Whittier Law School In service of justice and enterprise SM Volume 1 - Fall 2009 NEWS & NOTEWORTHY Message from Dean Penelope Bryan As these next pages indicate, the Whittier Law alumni, faculty and students continue to exemplify active engagement in the life of the law locally, nationally and internationally. I greatly have enjoyed my first months as Dean of Whittier Law School, in particular, getting to know alumni in Orange County, Los Angeles, Denver, Washington, DC, New York, Florida and Madrid. The alumni have impressed me with their dedication to Whittier Law School and their constructive suggestions on how to improve the law school. I look forward to continued interaction, and I invite each of you to visit with me on campus whenever you can. In the meantime, I will continue to reach out to you. I would like to share with you several changes that have occurred at the law school since I sent out the October Dean s Letter. Paula Manning has stepped down from her position as the Director of the Academic Support Program. After many discussions throughout Fall semester, I reluctantly accepted Paula Manning's resignation from this position based on her desire to shape her unique talents into even more meaningful educational opportunities for our students and on her potential contributions to the future of legal education here at Whittier and nationwide. She remains in the Academic Success Program as an Associate Professor. Next semester Professor Manning will incorporate academic success principles into substantive Wills and Trusts and Remedies courses. These unique courses will place Professor Manning and Whittier Law School at the forefront of academic success developments and correspond with Professor Manning s scholarly agenda. They also will enhance the ability of our students to succeed on the bar examination. I want to assure everyone that the current Academic Success Program remains intact and that Whittier Law School remains committed to student success on bar examinations. Associate Professor Manning has hired and trained experts in this field who are committed to student success. Professors Mary Basick, Deirdre Kelly, Jodi Jewell, Tina Schindler and Jeremiah Ho stand poised to continue support for students during law school and the bar examination.
Calvin Peeler has accepted the position of Assistant Dean for Internationalization. In this position Dean Peeler has responsibility for our summer study abroad programs, our LL.M. program, international externships, faculty exchanges and all other areas of international outreach. Dean Peeler has done exemplary work in all of these areas, and we all can look forward to his continued success. The July 2009 California bar results now are final. Whittier first-time takers passed at a rate of 60.5%. With the exception of the 84.3% pass rate on the July 2008 bar examination, the 60.5% pass rate represents our highest pass rate in 12 years. We, of course, do not find these results acceptable, and we will continue to do all that we can to assure the success of our graduates. We already have made new additions to our curriculum: an MBE course taught by Professor Mary Basick and the unique courses taught by Professor Manning as described above. Moreover, the Academic Success Program will engage in evaluation and long-range planning to shape this program in the best way possible for our graduates. Finally, we have launched an Annual Fund Drive that needs your support. Whittier Law School sits at a crossroads. We simply must move forward in numerous directions to enhance our reputation and our overall success. I encourage your support for your school, and I express my gratitude to all of those who already have given. As the new year rapidly approaches, I send you and yours my heartfelt wishes for your happiness and success in 2010. Penelope Bryan Dean and Professor of Law Whittier Law School ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: *Edwin Egelsee, Class of 1999 Edwin Egelsee graduated from Whittier Law School in 1999. As a former Children s Rights Fellow, he still uses his expertise to help children in Southern California. Edwin s firm, Augustin Eglesee, LLP, has a genuine commitment to high quality legal representation for children. Edwin believes that vulnerable children should receive the strongest representation. Edwin s dedication to children s rights began as an undergraduate student at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He worked as a teacher's assistant for two years at a Non-Public School named Smartstart where he assisted children with learning disabilities associated with Autism, speech and language impairment, Down Syndrome, ADHD and fetal alcohol syndrome. The children battling disabilities so inspired Edwin that he decided to pursue
a career to protect their rights. As a Center for Children s Rights Fellow at Whittier Law School, Edwin interned at the Public Law Center in Santa Ana and held a judicial externship with the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Courts in Los Angeles, Michael Nash. After he graduated from law school, Edwin began to advocate for children with special needs at the Law Offices of Kathleen Loyer, where he provided representation at IEP meetings, mediations, due process hearings and in state and federal courts. The Alliance for Children's Rights; a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles that provides representation to children in the foster care system, hired Edwin to begin, develop, and supervise the Special Education Project. At the Alliance, Edwin represented children and conducted workshops for parents, foster parents, relative caregivers, social workers and advocates. Edwin took part in the annual National Adoption Day during which aspiring parents adopt nearly three thousand foster care children across the nation. At the Alliance Edwin earned an outstanding reputation for defending the rights of special needs children. In 2005, Edwin joined forces with colleague and fellow special education attorney, Danielle Augustin. Presently, Edwin provides representation in all areas of special education, in disciplinary matters that involve involuntary transfers, suspensions, and expulsions and in civil matters that involve children injured on school campuses or by school personnel. Edwin particularly enjoyed a recent victory for a child from Shandon, a small town in San Luis Obispo. After an eight day due process hearing, Administrative Law Judge, Trevor Skarda, entered an order that this child would go to a highly specialized Non-Public School in Orange County. After a two year battle with the Shandon Unified School District, this child finally is progressing in school. Besides special education training and workshops throughout Southern California, Edwin speaks to children at local high schools about personal development and somehow finds the time to come back to Whittier Law School to speak to fellows at the Center for Children s Rights. *If you would like to be featured in our Alumni Spotlight please email Nidhi Parikh at nparikh@law.whittier.edu. RECENT ALUMNI EVENTS Orange County Dean s Reception- Alumnus Keith Rodenhuis, of KER Legal Group, Class of 2006; alumnus Ryan Tomalas, of Tomalas Law Firm, Class of 2008; and Board member of the Legal Services Corporation, Thomas Fuentes, sponsored a Dean s Reception to welcome Penelope Bryan as the new Dean of Whittier Law School on August 18 th at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. Los Angeles Dean s Reception- The Law Offices of Manning, Marder, Kass, Ellord, Ramirez, LLP hosted a Dean s Reception to welcome Penelope Bryan as new Dean of Whittier Law School on August 27 th. Named Partners, Steve Manning, Class of 1979, and Eugene Ramirez, Class of 1987, both graduated from Whittier Law School.
Intellectual Property Dinner- Dean Bryan, IP student Fellows, faculty, and alumni attended a dinner at Whittier Law School to discuss how to shape the Center s curriculum and focus. Wardman Alumni Reception- President of Whittier College, Dr. Sharon Herzberger, hosted a Whittier Law School Alumni Reception at her home on October 28 th. Whittier Law School DC Area Alumni Reception Thursday, November 5, 2009, New Height s Restaurant, Washington DC, 6pm-8pm. Whittier Law School NYC Area Alumni Brunch Sunday, November 8, 2009, Blue Water Grille, New York City, 12pm-2pm. In Memoriam, George Onyango - LLM Class of 2009 George Onyango earned degrees in education and law in Kenya before he came to the United States in 2006 with his beloved and highly educated wife Beatrice and their two young sons, Abraham and David. Beatrice became ill with a brain tumor shortly after the family s arrival and died three months later, leaving George to raise Abraham and David alone but also with the assistance of family and community. In 2008 George began the LL.M. program at Whittier Law School in order to pursue his dream of law practice in the United States. He graced the Whittier law campus with his intelligence, his work ethic and his boundless sense of humor. While an LL.M. student George worked at the Aiming High Treatment Center, a group home for troubled youth. On August 22 nd, 2009 two of the residents beat George unconscious and left him to die. George died on August 29 th, 2009, leaving Abraham and David parentless and leaving all who knew and loved George stunned at the loss. Whittier Law School s Student Bar Association and administration held a memorial for George on September 15 th which Abraham and David attended along with family and friends. Several members of the Whittier law community spoke of their memories of and experiences with George and about his unique contributions to our community. The law school community donated $3,600 to the David and Abraham Onyango Education Fund. On September 16 th, 2009 Dean Bryan and others from the law school community attended the funeral for George. During the service, Dean Bryan shared that President Sharon Herzberger of Whittier College had gifted to David and Abraham a half-tuition scholarship to Whittier College provided that they meet the college s admission requirements. If they maintain their excellent academic records, they can earn more generous scholarships. Dean Bryan also announced that if David or Abraham chooses to pursue his father s dream of justice, Whittier Law School would grant either or both of them full tuition scholarships provided they meet the law school s admission requirements. The Whittier community hopes that these educational opportunities will enable David and Abraham to fulfill George and Beatrice s dreams for them.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 2009 Bart Greer Bart successfully passed the Colorado bar and accepted a position as an Assistant District Attorney for the 21 st Judicial District of Colorado Kelly Nguyen Kelly received the Orange County Women s Lawyer Association diversity bar scholarship. Maria Orchard Maria will attend a Human Rights LL.M program in Sweden. Sasha Topa Sasha received the Orange County Women s Lawyer Association bar scholarship. Melissa Tyner Melissa works for the Inner City Law Center as a Veteran s Advocate. She also recently published an op-ed about the representation of female veterans in the Los Angeles Daily Journal. Jacob Whitehead The New Lawyers supplement of The Los Angeles Daily journal published, My Future on November 24, 2009. 2008 Graham Bentley Graham participated on a Whittier Law School Career Services Judicial Clerkships Panel which explored judicial clerkship experiences in various state and federal courts. Vanessa Novack Vanessa opened her own law office in Costa Mesa in February 2009 that serves clients in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Vanessa remains associated with Gerald D. Friedman, who practices Family Law in downtown Los Angeles. Vanessa specializes in Family Law and Estate Planning. 2007 Mac Cabal - Mac, an associate with Lanak & Hanna in Santa Ana, and Erin DeNatale, Julie Lopiccolo, Jeff Kuhns (all 3L) and Kong Chan (2L) discussed how to secure an succeed in a law firm law clerk position. Whittier Law School Office of Career Services sponsored this presentation which included advice on job sources, marketing, and mastery of anxiety management. 2006 Jason Tolerico Jason runs his own bar review course One Timers and has successfully passed the bar exam on the first attempt in five states. The New Lawyer s edition of the Daily Journal has published several of Jason s articles. Jason also teaches at Irvine Law School. 2005 Dakota Frenz Dakota works as a Deputy Prosecuting attorney in the domestic violence unit of the County of Hawaii on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Kathryn Pounders Kathryn serves as a law clerk to the Honorable Florence-Marie Cooper of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. She teaches as an adjunct professor at Whittier Law School and as an instructor in UCLA s Extension Department of Business, Management, and Legal Programs. In the Spring the Southern California Review of Law and Social Justice will publish Kathryn s recent article about how refinancing effects recession rights under the Truth in Lending Act. Jeffrey Price Jeffrey has been sworn in as a member of the California Council on Criminal Justice, a supervisory board of the State. Jeffrey is a partner at Morrison, LaRossa & Price and practices Workers Compensation Law, Criminal Defense and Family Law. Jeffrey represents the 7th Council District on the Public Safety Advisory Commission as a Long Beach City Commissioner. Maureen Van Stone Maureen recently accepted a part-time position as the Associate Director for the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) in Baltimore, Maryland. She will also remain the part-time Director of Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, Law) at KKI. Project HEAL is a medical-legal partnership for children between Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (the state's largest pro bono legal services organization) and KKI. 2004 Center ) appointed Christina to the Board of Directors in July, 2009. The Center is a nonprofit community center that serves more than 25,000 people each year. 2003 Barbara Mason Barbara completed a Master of Laws in Dispute Resolution (LL.M.) at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law. The program emphasizes nonlitigation approaches to conflict such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. 2002 Peter Sahin Peter is one of 70 lawyers nationwide to earn the distinction of a Personal Family Layer as designated by the Family Wealth Planning Institute, a national organization to provide a lifetime relationship with personal lawyers without hourly billing. Alexander Yneges Alexander authored Things You Must Know About Law School and Being a Lawyer and is available on Amazon.com. The book summarizes his experience in law school such as how he improved his test scores, tips to study for the Bar Exam, the job search after law school and real life experiences as a lawyer. The book also offers practical advice for those who find that they are not happy in the practice of law. Christina Bennett The Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach ( The
2001 Marc Frechette Mark participated in a Whittier Law School s Career Services In House Counsel Roundtable Discussion with students about IP, Business Law, Tax Law, and In-House counsel work. Mark works for Acacia Technologies Group in Newport Beach. Mike Reck Mike s office recently filed a clergy sex abuse case on behalf of a close relative of Cardinal John O Conner. The case was mentioned in the New York Post, http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/car dinal_kin_shock_qqvuzlobo4rjv54hmz V95J. 2000 Justin Balser Justin joined the Consumer Finance Litigation practice at Akerman Senterfitt as a managing shareholder in its brand new Denver office. Justin joins the firm from a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers, where he served as in-house counsel supervising consumer finance cases, and concentrating on repurchase and fraud litigation. 1999 Beth Lewis Beth is the proud mother of her first baby boy born in November, 2009. Counsel and as a Guardian ad Litem in Dependency and Neglect cases. Raymond also works for the Town of La Jara, Colorado as their municipal court judge. Robert Rico KABC News, Los Angeles Channel 7 and KTLA News, Los Angeles Channel 5 recently interviewed Robert live regarding the Los Angeles Police Department s investigation into the leaking of pop star Rihanna s domestic violence injury photographs. Rico represents one of the two Los Angeles police officers accused of the leak. People Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post and the Associated Press also quoted Robert. Rico practices as a sole practitioner with a focus on representation of public sector employees and criminal defense. 1998 Kahlil McAlpin Kahlil owns his own firm in Inglewood, California and specializes in Real Estate and Bankruptcy law. In March of this year, he and his wife, Chaka, welcomed the arrival of their first child, McKenzie Monet McAlpin. 1997 Louanne Masry The Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers, selected Louanne as a Fellow. Raymond Miller Raymond practices law as a court appointed Respondent Parent
1995 Scott Whitehead McKuin, Frankel, Whitehead, LLP (formerly Colden, McKuin & Frankel, LLP) named Scott a partner. The firm s practice is talent representation in the entertainment industry. Judy Williams Orange County Metro Magazine named Judy one of the Top Five Orange County Family Lawyers in, August, 2009 with a superb rating by 10 out of 10 clients and attorneys. 1993 Robert Bastian THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL published, Police Pursuits: Not So Black and White, on September 30, 2009. Peter Valert Peter runs the Czech Republic and Sofia, Bulgaria offices of the US/UK international law firm DLA Piper. Peter is involved in many areas of international law where he deals with the European Union in acts against various European countries. 1994 Ed Lee Ed is a named partner in the firm of Lee & Fields, located in Los Angeles, California. The firm focuses on Civil/Business Litigation, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury and has a growing Entertainment Law division. Over the past few years, Ed has been involved with several cases of national celebrity interest and has made appearances on a variety of national television shows including ABC News, Inside Edition, Entertainment Tonight and the Glenn Beck Show. In February, 2009, Ed appeared on Fox Business Channel to expound on the Bernie Madoff scandal. Ed represents several of Madoff s defrauded clients. 1992 Hon. Ursula Clemons The State of California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (OSHAB) promoted Judge Clemons to Presiding Judge. She is an Administrative Law Judge for OSHAB since January 2006. 1991 Richard Oberreiter In 1999, Richard left his career in law to become COO of a software company. Since that time, he has been responsible for the turnaround of several businesses. Richard is currently the CEO of a medical device company, CLRS Technology (www.myclaro.com), located in Orange County, California. Richard feels his successes are attributed to his legal education. Whittier taught him how to be a critical thinker and how to quickly get to the core of a problem or challenge. Richard
invites other students or alumni to contact him with questions. He is also available to speak with alumni that are looking for alternative careers outside of law. 1990 Daniel Slotchiver The 2010 Best Lawyers in America included Daniel in the field of Personal Injury Law. Martindale Hubbell includes him in the Martindale Hubbell Preeminent Lawyers directory. In addition to Personal Injury cases, he practices in the areas of Business Litigation, Probate Litigation, Securities Litigation and Criminal Law. 1986 Robyn McDonald Robyn has been a Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated attorney for over 15 years, and has been a judge pro tem in the Los Angeles Municipal Courts since 1992. Robyn splits her time between California and Colorado and is Of Counsel to a developer in the Denver area. Recently, Robyn started a mediation company, McDonald Mediation Group, LLC, which offers mediation, arbitration and CFI services to parties in conflict. They handle all civil matters, but focus on domestic conflict. Tina Nelson - For the 3 rd year in a row Creative Child magazine chose LAWSUIT! Game of the Year award in family education. Tina developed the game in an effort to come up with an interesting Father s Day gift for her husband. Since both spouses are lawyers, she wanted to find a way to teach her kids about the legal profession in a fun way. Joseph Rotella- Joseph owns his own criminal trial firm in Newark, NJ. He is a trial attorney who has experience in both Federal and State court matters that involve Murder, Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances, Aggravated Sexual Assault as well as complex White Collar criminal matters that include Bank Fraud, Health Fraud and Securities Fraud. The New Jersey Supreme Court and National Board of Trial Advocacy acknowledge is expertise by his designation as a Certified Criminal Trial Attorney and as a Board Certified Criminal Trial Specialist. Joseph is an Officer of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - New Jersey (ACDL-NJ) and a member of the Seminar & Education committee. He is also a Life member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and serves on the White Collar Crime Committee. 1985 Marc Juron Marc enjoys hearing from fellow alumni and welcomes all inquiries and referrals to his New York City law firm The Law Offices of Mark Juron. Paul Kiesel THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL published op-ed, Drowning Out Unwanted Noise, on September 28, 2009. Lawrence Rohlfing The Ninth Circuit decided en banc Lawrence s case on fees in Social Security, http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opini ons/2009/11/03/06-55822.pdf.
1983 Mitch Halpern Mitch is a successful real estate broker and owns one of the largest brokerage houses in California s San Gabriel Valley. 1979 Betty Raskoff Kazmin Betty recently published Who is to Blame for Low Test Scores? in THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL. 1976 Jacquelyn Fox Jacquelyn was a member of the graduating class of 1976 and is very proud to have a daughter (Danielle Schenker) who graduated in 2009. Before retiring in 2003, she owned her own firm and was a Family Law specialist. She now works part-time as a senior mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court. To submit Class Notes please email Nidhi Parikh at nparikh@law.whittier.edu OTHER ALUMNI NEWS The following Whittier alumni were selected as 2010 Super Lawyers : Steven Abelman, 1984 Albert Abkarian, 1992 Todd Alofs, 1987 Seni Baeza, 2005 C. Alexandre Barbera, 1976 Robert Baronian, 1978 Marsha Barr-Fernandez, Class of 1998 Brian Barrow, 1995 Robert Benavente, 2000 Stacey Blank, 1994 Fred Blum, 1981 Nancy Bornn, 1978 Robert Brenner, 1975 Dean Brown, 1989 Arthur Brown, 1987 Alex Brucker, 1974 Janelle Carney, 1998 Brian Cole, 1991 Gregory Connor, 1995 James Cox, 1978 Patricia Cullison, 1981 James Cunningham Jr., 1994 Tanja Darrow, 1994 Anthony De Los Reyes. 1968 Patrick DeBlase, 1993 Patrick DeCarolis Jr., 1978 Sallie Doyle, 1983 Robert Ernenwein, 1984 Victoria Ersoff, 1992 Jason Daniel Feld, 1999 Jason Feldmar, 1995
John Fitzgerald, 1993 Rick Friedman II, 2000 Hillary Green, 2005 Stephen Green, 1998 Casey Hale, 2001 Scott Harshman, 1998 Katherine Harvey-Lee, 2001 Todd Hixon, 1992 Robert Huttenhoff, 1999 Marc Jacobs, 1996 Grace Jamra, 1991 Toni Jaramilla, 1994 Brigid Joyce, 2002 Paul Kanin, 1976 Price Kent, 2006 Kathryn Kerfes Amria, 1980 Paul Kiesel, 1985 Catherine Kim, 1998 Amy Lamb, 2002 Timothy Lambirth, 1978 William Larson, 1985 Anthony Latiolait, 1986 Alexandra Lavinsky, 2001 Richard Leucht II, 2000 Brandon Lewis, 2003 Carollyn Lobell, 2000 Steve Manning, 1979 Garo Mardirossian, 1980 Alfred Marotta, 1968 Belle Mason, 1978 Louis Mastriani, 1976 Janet McCullar Vavra, 1992 Barry Meyers, 1979 Felicia Meyers, 1993 Todd Nevell, 1993 Paul O Connor, 1993 Doreen Olson, 1993 Rosalind Ong, 2004 William Paoli, 1991 Clifford Pearson, 1981 Susan Pfann, 1979 Eugene Ramirez, 1987 Bruce Richland, 1995 Richard Roane, 1985 Shannon Roberson Loeser, 2003 Aileen Rodriguez, 2000 Stephen Ronk, 1992 Jay Rose, 1980 Joseph Rotella, 1986 Bruce Shapiro, 1990 Emily Shappell Edelman, 1976 Nicholas Siciliano, 1997 Douglas Silverstein, 1994 Mina Sirkin, 1991 Stephen Smith, 1994 Margery Somers, 1994 Julius Staev, 1994 Gregory Strickland, 1980 Winiviere Sy, 2002 Diane Tebelius, 1979 Ariel Tello, 2001 William Terrence, 2004 John Tran, 2002 Gerald Valentini, 1987 Daniel Warshaw, 1996 Eric Wolf, 2001 Richard Zaks, 1976 Jeffrey Zolonz, 1976
The following Whittier alumni were selected as 2009 Southern California Rising Stars by California Super Lawyers: Albert Abkarian, 1992 Seni B. Baeza, 2005 Marsha Barr-Fernandez, 1998 Robert A. Benavente, 2000 Hanelle C. Carney, 1998 Tanja L. Darrow, 1994 Patrick DeBlase, 1993 Jason Daniel Feld, 1999 Jason S. Feldmar, 1995 Hillary J. Green, 2005 Stephen M. Green, 1998 Casey Hale, 2001 Katherine E. Harvey-Lee, 2001 Peter Hsiao, 2002 Robert E. Huttenhoff, 1999 Marc R. Jacobs, 1996 Alexandra R. Lavinsky, 2002 Price K. Kent, 2006 Catherine B. Kim, 1998 Amy N. Lamb, 2002 Brandon R. Lewis, 2003 Carollyn B. Lobell, 2000 Todd F. Nevell, 1993 Doreen Marie Olson, 1992 Rosalind Ong, 2004 Bruce Richland, 1995 Shannon L. Roberson Loeser, 2003 Aileen U. Rodriquez, 2000 Nicholas A. Siciliano, 1997 Winiviere G. Sy, 2002 Ariel A. Tello, 2001 John D. Tran, 2002 Erick P. Wolf, 2001 CENTERS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS Black Law Student s Association On November 12, 2009, the Black Law Student s Association held a panel discussion entitled Diversity in Law to explore different lawyers experiences on their road to practice different types of law. Alumni panelists included Geneva Englebrecht, Debra Bernard, and Cynthia Warren. Center for Children s Rights Center for Children's Rights Fellows regularly reach out to children in their visits to Orangewood Children's Home.
Center for Children's Rights Fellows collected prom dresses for high school girls to help them attend their prom. The Center for Children s Rights in collaboration with the Orange County Women s Law Association coordinated the donation of over 150 books to the children s reading room at the Orange County Community Court. Presiding Juvenile Court Judge, Michael Nash, spoke at a CCR Colloquium on October 22, 2009, to discuss the current state of the juvenile court system. Center for Intellectual Property Fall 2009 Colloquia and Speaker Series October 19, 2009: October 28, 2009: November 9, 2009: November 11, 2009: November 18, 2009: Dare Devil Stunts in Life and Death: A Look at Copyright Issues Affecting the Estate of Evel Knievel by Matthew Girardi. Liberating Copyright: Moving Beyond Free Speech by Jennifer Rothman. Current Trends in Media and IP Litigation: A View from the Front Lines on Privacy, User Generated Content, and Anonymous Bloggers by Amanda Bush and Bob Latham of Jackson Walker LLP. Internet Law by Wendy Seltzer and Professor Peek. Being a Comic Book Lawyer by Louise Nemschoff.
Center for International and Comparative Law Fall 2009 Colloquia and Speaker Series September 22, 2009: October 29, 2009: November 12, 2009: Privacy and Libel Tourism by Robert Webster. "International Strategic Alliances and Knowledge Economics" by William Hernandez. Corporate and Business Immigration by David Hirson. November 17, 2009: Ethical Problems Faced by International Practitioners by Neal S. Millard. November 19, 2009: Language in Transnational Business by Patrick Del Duca. Criminal Law Society The Whittier Criminal Law Society led by student chair, Ramy Abouelsoo, organized a Death Penalty debate featuring Professors Leary, Heilman, Pritikin and Matthews on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the Law School. More than two hundred students, faculty and members of the Orange County community attended Institute for Trial and Appellate Practice: Moot Court Orange County District Attorney Annual Summer Oral Advocacy Competition The preliminary round of the Advocacy Competition was held Thursday, July 16 and Friday, July 17. In this round, students had 45 minutes to review a fact pattern involving rape of an unconscious person. After the review period, the students each proceeded to a designated conference room and were asked to make a 10-15 minute argument (similar to a closing argument) based on the facts and law given to them. The students were expected to address the reviewing panel, which consisted of two to three prosecutors. The final round took place on Thursday, July 23. The style of the competition was similar to the earlier round; however, the fact pattern and law were more difficult. The case involved a gang being prosecuted for murder 15 years after being prosecuted for attempted murder. The finalists gave their presentation to Senior Orange County Assistant District Attorneys Jim Tanizaki, Mary Ann McCauley, and Joseph D'Agostino. Congratulations to Melissa Dimick, Class of 2010, for high honorable mention and to Hoon Chang, Class of 2010, for second place overall.
14 th Annual Sonnenberg Moot Court Competition WHITTIER LAW SCHOOL MOOT COURT HONORS BOARD Holds 14th Annual Sonnenberg Competition* Congratulations to the New Members: Bryan Berman, Lauren Cross, Sarah Roberts, Cynthia Underwood, Jamie Weiler, Kenya Williams and Ralph Passante *Special thanks to alumni Ansley Wolf, Armen Garabedian, Dawn Stark, Holly Davis, Juliet Mushet, Kate Lyon, Leslie Barry, Lynn Wallace, Lyle Riggs, Keith Rodenhuis, Tasha Conching, Teresa Judd-Gielda, and Tracy Spies for judging the competition. Institute for Trial and Appellate Practice: Trial Advocacy Congratulations to the new members of the Trial Advocacy Honors Board: Matt Aptaker, Ingrid Arriaga, Celia Cho, Melissa Dimick, Ryan Ellis, Stefan Ghaemi, Vicki Gillette, Mary Gouchounian, Sina Mahajer, Vanessa Natividad, Michael Ocampo, Ralph Passante, David Raskin, Garrett Rice, Sarah Roberts, and Cynthia Underwood Student Bar Association Hope 4 Hannah Race Day On October 25, 2009, Whittier Law School students traveled to San Clemente to volunteer in support of the inaugural Hope 4 Hanna race. The race is named after Johanna "Hanna" Belden, who was diagnosed in October of 2006 with Autistic Disorder. Hope 4 Hanna is partnered with Autism Speaks in their continued efforts to find a cause, find a cure, and help people to accept and embrace the uniqueness of those individuals afflicted with autism. SBA Board Members coordinated with race officials to arrange for students to volunteer. On race day, over 15 Whittier Law students arrived prior to sunrise to set up and maintain two water stations along the race course. The students cheered on the runners and walkers, handed out water, and made sure the environment around the water stations was litter free. A handful of Whittier students also participated in the race, with Whittier's own Garrett Rice taking 3rd overall in the men's 10k race.
Women Law Student s Association Susan G. Komen Race Day The Women Law Student s Association organized a race to support early breast cancer detection research. They raised over $2,628 and had 32 people compete on a Whittier Women Law Student s Association Team. To submit Student Organization events please email Nidhi Parikh at nparikh@law.whittier.edu STUDENT NOTES 2010 Alison Flowers- The California Bar Foundation awarded Alison Flowers a $7,500 Public Interest Scholarship. Phil Gahagan- Phil co-authored an article Keeping Infringing Products Out of U.S. Markets Might Be Tougher in THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL on August 26, 2009. Roberto Maciel Roberto received a two year fellowship through California Rural Legal Assistance where he will addresses H- 2A "temporary farmworker" regulations. The project objective is to gain a comprehensive understanding on the implementation of H-2A regulations and to develop effective strategies to ensure that both H-2A temporary workers and domestic farm workers' rights are upheld through community education, effective litigation, and participation in administrative proceedings. Paloma Lydia Picasso- The Women s Campaign School at Yale University in New Haven, CT accepted Paloma into the Class of 2009. For more information: www.wcsyale.org. FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS Associate Dean Judith Daar Publications The LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL published op-ed, Death of Aging Mother Raises More Questions about IVF Rules on July 29, 2009. THE DAILY BREEZE published op-ed about Obama s speech to the nation s school students.
Presentations Genetic Screening of Sperm and Oocyte Donors: Ethical and Policy Implications (with Robert Brzyski) 302 JOURNAL AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 1702, 2009. Presented an update on bioethics and the law at the Health Law Professors Conference, sponsored by the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics at Case Western Reserve School of Law. Presented Legal Minefields in Reproductive Medicine: The Road Ahead? at the Annual meeting of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinologists and Infertility Specialists in Park City, Utah on July 30, 2009. Presented Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: The Practice, the Perils, the Promise, the Politics at the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Annual Meeting in Washington D.C in October 2009. Presented Fertility Tourism: Assisted Reproduction Above the 4 9th Parallel at the American Bar Association Annual Family Law Section Symposium in Montreal, Canada in October 2009. Appointments Appointed the Vice-Chair of the ABA Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law, Elder Law, Disability Planning and Bioethics Group. Professor Howard Foss Publications Sixth edition of casebook Introduction to Commercial Law, published by William S. Hein & Co. Professor Andrea Funke Presentations Presented Legal Writing 101: Back to the Basics at the Southeastern Regional Legal Writing Conference at Stetson University College of Law September 11-13, 2009.
Professor Jacquelyn Gentry Publications The LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL published op-ed, A Lawyer's Little Black's Book on August 13. 2009. Associate Dean Denny J. Haythorn Invited to be a member of the American Association of Law Libraries, Academic Law Libraries Section, Committee on Continuing Education for 2009-2010. Advise to the Standards Review Committee of the ABA s Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar in the review of the Standards for Approval of Law Schools. Invited to be an ABA Inspector for the United States Army Judge Advocate School, Charlottesville, VA and an ABA Consultant to Phoenix Law School on their accreditation. Professor Jeremiah Ho Publications I'll Huff and I'll Puff--But Then You'll Blow My Case Away: Dealing with Dismissed and Bad-Faith Defendants under California's Anti-SLAPP Statute WHITTIER LAW REVIEW, Volume 30, Number 3, p. 533. THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL published op-ed, A SLAPP Split, on September 3, 2009. THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL published op-ed, The Tension Behind Strategic Defaults, on Wednesday, October 14, 2009. THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL published op-ed, The Aftermath of a Shaken Industry, on Tuesday, October 27, 2009. THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL, published op-ed, Business Methods, Patentable or Not? on Tuesday, November 24, 2009.
Professor Thomas G. Kelch University of Toulouse/Whittier Law School Comparative Bankruptcy Law Project. Professor Thomas G. Kelch of Whittier Law School worked with Professor Francine Macorig- Venir and others at the University of Toulouse on a project comparing the business reorganization bankruptcy laws of France and the United States. This undertaking grew out of the relationship between Whittier Law School and the University of Toulouse developed through Whittier s Summer Abroad Program in Toulouse. The government of the Midi-Pyrenees region of France ordered this project because of substantial changes to French bankruptcy laws in 2005, some of which were modeled on chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The French government s goal was to, among other things, see how the two laws actually compare in practice. The issues analyzed and presented in the study were numerous, and included the following: The commencement of business bankruptcy cases; the process of development of plans or agreements to reorganize businesses; and the requirements for ultimate resolution of business bankruptcy cases. Review of statistical information on the use of bankruptcy laws and the success rates in business bankruptcy cases. A guide to answer questions on U.S. bankruptcy law that can be used by French lawyers working on U.S. bankruptcy cases Professor Christine Kelton Presentations Presented Writing 101: Back to the Basics at the Southeastern Regional Legal Writing Conference at Stetson University College of Law September 11-13, 2009. Associate Dean Paula Manning Presentations Presented Using Feedback to Improve Outlook and Outcomes at the Crossroads in Legal Education Conference at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Presented Autonomy Support and Law School: Perfect Union or
Irreconcilable Differences? At the Institute for Teaching and Learning at Gonzaga Law School. Presented A Day in the Life of an Academic Support Professional at the LSAC Academic Assistance Training Conference at St. Louis University. Appointments Appointed to the LSAC Academic Assistance Topical Workshops Subcommittee. Appointed to LSAC s Law School Academic Success Project survey committee to develop a comprehensive national survey of academic support programs. Professor Kristen Martin Presentations Presented Advancing Environmental Justice through Legal Writing Assignments at the Northwest Regional Writing Conference in August, 2009. Professor Jennifer Mertus Publications THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL published op-ed, Adoption Procedure Flaws Exposed, on September 17, 2009. Professor Radha Pathak Publications The OKLAHOMA LAW REVIEW will publish Statutory Standing and the Tyranny of Labels this Fall.