|
Week of May 27, 2008
|
Member’s Family Suffers Loss
Joe Anderson of Burns Anderson Jury & Brenner and his wife Sarah suffered the loss of their daughter Madeline this weekend in a tragic accident. The funeral will be Friday (time to be determined) at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church on Exposition Blvd. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to St. Francis School or the Town Lake Animal Shelter.
Joe and Sarah prefer not to receive calls or e-mails right now. Please check the Austin Bar Web site at www.austinbar.org for additional information as it becomes available.
Top of Page
|
|
Austin Bar Association Legislative Update
On May 19, the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Civil Practices met to hear testimony relative to two of its interim charges affecting the Texas civil justice system.
The first charge addressed on May 19 asked the committee to examine the effect of meritless litigation on the civil justice system. The committee heard testimony from Texans for Lawsuit Reform that the legislature should create a new cause of action to allow victims of meritless litigation to file a separate lawsuit against the plaintiff in the meritless lawsuit to recover damages, attorneys’ fees and expenses caused by the meritless litigation. Opponents of this proposed new cause of action testified that there is no significant incidence of meritless litigation in Texas. Moreover, Texas already has chapters 9 and 10 of the civil practices and remedies code as well as rule 13 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure which provide remedies sanctioning frivolous lawsuits and pleadings.
The next charge asked the committee to study the dram shop laws of the state. Proponents of new legislation argued that the alcohol beverage code does not provide injured persons with a civil remedy for money damages against a commercial provider who served alcohol to a person between the ages of 18 and 21. These proponents argued that the code should be rewritten to plug that gap. Opponents responded that the code contains no such gap in coverage and does not need to be rewritten. Proponents of another type of amendment to the alcohol beverage code testified that providers of alcohol who cause injuries by serving obviously intoxicated patrons should be made jointly and severally liable with the intoxicated patron (effectively overturning the Texas Supreme Court’s holding in FFP Operating Partners v Duenez, 2006 Tex Lexis 1130 (Tex. 2006)). Opponents argued that the current proportionate liability scheme established by chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code should apply equally to all tort defendants, including alcohol providers (that is, all tort defendants should be treated the same insofar as statutory apportionment of liability is concerned).
The committee’s report and recommendations are expected to be issued before the start of the next legislative session. The committee also announced its plans to reconvene in the near future to hear testimony on the economic (and social) impact of recent tort reform legislation in Texas.
Top of Page
|
|
Igniting Passion for Leadership, May 29
Time: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Location: National Instruments, 11500 N. Mopac Expy, Building B Cafe
Please join Leadership Austin at a reception to learn more about the Leadership Austin Essential Class. Meet other potential applicants as well as Leadership Austin Essential Class Alumni and learn more about how to Ignite Your Passion for Leadership in the greater Austin community.
Click here to RSVP for the May 29 reception, and feel free to bring a guest for hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and networking. The Leadership Austin Essential Class application is due Monday, June 16 and is available here.
Top of Page
|
|
The Ultimate Trial Notebook Seminar, May 30
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. with a Happy Hour directly following
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Avenue, Suite 700
CLE: 5.5 hours including .5 hours of ethics
Cost:$125 for Civil Litigation Section Members, $150 for Austin Bar Association Members, and $175 for non-members
RSVP to Michelle McFadyen at (512) 472-0279 x111 or Michelle@austinbar.org.
Because watching Law & Order isn’t the best way to refresh your courtroom and trial knowledge, the Austin Bar Association and the Civil Litigation Section bring you the next best entertaining, and more beneficial, source.
The Ultimate Trial Notebook Seminar will feature seven topics and eighteen knowledgeable speakers. Topics range from Conducting a Voir Dire to Direct & Cross Examination to Closing Arguments, and many others. For more information on topics and speakers, please visit www.austinbar.org/sections/civil
Top of Page
|
|
LegalLine Needs Your Help, July 1
After more than a decade of absence, LegalLine has returned and is up and running. They need help on the phones to answer legal questions from the public. If you have experience in these areas, you’re needed!
- family law
- consumer law
- criminal
- estate planning/wills
- landlord/tenant
It is held the first Tuesday of every month between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Austin Bar Association office, 816 Congress Ave., Ste. 700.
Volunteers are needed starting Tuesday, July 1, and every first Tuesday thereafter.
It’s fun! Free eats! Share your expertise! Network with your colleagues!
Contact Jeannie Rollo to answer the call to help at Jeannie@austinbar.org or 472-1311.
Top of Page
|
|
Featured Corporate Sponsor: ABA Retirement Fund
ABA is a premier global benefit provider, and one of the nation's largest retirement plan record keepers. They offer a broad range of products and services for defined contribution, defined benefit, and health and welfare plans of all sizes in all markets. Visit www.citistreetonline.com. For more information contact Joe Di Bello at 800-826-8901.
Top of Page
|
|
Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Wednesday, June 4 - Labor & Employment Law Section Meeting
COMMITTEES:
The following Austin Bar Committees are meeting at the Austin Bar office, 816 Congress, Suite 700.
Parking is available in the adjacent garage, accessible from 9th Street. Please feel free to attend any that interest you.
Since lunch is provided, please RSVP to receptionist@austinbar.org or call 472-0279 with your name and the name of the committee.
There are no committee meetings at this time.
Top of Page
|
|
Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
|
|
|
|
