation does each year. If we can make this event a success we will not need to ask your membership for money throughout the year. If you cannot attend, we ask that you please sponsor a table, the band or donate a prize basket. If you need any additional information our your can help with a donation, you may contact Justin White, Beth White, Lou Ann Brooks, Kristen Eisenhardt or myself. Thank you to all those who attended the 40/50 year event honoring our members for their long careers as attorneys. The event was a huge success which would not have been possible without Vincent Pancari and his hosting skills or Lou Ann Brooks with her timer. In light of the most recent dinner, I would like to recognize our Lawyer of the Month, Jay Greenblatt. His acceptance and remarks at the dinner definitely win the award for best of the evening. For those of you who attended, you will know why. If you missed it, you should have attended.

Professionalism Day has been set for Tuesday, October 22, 2013. Please mark your calendars. We again will be offering Ethic Credits right here at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Bridgeton. More information will follow.

PROFESSIONALISM DAY 2013

PUBLIC NOTICE FOR REAPPOINTMENT OF A FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER

The current term of office of Richard Coughlin, Federal Public Defender for the District of New Jersey, is due to expire on July 14, 2013. As required by statue, 18 U.S.C. §3006A, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is considering the reappointment of Mr. Coughlin to a new four-year term and has appointed Committee to assist in its review. The Committee consists of attorney from the District of New Jersey, who will report their findings to the Court of Appeals. The public is invited to submit comments for consideration regarding the reappointment of Mr. Coughlin to a new term of office. All comments should be directed to the email address:

dnjcomments_fpd@ca3.uscourts.gov

Or to

Margaret A. Wiegand, Circuit Executive 22409 U.S. Courthouse

601 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19106

Comment must be received not later than Wednesday, April 17. 2013.

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SAV E THE DA T E S

Friday, April 19, 2013 Casino Night Levoy Theatre Millville, NJ Wednesday, May 1, 2013 Law Day Breakfast Gia’s Catering Bridgeton, NJ Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Party and Election Dinner TBD Thursday, June 20, 2013 Installation Dinner Merighi’s Savoy Inn Vineland, NJ

GE T YO U R NE W ATTO R E N Y ID E N T I F I C A T I O N CA R D S F O R 2013

Many of our members may have Attorney I.D. card that has expired or is going to expire soon. Please make sure you get an updated card. On the next page, is the form that needs to be filled out . Once it is filled out you will need to return it to the Sheriff’s Department– Laurel Street Office. There is a $25.00 fee and the check should be made payable to: The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. The system is back up and running, so get your new Identification Cards. You MUST make an appointment for your new card. There is a no walk-in policy.

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ADV E RT I S E IN TH E ET SE Q.

We are still taking Ads to be published in the Et Seq. All payments are due prior to the posting. Quarter Page $25.00 per issue Half Page $50.00 per issue Full Page $100.00 per issue Discounts are available for multiple month postings: 10% off for 3 months, 15% off for 6 months and 20% off for a full year. Please note that there is no Et. Seq. published in July or August.

DO YOU HAVE A VACATION RENTAL ? DO YOU HAVE EXTRA OFFICE SPACE? ADVERTISE HERE.

The Cumberland County Bar Association Nominating Committee is seeking names of any Regular Member that would like to serve on the Board of Directors as a Trustee. Trustees are expected to attend monthly Board of Trustees Meeting on the 1st Wednesday of each month, except July and August and also serve as a member of the Cumberland County Bar Foundation. If you would like to be considered for a Cumberland County Bar Association/Foundation Trustee, please contact Joseph Chiarello, President Elect and Nominating Committee Chair at 856-825-0700 or josephc@sjtrialfirm.com by April 19, 2013.

NO M I NA T I O N G CO M M I T T E E SE E KI N G ME M -

B E R S IN T E R E S T E D IN A CU M B E R L A N D CO U N T Y BA R AS S O C I A T I O N BOA R D O F TRU S T E E PO S I T I O N

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BA R AS S O C I A T I O N SN I P P E T S— FRO M TE D RI T T E R, C .C .B.A. HI S TO R I A N

REMEMBERING JIM SEELEY Today, we look back at the career of an outstanding, one-of-kind lawyer - the late James J. Seeley, III. Jim was born in Camden, and attended high school, in what is now Cherry Hill. His undergraduate education included stints at both the University of Georgia, and at Rutgers University. Jim took his legal education at Duke University where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Duke Law School Journal, and graduated first in his class in 1969. From 1969, through 1979, Jim was a professor at Rutgers-Camden Law School where he taught a variety of subjects including Environmental Law, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Trial Practice, Federal Civil Procedure, Land Use and Zoning, Real Property and Municipal Law. After teaching full time for several years, Jim was recruited to work for a firm in Wilmington, while continuing to teach at Rutgers – Camden, part time. Jim would later refer to the lawyers at the Wilmington firm as “a bunch of stiff necks.” In the 1990’s Jim served as an adjunct professor at Widener Law School in Wilmington, Delaware. Jim had many interests including the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, sports and history. Jim met his wife, Alexis, while they both attended Rutgers. Together they purchased and restored a circa 1730 farmhouse, in Greenwich Township, where they raised their four children: James, IV, Tom, Elizabeth, and Alexis K. After leaving the Wilmington firm, Jim practiced as the partner of his best friend, George H. Stanger, Jr. Jim also practiced, in partnerships, with Samuel J. Serata, and with John Jones, respectively. Son, Tom, joined Jim in the practice of law in 2000. Judge Stanger, described Jim as a brilliant lawyer. . . Tenacious. . . A fun-loving and very humorous individual. Stanger further recalls that Jim fancied himself as a capable handyman. After the two men bought a building at the corner of Lawrence and Commerce Streets, to which they were in the process of relocating their law practice, Jim undertook a plumbing project one Saturday afternoon. Judge Stanger relates that Jim’s plumbing skills resulted in the water feed to a second floor bathroom toilet being connected to the buildings hot water system.

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Another longtime friend, retired New Jersey State Trooper Anthony Terrigno, recalls that Jim was honest to a fault and that he refused to simply tell clients what they wanted to hear. Anthony and Jim, were both private pilots - Jim owned and flew a six seater Cherokee which he kept at Millville airport. Vineland attorney Ed Duffy took Jim’s Real Property course at Rutgers – Camden. Ed vividly recalls Jim’s down to earth, unpretentious approach with his students and how much it contrasted with the “starchiness” of other academic types. Ed is grateful for Jim’s mentoring during Ed’s early years at the bar while he was developing his own land use and municipal law practice. Jim was highly regarded throughout South Jersey for his legal expertise in Municipal, Planning, Zoning, and Environmental Law. We attorneys who practice in these fields will long remember Jim’s helpful guidance and insights - Jim was the “go to” expert with whom his colleagues frequently consulted. Some of the municipalities whose boards and/or governing bodies Jim served over the years are: Greenwich, Hopewell, Stow Creek, Shiloh, the City of Bridgeton, Deerfield, Downe, Commercial, Lawrence, Upper Deerfield, Maurice River, and Bass River Townships. Jim made one venture into politics when he ran, unsuccessfully, for the New Jersey Assembly in 1981. For many years, Jim was a soccer coach in the Cohansey Soccer League where he could be seen on the sidelines chasing after the ball in his dress shirt with his tie flapping in the breeze. To an adversary meeting him for the first time, Jim portrayed the quintessential backwards country lawyer. He rarely wore a suit. His standard business attire was a sport jacket, loosened tie, khakis and docksides. He also drove a pick-up truck which added to his country-boy image. Any opponent who underestimated Jim’s acumen, however, invariably ended up getting his clock cleaned. Jim’s health began to fail in 2000 around the same time he underwent back surgery. His illness eventually caused him to retire from the practice of law, in early 2005. Tragically, Jim passed away on July 13, 2005; he was only 59. At that time, Greenwich Township Vice-Mayor, Dan Hancock, made the following observations: He was a wonderful man…one of the finest men I’ll ever know… He certainly was a charitable soul who would do anything for anybody. He understood the human race and human nature, and certainly regarded everyone as a decent human being” Greenwich Township established a garden, in Jim’s memory. It’s located at the corner of Ye Greate Street and Bridgeton-Greenwich Road, adjacent to the Cumberland County Historical Society Museum of Pre History.

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CI V I L TR I A L RE S U LT S FEBRUARY 2012

COMPARE Arbitration Awards & Jury Verdicts

VICINAGE XV February 2013 (*filed De Novo)

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE _____________________________________________________________________ Newton v. Doctors & Midwives Jury Trial Richard J. Geiger, J.S.C. CUM-L-1113-07 (19 days) Pf. Atty.: Marc Brecher, Esquire Df. Atty.: Shana McCann, Esquire Timothy Crammer, Esquire Date: 2-11-13 Verdict: No cause Est. of Arce v. Vineland Jury Trial Robert G. Malestein, J.S.C. CUM-L-1222-10 Pf. Atty.: Richard Stone, Esquire Df. Atty.: Brian Hunkins, Esquire Kathnleen Bartus, Esquire Date: 2-26-13 Settled after openings LAD ____________________________________________________________________ _ Mora v. Pleasantville Bd. of Ed. Jury Trial Jean B.McMaster, J.S.C. GLO-L-167-07 Pf. Atty.: Clifford Van Syoc, Esquire Sebastian Ionno, Esquire Df. Atty.: Ronald Hunt, Esquire Kenyatta Stewaert, Esquire Date: 2-13-13 Answer stricken after jury selection. Proof hearing scheduled.

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CONTRACT– OTHER __________________________________________________________________ Caione v. Zienuk Jury Trial David W. Morgan, J.S.C. GLO-L-1556-10 Pf. Atty.: Dan Rybak, Esquire Df. Atty.: Michael Miller, Esquire Date: 2-14-13 Verdict: $3,000 on breach claims; Dismissed as to fraud claims UM/UIM _____________________________________________________________________ Altamuro v. GEICO Jury Trial Eugene J. McCaffrey, Jr., P.J.Cv. GLO-L-991-11 Pf. Atty.: John Trimble, Esquire Katrina Geary, Esquire Df. Atty.: Jacqueline McDonald, Esquire Date: 2-22-13 Verdict: $23,440 for lost wages Arb. Award: $80,000; D* AUTO NEGLIGENCE-TORT _____________________________________________________________________ Amaniera v. Harbright Jury Trial Eugene J. McCaffrey, Jr., P.J.Cv. GLO-L-1027-09 Pf. Atty.: Michael Kaplan, Esquire Anthony Granato, Esquire Df. Atty.: Stephen Dumser, Esquire Date: 2-5-13 Settled during trial for $75,000 Arb. Award: $100,000; D* cont. Fior v. Gagliardi Jury Trial David W. Morgan., J.S.C. GLO-L-1934-10 Pf. Atty.: Jose Hernandez, Esquire Df. Atty.: Patrick Riley, Esquire Stephen Wolf, Esquire Date: 2-5-13 Verdict: Each Dft 50% liable (liability only) Arb. Award: $125,000; D*

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Amwake v. O’Donnell Jury Trial Robert G. Malestein, J.S.C. SLM-L-164-11 Pf. Atty.: Jeremy Weitz, Esquire Df. Atty.: Michael Dunn, Esquire Date: 2-12-13 Verdict: $27,500 Arb. Award: $60,000; D* Crescitelli-Doughty v. Kourtalis, et al. Jury Trial Richard G. Geiger, J.S.C. CUM-L-1061-08 Pf. Atty.: Eli Kuhnreich, Esquire Df. Atty.: James Nolan, Esquire Date: 2-19-13 Settled after jury selection Arb. Award: $70,000; D* Reed v. Grasso Jury Trial Jean B. McMaster, J.S.C. GLO-L-779-10 Pf. Atty.: William Popjoy, Esquire Df. Atty.: Thomas Murphy, Esquire Date: 2-21-13 Verdict: No cause Arb. Award: $25,500; D* Lebidine v. Sansweet Jury Trial David W. Morgan, J.S.C. GLO-L-260-11 Pf. Atty.: Jeremy Weitz, Esquire Df. Atty.: Ray Danielewicz, Esquire Date: 2-21-13 Verdict: No cause Arb. Award: $42,500; D*

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Casino Night- Friday, April 19, 2013

The Cumberland County Bar Foundation is hosting a fabulous fundraiser this spring. We need your help to make it successful. If you don’t gamble (with play money), we still have things for you to come and enjoy. If you cannot attend, we also have some sponsorships you can purchase to help defray the cost of this event. Come out and enjoy a great night with friends and colleagues. We have a fantastic prizes and an 80s band that will also be playing. Tickets will be on sale soon.

The Bar Association Office will be closed

Thursday, April 4th through

Monday, April 8th. The office will open on

Tuesday, April 9th.

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The Judiciary partners with Division of Family Development (DFD / welfare) to deliver child support services in New Jersey. The program is making changes to improve its services through the addition of a statewide call center. Features include an automated phone system and website which will allow litigants to access enhanced case information and the ability to make payments. Child support customers will also be able to speak with a child support representative at the call center during the expanded hours of 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday – Friday. Clientele will be notified of the new system and given personal identification numbers (PIN) to access their account information before we go live. Calls requiring a more detailed response will be referred to local probation offices for a response. Expedited calls, such as emergency requests for continuances, will be routed to experienced workers to address or reach out to counties as needed. The system is rolling out in phases. Currently, ten counties are live on the new system. Cumberland / Gloucester / Salem are scheduled for inclusion on February 11. Beginning on February 11 we will no longer accept calls directly from the clientele. A recorded message will refer callers to the new call center at 1-877-NJKIDS1 (1-877-655-4371) or [http://www.njchildsupport.org/] www.njchildsupport.org. Please refer any inquires received in your office to the new call center telephone number or website. Any inquires not resolved by the call center will be referred by the call center to the local child support office for a response. Clients will still be able to visit our offices to speak with a caseworker.

FAMILY LAW CHANGES

We are looking for donations to fill our raffle baskets for Casino Night. If you or a client can donate a themed basket,

gift card or items for the baskets, please contact Beth White at 856-451-9100 or

Lou Ann at 856-696-5550.

Do you have a vacation home you can lend us for a week? How about some sports tickets? How about a TV?

Tickets to the theater?

Please consider donating something to help us make this night a success.

Don’t forget to sign up for the 40/50 Year Celebration on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at Running Deer.

We will honor some of our most distinguished attorneys

for their many years of practice.

You won’t want to miss it!

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