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FEBRUARY 2013 • VOLUME 5 • NUMBER 1

cooley.edu

COLUMN

Setting a Trend in Grand Rapids Brent Geers (Hilligan Class, 2012) did not plan to set trends when he enrolled at Cooley Law School’s Grand Rapids campus. He nonetheless made history as the first African-American educated in the law locally to start a practice in Grand Rapids.

Recent Graduate Puts Her Cooley Education To Work In Las VegasZohra Bakhtary (Chipman Class, 2011) immigrated to the United States from Kabul, Afghanistan at the age of 14. The experience of becoming a citizengave Bakhtary the opportunity to embrace the Constitution of the United States of America.

“I didn’t start out to set a trend,” hesaid. “But I am honored to be the firstAfrican-American to graduate locallyto open a practice in Grand Rapids.”- BRENT GEERS

Fortuitous JourneyAs an engineer, Tanya Garrett (Rutledge Class, 2000) was drawn to patent and intellectual property law, where she could make the best use of her background and education.

INSIDE> RECOVERY UPDATE / PROFESSOR PHILIP J. PRYGOSKI

> FORTUITOUS JOURNEY / TANYA GARRETT

> KEEPING IT LOCAL / BRENT GEERS

> RECENT GRADUATE PUTS HER COOLEY EDUCATION TO WORK IN LAS VEGAS / ZOHRA BAKHTARY

AND MORE…

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (left) Zohra Bakhtary (center) and former Nevada State Senator John Ensign (right)

PRoFESSoR PHILIP J. PRYGoSKI

FEATURE ARTICLE

BENCHMARK COLUMN | FEBRUARY 2013 | VOLUME 5 | NUMBER 1

40 YEARS oF ExCELLENCE

With the coming of the New Year, the students and facultyhave returned to Cooley and are already hard at work attheir law studies. Looking ahead, we see many opportuni-ties for them, many adventures, challenges, and successes.

During 2013, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of our operations as a law school. Cooley was founded

in 1972 and began instruction in January 1973. The inaugural class of 76students enrolled knowing that Cooley was a new school, unaccredited,with no library, no Dean, no full-time faculty, and no substantial campus.Those students came on faith, a faith that was realized when, upon graduationin 1976, they passed the bar exam at a rate that surpassed that of the University of Michigan, a school that had worked to prevent Cooley fromopening. Those Cooley students showed the world that dedication, perseverance, hard work, and courage pays off.

Through the efforts of its faculty, staff, and students during the ensuing 40 years, Cooley has shown the world the very same dedication, perse-verance, hard work, and courage. We have become one of the very bestlaw schools. We have succeeded in our mission of training our studentsto practice law by instilling in them the knowledge, skills, and ethics theyneed to be competent practitioners.

We begin this issue of Benchmark Column, though, with a touch of sadness bynoting that Professor Phil Prygoski, who has taught to a substantial majority ofeveryone who ever attended Cooley, suffered a stroke last year. The updateabout Phil, written by our faculty colleague Professor Chris Shafer, tells us thatdespite the severity of his stroke, Phil has been progressing steadily. I know thatyou will join me in wishing Phil and his family the very best.

You will also see stories about several recent graduates who are already making their marks in important ways. Brent Geers is a pioneer of sorts, being the first locally educated African-American graduate to open his own lawpractice in Grand Rapids. Zohra Bakhtary, immigrated from Afghanistan at age12 and is now a U.S. citizen. Through the naturalization process, she came toappreciate the rights and responsibilities that our Constitution guarantees eachof us, which she now employs in law practice in Las Vegas. Tanya Garrettturned her electrical engineering degree into a coveted position as a U.S.Patent Examiner.

I know that you will enjoy reading about these and other people who are part ofthe Cooley Community. As always, we invite your own stories and comments.

Happy New Year to you.

WELCOMETO THE BENCHMARK COLUMN

�Scan here to visit the Cooley alumni webpage

ALUMNI DATABASEThe user name will always remain the word alumni. The password changes each term and will be disclosed in issues of Benchmark and Benchmark Column. Please call the Alumni Relations Office at (800) 243-ALUM (in the Lansing area, call 517-371-5140, ext. 2038), or e-mail alumni@cooley.edu if you have any problems.

PRofessoR PhIl PRyGoskI’s stRoke RecoveRyby Professor Chris A. Shafer

RecoveryUpdateKnown affectionately as “Pyro” to generations of Cooley Law School students, Professor Philip J. Prygoskisuffered a severe stroke on March 21,2012, while he was doing what he lovedmost – teaching a Constitutional Lawclass at Cooley’s Ann Arbor campus.

After months of recovery, extensive therapy and a second surgery on his skull, Professor Prygoski has made remarkableprogress considering the severity of his original stroke. His speechis improving, his short-term memory is slowly returning, and recently he started to move his left arm and leg a little bit whenprompted (his entire left side has essentially been paralyzed sincethe stroke). However, Professor Prygoski, his wife Mary, and theirthree children face months, if not years, of extensive therapy andhome health care, much of which will not be covered by theirhealth insurance.

In 2010, as part of an application for a prestigious national law school faculty teaching project for which he was ultimatelyselected, Professor Prygoski estimated he had taught over10,000 students in his 33 years of teaching at Cooley.

A primary characteristic that many of those students will recallabout Professor Prygoski’s teaching is his vast knowledge aboutconstitutional law and his almost encyclopedic memory of cases, factsand holdings. Students appreciate his amazing ability to seamlesslyweave practical, real-life examples and illustrations with the principalcases in ways that made the Supreme Court’s decisions so muchmore understandable and relevant to his students.

Professor Prygoski’s teaching is an inspiration to his students, giving a much greater appreciation and respect for the Constitutionas the bedrock foundation of American jurisprudence. As formerMichigan Governor and Cooley graduate John Engler stated in2010: “Professor Prygoski’s Constitutional Law I class was notonly an excellent overview of the workings of government, but alsoan intellectual testing ground for issues I dealt with in governmentevery day.”

Professor Prygoski has a presence in the classroom that inspiresrespect yet encourages participation and expression of divergentviewpoints. He is extremely skilled with his use of the Socraticmethod to draw out the essential aspects of the cases and materials and the more subtle nuances as well. He also has a great sense of humor that effectively reduces the inherent tension of the Socratic method and enhances the learning environment for his students. As significant evidence of his teachingskills and the substantial appreciation of his students, ProfessorPrygoski was awarded the Stanley E. Beattie Teaching Awardover 30 times as the most influential law professor selected bythe graduating classes at Cooley Law School. This is a record ofexcellence that is unparalleled by any other faculty member, and is a sincere reflection of the great regard that his students andmany alumni continue to have for Professor Prygoski both as aprofessor and as a genuinely decent human being.

IN SUPPORT OF PROFESSOR PRYGOSKIBecause of the long-term need for rehabilitation therapy and home health care, as well as a wheelchair-compatible vehicle for transportinghim to doctor’s appointments and outside therapy sessions, Professor Prygoski’s family is facing daunting financial demands and limited financial resources. The family remains firmly committed to Phil enjoying the quality of life that he had before the stroke and becoming independent once again. But this all depends on continuing Phil’s rehabilitation and therapy, to which you can contribute.

The family has established a website with a link to Paypal for secure online donations at

http://www.philsstrokerecovery.com/.

Professor Prygoski’s family expresses their sincere thanks and appreciation for any financial assistance you can provide and for all yourcontinued good thoughts and prayers.

May each day bring

you renewedstrength

and brightertimes.

James D. Robb, Associate Dean for External Affairs and Senior Counsel robbj@cooley.edu

Cooley Law School Associate Dean and Professor Nelson Miller (left); Mike Swartz (center), author of a book onthe best law faculty; and Cooley Law School Professor Phil Prygoski (right)

From left: Matt, Alicia, Phil, Jeff, and Mary Prygoski

Phil Prygoski

KNOWLEDGE. SKILLS. ETHICS. | COOLEY.EDU

FORTUITOUSJOURNEY:engineer’s career change leads to legal successtanya garrett (rutledge class, 2000)

While waiting in an airport terminalwith her husband, Patrick, and daughter, Elizabeth, in May 1997,Tanya Garrett (Rutledge Class, 2000)struck up a conversation with a patentfirm paralegal from Washington, D.C.Garrett, an electrical engineer, neverconsidered attending law school.However, at that moment, she some-how knew immediately that she wasready for something new. From this

one random conversation sprang a short, four-month journey toenroll at Cooley Law School, leading to an eventual career as aU.S. patent examiner.

“Many of the best decisions of my life have come when I barelyhad time to think them through,” said Garrett, “I guess I’velearned to trust my instincts over the years.”

While most prospective law students spend significant time planning and considering their decision to pursue a legal career,Garrett packed that process into a matter of weeks. After doingsome research, she realized Cooley’s commitment to both educational flexibility and graduating practice-ready attorneys fither needs. Also, she could commute to Lansing on the weekendsfrom her home near Flint.

“It’s uncommon for someone to decide to go to law school inMay, take the LSAT in June and enter law school four monthslater. I was also a member of Cooley’s second weekend class, soconsidering all those factors, I’m not sure I could have made mysituation work anywhere else,” she said.

As an engineer, Garrett was drawn to patent and intellectualproperty (IP) law, where she could make the best use of herbackground and education. After serving on the school’s Law

Review and contributing to the Journal of Practical and

Clinical Law, she graduated cum laude.

After passing the bar, she was hired to become the first IP law associate at Plunkett and Cooney, P.C. Eventually Garrett movedinto a position as an Of Counsel patent attorney at Dobrusin andThennisch. Then, in 2001, Garrett opened her own practice, T.L. Garrett PLC, in Fenton, Mich.

“I’ve been fortunate to see patent and IP law from many angles:different size firms, teaching at multiple schools and now as apatent examiner for the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Detroit. I’ve learned something new every step of theway,” said Garrett.

While she had hoped to enjoy more time with her family as a result of being closer to home, her practice kept her very busy.Having clients all over the country required her to focus on IP issues, business technology law, client counseling, and corporatetransaction and litigation matters. Her responsibilities also included supervising and training Of Counsel and affiliated attorneys, paralegals, and law clerks.

She also worked as a teaching assistant and later as an adjunctprofessor at both Cooley and Baker College. Volunteering in thecommunity is also important to Garrett; she started the Fentonbranch of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE),America’s Counselor to Small Business.

“Working all week at my practice, on top of prepping for andteaching as many as three classes per semester, got to be prettytough. And to think that the paralegal in the airport told me attorneys worked 9-5!” she said.

As time went on, that 9-5 workday began to sound moreappealing. In May 2012, one of Tanya’s clerks mentionedthat he had applied for a position as a U.S. patent examiner.She had considered that position in the past, and decided to apply promptly.

Paralleling the months that led to her decision to go to lawschool, her move into the latest phase of her career was animprobable whirlwind. While sitting in the atrium of the verybuilding that houses the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in

Detroit – on business for her firm – she received an unexpectedcall from the patent office, offering her the position ofpatent examiner.

“I’d initially been informed that I wasn’t selected, so I thoughtthat was the end of it,” recalled Garrett. “While representinga client, I got a call while sitting in the patent office building. I thought it was a joke. There was just no way it could be happening that way.”

It really did happen that way, and in the following weeks Garretttook bids from three firms vying to buy her law practice, whichhad become very successful. The sale was finalized in October2012, and she started her new position the following day.

Throughout her legal career – all the way from the airport terminal to the atrium – Garrett’s instinct for making quick decisions has served her well, and she counts attending Cooleyamong those good decisions.

“I have a unique perspective as both a graduate and a professor.I’ve seen again and again that Cooley graduates are well preparedto begin practicing; as young lawyers I feel that Cooley graduatescan succeed in some areas where other young lawyers struggle,”she said.

In fact, she often uses Cooley students as her clerks. She currentlyworks with six other Cooley attorneys in the patent office.

Garrett continues to teach such classes as Patent Writing, PatentLaw, and IP Law at both Cooley and Baker College, and is still actively involved in SCORE. As a patent examiner, she specializesin examining patents related to cable TV and video distribution.

Garrett does not know where exactly her career will take hernext. For now, she is trying to settle into her new job and is enjoying the return to a more normal schedule. Eventually, she aspires to be a patent law judge. If history is any indication, thatoffer will come under interesting circumstances, and you can betshe will not have to think about it very long.

Editor’s Note: Professor David Berry offers a look at recent changes to the U.S patent system. He is a specialist in patent and intellectual property law and is a director of Cooley’s GraduateProgram in Intellectual Property. Professor Berry is a registered patent attorney admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

TANYA GARRETT, PATENT ExAMINER AT UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK oFFICE

Over the past two years, patent practitioners have struggled to keepup with a series of major changes to the U.S. patent system.

First, in September 2011, Congress passed the most comprehensiverevamping of the Patent Act in over 50 years by enacting the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (“AIA”). The AIA’s centerpiece isconversion of the U.S. patent system from a “first-to-invent” prioritysystem, where patents are awarded to the inventor who can establishthe earliest invention date, to a “first-to-file” system, where patentsare awarded to the inventor who files the earliest application dis-closing the claimed invention. This change affects applications filedafter March 16, 2013. In addition, the AIA implements a host of other

changes, including two administrative systems for challenging issued patents without the needfor federal court litigation (known as “Post-Grant Review” and “Inter Partes Review”), newdefinitions for prior art, and an expanded “prior user rights” defense for those accused ofpatent infringement.

Second, the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, whichhad nationwide appellate jurisdiction over patent cases, have implemented other major changesthrough judicial decisions. For example, in Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Labs. Inc., 132 S. Ct. 1289 (2012), the Supreme Court ruled that a patent covering a process relating topersonalized medicine was not eligible for patenting because the claims were directed to merelaws of nature. In Global-Tech. Appliances, Inc. v. SEB S.A., 131 S. Ct. 2060 (2011), the Courtruled that a defendant accused of indirect infringement by actively inducing another party to infringea patent must have acted with actual knowledge of the patent and also must have actually intendedthat the person infringe the patent. In Therasense, Inc. v. Becton, Dickinson & Co., 649 F.3d 1276 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (en banc), the Federal Circuit dramatically changed the standard for establishing

the defense of unenforceability due to inequitable conduct. Under the new Therasense standard, a defendant hoping to prove inequitable conduct must demonstrate both that information was misrepresented or withheld from the Patent Office during examination with an actual intent to deceive the office, and that the patent would not have been approved if the misrepresentation oromission had not occurred.

The pace of judicial changes to the patent law does not appear to be subsiding. In the currentterm, the Supreme Court already has granted certiorari in several IP-related cases, includingappeals considering the practice of including “reverse payments” in settlements of patent infringement actions under the Hatch-Waxman Act between drug companies and manufacturersof generic equivalents (FTC v. Watson), the eligibility of patents on human genes (Association

for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc.), and the doctrine of patent exhaustion (Bowman v. Monsanto Co.).

Cooley’s extensive course offerings in the patent field have kept pace with these changes, eventhough the new law is literally evolving on a week-to-week basis. Recently, the program was citedby an independent research study as offering the broadest intellectual property curriculum of anyU.S. law school. Cooley’s full-time and adjunct IP faculty continually update the materials pre-sented in the IP program’s basic courses, including Patent Law, Licensing of Intellectual Property,and Patent Litigation, to address current developments. In addition, new courses, such as PatentResearch and Analytics and Intellectual Property and International Treaties, and several advancedIP law seminars discuss current trends and emerging areas of IP practice in greater depth.

Editor’s Note: In 2012, Cooley's IP law curriculum was named first nationally in course offerings

and second nationally in number of IP course categories of all law schools in William Mitchell

College of Law's Report on Intellectual Property Curricula.

Professor David Berry: “COOLEY IP PROGRAM KEEPS PACE WITH UNPRECEDENTED CHANGES IN PATENT FIELD”

FEATURE ARTICLE

Brent Geers (Hilligan Class, 2012) did not planto set trends when he enrolled at Cooley LawSchool’s Grand Rapids campus. He nonethelessmade history as the first African-American educated in the law locally to start a practice in Grand Rapids.

His path to getting a law degree and opening hisown practice was a circuitous one. He wentfrom a low-income Grand Rapids neighborhoodto the University of Michigan (UM), then intothe military. Years later, when Geers enrolled at Cooley, he was among one of Cooley’s non-traditional students – learning the law whilebringing a lot of life experience to the table.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Geers was raised by his single mother in south-east Grand Rapids. He attended public school,never imagining that he would one day have hisown law practice.

“I grew up in a less fortunate part of the city,”he said. “While I was a high school student, Inever thought I would one day have my ownlaw office in that same neighborhood.”

Geers did not let humble beginnings hold himback. He excelled in school, earning a GrandRapids Community Foundation Excellence in Education Award and graduating near the top ofhis class. His UM studies made him the first ofhis family to attend college. While in Ann Arbor,Geers immersed himself in university culture, attending football games, serving as a residentadviser, and joining student organizations. Hisgraduation from UM in 2001 was when he firstbegan thinking about law school.

“I thought about law school,” Geers said. “But Iwas unsure of myself at that time and thought it would be best if I took a break to get somereal-world experience.”

The following year, Geers gained that real-worldexperience when he enlisted in the military.

After graduating from basic and advanced train-ing, he was assigned to the 92nd Military PoliceCompany in Baumholder, Germany. He then deployed to Iraq to join a sister company taskedwith developing the Iraqi police force and patrolling neighborhoods in western Baghdad.

In 2005, Geers deployed to Khandahar,Afghanistan, where he spent a year before returning to a post at Fort Knox, Ky. It was atthis time that law school seemed like the rightpath to move his career.

“While I was in the Army, I got to see the inner-workings of the Army JAG Corps, which in turninspired me to think about attending law schoolagain,” he said. “I also felt that the Army hadhelped me mature as a person by teaching meabout tenacity and persistence. So I felt I wasready this time around and I took the LSAT.”

NEVER GIVE UP

In 2006, Geers faced his most difficult challengeyet; the death of his mother. He left the Armyand returned to Grand Rapids to be with hisfamily. During this time, he often reflected backon the lessons he learned in the military – partic-ularly how one must keep fighting even whentimes are tough.

“I had to keep pushing forward with my goal ofattending law school,” he said. “I knew this wassomething that I should not give up on, so Ibegan looking at my options.”

Geers chose Cooley because of its emphasis on practical legal education. He also thoughtCooley was a good fit for non-traditional students like himself.

“I believe in Cooley’s mission,” he said. “Theyoffer a legal education to people who don’t necessarily have the background or certain opportunities in life to even consider becoming a lawyer.”

While attending Cooley, he focused his studieson general practice.

“I pursued that certification because I wanted to bean ‘every man’s lawyer,’” Geers said. “Nothingfancy - just someone who could potentially doanything that any one person may need.”

In addition to his studies, Geers helped found theGrand Rapids campus’ Cooley Veteran Corps, agroup with the goal to further veteran recruitmentat the school and to provide support services for students who served in the military. He alsovolunteered for Cooley’s Nonprofit IncorporationProject, where students offer start-up legal services to individuals and organizations in the community seeking charitable nonprofit status.

These experiences, and his externship with asmall law firm, inspired him to open his ownsolo practice, Geers Law, in Grand Rapids upongraduation. Unbeknownst to Geers, this was ahistoric moment for the city.

“I didn’t start out to set a trend,” he said. “But Iam honored to be the first African-American tograduate locally to open a practice in GrandRapids.”

Nelson Miller, associate dean of Cooley’s GrandRapids campus, concurred. “Brent is why Cooleybrought its access and practice-preparation mission to Grand Rapids. The law profession locally and nationally faces significant inclusionchallenges. Brent is the first of the Grand Rapidscampus’s many African-American graduates to practice law here.”

HoPE FoR THE FUTURE

In May, Geers will celebrate the first anniversaryof his solo practice. Reflecting on this year, headmits that owning a business is not easy, but hehas high hopes for the future.

“Opening my own shop has been a continuingchallenge,” he said. “After I graduated, I passedthe bar exam, printed up some business cards,started a website and went to work. In the future, my goal is to grow my practice to fit theneeds of entrepreneurs and veterans, and Iwould like to ultimately get into estate planning.Perhaps I will eventually hire some Cooley graduates for support.”

“Brent will break ground for others,” DeanMiller agreed. “Inclusion requires networks.Now that Brent established himself here, he willrecruit others whose paths have taught themhow to serve clients inclusively and effectively. Ihave never been more proud of a graduate thanI am of Brent, who will continue to receive theschool’s full support.”

Geers’ most important goal is to help peoplewho share his non-traditional story.

“I know there are people out there who are notafforded certain privileges and opportunities andwhose paths to success are not laid out on astraight road,” he said. “I understand that. Ilived that life. But I am happy to say that I canhelp those individuals, and I intend to give backin whatever way I can.”

keeping it localkeeping it local

BRENT GEERS, ATToRNEY AND oWNER oF GEERS LAW,GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

BENCHMARK COLUMN | FEBRUARY 2013 | VOLUME 5 | NUMBER 1

COOLEY GRADUATE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN EDUCATED IN LAWIN GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., TO PRACTICE LOCALLY

“I know there are people out there who are not afforded certain privileges andopportunities and whose paths to success are not laid out on a straight road. I understand that. I lived that life. But I am happy to say that I can help those individuals, and I intend to give back in whatever way I can.” BRENT GEERS

Faculty BriefsGary Bauer, Professor

Presented, at the Michigan State Bar Elderlaw Section Annual Meetingregarding legal competence and how to assess it, on Oct. 4, 2012.

Presented, at Greenstone FarmCredit in conjunction with Owosso Memorial HealthCare System, regarding how to select an appropriateagent for a will, power of attorney for health care, orpower of attorney for financial matters, on Nov. 29, 2012.

Hosted, and moderated two different panels of solopractitioners, who all recently established solo practicesright out of law school, to discuss this option and answerquestions for current students interested in going solo.

Mary Phelan D’Isa, Professor

Published, “Can a Sentencing Errorbe ‘Plain’ Under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b) if the Law is Unsettled at the Time of the Error But it Becomes Clear by the Time of

Appeal?” in Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases,Issue No. 3, Vol. 40, Page 104, Nov. 26, 2012(ABA). This article previewed the case of Henderson v.

United States (Docket 11-9307), which is from theFifth Circuit and was argued before the court on Nov. 28, 2012.

Gerald Fisher, Professor

Spoke, as a representative for Oakland County (Michigan) Parks andRecreation, on a program with CountyExecutive L. Brooks Patterson andConsul General for Japan Kuninori

Matsuda, at a formal Cherry Blossom Tree Planting Ceremony on May 9, 2012 in Farmington Hills. The ceremony was a celebration of the 100th anniversary ofJapan's gift of cherry trees to the United States, plantedin Washington, D.C.

Moderated, and presented a program for the Instituteof Continuing Legal Education in Plymouth, Mich., on municipal law topics.

Spoke, on May 17, 2012 at the Auburn Hills campus,on externships, highlighting the special programs in exis-tence and being created for municipal law placements insoutheast Michigan and elsewhere.

Attended, a seminar in Detroit on June 21, 2012, onfederal rules of procedure, at which Cooley adjunctsHon. James Lawson and Tom Cranmer were speakers.

Attended, the annual joint conference of the MichiganAssociation of Municipal Attorneys and State Bar PublicCorporation Section in Northern Michigan June 22-24,2012. He also attended the Public Corporation Law Section Council meeting held as part of the conference, and also organized and officiated a bocce ball tournament.

Prepared, an amicus curiae brief in the MichiganSupreme Court on behalf of the State Bar Public Corpo-ration Section Council, Michigan Municipal League, andMichigan Townships Association. The brief was filed inState of Michigan vs. McQueen, a case anticipated to bepivotal in terms of whether Michigan will have medicalmarihuana dispensaries absent new legislation.

Interviewed, on June 8, 2012 by a correspondentfrom Reuters in New York on the complaint filed by the Detroit city attorney against the state of Michigan to invalidate the Financial Stability Agreement entered intofor the governance of Detroit pending resolution of financial problems in the city.

Provided, pro bono technical assistance to the organi-zation that supports the Oakland County Parks.

Completed, municipal ethics pamphlet, with the Michi-gan Association of Municipal Attorneys, working with sixCooley students who researched relevant statutes andprovided citations of court cases and Attorney Generalopinions on respective laws governing ethics and conflictof interest for municipal officials. The pamphlet was dis-tributed to municipal attorneys across the state.

Participated, as part of a sabbatical project, in thepreparation of briefs and memos, and presented argu-ment to the State Board of Canvassers, and later to theMichigan Supreme Court, with regard to a challenge onwhether a particular proposed initiative for the amend-ment of the Michigan Constitution should be placed onthe November 2012 statewide ballot. The position advo-cated by Mr. Fisher was successful, and the proposedamendment was on the ballot.

Prepared, an amicus curiae brief in the MichiganSupreme Court on behalf of the State Bar Public Corpora-tion Section Council and Michigan Municipal League. The brief was filed in People of the State of Michigan vs.

Bylsma, a case in which the Supreme Court is pursuing afurther clarification of Michigan policy for the State MedicalMarihuana Act. The position advocated was successful,and on remand. Mr. Fisher is working with the SolicitorGeneral and County Prosecutor’s office to further the positions advocated.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

KNOWLEDGE. SKILLS. ETHICS. | COOLEY.EDU

Gerald Fisher, Professor (Cont.)

Prepared, updates for chapters in two ICLE referencebooks he had previously authored, Michigan Zoning,

Planning, and Land Use, and Michigan Municipal Law.

Recognized, for “Trailblazing Conservancy Work” in connection with the establishment and growth of the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy and assistance in preserving the natural state of key properties by conservation easement.

Presented, at the annual meeting and educational institute of the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, speaking with a Michigan Senator and member of the House of Representatives on the pursuitof good legislation in the state.

Interviewed, by the Muskegon Chronicle regardingthe status of medical marijuana regulation in Michigan,particularly relating to the legality of new and continuingdispensaries.

Interviewed, by a Barry County, Mich., newspaperconcerning the work done by him and others on a recently approved intergovernmental agreement betweenthe city of Hastings and the Charter Township of Rutlandto provide urban services within a service district withinthe township.

Provided, pro bono services for the reorganization ofthe Oakland Parks Foundation, and for the city of Jackson,Mich. for the amendment of its zoning ordinance.

Christopher G. Hastings,

Professor

Named, president of the Legal Assis-tance Center, a non-profit provider ofself-help legal resources inside the KentCounty Courthouse. In 2012, the Legal

Assistance Center helped over 17,500 people unable to afford an attorney to navigate the legal system.

Heather Garretson,

Associate Professor

Hosted, a Cooley alumni event in Portland, Oregon.

Attended, the Calvin College Inauguration brunch in honor of

Calvin’s new President Dr. Michael LeRoy.

Accepted, for publication, an article, “Repairing theDisconnect Between the Classroom and the Bluebook:An Interdisciplinary Method,” in The Learning Curve, apublication of the AALS Section on Academic Successhoused at the Sandra Day O’Connor Law School.

Presented, to the Statewide Reentry Workgroup atthe State Bar of Michigan, on reentry solutions. Herpresentation outlined ways volunteers and law studentscan work together to overcome employment barriersfor ex-offenders.

Serves, as a member of the State Bar Criminal SectionCouncil and is writing the section's amicus curiae brief tothe Michigan Supreme Court on a pending criminal case.

Richard Henke, Professor

Coordinated, the 2012 Krinock Lecture with guest speaker KennethFeinberg, architect of settlement solutions of major disasters andtragedies in the United States.

Linda Kisabeth,

Associate Professor

Presented, a paper at the 2012Hawaii University International Confer-ence on Education in Honolulu, Hawaiion Aug. 1, 2012. The paper was also

published electronically in the conference proceedings.The paper was entitled, “The Professional ExplorationProgram: An Alternative Law School Admission Process.”

Joseph Kimble, Professor

Published, an online article called“Wrong — Again — About Plain Language” in The Legislative Lawyer,produced by the Legal Services StaffSection of the National Conference of

State Legislatures. The article responded to a previous article in The Legislative Lawyer. It’s availableat http://www.ncsl.org/legislative-staff/lsss/lsss-wrong-again-about-plain-language.aspx.

Published, an article in the Michigan Bar Journal called“Tips for Better Writing in Law Reviews (and OtherJournals).”

Published, an article in the Michigan Bar Journal called“An Excerpt from Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please.”The excerpt is taken from one of the 50 case studies inProfessor Kimble's new book demonstrating the benefitsof plain language in business, government, and law.

Agreed, to speak at the annual National Conference ofLaw Reviews, to be held at Cooley in March 2013. Hewill give an editing session for those attending and alsogive the address for the Scribes dinner, which is always apart of the conference.

Continued on Following Page >

VegAsRECENT GRADUATE PUTSHER COOLEY EDUCATION

TO WORK IN lAs

In 1997, Zohra Bakhtary’s sisters attended the University of Nevada LasVegas (UNLV) on student visas, and became United States citizens duringtheir studies. Once they had citizenship, Zohra’s sisters, Nasreen, Mariamand Nahid, petitioned the government to allow Zohra and their parents, Abdul and Parwin, to enter the United States and to become citizens.

The petition was eventually granted for Abdul and Parwin, but, becauseof the way the laws were written, Zohra was not granted a visa. Her sisters asked for assistance from U.S. Senate Majority Leader HarryReid (D-Nev.). With Reid’s help, Zohra was able to move to Las Vegaswith her parents. It was in 2007, after a decade of preparation, thatZohra and her parents were sworn in as American citizens.

After earning her bachelor’s degree at UNLV, Bakhtary was acceptedinto a legislative fellowship and worked as a clerk in Reid’s office. “It wasexciting and an honor to get to work for Senator Reid, especially afterall he did to help me come to the United States,” said Zohra.

Once Zohra completed her fellowship, she attended Cooley with an interest in learning to protect individuals’ rights. Before graduating cumlaude, Zohra took full advantage of opportunities to gain legal experience.She competed in a national moot court competition, served as a teachingand research assistant for Professor James Peden, worked as a student attorney at the school’s Access to Justice Clinic, served two judicial clerkships, and worked in a public defender’s office to fulfill her externship requirement.

Zohra Bakhtary (Chipman Class, 2011) immigrated to the United States from Kabul,Afghanistan at the age of 14. The experience of becoming a citizen gave Bakhtary the opportunity to embrace the Constitution of theUnited States of America first as an applicantfor citizenship and, 15 years later, as a criminaldefense attorney. “I am protecting individuals’constitutional protections under the 4th, 5th and6th amendments,” said Bakhtary.

After graduating from Cooley and passing theNevada bar exam in early 2012, Bakhtary washired by Gabriel L. Grasso, P.C., in Las Vegas. Thefirm has handled many high-profile defense cases,including State of Nevada v. O.J. Simpson. Afterbeing with the firm for a short period, Bakhtarywas given the opportunity to defend a client in a Driving Under the Influence homicide casebeing prosecuted by the Clark County DistrictAttorney’s (D.A.) office.

While researching the case, Bakhtary discoveredthe D.A.’s office, led by Steven Wolfson, appeared to have a conflict of interest with herclient. Wolfson was appointed District Attorney of Clark County in January 2012. Before his appointment, Wolfson, as a defense attorney,represented Bakhtary’s client. In essence, herclient was being prosecuted by Wolfson’s office in the same case in which he once acted as defense counsel.

Bakhtary filed and won a motion in Nevada’sEighth Judicial District Court to disqualify theClark County District Attorney’s office, claiming aconflict of interest. The ruling was controversialbecause no court (except for one lower courtcase in New York) had ever disqualified an entiredistrict attorney’s office.

The District Attorney’s office then filed a petition to the Nevada Supreme Court (State v. District Court - Ghani), challenging thedistrict court’s decision. The Nevada SupremeCourt recognized the controversy surrounding

the case and accepted it for review. The case isawaiting a decision by that court.

Bakhtary credits her Cooley education for preparing her and giving her the ability andconfidence to respond to the petition. While wait-ing for the Nevada Supreme Court to rule on thecase, Bakhtary continues working with defendantsand protecting their constitutional rights.

“I love my job and know this is what I am supposed to be doing,” she said. “I am extremelypassionate about my job because our criminal justice system mandates that all individuals are innocent until proven guilty; however, I feel asthough sometimes there is a presumption of guiltuntil the defense proves otherwise.”

Editor’s Note: A direct link to Zohra Bakhtary’s

answer to the petition can be found at the

Nevada Supreme Court’s website at

http://tinyurl.com/bds3w8u.

Coming to AmeriCA As A Child, prACtiCing lAw As An Adult

ZoHRA BAKHTARY, ATToRNEY AT LAW AT GABRIEL L. GRASSo, P.C.

Zohra Bakhtary (right) stands with Gabriel L. Grasso (left) in front of the offices ofGabriel L. Grasso, P.C.

Zohra and her father Abdul BakhtaryFrom left: Nahid Bakhtary, Parwin Bakhtary,Nasreen Zia, Roya Zia, Zohra Bakhtary, and Mariam Bakhtary

scan this code to join cooley’s community on linkedIn.

SCHOOL NEWS

BENCHMARK COLUMN | FEBRUARY 2013 | VOLUME 5 | NUMBER 1

1976 Campbell ClassJordan, Stephen H.,was named the BestLawyers’ 2013 PittsburghEmployment Law - Individuals “Lawyer of theYear.” Only a single lawyerin each specialty in each

community is honored as the “Lawyer of theYear.” He works with Rothman Gordon, P.C.,in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Rollinger, Robert, was a guest speaker atthe Fall 2012 Conference of the InternationalRight-Of-Way Association, held at the ShantyCreek Resort, in northern Michigan. His topicfor the conference was “A View of theClaims Assessment Procedures Under the 2006 Amendments to the Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act.” E-mail:rrollingerpc@rollingerpc.com.

1977 Graves ClassQuinn, Michael, wasnamed the Best Lawyers2013 Grand Rapids FamilyLaw Lawyer of the Year. He isa member of Miller Johnson’slitigation group. His practicefocuses exclusively on family

law and related matters. He has been activelyinvolved in numerous bar affiliations on boththe state and local level, served on the Boardof Trustees for the Grand Rapids Bar Association, and chaired the Lawyer ReferralService Committee. He was chair for theGrand Rapids Bar Association Family Law Section. Mr. Quinn is also a fellow of the prestigious American Academy of MatrimonialLawyers. He is also named in The Best Lawyersin America for Family Law – Mediation and

is a Michigan Super Lawyer for Family Law. He regularly lectures at seminars for family law attorneys and judges.

1979 Wiest ClassHertzberg, Robert, of Pepper Hamilton in Detroit, Mich., has been named by MichiganSuper Lawyers magazine as a top attorney inthe state for 2012. He was also named to the2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.Hertzberg is a partner and co-chair of the firm’s Corporate Restructuring and Bank-ruptcy Practice Group, representing securedlenders, debtors, debtors-in-possession,trustees, creditors and creditors’ committees.

1980 North ClassEllis, Sharon, was named compliance director for the state of Michigan Americanswith Disabilities Act. She is responsible forcoordinating programs, activities and servicesrelated to compliance with state and federaldisability rights laws. She plans to meet withmembers of the disability community to learnmore about their concerns and organize acompliance inventory of all state buildings toensure that they meet standards identified bythe ADA and similar legislation. Before joiningstate government, she had a private law practice and worked for 20 years as a politicalcampaign consultant. Phone: (517) 241-1217.

1981 Dethmers ClassEggan, Eric J., of Honigman Miller Schwartzand Cohn LLP, was namedto Cooley Law School’sProfessionalism AdvisoryCommittee. Eggan is apartner in the firm’s litiga-

tion department and is the vice chair of the

firm’s gaming and hospitality practice. Heserves a diverse clientele in gaming, liquor,and litigation matters. Eggan joined Honigmanin 2004 after a 23-year career in state govern-ment, serving as assistant in charge of theMichigan Attorney General’s Alcohol andGambling Enforcement Division. He has beenlisted in The Best Lawyers in America from 2006through 2012 and in Michigan Super Lawyersfrom 2007 through 2011. In the community,Eggan also serves on the board of directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Michigan Capital Region.

1983 O’Hara ClassFinnegan, Deana, was elected prosecutingattorney for Shiawassee County, Mich.

1983 Chandler Classozog, Ann M., was named the State Bar ofMichigan’s Cummiskey Award winner.

Rheinberger, John R., appeared in theSeptember 2012 ABA Journal in an article entitled “Lawyer at Large” about his visitingevery country in the world (196 countries).It took him 35 years to complete this globaljourney.  He practices tax and estate planning in Stillwater, Minn., and serves as a soil and water supervisor for the Washington Conservation District.

1984 McAlvay ClassHaynes, David, president of NorthernMichigan University, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan and the Board of Directors of Northern Initiatives, acommunity development and entrepreneurorganization to serve rural area businessesand communities.

1985 T. Smith ClassCounsman, Richard T.,a senior attorney who focuses his practice in thearea of medical liability with an emphasis in birthtrauma, recently joinedPlunkett Cooney.

Counsman has handled hundreds of birthtrauma cases, and he has tried over a dozensuch matters as both a plaintiff and defense attorney. He earned Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating - AV Preeminent. Counsman represents hospitals and physicians in birth injury cases involving cerebral palsy, erbs palsy,infection, brain damage and preventable prema-ture births. He also provides training to variousmedical groups regarding effective charting,record keeping issues and, in particular, appropriate fetal monitoring.

Mathias, Mark N., was appointed to thepanel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the WesternDistrict of Wisconsin on September 9, 2012.He is an attorney with Freund Law Office inEau Claire, Wis., and teaches business law inthe College of Business for University ofWisconsin-Eau Claire. He also won an appealin which the Wisconsin appellate courtclarified the reach of Wisconsin’s long-armstatute in a breach of contract case: Johnson Litho Graphics of Eau Claire, Ltd. v.Sarver, 2010AP1441 (Sept. 6, 2012). Phone: (715) 563-3879.

1986 Mundy ClassCunningham, Janice, was elected judgefor the 56th Circuit Court, in Eaton County,Mich. She was most recently a shareholderwith the firm, Mallory, Cunningham, Lapka,Scott and Selin.

CLASSNOTESCooley encourages all graduates to contribute information to the Class Notes. We want to learn about yourlaw career and other accomplishments in the legal profession. E-mail: communications@cooley.edu

Continued on Back Page

Helen Haessly (left), Cooley Law School coordinator of development and alumni services, and Joan Vestrand (right), associatedean of Cooley’s Ann Arbor campus, present Ashley Londy (center) with the Cooley Alumni Association’s Distinguished StudentAward. Londy was also given a diploma frame endorsed with the name of the award.

Joseph Kimble, Professor (Cont.)

Began, his 15th year as editor of the Plain Language column in the Michigan Bar Journal. It's the longest-running legal-writing column anywhere.

Invites, anyone with an interest in legal writing and plainlanguage to follow him on Twitter @ProfJoeKimble.

Nelson Miller,

Associate Dean and Professor

Published, the book, Entrepreneurial

Practice: Enterprise Skills for Serving

Emerging Client Populations (VandeplasPublishing Co. 2012), co-authored with

Michael J. Dunn and John D. Crane.

Published, the book, Building Your Practice with Pro Bono

for Lawyers (ABA Law Practice Management Section 2012).

Marla Mitchell-Cichon,

Professor

Served, as the guest speaker at theSaginaw County Bar Association's ProBono Luncheon on Oct. 24. 2012.

Presented, her paper, “What's JusticeGot To Do With It? When the Prosecutor Has An EthicalDuty to Agree to Post-Conviction DNA Testing” at theAccess to Justice Conference in Durban, South Africa onDec. 10, 2012. The conference honored David McQuoidMason, the founder of legal aid and clinical legal educationin South Africa.

otto Stockmeyer,

Emeritus Professor

Published, an article, “My Encounterwith Canned Briefs” in the May 2012issue of The Pillar, available athttp://ssrn.com/abstract=1994462.

Published, an article, “How to Maximize Your Article’sImpact,” in the Spring 2012 issue of The Scrivener, available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2064756.

Published, an article, “Enhancing Instruction with Online Limericks,” in the Fall 2012 issue of The Law

Teacher, available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1973619.

Published, an article, “Tips for Presenting a Paper,” inthe Fall 2012 issue of The Scrivener, available athttp://ssrn.com/abstract=2187517.

Kathy Swedlow, Professor

Continues, her service on the Screening Committee of the ABA SilverGavel Awards for Media and the Arts.The awards have been presented annually since the late 1950s in order to

“recognize annually eligible entries from communicationsmedia that have been exemplary in helping to foster theAmerican public’s understanding of the law and the legalsystem.” From 2008 to 2011, Professor Swedlow servedon the Standing Committee for the Silver Gavel Awards;however, due to term limits, she now helps with screeningsubmissions.

Continues, to serve as a vice-chair of the ABA's DeathPenalty Committee of the Section on Individual Rightsand Responsibility. In that capacity, Professor Swedlowserves as a liaison between the committee and theThomas M. Cooley Law Review, facilitating publication bythe Law Review of the transcript of the InternationalLeadership Conference on Human Rights and the DeathPenalty, held in 2005 in Tokyo, Japan.

Kara Zech Thelen,

Assistant Professor

Judged, for the WriteMark competi-tion, recognizing documents and webpages that meet New Zealand’shigh standards of plain language.

Invited, to judge for the Center for Plain Language’sClearMark awards, recognizing the best in clear communication and plain language from government,non-profits, and private companies.

Spoke, at the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning’ssummer conference, Value of Variety/Reflecting on OurTeaching, about a teaching collaboration with professorsJane Siegel, Tonya Krause-Phelan, and Heather Garretson.

Attended, Clarity’s Fifth International Conference inWashington, D.C. Clarity is an international organizationpromoting plain language.

Amy Timmer,

Associate Dean and Professor

Co-authored, with Cooley studentMatt Cristiano, the book Innovative

Mentoring, published by ThomsonReuters.

Christopher Trudeau,

Associate Professor

Published, an article, “The PublicSpeaks: An Empirical Study of LegalCommunication,” in volume 14 of theScribes Journal of Legal Writing.

Continued on Following Page >

cooley’s AUBURN hIlls cAMPUs ReceIves coMMUNIty hoNoRThe Oakland County Board of Commissioners presented Cooley Law School Associate Dean JohnNussbaumer with a proclamation honoring the school’s outreach efforts aiding the community.

During the presentation, Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair Michael Gingell read theproclamation, which said, “This prominent institution has aided the greater community through its exceptional outreach efforts led by faculty and supported by students whose contributions include providing legal services to veterans with its Service to Soldiers Program, Family Law Assistance Programand Estate Planning Clinic for Seniors 60 plus, which are only a few outreach initiatives implemented atthe Auburn Hills campus.”

“We are honored that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners presented Cooley Law Schoolwith this proclamation,” said Nussbaumer. “Cooley Law School believes, teaches and practices a cultureof professionalism; we are challenged to adopt professionalism and community support as a way of life.We do this through teaching, learning, serving, and reaching out beyond the confines of the school.”

Oakland County Commissioner Angela River (left) and Oakland County Board ofCommissioners Vice Chair Jeff Matis (right) present Thomas M. Cooley AssociateDean John Nussbaumer (center) with a proclamation honoring the school for aidingthe community through its exceptional outreach.

AlUMNI eNJoy lUNch At tAIPeI 101While on a visit to Taipei, Taiwan(Republic of China) in late December2012, Associate Dean James Robbmet with two of several Cooleyalumni who live and work there. Chi-Hsi Chao (Weadock Class,1999) and Min-Cheng “Billy” Chen(Edwards Class, 2006) gathered withRobb and other guests for lunch atTaipei 101, the third tallest building in the world.

Chao, who hosted the lunch, workswith the Chien Yeh Law Offices inTaipei. He practices in the areas ofdomestic and cross-border mergersand acquisitions, securities exchange

and commercial transactions, intellectual property, and labor and employ-ment. His firm is one of the leading firms in Taiwan, with its main offices inthe Taipei 101 building. Chao has held appointments with governmental andservice agencies in the areas of economic affairs and consumer protection.He serves as assistant professor at the Chinese Culture University School ofLaw in Taipei.

Chen works with K&L Gates, one of the world’s largest law firms with offices in 46 cities on five continents, from D.C. to Poland, from England toAustralia, and just about everywhere in between. He practices in the areasof corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and international trade. He hasalso served as corporate counsel to companies in Taiwan and China. Aftergraduating from Cooley, he practiced in Michigan for several years and tothis day remains an active member of the State Bar of Michigan.

Both Chao and Chen fondly recalled their Cooley days. “I particularly remember Professors Maurice Munroe, who I had for Contracts, and JohnBrennan in Civil Procedure,” said Chao. Chen echoed, “I also had ProfessorMunroe, but for Constitutional Law, and fondly recall Professor RichardHenke for Property and Equity and Remedies.” They joined together tosay, from 13 time zones away, “We wish to say hello to all our friendsback at Cooley.”

Ashley loNdy ReceIves AlUMNI AssocIAtIoN’s dIstINGUIshed stUdeNt AwARdCooley’s Alumni Association recently honored Ashley Londy, ofPinckney, Mich., with the Distinguished Student Award. The AlumniAssociation gives graduating seniors, faculty and staff the opportunityto nominate candidates for the Distinguished Student Award eachterm. The selection of winning students is based upon a combinationof academic accomplishment, professionalism and ethics, demonstratedleadership, meaningful extra-curricular activities, and post-graduate plans.

Londy has been named to the Dean’s List six times and Cooley’s HonorRoll seven times. She has served as a teaching assistant for four different professors. In addition to this work, Londy has donated her time to serveas a note taker for students with disabilities and has served as an exam proctor during final examinations. She has spent many hours conducting campus tours and taking time from each break to assist with new student orientations as a Cooley Ambassador. Londy has been active with the Student Bar Association and served as parliamentarian. Her volunteer efforts have included an initiative that fed 200 needyfamilies in Washtenaw County, serving as a student attorney for theschool’s Service to Soldiers program, and planting flowers at low-income housing facilities in the community.

Associate Dean James Robb (center), Chi-Hsi Chao andMin-Cheng “Billy” Chen gathered with other guests forlunch at Taipei 101, the third tallest building in the world.

ZANetA AdAMs hoNoRed wIth stUdeNt GReAt deeds AwARd foR seRvIceto coUNtRy ANd coMMUNIty

Cooley’s Center for Ethics, Service, and Professionalism honoredGrand Rapids campus student Zaneta Adams with the Student GreatDeeds Award.

Cooley bestows this award to recognize students who have demonstratedoutstanding commitment to the service of others. The program acceptsnominations from classmates, staff, faculty, and community members whowitness students going above and beyond in the area of public service,whether through long-term commitment or through a single act ofgreat service.

“It has been just one year since Zaneta started her law school career, and already she has made a huge impact on our campus and west Michigan,”noted Karen Rowlader, Assistant Director of the center. “Even beforeZaneta came to Grand Rapids, she was going above and beyond in the areaof community service and service to her country.”

Adams served in the U.S. Army for eight years. She was injured in 2005while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, when, just before deploying, shefell 11 feet off a truck while doing a combat training maneuver. After twoback surgeries, the soldier was told she would never walk again. Rowladersaid Adams thought her service to her county and to others was over.

“Well, she fought strong and hard through rehabilitation, and we have evidence today that the doctors underestimated her determination andtenacity,” Rowlader reported.

Adams has since used her talents as a singer and songwriter to raiseawareness of the needs of our nation’s returning service men andwomen. In 2010, she traveled throughout the country, singing the National Anthem as a representative of the Wounded Warriors Project.She even has had opportunities to open concerts and to record withGrammy Award winners Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels, andGretchen Wilson.

Adams’ work supporting veterans has continued during her time at Cooley.Rowlader noted that Adams is working on founding a national nonprofit organization called Women Injured in Combat, or WINC. Efforts are focused on programming assistance and support for affected service women.

Adams is president of the Cooley Veterans Corps, with a goal of starting apro bono program to assist veterans on a monthly basis at the local VeteransAdministration office. She has also taken steps to assist in learning how tostart a Veteran’s Court in Kent County.

Adams has been instrumental in establishing a Veterans Day Program that is becoming a tradition at Cooley. The luncheon is attended by homeless veterans, members of the legislature, and others, all showing support andappreciation for military service and those who serve our veterans.

She is an advocate and spokesperson for Challenge America, a national initiative that connects the military and military families with resources intheir own communities; and for Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organizationthat offers scholarships and support for dependents of fallen soldiers. Shealso serves as a state contact on veterans for U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow,D-Michigan.

In addition to her military work, Adams is president of the Black Law Students Association at the Grand Rapids campus, and has served as a graduate assistant in the Academic Resource Center and a Cooley Ambassador. She has made the Dean’s List each term, was a First-YearMock Trial Competition winner, and a Top Sixth advocate in the Intra-School Moot Court competition during the summer. Adams and her husband Joe have six children.

Karen Rowlader (left), Assistant Director of the Center for Ethics Service and Professionalism, and Zaneta Adams (right)

From left: Joe Krinock (second from left), youngest son of former dean and professor Robert Krinock (for whom the lectureseries at Cooley is named) and his wife Liz, had a chance to meet with Cooley Professor Richard Henke (second from right)and speaker Kenneth Feinberg. Krinock is a political analyst for the U.S. State Department in Kiev, Ukraine.

kRINock lectURe seRIes BRINGs NAtIoNAlly kNowN AttoRNeykeNNeth feINBeRG, ARchItect ofthe hIstoRIcAl settleMeNts foRvIctIMs of 9/11 ANd BP oIl sPIll, to cooleyThe lawyer behind the compensation programs for the victims of 9/11, the2010 BP (British Petroleum) oil spill, the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, andother tragedies in the United States told a capacity crowd at Cooley LawSchool in November that the programs — while very successful — werenot a blueprint for handling future disasters.

“The 9/11 Fund is a precedent for nothing,” saidattorney Kenneth R. Feinberg. “It will never becopied, nor should it.” Feinberg spoke at Cooley as part of the school’s Krinock Lecture Series.He is the founder and managing partner of Feinberg Rozen, LLP, in NewYork City and Washington, D.C., and has been in the forefront of claim settlement programs for the biggest disasters and tragedies in U.S. history.

Feinberg’s visit is part of an ongoing commitment by Cooley to bringnationally and internationally known speakers to the school to talk withstudents about the practice of law. Through the Krinock lecture series andother programs, the law school has recently organized or sponsored eventsfeaturing U.S. Supreme Court Justice (retired) John Paul Stevens, IsraeliSupreme Court Justice Salim Joubran, U.S. Ambassador Luis Cdebaca,U.S. Rep. Hansen Clarke, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, MichiganSupreme Court Justice Brian Zahra, to name just a few.

The Krinock Lecture series was established by the faculty conference of Cooley Law School to honor the late Robert Krinock, who served as profes-sor and dean at Cooley Law School until his death in 1986 at the age of 45.

tAMPA BAy cAMPUs exPANds INstRUc-tIoNAl offeRINGs ANd Adds fAcUltyCooley Law School’s Tampa Bay campus has expanded its course offer-ings for the January 2013 term to include afternoon classes. Cooleybegan offering evening classes when the campus opened in May 2012and morning classes were added the following September. In additionto offering afternoon classes, Associate Dean Jeff Martlew recentlyannounced the addition of three new faculty members to the campus’teaching ranks.

Renalia Smith DuBose, of Plant City, Fla., will serve as anadjunct professor teaching Contracts. She is currently theassistant superintendent for administration at Pasco CountySchools where she is responsible for oversight of humanresources, employee relations, information services, trans-portation and the district’s education foundation. DuBose

previously served as an adjunct professor at St. Leo University and the University of Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Universityof Florida, her master’s degree from the University of Southern Florida andher juris doctor from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Victoria Cruz-Garcia, of Tampa Bay, Fla., joined Cooley’s full-time faculty and will teach Professional Responsibility.Most recently, she was a partner at Cruz-Garcia Law, P.A.,where her primary areas of practice included family lawand commercial litigation. She was a trial attorney in theCommercial Litigation Practice Group at Solomon Law

Group, P.A. Cruz-Garcia also served as a supervising attorney in civil litigation at the Curry Law Group, P.A. and at Joyce Reyes, P.A. Sheearned a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a juris doctorfrom Stetson College of Law. She is president of the Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association and serves on the Voluntary Bar Liaison Committee for the Florida Bar Association.

Barbara Kalinowski, of Canton, Mich., joined Cooley’s full-time faculty and will teach Legal Research and Writing.Before joining Cooley as an adjunct professor at the school’sMichigan campuses, Kalinowski was the director of research,writing, and advocacy programs at Ave Maria School of Law.She has held staff positions with the Michigan Court of

Appeals and the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, and operated asolo appellate research and brief writing practice. Kalinowski earned herbachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and her juris doctorfrom Wayne State University, in Detroit, Mich.

“The experiences that professors Cruz-Garcia, DuBose and Kalinowskibring to Cooley are paramount to the growth of our legal programs,” said Jeff Martlew, Associate Dean at Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus. “Our students will be receiving education from experts who have extensiveexperience practicing law and this translates into graduates who will bepractice-ready.”

SCHOOL NEWS

KNOWLEDGE. SKILLS. ETHICS. | COOLEY.EDU

Christopher Trudeau, Associate Professor (Cont.)

Presented, Swimming with the Sharks: Strategies forConvincing Lawyers (and Other Guilty Parties) to AdoptPlain Language, on Sept. 7, 2012, at Plain Talk 2012, a national health literacy conference hosted by Maximus.

Cynthia Ward, Assistant Dean

and Professor

Spoke, at the Association of American Law Schools 2013 AnnualMeeting in New Orleans. She was apanelist on the topic of the value of

cross cultural programming in a global legal market.

Awarded, the Outstanding Service and DedicationAward by the Black Law Students Association.

Appointed, to the Pro Bono Initiative of the State Barof Michigan.

SAVE the DATE

LANSING, MIFriday, March 1, 2013 // 6:30 p.m.

Legal Ease Wine & Cheese Benefit/Silent Auction

The University Club of MSU3435 Forest RoadLansing, MI 48909

PALM BEACH, FLTuesday, March 5, 2013 // 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Nick & Johnnie's207 Royal Poinciana WayPalm Beach, FL 33480

CoRAL GABLES, FLWednesday, March 6, 2013 // 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Law office of Becker Poliakoff121 Alhambra Plaza, 10th floorCoral Gables, FL 33134

NAPLES, FLThursday, March 7, 2013 // 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Roy’s Restaurant475 Bayfront PlaceNaples, FL 34102

TAMPA BAY, FLFriday, March 8, 2013 // 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Cooley Law School9445 Camden Field Pkwy.Riverview, FL 33578

WASHINGToN, D.CMonday,April 15, 2013 // 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Union Pub201 Massachusetts Ave. NE,Washington, DC 20002

BALTIMoRE, MDTuesday,April 16, 2013 // 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Location to be announced.

NEW YoRK CITYWednesday,April 17, 2013 // 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Trump Tower Grill725 Fifth Ave.New York, NY 10022

STRATFoRD FESTIVAL ALUMNI BUS TRIPSaturday, May 4, 2013 // 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Departing Cooley Lansing Campus 8:00 a.m. (brief pickup in Flint at I-69/I-75 interchange) and returning to Lansing at approximately 10 p.m.$130.00 per person. This includes luxury motor coachand continental breakfast, roundtrip to charmingStratford, ontario, Canada and a 2:00 p.m. performance of Fiddler on the Roof at the beautifulFestival Theatre. Lunch and dinner in Stratford is on your own.You must have a valid passport. Space limited to the first 30 reservations.

Please RSVP prior to these events at cooley.edu/alumni/events.html

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR COOLEYALUMNI AND FRIENDS

NEWLY ELECTED JUDICIAL ALUMNI

The Office of Alumni & Development hosted an alumnireception for newly elected judicial alumni at the MichiganJudicial Institute on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at theLexington Hotel in Lansing. Nineteen Cooley alumni havebeen sworn into office in 2013, many of whom attendedthe reception. We congratulate this esteemed group andwish them well.

Hon. James Jamo (30th Circuit Court Lansing), Hon. Daniel Goostry (12thDistrict Jackson), Hon. Gregory Ross ( 73A District Court Sanduskey),Hon. Kristen Bakker ( Gratiot County Probate-Ithaca), Hon. Robert Pattison(3-B District Court Centreville), Hon. David Tomlinson (St. Joseph CountryProbate Centreville), Hon. Janice Cunningham (56th Circuit CourtCharlotte), Hon. Benjamin Bosler (Montmorency County Probate Atlanta),Hon. Annette Smedley (14th Circuit Court Muskegon), President and DeanDon LeDuc, Hon. Michael West (31st Circuit Court Port Huron). NOTPICTURED: Hon. Joseph Burke (15th District Court Ann Arbor), Hon.Thomas Dignan (Shiawassee Country Probate Corunna), Hon. PrentisEdwards, Jr. (36th District Court Detroit), Hon. James Lambros ( 50thCircuit Court Sault Ste. Marie), Hon. Christopher Martin (Iosco CountryProbate Tawas City), Hon. John Mead (Benzie County Probate Beulah),Hon. Lisa Marie Neilson (3rd Circuit Court Detroit), Hon. Sam Salamey(19th District Court Dearborn), Hon. Nancy Thane (Tuscola CountyProbate Caro).

ALUMNI MATTERS

BENCHMARK COLUMN | JANUARY 2013 | VOLUME 5 | NUMBER 1

1986 Mundy Class (continued)Thane, Nancy L., was elected Tuscola County,Mich., Probate Judge.

1988 Green ClassBrown, Margaret L. M., is member of Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.

1988 Pratt ClassForbush,Audrey, a partnerin the Flint, Mich., office ofPlunkett Cooney, was selectedas one of Michigan LawyersWeekly’s “2012 Women in theLaw.” The honorees were rec-ognized in a special section of

Michigan Lawyers Weekly on Sept. 10 and werehonored at the third annual Women in the Lawluncheon on Sept. 27, at the Detroit Marriott inTroy. Forbush focuses her practice primarily in the area of municipal liability and has particular expertise in police liability litigation. She also advises municipalities on employment matters, includingemployee discipline and discharge situations, andlabor contract issues. In addition, Forbush defendsphysicians and hospitals in medical malpracticematters and attorneys facing legal malpracticeclaims. Forbush serves as legal adviser to the Law Enforcement Action Forum, an organization consisting of select law enforcement executivesthroughout the State of Michigan.

1988 Martin ClassDignan, Thomas J., was elected Probate and Family Judge for the 35th Circuit Court in Shiawassee County, Mich.

1990 Witherell ClassKnuth, Eric J., was namedmanaging attorney of the CivilLitigation Division with the lawfirm of Vernis & Bowling, P.A. in Miami, Fla.  The firm has 15offices throughout Florida, Alabama, North Carolina and

Georgia. Eric practices in the field of insurance defense, specializing in wrongful death, negligentsecurity, premises liability, construction defect litigation, products liability, commercial truckinglitigation and declaratory judgment actions.Phone: (305) 895-3035; e-mail: eknuth@florida-law.com.

1991 Turner ClassPasteur, Michelyn E., of Bernick, Radner & Ouellette,P.C., was named by The BestLawyers in America as the“Medicaid and Elder Law Attorney of the Year” for theGreater Lansing area. She

practices in the areas of elder law and Medicaidplanning, estate planning, and trust and estate administration. Micki is a past chairperson of theIngham County Bar Association Probate and EstatePlanning Section, a longtime member of theGreater Lansing Probate & Estate Planning Council, and a member of the National Academyof Elder Law Attorneys. She has authored severalarticles for the State Bar of Michigan Probate & Estate Planning Journal. She is listed in The BestLawyers in America in the area of Elder Law and is listed in Michigan Super Lawyers in the area of Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate, andBusiness/Corporate Law. 

Rocco, Jeffry, was hired by the Grand Blanc,Mich., School Board as business manager. He wasselected from a pool of more than 20 candidatesfor the position. He was the controller forKoegel Meats of Flint, Mich., for the past 12 years.Rocco is also the current treasurer of the Genesee County Bar Foundation.

1992 Montgomery ClassBeckley, Elizabeth S. “Liesl,” was elected and began serving in January 2012 as a magisterial district judge in District Court in Pennsylvania. She is in private practice withBeckley & Madden in Harrisburg, Penn.Phone:  (717) 233-7691

Kelley, Martin C., was elected judge of theCircuit Court of Cook County, for the 13th Judicial Subcircuit. He joined the family firm ofKelley, Kelley & Kelley in 1992, focusing on personal injury, worker's compensation, medicalmalpractice and probate. Martin previouslyserved on the Board of Governors of the North-west Suburban Bar Association (NWSBA), as apast chair of the Pro Bono Committee, and asthe attorney for the NWSBA. He is also active in the Chicago Bar Association and the IllinoisWorker's Compensation Lawyers Association.

1993 Hooker ClassBolser, Benjamin, was elected Probate Judgefor Montmorency County, Mich.

Kolasa, Mike, of Marquette,Mich., served as an instructorto his peers at the prestigiousCannon Financial Institute atthe University of Notre Dame.Kolasa, who is Vice President &Trust Officer at The Stephenson

National Bank & Trust (SNBT) Marquette Trust & Investment Services, taught approximately 30 professionals from around the country. He was chosen to be an instructor for theTrust II Course.

1995 Bird ClassMyszak, Heide, was promoted to partner inthe Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Trott & Trott.Before becoming partner, she worked as a senior attorney in the title department for nearlyfive years.

1996 Moody Jr. ClassDeRosier, Phillip J., was listed in Best Lawyersin America and Michigan Super Lawyers as a leader in the appellate practice area. Mr. DeRosier is amember in Dickinson Wright PLLC’s office in Detroit, Mich. He focuses his practice on appellatelaw. He was also elected chair of the State Bar ofMichigan’s Appellate Practice Section on Sept. 20.

1997 Adams ClassFlynn, George, was electedto a shareholder position with Clausen Miller, P.C., inChicago Ill. He concentrateshis practice in general andprofessional liability defense,including legal malpractice

defense. Phone: (312) 606-7726

1997 Fellows ClassYoung, Gary, settled two motor vehicle accident litigations at separate mediations for$800,000 and $900,000 respectively. He regularlyhandles negligence cases in Long Island and inNew York City. Further, the readership of theLong Island Press voted Gary as a “Best Lawyer”for the year of 2012 and nominated him as candidate for “Best Lawyer” for the year 2013.Phone: (516) 826-8938.

1998 Sharpe ClassWeinreich, Christine, wasnamed director of corporateand foundation relations for the Southern College of Optometry, an independent,nonprofit academic institution.She is responsible for writing

grant applications, networking with potential community partners and donors, and speakingpublicly, delivering presentations on behalf of thecollege. Weinreich practiced law in Michigan for 13 years, primarily in the areas of family law and bankruptcy, before taking on her new role inMemphis, Tenn. Weinreich volunteers for theGreater Memphis Greenline and serves on theboard of a newly established nonprofit calledOutreach Housing and Community Inc., whichworks with the homeless mentally ill population.

1999 Fead ClassPoynter, Richard W., was elected Judge of the Jackson Circuit Court, 40th Judicial Circuit, in Indiana, His six-year term began Jan. 1, 2013.

Stratton, Timothy A., an attorney with Gust Rosenfeld in Phoenix, Ariz., was appointedchairman of the city of Scottsdale, Ariz., Board of Adjustment. His practice is focused on public finance and municipal law. He represents collegesand universities, special districts, cities, towns andother units of local government in all matters related to the issuance of municipal securities.

1999 Weadock ClassWilson, Michelle, program director of legalstudies for Bryant & Stratton College’s Richmond,Va., campus, has received advanced paralegal certification from NALA, the Association of LegalAssistants/Paralegals. She has been with Bryant &Stratton since 2005.

2000 Rutledge ClassSmedley,Annette, was elected Circuit CourtJudge in Muskegon County.

2001 Wilson ClassRattet, Kim, was promoted to partner in theFarmington Hills-based Trott & Trott. Rattet hasbeen with Trott since May 2002, where sheserved as a staff attorney before being promotedto supervising attorney in 2003.

2001 Blair Jr. ClassGardner, Katherine S., received the Pro BonoAttorney of the Year Award from the SaginawCounty Bar Association for commitment to providing services to those in need.  She alsohelped found and serve on the board of directorsof Sadie’s Dream for a Cure, Inc., a nonprofit organization which assists pediatric cancer patientsand their families.  She is an attorney with Gafkay& Gardner, PLC, in Frankenmuth, Mich. Phone:(989) 652-9240; e-mail: kgardner@gafkaylaw.com.

2002 T. Johnson ClassChartier, Mary, and her law partner Natalie Alane(Chase Class, 2002) arepleased to announce that theirlaw firm, Alane & Chartier,P.L.C., received the Pro BonoCircle of Excellence Award

from the State Bar of Michigan for the third yearin a row.  The award is given to those firms thathave shown a proven commitment to providinglegal services to the poor.  Mary specializes incriminal defense and appellate work in state andfederal court. Phone: (517) 482-2000; e-mail:mary@alanechartier.com .

2002 Chase ClassAlane, Natalie, and her law partner Mary Chartier (T. Johnson Class, 2002) arepleased to announce that theirlaw firm,Alane & Chartier,P.L.C., received the Pro BonoCircle of Excellence Award

from the State Bar of Michigan for the third yearin a row. The award is given to those firms thathave shown a proven commitment to providinglegal services to the poor. Natalie specializes infamily law and appellate work. Phone: (517) 482-2000; e-mail: natalie@alanechartier.com.

2003 Swainson ClassHope, Kara Henigan, waselected to a two-year term on the Ingham County Com-mission for District 7, beginningin January 2013. She is thefounding president of the HoltCommunity Arts Council, and is

on the board of the Michigan Victim Alliance. TheMVA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to thehealing and protection of survivors of violence,abuse, and other forms of trauma. She has alsoserved as an adjunct faculty member at Cooley,teaching Advanced Writing.

Mead, John D., was elected as a Benzie CountyProbate Judge. He was previously employed as aFamily Division Referee (19th Judicial Circuit) andDistrict Court Magistrate (85th District Court).While attending Cooley, he was employed as theUndersheriff of the Benzie County Sheriff's Office.

2005 McAllister ClassEngelhardt, Chad, was named a partner atGoethel Engelhardt, PLLC, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Hefocuses his practice on the litigation of complexmedical malpractice, catastrophic injury, andwrongful death cases. He also serves as an adjunctprofessor and clinical field supervisor for Cooley’sAnn Arbor campus. Phone: (734) 769-6838; e-mail: chad@cmtjustice.com.

Johnson, Nicholas, has returned to Querrey &Harrow and will practice in the firm’s Waukegan,Wis., office. He focuses his practice on litigation,construction law, and contract issues. Mr. Johnsonis a member of several bar associations, the Defense Research Institute, and the Illinois Associ-ation of Defense Trial Counsel. He also sits on theZoning and Building Commission for the village of Antioch, where he resides with his family.

2005 Boyles ClassManolache, Gabriella, accepted a position at the University of Michigan as the assistant director of their international center and will be managing the university's faculty and staff immigration services department.

2005 Starr ClassGower, Jason, announces the opening of a lawoffice in Grand Rapids, Mich. He continues to operate the Bay City, Mich., practice he opened in2006. His once-solo practice has expanded to ateam of five attorneys. Gower Reddick PLC, The People's Firm, serves clients throughoutmid-Michigan, and now in the western part of thestate. He has tried to jury verdict 27 criminal trials, with 23 acquittals.  Recently, Mr. Gowerwas named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, andhis law firm was named in first place a “Five StarFavorite” by the readers of The Bay City Times.Gower Reddick serves clients in criminal defense,administrative law-license appeals, wills/estateplanning, consumer bankruptcy, & personal injury.Phone: (989) 894-0100.

James, Daniel M., was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Hampshire County, W.V.

2006 Edwards Jr. ClassBrush, Michael, was awarded the Direct Energyand Dayton Daily News 2012 Volunteer Citizen ofthe Year Award celebrating his volunteerism andmentorship an attorney at Freund, Freeze andArnold in Dayton. He has volunteered and beeninvolved in fundraising initiatives for a variety oforganizations in the Dayton, Ohio, area such as the American Cancer Society and its annual Gala of Hope, the Dayton Bar Association, theChildren’s Organ Transplant Association, the Mark A. Kreusch Memorial Fund, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley. He also volunteers for the Dayton Bar Association’s Lead-ership Development Program and the DaytonEarly College Academy’s Court Camp, speaking toyoung students interested in the practice of law.

2006 Fitzgerald ClassGoodman, Jeremy M., amanaging partner of GoodmanLaw in Phoenix, Ariz., graduatedfrom the prestigious PacificCoast Banking School uponcompleting a three-year masterslevel extension program for

senior officers in the banking industry. The pro-gram is part of the Pacific Bankers Management Institute, which is the premier national graduateschool of banking at the University of Washington.Mr. Goodman is one of only 165 graduates repre-senting 21 states, and other countries, who studiedrisk management, financial performance and lead-ership to gain executive level understanding of thebusiness of banking. He is the only private practiceattorney from Arizona to ever graduate from theprogram and joins 180 alumni who are some ofthe most senior bankers and regulators in Arizona.

Rowland, Matthew, managing attorney forthe New Mexico Legal Aid office in Clovis, N.M.,spoke at a forum on landlord rights and responsi-bilities. The forums were put on through NewMexico Legal Aid and the United Way of EasternNew Mexico.

2007 Fisher ClassCastro, Claudia, was named as one of this2012’s “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 To Watch.”Claudia E. Castro is an assistant state’s attorneywith the Cook County State's Attorney’s Office,Community Justice Center-Central Office, inChicago, Ill. Phone: (312) 325-9704; e-mail:claudia.castro@cookcountyil.gov.

Latuszek, Jodi M., manage-ment analyst, Child WelfareServices, State Court Adminis-trative Office, was honored withthe Schoolcraft College Distin-guished Alumni Award for 2012in recognition of her work in

the legal accomplishments and advocacy for highereducation. She was also named one of SchoolcraftCollege's Difference Makers. She works for theMichigan State Court Administrative Office's ChildWelfare Service Division. Phone: (517) 373-4987;e-mail: latuszekj@courts.mi.gov.

Zimny, Erica, was promoted to supervising attorney in the Jackson Office of Legal Services ofSouth Central Michigan. E-mail: ericaz@lsscm.org.

2007 Boston ClassTichelaar, Jennifer M.(Endl), an attorney with theGallagher Law Firm in Lansing,Mich., was appointed by theMichigan State Bar AssociationBoard of Commissioners toserve on the State Bar Charac-

ter and Fitness Committee. The committee investi-gates the character and fitness of candidates foradmission to the Bar. She resides in Grand Rapidsand focuses her practice on business, real estateand probate litigation. Phone: (517) 853-1500.

2008 Sharpe ClassGruber, Kimberly A.,

married Keith L. Kleinhans (C.J. Adams Class, 2008) on Aug. 16, 2012, on St. John Islandin the U.S. Virgin Islands. Keithand Kim operate their own personal injury and family law practice, The Law Office

of Kleinhans Gruber, PLLC, in Austin, Texas. Phone: (512) 961-8512; e-mail: kim@lawofficeofkg.com.

Reddick, Adam, was elected president of the Bay County Michigan Bar Association toserve the 2013-2014 term. He is an attorneywith Gower Reddick PLC in Bay City, Mich. Phone: (989) 894-0100.

2008 C.J. Adams ClassFrazier, Melanie T., (LL.M.),of Howard & Howard Attor-neys PLLC, was appointed tothe Academic Committee forthe International Trademark Association (INTA). She workswith the professors subcom-

mittee as a trademark practitioner to assist in thedevelopment of trademark education programs.

Kleinhans, Keith L.,married Kimberly A. Gruber(Sharpe Class, 2008) on Aug.16, 2012, on St. John Island inthe U.S. Virgin Islands. Keithand Kim operate their ownpersonal injury and family law

practice, The Law Office of Kleinhans Gruber,PLLC, in Austin, Texas. Phone: (512) 961-8512; e-mail: keith@lawofficeofkg.com.

2010 Woodward ClassStarr, Colleen, joined Morgan and Miller, P.C.,in Lapeer, Mich., as an associate attorney. She focuses her practice on criminal, probate, family,and business law matters.

Stella, Lindsay C., joined the law firm ofMirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC inWheaton, Ill., where she practices family law. She was appointed to Women and the LawCommittee for the Illinois State Bar Associationand is the chair of the New Lawyer’s Committeein DuPage County.  Phone: (630) 665-7300; e-mail: lindsay@mkfmlaw.com.

2010 Witherell ClassBarnaby, Kate (Fetkenhier), an attorneywith the Gallagher Law Firm,PLC, was selected as one of 20“Up & Coming Lawyers” byMichigan Lawyers Weekly for2012. This annual selection

recognizes outstanding young attorneys in the statewho have made a significant impact on the legalprofession and who have distinguished themselvesfrom thousands of other young lawyers in Michigan.Kate’s practice areas include oil and gas law, real estate law, business law, and banking law. She is anactive member of The Rocky Mountain MineralLaw Foundation, The Michigan Oil and Gas Associa-tion, Legal and Legislative Committee, and TheMichigan Association of Professional Landmen. TheGallagher Law Firm has offices in Detroit, GrandRapids, Lansing and Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

Gorney, Mollie D., has become an associate ofher father’s law firm, James J. Gorney P.C., basedin La Plata, Md. She was previously employed asan assistant public defender for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender in Charles Countyand will continue to practice in the area of criminal defense.

Jabr, Mona K., serves as the vice-chair of the Providing Access to Legal Services (PALS) Committee for the Oakland County Bar Association. PALS is charged with implementing programs that provide an understanding of thelegal system within the community and supportscommunity outreach including legal aid clinics.

2011 Sibley ClassBarbadillo, Stacy, joinedMarger Johnson & McCollom,P.C. in Portland, Ore., as apatent attorney.

2011 Chipman ClassBeckley, Emily (Draper), has joined Stansbery, Schoenberger and Scheck as an associate attorney. The law firm is located inUpper Sandusky, Ohio. She practices criminal defense and domestic relations.

Higgins, Christopher, joined the Woodbridge, N.J., law firm of Steven J. Sico & Associates, P.C. as an associate practicing bankruptcy law and general litigation. 

Fantetti, Kelly (Stewart), court counsel for the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Bradenton,Fla., and Steve Fantetti, an independent legal consultant, married Aug. 25, 2012. Phone: (941) 749-3600 ext. 7043; e-mail: kfantetti@jud12.flcourts.org.

Wiaduck,Alana L., joined the Muskegon,Mich., office of McCroskey Lawwith a focus on family law, per-sonal injury, and criminal de-fense. Phone: (231) 726-4861;e-mail: awiaduck@mccroskey-law.com.

2011 Wilkins ClassVillaronga, Michelle, joined the Bronx, N.Y.,District Attorney’s office as a new assistant district attorney.

2012 Hilligan ClassNemerof, Michael B., is an associate at TheLaw Offices of Paul A. Herman, P.A., a consumerlaw litigation firm located in Boca Raton, Fla. He specializes in debt defense, student loan modification, and bankruptcy. 

NOTICES1977 Christiancy ClassPage, Jean Kaser, 94, passed away on Sept. 22,2012, in Jackson, Mich. Her legal career includedtime as an assistant prosecutor in JacksonCounty, as in-house counsel at CommonwealthAssociates, and in her private law practice.

1985 T. Smith ClassGrady, Delores A., 85, of Williamston, Mich.passed away on Aug. 5, 2012.

1985 Morell ClassBevins, Michael L., 54, passed away on Aug. 3, 2012, after a battle with cancer. Following graduation from Cooley, he worked atScholten Fant Attorneys. He spent years as a socialworker in the Community Mental Health Systemand two years working for the Michigan Court ofAppeals. After a year with Michigan Protectionand Advocacy Service, practicing exclusively inspecial education law, he engaged in a generalsolo practice until 1995. As a partner in theScholten Fant Law firm, Michael had representedschool districts in the area of school law with theprimary emphasis in the area of special education.Michael was an adjunct professor at Grand ValleyUniversity and Western Michigan University wherehe taught graduate courses in Special EducationLaw. Michael was also a frequent lecturer on special education law.

1988 Green ClassBrundage, Matthew, passed away Nov. 3,2011. He was the Chief Probation Officer for the 54-B District Court in East Lansing, Mich.

1993 Carpenter ClassSnippen, Roger D., 65, of Sitka,Alaska, passedaway on May 18, 2012. He had a bachelor’s degree in forest engineering and an M.B.A. Heserved in Vietnam during 1966-67 as a sergeantwith the 173rd Airborne Infantry. He worked in the private sector of the forest industry inOregon, Washington and Alaska for severalyears. He was CEO of Shee Atika Corp., andspearheaded the development of corporate logging on Admiralty Island. He left Shee AtikaCorp to earn his law degree at Cooley, then returned to Alaska, where he worked for then-Gov. Hickel as a project analyst on project- permitting in the Alaska Coastal Management Program. When this ended, he opened a law practice in Juneau,Alaska and lived there for thenext 11 years. In 2004, Roger returned to Sitka,where he practiced law until the time of his death.

1996 Moody Jr. ClassBeloff,The Hon. Adam Mitchell, 48, ofPhiladelphia, Penn., passed away Dec. 1, 2012. He served as a judge in the Court of CommonPleas of Philadelphia County. Judge Beloffserved as the president of the South SeventhStreet Redevelopment Association. He was a volunteer to the Miss Columbus Day Scholarshippageant for 30 years, including service as thepageant’s Chairman of Judges. Judge Beloff volunteered for and judged National mock trial competitions, including the John S. Bradway High School Mock Trial Competition at Temple University, and the American Mock Trial Invitational at the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.

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