vol. 81 — no. 33 — 12/11/2010 the oklahoma bar journal 2769vol. 81 — no. 33 — 12/11/2010 the...

Volume 81 u No. 33 u December 11, 2010

• Oklahoma’s Unified Case Management System

• The New Oklahoma Discretionary and Special Needs Trust Act

• Aftermath of the SemGroup Case• Annual Meeting Highlights• Bar Journal 2010 Index

ALSO INSIDE

Vol. 81 — No. 33 — 12/11/2010 The Oklahoma Bar Journal 2769

2770 The Oklahoma Bar Journal Vol. 81 — No. 33 — 12/11/2010


Plus2810 On the Horizon: Oklahoma’s

Unified Case Management System By Chief Justice James Edmondson

2814 The New Oklahoma Discretionary and Special Needs Trust Act

By David A. Carpenter

2818 Aftermath of the SemGroup CaseBy Fred H. Miller and Alvin C. Harrell

2832 OklahOma Bar JOurnal 2010 Index

DePartments2772 From the President2850 From the Executive Director2851 Law Practice Tips2854 Ethics/ProfessionalResponsibility2857 OBA Board of Governors Actions 2859 Oklahoma Bar Foundation News2862 Access to Justice 2865 Young Lawyers Division2869 Calendar2871 For Your Information 2873 Bench and Bar Briefs 2875 In Memoriam 2870 Editorial Calendar2880 The Back Page

Features 2775 The Unauthorized Practice of Law

in Oklahoma By William R. Grimm

2785 The Burnout Pandemic: Accommodating Workaholism in the Practice of Law

By Steven M. Angel

2799 Why Manners MatterBy Travis Pickens

2803 Understanding Key Professional Liability Risks

By Dan Reed

2807 Trust Account Overdraft Notification: What We Know So Far

By Gina Hendryx

Theme:eThics & Professional

resPonsibiliTyEditor: Pandee Ramirez

contentsDecember11,2010•Vol.81•No.33

pg.2810Oklahoma’s Unified Case

Management System

pg.2825Annual Meeting Highlights


solepractitionerasI,canandshouldprovideservicetoourprofession.Youwilldiscoverthatyoureceivefarmorebenefitfromitthanyougive.Iamextraordinarilyproudandgratefultobealawyer,amemberoftheOklahomaBarAssociationandyourfriendandcolleague.

Ourincomingpresident,DeborahReheard,andsoontobepresident-elect,CathyChristensen,areself-described“barjunkies,”andtheyhavealreadyhitthegroundrun-ningwithgreatideas,hugeamountsofenergyanddeserveourthanks,supportandencouragement.

Onceagain,thankyoufortheopportunitytoserveourprofessionandfortheexperi-enceofalifetime.

IwastoldbyformerOBApresidentsthattheiryearaspresidentpassesaswhatseemslikeacoupleofmonths.Thishascertainlybeentrueinmycase,andit’shardtobelievethatthisismylastpresident’spage.IhavebeenhumbledandgratifiedbythenumerouscommentsIhavereceivedtothispageovertheyear.Mosthavebeenpositive.Restassuredthoseofyouwhohavecommunicatedwithmeaboutmycommentswillalwaysberemem-beredandwillbeoneofthehighlightsofmylegalcareer.

TherearemorepeopletothankforthisyearthanIhavespaceinthiscolumn.Thefirstper-sonwhohasputupwithmemorethananyoneismywife,Barbara.Shehasimpliedonmanyocca-sionsthatshedidn’tknowandwasn’tsureifmypresidency—andourmarriage—wouldbothsur-

vivethisyear.Thanksandlovetoher.

Next,mystaff,particularlymylegalassistant,BelindaWildcat,whohasbeenmyalter-egofordecadesandhascoveredmymanydeficienciesandmistakeswithanunerringeyefordetail.

Last,butcertainlynotleast,istheextraordinarystaffattheOklahomaBarAssociation—JohnWilliams,ourexecutivedirector,DebbieBrink,hisadministrativeassistant,andCarolManning,theeditorofthebarjournal—whohavecontinuallysavedmefromdisaster.

WhatIhopemybarservicewillshowsomeofyouisthatanyofus,whetheraseniorpartner,juniorpart-nerorassociatewithalawfirm,ora

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Farewell and Thank You

President Smallwood practices in Tulsa.

[email protected] (918) 582-1993

By Allen Smallwood

I have been humbled and

gratified by the numerous comments

I have received to this page over

the year.


tHe OKlaHOma Bar JOurnal isapublicationoftheOklahomaBarAssociation.Allrightsreserved.Copyright©2008OklahomaBarAssociation.Thedesignofthescalesandthe“OklahomaBarAssociation”encirclingthescalesaretrademarksoftheOklahomaBarAssociation.LegalarticlescarriedinTHEOKLAHOMABARJOURNALareselectedbytheBoardofEditors.

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL (ISSN 0030-1655) IS pUBLISHED THREE TIMESA MONTH IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, ApRIL, MAY, AUgUST, SEpTEM-BER,OCTOBER,NOVEMBERANDDECEMBERANDBIMONTHLYINJUNEANDJULY.BYTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,1901N.LINCOLNBOULEVARD,OKLAHOMACITY,OKLAHOMA73105.pERIODICALSpOSTAgEpAIDATOKLA-HOMACITY,OK.pOSTMASTER:SENDADDRESSCHANgESTOTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,p.O.BOx53036,OKLAHOMACITY,OK73152-3036.SUBSCRIp-TIONSARE$55pERYEARExCEpTFORLAWSTUDENTSREgISTEREDWITHTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,WHOMAYSUBSCRIBEFOR$25.ACTIVEMEM-BER SUBSCRIpTIONSARE INCLUDEDASA pORTION OFANNUAL DUES.ANYOpINIONExpRESSEDHEREINISTHATOFTHEAUTHORANDNOTNECESSAR-ILY THAT OF THE OKLAHOMA BARASSOCIATION, OR THE OKLAHOMA BARJOURNALBOARDOFEDITORS.

OFFICers & BOarD OF GOVernOrsAllenM.Smallwood,President,TulsaDeborahReheard,President-Elect,EufaulaMackK.Martin,Vice President,OklahomaCityJonK.parsley,Immediate Past President,guymonJackL.Brown,TulsaMarthaRuppCarter,TulsaCharlesW.Chesnut,MiamiglennA.Devoll,EnidStevenDobbs,OklahomaCityW.MarkHixson,YukonJerryL.McCombs,IdabelLouAnnMoudy,HenryettaDavidA.poarch,NormanRylandL.Rivas,ChickashaSusanS.Shields,OklahomaCityJamesT.Stuart,ShawneeMollyAspan,Tulsa,Chairperson,OBA/Young Lawyers Division

Bar Center staFFJohnMorrisWilliams,Executive Director;ginaL.Hendryx,General Counsel;DonitaBournsDouglas,Director of Educational Programs;CarolA.Manning,Director of Communications;CraigD.Combs,Director of Administration;Travispickens,Ethics Counsel; JimCalloway,Director of Management Assistance Program;BeverlypetryLewis,Administrator MCLE Commission;JaneMcConnell,Coordinator Law-related Education;JohnBurchell,Information Services Manager;LoraineDillinderFarabow,DebbieMaddox,TedRossier,Assistant General Counsels;KatherineOgden,Staff Attorney,TommyButler,SharonOrth,DorothyWalosandKrystalWillis, Investigators

ManniArzola,DebbieBrink,StephanieBurke,BrendaCard,MorganEstes,JohnnyMarieFloyd,Mattgayle,BrandonHaynie,SuziHendrix,MistyHill,DebraJenkins,AmyKelly,JeffKelton,DurrelLattimore,DeboraLowry,HeidiMcComb,ReneeMontgomery,WandaReece-Murray,TracySanders,MarkSchneidewent,RobbinWatson,LauraWillis&RobertaYarbrough

eDItOrIal BOarD

EditorinChief,JohnMorrisWilliams,News&LayoutEditor,CarolA.Manning,Editor,MelissaDeLacerda,Stillwater,AssociateEditors:DietmarK.Caudle,Lawton;SandeeCoogan,Norman;EmilyDuensing,Tulsa;ThomasE.Kennedy,Enid;pandeeRamirez,Okmulgee;JamesT.Stuart,Shawnee;LeslieD.Taylor,OklahomaCity;JanuaryWindrix,poteau

nOtICeofchangeofaddress(whichmustbeinwritingandsignedbytheOBAmember),undeliverablecopies,ordersforsubscriptionsorads,newsstories,articlesandallmailitemsshouldbesenttotheOklahomaBarAssociation,p.O.Box53036,OklahomaCity,OK73152-3036.

OklahomaBarAssociation(405)416-7000TollFree(800)522-8065FAx(405)416-7001ContinuingLegalEducation(405)416-7006EthicsCounsel(405)416-7055generalCounsel(405)416-7007Law-relatedEducation(405)416-7005LawyersHelpingLawyers(800)364-7886Mgmt.Assistanceprogram(405)416-7008MandatoryCLE(405)416-7009OBJ&Communications(405)416-7004BoardofBarExaminers(405)416-7075OklahomaBarFoundation(405)416-7070

eVents CalenDar

For more events go to www.okbar.org/calendar

tHe OKlaHOma Bar JOurnal isapublicationoftheOklahomaBarAssociation.Allrightsreserved.Copyright©2010OklahomaBarAssociation.Thedesignofthescalesandthe“OklahomaBarAssociation”encirclingthescalesaretrademarksoftheOklahomaBarAssociation.LegalarticlescarriedinTHEOKLAHOMABARJOURNALareselectedbytheBoardofEditors.

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL (ISSN 0030-1655) IS pUBLISHED THREE TIMESA MONTH IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, ApRIL, MAY, AUgUST, SEpTEM-BER,OCTOBER,NOVEMBERANDDECEMBERANDBIMONTHLYINJUNEANDJULY.BYTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,1901N.LINCOLNBOULEVARD,OKLAHOMACITY,OKLAHOMA73105.pERIODICALSpOSTAgEpAIDATOKLA-HOMACITY,OK.pOSTMASTER:SENDADDRESSCHANgESTOTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,p.O.BOx53036,OKLAHOMACITY,OK73152-3036.SUBSCRIp-TIONSARE$55pERYEARExCEpTFORLAWSTUDENTSREgISTEREDWITHTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,WHOMAYSUBSCRIBEFOR$25.ACTIVEMEM-BER SUBSCRIpTIONSARE INCLUDEDASA pORTION OFANNUAL DUES.ANYOpINIONExpRESSEDHEREINISTHATOFTHEAUTHORANDNOTNECESSAR-ILY THAT OF THE OKLAHOMA BARASSOCIATION, OR THE OKLAHOMA BARJOURNALBOARDOFEDITORS.

TheOklahomaBarAssociation’sofficialwebsite: www.okbar.org

15 Oklahoma Council of Administrative Hearing Officials;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:CarolynGuthrie(405)271-1269Ext.56212

17 OBA Board of Governors Meeting;9a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JohnMorrisWilliams(405)416-7000

OBA Military Assistance Task Force Meeting;3p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:DietmarCaudle(580)248-0202

18 OBA Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors Meeting;10a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:MollyAspan(918)594-0595

23-24 OBA Closed–ChristmasDayObserved31 OBA Closed–NewYearHolidayObserved

5 OBA Law-related Education Law School for Legislators;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JaneMcConnell(405)416-7024

7 OBA Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program Committee Meeting;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCitywithteleconference;Contact:TomRiesen(405)843-8444


OBA Board of Governors Swearing-in Ceremony; 10:30a.m.;SupremeCourtCourtroom,StateCapitol;Contact:JohnMorrisWilliams(405)416-7000

OBA Family Law Section Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:KimberlyK.Hays(918)592-2800

17 OBA Closed–MartinLutherKingJr.DayObserved19 Oklahoma Council of Administrative Hearing Officials;12p.m.;

OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:CarolynGuthrie(405)271-1269Ext.56212

21 Oklahoma Bar Foundation New Trustee Orientation;10:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:NancyNorsworthy(405)416-7070

DECEMBER 2010

JANUARY 2011


Today,thereisasubstantialamountofover-lap between the practice of law and variousotherprofessionswhereclientsarerepresentedby agents, including real estate, architecture,banking,accountingandinsurance.Moreover,a growing number of legal documents maynowbecreatedfromaformgeneratedbycom-puter software, where one can respond to aseries of questions in order to draft the legaldocument.Likewise,thereareagrowingnum-ber of paralegal service providers, licenseddocumentpreparersandnotariesthatareper-formingunsupervisedserviceswhichinfringeuponthepracticeoflaw.

TheunauthorizedpracticeoflawisgovernedbyTitle5Okla.Stat.,Chapter1,Appendix1-A,Article2,§7—WhoMaypracticeLaw,whichstates:

(a)No person, corporation, partnership, orany other entity (hereinafter collectivelyreferredtoas“person”),shallpracticelawin the State of Oklahoma who is not an

activememberoftheAssociation,exceptashereinprovided.

(c)It shallbe thedutyand responsibilityofthisAssociation, acting through the pro-fessional Responsibility Commission, toinvestigate and to seek judicial action topreventtheunauthorizedpracticeoflawby any person and to take appropriateactiontoenforceanylawfulordersissuedinsuchproceedings.

Thus, it is readily apparent that only activemembers of the Oklahoma Bar Association(OBA)areentitledtopracticelawinthestateofOklahoma. Furthermore, the OBA, actingthrough the professional Responsibility Com-mission(pRC),ischargedwiththeresponsibil-ity of investigation and prosecution of theunauthorizedpracticeoflaw.

InHerent POWer OF tHe OKlaHOma suPreme COurt

TheOklahomaConstitutionadoptedin1907vests the full judicial power in the Judicial

The Unauthorized Practice of Law in Oklahoma

By William R. Grimm

generally, the practice of law involves an individual, dulylicensedandadmittedtothebarofaparticularjurisdiction,renderingaserviceforanotherthatcallsforaprofessional

judgmentbasedupontheapplicationof lawtoaspecific factualsituation. This professional service generally includes givingadviceregardinganinterpretationofthelawsofthatjurisdiction,drafting legaldocumentsor representingaparty innegotiationsand/orcourtproceedings.

Ethics& PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY


DepartmentunderArticleVII§1andrequiresthe maintenance of the proper separation ofpowersbetweenthethreedepartmentsofgov-ernment under Article IV §1. The OklahomaSupremeCourt(thecourt)hasthepowerandrighttoexerciseallpowersfundamentaltoitsexistenceandhastheinherentpowertoregu-late admission to the bar, and to control andregulate thepracticeof lawof thoseadmittedtothebar.1

The court exercised its inherent power todisbar an attorney for a false and maliciousattack upon the courts and the judges.2 Thecourtheld ithad the inherent right toprotectitselffrommaliciousattacksofanofficerofthecourt,andassuchit isanattorney’sdutynotmerelytoobservetheruleofcourteousdemean-or in open court, but also to abstain from allinsulting language and offensive conducttowardthejudgespersonallyfortheirjudicialacts.3 Subsequently, the court reaffirmed itspower to disbar an attorney for professionalmisconduct or neglect of duty citing suchactionsarenecessarytothefullandcompleteadministrationof justiceandthatsuchpowercannotberemovedbylegislativeenactment.4

In one of the earliest cases dealing withunauthorized practice of law by a lawyer,admitted before a territorial court predicatedupon a license obtained by fraudulently con-cealing his previous disbarment in anotherstate, the court noted a general jurisdictioncourt’s inherent power to purge themselvesfromafraudperpetrateduponthecourtbyanofficerofthecourtorbyonetosecureforhim-self the privileges of an officer of the court.5The same issueofdeceitfullyobtaininga lawlicense was subsequently raised again afteradoption of the Oklahoma Constitution thatprovidedforlawyerswithterritoriallicensestobeadmittedtothebarwithoutexaminationinthenewstate.6

However,inasubsequentopinion,thecourtagreed the Legislature may place reasonablelimitsupontheexerciseofthispowerbystat-ute,suchastimebarlimitsfortheprosecutionofdisbarmentproceedings.7

state Bar aCt OF 1929

In1929,theOklahomaLegislaturepassedtheState Bar Act, which prescribed certain rulesand regulations whereby the legal professionofthisstatecontrolledtheconductofitsmem-bers through a Board of governors (BOg)elected by the members of the bar. The court

delegatedtotheBOgitsauthoritytomakeallnecessaryinquiriesintothefitnessoftheattor-neysofthisstateandtoreportitsfindings.Thisdelegation of authority was ultimately chal-lenged and upheld.8 Subsequently, the BOg,with the approval of the court, was empow-ered to prescribe discipline under the newlycodified “Rules of professional Conduct,”including cause for suspension of license topracticeordisbarmentofattorneys.9

Soonthereafter,thecourtalsoconsidereditsauthority over the unauthorized practice oflaw. In two closely issued opinions, the courtruledthatacorporationwasnotauthorizedtoengage in acts constituting the practice law10and the practice of law by one who has notestablished his qualifications in the mannerprescribedbylawisforbidden.11

In Retail Credit Ass’n, the court upheld thestatebarassociation’s judgmentforinjunctiverelief prohibiting a corporation from holdingitselfout to its customersasbeingcompetentand possessing authority to render legal ser-vices,givelegaladviceandtakelegalactiontocollectclaims,demandsordebts. Inconsider-ingthechallengetoitsstandingtoseekinjunc-tiverelief,thecourtdeterminedtheactionwasbrought,notforfinancialgain,butintheinter-estofallthepeopleofOklahomatopreventthecontinuedwrongfulandunauthorizedacts.

Similarily,inMcConnellthecourtheldthatalaymancannotproperlybindhimselfby con-tracttoperformanactwhichcanonlybeper-formedbyalicensedattorney,norcanheobli-gatetheotherpartytothecontracttopayhimcompensation for theperformanceof suchanact. The court reasoned the preparation forconsiderationoflegalinstrumentstobeshapedfromamassoffactsandconditionsinvolvingthe application of intricate principles of lawwhichcanonlybeappliedbyamindtrainedinexistinglawsinordertoinsureaspecificresultandtoguardagainstotherundesirableresultscomeswithintheterm“practiceoflaw.”

Intheexerciseofitsconstitutionalauthoritythecourthasdeterminedthepracticeoflawisa judicial function for theprivilegeofbecom-ing an officer of the court.12 The same powerthatgrantstheprivilegeofbecominganattor-neymayalsowithdrawitwhenonehasbeenfoundtobeunworthy.13


rules CreatInG, COntrOllInG anD reGulatInG tHe OKlaHOma state Bar assOCIatIOn

On Oct. 10, 1939, the courtissueditsopinioncreatingtheOklahoma Bar Association(OBA)inresponsetotheLeg-islature’s repeal of the StateBarAct of 1929.Again resort-ingtoitsinheritpowersunderArticleVII,thecourtissueditsRules Creating, ControllingandRegulatingtheOklahomaState Bar Association (RulesCreating OBA).14 Under the Rules CreatingOBA, “[n]o person shall practice law in theStateofOklahomawhoisnotanactivemem-ber of the association, except as hereinafterprovided.”15Withinthenext30days,thecourtstrengthen its newly created Rules CreatingOBA by striking down, as unconstitutional,theLegislature’snewlyenacted lawtoallowadmission to the practice of law withoutexamination.16

Without specifically addressing the unau-thorized practice of law, the court again heldthe exercise of judicial power in the adminis-trationofjusticeincludestheinherentrighttodefineandregulatethepracticeoflaw,quotingfrom the Nebraska Supreme Court’s decision“todefinethepracticeoflawandtopunishbycontemptproceedingspersonsnot licensedtopractice lawforusurpingtheprivilegeofact-ing as attorneys.”17 The court’s opinion con-cededthat“theLegislaturemay,intheexerciseofitspolicepower,prescriberulesandregula-tionsforadmissiontothebarwhichthecourtswill follow; but such rules and regulationsmustnotbeunreasonableordeprivethecourtsoftheirinherentpowertoprescribeotherrulesandconditionsofadmissiontopractice.”18

Subsequently, the court upheld a damageverdict against a non-lawyer based upon hisimproper preparation of certain legal instru-mentsforhirewhichsubsequentlyresultedinproperty loss.19 In Eaton, the court stated thatthepracticeoflawisregulatedforthebenefitofthepublicwhichmightbeinjuredifunskilledanduntrainedpersonswerepermittedtoprac-ticetheworkordutiesofthelegalprofession.Thecourtcitedthepreparationofreceiptsandoptions, deeds, promissory notes, deeds oftrust, mortgages, releases of encumbrances,

leases, notice terminating ten-ancies and demands to payrent or vacate, by completingstandard and approved print-ed forms, coupled with thegivingofadviceorexplanationastolegaleffectthereof,consti-tutesthe“practiceoflaw.”20

However,ontwooccasions,21thecourthasupheldcontractsbetweenlaymantocommencelitigation and pay all costs,includingemploymentofattor-neys, by declining to find theobject of the contract autho-rizedorrequiredthelaymanto

practice law, particularly where there was noevidencethe laymanperformedanyactasanattorneyinthelitigation.

In 1967 the court opined that the OBA wascreatedbythecourtintheexerciseofitspolicepower,whichconstitutedthecreationbystateactionofastateagencytoserveapublicpur-poseconnectedwiththeadministrationofjus-tice. Since the OBA is a duly created stateagency and an instrumentality of the JudicialDepartment with the regulatory power inrespecttothepracticeofthelaw,theOklahomaBar Center was considered to be for the soleuseandbenefitof theStateofOklahomaandthus exempt from ad valorem taxes underArticlex§6oftheOklahomaConstitution.22

R. J. EDWARDS INC. V. HERT

Asacorollaryof itsconstitutionalauthoritytocontrolandregulatethepracticeoflaw,thecourtisalsovestedwithoriginaljurisdictiontoentertain complaints alleging unlawful prac-ticeofthelawbyunlicensedpersonswithfulland complete authority to prevent the intru-sion of unlicensed persons into the practicewithout regard to theacts involved.23Accord-ingtoHert,theOBAistheonlyproperpartytobring an action to enjoin the unauthorizedpracticeoflawinthedistrictcourtswherethefacts can be fully developed for the court’sreview.24

TheHertopinioninstructstrialcourtstofullydevelop the factual basis for any reviewableactioninpolicingtheunauthorizedpracticeoflaworinpermitting,asamatterofpolicyorofpublicconvenience,certaintypesoflegalprac-ticebyunlicensedpersons.25Theopinionreiter-ates the court’s previous definition for thepracticeoflaw:

…the court upheld a damage verdict

against a non-lawyer based upon his improper

preparation of certain legal instruments…


Thepreparationforamoneyconsiderationof legal instruments to be shaped from amassoffactsandconditionsinvolvingtheapplication of intricate principles of lawwhich can only be applied by a mindtrainedinexistinglawsinordertoinsureaspecific result and to guard against otherundesirableresultscomeswithintheterm“practiceoflaw.”26

The court concluded that the distinctionbetween law practice and that which is notauthorized may be determined only from aconsiderationoftheactsofserviceperformedineachcase.TheHertopinioncontainsnumer-ouscitationsfromsisterjurisdictionsasexam-plesofactsbyanunlicensedpersonincidentaltoanindependentvocationthatshouldnotbeconsideredas thepracticeof law.However, ifthepractitionerofa“distinctoccupation”goesbeyond the determination of legal questionsfor thepurposeofperforminghisspecial ser-viceandadviseshispatronastothecoursetobe takentosecureadesired legalstatus, thensuchactionisanunauthorizedpracticeoflaw.Insuchexamples, thecourtreasonedthat thepracticeoflawwouldinclude:

1.Atitlesearcherwhorendersanopinionoradvice as to the legal effect of what isfound.

2.Anaccountantwhoprovidesadviceregard-ingthelegaleffectsofhiswork.

3.Onewho,intheexerciseofacommissionto draw a conveyance, selects languagedesignedtocreateacertaineffect.

4.One who draws estate plans involvinglegalanalysis.

5.Alaymanwhodrawsawillforanother.

6.Onewhodrawslegalinstrumentsorcon-tracts.

7.A layman who evaluates a claim andundertakes to settle it, based upon appli-cablelegalprinciples.

8.Abankthatfurnisheslegalinformationorlegal advice with respect to investments,taxation, stocks, bonds, notes or othersecuritiesorproperty.

9.Thepreparationofpleadingsandwillsandother documents by unlicensed practitio-nersthataredestinedforconsiderationinthecourts.

Itisthisareaofcertainservice-relatedoccu-pations,whosepractitionersprovideadviceforacertaincourseofactiontobetakentosecurea desired legal result, which is increasinglybecomingagrowingproblemfortheunauthor-izedpracticeoflaw.

PrOFessIOnal resPOnsIBIlItY COmmIssIOn

In1975,theBOgproposedtheestablishmentofanindependentgrouptodealwithdisciplin-arymatters.Twoyearslater,thecourtcreatedthe professional Responsibility Commission(pRC) and appointed seven lawyers to assisttheOBAgeneral counsel in investigatingandprocessingcomplaintsagainstOBAmembers.Subsequently,inearly1981,thecourtchangedthepRCmembershiptoincludetwonon-law-yers and reduce the number of lawyers tofive.27

OnFeb.23,1981,thecourtadoptedtheRulesgoverningDisciplinaryproceedings(thedisci-plinary rules), including providing for thejurisdiction of the court in the discipline oflawyersandtheunauthorizedpracticeoflaw.28Specifically, the pRC has the duty “[t]o con-sider and investigate … any instance of theunauthorizedpracticeoflawcalledtoitsatten-tion,oruponitsownmotion,andtotakesuchaction with respect thereto as shall be appro-priatetoeffectuatethepurposesoftheseDisci-plinaryRules.”29Additionally,thedisciplinaryrules provide for the creation of the profes-sionalResponsibilityTribunal(pRT),composedofa21-memberpanelof14lawyersandsevennon-lawyers, to hear disciplinary charges, toreportitsfindingstothecourtandtoperformthe duties conferred and imposed upon it bythedisciplinaryrules.30

Itiswellsettledthatanattorneyfromafor-eignjurisdictionwhoattemptstopracticelawinthestateofOklahomaissubjecttodisciplin-aryproceedingsfortheunauthorizedpracticeoflawabsentspecialcircumstancessuchas pro hac viceadmission.31However,suchtemporaryadmissionisaprivilege,notarightthatissub-jecttothesoundjudicialdiscretionofthestatetrial court.32 Likewise, a suspended or dis-barredlawyerwhoperformsmorethanclericalwork,suchascourtappearances,inassociationwithotherlicensedattorneysisengagingintheunauthorized practice of law.33 In addition, alawyerlicensedinOklahomaissubjecttodis-ciplinefortheunauthorizedpracticeoflawin


anotherjurisdictionwithoutproperadmissiontothebarthereof.34

OKlaHOma rules OF PrOFessIOnal COnDuCt

In 1988, the Supreme Court adopted theOklahomaRulesofprofessionalConduct(con-duct rules) to replace the Oklahoma Code ofprofessionalResponsibility(thecode)adoptedin 1970. The conduct rules were intended tosimplify the guidance to lawyers on severalareas,inparticular,contingentfees,conflictsofinterest,candortothecourtandadvertising.35However,unchangedwasanattorney’sprohi-bitionagainsttheunauthorizedpracticeoflawundertheCodeDR3-101.36

Rule5.5oftheconductrulessimplyprovided:

A lawyer shall not (a) practice law in ajurisdiction where doing so violates theregulation of the legal profession in thatjurisdiction; or (b) assist a person who isnotamemberofthebarintheperformanceof activity that constitutes the unauthor-izedpracticeoflaw.

Under the code, the court denied the rein-statement applications wherein suspendedlawyers violated the disciplinary rules forunauthorizedpracticeoflawbypreparationoflegalinstrumentsforthirdparties37andforuseofasignandstationeryidentifyinghimselfasanattorneyatlawwhileunderanorderofsus-pension.38 Similarly, under the conduct rules,thefailureofanOklahomalicensedlawyertoreport an investigation into his unauthorizedpracticeof lawinaforeign jurisdictionwherehislicensewassuspendedconstituteda“mis-representationbyomission”sufficientfordis-ciplinebythecourt.39Thecourtretainsjurisdic-tiontodisciplinealawyersuspendedfornon-paymentofduesforbehaviorthatviolatestheconductrules.40

In 2007, the court amended Rule 5.5 of theconductrules41toestablishcertaincircumstanc-es for the multi-jurisdictional practice of lawwithout modifying the basic tenets of theunauthorizedpracticeoflaw.Theamendmentsprovideforprovisionalpracticeof lawwithinOklahomabyout-of-stateattorneys,aswellasthepracticeofOklahomaattorneysoutsidethisstate,undercertaincircumstances.

Recently, the court considered whether anattorney seeking reinstatement to the OBAcommittedtheunauthorizedpracticeoflawin

an adjoining state after the Oklahoma licensewasterminatedfornon-paymentofdues.Initsopinion, the court cited the definition of thepractice of law as determined by the TexasSupremeCourt,asfollows:

Thepracticeoflawgenerallyisdefinedastherenderingoflegalservicesforsomeoneelse. These services include, but are notlimitedto,thepreparationofapleadingorother document incident to an action orspecial proceeding or the management oftheactionorproceedingonbehalfofacli-entbeforeajudgeincourtaswellasaser-vice rendered out of court, including thegiving of advice or the rendering of anyservice requiring the use of legal skill orknowledge,suchaspreparingawill,con-tract,orotherinstrument,thelegaleffectofwhich under the facts and conclusionsinvolvedmustbecarefullydetermined.42

unautHOrIZeD PraCtICe OF laW BY nOn-laWYers In OKlaHOma

Oklahoma appellate courts have uniformlyupheld theprohibitionof layman involved inthe unauthorized practice of law when thepublic interestsareatstake. In theexerciseofits authority to controland regulate theprac-ticeof law inall its formsand toprevent theintrusionofunlicensedpersons into theprac-ticeoflaw,theOklahomaCourtofCivilAppealshasdeniedalaymanfromprosecutingappealon behalf of a corporation by striking plead-ingsresultinginanappealbecominganullity,43andupheldmonetarysanctionsagainstanon-lawyer, sole shareholder pursuing a claim onbehalfofacorporation.44Notwithstanding,byspecialrule,45acorporateofficermayappearonbehalf of a corporation in small claimsactions.46

However,inaddressingtheissueofchargesof a non-lawyer’s time for legal assistant ser-vices performed under the supervision of alawyer, non-clerical in nature, and providingmeaningful support in the case that a lawyerwould have performed, the court held suchchargesarerecoverableasattorneyfeeswherethehourlyratesarelessthanthathadalawyerperformsuchservices.47 In theTaylor opinion,thecourtstatedthatlegalassistantsmayinter-view clients, draft pleadings and other docu-ments, carry out legal research, both conven-tional and computer aided, research publicdocuments, prepare discovery requests andresponses, schedule depositions and prepare


noticesandsubpoenas,summarizedepositionsandotherdiscoveryresponses,coordinateandmanage document production, locate andinterview witnesses, organize pleadings, trialexhibitsandotherdocuments,preparewitnessandexhibit lists,prepare trialnotebooks,pre-pare for attendance of witnesses at trial andassistlawyersattrial.48

unautHOrIZeD PraCtICe OF laW BY nOn-laWYers In OtHer JurIsDICtIOns

Other jurisdictions have issued injunctions,sanctions or civil penalties for the unauthor-ized practice of law where non-lawyers pro-videadvicetoathirdpartyforacertaincourseofaction tobe taken tosecureadesired legalresult.Theprimarypurposeoftheseopinionswastoprotectthepublicfromharmofincom-petence,dividedloyaltiesandunskilledrepre-sentation. The non-lawyer actions affected bytheseopinionsinclude:

1.Accountants:Adviceontheselectionoftheproper business structure for a client andpreparationofdocumentstocreatetheentity;49preparationandfilingarticlesofincorporationforathirdparty;50preparationofcertificatesofdissolution and supporting documents;51 andproviding legal assistance in preparation ofbankruptcy petitions, schedules and applica-tionstopayfilingfeesininstallments.52

2.Architects:providingadviceregardinglegalrightsandhowtosafeguardthemintheprepa-rationofsubcontracts.53

3.Bankers:Loanchargesfordocumentprepa-rationfeesorprocessingfeeforpreparationofpre-printedformsbynon-lawyeremployees;54bank’s supervision by a non-attorney of theexecutionofawill.55

4. Business Brokers: Document drafting involv-ingcomplexandsophisticatedlegalissuesaspartofapackageofservicesofferedtocustomersforvaluableconsiderationinsaleofabusiness.56

5.Divorce Services:preparationforafeeofallpapersconsideredbyanon-lawyertobeneces-saryforsecuringadissolutionofmarriage,aswellasdetailedinstructionsonfilingandser-viceofpapers,settinghearings, thenecessaryquestionsandanswerstobeofferedattrialandprocedureforentryoffinaljudgmentofdisso-lution;57 sale of “divorce kit” coupled withadvice on preparation of necessary papers;58writteninstructionsin“do-it-yourself”divorcekits, together with any consultation, explana-

tion, advice or other assistance in selectingparticular forms, filling out any part of theformsorsuggestingoradvisinghowtheformsshould be used in solving the particular cus-tomer’smaritalproblems.59

6.Estate Planners:preparationofdeeds,legaldocuments and filing final settlement in pro-batematter forotherpersonwithoutcharge;60preparing various legal papers for clients,includingtrusts,wills,acontractualagreementandotherestate-planningdocuments;61useofscripted sales presentation for preparation ofliving trust requiring consideration of legalconceptstocomplete;62preparationandexpla-nationoftheoperationoftherevocablelivingtrusts, including incomeandestate taxconse-quencesarisingfromprobateandtrustlaw.63

7. Heir-Hunting Company: Contacting pro-spective estate heirs without the authority ofcourtorestatefiduciaryandproposingtoaidinassertingaclaiminexchangeforanassign-mentoftherecovery.64

8. Immigration Service Agency: Selection andpreparation of appropriate form, gatheringand storing the supporting documentation,andreviewofnecessarydocumentsforembas-syinterview.65

9. Mortgage Brokers: Charging documentpreparationfeesforclosingamortgagetrans-action.66

10.Paralegals:Appearingasrepresentativeofanotherathearing,draftingdivorcecomplaintsand judgments for pro se litigants withoutlicensed attorney’s supervision;67 discipline oflawyer for paralegal’s unsupervised corre-spondenceandnegotiationofsettlementswithinsurance adjusters;68 attorney discipline forfee-splittingwithagencyprovidingsecretarialand paralegal support;69 authorizes indepen-dentparalegalsworkingunderattorneysuper-visionoutsidetheattorney’soffice.70

11.Public Claims Adjusters:Advisingpersonsto accept an offered sum of money in settle-ment of claims for personal injuries and/or property damages under contingent feecontract;71 interpreting and advising on theinsurance policy, as well as, negotiating withtheinsureroncoveragedisputes.72

12.Real Estate Agents:Authorizedto fill in theblanks of standard, printed forms relating todocuments necessary and coincidental to realestate transactions in his capacity as a broker;73


agent or broker cannot give legal advice withinsertionof terms ina real estate contract;74 realestate broker may properly fill in usual form ofreal estate contract which only involves merelysupplyingofsimplefactualdata;75presentationoforalargumentbeforetaxcourtonvaluationcom-plaintpreparedwithresultsoflegalanalysis.76

13. Real Estate Closing Company: providinglegaladviceinresponsetoquestionsconcern-ing legal effect of documents of conveyancebeing executed during a real estate closing;77

preparationandfacilitationoftheexecutionofadeedonbehalfofanother.78

14.Tax Consultants:preparationandfilingofa complaint to protest the assessment of realproperty;79preparationofinheritancetaxreturnactingforanotherbyonewhoisnotalawyerorqualifiedcertifiedpublicaccountant.80

15.Title Companies:providingadvicetopar-ties of their rights and action to be takenregardingtitletoproperty;81providingopinionregarding effect of manner of taking title;82chargeforpreparinglegaldocumentsbynon-lawyer.83

Theprimaryreasoningutilizedbythecourtsforthevastmajorityofthesecaseswhendeter-mining what particular act constitutes theunauthorizedpracticeof law iswhether legaladvice isgiven toa thirdparty regarding theselection of a specific course of action baseduponanalysisoffactsandapplicationoflegalprinciples.Insuchinstances,thecourtslooktothe potential harm to the public by allowingindividuals without proper training and edu-cationtoprovidesuchadvice.

antItrust ImPlICatIOns FOr unautHOrIZeD PraCtICe OF laW

IntheprosecutionofaclaimundertheSher-manAntitrustActagainsta statebarassocia-tion,itscommitteesandcommitteemembers,afederal court held the bar association and itsindividual committee members were entitledtostateactionimmunityfromfederalantitrustliability.Thecourt found that theprosecutionofabusiness for theunauthorizedpracticeoflawdidnotfallwithinthe“shamexception”totheNoerr-penningtonantitrustimmunitydoc-trine where conduct of a bar association wasreasonableanda foreseeableexerciseofpow-ersdelegatedbyitsSupremeCourt,andtherewas active state supervision through itsSupreme Court which retained authority tomakefinaldeterminationonissue.84

PurPOse FOr PrOHIBItInG tHe unautHOrIZeD PraCtICe OF laW

Thepracticeoflawistherenditionofservic-esrequiringtheknowledgeandtheapplicationoflegalprinciplesandtechniquestoservetheinterests of another with his or her consent.85The purpose of prohibiting the unauthorizedpractice of law is to protect the public fromincompetenceinthepreparationoflegaldocu-ments and to prevent harm resulting frominaccuratelegaladvice.Confiningthepracticeoflawtolicensedattorneysisdesignedtopro-tectthepublicfromthepotentiallyseverecon-sequencesoffollowingadviceonlegalmattersfromunqualifiedpersons;itisnotintendedtoreserve to attorneys activities that may safelybeconductedbylaypersons.86

It is not enough for an attorney that he behonest.Hemustbethatandmore.Hemustbebelievedtobehonest.Itisabsolutelyessentialto the usefulness of an attorney that he beentitled to the confidence of the communitywhereinhepractices.Ifhesoconductshimselfinhisprofessionthathedoesnotdeservethatconfidence,heisnolongeranaidtothecourts,norasafeguidetohisclients.Alawyerneedstobe learned. Itwouldbewell ifhecouldbelearned in all the learnings of the schools.There isnothing towhich thewitofmanhasturnedthatmaynotbecomethesubjectofhisinquiries. Then, of course, he must be espe-ciallyskilledinthebooksandrulesofhispro-fession.Andhemusthaveprudenceand tacttousehislearning—andforesightandindus-try and courage. But all these may exist in amoderate degree and yet he may be a credit-able and useful member of the profession solongasthepractice,tohim,isacleanandhon-estfunction.Butpossessingallthesegreatfac-ulties, if once the practice becomes to him amere“brawlforhire”orasystemoflegalizedplunder,wherecraftandnotconscienceistheruleandwherefalsehoodandnottruthisthemeansbywhichtogainhisends,thenhehasforfeitedallrighttobeanofficerofanycourtofjustice,ortobenumberedamongthemembersofanhonorableprofession.87

1.State Bar Commission ex rel. Williams v. Sullivan,1912OK527,131p.703,(citingIn re Brown,1895OK7,39p.469,forthecourts’statutoryrightduringtheTerritorialStatutesof1893).

2.Ibid.at¶2.3.Ibid.at¶4.4.In re Sadler,1913OK179,130p.906.5.Dean v. Stone,1894OK2,2Okla.13,35p.578.6.In re Mosher,1909OK139,24Okla.61,102p.705.7.In re Evans,1919OK104,72Okla.215,179p.922.8.State Bar of Oklahoma v. McGee,1931OK161,298p.580.


9.In re Hicks,1933OK212,163Okla.29,20p.2d896.10.State Bar of Okl. v. Retail Credit Ass’n,1934OK691,37p.2d954,11.Crawford v. McConnell,1935OK791,¶17,49p.2d551.12.In re Bozart,1936OK811,¶10,63p.2d726.13.Ibid.14. In re Integration of State Bar of Oklahoma,1939OK378,¶6,95

p.2d113.15.Ibid.at¶14.16.In re Bledsoe,1939OK506,186Okla.264,97p.2d556.17.Ibid.at¶7.18.Ibid.at¶10.19.Latson v. Eaton,1959OK124,341p.2d247.20.Ibid.at¶8.21.Cox v. Freeman,1951OK16,227p.2d670;Norris v. Van Handel,

1945OK249,163p.2d217.22.Ford v. Board of Tax-Roll Corrections of Oklahoma County,1967OK

90,¶33,431p.2d423.23.R. J. Edwards Inc. v. Hert,1972OK151,¶30,504p.2d407.24.Ibid.at¶33.25.Ibid.at¶29.26.Ibid.at¶19.27.And Justice For All: The Legal Profession in Oklahoma, 1821 – 1989,

OrbenJ.Casey,pg201-202.28.Title5Okla.Stat.,Chap.1,Appendix1–A,§1.1–Declaration

ofJurisdiction.29.Title5Okla.Stat.,Chap.1,Appendix1–A,§2.8–Dutiesand

powers.30.Title5Okla.Stat.,Chap.1,Appendix1–A,§4.5–Dutiesand

powers.31.Norton v. Hughes,2000OK32,5p.3d588.32.Smith v. Brock,1975OK27,¶¶20-21,532p.2d843,848.33.OBA v. Samara,1986OK55at¶9;OBA Ethics Opinion No. 319,

adoptedDec.13,2002.34.OBA v. Mothershed,2003OK34;66p.3d420.35.Caseyatpg.203.36. DR 3-101 of the Code provides (A) “a lawyer shall not aid a

non-lawyer in the unauthorized practice of law;” and (B) “a lawyershall not practice law in a jurisdiction where to do so would be inviolationofregulationsoftheprofessioninthatjurisdiction.”

37.Houts v. OBA,1971OK62,486p.2d722.38.OBA v. Brewer,1989OK172,794p.2d397.39.OBA v. Gentry,2003OK95,80p.3d135.40.OBA v. Kouri,1992OK123,837p.2d907.41.Title5Okla.Stat.,Chap.1,Appendix3–A,Rule5.5Unauthor-

izedpracticeofLaw;MultijurisdictionalpracticeofLaw.42.In re Reinstatement of Mooreland-Rucker,2010OK43,¶15.43.Massongill v. McDevitt,1989OKCIVApp82,828p.2d438.44.Allen v. City of Chickasha,2009OKCIVApp52,211p.3d241.45.Title5Okla.Stat.,Chap.1,Appendix1,Art.II,§6.46.Pryor v. Mid-West Investigations & Process Serving Inc.,2000OK

CIVApp22,999p.2d452.47.Taylor v. Chubb Group of Ins. Companies,1994OK47,874p.2d806.48.Ibid.at¶15.49.Columbus Bar Assn. v. Verne,788N.E.2d1064,99OhioSt.3d50

(Ohio2003).50.Miami Cty. Bar Assn. v. Wyandt & Silvers Inc.,838N.E.2d655,107

OhioSt.3d259(Ohio2005).51.Dayton Bar Assn. v. Stewart,878N.E.2d628,116OhioSt.3d289

(Ohio2007).52.In re Robinson,162B.R.319(Bkrtcy.D.Kan.1993).53.Dunn v. Finlayson,104A.2d830(D.C.App.1954).54.Eisel v. Midwest BankCentre,230S.W.3d335(Mo.2007).55.Persche v. Jones,387N.W.2d32(S.D.1986).56.Bray v. Brooks,41S.W.3d7(Mo.App.W.D.2001).57.The Florida Bar v. Furman,376So2d378,appdisd444US1061,

62LEd2d744,100SCt1001.58.State v. Winder,348NYS2d270,42AppDiv2d1039(4thDept

1973).59.Oregon State Bar v. Gilchrist,538p.2d913(1975).60.Winkenhofer v. Chaney,369S.W.2d113(Ky.1963).61.Disciplinary Counsel v. Goetz,836N.E.2d556,107OhioSt.3d22

(Ohio2005).

62. Akron Bar Ass’n v. Miller, 80 Ohio St.3d 6, 684 N.E.2d 288(Ohio1997).

63. Stark County Bar Ass’n v. Beaman, 574 N.E.2d 599, 60 OhioMisc.2d17(OhioBd.Unauth.prac.,1990).

64.In re Rice’s Estate,193N.E.2d566(Ohioprob.1963).65.Unauthorized Practice Committee, State Bar of Texas v. Cortez,692

S.W.2d47(Tex.1985).66. Carpenter v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 250 S.W.3d 697

(Mo.2008).67.Cleveland Bar Ass’n v. Coats,786N.E.2d449,98OhioSt.3d413

(Ohio2003).68.In re Garrett,12So.3d332(La.2009).69.In re Watley,802So.2d593(La.2001).70.In re Opinion No. 24 of Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law,

607A.2d962,128N.J.114(N.J.1992).71.Brown v. Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee,742S.W.2d34

(Tex.App.-Dallas,1987).72.Linder v. Insurance Claims Consultants Inc.,348S.C.477,560S.

E.2d612(S.C.2002).73.Pope County Bar Ass’n Inc. v. Suggs,624S.W.2d828,274Ark.250,

(Ark.,1981).74.Duncan & Hill Realty Inc. v. Department of State,62A.D.2d690,

405N.Y.S.2d339(N.Y.A.D.1978).75. Chicago Bar Ass’n v. Quinlan & Tyson Inc., 214 N.E.2d 771, 34

Ill.2d116(Ill.1966).76.In re Yamaguchi,515N.E.2d1235,118Ill.2d417(Ill.1987).77.Countrywide Home Loans Inc. v. Kentucky Bar Ass’n,113S.W.3d

105(Ky.2003).78.In re UPL Advisory Opinion 2003-2,588S.E.2d741,277ga.472

(2003).79.Worthington Cty Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. v. Franklin Cty. Bd. of Revi-

sion,707N.E.2d499(Ohio1999).80.Application of New Jersey Soc. of Certified Public Accountants,507

A.2d711,102N.J.231(N.J.1986).81.State Bar v. Guardian Abstract & Title Co. Inc.,91N.M.434,575

p.2d943(N.M.1978).82.Coffee County Abstract and Title Co. v. State ex rel. Norwood,445

So.2d852(Ala.1983).83.The Florida Bar v. McPhee,195So.2d552(Fla.1967).84. Lender’s Service Inc. v. Dayton Bar Ass’n, 758 F.Supp. 429

(S.D.Ohio1991).85.Hertat¶20.86.7Am.Jur.2dAttorneysatLaw§11987.State ex rel. Dale et al. v. Vernor et al.1920OK129,79Okla.124,

191p.729.

William R. Grimm practices primarily in business and com-mercial litigation. He received his juris doctorate in 1973 and a bachelor of business administra-tion in accounting and finance in 1970 from the University of Oklahoma. He is an active mem-ber of many professional and civic organizations. Mr. Grimm served

as OBA president in 2006. He currently serves as a member of the Professional Responsibility Commis-sion and as co-chair of the OBA Unauthorized Prac-tice of Law Task Force. Also, he is an ABA member and was selected as an American Bar Fellow in 2003.

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Thefailureoftheseapproachesappeartobedue to the fact that they have relied heavilyupon approaches to other addictive behavior.Items such as “self identification,” “lawyerassistance programs” and “lifestyle changes”

areallderivativeofclassicapproachestodrugandalcoholaddiction.However,workaholism,unlikeanyotheraddictivebehavior,isencour-agedandreinforcedbysociety.Indeed,withinthe legal community, the institutions of the

The burnout Pandemic: Accommodating Workaholism

in the Practice of LawBy Steven M. Angel

IntrODuCtIOn

Formorethan20years,socialscientistshavedocumentedthepervasiveincidentsofdepressionandburnoutinthelegalprofession.Forthatsame20years,theprofessionhassought

ameanstoaddresstheconsequencesoftheseconditions.Ingen-eral, efforts have included (a) creating lawyer assistance pro-grams;(b)encouragingpracticingattorneystoselfidentifythem-selves as being subject to these conditions; and (c) urging thecreationof“worklifebalance”initiatives.Thoseeffortshavenei-ther stemmed the growth of depression/burnout nor created asatisfactorymethodforassistinglawyerswhosuccumbtopres-suresoftheprofession.


From the Board of Editors:

Mr. Angel’s conduct resulted in great harm to his clients and eventually cost him greatly, both profes-sionally and personally — and the OBA thousands of dollars. His story represents a warning to all legal professionals of the potential danger that may befall anyone for whom the practice becomes an outsize part of life. For candor in sharing what must be a deeply personal and painful story so that others might avoid the same pitfalls, the Oklahoma Bar Journal Board of Editors would like to extend appreciation to Mr. Angel.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or substance dependency, please call the OBA 24/7 hotline at (800) 364-7886. You are not alone.


profession take a lead role in enabling thisaddictive behavior. Therefore, an approachwhichfocusessolelyuponindividuallifestylechoices isdoomedtofailurebecausethesoci-ety, the profession and the institutions of theprofessionwilleffectivelyunderminetheindi-vidual’sattempttoadjusthis“worklife”bal-ance. Stated more directly, if an individualcommitstoadjusthislifestyletoeliminatethestressorsthatleadtodepressionandburnout,his progress will soon be undermined by therealities of the need for financial and profes-sionalsuccessthatisinherentinwhatlawyersdoforaliving.

This is not to say, and this article does notargue, that addressing the problem of depres-sionandburnout issolelyasocietalor institu-tionalproblem.Quite frankly, there isnohopethat during our lifetime the pressure towardsworkaholismintheprofessionwillchangesig-nificantly.Rather,thisarticlearguesthatratherthansimplytryingtocuretheconditionwhichcausesdepressionandburnout,theinstitutionsofourprofessionworkproactivelywithlawyerstoaccommodatetheimperativetosucceed.

unDerstanDInG tHe relatIOnsHIP BetWeen BurnOut anD WOrKaHOlIC laWYers

Understanding How Bad it Can Get

Inpreparingtowritethisarticle,Irecognizedthatpriordiscussionsoftheissueofworkahol-ismwerealwaysclinicalinnatureandfailedtoeffectively communicate the devastating con-sequencesofburnout.Irealizedthatinordertohumanizethisarticle,andtoestablishmybonafidesfortheobservationsImake,Iwouldhavetodiscussindetailmyownexperiences.

My name is SteveAngel, and I am neither asocialscientistnorarepresentativeofanyoftheinstitutionsofthelegalprofession.Iamaworka-holicwho,after27yearsintheprofession,hitawall, crashed, burned and lost the one thing Ialwayswantedtodo—practicelaw.1

Oddly,mystoryisnotoneoffailurebutoneof success. And that is the inherent problemwitha lawyer’s lifestyle.Toooften, success isthedrugthatleadstoaddictivebehavior.Themore successful we are as lawyers, the morewework toachievegreater success, themorewedevelopdysfunctionalbehaviors that leadtodepressionandburnout.

Inthisregard,IwasaclassicunderachieveruntilIreachedlawschool.Butonthatfirstday

oforientationIhadthefearofgodputintome.When the dean of the law school gave thefamous “look to your left, look to your right,twooutof threestudentsdon’tmake ithere”speech,IcommittedtomyselfIwasnotgoingtobeoneofthosepeoplewhofailed.AndsoIstarted my traditional 100-hour work week,andIwasrewardedwithhighgrades.

Andsoitwent.Iworkedharder;Imadelawreview. I worked harder; I got my dream jobwith the National Labor Relations Board. Iworked harder; I was successful as a fieldattorneywiththeNLRB.Iworkedharderandwassuccessfulasasupervisoryattorneywiththe Federal Labor Relations Authority. I leftgovernment service and established my ownfirm,andIfoundoutwhatrealworkwaslike.Forthenext23years,Ineverputinlessthan80hours in a week — and frequently exceeded100hours.Thenightmysonwasborn, Iwasworkingonfirmfinancialsinthewaitingroomaftermywifedelivered.Iworkedharder,andthecaseloadexpanded.AsIaddedmoreper-sonnel,Iaddedmorefunctions.Oncesolelyalitigator,nowIbecameachiefexecutive,man-ager and immediate supervisor in multipleoffices.

This constantly expanding workload waslikeablackholeswallowingeverythingwithinitsgravitationalpull.EverytimeIthinkofthattime,IfeellikeparaphrasingtheclassicMartinNiemöllersermon:

The first thing to go was sleepBut I didn’t complain because I didn’t need sleep

The next things to go were my friends and hobbiesBut I didn’t complain because I needed my work more than I needed my friends and hobbies

The next things to go were my marriage and my familyBut I didn’t complain because I believed my work served a greater good

Finally, I had nothing left, and nothing and no one to save me from myself.

Andsoitwas.Insteadofeighthoursofsleepanight Iwasable togetbyonsixhoursandfinallyfourhours.Thenextthingstogoweremyhobbies.Ididn’thavetimeforreading,soIstoppedreadingforfun.Ididn’thavetimetotake off from work so I stopped taking vaca-tions. Then I stopped socializing because Ididn’t have time to waste away from work.


ThenIsufferedthroughadivorceandthelossofmyfamily.

Forthenext10years,thechiefsourceofjoyinmylifewaswinningacase.Finally,in2003,Ihadnothinglefttogive,hitawallandcrashedandburned.

ThisisnottosaythatIdidn’thaveplentyofwarningsalongtheway.AtCLEmeetings,DanMurdock,whowasthenOBAgeneralcounsel,wouldconstantlyadviseeverylawyerhecouldreach of the importance of maintaining ahealthypersonallife.Irememberhiswarningthatthebarseldomhadproblemswithlawyerswho had a well balanced life. But I neverthoughtitwouldhappentome.

The warnings about my workload becamelouderoverthenextfiveyears.In1987,duringcounselingsessionsseekingtohalttheinevitabledivorce I was going through, the counselorpointed out that my life style was inherentlydestructiveofanysenseofsta-bility or commitment to themarriage. I understood at thetime what the counselor wassaying — but I simply didn’tlisten.Mydivorcesimplyfreedupmore time to take inmorecases.

In 1993 I received a publicreprimand for failing topromptlyanddiligentlyrepre-sentaclient.2Shortlyafterthatreprimand, Judge Robin Cau-thron issued a public rebukeforalawyerwhohadtakenonagreaterwork-loadthanhecouldhandle.Insummarizingtheproblem, JudgeCauthronwrote that the facts“revealalawfirmoutofcontrolandunabletohandle its caseload.” Judge Cauthron furthernoted the firm was still aggressively seekingnewclientswhileunabletoprovideadequaterepresentation to existing clients. Althoughdirectedatsomeoneelse,IfeltthatJudgeCau-thronhadactuallyseenmyclientlist.

ThecombinationofJudgeCauthron’swarn-ingstoanotherfirm,andmypublicreprimandforced me to actually listen to the warningsaboutmyworkload.Ijustkeptworkinghard-ertobesureIwasabletohandlethecaseloadIhadtakenon.Thisrequiredmetohiremorestaff,whichrequiredmetotakeonmorecasesto pay for the staff which, in turn, createdmorework.

In2002,IrecognizedthatIwasreachingthebeginning stages of burnout. The key to mewas that Ino longer tookany joy inwinningcases. I could no longer get my adrenalinepumping to put in those 20 hour days. All Iwantedtodowastostayinbedandnotgotowork.

RecognizingthatIcouldn’tlivelikethisany-more, I stopped taking in cases. I felt like if Icould just spend a year closing my cases, Icouldsavemyself.However,asIstoppedtak-ing in cases, I also tried to reduce overhead.ThereductioninstaffassociatedwithtryingtowinddownthebusinesscreatedasituationinwhichIhadtoworkharderstill.

As Iworkedharder,and longer, inorder toclose cases, the feelings of depression, whichhadbeguntolimitmyabilitiesin2002,begantoseizemylife.Mystaffoftenhadahardtimegettingintouchwithmebecause(unbeknownsttothem)Iwasinbedwiththecoversovermy

headhiding fromtheworld. IknewIhadtogetupandgettowork, but I simply could notforcemyselftodoit.

One of my staff membersbecamesoconcernedaboutmygrowing depression that shecontactedDanMurdockattheOklahoma Bar Association.When I met with Dan, Iexplained to him that I hadseen enough cases of depres-sion in my clients to knowwhat was happening. I told

himthatIhadclosedoutalmosthalfmycaseload, and that I was pushing to close out theremainder of the cases one way or another. ItoldhimthatIknewanumberofclientswerebecoming dissatisfied because I was never intheofficeandhadahardtimereturningallthecallsbecauseoftheconstantdemandstoclosethosecases.IspecificallyaskedDanifhehadanysuggestionsonhowIcouldsolvetheprob-lem in a way that was acceptable to the bar.Dansaidthathedidn’thaveanyprogramforoverworkedlawyers.3Thebardidhaveapro-gram to help with a business model, but hedidn’t think that sounded like my problem.Dan said the only thing he could do was toremindmeoftheethicalobligationtodiligent-lyrepresentmyclients.

WhenIleftDan’soffice,Irecommittedmyselftoworking the cases toget themclosed.This

For the next 10 years, the chief

source of joy in my life was winning a case.


lasted for another two months, and I startedspendingmoreandmoretimeinbedtryingtoforcemyselftogetupanddothework.Iwouldlaythereinbedknowingfullwellthehorribleconsequencesofnotgettingup—andstillnotbeingabletoforcemyselftogetdressed.

ByJuly2003,Ihadclosedapproximately110of my 150 cases. My office lease was up, so Iclosed theofficeand tried toworkoutofmyhousewithoutastaff.Forsomereason,leavingtheofficeandworkingoutofmyhouseseemedtotriggerthemajordepression.Inolongerhadanofficetogoto,soIthinksubconsciouslythisallowedmetospendmoretimeinbedhidingfrommyresponsibilities.

When I say the depression took completecontrolinthefallof2003,Iwasinseveredis-tress. I spent virtually the entire day in thestudyinmyhousewhereIcouldblockoutanylightandhidefromtheworld.Iwouldn’twalkout to themailbox togetanymail. It stackedup so much that the post office refused todeliver it anymore. If the phone rang or thedoorbell chimed, I would become panickedandrushtohideinsideaninteriorbathtubforhours in fear that someone was nearby. Icouldn’tbringmyselftofaceanyoneorexplaintoanyonewhatwasgoingon.ThedepressionwassoseverethatIlearnedsubsequentlythatmyIQdroppedtobelow90.Ononeoccasion,JudgeFriot,unable to contactmeandhavingheard from my clients about a pending casebecame so concerned he sent marshals to myhousetotrytofindoutifIwasokay.WhenIappearedbeforehimtoexplainmyabsence,allIcanrememberisnotbeingabletostopcryinginopencourt.

At some time in October, an investigatorfrom the OBA appeared at my house. To thisdayIcan’trememberwhoitwasorhowhegotintomyhouse. I justrememberhimsittingatmydiningroomtableandsaying,“Steve do you think you are in any condition to continue repre-senting your clients?”Thatgotthroughtome.Iknew I wasn’t. And so, I signed a voluntaryresignation from the bar. I knew that sincemany of my remaining clients had filed barcomplaintsagainstme,thisresignationwouldcome with some stiff penalties. But he wasright;Ijustwasnotinanyconditiontorepre-sentmyclients.

IwishIcouldsaythatafterIresignedfromthebar,thingsgotbetter.Theyreallygotworse.Afeelingofcompletefailurenowexacerbated

thedepression.IfIwasunabletofunctionasalawyerbefore,aftermyresignationIhaddiffi-cultyfunctioningasahumanbeing.Myfearofopening mail, answering telephone calls andopening the frontdoorcontinuedtogrowformonthsthereafter.Iwasvirtuallyahermithid-inginthedarkrecessesofmyhouse.

Duringthatnextyear,Isawmypsychologistwhogotmeonantidepressants,whichatleastallowedme to functionat abasic level.Moreimportantly,Iwasluckyenoughthatanattor-neynamedCarlHughesbecameworriedaboutme. At some intuitive level, Carl understoodthat what I needed more than anything wasworkthatIwascapableofperformingwithoutany stress. He started me working as a lawclerk/researchassistanton investigationsandresearchprojects.Astheprojectdeveloped,hewould monitor my work and when he felt Iwas becoming overwhelmed and depressed,he would cut the work off for a period. Heknew when to push and when to back off. IthinkwithoutCarlHughesIwouldneverhavepulledmyselfbackfromtheabyss.

So,answeringthequestionofhowbaditcanget,theanswerisworsethanyoucanimagine.Leftunattended,youwilllosetheverythingsthatmakeyourlifeworthwhile.Theblackholeof depression, and its gravitational pull, willswallowyouupand leaveyouwithnothing.KnowingthatIwasoneofmanytowhomthisoccurredmakesitnolessdifficulttoaccept.Itismyhope that in thisarticle,myexperiencewillprovideavignettewhichunderscorestheclinicalresearch.

tHe BurnOut PanDemIC

Thereferencetoa“burnout”pandemicinthetitleofthisarticleisnothyperbole.Foroveraquarter century, psychologists have beendescribing worker burnout throughout theworldasamental illnessofepidemicpropor-tions. What was described as an epidemic inthe1980shasnowreachedpandemicpropor-tionswithasmanyashalftheworkersinhighstressoccupationssufferingfromsomeformofburnout.

Initially,theresearchsuggestedthattherootcauseofburnoutwasthefailureofindividualsto appropriately cope with the stress of themodern workplace. However, as evidence ofburnouthascontinuedtogrowexponentially,researchers have recognized that it may wellexist as a result of societal and institutionalpressures.4 As a result, European countries


haverecognized“burnout”asanoccupationalillnessforwhichtheemployer,ratherthantheemployee,bearsfinancialresponsibility.5

The classic definition of burnout is a pro-gressive“syndromeofemotionalexhaustion,depersonalization and reduced personalaccomplishment.”6Theemotionalexhaustionarisesasaresultof theworkload, thedeper-sonalization arises as the volume of workforcesthepractitionertodehumanizehisownclientsandthereducedpersonalaccomplish-ment relates to the perception of that theworkerisnotperforminginaworthwhilejob.7

On its face, thisdescriptionwouldappear tobe inapplicable to professions such as lawyers.Whilewehaveseentheworkloadcreateanemo-tionallyfragilestate,theverynatureoftheworkwould appear to require continued connectiontoone’sclientsandasenseofaccomplishment.However, inconsideringthoselawyers, includ-ingmyself,whoreachedthemostseverelevelsofburnout,thedehumanizationofclients(theybecame cases to close rather than people) andthelossoffeelingthatIwasperformingworth-whileworkbecamemanifest.

In addition, one author has differentiatedbetween traditional concepts of burnout andburnout among successful people. Termed“supernova burnout” the author explainedthatit“afflictssuccessfulpeo-ple who find their vocationsare no longer psychologicallyrewarding.”8 Thus, lawyerswho began their practicereceiving the psychologicalreward of an important jobwelldonelosethatcompensa-tion as a result of the over-whelming workload thatdehumanizes the clients andmakestheworkfeelmeaning-less. More important, profes-sionals subject to “supernovaburnout”feelthat“otherpeo-ple are encroaching on them… using them like a ‘tool’ bydemanding that they fulfillperformance expectations orsustain previously achievedlevelsofsuccess.”9

Irrespectiveofanydisputeofthe psychological underpin-ningsofburnout,theresultsofburnout are universally recog-

nized.Thesymptomsareprogressiveandcumu-lative.Itisagradualprocesshaving“nobegin-ning and ending point but varying levels ordegrees.”10Theinitialsignalsinvolvefeelingsoffatigue, frustration, anger, depression and dis-satisfaction.As burnout progresses, these feel-ingsbecomemoresevereandchronic.11

physicalsymptomsofburnoutmanifestaslowenergy,chronicfatigue,sleepdifficul-ties,headaches,coldsandphysicalweak-ness. Cognitive symptoms range fromstereotyping and depersonalization tocynicism and negative attitudes towardclients, work and self. Emotional symp-toms include feelings of helplessness,hopelessness, guilt, anxiety and entrap-ment. Behavioral symptoms are seen inabsenteeism,aggression,changingjobs,sub-stance abuse and leaving one’s profession.Inaddition,groschandOlsen(1994)identi-fied symptoms of burnout related to thespiritual dimensions of life, which includeloss of faith; loss of meaning and purpose;feelings of alienation and estrangement;despair; and changes in values, religiousbeliefsandreligiousaffiliation.12

Thereareonlyalimitednumberofstudiesoftheextentofburnoutinthelegalprofession,andnoneofthemcomparethelegalprofessiontothepopulation as a whole.13 However, there have

been studies of the symptomsof burnout amongst lawyerswhich support the conclusionthat the burnout pandemic isparticularly prevalent amonglawyers.

A Johns Hopkins Universitystudy found that lawyers arethemostlikelygrouptosuffermajordepressionand3.6timesmore likely than all occupa-tionsstudied.Further,a studyby the National Institute forOccupationalSafetyandHealthfoundthatlawyershadhighersuicide rates than other occu-pations.14 Lawyers suffer alco-hol and substance abuse at agreater percentage than thepopulationingeneral.15

Inlightoftheevidencethatincidents of depression andsubstance abuse are signifi-cantly underreported,16 it is

Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program

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reasonabletoprojectpandemicproportionstolawyerburnout.Thisconclusion isbuttressedbystudiesoflawyerjobsatisfaction.Studiesbythe American Bar Association show thatbetween15percentand23percentoflawyersaredissatisfiedwiththeirjobs.17Theseratesofdissatisfaction were corroborated by a 2003OklahomaCountyBarAssociationstudy.18

tHe WOrKaHOlIC laWYer

Theterm“workaholic”wasfirst“definedasanaddictivedisorderinaperson‘whoseneedforworkhasbecomesoexcessivethatitcreatesnoticeable disturbance or interference with hisbodilyhealth,personalhappinessandinterper-sonal relationships.’”19 Over the next 40 years,the scientific community has been split onwhether the definition should carry such anegative connotation. Many scientists suggestthatrationalworkaholismwasapositivecondi-tionwhichneednot interferewithother inter-personalrelationships.20In2006,piotrowskiandVodanovich distinguished between functionaland dysfunctional workaholism and describedthelatterasfollows:

“[D]ysfunctional”workaholismisaratherinsidious, progressive maladaptive set ofbehaviors that becomes exacerbated overtime.Thesyndromebeginswhennormallyfunctioning individuals/employees facestressors, emanating either from withinindividuals or external demands. Thesestressors initiate workaholic tendenciesand behaviors, which in the early stages,do not interfere with one’s normal func-tioning.Indeed,suchworkaholicbehaviorsareoftenreinforcedatwork(e.g.,positiveperformance evaluations) and at home(e.g.,greaterincome).However,overtime,the personal characteristics of individualsinteractwithjob/workfactorstoproduceadeteriorating environment both at homeandwork.Thatis,workaholismbehaviorsbegintointensifyatthispoint,withworkbecoming a primary source of reinforce-ment. As workaholic behaviors begin toescalate out of control, alienation at workanddisengagementwithfamilyandfriendsoccur.Duringthisdysfunctionalphase,theemployee experiences health symptoms,burnoutandproblemawareness (ordeni-al).Theresultof thisemergingpathologi-calprocess culminates into the full-blownWorkaholismSyndrome.21

In this description lies the fundamentalexplanation of the burnout pandemic withinthelegalprofession.Workaholicbehaviorsareinherent in thepracticeof lawandreinforcedby society and the institutions of the profes-sion.Thesebehaviorsandreinforcementagents,initiallyproducingapositiveresult,canbecomechronicandresultinfull-blownworkaholism.

WOrKaHOlIC BeHaVIOrs

Thetwoprimaryworkaholicbehaviorsare1)working long hours and 2) withdrawing fromhealthyinterpersonalrelationshipswithfamilyand friends. Three lesser behaviors have alsobeen identified 3) obsessive compulsiveness/perfectionism4)competitivenessand5)conflict.These behaviors which in the early stages ofworkaholismareproductiveandresponsibleforanindividual’ssuccess,becomethecoreoftheworkaholic’sbeinginthedysfunctionalstage.

Theexistenceoflonghoursofstressfulworkhasbeenacorerequirementofasuccessfullawpractice.Inmanylawpractices,50-to90-hourwork weeks are the norm.22 In 2001, theABAreportedthat60-hourworkweeksareroutineand that 40-hour weeks are considered part-time work.23 In 2007, it was reported that 56percent of “extreme workers,” including law-yers,areonthejob70hoursaweekormore,25percent are on the job 80 hours a week and9percentareworkingmorethana100hoursaweek. Fifty percent of these extreme workerscancelvacationsduetoworkpressure.24

Based upon these studies, this leaves verylittle time for a personal life. For example,assume that most lawyers work at least 70hoursperweek,spend10hoursaweekcom-mutingtoworkand56hoursaweeksleeping.Thisallows32hoursaweekforapersonallife.Further,assumingthateighthoursaweekarespent on catching up on “household chores”on the weekend this leaves only 24 hours aweekforapersonallife—or3.4hoursaday.

This largecommitmentof timehasasnow-balleffectonthelossofpersonalrelationships.There is simply not enough time to maintainmanyrelationships.As relationships fail,pro-fessionalstendto(a)committhemselvestothearea in which they are successful, i.e. theirwork, and/or (b) self medicate with alcoholandother substances.Thecombinationof thesenseoffailure,theemotionallossofrelation-ships and, for some, self medication, createsfurther stress, further depression and furtherwithdrawalfromashrinkingpersonallife.


In addition to these behav-iors, the practice of law alsoinvolvesthreeotherworkahol-ic behaviors. The importanceof rules to the practice of lawmandatesthatlawyersdevelopanobsessiveness,ordesire forperfectionism, in order toensureaqualityworkproduct.Theconstantpressureto“getitright” can often transform thelawyerfromahealthyproduc-tive individual to one withincreasing symptoms of men-tal illness.Moreover, thecom-petition and conflict inherentinoursystemofadvocacy,par-ticularly where joined withemotional stress of shoulder-ing the client’s troubles, tendstoward maladaptive behavior.Asoneauthorexplained:

One root cause of worka-holism is the very natureof our adversarial legalsystem, which requires many lawyers toadopt a dog eat dog pessimistic worldview. With this environment it is realisticforlawyersattimestosuspectthatpeoplehave ulterior motives, that it is safe to besecretive,thatotherswillseizeeveryoppor-tunitytotakeadvantage,andthatmanipu-lationandselfishnessiswidespread.25

reInFOrCement OF WOrKaHOlIC BeHaVIOr

Thefactthatmaladaptiveworkaholicbehav-iorisinherentinthepracticeoflawisfurtherexacerbated by external societal and profes-sional influences.These influences include(a)societalsupportforthework/successethic;(b)attrition; (c)demographicchanges in thepro-fession; (d) institutions of the profession; and(e)technology.

Theseexternalinfluences,liketheworkaholicbehavior’sdiscussedabove,all servea signifi-cant interest in maintaining the quality of theprofession. However, these influences exercisepowerfuldominionoverlawyer’ssubconsciousandmayexplainwhyexistingtreatmentshavefailed to prevent relapse into dysfunctionalbehavior.

The Work/Success Ethic

Atthecoreofthemotivationof workaholics is that work isessential to their very being.Work,inoursociety,isnotonlynecessaryforsurvivalbutasameans to define us as humanbeings. Contrary to popularbelief,thiscentralroleofworkdid not begin with the protes-tantreformation.paul’sepistlesto early Christians identifiedworkasaformofservinggod,26the philosopher philo ofAlex-andria argued thatAdam wascreated in order to work thegarden of Eden,27 and MarcusAurelius urged that work wasthe attribute that separatedman from beasts.28 Thus, theprimacyofworkurgedbyMar-tin Luther and John Calvinwereextensionsof thealreadywellestablishedworkethic.Inthe19thcentury,Calvin’swork

ethic was transformed by the realities of theIndustrialRevolution.

As described by Daniel Boorstin, the combi-nationofprotestantismandmoderncapitalism“madeavirtueofthepersonalqualitiesrequiredtobecomerich.”29Thetransformationfromtheworkethictothegospelofwealthwasonlyanintermediatesteptothecurrentsocietalviewofwork. In the post-WWII civilization, the tradi-tional work ethic has been replaced by an allconsumingpursuitofpublicrecognitionofsuc-cess. Inhis landmarkwork,ChristopherLaschdescribedourcurrentzeitgeist:

Inasocietyinwhichthedreamofsuccesshasbeendrainedofanymeaningbeyonditself, men have nothing against which tomeasuretheirachievementsexceptachieve-mentsofothers.Self-approvaldependsonpublic recognition and acclaim, and thequality of this approval has undergoneimportant changes in its own right. Thegood opinion of friends and neighbors,which formerly informed a man that hehadlivedausefullife,restedonapprecia-tion of his accomplishments. Today menseek the kind of approval that applaudsnot their actions but their personal attri-butes. They wish to be not so muchesteemed as admired. They crave not thefame but the glamour and excitement of

…the primacy of work urged by Martin Luther and John Calvin were

extensions of the already well established work

ethic. In the 19th century, Calvin’s work

ethic was transformed by the realities of the Indus-

trial Revolution.


celebrity. They want to be envied ratherthan respected. pride and acquisitiveness,the sins of an ascendant capitalism, havegivenwaytovanity.30

Thissocializationprocesscreatesapowerfulreinforcementofworkaholicbehaviors.Thatis,the pursuit of success controls our psyche. Inthepracticeof law,success translates tomoreworkhoursandlesspersonalinteraction.Ourdrivingforceisnolongerthequalityofourlife,butthevisageofsuccesscreatedbylonghoursofwork.

Attrition

Asecondreinforcementofworkaholicbehav-iors is simple attrition. The fact is that lawschool and the first years of practice tend toweedoutthenon-workaholics.Inthisregard,this initial training relies heavily upon meth-ods based upon maladaptive behaviors, suchas heavy workload, increased time pressure,competition, perfectionism and the treatmentofaltruismasnaïve.31

Notsurprisingly,whenstudentsbegin theirlegaltraining,theirincidenceofmentalillnessapproximatesthepopulationingeneral.Afterthefirstyear,52percentofstudentssufferfromdepression(versus5to9percentinthepopula-tion in general); the second year, 40 percentwere still depressed and two years after lawschool 17 percent remained depressed. Thus,lawyers starting out in the profession sufferdepressionataratetwicetofourtimesthegen-eral population.32 Indeed, the very concept of“minimum billing hours” for associates withestablished firms presupposes an establishedlevelofworkaholismbywhichyounglawyersare trained to sacrifice their personal lives tomeetproductionexpectations.Thosewhocan-not embrace these maladaptive behaviors areeliminatedthroughattrition.

Demographic Changes

Stated simply, women are the future of thelegalprofession.Atonepoint,itwasbelievedthatwomenwouldbelesssubjecttomaladap-tive behaviors than men. However, recentstudies have shown them to be subject toworkaholism to the same extent as men.33Indeed,womenintheprofessionfaceanaddi-tionalstressornot facedbymostmen, i.e. theburden of being the primary caregiver in thehome.34 This paradigm of the modern familycauses further attrition within the profession.Thosewomenwhoareunabletoshoulderthe

burdenoftwicetheworkoftheirmalecounter-parts are leaving the profession. The result isthat the remaining women lawyers will con-tinuetoengageinworkinglonghoursintwoseparatesectorsoftheirlives.

Institutional Reinforcement

As previously discussed, the very institu-tions of the profession reinforce workaholicbehaviors.Thetrainingreceivedinlawschool,theworkloadimposedbylawfirms,thework-load required to litigate increasingly complexcases,theperfectionismrequiredbythecourtsandthefearofsanctionbythebarallreinforceworkaholicbehaviors.

Technology

Originally it was believed that technologywould reduce the workload of lawyers. Theadvent of computers, Internet access andmobile technology was predicted to be thesolutionforanabsenceofpersonallifeforhighachievers. In fact, this technology has rein-forced maladaptive behaviors in several sig-nificant ways. The line between work andhome has been effectively eliminated. Attor-neyswho try to leavework toattend to theirpersonal lives are constantly in contact with

clienTs’ securiTy fund

The Clients’ Security Fund is a fund estab-lished by the Oklahoma Supreme Court to reimburse clients who suffer loss of money or other property from the dishonest conduct of their attorney. The fund is a remedy of last resort for clients who cannot be repaid or recover money from other sources, such as insurance, a bonding company or from the attorney involved.

The legal profession depends upon the trust of clients. When a lawyer betrays that trust by taking client funds, it is important that the vic-tims be fairly reimbursed. All active Oklahoma attorneys pay for the fund through a portion of their annual bar dues.

More than $1.7 million in reimbursements has been paid to clients since the fund was created in 1965.

More information about the Clients’ Security Fund can be found at www.okbar.org/members/gencounsel/CSFfaq.htm.


the office. The stress of the office never goesaway.Atthesametime,theincreasedtechnol-ogyhasincreasedtimepressures.35WhenIfirststarted practicing law, a letter from opposingcounsel imposed a two- to three-day turn-around. Now, with e-mail, the practitioner isunderpressuretorespondwithinhoursratherthan days. Moreover, the productivity toolsprovided by technology have increased thetendency toward obsessive compulsive/per-fectionist thinking. Accordingly, rather thanmaking more time for personal life, moderntechnologyhasreinforcedexistingworkaholicbehaviors.

aCCOmmODatInG tHe WOrKaHOlIC laWYer tO PreVent BurnOut

[W]orkaholics bring an incredible resis-tancetoatreatmentsettingpresumingthatis,thattheyarewillingtoaccepttheneedtomodifythatlifestylethatSpreullreferredtoas ‘theaddictionmostrewardedinourculture.’Inbottomlinetermsworkaholicsresist… because workaholism not onlythriveswithinourculturebuttosomeitistheembodimentofourmaterialisticethos.

StephenBerglas,Treating Workaholism

Traditionally,thelegalprofessionhasattempt-edtoaddresslawyerburnoutonanindividualbasiswithoutconsiderationof thesocietalandprofessional sources of the condition. The barhas established a “lawyer to lawyer” programas an extension of its alcohol/substance abuseprogram. Law firms have adopted “work/lifebalance”programsdesignedtomakethework-place more satisfying and the workload lessstressful. At the same time, the institutions ofthe profession have ignored the maladaptivebehaviors which are caused and reinforced bythepracticeoflaw.

Thisarticleurgesthataddressingthesymp-tomsofburnout,whileignoringtheimpactofworkaholism, is simply shuffling deck chairson the Titanic. You cannot “cure” the symp-toms of burnout when there are powerfulsocial and professional forces that reinforce aneed to return to unhealthy behaviors. It isunlikely to be successful to convert a worka-holictoabalancedlifestylewithouttakingintoconsideration the external factors forcing thelawyer to return to the dysfunctional behav-iors.Indeed,therecordonthesuccessofsuchprogramsislimitedatbest.37

Itisequallyuntenabletosuggestthatestab-lishedexternalpressureswhichinsurethevia-bility of the profession are going to change.Long work hours, attrition, changing demo-graphics and institutional reinforcement aregoing to continue to pull lawyers towardworkaholicbehaviors.

Without an effective individual “cure” forburnout, or the possibility of widespreadchangesintherequirementstopracticelaw,thequestion arises whether there is any way toavoidthemental illness that isoccurringasaresultoftheirdesiretosucceedintheirchosenprofession.

Itissuggestedthatthesolutionliesinaccept-ing reality. That is, accepting that powerfulforces will encourage lawyers to engage in apursuit of success which is unhealthy in thelong run merely means that the professionmust become adaptive in addressing theseforces. Because the dysfunctional trinity ofworkaholism, depression and burnout are allprogressive in nature, the key is to identifythosemostlikelytobecomedysfunctionalandtointercedewithprovenaccommodationsthatwill ameliorate the negative consequences offorcesinherentinthepracticeoflaw.

Identification

Thekeytoanyaccommodationtoworkahol-ism is identificationof those inneedofassis-tance. Since workaholism, depression andburnoutareallprogressiveconditions,thekeyis toselect themostappropriatestage topro-vide that assistance. Unlike other addictivebehavior, workaholism can be addressed tooearly. Functional workaholic behaviors areengrained and essential to the success of theindividualandtheprofession.Itisonlywhenthebehaviorsbecomedysfunctionalthatinter-ventionisappropriate.Theprofessionmust,inconjunction with mental health professions,identifytheoptimumpointintimeforidenti-fyingworkaholics.

At the present time, aside from generalized“work lifebalancing”programs, self-identifica-tion is the key element of any assistance pro-vided to the workaholic. Intervention by theinstitutionsoftheprofessionisnormallydelayeduntiltheattorneyhassufferedsignificantmentalillnessand/orchemicaldependence.

Self-identification of addictive behaviormakes perfect sense for all other forms ofaddictive behavior. Unlike other addictive


behavior,aworkaholicattorneymaynotknowheisimpaireduntilheiscriticallyill.38

Thestatisticsonlawyerssufferingfromdepres-siondemonstrate thatself-identificationsimplydoesnotwork.Forexample,weknowthatthereisarelativelysteady17-20percentoftheprofes-sionalpopulationwhoaresufferingfromdepres-sionatanygiventime.Wealsocanseefromtherecord of bar complaints that the symptoms ofdepression/burnout often manifest themselvesin a failure to adequately represent clients.Althoughthenumbersofselfidentifyingattor-neysarenotpublic,itseemsunlikelythatany-wherenearthisnumberseekassistancewithouttheinterventionofathirdparty.Theclearpat-ternhasbeenthatat-riskattorneysoftendonotbecomeapparenttothebaruntilthereisapro-fessional responsibility issue.At that time, theattorneymayraisehismentalhealthconditioninmitigationofapenalty.39

If a more proactive identification processwere established, the bar and the attorneymightavoidfuturedamagetoclients.Thekeyto this identification is to “red flag” conductratherthanamedicalcondition.Inthisregard,certainconductisclearlyindicativeofgrowingdysfunction. For example, for my own part,whenIreceivedthepublicdisciplinein1993,Iresolvedtoneveragainfailtomeetmyobliga-tions under Rule 1.3. However, since I wasunaware of my own growing dysfunction, Ifailed to seek appropriate relief. Rather, I justcommittedtoworkharder—theworstthingIcouldhavedone.

Moreover,thebarassociationisnottheonlyinstitution that could proactively engage inidentificationofpotentialdysfunctionalwork-aholics.Justasthe“redflag”forthebarasso-ciation are complaints under Rule 1.3, thejudicialsystemhasafrontrowseattomisseddeadlinesandotherindiciaofburnout.Again,rather than making a medical determination,thejudiciarycouldwellestablishareferralsys-tem when attorneys meet some threshold ofmisseddeadlinesanddates.

Furthermore,lawfirms,morethananyotherinstitution, are in a position to know whentheir attorneys are transforming from a fullyproductive workaholic into a dysfunctionalworkaholic.

Accommodation

Once an at-risk attorney is identified, thenext step is to identify the assistance that is

necessarytorestorehismentalhealth.Certaintechniques,discussedbelow,shouldbeusedinvirtually all cases in which either burnout ordysfunctionalworkaholismisindicated.How-ever, the exact nature of the assistance to theimpairedattorneyisgoingtodependuponthenature of the impairment, the severity of theimpairmentandthewillingnessoftheattorneyto participate in the accommodation. For thisreason,itiscriticalthattheassistingparty(thebarand/orthelawfirm),shouldadopta“flex-ible,interactive”approachtoaccommodations.Theassistingpartyshouldbeginbyaskingtheimpairedattorneywhathe/sheneedstorecov-erfullmentalhealth.Beyondthis,theassistingpartymustbeincontactwith,andmakeuseof,professionals who are experienced in treatingand assisting workaholics. This expertise iscritical to designing an effective proactiveaccommodation in order to take into accountthe nature of the profession which will rein-forcedysfunctionalbehavior.

Iusemyself asanexample.Once I crashedandburnedandwasinmajordepression,Iwaslucky enough that my neighbor was a psy-chologist,Dr.RichardSternloff.Hestartedmeon anti-depressants and began sessions withmeinwhichheremindedmethatthesumofmy career was not all failures. In session, heremindedmeof thepeople that Ihadhelpedover the years by application of the verybehaviors which were now pulling me into ablack hole. Thereafter, as I discussed above, IwasluckyenoughtohaveCarlHughesreachout to me. While Dr. Sternloff helped mebecome human again, it was Carl, giving mejust enough research work to restore somesenseofpride,complimentingmeonmyworkand watching over me to ensure I didn’t slipbackintoblackoutdepression.

That combination of Dr. Sternloff’s profes-sionalassistanceandCarlHughes’supervisionofmywork,ratherthananystandardizedtem-plate for accommodating a dysfunctionalworkaholic,iswhathasworkedwithme.Thatis what is meant by a “flexible, interactive”approach.

Supervision

Attheheartofdysfunctionalworkaholismisthe inability to modulate work overload. Asthe workload increases, and the conditionbecomesmoresevere,thereisafeelingofalackof support from peers and a resentment thateveryone isusing theattorneyasa“tool” for


theirownends.40AsIfoundoutfrommyexpe-rience with Carl Hughes, having someonesuperviseyourwork,ensuringthatyouarenotreturningtodysfunctionalbehaviors,providesboth a sense of support as well as a stopgapagainstoverworking.

Inaddition,thesourceoftheassistancemustresistthetemptationtosubjecttheworkaholicto a training campaign on the importance ofworklifebalance.Theworkaholichasheardallthatbeforeandnotbeenabletointernalizeit.Itis their work that they have succeeded with,anditispracticingfunctionalworkhabitsthatcan return them to full health. This conceptwasdiscussedbyDr.Berglas:

Most workaholics do not accept the needforpsychotherapyunlessoruntiltheyaresubjected to an event that prevents themfrom working… As a rule, they cling totheir lifestyle with a tenacity befittingsomeonewhofearsdissolutionifunabletoindulgeinit.Duringtheprocessofbuild-ing a therapeutic alliance with a worka-holic, all discussions of balance (e.g. add-ing recreational pursuits to one’s life orcutting down on overtime) should beavoided.Ihavefoundthattheparadoxicaltechniqueofadding workthatforcesawork-aholicintocollaborativerelationshipsisoffargreatervalueinheighteninghisaware-ness of the dynamics of his disorder thanseekingtolimithisinvolvementinprofes-sional pursuit. When this end can beachieved with the cooperation or collabo-ration of a patient’s employer, the likeli-hood of successful treatment outcome isenhancedsignificantly.41

Inshort,theuseofcarefullycontrolledworkassignments will allow the lawyer to restorehimselfand,atthesametime,learntomodu-lateworkaholicbehaviors.

COnClusIOn

Theburnoutpandemicwithinthelegalpro-fession is directly attributable to maladaptivebehaviorsinherentinthesuccessfulpracticeoflaw.Thisarticlesuggeststhatattemptstocureeither“burnout”or“workaholism”havefailedbecauseofentrenchedsocietalandprofessionalforcesthattendtoreturnlawyerstothesamedysfunctional behavior. This article suggests,therefore, that rather than trying to cure thementalillness,theinstitutionsoftheprofessionshould take a proactive approach in identify-ing, accommodating and supervising those

individualsatriskofsignificantmentalillnessduetotheverynatureofthepracticeoflaw.

1.Iresignedfromthepracticeoflawwithclientgrievancespend-ing.ThecircumstancesofthatresignationaredescribedinState ex rel Oklahoma Bar Ass’n v. Angel,85p.3d811(2004).

2.State ex rel Oklahoma Bar Ass’n v. Angel,848p.2d549(Okl.1993).3. At that time, the bar’s “Lawyers Helping Lawyers” program

existed for substance abusers and had not yet been expanded toaddressothermentalhealthissues.

4.Sikora,J.(2009).SelfEmploymentandBurnoutAmongAustra-lianWorkers.Australian Journal of Social Issues,44(1),55.

5. Judge Backs Dutch Technician in “Burn-Out” Case AgainstEmployer.(2007,Jan16).Deutsche Pressee-Agentur in English.

6. Maslach, C & Jackson, S.E. (1981) Maslach Burnout Inventory Manual.2nded,paloAlto,CA,Consultingpsychologistspress,pg.1.

7.Reichel,A.(1993).WorkStress,JobBurnoutandWorkOutcomesinaTurbulentEnvironment.The International Studies of Management & Organization,23(3),pg75.

8.Berglas,S.(2001).How Successful People Overcome Burnout.NewYork:RandomHouse,pg.5.

9.Idatpg.20.10. Lambie, g. (2006). Humanistic perspective and Structured

group Supervision Activities. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling,45(1),32.

11.potter,B.(2005).Overcoming Job Burnout: How to Renew Enthusi-asm for Work. Oakland, CA: Ronin publishing, Inc. (Original workpublished1980).

12.Lambie,g.(2007).TheContributionofEgoDevelopmentLeveltoBurnoutinSchoolCounselors:ImplicationsforprofessionalSchoolCounseling.Journal of Counseling and Development,85(1),82.

13.Jackson,S.(1987).Correlatesofburnoutamongpublicservicelawyers.Journal of Organizational Behavior,8(4),339-349;Chermiss,C.(1992). Long-term consequences of burnout: An exploratory study.Journal of Organizational Behavior, 13(1), 1-11. Tsai, F. (2009). Occupa-tionalStressandBurnoutofLawyers.Journal of Occupational Health,51,443-450.Sharma,A;Verma.(2010).StressandBurnoutaspredictorsofJob Satisfaction amongst Lawyers. European Journal of Social Sciences,14(3),348-359.

14. Elwork, A. (2007). Stress Management for Lawyers (3rd ed.).NorthWales,pA:Vorkellgroup,pg16.

15.goren,T.,&SmithB.(2001).Depressionasamitigatingfactorinlawyerdiscipline.The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics,14(4),1081.

16.pulliam,p.(2008).LawyerDepression:TakingaCloserLookatFirstTimeEthicsOffenders.Journal of the Legal Profession,32,289.

17.Supranote14,atpgs13-14.18.OklahomaCountyBarAssociation.(2003).Initial Report on the

Survey: Work/Life Balance in the Legal Profession.OklahomaCity,OK.Itshouldbenotedthattherateofsatisfactionwasonly50percentwhenthequestionwaswhethertheirlives“measuredup”totheir“generalaspirations.

19. Coombs, R. (Ed.). (2004). Handbook of Addictive Disorders: A Practical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment.Hoboken,N.J:JohnWiley&Sons,pg383,quotingWayneE.Oates, (1971),Confessions of a worka-holic: The facts about work addiction;NewYork,Worldpublishing.

20.Harpaz, I.,&Snir,R. (2003).Workaholism: ItsDefinitionandNature.Human Relations,56(3),291.

21.piotrowski,C.,&Vodanovich,S.(2006).TheInterfacebetweenWorkaholism and Work Family Conflict: A Review and ConceptualFramework.Organization Development Journal,24(4),84,89.

22.Hill,A.(2004,October/November).preventingBurnout:LiveWell,LaughOften.GPSolo.

23.ABACommissiononWomenintheprofession.(2001).Balanced Lives: Changing the Culture of Legal Practice. Chicago: American BarAssociation.

24. Hewlett, S. (2007). Off Ramps and On Ramps: Keeping Talented Women on the Road to Success.Boston:HarvardBusinessSchoolpressatpg37.

25.Supra,note14,pg29.26.2ndThessalonians,3:10-12;Ephesians6:5-8(KingJamesVersion).27.Boorstin,D.(1992).The Creators: A History of Heroes of the Imagi-

nation.NewYork,N.Y:VantageBooks,AdivisionofRandomHouseatpg52.

28.Aurelius,M.(2003).Meditations[Hays,g].NewYork:ModernLibrary.

29. Boorstin, D. (1974). The Americans: The Democratic Experience.NewYork:VintageBooks.

30.Lasch,C. (1979).The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations.NewYork:W.W.Norton&Company,Inc.atpg.59.


31.Supranote14atpg.15.32.Benjamin,g.,Darling,E.,&Sales,B.(1990).Theprevalenceof

Depression,AlcoholAbuse,andCocaineAbuseamongUnitedStatesLawyers.International Journal of Law and Psychiatry,13,233-246.

33.Supranote20atpg.312.34. Hochschild, A. (2003). The Second Shift. New York: penguin

group. (Original work published 1989). professor Hochschild notedthatthemovementofwomenintotheworkforceproducedsomeinitialshifting of homecare responsibilities to men, that trend has beenreversed in recent years. As a result, women lawyers shoulder thedemands of professional productivity along with the hours spent asprimarycaregiverinthehome.

35.Edley,p.(2002).Technology,EmployedMothersandCorporateColonizationoftheLifeworld:AgenderedparadoxofWorkandFam-ilyBalance.Women and Language,24(3).

36.Supranote19atpg383.37.Supranote21atpg90.38.Dowers,R, (2006).Duties Invokedunder theModelRulesof

professionalConductbyaMentallyImpairedLawyer,The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics,19(3),pg681.

39.State ex rel Oklahoma Bar Ass’n v. Busch,1996OK38,919p.2d114(Okl.1996).

40.Supranote8.41.Supranote19atpg.389.

For 26 years Steven Angel was a labor and civil rights lawyer. In 2003, he resigned from the prac-tice of law. Thereafter, he formed a human resources consulting firm. He holds a B.S. in personnel and labor relations; a M.S. in human resources management, a J.D. and an LL.M in labor law.

AbOUT THE AUTHOR

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Traditional notions of good manners some-times rub up against what some may see asgoodlawyering.Ifyouareamanofacertainage, you may have wrestled with reconcilinganupbringingthatcounseledcourtlybehavioranddeferencetowomenwiththemoderndayrealitythatawomanmaybeontheothersideofyourhigh-stakeslawsuitandsheiscomingatyouwitheverythingshehas.Conversely,ifyou are a woman of a certain age, you maysometimes struggle to reconcile traditionalconceptions of “ladylike” behavior with thedutiesyouhavetoyourclient.Lawyersoftenhaveadutytopressfornotjustfairresults,butfavorable results. Sometimes you have to say“yes” and “no,” when personally you wouldmuch rather say “no” and “yes.” And forwomen, taking the hard position sometimesunfairly earns them an unpleasant name,instead of the adjective “aggressive” moreoftenuseddescribingmen.

Strikingthebalancebetweengoodbehaviorand effective representation is difficult formany.Thepathonetakesasalawyeroftenhastodowithhowyouseeyourrole.Somelaw-yersseetheirroleasa“warrior,”andthattheyare duty bound to do everything in theirpower, and for an especially unpleasant few,everything within their personality, to wrestthe result desired by their client. For others,beingalawyerhasacertainregalqualitytoit.Theclientsareinsomewaysjustthepiecestheattorneymovesaroundinaroyalgameoflegalchess. They regard their reputations (readregard by others) to such a degree that onewonderswhethertheywillgotoalllengthstoearn the approbation of the opposing lawyer,to the detriment of their own client. There isalsoagoodsizedgroupof lawyers,maleandfemale,thatstrikethatperfectbalancebetweensoldieranddiplomat.Theyrepresenttheircli-ents well, generally achieve good results andhonor their colleagues and the legal systemalongtheway.Thekeytothisdelicatebalance

Why Manners MatterBy Travis Pickens

IhaveheardmanyaSouthernerdisparage,fairlyandunfairly,thecomparative“badmanners”ofaNortherner.Mannersarenot the same as character, and broad exposure to different

regionsofthecountryconfirmsthatpeoplearegenerallymoreorlessthesameallover.Butmannersdomatter.Mannersmaynottellyouthefullqualityofaperson’ssoul,buttheyarefarmorethansocialniceties.Theymanifestcourtesyandrespectforotherpeople, and significant institutions. They signal sophisticationandtolerance.Theywill tellyouwithwhomyouwouldrathershareatryingexperience.Andbarringotherevidence,theywillcertainlytellyouwhomyouwouldpreferyourchildrenimitate.



is to understand that courtesydoes not mean weakness andclient-injuringdeference.

Take speech for example.Whatwesayandhowwesayitmatters.Abusivelanguagedoesnotenhanceyourefficacyasanadvocate.Judgesroutinelymakethispointeverytimetheyhaveanopportunity.Ifbombastwasan effective tool, then we mayaswellgobacktothedayofthegrunt and the scream. properand courteous speech benefitsthelegalsystemandisabenchmarkofrespect,security and a dignified process. Flip, slangandraggedlyinformalwordsdonothelp.Thewords we use with each other and in courtrepresents the esteem we hold for not justthose immediatelypresent, but the entire jus-tice system. The words should reflect therespect, dignity and value of the court, andeachotherasofficersofit.

Similarly,properdressisimportant.Welaw-yers should maintain a conservative style ofdress, not because we are stubbornly old-fash-ioned or prudes, but because the process andinstitution of justice benefits from a visiblereminder that this is serious business that hasdeepandlastingconsequencesonpeople,theirproperty and yes, our state and nation. Theseuniformswewear,ofteninshadesofblue,blackandgray,remindeachofus,ourclientsandthegeneralpublic,thatweplayaroleinsomethinglarger thanourcontractnegotiationor lawsuit.Conservative dress puts the emphasis where itshouldbe,ontheproceedings,nottheindividu-al. Flashy, sloppy or provocative dress under-mines this. Would Handel’s “Messiah” be asmajesticormovingifthechoirwent,say,cabanacasual,insteadofrobed?Wouldyoupreferyourhealthcareprofessionals todress inshortsandflip-flops? The lawyers and the court are on“stage” so to speak, and they each have theirrole.Ifoneortheotherbreaksoutofcharacter,through word or wardrobe, there is a risk thatthesanctityofthelaw(notonlytheparticipants)willbediminished.

Thisisnottosaythattheplayersinthisdramamusttakethemselvesasseriously.Therecanbelaughter in the courtroom, but there shouldneverbeanymistake that theprocess isaboutjustice, not entertainment. Similarly, the court-

roomisnotaboutsmackdownsor revenge. That is a differentkind of drama; one presidedover by daytime television orreality show hosts, not judges.Clients and the public shouldfeeltheyhavebeentoacourtoflaw,notsomesortoflargeandwell-funded government com-plaintdepartment.

Lawyersshouldrequiretheirclients to dress properly aswell. The fact that there is alocalruleinmanycourtsasto

dress is ample evidence that there have beenconsistent and dramatic deviations. We haveallseenlitigantsappearinclothesmoresuitedfor Dancing with the Stars. Clothing does nothave tobeexpensive tobeproper. It isaboutcoverageandcoloring,notqualityofmaterialorfinetailoring.Theclients,too,havetheirroleincourt.Theywillbehaveandreactbetter towhateverhappensiftheyseethejusticesystemand its participants as worthy of respect anddecorum.

Itshouldespeciallybenotedby judgesthatthe lawyers before them follow their lead.Respectful,courteoustreatmentisappreciatedandmodeledbythelawyers,astotheirbehav-iorbeforethecourtandamongthemselves.Itsetstheoveralltoneofthelitigation.Thinkofitas trickle-down professionalism. A judgeshouldtreatthelawyersandlitigantsaswellina bench trial, as with a jury watching. Thejudgeshouldactasanadministratorofthelaw,notas theembodimentof it.The judge is thegovernment’s representative and decisionmaker in this process of justice. For example,indiscriminate use of the phrase “my court-room”cansignalsomethingotherthanthetrueroleofthejudge,whichistoapplythelawofthe land, not impose, even in the slightestsense,apersonalcodeorslantonjustice.

Like all manifestations of truth and beauty,professional behavior has many profoundlydesirable consequences beyond the relation-ship between lawyers and their clients. Man-nerly behavior inspires professional behaviorthat exceeds courteous phone calls and tem-perate e-mails. There are fewer schedulingissues,discoverydisputesdecreaseandsettle-ments often occur earlier in the case, leaving

Would you prefer your health care professionals to dress

in shorts and flip-flops?


theclientsenoughmoneytopaytheirfees(andstillcelebrate).

You are likely to find more professionalismexhibited among lawyers that routinely prac-tice with and against each other. Speak to alawyer with a busy practice in insurancedefense,orattheOklahomaCorporationCom-mission,andyouwilloftenfinda“knightsofthe roundtable” type quality that makes onelong for an earlier day. Those in family orcriminal law,whethergovernment lawyersorinprivatepractice,haveuniqueanddauntingclientchallenges,butprofessionalismstilloftentriumphs.Thatis,whenthelawyerscontroltheclient’s expectations and act as their lawyer,nottheirchampion.

The legal profession should not be lookeduponasaclubbyitsparticipants,forthesys-temofjusticeisforeveryone,therichandpooralike.Legal societieshavean importantplaceindevelopingcollegialityandfurtheringedu-cation for lawyers, but the legal system itselfmust never be seen as a club to be joined orfromwhichtoexpelthelesspopular.Lawyersand judges come with many different back-grounds, experiences and abilities and all arevaluable and needed in the beautiful mosaicwe call theAmerican justice system. We law-yers and judges should remember that likeactors,wehaveanaudience,andnojobswith-outthem.Weshouldrememberourclientsandthegeneralpublicarepayingforallofthis.

This sliver of professionalism loosely called“manners”mattersagreatdeal,forreasonsfarbeyond regional mores.As a practical matter,theyaffect therealizationofseveralkeyrulesof the Oklahoma Rules of professional Con-duct, such as those dealing with diligence,communication, expediting litigation, impar-tialityanddecorumofthetribunalandfairnesstotheopposingpartyandcounsel.goodman-ners affect every relationship in the justicesystem.Theyaffecthowwelljusticeisadmin-istered and how quickly justice is attained.goodmannersaffecthow justice isperceivedby the public. There are few things moreimportant,andbycomparisonsoeasilydone.

Travis Pickens serves as OBA ethics counsel. He is responsible for addressing ethics questions from OBA members, working with the Legal Ethics Advisory Panel, monitoring diversion pro-gram participants, teaching class-es and writing articles. A former litigator in private practice, he has served as co-chair of the

Work/Life Balance Committee and as vice-chair of the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program Committee.

AbOUT THE AUTHOR

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Understandingliability isabasic legalskill,andlawyershavesignificantexpertiseinana-lyzing liability exposures and understandinglegal trends.However,whenitcomestotheirown profession, some may not always be aswellversedinthedevelopingprofessionallia-bilityexposuresthattheymaybefacingwhilepracticing law. By understanding emergingissuesandhowtobestprotectthemselves,law-yerscanmakebetterinsurancechoices.

tHree trenDs anD KeY COVeraGes

Thelegalprofessioncontinuestoexperiencesignificantchangesdrivenbyintensecompeti-tion, business pressures within the currenteconomyandbynewerapproachestopractic-ing law. These changes can be grouped intomajortrendsthatappeartobegeneratingnewprofessionalliabilityexposures.Threeofthesetrendsaresetforthbelow,alongwithsomeofthenewestinsurancecoveragesthathavebeendesignedtoaddressthesepotentialliabilities.

Technological Advances

As the legal systemand law firmscontinuemoving into the electronic age, they are nowfully embracing the newer technologies, suchaselectronicfiling(e-filing),mobiletechnology,storingclientdatadigitally, andcommunicat-

ingwithcourt systemsandopposingcounselandclientsinanelectronicformat.

However,alongwiththesenewcommunica-tions advances come new technology expo-sures,alsoknownascyberliability.Forexam-ple,inacasefrom2006,alawfirmsuedalargeinformationtechnologycompany,allegingthatone of the company’s employees invaded thelaw firm’s database and appropriated confi-dential information about firm clients. Thefirmapparentlybelievedtheyhadtobringsuittoprotectthemselvesfrompotentialliabilitytoother firmclients.This typeof lawsuit servesasanindicatorregardingemergingliabilities.

Tothatend,legalprofessionalsmaywanttoconsidercyberliabilityinsurancecoveragethatprotectstheminthreekeyareas:

•Inadvertent transmission of a computervirusthatcausesdamagestotherecipient.

•Failure to meet a commitment to provideaccess or to prevent access to the firm’snetwork.

•Violationofprivacylawsthroughthedis-closureofconfidentialinformation.

Ineachoftheseareas,afirmmayincurunex-pected costs to resolve these problems, be hit

Understanding Key Professional Liability Risks

By Dan Reed

An American Bar Association study of legal malpracticefound that claims against lawyers surged 36 percentbetween2004and2007whencomparedtothepriorthree-

yearperiod.Manyexpertsbelieve that the stateof theeconomyoverthepastcoupleofyearshasonlymadethesituationworse.1



with regulatory fines or even be required topay damages to other affected parties whoreliedonthefirmtoconducttheircyberactivi-tiesresponsibly.Finally,lawyershaveaspecialfiduciaryobligationtoprotecttheprivacyandconfidential information of their clients. Con-sidering all of these potential exposures, lawfirmswouldbewellservedtoconsiderappro-priateinsuranceprotectionintheseareas.

Organizational Reshuffling

According to theBureauofLaborStatistics,morethan25,000legalservicesjobshavebeenlost since the beginning of the current reces-sion. Additionally, according to an estimatefrom the “Layoff Tracker” (a joint venture bythe law blogs “Above the Law” and “LawShucks”), more than 5,000 lawyers have losttheir jobs during this same time frame at thenation’slargestlawfirms.

Asformerlargelawfirmlawyershavemovedintonewassociationswithmid-sizeorsmallerfirms,orevengoneoutontheirown,therippleeffect from their displacement is being feltthroughouttheentireprofession.Additionally,thenewlydownsizedlargerlawfirmsarereor-ganizingtohandletheirworkdifferently,andsmallandmid-sizelawfirmsaregearinguptocompete with them, sometimes using moreindependent contractors and “of counsel”arrangements.Anumberoffirmshavemergedwithoracquiredformercompetitors,whileyetothershavebrokenintosmallerpractices.Italladdsuptoasignificantamountofmovementanddisruptioninthemarketplace.

These changes can create possible liabilitiesthatneedtobecarefullyaddressed.Forexam-ple, when one firm merges with another toformanewentity,coverageforeachpredeces-sor firm becomes very important. Agentsshould examine whether the new policy pro-videsadequatepredecessorFirmcoverage,orwhether “Tail” or Extended Reporting provi-sion(ERp)coverageshouldbepurchasedfromeitherterminatingpolicytoensurethefirmisproperly covered. Additionally, if an acquisi-tionofafirmismadewhileanexistingpolicyisineffect,adequatecoveragemustbearrangedasthismaybeconsideredamaterialchangeinexposure or create other potential coveragegapsiftheexistingpolicydoesn’tprovidecov-erageformid-termacquisitions.

Finally,whenalawfirmbreaksup,orifoneinsurancepolicyisterminatingandanotherisbeingpurchasedthatexcludescoverageforthe

dissolved firm, it is important to consider“Tail”orERpcoveragewhichaddressesliabili-ties that can emerge from past cases andactions.Manyofthesetypesoforganizationalchange coverages have specific time limits orrequire affirmative elections and additionalpremiumsinordertoputtheappropriatecov-erageinplace,solawfirmswillneedcounselfrom their agents to make sure they have theappropriateprotection.

Practice Expansion

Witheconomicpressurespushinglawfirmsintonewareastoraisetheirfirmprofileorgen-erateneededrevenue,firmsmayneedsupportfromtheir insurersinwaystheyhadnotcon-sidered in the past. This may include takingadvantageofriskmanagementexpertise,pre-claim mitigation advice and coverages notincludedintraditionallegalpolicies.Forexam-ple,theymaywanttoaddress:

Publishing liability if producing books, articles and treatises.Lawyers’professionalliabilitypoli-ciesoftenlimitcoveredprofessionalservicestothepracticeoflaw,andifsuchwritingsarenotconsideredpartoflegalpractice,theseactivitiesmaybeexcludedfromcoverageunderatradi-tional LpL policy. If these activities happen toresult ina lawsuitallegingdefamation,plagia-rism, or the unauthorized use of someone’sname, likeness, or intellectual property, theremaybeanuncoveredexposure,unlesspublish-ingliabilitycoveragehasbeenadded.

Reputation management.Thepervasive,24-hournews cycle and intense competition within thepopularmediahavecreatedsignificantdemandfor anything and everything controversial.Beyondreportingcase lawand legaldecisions,thereisnowaspecificmediasegmentdedicatedto reporting on lawyers and law firms. A lawfirm may want to ensure it is covered for the

A number of firms have merged with or acquired former

competitors, while yet others have broken into smaller practices.


expensesofdefending itself in theevent thatacrisis emerges that could have a materiallyadverseeffectonthefirm’sreputation.

Lost work time and defense costs. Increasingly,clients are more willing today to bring com-plaints to legal oversight bodies that must beaddressedorevenbringmalpracticeclaimsasaresponsetoafeecollectionlawsuits.protec-tionagainstlossofearningsrelatedtorespond-ing to these complaints or claims, and reim-bursement of defense costs in responding todisciplinary proceedings can be an importantfinancialconsideration.

aDDItIOnal PItFalls tO COnsIDer

In addition to understanding the insuranceimplicationsoftheseoverarchingtrends,legalprofessionalswillalsowanttomakesuretheyavoidtwocommonpitfalls.

The first is when a firm switches from oneinsurancecarriertoanotherandbecomessubjectto a “prior knowledge” exclusion that affirmsthe firm is not aware of any potential claims.This language should be examined carefully,since it may be narrowly defined or be verybroad. Under a broad exclusion, a firm whereeven one person is later found to have knowl-edge that was not disclosed may be inadver-tently exposed to a costly coverage gap. Somepoliciesapplythisexclusiontoeachsubsequentrenewal, creating potential coverage gaps forknownclaimsorpotentialclaimsreportedevenasingledayintothenextrenewal.

The second potential pitfall involves thedegreeofvariationorthelackofstandardiza-tion of language employed by legal profes-sionalliabilityinsurancecarriers.Withaslightchange of phrasing or sentence construction,what was covered under a prior policy may

completelybeexcludedunderthereplacementpolicy.Whenchangingcarriers,notonlycover-agegrants,butalsothelistofexclusionsinthenewpolicy,needtobeexaminedverycarefully.Simplypresumingthatonepolicywillprovideidentical coverage to a prior one may causeregretandrecriminationslater.

Lawyers may deal with liability every day,butwhenitcomestounderstandingtheirownpotential exposures, it is good to maintain arelationshipwithatrustedinsuranceagentorbroker.

A version of this article was published in the Dec. 8, 2009, issue of American Agent & Broker and is reprinted with permission. The original article is available online at http://tinyurl.com/2b37mcq.

1.KarenSloan,“LegalMalpracticeSuitsMaySurge,”The Nation-al Law Journal, Feb. 23, 2009, www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202428510900.

Dan Reed, of St. Louis, Mo., currently oversees the U.S. under-writing of Lawyers Professional, Real Estate Professional and Accounting Professional liability lines of insurance business for Travelers. In addition to prior underwriting management roles at Travelers and St. Paul Insurance Companies, he has also managed

professional liability underwriting at Great American Insurance Co. and The Bar Plan, a state bar-sponsored professional liability insurance carrier based in Mis-souri. Earlier in his career, he had a brief stint in pri-vate legal practice, focusing on domestic relations, estates and trust, and criminal defense.

AbOUT THE AUTHOR


Oklahoma joins a majority of jurisdictionsthat employ some form of overdraft notifica-tion.Whenafinancialinstitutionsendsnoticeofanoverdraft,aninquiryismailedtothelaw-yerrequestinganexplanationforthenegativebalance. It is important tonote that this isan“inquiry” and not a “grievance.” Notificationdoesnotautomaticallyequatewithabarcom-plaint. The lawyer is asked to respond andinclude any documents which might be ofassistanceinunderstandingtheerror.

FromJan.1,2010,throughSept.15,2010,theOfficeofthegeneralCounselhasreceived247notices of trust account overdrafts. In mostcases, the explanation is sufficient and theinquiryclosed.Inothers,suchaswherealaw-yerhashadmultipleoverdrafts,amoredetailedexaminationof the trust account recordsmaybenecessary.Oneoptionavailableforalawyer

with multiple overdrafts is a trust accountreviewcoursetaughtbytheOBAEthicsCoun-sel.Recordsoffundsinthetrustaccountmustbe kept in accordance with generally acceptedaccounting procedures. The trust account pro-gram employs these practices and trains law-yerstokeepproperrecordsofaccountactivity.

The most common explanations for trustaccountoverdraftsinclude:

•I forgot to make the deposit. Most leavethebankdeposituntil theendof theday.Routinely, the deposit is overlooked anddoesn’tgo to thebankuntil thenextday.Set a specific time and person to makebankdeposits. Itshouldbeapriorityandnot left until the time of day when otherdeadlinesarelooming.

Trust Account Overdraft NotificationWhat We Know So Far

By Gina Hendryx

WhentheOklahomaRulesofprofessionalConduct(ORpC)were amended in 2008, a provision to Rule 1.15 wasaddedrequiringlawyerstomaintaintheirtrustaccounts

in financial institutions which agree to notify the Office of thegeneralCounselintheeventanyproperlypayableinstrumentispresentedagainsta lawyertrustaccountcontaininginsufficientfunds,irrespectiveofwhetherornottheinstrumentishonored.TrustAccountOverdraftNotification (TAON)agreementsweremailed to approximately 220 banks throughout the state. Mosthave signed and returned the forms acknowledging they willadvisethegeneralcounsel’sofficedirectlyifthereisanoverdraftinatrustaccount.



•I deposited the money into the wrong account. Depositing trust funds into anoperating account is commingling. Careshouldbetakentousetheproperdepositslips.Oftenthedepositbookslooksimilar.Something as simple as color coding thedeposit books may solve this problem. Amore drastic but effective solution is tohavethetrustaccountatadifferentfinan-cialinstitutionfromtheoperatingaccount.

•I recorded the deposit twice.Othervaria-tionsofthisincludeforgettingtosubtractawithdrawal. Failure to keep good recordsoftenisindicativeofseriousproblemswitha trust account. Whether you use a com-puter program or a Big Chief tablet, it isimperative that the lawyermaintaingoodtrustaccountdocumentation.Atanygiventime,ataminimum,thelawyershouldbeable to identify thesourceof the funds inthetrustaccount,thenamesofallpersonsfor whom the funds are held and theamountsattributabletosame.

•the client beat me to the bank.Thisoccursmostoftenwhenalawyerreceivesacheckmadepayabletolawyerandclient.Clientendorsesthecheckandreceiveshisportionintheformofatrustaccountcheckmadepayable to the client. Even though yourepeatedlycautiontheclienttowaitafewdays before negotiating the trust accountcheck,theclientwillinvariablyleaveyourofficeanddrivetothenearestcheckcash-ingoutletcausinganoverdraftofthetrustaccount.Youshouldneverdisbursefundsthat are not in the account. Wait for thedeposit toclearbeforewriting theclient’scheck.

•the client’s retainer check was returned causing overdrafts in my account. Thesameruleappliesasinthepreviousexpla-nation. Do not disburse funds until thedeposithasclearedandthefundsareavail-able.Ifyouhavedoubtaboutthedeposit,discussitwithyourbankofficer.Depositsmaybepresentedforpaymentinamannerthat will ensure the availability of thefunds.

Ifyoureceiveaninquiryregardinganover-draft from the Office of the general Counsel,respondpromptlyandfully.The likelihood isthatthematterwillgonofurther.However,ifyou continue to have repeated issues with

overdrafts,amoreextensiveinvestigationwillbe undertaken to fully explore the causes forsameandtoidentifyremedialsolutions.

ABA’s�Model�Standards�for�Record�Keeping�in�Client�Trust�Accounts

At a minimum, the following records should be maintained:

o Receipt and disbursement documentation detailing deposits and withdrawals

o Client ledger sheets indicating source of client funds, amount of funds, and withdrawals and deposits on behalf of the client

o Monthly balance sheets for each cliento Copies of the written retainer agreement with

each cliento Copies of disbursement and/or settlement

statements documenting funds disbursed to clients and/or third parties

o Copies of billing statements sent to the clients

o Copies of expenses paid on behalf of the clients

o Check stubs, deposit slips, bank statements and any bank document reflecting activity in the trust account

o Financial statements and reconciliation documents for the trust account

o Maintain the financial records for a period of five years after the representation ends.

Gina Hendryx is the general counsel for the Oklahoma Bar Association. A licensed attorney for the past 25 years, she received her J.D. and B.S. degrees from OCU. She supervises a staff of 12 and serves as the association’s counsel on other legal matters. She works with the Professional Responsibility Commission and

serves as a liaison to the OBA Board of Governors, OBA committees, the courts, and other local and national entities concerning lawyer ethics issues.

AbOUT THE AUTHOR


tHe neW unIFIeD Case manaGement sYstem

On Nov. 17, 2010, the Oklahoma SupremeCourt announcedAmerican Cadastre, LLC ofHerndon,Va.(AmCad)asitsnewUnifiedCaseManagementSystem(UCMS)vendor.AmCadwill work with users in the appellate courts,districtcourtsandtheAdministrativeOfficeoftheCourts(AOC)toreplacethecurrentOCISand Kellpro case management systems. Okla-homahaslongbeenaleaderintechnologyandwasoneofthefirststatecourtstohaveapublicwebsite providing free access to public legaldocuments.Thenewcasemanagementsystemwillcontinuetoprovidepublicaccesstocourtdockets and other information through theSupremeCourt’swebsite,www.oscn.net.

AmCad and several other vendors partici-pated in an extensive review and evaluationprocessconductedbyavendorevaluationsub-committee,appointedbymeinmyroleaschief

justice. The subcommittee consisted of appel-latejudges,districtcourtjudges,appellateanddistrict court clerks, and AOC-MIS technicalpersonnel. After a thorough evaluation of alltheproposedvendorsystems,thesubcommit-tee determined thatAmCad’s system met therequirementsoutlinedinthecourt’srequestforproposal and would be the best fit for thecourts. The Supreme Court adopted the sub-committee’s recommendation and selectedAmCad as its new unified case managementsystemvendor.

AmCadisafullservicetechnologycompanyandsolutionsproviderforstateandlocalgov-ernment agencies. AmCad was founded in1986 and is familiar with the complexities ofworkingwithstateandlocalgovernmentagen-cies. AmCad’s business is devoted to manyvaried customers, from large commercial cli-entstosomeofthelargeststateandlocalgov-ernmentsacrossthecountry.AmCadhasbeenin business for more than 20 years and has

On the Horizon: Oklahoma’s Unified Case Management System

Connecting Oklahoma CourtsBy Chief Justice James Edmondson

SCHOLARLY ARTICLE

BaCKGrOunD

ThestateofOklahomacurrentlyhastwooldercasemanage-mentsystemsimplementedinthetrialcourts,theOklahomaCourtInformationSystem(OCIS)andtheKellproSystem.

OCIS is deployed in 13 counties, and the Kellpro system isdeployed in the remaining 64 counties with no connectivitybetweenthesetwosystems.Duetothislackofintegration,judgesand court staff cannot view complete case information acrossjurisdictions, and there is redundant data entry and duplicatedeffortthroughoutthesystem.


establishedawelldeservednationalreputationforcustomerservice.

uCms – tHe neXt stePs

Over the course of the next five years, theOklahomaSupremeCourtwilltransformtrialand appellate court operations through thecreationofaunifiedcasemanagementsystem.TheUCMSwillimprovecourtprocesses,pro-vide integration between the trial and appel-latecourts,andallowcourt informationtobesharedwiththelegalcommunity,otherjusticeassociatesandthepublic.ThenewUCMSwillapplyelectroniccourt (eCourt)principlesandtechnologies which we believe will have atransformativeeffectonOklahomacourts.TheUCMSwillenablejustices,judges,courtclerksand court personnel to perform their dutieswithbetterinformationandwithgreateraccu-racy, efficiency and effectiveness. The newUCMSasenvisionedanddesignedwill:

1.Allowjudicialaccesstoupdatedinforma-tiontofacilitatefullyinformeddecisions

2.provide authorized personnel with rapidaccess to electronic documents, caserecords,docketsandschedulesonasinglecentralizedcomputersystem

3.Decrease the use of paper documents inthe courts (transition from all paper topaper-on-demand)

4.Enableelectronicsignaturesandautomat-edworkflowmanagementinthecourts

5.Include customized dashboards for jus-tices,judgesandcourtclerkstoassistthemin managing their cases, dockets, juriesandcourts

6.providetwo-wayautomationbetweentrialcourtsandappellatecourts

7.Include statewide statistics and measure-ments such as dispositions, caseloads,durations,costcollections,receivablesanddemographics(businessintelligence)

8.Helpthecourtestablishandpromoteuni-form electronic court rules, processes,codes and forms in all 77 district courtsandtheappellatecourts

9.provide standards-based information ex-changeswithjusticeassociatesandagencies

10.Allow data exchanges with executivegovernment branches and other judicialassociates.

BeneFIts tO tHe leGal COmmunItY anD tHe PuBlIC

Thepublicwillhaveaccesstocourtinforma-tion through the UCMS using standard com-puter and web browsing technology via a“web portal.” This will provide a variety ofservicestoattorneys,thebusinesscommunityand the public, as well as to other state andlocalcourtusers.Thesewillinclude:

1.Convenient electronic filing for attorneysandothercourtcustomers(eFiling).Attor-neys will be able to submit filings usingthewebandastandardcomputer

2.An easy-to-use online electronic paymentprocess (eCommerce) for making onlinepaymentsforfilingfees,trafficticketsandothercourtobligations

3.Allow citizens making a payment in onedistrictcourttoapplythepaymentacrossadditionalcasesandcounties

4.A centralized online portal for all courtinformation with 24/7/365 availability.This includes specialized searches withinformation for attorneys and other usergroups

5.Easier public access to court records,includingfastandflexiblesearchesthroughspecialized websites and services. Users

The�UCMS�will�include�10�major�functions:

1. Trial Court Case Management

2. Appellate Court Case Management

3. Content Management System — a repository for electronic documents

4. Jury Management System — all electronic

5. Electronic Filing — eFiling

6. Electronic Commerce – online payments

7. Electronic Citations — eCitations

8. Internet Websites — for both public viewing and secured viewing by attorneys and law enforcement

9. Electronic Warrants – eWarrants

10. Integrated Justice Information Exchange — data sharing with other systems


may search for people, cases, events andlegalissues

6.Authorized access to a statewide arrestwarrantsystem

7.Morepowerfulresearchtoolsforrealtimepublic access to court records and legalresearch.

COnClusIOn

Althoughourtwocurrentcasemanagementsystemsmaybeadequateforindividualcoun-ties,theyaremaintainedonobsoletetechnolo-gyandcannotservetheincreasingneedsofthewholestate.Oncefullyimplemented,thenewUCMS will provide the Oklahoma judiciary,thelegalcommunity,governmentagenciesandthe public with a well-designed, accessible,uniform, statewide case management systemwithstate-of-the-arttechnologythatwillserveuswellintothefuture.

FOr mOre InFOrmatIOn

Comments and inquiries about the UCMSmaybedirectedtoMikeMayberryorphylishaSmotherman of the Administrative Office oftheCourtsat(405)[email protected].

Chief Justice James E. Edmond-son was appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Brad Henry on Dec. 2, 2003. He had served as district judge for District 15 since 1983. Before serving as district judge, Chief Justice Edmondson was a partner in the Edmondson Law Office (1981-1983). In Okla-homa’s Eastern District, he served

as acting U.S. attorney (1980-1981) and as assistant U.S. attorney (1978-1980). He also served as Muskogee County’s assistant district attorney (1976-1978). He received his B.A. degree from Northeastern State Uni-versity in Tahlequah and served in the U.S. Navy (1967-1969) before attending Georgetown Law, where he received his law degree.

AbOUT THE AUTHOR

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the OBA’s lawyer listing service!

Just go to www.okbar.org and log into your myokbar account.

Then click on the “Find a Lawyer” Link.


LAWYERS HELPING LAWYERSASSISTANCE PROGRAM

You are not alone.

Men Helping MenJanuary 6, 2011Time - 5:30-7 p.m.LocationThe Oil Center – West Building1st Floor Conference Room2601 NW ExpresswayOklahoma City, OK 73112* Food and drink will be provided!* Meetings are free and open to male OBA members.* Reservations are preferred. (We want to have enough

space and food for all.) For further information and to reserve your spot, please e-mail [email protected].

Women Helping WomenJanuary 13, 2011Time - 5:30-7 p.m.LocationThe Oil Center – West Building10th Floor2601 NW Expressway, Suite 1000WOklahoma City, OK 73112* Food and drink will be provided!* Meetings are free and open to female OBA members.* Reservations are preferred. (We want to have enough

space and food for all.) For further information and to reserve your spot, please e-mail [email protected].


The purpose of the act is to preserve andcodifycertaincommonlawmajorityviewsondiscretionarytrustsandspecialneedstrusts.

A discretionary trust is one in which thetrustee retains full discretion as to the timingand the extent of distributions of income andprincipal. Thus, the trustee of a discretionarytrustisoneinwhichthetrusteehasdiscretiontomakeorwithhold adistributionof incomeorprincipal.

The act defines a Special Needs Trust as “atrustcreatedforthepartialorexclusivebenefitofadisabledorincapacitatedperson,inorderto allow the disabled or incapacitated benefi-ciarytoavoidlossofeligibilityforgovernmentbenefitprograms,including,butnotlimitedto,Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income,SocialSecurityDisabilityIncomeorotherstateorfederalbenefitprograms...”1

The act primarily follows the Restatement(Second)ofTrusts,1959,whichrepresents themajorityviewinthosejurisdictionswhichhavenot adopted the Uniform Trust Code. TheOklahomaLegislaturehasrejectedattemptsinrecentyearstoadopttheUniformTrustCode,which primarily follows the Restatement(Third)ofTrusts,1983.

Section2of theact includes14definitionsofterms,including,amongothers,“beneficialinter-est,”“currentdistributioninterest,””discretion-

aryinterest,””distributioninterest,””exceptioncreditor,””futuredistributioninterest,””manda-toryinterest”and”supportinterest.”

Theactplacescertainlimitationson judicialpowerwith respect to trusts createdormodi-fiedonorafterNov.1,2010.Amongtheseareprohibitions on judicial sale of distributioninterests,remainderinterests,reservedpowersandpowersofappointment.2

For trusts created or modified after Nov. 1,2010,andunlessthesettlorofarevocabletrustisalsoatrustee,trustpropertyshallnotbesub-ject to the personal obligations of the trustee,even if the trustee is insolvent or a debtor inbankruptcyproceedings.3

Subject to the provisions of the UniformFraudulent Transfer Act, the act provides forthesoleandexclusiveremediesthatareavail-abletoacreditororothernonbeneficiaryclaim-inganinterestinatrustcreatedormodifiedonorafterNov.1,2010.4

Under the act, a creditor shall not attach,exerciseorotherwisereachaninterestofaben-eficiaryoranyotherpersonwhoholdsapowertoremoveorreplaceatrustee.Abeneficiary’spower to replace trustees ismadepersonal tothebeneficiaryandmaynotbeexercisedbythecreditors of the beneficiary, nor may a courtdirectanypersontoexercisesuchapower.5

The New Oklahoma Discretionary and Special Needs Trust Act

By David A. Carpenter

SCHOLARLY ARTICLE

Thesecondsessionofthe52ndOklahomaLegislaturepassedHouseBill2171,TheOklahomaDiscretionaryandSpecialNeeds Trust Act (the act), which was signed into law by

gov.BradHenryonMay26,2010.Theeffectivedateof theactwasNov.1,2010.


Themerefactthatabeneficiaryisservingasa trustee or a co-trustee does not permit acreditortoreachaninterestofabeneficiarynorotherwisecompeladistribution.6

perhapsoneofthemostimportantaspectsofthe act is its declaration that certain factors,either alone or in combination, shall not beconsidereddominionandcontroloveratrust:7

1)abeneficiaryservingasa trusteeoraco-trusteeasdescribedinparagraph2ofthissection

2)thesettlororabeneficiaryholdsanunre-stricted power to remove or replace atrustee

3)thesettlororabeneficiary,asprovidedintheapplicabletrustinstrument,is:

•atrustadministrator,

•atrustprotector,

•aspecialtrustee,or

•a general partner of a partnership, amanagerofa limitedliabilitycompany,anofficerofacorporation,oranyothermanagerialfunctionofanyothertypeofentity,andpartorallof thetrustprop-ertyconsistsofaninterestinsaidentity

4)apersonrelatedbybloodoradoptiontoasettlor or a beneficiary is appointed astrustee

5)anaccountantofasettlororabeneficiary,attorney, financial advisor, business asso-ciateorafriendisappointedastrustee

The settlor and beneficiaries of a trust shallnotbedeemedthealteregoofatrustee.8

The following factors, alone or in combina-tion,shallnotbesufficientevidenceforacourttoconcludethatthesettlorcontrolsatrusteeoristhealteregoofatrustee:9

1)any combination of the factors listed inparagraph3ofSection3oftheact

2)occasionaloccurrencesinwhichthesettlororabeneficiarymayhavesignedchecks,made disbursements or executed otherdocumentsrelatedtothetrustasatrustee,when in fact the settlor or a beneficiarywasnotatrustee

3)makingrequestsfordistributionsonbehalfofbeneficiaries

4)making requests to the trustee to hold,purchaseorsellanytrustproperty

Aspendthriftprovisionisvalidifitrestrainseitherthevoluntaryorinvoluntarytransferofabeneficiary’sinterest.Aspendthriftprovisionrestrains both the voluntary or involuntarytransferoftheinterestofthebeneficiary,thoughdraftingofthetrustmayallowthebeneficiaryto make voluntary transfers, even if trusteeapproval is required. A spendthrift provisionapplies to both current distribution interests,future distribution interests and remainderinterests.Aspendthriftprovisionisamaterialprovisionofatrust.10Ifatrustdoesnotcontaina spendthriftprovision,a creditormayattachpresent and future mandatory distributionsfromthetrustatthetrustlevel.11

Anexceptioncreditorisdefinedintheactasachildofabeneficiarywhohasajudgmentorcourt order against the beneficiary for sup-port.12 Except for an exception creditor of amandatoryinterest,ifatrustcontainsaspend-thrift provision, a creditor or assignee of thebeneficiarymaynotreachaninterestinatrustoradistributionbythetrusteeuntilsuchdis-tributionisreceivedbythebeneficiary.13Other-wise,acreditormustwaituntiladistributionisreceivedbyabeneficiarybeforeattachment.

Apowerofappointment(definedintheactas an inter vivos or testamentary power todirectdispositionoftrustproperty)inanytrustispersonalinnatureandcannotbeattachedorforcedtobeexercisedbyacreditororacourtregardlessofthepresenceofaspendthriftpro-vision.Apowerofappointmentisnotaprop-ertyinterest.14

Under the act, a distribution interest in atrust is classified as a mandatory interest, asupport interest or a discretionary interest.Abeneficiarymayconcurrentlyholdmandatory,support and discretionary interests. To theextentatrustcontainsacombinationofadis-cretionaryinterest,asupportinterestoraman-datoryinterest,thetrustshallbeamandatoryinterest only to the extent of the mandatorylanguage and a support interest only to theextentofthesupportlanguage.Theremainingtrustpropertyshallbeheldasadiscretionaryinterest.15


Thefollowingprovisionsapplyonlytotrustswithoneormorebeneficiariesholdingsupportinterests:16

1)Thefactthatacourtwouldhaveexercisedthe distribution power under a supportinterest differently than the trustee is notsufficient reason for interfering with theexercise of the distribution power by thetrustee.However,acourtmayreviewthedistribution discretion of a trustee if thetrusteeactsunreasonably;

2)Asupportinterestreliesonspendthriftpro-visionsforprotectionofabeneficialinterestaswellastheadditionalprotectionprovid-ed by protective or restrictive distributionlanguageunderSection10oftheact;

3)Theonlyexceptioncreditorundertheactisachildofabeneficiarywhohasajudg-mentorcourtorderagainstthebeneficiaryforsupport;

4)Undertheact,thesoleandexclusiverem-edyofanexceptioncreditoristheattach-mentof thebeneficiary’s support interestatthetrustlevel.Thecourtmaylimittheamountsubjecttoattachmentasappropri-ateunderthecircumstancestoprovidefortheneedsofthebeneficiaryandthefamilyofthebeneficiary;and

5)A beneficiary holding a support interesthas an enforceable right to a distributionpursuant to court review. This does notraise the interestof thebeneficiary to thelevelofapropertyinterest.

Thefollowingprovisionsapplyonlytotrustswithoneormorebeneficiariesholdingdiscre-tionaryinterests:17

1)Adiscretionary interest isneitheraprop-erty interestnoranenforceable right toadistribution; it is a mere expectancy. Nocreditor(includinganexceptioncreditor),shallattach,requirethetrusteetoexercisethetrustee’sdiscretiontomakeadistribu-tion or cause a court to judicially sell adiscretionaryinterest;

2)Regardless of whether a beneficiary hasany outstanding creditor, a trustee maydirectlypayanyexpenseonbehalfofthebeneficiary and may exhaust the incomeandprincipalofthetrustforthebenefitofthebeneficiary.Atrusteeshallnotbeliableto any creditor or beneficiary for payingtheexpensesofabeneficiary;

3)Acreditor,includinganexceptioncreditor,ofabeneficiaryhasnogreaterrights inadiscretionary interest than a beneficiary,andshallnotcompeladistributionthatissubjecttothediscretionofthetrustee,normayacourtorderadistribution;

4)Acourtmayreviewadistributiondiscre-tionofatrusteeonlyifitisprovedbyclearandconvincingevidencethatthetrustee:

•actsdishonestly,

•actswithanimpropermotive,or

•failstoact.

Thesolefactornottomakeadistributiondoesnotconstituteafailuretoact.Thereisno standard of reasonableness under theabovereviewstandard;

5)Inadditiontoany limitationsofrightsofcreditors,ifthetrustcontainsaspendthriftprovision, a current interest in a discre-tionary trust also receives the benefits ofanyspendthriftprotection;and

6)Absentexpresstrust languagetothecon-trary, in the event distribution language,permits unequal distributions betweenbeneficiariesordistributionstotheexclu-sionofotherbeneficiaries,thetrusteemaydistributeallof theaccumulated,accruedor undistributed income and principal toone beneficiary in the discretion of thetrustee.

Althoughitwouldseemobvious,theactpro-vides that a trustee may only make distribu-tionsforthepurposesdesignatedbythesettlor.Acreditor,includinganexceptioncreditor,hasno greater rights to trust income or principalthan a beneficiary. In this respect, a creditor,includinganexceptioncreditor, cannotattachpresent or future distributions if the claim ofthe creditor does not come within the appro-priatedistributionstandard.18

Arestriction ina trust limiting thedistribu-tionpowersofatrustee,inordertopreventtheloss of a beneficiary’s eligibility for participa-tion in a federal or state benefits program,including, but not limited to, Medicaid, Sup-plementalSecurityIncome,SocialSecurityDis-abilityIncomeorotherstateorfederalbenefitsprogramisvalid,andnocreditor,includinganexceptioncreditor,mayattachpresentorfuturedistributionsfromsuchaSpecialNeedsTrust.Allotherrestrictionscurtailingthedistribution


power of a trustee are void as to exceptioncreditors.19

SubjecttotheprovisionsoftheFamilyWealthpreservation Trust Act,20 and whether or notthetermsofatrustcontainaspendthriftprovi-sion,thefollowingrulesapply:21

1)duringthelifetimeofthesettlor,theprop-erty of a revocable trust is subject to theclaimsofthecreditorsofthesettlor

2)aspendthriftprovisionis ineffectivewithrespect to the settlor of a revocable trustwhilethetrustisrevocable

A creditor or assignee of the settlor mayreach the maximum amount that can be dis-tributedtoorforthebenefitofthesettlor.Ifatrusthasmorethanonesettlor,theamountthecreditororassigneeofaparticularsettlormayreachmaynotexceedtheinterestofthesettlorin the portion of the trust attributable to thecontributionofthatsettlor.22

The Oklahoma Discretionary and SpecialNeedsTrustActprovidesclarity inanumberofareasinwhichOklahomahasnopriorstatu-toryordecisional law. It shouldhelp lawyersinprovidingcertaintyandpredictabilitywhenadvising clients as to their rights under trustlawinthisstate.Mostimportantly,thoseben-eficiaries of Special Needs Trusts which arecreated or modified on or after Nov. 1, 2010,willhaveclearlyarticulatedrightswhichwill

aidinpreventingtheinadvertentlossofpubicbenefitsthroughinattentivedrafting.

1. House Bill 2171, Section 2(13), to be codified as 60 Okla. Stat.§175.82(13).

2.Ibid,Section3,tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.83.3.Ibid,Section3(3),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.83(3).4.Ibid,Section3(5),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.83(5).5.Ibid,Section4(1),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.84(1).6.Ibid,Section4(2),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.84(2).7.Ibid,Section4(3),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.84(3).8.Ibid,Section4(4),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.84(4).9.Ibid.10.Ibid,Section5,tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.85.11.Ibid,Section7(B),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.87(B).12.Ibid,Section2(7),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.82(7).13.Ibid,Section7(A),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.87(A).14.Ibid,Section5(F),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.85(F).15.Ibid,Section6(B),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.86(B).16.Ibid,Section8,tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.88.17.Ibid,Section9,tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.89.18.Ibid,Section10(A),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.90(A).19.Ibid,Section10(B),tobecodifiedas60Okla.Stat.§175.90(B).20.31Okla.Stat.§§10,et seq.21. House Bill 2171, Section 12, to be codified as 60 Okla. Stat.

§175.92.22.Ibid.

David A. Carpenter is in the private practice of law in Tulsa where he engages in estate plan-ning, elder law and Medicaid planning. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and is a certified Vet-erans Benefits Counselor. He is active in the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus and volunteers weekly at

St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.

AbOUT THE AUTHOR


Semgroup, as the “first purchaser,” wouldthen resell to subsequent purchasers. In thesesubsequentresales,thesalepricecouldbepaidby an exchange of oil and gas, by set-off andnet-outoftransactions,orbyacashequivalentordeferredcashpayment(e.g.,bycheckoran“account”3).Theextractedoilandgasmightbestored in temporary, local storage tanks, ordeliveredtothesubsequentpurchaserbypipe-line.Semgroupincurreddebtforfinancingitspurchases,andthisdebtwassecuredbytheoiland gas inventory owned by Semgroup, andanyproceedsfromtheresales.SemCrude,oneof the affiliates, owned a deposit account inMassachusetts with Bank of America andanother with a bank in Dumas, Texas, whereproceedsweredeposited.

Semgroup also was engaged in a variety ofhedgingandderivativestransactions,including

betsonfallingoilprices.4Thesebetswentwrongwhenoilpricesdidnotfall,andonJuly22,2008,SemgroupfiledapetitionunderChapter11oftheU.S.BankruptcyCode.5Thefilingoccurredimmediatelybeforeorafterpaymentwasduetointerest owners for oil and gas purchased inJune 2008, and as a result, the interest ownerswerenotpaidforJuneorJuly.Atthetimeitfiledbankruptcy,Semgroup,asrelevant,heldunsoldoilandproceeds,includingproceedsindepositaccounts,whichbecameassetsofthebankrupt-cy estate as well as being claimed by interestownersandsecured lenders,allofwhomthenlitigated thepriorityof theirclaimsas to theseassetsinthebankruptcycase.6

Focusing on Oklahoma and ignoring thedeposit accounts (which implicate additionalissues), and aside from Uniform CommercialCode(UCC)Articles9and2,7 therewere two

Aftermath of the SemGroup CaseOklahoma Enacts the Oil and Gas Owners’

Lien Act of 2010By Fred H. Miller and Alvin C. Harrell

SCHOLARLY ARTICLE

BaCKGrOunD

SemgroupLp,a limitedpartnershiporganizedinDelaware,and its various affiliates (together, Semgroup), was in thebusinessofpurchasingoilandgasderivedfromwellsinsev-

eraljurisdictionsincludingOklahoma.1pursuanttoindustrycus-tom, Semgroup paid the interest owners (persons owning aninterestinoilandgasrightsbeforethefirstsaleoftheoilorgas2)forthepurchasedoilonthe20thdayofanygivenmonth,andforthegasonthe25thday,astooilandgasproducedinthepreviouscalendarmonth.Forexample,paymentwouldoccuronJune20orJune25fortheMayproduction.


relevant Oklahoma statutes. One, the Oil andgasOwners’LienAct,8createdalien,calleda“continuingsecurityinterest,”onextractedoiland gas and its proceeds, and made the lienvalidwithoutpossessionbutrequiredafilingin the county in which the well was located.ThislienwassubordinatetobuyersinordinarycourseofbusinessasdefinedintheUCC,9butotherwisehadpriorityfromthetimeofextrac-tion,withmodestexceptions,andcontinuedinproceedsforatleastayear.Mostimportantly,however, section 548.6(C) stated that nothingintheOilandgasOwners’LienActshouldbeconstruedtoimpairoraffecttherights,priori-tiesorremediesofanypersonundertheUCC.

TheotherrelevantOklahomastatutewastheproductionRevenueStandardsAct.10Themostimportant provision was section 570.10A,which provides essentially that all proceedsfromthesaleofoilorgasproductionshouldberegardedasseparateanddistinctfromallotherfunds of any person receiving or holding thesame,untilsuchtimeastheproceedsarepaidtotheownerslegallyentitled,andthatthepro-ceedsaretobeheldforthebenefitoftheinter-estownerslegallyentitledbutthatnoexpresstrustiscreated.IntheSemGrouplitigation,theinterest owners argued (among other things)thatthisimposedfiduciarydutiesinthenatureofanimpliedorresultingtrust,givingthemapriorityclaim.11

Most of the SemGroup litigation was ulti-matelysettled,beforeapendingappealcouldbe completed, but the Delaware BankruptcyCourtfirstmadeseveralfindings:

•Notwithstanding an Oklahoma attorneygeneral’s opinion issued after the bank-ruptcy case began, holding that section570.10Acreatesanimpliedtrust,theBank-ruptcyCourtheldotherwise.12

•IntheSemGrouplitigationrelatingtoKan-sasandTexas, theBankruptcyCourt con-cluded that Delaware law controlled theissues relating to competing claims to theassets (including priority), and not thelawsofKansasorTexas(wheretheproduc-tionwaslocated).13

The Bankruptcy Court held that the assetswerenot“asextractedcollateral”underUCCArticle 9 (and thus Delaware law controlledperfectionandpriority),14andsincetheinterestowners were unperfected under DelawareArticle9theylostprioritytothesecuredlend-erswhoweresoperfected.15

tHe 2009 leGIslatIVe resPOnse

Bills were promptly introduced in the 2009OklahomaLegislaturetoaddresstheissuesintheSemGroup litigation.Aninitialbillfavoredby interest owners would have given them aposition similar to the result provided in thelegislation that ultimately passed in 2010 (SB1615), but essentially equivalent to that of apurchase money security interest under UCCArticle9.However,aswithsomeofthesimilarlien acts in other states, anArticle 9 solutionwould be dependent on application of theOklahoma UCC.16 This bill failed to pass.Another bill put forward by the purchasersfrom interest owners would have essentiallyadoptedtheTexasnon-uniformamendmenttoTexasUCCArticle9(essentiallygivinginterestownersthepositionofapurchasemoneysecu-rityinterestbutwithouttheUCCrequirementsoffiling,noticeandthelike).17Thisbilllikewisefailed to pass. In essence, the two bills killedeachother.

tHe result: sB 1615

Effective Date

Beforethe2010legislativesessionwasunder-way inOklahoma,a compromisewasnegoti-atedthatthatbasicallybecameEnrolledSenateBillNo.1615(SB1615orthebill).18SB1615wassignedbythegovernoronApril19,2010.19Sec-tion14ofthebillcarriesanemergencyclauseand therefore it became effective that samedate.20Thisiscriticalsincethebillfollowsfairlyclosely the previous 2009 interest owners’effort, and Section 4 of the bill proclaims inpart:“Anoilandgaslienexistsandisperfect-edfromtheeffectivedateofthisact.”21

Overview of SB 1615

SB1615,theOilandgasOwners’LienActof2010,repealedtheformerOilandgasOwners’Lien Act.22 It does not repeal the productionRevenue Standards Act,23 and thus leavesundisturbed the attorney general’s opinionthatatrustiscreatedbythisprovision(aswellas the remaining litigation on this issue).24 InOklahoma,astatecourtopinioncouldcontrolthedecisionoftheDelawareBankruptcyCourtto the contrary.25 However, bill Section 6 pro-vides inpart that apurchaser (definedunderbill Section 2.15. as a person that is not anaffiliate of the first purchaser)26 who takes,receives or purchases oil or gas from a firstpurchaserisrelievedofanyobligationscreatedbysection570.10Aifeither1)thepurchaseris


a buyer in ordinary course ofbusiness(BIOCOB)asdefinedintheUCCArticle927or2)thepurchaserhaspaidallthecon-siderationduetothefirstpur-chaser, includingbyexchangeofoilorgas,net-out,orset-off,under all applicable enforce-able contracts in existence atthetimeofpayment.28Thesec-ond category of purchaserabove is important since BIO-COB status arguably requiresthepaymentofnewvalueandtherefore payment by net-outorset-offmaynotqualify,andalsoundertheUCCaBIOCOBmust have possession or aright to possession.29A subse-quentpurchaserfromthefirstpurchaseralso isprotectedbytheshelterdoctrine.30

TotheextentthatanOklaho-macourtmightupholdaninter-estowners’ retentionofa trustagainstthefirstpurchaser(e.g.,under section 570.10A), thattrustisredundantwiththeideathattheinterestowneralsohasalien,butretentionofthetrustconcept in the Oklahoma stat-uteswasanecessityinviewoftheuncertaintyonthisissueintheongoingSemGrouplitigationon the trust fund issue (e.g.,relatingtoclaimsarisingbeforetheeffectivedateofSB1615).

sB 1615: CHaPter anD Verse

ReviewingSB1615withaneyetotheissuesintheSemGrouplitigation,themostimportantprovisions are noted here. Section 3.A. of thebill grants each interestowneranoil and gaslien(oilandgaslien)tosecuretheobligationsofthefirstpurchasertopaythesalesprice,totheextentoftheinterestowners’interestinoilandgassalesderivedfromtheinterestowners’’soilandgasrights.31UnderbillSection2.9.a.,oilandgasrightsincludeoil,gas,proceeds(pro-ceedsunderbillSection2.14.arewhatispaidortobepaidfromthesaleofoilorgasunderanagreementtosell,includingoilorgasonorafter extraction,32 inventory of raw, refined ormanufacturedoilorgas,rightstoproductsofsame, and proceeds, whether cash, accounts,chattelpaper,instruments,documentsorpay-

ment intangibles), an oil andgas lease,apoolingorderandanagreementtosell.33Illustra-tive examples of oil and gasrightsare includedinbillSec-tion 2.9.b.34 Section 3.A. alsostates that “[t]he oil and gaslien is granted and exists aspart of and incident to theownership of oil and gasrights.”35

This makes clear that theinterest owners’ oil and gasliencreatedbySB1615isnotaUCCArticle9securityinterestbut rather arises as part of arealestateinterestoftheinter-est owner in the oil and gas;therefore, the governing law(with respect to a choice oflaw) is the lawof the jurisdic-tioninwhichthewellislocat-ed.36ThisavoidstheUCCArti-cle 9 choice of law rules forpersonalpropertythatresultedin certain interest owners’claimsbeingdeterminedunderDelawarelawintheSemGroup litigation.37Indeed,Section9ofthebillprovidesthatnoprovi-sioninanagreementtosellorotherwise that would applythelawofanother jurisdictionis valid as a matter of publicpolicy (but the protections ofSB1615maybewaivedunderspecified circumstances as

described in Section 9 of the bill, and notedbelow).38Section3ofthebillalsoprovidesthattheinterestowners’lien“existsinandattachesimmediatelytoalloilandgasontheeffectivedateoftheact.”39

Bill Section 4 (somewhat redundantly) alsosays that the oil and gas lien is granted andexistsaspartofandincidenttotheownershipof the interestowners’oilandgasrights,and“existsandisperfectedfromtheeffectivedateof this act.”40 Section 4 further stipulates thattheinterestowners’oilandgasliencontinuesuninterruptedandwithoutlapseinalloilandgas produced, upon and after the extraction(exceptasqualifiedelsewhereinthebill);con-tinuesuninterruptedandwithoutlapseinandtoallproceeds(again,exceptasqualifiedinSB1615); exists until the interest owner or other

Section 4 also provides that the interest

owners’ oil and gas lien is automatically

perfected without the need to file a financing

statement or any other type of

documentation…


person entitled to receive the proceeds hasbeenpaid(withsomeelaborationastowhoisentitled to payment and protection for goodfaithpayment);and isnotdependentonpos-sessionnorisitaffectedbyachangeinposses-sion or ownership, and that the lien followsanytransferoftheoilandgasrights.41Section4alsoprovidesthattheinterestowners’oilandgaslienisautomaticallyperfectedwithouttheneedtofileafinancingstatementoranyothertype of documentation, and as to existing oiland gas rights is perfected as of the effectivedateofSB1615.42

Section7ofthebillprovidesthat,exceptfora “permitted lien” (see discussion below), aninterestowners’oilandgaslientakespriorityoveranyotherlienoranysecurityinterest.43Inconjunction with Sections 3.D. and 4. of thebill,44 this creates an automatic super-prioritywithoutanypublicnoticebyafilingorbypos-session. This is less troublesome than it mayseem,becauseinallprobabilitythoseaffectedby it,e.g., in the industryor lending to it,aresophisticatedpartieswhowillbeawareofthisprovisionof thebillandcanactaccordingly.45

Whether an automatic super-priority alwayswillapplyinthefaceofotherlaws,whichmayprovidetheirownpriorityrules,willbeataskfor courts to sort out on a case-by-case basis,although perhaps SB 1615, as the later andmore specific law, will be effective as stated.Moreover, many of the potential problems ofapplicationareavoidedbythepriorityexcep-tions for BIOCOBs and permitted liens, asnotedbelow.46

Under bill Section 2.11., a permitted lien isessentially a mortgage or security interestgranted by a first purchaser which “securespaymentunderawritteninstrumentofindebt-ednesssignedbythefirstpurchaser”47—andis accepted in writing (or in a record) by thesecured party (even if the instrument is apromissorynotewhichapayeenormallydoesnotacceptinwriting),prior to the effective date of SB 1615,withafixedamountofprincipalandmaturity date.48 A “permitted lien” does notincludesecuritydevicesthatdonotmeetthesecriteria, or that involve a later modification,amendment or restatement that increases theprincipal or extends the maturity after theeffectivedateofSB1615,ordoesnothavefirstpriority (except a statutory or regulatory lienthathasfirstprioritybystatuteorregulationisrecognized).49Also, as just noted, included intheprotectionaffordeda“permittedlien”is“a

validlyperfectedandenforceable liencreatedbystatuteorbyruleorregulationofagovern-mental agency for storage or transportationcharges” owed by the first purchaser, exceptoneinfavorofanaffiliateofafirstpurchaser(unlessauthorizedbythestatute,ruleorregu-lation creating the lien) or one for charges inexcessof90dayspastdue.50

Section 5 of the bill deals with the tracing,continuationandpriorityof the interestown-ers’ oil and gas lien, in relation to other suchliens and competing security interests, otherliens and permitted liens, in commingled oilandgas.51

Section 6 qualifies the provision of the billthatprovidesforthesuper-priorityofaninter-estowners’oilandgas lien,given theabove-referencedcontinuanceofsuchalieninextract-ed oil and gas and in any proceeds, and thepriority of such.52 Section 6 provides that a“purchaser”53 “takes free” of an interest own-ers’ oil and gas lien on the oil and gas pur-chasedbythepurchaser,andthepurchaserisrelievedoftheobligationsunder52Okla.Stat.section570.10A,ifthepurchaserqualifiesasaBIOCOBasdefined inUCCArticle9,54or thepurchaserhaspaidallconsiderationduetothefirst purchaser, “including by exchange of oilorgas,net-outor set-off,underall applicableenforceablecontractsinexistenceatthetimeofpayment.”55Otherwise,theinterestowners’oiland gas lien continues “uninterrupted in theproceedspaidtoorotherwiseduethefirstpur-chaser” (which should be construed to meannotonlythattheliencontinuesbutalsoitsper-fectionandprioritycontinueasprovidedinthebill).56 The last sentence of Section 6.2. of thebill, stating the priority of the lien, is againmerelyaredundancy.57

Section8ofSB1615dealswithcircumstanceswhere the ownership of oil and gas is trans-ferred and is consistent with UCC Article 2Section 2-401, which is also applicable sinceextracted oil and gas is a form of “goods.”58Section 8 also preserves the right of the firstpurchasertotakeorreceiveoilandgasunderthe termsofadivisionorderoragreement tosell, and thus the bill cannot retroactivelyintrudeonpriortransactionsorrelationships.59Totheextenttheyaresubjecttothebill,otherpurchasersshouldbeaccordedthesametreat-ment.60Interestownersareprotectedasagainstsuch rights under Section 12 of the bill,61 andtherightsofoperatorsareprotectedasagainstinterestownersunderbillSection11.62Itmight


havebeenbettertohavebroadenedSection12ofthebilltoincludeothersinadditiontointer-estowners,toprovideacomprehensiveresolu-tionofcompetinginterestsinasinglesection,insteadofusingdifferent language (exceptasrequiredbydifferentrightsandstatus)indif-ferentsectionsofthebilltoestablishessentiallythesamepolicy.Insuchrespects,thebillisnotaspolishedas,e.g.,auniformact.Nonetheless,exceptasdifferencesneedtoberecognizeddueto the context, the different provisions of thebillshouldbeinterpretedtoreachthecommongoal of non-impairment of established rightsunderapriorlaworcontract.

Section 9 of the bill is titled “Waiver” andstates a general rule, that any relinquishmentor waiver of rights under the bill by interestowners, under terms other than full paymentofthesalesprice,isvoidasagainstpublicpol-icy.63 However, a waiver or other provision,which would include a subordination of thepriorityofaninterestowners’oilandgaslien,whichisaccompaniedbythepostingofasatis-factoryletterofcreditorabindingcontractualarrangement, satisfactory in form and sub-stance,toprepayorescrowthesalespriceandto perform all of the first purchaser’s obliga-tionsunderasatisfactoryagreementtosell,isvalid.64Twofurtherpointsmaybemadeastosuchacontractualarrangement,agreementtosell or letter of credit. First, there are no con-cretestatutorycriteriainthebillfordetermin-ingwhatis“satisfactory.”Thepurposewastoprovidediscretiontointerestowners,whoareinthebestpositiontodecidewhetherawaiveris in their best interests under given circum-stances, but at the same time to both placelimits on that discretion (by requiring, inessence, a letter of credit or escrow arrange-ment)andtogiveinterestownersinsuchmat-tersstatutoryguidelinestofollow.Second,theapplicable standards will include the require-mentsofUCCArticle5forlettersofcredit,65asalesagreementwillbemeasuredbytheprovi-sionsofUCCArticle2andanalternativebind-ingcontractualarrangementshouldbesubjecttothestandardsofordinarycontractlaw.

Finally,Section10ofthebillprovidesfortheexpiration of an interest owners’ oil and gaslienbythepassageoftime(oneyearafterthelastdayof themonth following thedatepro-ceedsfromthesaleofoilorgassubjecttothelien are due as to oil or gas sold during themonth)—unlessanactiontoenforcethelienhas been commenced.66 Section 10 also deals

with what is a proper court, and with bank-ruptcy and joinder of multiple parties andpreserves any right of an interest owner tomaintainapersonalactiononthedebtforthesalesprice.

COnClusIOn

Overall,thebillisnotperfect,butifproperlyconstruedbythecourtsitrepresentsareason-ablecompromiseamonginterestowners,oper-ators,securedpartiesandpurchasers,anddoesnotputsecuredlenderstothefirstorasubse-quent purchaser in any worse position thantheywouldoccupyunderUCCArticle9iftheywere subject to a purchase money securityinterestinfavorofinterestowners’claims.67Inthatsense,itismuchlikethecasewithfixturesunderUCCsection9-334,wheresecuredpar-ties under UCC Article 9 have to deal withcompeting real property claims — the differ-encebeingthatinthecaseoffixtures,Article9sets the accommodation rules (but only afteran earlier, false start that ignored real estateintereststotoogreatadegree),andheretheOiland gas Lien Owners’ Act of 2010 sets theaccommodation rules, perhaps again becauseUCCArticle9alonedoesnotfullyaddressoilandgasinterests.68

1.ThesefactsandthebackgroundoftheOklahoma-relatedissuesin the litigation involving Semgroup (the SemGroup litigation) aredescribed in the June 2009 opinion of the Bankruptcy Court in theSemGrouplitigation.See Samson Resources Company, et al. v. SemCrude, LP et al.(In reSemCrudeLp),CaseNo.08-11525(BLS),AdversaryNo.08-51445,2009WL1740750(Bankr.D.Del.June19,2009)(regardingOklahoma Law issues). Companion orders were issued relating toKansasandTexaslaw.See In re SemCrude,2009WL1740747(Bankr.D.Del.June19,2009)(Kansaslaw);In re SemCrude,2009WL1740748(Bankr.D.Del.June19,2009)(Texaslaw).ThisarticleislimitedtotheissuesinvolvingOklahomalaw.ThefactsandissuesintheSemGroup litigationhavealsobeendescribedinthemedia.See, e.g.,RodWalton,“Semgroup topresentplan,”Tulsa World,Oct.24,2009,atE1;RodWalton,“SemgroupplanOK’dtoRepayproducers,”The Oklahoman,Sept.23,2009,at1B;RodWalton,SemGroup Lenders See Full Payment,Oklahoman, May 7, 2009, at 1B. On related issues, see Rod Walton,“producerssueSemgroupLpConnections,”The Oklahoman,May18,2010,at3B.

2. See the Oil and gas Owners’ Lien Act of 2010, OklahomaEnrolledSenateBill1615,§2.6.(signedintolawbygov.HenryApril19, 2010) (codified at 52 Okla. Stat. §549.2.6.) (definition of InterestOwner).

3.A“check”isan“instrument”underUniformCommercialCode(UCC)Articles3and9.SeeUCC§§3-104(f),9-102(a)(47).“Account”isdefinedatUCC§9-102(a)(2).InOklahomatheUCCiscodifiedatTitle12Aof theOklahomastatutes.UCCcitations in thisarticle referencetheuniformtext,unlessotherwisenoted.

4.Seesourcescitedsupraatnote1.5.Id.See alsoWadeD.gungoll,“TheSemgroupBankruptcyand

theRamificationsforOklahomaproducers,”80OBJ1041(2009).6.See supranotes1and5.7.InOklahoma,Article9iscodifiedat12AOkla.Stat.§§1-9-101et

seq.,andArticle2at§§2-101etseq.Oklahomalawhasnotadoptedthe2003/2005OfficialAmendmentstoArticle2,excepttoexcludetransac-tions in information. However, as these amendments resolve manyambiguitiesandsplitsinthecaselaw,theyfurnishguidanceforinter-pretationofpresentlaw.

8.52Okla.Stat.§§548et seq. See alsogungoll,supranote5.


9. UCC §1-201(b)(9) (2001 uniform text); 12A Okla. Stat. §1-201(b)(9)(2010cumm.suppl.).

10.52Okla.Stat.§§570.1et seq. See alsogungoll,supranote5.11.See SemGroup,2009WL1740750,andsupranotes1and5.12.See supranote11.TheOklahomaattorneygeneral’sopinionis

2008OKAg31(Nov.5,2008).13.E.g.,pursuanttoUCC§9-301.Under§9-301(1),thelawofthe

jurisdictionwherethedebtorislocatedgovernsperfection,theeffectofperfectionornonperfection,andpriorityofasecurityinterest;thisissubjectto§9-301(3),providingthattheeffectofperfectionornonper-fectionandpriorityastoasecurityinterestincertaintypesofcollat-eral (including goods, instruments and money) are governed by thelawofthestatewherethecollateralislocated.UCC.§9-307(e)providesthata“registeredorganization”islocatedinthestatewhereitisorga-nized.IntheSemGrouplitigationthedebtorwasdeemedtobelocatedinDelaware. Incontrast, theBankruptcyCourt’sdiscussionofOkla-homaissuesinitsJune19,2009,opiniondoesnotsignificantlyaddressthese issues, being primarily limited to the Oklahoma Oil and gasOwners’LienActand§570.10AoftheproductionRevenueStandardsAct. See SemCrude, 2009 WL 1740750 (citing Arkla Exploration Co. v. Norwest Bank of Minneapolis, 948 F.2d 656 (10th Cir. 1991)); otherauthorities cited supraatnote1;gungoll, supranote5.See also infra note14.

14. See supra note 13; and UCC §§9-102(a)(6), 9-301(4). See Sem-Group,2009WL1740750,andotherauthoritiescitedsupranote1.

15. See UCC §§9-317, 9-322(a); SemGroup, 2009 WL 1740750; andotherauthoritiescitedsupranote1.

16.Which,intheSemGrouplitigationaccordingtotheBankruptcyCourt’s opinion, did not apply because the debtor (Semgroup) waslocatedinDelaware,pursuanttoUCC§§9-301and9-307,andbecausetheassetswerenotfoundtobe“asextractedcollateral.”See SemGroup,2009WL1740750;otherauthoritiescitedsupranote1;supranote13.

17.See, e.g.,TerryI.Cross,“OilandgasproductLiens-StatutorySecurity Interests forproducersandRoyaltyOwnersunder theStat-utesofKansas,NewMexico,Oklahoma,TexasandWyoming,”5048(1996).Consumer Fin. L. Q. Rep.

18.See supranote2.19.Id.Note,however,thatJudgeRusselloftheWesternDistrictof

Oklahomasubsequentlyconsideredtheissueandrejectedtheattorneygeneral’s opinion, instead adopting the reasoning of the DelawareBankruptcy Court in the SemGroup litigation. See McKnight v. Linn Operating Inc., Case No. CIV-10-30-R (W.D. Okla. April 1, 2010). Itremainspossible,however,thatastatecourtwouldholdotherwise.

20.SB1615,§14.21.SB1615,§4(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.4.).See alsodiscus-

sioninfrathistextatnotes39-41.22.Old52Okla.Stat.§§548.1-548.6.SeeSB1615,§13.23.52Okla.Stat.§570.10A.Seegungoll,supranote5.24.See supranote12.25.Id.26.Thefirstpurchaserunderbill§2.4.(52Okla.Stat.§549.2.4.) is

thepersonthatpurchasesoilorgasfromaninterestownerunderanagreementtosell.

27. Note that BIOCOB is actually defined in UCC Article 1. See supranote9.

28.SB1615,§6(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.6.).29.See supranote9.30.See, e.g.,pEBCommentaryNo.6,March10,1990,discussingthe

“shelterprinciple.”31.SB1615,§3.A.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.3.A.).32. SB 1615, §2.14. (codified at 52 Okla. Stat. §549.2.14.). SB 1615

usestheterm“severance”ratherthanthemorecommonterm“extrac-tion,”butdefines“severance”essentiallyasextraction.

33.SB1615,§2.9.a.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.2.9.a.)(definitionofoilandgasrights).

34. Id. §2.9.b. (codified at 52 Okla. Stat. §549.2.9.b.) (illustrativeexamplesofoilandgasrights).

35.Id.§3.A.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.3.A.).36.See, e.g.,RobertA.Leflar,LutherL.McDougalIII&RobertL.

Felix,American Conflicts Law§§165,170and171(4thed.1986)(lawofthesitusapplies).UCCArticle9 recognizes thisbasicprinciplewithrespect to other real estate-related collateral, including as-extractedcollateral.SeeUCC§§9-102(a)(6)(definitionofasextractedcollateral),9-301(3),(4)(choiceoflaw).See also infranote69.

37. pursuant to UCC Article 9 §9-301(1) (location of the debtorcontrols).See also id.§9-307;supranotes1and13.

38.SeeSB1615,§9(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.9.).Onwaiver,see infrathistextatnotes63-65.

39.SB1615,§3.B.1.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.3.B.1.).See also supranote21(notingSB1615§4.).

40. SB 1615, §4 (codified at 52 Okla. Stat. §549.4.). See also id. §3(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.3.);supranotes37-39andthisnote40andaccompanying text.Thereareanumberof redundancies in thebillaswellasprovisionsthatarequalifiedbyotherprovisions,buttherearenocross-references.As a result, the bill’s provisions must be read in pari materiaandwiththeunderstandingthattheredundancyisaresultofthepoliticalprocessratherthanintendingadifferentmeaning.

41.SB1615,§4(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.4.).42.Id. See also supranotes39-40andaccompanyingtext.43.SB1615,§7(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.7.).44. Id. §§3.D. and 4. (codified at 52 Okla. Stat. §§549.3.D. and

549.4.).45.See alsobill§9onwaiver,discussed,infrathistextatnotes63-65.46.See also supranotes29-30andaccompanyingtext.47. Which (under other law which overrides many writing

requirements) may include an electronically-signed record that isstored in an electronic or other medium and that is retrievable inperceivable form, under both the federal ESIgNAct and the Uni-formElectronicTransactionsAct.ThelatterisenactedinOklahomaat12AOkla.Stat.§§15-101et seq.

48. SB 1615, §2.11.a. (codified at 52 Okla. Stat. §549.2.11.a.). TheitalicizedlanguageinthetextaboveisintendedtoemphasizethatthisprotectsonlythosesecurityinterestscreatedpriortotheeffectivedateofSB1615.See also id.§2.11.a.anda.(1)(52Okla.Stat.§2.11.a.anda.(1)(...apermittedliendoesnotincludeamortgagelienorsecurityinterestwhich1)securespaymentofanyindebtednessincurredfromandaftertheeffectivedateofthisact....)).

49.Id.§2.11.a.(1)-(5)(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.2.a.(1)-(5)).50.Id.§2.11.b.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.2.11.b.).51.Id.§5(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.5.).Theabilitytotracea

lien intocommingledproceedsofall types isgovernedby id.§3.B.3.(codified at 52 Okla. Stat. §549.3.B.3.) (The lien “[c]ontinues uninter-ruptedandwithout lapse inand toallproceeds.”).See also id.§2.14.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.2.14.)(definitionofproceeds).

52.Id.§6(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.6.).See also supranotes43-46andaccompanyingtext.

53.Forthedefinitionof“purchaser,”seeSB1615,§2.15.(codifiedat52 Okla. Stat. §549.2.15.); compare the UCC definition at UCC §1-201(b)(30),(31).Thetermasusedinthebillisnottobeconfusedwitha UCC Article 9 “purchaser,” which includes a secured party, eventhoughthedefinitioninbill§2.15.couldbereadtoincludeasecuredpartyifnotreadintheoverallcontextofthebill.

54.NoteagaintheBIOCOBisactuallydefinedinUCCArticle1.See supranotes9and27.

55.SB1615,§6.2.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.6.2).See also supra notes26-30andaccompanyingtext.

56.SeeSB1615,§6.2.,andid.§7.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§§549.6.2.and549.7.).

57.Id.58.Id.§8(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.8.).UCCArticle2applies

to sales of goods. See UCC §2-102 (scope); id. §2-105 (definition ofgoods). See generally Continental Supply Co. v. Marshall, 152 F.2d 300(10th Cir. 1945) (extracted oil and gas becomes personal property);Octagon Gas Systems Inc. v. Rimmer,995F.2d948(10thCir.1993)(saleofnaturalgasinapipelineisasaleofgoodsunderUCCArticle2);defini-tionofBIOCOBatUCC§1-201(b)(9).

59.See also id.60.Id.See also supranote30(shelterdoctrine).61.SB1615,§12.A.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.12.A.)(therights

ofinterestownersunderSB1615arecumulativewithotherrightsatlawandinequityandaretobe“liberallyconstrued”toprovide“themostcomprehensiveprotection.”)CompareUCC§1-103(a)(UCCistobeliberallyconstruedtopromoteitsunderlyingpurposes).

62. Id. §11 (codified at 52 Okla. Stat. §549.11.) (SB 1615 does notimpair therightsofanoperator towithhold,set-off,orotherwisebepaidfundsfromaninterestowner).“Operator”isdefinedatid.§2.10.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.2.10.),as“apersonengagedinthesev-erance[i.e.,extraction]ofoilorgas....”

63.Id.§9.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.9.).64.Id.§9.1.and2.(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.9.1.and2.).65.12AOkla.Stat.§5-101et seq.66.SB1615,§10(codifiedat52Okla.Stat.§549.10.).67. It has been asserted by some observers that interest owners

wishing such protection should be required to acquire and assert apurchasemoneysecurityinterestunderArticle9,andthatremainsanalternative to SB 1615 under the law of every state. However, anapproachbasedonthefilingoffinancingstatementsbyinterestown-erscouldbecomplicatedbecauseoftheextensivefractionalizationofoilandgas royalty interests;becauseof the largenumberof interestowners, such an approach could be burdensome for all parties


involved.Thus,thetransactioncostsofthatapproachexceedthoseofSB1615,withoutanysignificantcompensatingbenefits.

68.Itshouldalsobenotedthatthe1998revisionstotheuniformtextofUCCArticle9,reflectingthereportoftheAmericanBarAssociation,UCCCommitteeTaskForceonOilandgasLaw(ofwhichoneofyourauthorswaschair)contemplatedtheassertionofinterestownerclaimsunder realproperty law,outsideofUCCArticle9, consistentwithSB1615.SeeAlvinC.Harrell, “OilandgasFinanceUnderRevisedUCCArticle9,”33Tex. Tech. L. Rev.31,52 (2001) (citingUCC§9-320cmt.7(2001),whichalsoaddressesthisissueandinturncitesTerryI.Cross,“Oil andgasproduct Liens-StatutorySecurity Interests forproducersandRoyaltyOwnersUndertheStatutesofKansas,NewMexico,Okla-homa,TexasandWyoming,”50Consumer Fin. L.Q. Rep.48(1996)).Asnoted in Harrell, id., the uniform text of UCCArticle 9 endorses thisview. See Harrell, id., and UCC §9-320, cmt. 7 (stating that Article 9“leaves [this] resolution to other law”). See also Alvin C. Harrell andOwenL.Anderson,“ReportoftheABAUCCCommitteeTaskForceonOilandgasFinance,”25Tex. Tech. L. Rev.805,at830-31(1994)(same).

Alvin C. Harrell is a professor of law at OCU School of Law and president of Home Savings and Loan Association of Okla-homa City. He is co-author of a dozen books, including “The Law of Modern Payment Sys-tems and Notes” (with Professor Fred H. Miller). He is editor of the Annual Survey of Consumer

Financial Services Law in The Business Lawyer. He chaired the ABA UCC Committee Task Force on State Certificate of Title Laws.

Fred H. Miller is a George L. Cross research professor emeri-tus at the OU College of Law and of counsel to Phillips Mur-rah. He is a member of the American Law Institute and serves on the Permanent Edito-rial Board for the Uniform Com-mercial Code. He is an Okla-homa commissioner to the

National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and formerly was its executive director, Executive Committee chair and past president.

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2011OBA

Officers & New BOArd

MeMBers

Deborah rehearDEufaula

president

reta M. Strubharpiedmont

Vicepresident

GeralD C. DenniS

Antlers

SCott PaPPaS

Stillwater

o. ChriStoPher MeyerS

Lawton

renée DeMoSS

Tulsa

roy D. tuCker

Muskogee

Cathy ChriStenSenOklahomaCitypresident-Elect


PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

ObA 106th Annual MeetingNov. 17 - 19, 2010 • Crowne Plaza Hotel, Tulsa

OBA President Allen Smallwood addresses the House of Delegates.

2011 Officers: President Deb Reheard, Vice President

Reta Strubhar and President-Elect Cathy Christensen

OBA members celebrate a good hand in Blackjack at the YLD Casino Night.

OBA President Allen Smallwood presents Gov. Brad Henry with an

OBA Award of Appreciation.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice John Reif, OBA President Allen Smallwood, Judge Jane Wiseman and Judge Michael DeBerry at the Oklahoma Judicial Conference reception


Annual Luncheon speaker Michael Wallis

Reginald Smith, Jeff Trevillion and Selim Fiagome

Court of Criminal Appeals Judge David Lewis

and his sister, Judge Martha Oakes

Attendees socialize at the President’s Reception.

Mike Evans, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice

Rudolph Hargrave and his wife Madeline at the Oklahoma

Judicial Conference reception

Attendees enjoy food and friends at the President’s Reception.


2010 YLD Chairperson-Elect Roy Tucker and

Chairperson Molly Aspan enjoy Casino Night.

Board of Governors voting at the House of Delegates

Newly elected Governor Scott Pappas and Melissa DeLacerda

Leah White and Rania Nasreddine

2011 President Deb Reheard, Noel Tucker and

Family Law Section Chairperson Kimberly Hays


resOlutIOn nO. OneBe It resOlVeD by the House of Dele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthatthe association adopt, as part of its legisla-tiveprogram,aspublishedintheOklahomaBarJournalandpostedontheOBAwebsiteat www.okbar.org, proposed legislationamending75O.S.2001,Section318and320,Oklahoma Administrative procedures Act.(Requires 60% affirmative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Submitted by the Gov-ernment and Administrative Law Practice Sec-tion. Adoption recommended by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted

resOlutIOn nO. tWOBe It resOlVeDby theHouseofDele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthattheAssociationadopt,aspartofitslegisla-tiveprogram,aspublishedinThe Oklahoma Bar JournalandpostedontheOBAwebsiteat www.okbar.org, proposed addition ofRule31to theRulesforDistrictCourtsofOklahoma.(Requires 60% affirmative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Sub-mitted by the Government and Administrative Law Practice Section. Adoption recommend-ed by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted

resOlutIOn nO. tHreeBe It resOlVeD by the House of Dele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthatthe suggested changes to the OklahomaCode of Judicial Conduct, as published inoutline form in The Oklahoma Bar Journal and posted in its entirety on the OBA website at www.okbar.org, be approved and

adopted by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.(Requires 60% affirmative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Submitted by the Bench and Bar Committee. Adoption recom-mended by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted

resOlutIOn nO. FOurBe It resOlVeDby theHouseofDele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthatthe suggested adoption of Rules for theCommittee on Judicial Elections, as pub-lished in The Oklahoma Bar Journal andpostedontheOBAwebsiteatwww.okbar.org,beapprovedandadoptedbytheOkla-homa Supreme Court. (Requires 60% affir-mative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Submitted by the Bench and Bar Com-mittee. Adoption recommended by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted as amended regarding length of terms

resOlutIOn nO. FIVeBe It resOlVeDby theHouseofDele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthattheAssociationadopt,aspartofitslegisla-tiveprogram,aspublishedinThe Oklahoma Bar JournalandpostedontheOBAwebsiteat www.okbar.org, proposed legislationamending12O.S.Supp.2002,Section990A,Appeal to Supreme Court of Oklahoma –Filingofpetition–Rules–procedure–Dis-missal. (Requires 60% affirmative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Sub-mitted by the Civil Procedure Committee. Adoption recommended by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted

House of Delegates ActionsActions of the OBA House of Delegates on matters submitted for a vote at the 106th Annual Meeting on Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, are as follows:

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ANNUAL MEETING

ADOPTED


resOlutIOn nO. sIXBe It resOlVeDby theHouseofDele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthattheAssociationadopt,aspartofitslegisla-tiveprogram,aspublishedinThe Oklahoma Bar JournalandpostedontheOBAwebsiteatwww.okbar.org, proposedamendmentsto Oklahoma Supreme Court Rule 1.21relating to computation of time for com-mencement of an appeal. (Requires 60% affirmative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Submitted by the Civil Procedure Committee. Adoption recommended by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted

resOlutIOn nO. seVenBe It resOlVeDby theHouseofDele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthattheAssociationadopt,aspartof its legisla-tiveprogram,aspublishedinThe Oklahoma Bar JournalandpostedontheOBAwebsiteat www.okbar.org, proposed legislationamending12O.S.Supp.2009,Section2056,Motion for Summary Judgment. (Requires 60% affirmative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Submitted by the Civil Proce-dure Committee. Adoption recommended by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted

resOlutIOn nO. eIGHtBe It resOlVeDby theHouseofDele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthattheAssociationadopt,aspartofitslegisla-tiveprogram,aspublishedinThe Oklahoma Bar JournalandpostedontheOBAwebsiteat www.okbar.org, proposed legislationamending12O.S.Supp.2009,Section683,Dismissalwithoutprejudice.(Requires 60% affirmative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Submitted by the Civil Procedure Committee. Adoption recommended by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted

resOlutIOn nO. nIneBe It resOlVeDby theHouseofDele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthattheAssociationadopt,aspartofitslegisla-tiveprogram,aspublishedinThe Oklahoma Bar JournalandpostedontheOBAwebsiteat www.okbar.org, proposed legislationamending12O.S.Supp.2009,Section684,Dismissal before Trial Commenced with-out Court Order. (Requires 60% affirmative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Submitted by the Civil Procedure Committee. Adoption recommended by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted

resOlutIOn nO. tenBe It resOlVeD by the House of Dele-gatesoftheOklahomaBarAssociationthattheAssociationadopt,aspartofitslegisla-tiveprogram,aspublishedinThe Oklahoma Bar JournalandpostedontheOBAwebsiteat www.okbar.org, proposed legislationamending12O.S.Supp.2010,Section3226,general provisions governing Discovery.(Requires 60% affirmative vote for passage. OBA Bylaws Art. VIII Sec. 5) (Submitted by the Civil Procedure Committee. Adoption recom-mended by the OBA Board of Governors.)

action: adopted

tItle eXamInatIOn stanDarDs

Action: The Oklahoma Title Examina-tion Standards revisions and additionspublished in The Oklahoma Bar Journal 812475(Nov.6,2010)andpostedtotheweb-site at www.okbar.org were approved intheproposedform.Therevisionsandaddi-tionsareeffectiveimmediately.

All resolutions are available in their entirety at www.okbar.org/ annualmeeting10/business/resolutions

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED


Volunteers Critical to ObA Success

Iunderstandthatlifeishectic,andyou’rebusymakingalivingatpracticinglaw.I’masmalltownlawyer;Iknowthechallengesofmakingtimeforvolunteerwork.Butyourassociationneedsyou.It’simportantthatwehavenewpeopleeveryyeartakeaninterestinthemanyareasinwhichwe

trytomakeadifference.Lookatthelistbelow,there’sgottobeonethat’sworthyourtime.Mostmeetingsutilizevideoconference,soifyouarelocatednearTulsa,youaresparedthetravel

timewithaconnectiontothebarcenterinOklahomaCity.I’vegotsomeexcitingplansfornextyear—soIhopeIcancountonyoutogetinvolved.

Theeasiestwaytosignupisonlineatwww.okbar.org.Othersign-upoptionsaretocompletethisformandeitherfaxormailittotheOBA.

DeborahReheard,president-Elect

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Standing Committees ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

• Access to Justice• Awards• Bar Association Technology• Bar Center Facilities• Bench and Bar• Civil Procedure• Communications• Disaster Response and Relief• Diversity• Evidence Code

• Group Insurance• Law Day• Law-related Education• Law Schools• Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program• Lawyers with Physical Challenges• Legal Intern• Legislative Monitoring• Member Services

• Paralegal• Professionalism• Rules of Professional Conduct• Solo and Small Firm Conference Planning• Strategic Planning• Uniform Laws• Women in Law• Work/Life Balance

Note: No need to sign up again if your current term has not expired. Check www.okbar.org/members/committees/ for terms

Please Type or Print

Name ____________________________________________________ Telephone _____________________

Address ___________________________________________________ OBA # _______________________

City ___________________________________________ State/Zip_________________________________

FAX ______________________________________ E-mail ________________________________________

Committee Name

1st Choice ___________________________________

2nd Choice __________________________________

3rd Choice __________________________________

Have you ever served on this committee?

qYesqNoqYesqNoqYesqNo

If so, when? How long?_______________________________________________________________

q Please assign me to only one committee.q I am willing to serve on (two or three - circle one) committees.

Besides committee work, I am interested in the following area(s):

________________________________________________________________________________________

Mail: Deborah Reheard, c/o OBA, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152Fax: (405) 416-7001

I need to hear from you by Dec. 17, 2010, so I can begin committee appointments for 2011.


Anderson, PatrickUniformInternationalWillsAct 81 27 2211 10/09/10

Angel, Steven M.TheBurnoutpandemic:AccommodatingWorkaholisminthepracticeofLaw 81 33 2785 12/11/10

Balkman, ThadMoreAtticusFinches 81 20 1736 08/07/10

Barnett, Retired Judge David A. HalfaHaircut 81 10 976 04/10/10

Bartmess, DuchessLegislativeMonitoringCommitteegearsUpforLegislativeSession 81 5 410 02/13/10

LanguageguidetoNavigatingtheLegislativeprocess 81 7 639 03/13/10

OverviewofaFewLegislativeMeasuresofInterest 81 10 928 04/10/10

NewLawstoFollow—NoworLater? 81 14 1234 05/15/10

Bass, A. Gabriel and Hufnagel, Emily J.MakingTimetoDoIt—proBonopublico 81 10 959 04/10/10

Burke, Bob painManagementforWork-RelatedInjuries 81 7 619 03/13/10

FatheroftheFederalReserve 81 20 1659 08/07/10

BlindMan’sTrap 81 20 1675 08/07/10

AUTHOR-ARTICLE INDEX

Oklahoma bar Journal Index for 2010, Volume 81


Calloway, Jim 2009inReview:LookingBackAndLookingForward 81 2 123 01/16/10

LegalCitations:AnInterviewwithprofessorDarinK.Fox 81 5 415 02/13/10

YourNextCellphoneShouldbemorethanJustaphone 81 10 943 04/10/10

ALawyer’sMostValuableAssets 81 14 1246 05/15/10

gettingNoticedOnline 81 20 1706 08/07/10

IstheWorldWideWebTooMuchLiketheWildWildWest?InternetSecurityIssues 81 23 1912 09/04/10

SuperChargeYourConferenceCall 81 27 2264 10/09/10

TheTravelingLawyer 81 29 2413 11/06/10

ImprovingClientSatisfactionImprovesYourpracticeandYourLife 81 29 2489 11/06/10

Reviewing2010ShouldMakeLawyersThinkabouttheFuture 81 33 2851 12/11/10

Carpenter, David A.TheNewOklahomaDiscretionaryandSpecialNeedsTrustAct 81 33 2814 12/11/10

Carr-Howard, Maxwell and Daniel, Mary R. AreIndianNationsSubjecttotheFederalFalseClaimAct? 81 5 401 02/13/10

Carter, Martha RuppASamplingofLawyerHistory—TulsaStyle 81 20 1647 08/07/10

Cash, Adrienne N.WelcometotheFuture:ThepaperlessLawOfficeandE-filing 81 29 2421 11/06/10

Cole, Steven P.ChargingOrderprotectionforaSingleMemberLLCMayStillBeIllusory 81 7 625 03/13/10

Cornett, Pamla K.IllegalAliens,ImmigrationpolicyandWorkers’Compensation 81 7 605 03/13/10

Cottingham, Dale E. and Wyrick, Patrick R.‘ScheduleofUse’forAppropriateStreamwaterWhatEveryMunicipalityShouldKnow 81 23 1867 09/04/10


Cowan, Klint A. TribalSovereigntyvs.StateCourtJurisdictionWhateverHappenedtoFederalIndianLaw? 81 5 351 02/13/10

Daley, Chace W.FederalDiversityJurisdictionunderClassActionFairnessAct 81 23 1882 09/04/10

Daniel, Mary R. and Carr-Howard, Maxwell AreIndianNationsSubjecttotheFederalFalseClaimAct? 81 5 401 02/13/10

Douglas J. Shelton and Harrell, Alvin C. TheSharpSwordofResidentialpropertyDisclosure,SomewhatDulled 81 23 1886 09/04/10

Drummond, JimproBonoRepresentationandCriminalDefenseLawyers 81 23 1924 09/04/10

Drummond, LeAnn PageDealingwithUndueInfluence 81 27 2223 10/09/10

Drywater, Catina R. ‘Just’Rewards 81 33 2862 12/11/10

Duffy, Ryan J.SimpleEstateplanningforyourClient’sChildren 81 27 2207 10/09/10

Edmondson, Chief Justice JamesOntheHorizon:Oklahoma’sUnifiedCaseManagementSystem 81 33 2810 12/11/10

Eissenstat, Eric and Evans, KyleAprimeronTortiousInterferencewithEconomicRelationshipsinOklahoma 81 14 1211 05/15/10

Evans, Kyle and Eissenstat, EricAprimeronTortiousInterferencewithEconomicRelationshipsinOklahoma 81 14 1211 05/15/10

Evans, Valerie J.MedicareConsiderationfortheWorkers’Compensationpractitioner 81 7 613 03/13/10

Foster, Paul R. OurSubpoenaorCourtOrderforThoseBankRecordsMaybeIllegalTheOklahomaFinancialprivacyAct 81 14 1191 05/15/10


Frazier, PhilWhatIstheOklahomaBarFoundation(AndWhoAreYou?) 81 2 135 01/16/10

ATipoftheHat(Here’stotheYoungFellows) 81 5 423 02/13/10

OklahomaLawyers—We’reNumberOne 81 7 651 03/13/10

grantsandAwards—SiteVisitsplanned 81 10 956 04/10/10

Validation 81 14 1252 05/15/10

HowareOBFFellowsFundsUsed? 81 20 1714 08/07/10

OBF101Review 81 23 1921 09/04/10

TheThread 81 27 2268 10/09/10

OBF2010grants 81 29 2498 11/06/10

LegendHasIt… 81 33 2859 12/11/10

Gensler, Steven S. Oklahoma’sNewE-DiscoveryRules 81 29 2427 11/06/10

Goble, CindyForeclosureDefenseinOklahoma 81 2 138 01/16/10

ReachingOurCity…NotJustaName,AMission 81 27 2270 10/09/10

Goralewicz, RickCivilgideon-TheBasics 81 20 1717 08/07/10

Grayson, Tynan D. and Witterholt, Madalene A.B.RevisitingtheVortexTheCollisionoftheOklahomaWorkers’CompensationAct,FMLAandADA 81 7 575 03/13/10

Grimm, William R. TheUnauthorizedpracticeofLawinOklahoma 81 33 2775 12/11/10

Gungoll, Wade D. Regulationofgreenhousegases:NewReportingRequirementsEffectiveImmediately 81 10 918 04/10/10

Hager, C. Steven TransfertoTribalCourtinOklahomaundertheIndianChildWelfareActandFactorsfortheTribalCourt’sConsideration 81 5 389 02/13/10

Harrell, Alvin C. and Shelton, Douglas J.TheSharpSwordofResidentialpropertyDisclosure,SomewhatDulled 81 23 1886 09/04/10

Harrell, Alvin C. and Miller, Fred H.CurrentStatusoftheUCC 81 14 1175 05/15/10

AftermathoftheSemGroupCase 81 33 2818 12/11/10

Haught, R. StevenFarewelltoaMentor 81 27 2288 10/09/10


Hendryx, Gina ContingencyFeeAgreementChecklist 81 2 129 01/16/10

DomesticRelationsandCriminalLawContinuetoReceiveMostgrievances 81 7 646 03/13/10

UnauthorizedpracticeofLaw 81 14 1248 05/15/10

ABreakdownofOut-of-StateAttorneyRegistration 81 27 2267 10/09/10

JudicialDisqualification 81 29 2492 11/06/10

TrustAccountOverdraftNotification:WhatWeKnowSoFar 81 33 2807 12/11/10

Hicks, CoryRecentChangestotheCreditorClaimprocessinOklahomaEstateunderOkla.Stat.tit.58&337 81 27 2215 10/09/10

Hufnagel, Emily J. and Bass, A. GabrielMakingTimetoDoIt—proBonopublico 81 10 959 04/10/10

Izadi, Tina L.AnnualCelebrationFocusesonMilestonesintheLaw 81 10 871 04/10/10

Johnson, Eric L.ThereMaybeConsumerLaws‘Lurking’inyourCommercialTransaction 81 14 1203 05/15/10

Jones, JayTheEvolutionofWorkers’CompensationinIndianCountry 81 7 595 03/13/10

Kalnins, Karen E.LivingHistory:OklahomaJudgesandAttorneysTalkAboutTheirExperiences 81 20 1689 08/07/10

Kane, Matt and Whitten, ReggieReflectiononaBasicEconomicSystem 81 14 1272 05/15/10

Keely, Colline Wahkinney TheNeedforIncreasedResourcesinIndianLegalAidOklahomaIndianLegalServices 81 5 393 02/13/10

Kiesel, RyanLoggingOut:DigitalEstateplanning 81 27 2199 10/09/10

Larsh, Robin C. and Williams, O. Joseph practicingbeforeaTribalgamingRegulatoryBodyTipsandSuggestionsfortheLegalpractitionerinOklahoma 81 5 367 02/13/10

Leonard, Judge TomMajorCause—WhatDoesItMean? 81 7 585 03/13/10

Little, JohnTextbooks,TrolleysandTribunalsSeparationofChurchandStateinEarlyOklahoma 81 20 1667 08/07/10


Love, Kimberly Lambert and Wheeler, Shannon P.AboutFacebyOklahomaSupremeCourtMeansDiscriminationClaimscanbebroughtagainstSmallEmployersSmith v. Pioneer Masonry Inc. 81 27 2234 10/09/10

Lucas, Laurie A. IgnoranceoftheLaworBonaFideError?SupremeCourtSettoDecideinFDCpACase 81 14 1199 05/15/10

Luttrell III, Robert T. CheckScamsThatTargetLawyersHowCheckScamsWorkandHowtoAvoidALoss 81 7 628 03/13/10

Maisch, John A. AnExaminationofOklahoma’sModernLiquorStatutes 81 10 922 04/10/10

McCutcheon, Robert D. and Schell, Mark E.SB1615:TheOklahomaResponsetotheSemgroupBankruptcy 81 23 1871 09/04/10

Miers, Sheppard F. Jr.2010OklahomaTaxLegislation 81 23 1897 09/04/10

Mileur, A. DonaldTheCrash 81 29 2520 11/06/10

Miley, John E. proBonoServicegivespeopleHope 81 5 426 02/13/10

Miller, Fred H. and Harrell, Alvin C. CurrentStatusoftheUCC 81 14 1175 05/15/10

AftermathoftheSemGroupCase 81 33 2818 12/11/10

Miller, RyneRegistrationExemptionsundertheFederalLaws:Aprimer 81 14 1183 05/15/10

Nix, JeffTheEstateplanningEmergencyinNigeria 81 33 2880 12/11/10

Pacewicz, Michael R. In re Ford:NegativeEquity,HangingparagraphandaSplitDecision 81 14 1223 05/15/10

Peoples, Lee F.TheLawyer’sguidetoUsingandCitingWikipedia 81 29 2437 11/06/10

Perry, NellieMusingsandMemories 81 23 1936 09/04/10

Peters, Keith E.DiagnosisandTreatment:UnderstandingandpreparingfortheNewInvestmentIncomeTax 81 20 1694 08/07/10


Pickens, Travis TheRulesofprofessionalConduct:ReadThemAgain,FortheFirstTime 81 5 418 02/13/10

‘No,ICan’t…’ 81 10 950 04/10/10

AShortHistoryofLegalEthics 81 20 1710 08/07/10

FiveRulestoAvoidBarComplaintsinprivatepractice 81 23 1916 09/04/10

EthicsupintheClouds 81 29 2407 11/06/10

WhyMannersMatter 81 33 2799 12/11/10

YogiBerra’sFiveApocryphalTipsonEthicalandEffectiveAttorneyMarketing 81 33 2854 12/11/10

Priest, JimproBonoAsYougo 81 7 655 03/13/10

Reed, DanUnderstandingKeyprofessionalLiabilityRisks 81 33 2803 12/11/10

Reif, Justice John F. JudicialReviewofAdministrativeAgencyDecisionsADiscussionofJurisdictionandStandardsofReview 81 2 102 01/16/10

Rendon, Teresa A. IndianIdentity 81 5 359 02/13/10

Richard, Mary Holloway IdentityTheft:ApplicationofRedFlagsRuletoHealthCareproviders 81 2 94 01/16/10

Roberts, Shawn J.SocialMediafortheReticentAttorney 81 29 2399 11/06/10

Rolston, Joe Jr.TrendsinOurFundamentalLaw 81 20 1681 08/07/10

Ross-Petherick, Casey CurrentIssuesinIndianChildWelfarepolicyFosterCarepaymentContracts 81 5 397 02/13/10

Salem, Micheal‘gunsandRobes’UncoveringaSecondAmendmentRightintheSupremeCourt 81 2 107 01/16/10

plausiblepleadings:NewTrendsinFederalpleadingRequirements 81 10 906 04/10/10

Schell, Mark E. and McCutcheon, Robert D.SB1615:TheOklahomaResponsetotheSemgroupBankruptcy 81 23 1871 09/04/10


Shelton, Douglas J. and Harrell, Alvin C.TheSharpSwordofResidentialpropertyDisclosure,SomewhatDulled 81 23 1886 09/04/10

Smallwood, AllenYear’sFocustobeCoreValues 81 2 52 01/16/10

OklahomaandItsNativeAmericanHeritage 81 5 348 02/13/10

StudentsDemonstrateKnowledgeofAmericangovernment 81 7 572 03/13/10

LawDay-ADifferentperspective 81 10 868 04/10/10

IWonderWhatHappenedto‘You’? 81 14 1172 05/15/10

OklahomaLegalHistory 81 20 1644 08/07/10

WhyAttendtheAnnualMeeting? 81 23 1844 09/04/10

Normandy,D-DayandaFarmhouse 81 27 2188 10/09/10

JudicialElections:ThereMustbeaBetterWay 81 29 2396 11/06/10

FarewellandThankYou 81 33 2772 12/11/10

Smith, CarolynThinkYouCan’tAffordtoTravel? 81 5 440 02/13/10

Sokolosky, Jerry‘TooBadforYou,Buster…’ 81 7 672 03/13/10

Stewart, Sarah C.Update:RightsofBeneficiariestoSueonBehalfoftheEstate 81 27 2229 10/09/10

Stoner, Kelly Gaines and Stoner, Shandi S. ApplicationoftheSexOffenderRegistrationandNotificationActinOklahomaIndianCountry 81 5 383 02/13/10

Stoner, Shandi S. and Stoner, Kelly Gaines ApplicationoftheSexOffenderRegistrationandNotificationActinOklahomaIndianCountry 81 5 383 02/13/10

Taylor, Gary A. RationingJusticeBalancingDemand,NeedsandprioritiesinCivilLegalServices 81 14 1255 05/15/10

Thompson, PatrickAnother‘WhatTheyDidn’tTeachUs!’Story 81 2 152 01/16/10

Trudgeon, John H. Price v. Commissioner:TaxCourt’sDraftingTipsforTransferofpartnershipsorLLCInterests 81 7 623 03/13/10

guidelinesforInternationalCharitablegiftsandgrants 81 14 1227 05/15/10

Vanhooser, LindseyACallingtoHelptheHomeless 81 29 2504 11/06/10


Wheeler, Shannon P. and Love, Kimberly LambertAboutFacebyOklahomaSupremeCourtMeansDiscriminationClaimsCanbeBroughtagainstSmallEmployersSmith v. Pioneer Masonry Inc. 81 27 2234 10/09/10

Whitten, Reggie and Kane, MattReflectiononaBasicEconomicSystem 81 14 1272 05/15/10

Will, Henry G. EstateTaxIssuesin2010:StillCrazyafterAllTheseYears 81 27 2191 10/09/10

Williams, John Morris AndWeAreOff… 81 2 120 01/16/10

ABraveNewWorld 81 5 413 02/13/10

TrackingLegislationintheDigitalAge 81 7 644 03/13/10

Expectations 81 10 941 04/10/10

Facebook 81 14 1244 05/15/10

ADifferentWaytoLookatThings 81 20 1704 08/07/10

AreYouHappypracticingLaw? 81 23 1910 09/04/10

practicingLawinHardTimes 81 27 2262 10/09/10

MoreThanaConvention 81 29 2487 11/06/10

December,Again 81 33 2850 12/11/10

Williams, O. Joseph and Larsh, Robin C. practicingbeforeaTribalgamingRegulatoryBodyTipsandSuggestionsfortheLegalpractitionerinOklahoma 81 5 367 02/13/10

Wirth, James M.TheEight-WeekSoftTissueInjuryTTDLimitationEightpublishedAppellateDecisionsLater 81 7 599 03/13/10

Witterholt, Madalene A.B. and Grayson, Tynan D.RevisitingtheVortexTheCollisionoftheOklahomaWorkers’CompensationAct,FMLAandADA 81 7 575 03/13/10

Work, L. Susan TribalWaterRights:TheNecessityofgovernment-To-governmentCooperation 81 5 375 02/13/10

Wyrick, Patrick R. and Cottingham, Dale E. ‘ScheduleofUse’forAppropriateStreamwaterWhatEveryMunicipalityShouldKnow 81 23 1867 09/04/10


aCCess tO JustICe

Bass, A. Gabriel and Hufnagel, Emily J.MakingTimetoDoIt—proBonopublico 81 10 959 04/10/10

Drummond, JimproBonoRepresentationandCriminalDefenseLawyers 81 23 1924 09/04/10

Drywater, Catina R. ‘Just’Rewards 81 33 2862 12/11/10

Goble, CindyForeclosureDefenseinOklahoma 81 2 138 01/16/10

ReachingOurCity…NotJustaName,AMission 81 27 2270 10/09/10

Goralewicz, RickCivilgideon—TheBasics 81 20 1717 08/07/10

Miley, John E. proBonoServicegivespeopleHope 81 5 426 02/13/10

Priest, JimproBonoAsYougo 81 7 655 03/13/10

Taylor, Gary A. RationingJustice:BalancingDemand,NeedsandprioritiesinCivilLegalServices 81 14 1255 05/15/10

Vanhooser, LindseyACallingtoHelptheHomeless 81 29 2504 11/06/10

aDmInIstratIVe laW

Reif, Justice John F. JudicialReviewofAdministrativeAgencyDecisionsADiscussionofJurisdictionandStandardsofReview 81 2 102 01/16/10

Oklahoma bar Journal Index for 2010, Volume 81

SUbJECT INDEX


alCOHOl reGulatIOn

Maisch, John A. AnExaminationofOklahoma’sModernLiquorStatutes 81 10 922 04/10/10

BaCK PaGe

Balkman, ThadMoreAtticusFinches 81 20 1736 08/07/10

Barnett, Retired Judge David A. HalfaHaircut 81 10 976 04/10/10

Haught, R. StevenFarewelltoaMentor 81 27 2288 10/09/10

Kane, Matt and Whitten, ReggieReflectiononaBasicEconomicSystem 81 14 1272 05/15/10

Mileur, A. DonaldTheCrash 81 29 2520 11/06/10

Nix, JeffTheEstateplanningEmergencyinNigeria 81 33 2880 12/11/10

Perry, NellieMusingsandMemories 81 23 1936 09/04/10

Smith, CarolynThinkYouCan’tAffordtoTravel? 81 5 440 02/13/10

Sokolosky, Jerry‘TooBadforYou,Buster…’ 81 7 672 03/13/10

Thompson, PatrickAnother‘WhatTheyDidn’tTeachUs!’Story 81 2 152 01/16/10

BanKruPtCY

McCutcheon, Robert D. and Schell, Mark E.SB1615:TheOklahomaResponsetotheSemgroupBankruptcy 81 23 1871 09/04/10

Bar FOunDatIOn neWs

Frazier, PhilWhatIstheOklahomaBarFoundation(AndWhoAreYou?) 81 2 135 01/16/10

ATipoftheHat(Here’stotheYoungFellows) 81 5 423 02/13/10

OklahomaLawyers—We’reNumberOne 81 7 651 03/13/10

grantsandAwards-SiteVisitsplanned 81 10 956 04/10/10

Validation 81 14 1252 05/15/10

HowareOBFFellowsFundsUsed? 81 20 1714 08/07/10


OBF101Review 81 23 1921 09/04/10

TheThread 81 27 2268 10/09/10

OBF2010grants 81 29 2498 11/06/10

LegendHasIt… 81 33 2859 12/11/10

CItIes anD Water use

Cottingham, Dale E. and Wyrick, Patrick R.‘ScheduleofUse’forAppropriateStreamwaterWhatEveryMunicipalityShouldKnow 81 23 1867 09/04/10

Class aCtIOn

Daley, Chace W.FederalDiversityJurisdictionunderClassActionFairnessActputtingtheCartbeforetheHorse 81 23 1882 09/04/10

COmmerCIal laW

Eissenstat, Eric and Evans, KyleAprimeronTortiousInterferencewithEconomicRelationshipsinOklahoma 81 14 1211 05/15/10

Foster, Paul R. OurSubpoenaorCourtOrderforThoseBankRecordsMaybeIllegalTheOklahomaFinancialprivacyAct 81 14 1191 05/15/10

Harrell, Alvin C. and Miller, Fred H.CurrentStatusoftheUCC 81 14 1175 05/15/10

Johnson, Eric L.ThereMaybeConsumerLaws‘Lurking’inyourCommercialTransaction 81 14 1203 05/15/10

Lucas, Laurie A. IgnoranceoftheLaworBonaFideError?SupremeCourtSettoDecideinFDCpACase 81 14 1199 05/15/10

Miller, RyneRegistrationExemptionsundertheFederalLaws:Aprimer 81 14 1183 05/15/10

Pacewicz, Michael R. In re Ford:NegativeEquity,HangingparagraphandaSplitDecision 81 14 1223 05/15/10

COnstItutIOnal laW

Salem, Micheal‘gunsandRobes’UncoveringaSecondAmendmentRightintheSupremeCourt 81 2 107 01/16/10


COnsumer laW

Richard, Mary Holloway IdentityTheft:ApplicationofRedFlagsRuletoHealthCareproviders 81 2 94 01/16/10

enVIrOnmental laW

Gungoll, Wade D. Regulationofgreenhousegases:NewReportingRequirementsEffectiveImmediately 81 10 918 04/10/10

etHICs anD PrOFessIOnal resPOnsIBIlItY

Angel, Steven M.TheBurnoutpandemic:AccommodatingWorkaholisminpracticeofLaw 81 33 2785 12/11/10

Grimm, William R. TheUnauthorizedpracticeofLawinOklahoma 81 33 2775 12/11/10

Hendryx, Gina ContingencyFeeAgreementChecklist 81 2 129 01/16/10

DomesticRelationsandCriminalLawContinuetoReceiveMostgrievances 81 7 646 03/13/10

UnauthorizedpracticeofLaw 81 14 1248 05/15/10

ABreakdownofOut-of-StateAttorneyRegistration 81 27 2267 10/09/10

JudicialDisqualification 81 29 2492 11/06/10

TrustAccountOverdraftNotification:WhatWeKnowSoFar 81 33 2807 12/11/10

Pickens, Travis TheRulesofprofessionalConduct:ReadThemAgain,FortheFirstTime 81 5 418 02/13/10

‘No,ICan’t…’ 81 10 950 04/10/10

AShortHistoryofLegalEthics 81 20 1710 08/07/10

FiveRulestoAvoidBarComplaintsinprivatepractice 81 23 1916 09/04/10

WhyMannersMatter 81 33 2799 12/11/10

YogiBerra’sFiveApocryphalTipsonEthicalandEffectiveAttorneyMarketing 81 33 2854 12/11/10

Reed, DanUnderstandingKeyprofessionalLiabilityRisks 81 33 2803 12/11/10

FeDeral CIVIl PrOCeDure

Salem, Michealplausiblepleadings:NewTrendsinFederalpleadingRequirements 81 10 906 04/10/10


FrauD

Luttrell III, Robert T. CheckScamsThatTargetLawyersHowCheckScamsWorkandHowtoAvoidALoss 81 7 628 03/13/10

FrOm tHe eXeCutIVe DIreCtOr

Williams, John Morris AndWeAreOff… 81 2 120 01/16/10

ABraveNewWorld 81 5 413 02/13/10

TrackingLegislationintheDigitalAge 81 7 644 03/13/10

Expectations 81 10 941 04/10/10

Facebook 81 14 1244 05/15/10

ADifferentWaytoLookatThings 81 20 1704 08/07/10

AreYouHappypracticingLaw? 81 23 1910 09/04/10

practicingLawinHardTimes 81 27 2262 10/09/10

MoreThanaConvention 81 29 2487 11/06/10

December,Again 81 33 2850 12/11/10

FrOm tHe PresIDent

Smallwood, AllenYear’sFocustobeCoreValues 81 2 52 01/16/10

OklahomaandItsNativeAmericanHeritage 81 5 348 02/13/10

StudentsDemonstrateKnowledgeofAmericangovernment 81 7 572 03/13/10

LawDay—ADifferentperspective 81 10 868 04/10/10

IWonderWhatHappenedto‘You’? 81 14 1172 05/15/10

OklahomaLegalHistory 81 20 1644 08/07/10

WhyAttendtheAnnualMeeting? 81 23 1844 09/04/10

Normandy,D-DayandaFarmhouse 81 27 2188 10/09/10

JudicialElections:ThereMustbeaBetterWay 81 29 2396 11/06/10

FarewellandThankYou 81 33 2772 12/11/10

InDIan laW

Carr-Howard, Maxwell and Daniel, Mary R. AreIndianNationsSubjecttotheFederalFalseClaimAct? 81 5 401 02/13/10

Cowan, Klint A. TribalSovereigntyvs.StateCourtJurisdictionWhateverHappenedtoFederalIndianLaw? 81 5 351 02/13/10


Hager, C. Steven TransfertoTribalCourtinOklahomaundertheIndianChildWelfareActandFactorsfortheTribalCourt’sConsideration 81 5 389 02/13/10

Keely, Colline Wahkinney TheNeedforIncreasedResourcesinIndianLegalAidOklahomaIndianLegalServices 81 5 393 02/13/10

Larsh, Robin C. and Williams, O. Joseph practicingbeforeaTribalgamingRegulatoryBodyTipsandSuggestionsfortheLegalpractitionerinOklahoma 81 5 367 02/13/10

Rendon, Teresa A. IndianIdentity 81 5 359 02/13/10

Ross-Petherick, Casey CurrentIssuesinIndianChildWelfarepolicyFosterCarepaymentContracts 81 5 397 02/13/10

Stoner, Kelly Gaines and Stoner, Shandi S. ApplicationoftheSexOffenderRegistrationandNotificationActinOklahomaIndianCountry 81 5 383 02/13/10

Work, L. Susan TribalWaterRights:TheNecessityofgovernment-To-governmentCooperation 81 5 375 02/13/10

laBOr anD emPlOYment laW

Love, Kimberly Lambert and Wheeler, Shannon P.AboutFacebyOklahomaSupremeCourtMeansDiscriminationClaimscanbebroughtagainstSmallEmployersSmith v. Pioneer Masonry Inc. 81 27 2234 10/09/10

laW DaY

Izadi, Tina L.AnnualCelebrationFocusesonMilestonesintheLaw 81 10 871 04/10/10

laW PraCtICe tIPs

Calloway, Jim 2009inReview:LookingBackAndLookingForward 81 2 123 01/16/10

LegalCitations:AnInterviewwithprofessorDarinK.Fox 81 5 415 02/13/10

YourNextCellphoneShouldbeMorethanJustaphone 81 10 943 04/10/10

ALawyer’sMostValuableAssets 81 14 1246 05/15/10

gettingNoticedOnline 81 20 1706 08/07/10

IstheWorldWideWebTooMuchLiketheWildWildWest?


InternetSecurityIssues 81 23 1912 09/04/10

SuperChargeYourConferenceCall 81 27 2264 10/09/10

ImprovingClientSatisfactionImprovesYourpracticeandYourLife 81 29 2489 11/06/10

Reviewing2010ShouldMakeLawyersThinkabouttheFuture 81 33 2851 12/11/10

leGIslatIVe sessIOn anD rePOrt

Bartmess, DuchessLegislativeMonitoringCommitteegearsUpforLegislativeSession 81 5 410 02/13/10

LanguageguidetoNavigatingtheLegislativeprocess 81 7 639 03/13/10

OverviewofaFewLegislativeMeasuresofInterest 81 10 928 04/10/10

NewLawstoFollow—NoworLater? 81 14 1234 05/15/10

OIl anD Gas

Harrell, Alvin C. and Miller, Fred H.AftermathoftheSemGroupCase 81 33 2818 12/11/10

OKlaHOma leGal HIstOrY

Burke, Bob FatheroftheFederalReserve 81 20 1659 08/07/10

BlindMan’sTrap 81 20 1675 08/07/10

Carter, Martha Rupp

ASamplingofLawyerHistory—TulsaStyle 81 20 1647 08/07/10

Kalnins, Karen E.LivingHistory:OklahomaJudgesandAttorneysTalkaboutTheirExperiences 81 20 1689 08/07/10

Little, JohnTextbooks,TrolleysandTribunalsSeparationofChurchandStateinEarlyOklahoma 81 20 1667 08/07/10

Rolston, Joe Jr.TrendsinOurFundamentalLaw 81 20 1681 08/07/10

PrOBate, estate PlannInG anD trust

Anderson, PatrickUniformInternationalWillsAct 81 27 2211 10/09/10

Carpenter, David A. TheNewOklahomaDiscretionaryandSpecialNeedsTrustAct 81 33 2814 12/11/10


Cole, Steven P.ChargingOrderprotectionforaSingleMemberLLCMayStillBeIllusory 81 7 625 03/13/10

Drummond, LeAnn PageDealingwithUndueInfluence 81 27 2223 10/09/10

Duffy, Ryan J.SimpleEstateplanningforyourClient’sChildren 81 27 2207 10/09/10

Hicks, CoryRecentChangestotheCreditorClaimprocessinOklahomaEstatesunderOkla.Stat.tit.58&337 81 27 2215 10/09/10

Kiesel, RyanLoggingOut:DigitalEstateplanning 81 27 2199 10/09/10

Stewart, Sarah C.Update:RightsofBeneficiariestoSueonBehalfoftheState 81 27 2229 10/09/10

Trudgeon, John H. Price v. Commissioner:TaxCourt’sDraftingTipsforTransferofpartnershipsorLLCInterests 81 7 623 03/13/10

Will, Henry G. EstateTaxIssuesin2010:StillCrazyafterAllTheseYears 81 27 2191 10/09/10

real PrOPertY

Harrell, Alvin C. and Shelton, Douglas J.TheSharpSwordofResidentialpropertyDisclosure,SomewhatDulled 81 23 1886 09/04/10

taXatIOn laW

Miers, Sheppard F. Jr.2010OklahomaTaxLegislation 81 23 1897 09/04/10

Peters, Keith E.DiagnosisandTreatment:UnderstandingandpreparingfortheNewInvestmentIncomeTax 81 20 1694 08/07/10

Trudgeon, John H. guidelinesforInternationalCharitablegiftsandgrants 81 14 1227 05/15/10

teCHnOlOGY & laW PraCtICe manaGement

Cash, Adrienne N.WelcometotheFuture:ThepaperlessLawOfficeandE-filing 81 29 2421 11/06/10


Calloway, JimTheTravelingLawyer 81 29 2413 11/06/10

Edmondson, Chief Justice JamesOntheHorizon:Oklahoma’sUnifiedCaseManagementSystem 81 33 2810 12/11/10

Gensler, Steven S.Oklahoma’sNewE-DiscoveryRules 81 29 2427 11/06/10

Peoples, Lee F.TheLawyer’sguidetoUsingandCitingWikipedia 81 29 2437 11/06/10

Pickens, TravisEthicsupintheClouds 81 29 2407 11/06/10

Roberts, Shawn J.SocialMediafortheReticentAttorney 81 29 2399 11/06/10

WOrKers’ COmPensatIOn

Burke, Bob painManagementforWork-RelatedInjuries 81 7 619 03/13/10

Coker, Michael G.MediationandWorkers’Compensation 81 7 589 03/13/10

Cornett, Pamla K.IllegalAliens,ImmigrationpolicyandWorkers’Compensation 81 7 605 03/13/10

Evans, Valerie J.MedicareConsiderationfortheWorkers’Compensationpractitioner 81 7 613 03/13/10

Grayson, Tynan D. and Witterholt, Madalene A.B.RevisitingtheVortexTheCollisionoftheOklahomaWorkers’CompensationAct,FMLAandADA 81 7 575 03/13/10

Jones, JayTheEvolutionofWorkers’CompensationinIndianCountry 81 7 595 03/13/10

Leonard, Judge TomMajorCause—WhatDoesItMean? 81 7 585 03/13/10

Wirth, James M.TheEight-WeekSoftTissueInjuryTTDLimitationEightpublishedAppellateDecisionsLater 81 7 599 03/13/10


Somehowtheyearsgobymorequicklynow.ItisalreadyDecember,again.Whiletheholidaysandfestivi-tiesbringgoodtimesinDecember,itisalsotheendofanotheryearhereattheOBA.Wewillwelcomesomenewleadersandsaygoodbyetosome.perhapsnootherseasonremindsmeofthepassageoftimemorethanDecember.ItisatimethatIlookbackandreflectandtrytolookforwardandpredict.Iambetteratthelookingbackdeal.

IhavehadmuchfunandjoyworkingwithpresidentAllenSmallwoodandhiswife,Barbara.AllenwouldbethefirsttoadmitBarbaraaddsalotofclasstotheterritory.Theyhavebeenkindandwonderfulfriends.Everypres-identteachesmesomething.Allentaughtmethatcompas-sionandtoughnessneednotbemutuallyexclusive.Heisapersonofstrongconvictionsontheissuesandhasabigheartforpeople.Ihopehedoesnotmindmyrevealingthisabouthim.However,peoplewhoknowhimwellalreadyknowthis.

ThisDecemberisalsoatimeofadditionalchange.WiththepassingofJusticeOpalaandthedecisionofJusticeHar-gravetonotseekretention,theOklahomaSupremeCourtwillsoonhavetwonewmem-bers.Iwillmissbothofthese

gentlemengreatly.Bothhavebeengoodmentors,andIhaveenjoyedworkingundertheirsupervision.Weallowethemadebtofgratitudefordecadesofservicetoourstate.ToJusticeHargrave,Iwishcontinuedgoodhealthandmuchjoyinthenextphaseofhislife.ItiswithsadnessthatIlosethemfrommyeverydaylife.

AsIamwritingthis,IjustreceivedinformationthatJudgeCombswillbethenextjusticefromDistrict3.Inthesetryingtimesofshrink-ingjudicialresources,Iappreciatehiswillingnesstocontinuetoserveourstateandtakeonthisnewtaskinhislife.Iwishhimgoodhealthandmuchjoyinthenextphaseofhislifeaswell.

Thelookingforwardpartismorefun.Wehavemanythingsintheworksandmore

comingaspresident-ElectReheardmovestowardherbeingsworninasour2011president.Shehaslotsofener-gyandhassomeexcitingini-tiativesplanned.I,too,wishhercontinuedgoodhealthandmuchjoyinhertimeasourpresident.Ihopeeachofyouwilljoininandpartici-pateinatleastoneofherproj-ectsthisyear.Theworkisneededandwillberewarding.Ihaveintentionallynotgivendetailstoenticeyoutobelookingforherfirstarticle.

MayeachoftheremainingdaysofDecembergiveyoupausetoreflectbackandtolookforward.Ihopethatyourreflectionswillbeasourceofwisdomandyourforwardthoughtswillbeasourceofinspiration.Iwishyougoodhealthandjoyaswemoveinto2011.

OnbehalfofyourstaffattheOklahomaBarAssocia-tion,wewishyouthehappiestofholidayseasonsandlookforwardtoworkingwithyouinthecomingyear.

To contact Executive Director Williams, e-mail him at [email protected].

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

December, AgainBy John Morris Williams

May each of the remaining days of December give

you pause to reflect back and to look forward.


Formanyyearsnow,duringtheOBACLERecentDevelop-mentsprogramheldeachDecember,Ihavedoneapre-sentationcalled“LawOfficeManagementandTechnologyUpdate.”SeveraltimesIhavealsodoneasimilarwrap-upintheOklahoma Bar Journal.

Sohere’saquicklookatsomeofthebigtrendsthisyearandcoverageofforecastsoffuturetrendsforthelegalindustry.Thenwewillfollowupwithlawofficetechnologytrendsnextmonth.

Lawfirmconsultantsandotherswhofollowthelegalindustryallagreethatthereareahostofnegativepres-suresonthelegalmarket.Amongthesearethelackofjobsfornewlawyerswhilelawschoolscontinuetogradu-ate40,000newstudentsannu-allywhowanttofindwork,thegenerallyweakeconomy,corporategeneralcounselpushingforlowerfees,alter-nativefeeagreements(AFAs)andmorepredictability,thecontinuedimpactofnewtech-nologytoolsinthelegalmar-ketplaceandtheprobabilityofmorelayoffsinthefutureattheverylargelawfirms.

Atthe2010OBAAnnualMeetinginTulsa,IlistenedasChicagofamilylawyerStevenpeskinddiscussedfuturetrendsinthelegalprofession

attheOBAFamilyLawSectionmeeting.Hediscussedalotofconcepts,includingtheideaofvirtuallawoffices,unbundlingoflegalservices,alternativestothehourlyrateanddiscussedthepossibilitythattheremaybeagreaterneedinthefutureforfamilylawyerstoserveprimarilyasconflictmanagersratherthanlitigators.

Sincemostfamilylawyers(andmostlawyers)findthem-selvesextremelybusy,thisisamessagethatdoesn’tseemtosquareupwiththeirrealitytoday.Manymanagersinlargelawfirmsalsocontinuetooperateundertheassumptionthatthingswillsnapbacktonormalafterthisrougheco-nomicpatch.

Eventhoughweallhopethatisthecase,that’snotthesmartbetatthispoint.Law-yerswhohavenotbeenfol-lowingthenationaltrendsprobablyneedtospendsometimereadingandthinking.

Forexample,onecanvisitThe New Normalonline.ThisisafeaturethattheABA Journalhasbeenrunningduringthelasthalfofthisyearatwww.abajournal.com/topic/the_new_normal.Theeditor’snoteprecedingeacharticleinthefeatureexplains,“TheNewNormalisanongoingdiscus-sionbetweenpaulLippe,the

CEOofLegalOnRamp,andpatrickLamb,foundingmem-berofValoremLawgroup.paulandpatspendalotoftimethinking,writingandspeakingaboutthechangesoccurringinthedeliveryoflegalservices.”

AchallengingarticlewaspublishedintheConnecticut Law TribuneonNov.29,2010.ThearticlequotesFairfieldattorneyFredUry’spredictionthatwithinadecade,therewilllikelybe10percentto40per-centfewerlawyersthantherearetoday.Heoutlineshisrea-sonsforthisratherstartlingprediction,whichlargelyrelatetonewtechnologyadvances,globalizationandshiftsinthelegalbusinessmarketplace.Thearticleisonlineatwww.ctlawtribune.com/getarticle.aspx?ID=38980.

YoudonothavetobuyintothisversionofthefutureoryoumaybelievethatOklaho-maisnotasvulnerabletothesetrendsasotherplaces.Butreadinguponourchal-lengesisalwaysagoodthing.

Let’sexpandourreadinglistfrombriefonlinearticlestotraditionalbooks.

Dealingwithchangeisdiffi-cult.AclassicbookondealingwithchangeisWho Moved My CheesebyDr.SpencerJohnson,whoalsoco-authoredThe One

Reviewing 2010 Should Make Lawyers Think About the Future By Jim Calloway, Director, OBA Management Assistance Program

LAW PRACTICE TIPS


Minute Managerandmanyotherbooks.ItisavailableonAmazon.comandaccordingtothewebsitewww.whomovedmycheese.com,ithassoldover24millioncopiesworldwideandhasbeentranslatedinto42languages.Itwasabestsellerin2000.

Ialsosuggestthatthelaw-yerinterestedinthefutureoflegalpracticeshouldbuyacopyofThe End of Lawyers? Rethinking the Nature of Legal ServicesbyRichardSusskind.Icertainlydonotpredicttheendoflawyersinthefaceofthehugeneedforlegalservic-esinoursociety.ButSuss-kind’smessagecertainlyresonatesashedoesaround50speakingengagementsperyear.

Here’swhatIpostedonmyblogafterhearingRichard

Susskind’skeynoteaddressatABATECHSHOW2009:

“[H]enotesthatbusinessclientsfeeltheirlawyersarequitegoodatreactingtositua-tions.Buttheclientswishtherewasmoreinthewayofproactivelegalservices.pre-vailinginlitigationisgood,butavoidingitisevenbetter.Or,asSusskindputit,theywouldratherhaveafenceatthetopofthecliffthangreatambulanceserviceatthebot-tom.(Ofcourse,weallknowthatclientsaremorepronetocontacttheirlawfirmswhenanambulanceisrequiredrath-erthanfencebuilding.)

“Evenaftertheworldecono-myrightsitself,hebelievestherewillbecontinuedpres-sureofclientswantingmorelegalservicesforlessmoney.Oneofhislong-heldbeliefsisthehugeimpactthatemergingtechnologieswillhaveonthelegalprofession.Technologyadvancescanbesustainingordisruptive…Mostofusattend-ingABATECHSHOWthisweekagreewithSusskindthatthereismoredisruptionahead.”Jim Calloway’s Law Practice Tips(April2,2009)www.tinyurl.com/c988bh.

IhavereceivedpromotionalmaterialforanewABAbookthatproposessomesolutionstotheseproblems.Ihavenotreadityet.ButitiscalledLaw & Reorder: Legal Industry Solu-tions for Restructure, Retention, Promotion & Work/Life Balance.Thepromotionalmaterialstates:

“Theneedforchangehasbecomeclear.Employersneedtorevamptheirtradi-tionalmodelsorinventnewones.Lawyersandlawstu-dentsmusttakechargeoftheircareersandbecomeentrepreneurs.

“Law & Reorderprovidesessentialunderstandingofthenewlegalworldofproductivi-ty,work/lifebalance,transi-tion,leadership,mentoring,promotion,compensationandnetworking.”

OBAmemberswhoarenotABAmembersareremindedthattheycanreceivea15per-centdiscountwhenorderingbooksfromtheABAbyusingtheOBAdiscountcode:PaB9eOKBinthe“DiscountCodeNumber”fieldwhenplacingyourorderontheABAwebsite.

tHe aCC Value CHallenGe

Adiscussionofchangesinthelegalindustrywouldnotbecompletewithoutmention-ingtheAssociationofCorpo-rateCounsel(ACC).TheACCmembersarein-housecorpo-ratecounselwhoselectandnegotiatewithlawyersforbusinesses.TheACChasover23,000in-housecounselmem-bersworldwide.TheACChasbeenquiteactiveinpromotingtheideatoitsmembersthatthereshouldbechangesinlawfirmbillingandoperatingmethods.Tothatend,theACChasdevelopedandhasbeenpromotingtheACCValueChallenge.


“...theACCValueChallengeisbasedontheconceptthatfirmscangreatlyimprovethevalueofwhattheydo,reducetheircoststocorporateclientsandstillmaintainstrongprof-itability.”MichaelRoster,Chairman,ACCValueChal-lengeSteeringCommittee.

TheonlineaddressforACCValueChallengeiswww.acc.com/valuechallenge/.Therearemanypapersforreadinganddownloadthere.Theyoutlineapproachesfornegoti-atingwithlawfirms,butalsoincludesuggestionsformoreefficiencywithinlawfirms.

ButtheACChasgonefarbeyondjustprovidinginfor-mation.Justthismonththeyissuedapressreleasetitled“CorporateCounselName14NewlyArrogantFirms”atwww.law360.com/topnews/articles/213339.Thereleasebegins,“Theyareinflexibleonrates,refusetodiscussalterna-tivefeesanddelegatehighpri-oritycommunicationstoasso-ciates:theyarethelawfirmsconsideredmostarrogantbycorporatecounsel.And14firmshavewonthedesigna-tionthisyearforthefirsttime,accordingtoanewsurvey.”

Beforelawyersgettooanx-ious,however,theyshouldrecallthefamousYogiBerraquote,“predictionisveryhard,especiallyaboutthefuture.”

Enjoyyourholidaysandtrynottoreadtoomuchaboutthefutureatonesitting.Nextmonthwewilldiscusslegaltechnologytrends,whichforsomeofyoumayseemquitecheerybycomparison.

aba TechshoW celebraTes silver JubileeaPril 11 – 13, 2011

ABA TECHSHOW has been helping lawyers incorporate cutting edge technology into their practices for 25 years. The 25th anniversary of ABA TECHSHOW will be held April 11-13, 2011, at the Chicago Hilton, Chicago, IL.

OBA members who are not ABA Members are entitled to a discount when registering for ABA TECHSHOW at www.techshow.com. Just use the OBA TECHSHOW Event Promoter Code EP1105 when registering.

This year’s keynote speaker is professor Larry Lessig. He is the director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, and a professor of law at Harvard Law School.

Educational tracks include Cloud Computing, Litigation, two Solo/Small Firm tracks (including one subtitled The Basics), two Smart Phone/Mobility tracks, e-discovery, one Paperless track and two for Power Users. You can see the schedule at www.tinyurl.com/23366q7.

This year’s theme is Bringing Lawyers & Technology Together. Early Bird pricing is available until Friday, Feb. 25, 2011. After this date, registration fees will increase up to $200 per category.


“Career planning ain’t over till it’s over.”Whydowestopworkingonourcareersafterlawschool,andmerelycontinuetoworkinthem?Largely,becauseaftercomplet-ingourformaleducationwestopsettinggoals.Yogiwouldelaborateonthisbysaying,“Yougottahaveaplantohaveamarketingplan.”Ihadafriendoncetellmehedidnotbelieveinmarketing.“Ohreal-ly?”Isaid.“Doyoutakeyourclientstolunch?,”“Well,yes,”“Haveyoueversentreferringlawyersorclients‘thankyou’notesofappreciation?”“Yep.”“Doyousendoutofficecardsattheholidays?”“Uhhuh.”Friends,thisisamarketingplan—asimpleone,butamarketingplannonetheless.Myfriendthoughtmarketingmeantbuyingtelevisionadsandbillboardspace.

Youhavetofindthemarket-ingapproachthatisrightforyou.Anotherfriendofmine,anengineer,wasthechiefmarketerforaconsultinggroup.Hewasadisaster.Heinvitedmeandothermembers

ofourfirmouttodinnertosolicitworkforenvironmentalcases.Hespenttheentiretimeeffusingpraiseofhisengineer-ingcompany,butwhenthecheckcame,hepulledouthisjeweler’sloupeand10-keyandproceededtocarveupthetabdowntothepenny.Then,heworkedbackwardstoapportionourshareofthetip,tothreedecimalplaces.Thisisnotthebestwaytowooclientsandreferrals.Hewouldhavebeenmuchbetteroffjustsendingoverconcerttickets.

RememberthatfeesplittingisacceptableinOklahomaunderORpC1.5(e).Lookforwin/winrelationships.per-hapsyouarefantasticatget-tinggreatcases,orperhapsinstead,doinggreatcases.Teamupwiththelawyerorfirmthatcomplementsyourtalents.

“Having bad work is worse than having no work.”Yogiisright.Badworkand/orbadclientscostmoneyinlosttime,uncollect-edbillsandunnecessarydocu-

mentation,nottomentionexcessstress.Spendyourdowntimeproductivelywork-ingonyourbusinessandmar-ketingplanorlearningmoreaboutyourspecialty.Toxicclientsandtoxicworkcandestroyyourpractice.Wehaveallhadtheclientweregrettaking,andwhenwelookback,thesignswerethere—thepriorlawyers,theunrealis-ticexpectations,thecallsafterhours,beatingusdownonourbills,theemotionalreactiontosomethingtrivial.

Thenofcourse,thereisthepieceofworkwetookthatwewerenotallthatqualifiedtoperform.Yes,undertheRulesofprofessionalConductwecandothisprovidedwegetuptospeedwithreasonablepreparation(ORpC1.1Com-ments[2]and[4]),butitisoftennotagoodidea,espe-ciallyifwedonotplantodomoreofthiskindofwork.Usuallywhathappensisthatwespendtoomuchtimelearningandworryingaboutit,andthen,afterwerealizeourcrushingmediocrityintheendeavor,cuttingourbilltobefairtotheclient.

ETHICS & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIbILITY

Yogi berra’s Five Apocryphal Tips on Ethical and Effective Attorney MarketingBy Travis Pickens, OBA Ethics Counsel


“You can live in the past, but you can’t practice in it.”WhenIarrivedatthefirmafterlawschool,ithadjustrecentlypurchasednewtapedictationmachines.Afewdaysbefore,thelawyerswereusingdicta-tionmachinesthatcuttinyrecords,likeanLp.Youcouldonlygoafewwordsbacktohearwhatyouhaddictated.Now,wecarrysmallcomput-ersinourpocketcalledSmart-phones,whichcanusevoicerecognitionsoftwaretocreateandcommunicatetextfromanywhere.

Ifyoucatchyourselfsearch-ingtheofficeforaphonebook,asIdidrecently,thenpreparetobedemeanedandridiculedbyanyoneundertheageof30.Consequently,Iamwonderinghowlongphonebookadswillbeeffective.Websitesarethefuture.Forguidance,theABA’sStandingCommitteeonEthicsandpro-fessionalResponsibilityrecent-lyissuedFormalOpinion10-457.Itdetailswhat,accordingtotheModelRules,canandcannotbedoneinawebsite.ItshouldbereadalongwithOklahomaRules7.1etseq.andFormalEthicsAdvisoryOpinion320,whichdictateswhenandhowjuryawardsandsettlementresultsmaybedisplayed.

Youcanchoosetokeepthelargeoakdesk,faxmachineandthefountainpenset,butyouhadbestkeepupwithamodicumoftechnologicaladvances.E-mailandtheabili-tytouseandproduceelec-tronicdocumentsisde rigueurthesedays.Youmaynotseeanyreasontochangebecause

theoldwaystillworks.Youwouldbemissingthepoint.Clingingtostylesofpracticethatwerestateoftheartfor,say,SirThomasMore,sendsasignalaboutyouonmanylev-els,manyofwhichareunat-tractivetoyoungerclients.

“Lunch is an hour, but a bar journal article is forever.”Formany,writinganarticlefortheOklahoma Bar Journalonatopicpertinenttoyourpresentorfuturespecialtyisstillthebestmarketingtoolofall.Itgoestonearly16,000Oklaho-malawyersandlivesforeverinarchivedformonthebarwebsite.Thearticlewillberef-erencedbyWestpublishinginappropriateannotationsandotherresearchresources.Hourforhour,thisisthebest“one-step”marketingplan.Herearesometipswithget-tingstarted.

•Checkthebarjournaledi-torialcalendarprintedineverybarnewsissueoronthewebsite(usethesearchfeaturetofinditquickly)todeterminethetopicsofupcomingissues.Articlesonallsubjectsarepub-lished,notjustthedesig-natedthemes.

•Spendthetimenecessarytomakethearticlede-tailed,well-researched,insightfulandusefultothepractitioner.

•“primer”articlesarealwayshelpfulbecausepractitionersarefrequentlylookingforaplacetogetstartedinapproachinganewproject.

•Haveseveralcolleaguesreaditforstyle,grammar,toneandusefulness.

•Strivetomakeitnotonlytimely,but“timeless.”Chooseatopicthatdoesnotevolveonamonth-to-monthbasis.

•Writeyourauthor’sbiowithyouraudienceinmind.

Then,takethatarticleontheroadandstartdoingpresenta-tionstowhoeverwillhaveyouforcontinuinglegaledu-cationorjustgeneralinforma-tion.Useandrepackagethearticleforavarietyofsettingsandaudiences.Leavecopiesinyourreceptionarea.Mailcop-iestoyourclients.prepareameaningful,detailedupdateeveryfewyearsandresubmititforpublicationorrebootyourspeakingschedule.Writ-ingsomethingishalfwaytobecominganexpert,atleastinpeople’sminds.That’swhyeverypoliticalcandidateinthemodernerawritesabookeitherjustbeforeorduringtheircandidacy.Thesameistruefornewsanchorsandpoliticalcommentators.

“My family all resemble each other.”Takealookaroundyourlawoffice.Doyoulikewhatyouseeandhear?Ifso,perfect,becausethatiswhatyourclientisseeingandhearing.Andtheyarejudgingyoubecauseofit.Irememberwalkingintoanattorney’soffice,andthereceptionisthadpositionedherdeskperpen-diculartothefrontdoorsoshewasfacing90degreesaway.Shewasallowedtosmokecig-arettesatherdesk.(Herbossownedthebuilding,anditwasapparentlythelast“smoke’emifyougot’em”facilityinthecity).Thiswomancouldmakeitasa


circusactwithherabilitytodanglethesmoke-stickfromherlipswithathree-inchashmiraculouslyinplacebeforeshetappeditoff.

WhenIwalkedin,shedidnotturntofacemebutratherjustsighedandsaid,“Yes?”Fabulous.Ishudderedtothinkwhatshewascapableofwithsensitiveclientsordelicatephonecalls,andtherareoddsshecouldconductherselfcom-patiblywiththeRulesofpro-fessionalConduct(seeORpC5.3“Responsibilitiesregardingnonlawyerassistants”).ThemainpointisthatIcouldnotimaginethislawyerbeinganygoodbecausethiswashischoiceofsupportstaff.The

peoplearoundyoureflectuponyou.

Similarly,whomyouchoosetopracticewithreflectsuponyou.Beforeyoujoinup,checkoutthefirm,grouporlawyeryoumaypracticewith.Whatkindofreputationdotheyenjoyinyourcommunity?Investigatethemlikeyouwouldanewhire,butevenmorethoroughly.Itisamar-riageofsorts,andyouhavetolikeandrespectthesepeopleifitisgoingtolast.Furthermore,yourreputationwilleitherbeenhancedordiminishedbecauseofit.

Yogi’swisdomonthispointisperhapsthemostimportant

ofall.Becauseifyouworkwithgreatpeopleandemploygreatpeople,thenyoucansucceedalmostdespiteevery-thingelse.Irecentlyranintoayoungerlawyerwhohadwan-deredaroundabit.Iaskedhimifhewashappy.Hetoldmethathehadfinallyfoundhislegal“home”(weallhaveone).“Youknow,”hesaid,“whomyoupracticewithmakesallthedifference.”Yes,itdoes.

Have an ethics question? It’s a member benefit, and all inquiries are confidential. Contact Mr. Pickens at [email protected]. or (405) 416-7055; (800) 522-8065.

biscone & biscone aTTorneys

We Will gladly accePT your referrals for oklahoma Workers’ comPensaTion

and social securiTy disabiliTy cases.

Association/ referral fees paid

1-800-426-4563405-232-6490

105 N. Hudson, Suite 100Hightower Building

Oklahoma City, OK 73102


rePOrt OF tHe PresIDent

presidentSmallwoodreportedheworkedondetailsoftheAnnualMeetingtobeheldinTulsaandthatheunfortunatelyfailedtoattendaswearing-inceremonyforthenewmembersoftheOklahomaBarAssociation.

rePOrt OF tHe VICe PresIDent

VicepresidentMartinreportedheattendedtheOklahomaCountyBarAssociationExecutiveCommitteemeeting,TheMissouriBarconventioninColumbus,ClevelandCountyBarAssociationmonthlymeetingandAmericanBoardofCriminalLawyersannualconventioninphoenix.HealsowasthemoderatorattheOklahomaCountycandidateforumwithScottpruittandJimpriestasattorneygeneralcandidatesandpatCrawleyandCindyTruongasdistrictjudgecandidates.

rePOrt OF tHe PresIDent-eleCt

president-ElectReheardreportedsheattendedtheSeptemberboardmeetinginTulsa,TechnologyTaskForcemeeting,WomeninLawconferenceandtheSouthernConferenceofBarpresidentsmeetingatpointClear,Ala.

rePOrt OF tHe eXeCutIVe DIreCtOr

ExecutiveDirectorWilliamsreportedthatheattendedtheTechnologyTaskForcesubcommitteemeeting,budgethearing,monthlystaffcelebrationandSouthernConferenceofBarpresidentsmeetingatpointClear,Ala.HespokeatthegarfieldCountyBarAssociationmonthlymeeting.

rePOrt OF tHe Past PresIDent

pastpresidentparsleyreportedheattendedtheSeptemberboardmeetinginTulsaandtheSouthernConferenceofBarpresidentsmeetingatpointClear,Ala.

BOarD memBer rePOrts

Governor BrownreportedheattendedtheOBFBoardofTrusteesmeetingandOBABenchandBarCommitteemeeting.Governor CarterreportedsheattendedtheSeptemberboardmeeting.Governor ChesnutreportedheattendedtheSeptemberboardmeetingandthejointBOg/OBFdinner.Governor DevollreportedheattendedtheBoardofgovernorsmeetinginTulsa,BoilingSpringsInstitute,garfieldCountyBarAssociationmeetingandtheOBAMineralLawSocialforNorthwestOklahoma.Governor Dobbsreportedheattendedthe

Septemberboardmeeting.Governor HixsonreportedheattendedtheboardmeetingandSeptemberCanadianCountyBarAssociationluncheon/CLEpresentation.Governor mcCombsreportedheattendedtheBoardofgovernorssocialevent,boardmeetingandMcCurtainCountyBarAssociationluncheon.Governor moudyreportedsheattendedtheLawSchoolsCommitteevisittotheOUCollegeofLaw,Septemberboardmeeting,jointdinnerwithOBFandtheWomeninLawconference.Governor PoarchreportedheattendedtheSeptemberboardmeeting,jointBOg/OBFdinnerinTulsaandBenchandBarCommitteemeeting.Governor shields,unabletoattendthemeeting,reportedviae-mailthatsheattendedtheSeptemberboardmeeting,jointBOg/OBFdinnerinTulsaandWomenInLawConference.Governor stuart reportedheattendedthejointBOg/OBFdinnerinTulsa,boardmeetinginTulsa,andheworkedonOklahoma Bar Journal BoardofEditorsmatters.

rePOrt OF tHe YOunG laWYers DIVIsIOn

governorAspan,unabletoattendthemeeting,reportedviae-mailthatsheattendedtheSeptemberjointBOg/OBFdinner,Septemberboard

October Meeting SummaryThe Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City on Friday, Oct. 15, 2010.

bOARD OF GOVERNORS ACTIONS


meeting,WomeninLawluncheonandOBAYLDhostedreceptionsinTulsaandOklahomaCityformembersandnewadmittees.TheYLDhasscheduledacommunityserviceprojectattheCenterforChildrenandFamiliesinNormanatnoonafteritsBoardofDirectorsmeetingonOct.23,andgovernorAspanextendedaninvitationtothegovernorstoattendandparticipate.

rePOrt OF tHe suPreme COurt lIaIsOn

ChiefJusticeEdmondsonreportedthememorialserviceforJusticeMarianOpalawillbeheldonMonday,Oct.18,atAllSouls’EpiscopalChurch.Healsoreportedanewchiefjusticeandvicechiefjusticewillbeselectedforthenexttwoyearsatthecourt’snextconference.

rePOrt OF tHe General COunsel

generalCounselHendryxreportedthatregardingFournerat v. Murdock, et. al.,herofficeparticipatedinthepreparationofajointappelleesanswerbriefthatwasfiledOct.7,2010,intheU.S.CourtofAppealsforthe10thCircuit.AwrittenstatusreportoftheprofessionalResponsibilityCommissionandOBAdisciplinarymattersforSeptember2010wassubmittedfortheboard’sreview.

PrOFessIOnal resPOnsIBIlItY Panel On JuDICIal eleCtIOns aPPOIntment

TheboardapprovedpresidentSmallwood’sappointmentoflaypersonpatriciaHouston,Stillwater,tothepanel.

2011 OBa BuDGet

president-ElectReheardpresentedthe2011budget.ItwasnotedthattheOBFwasabletofullyfundtheHighSchoolMockTrialprogram.SheexplainedOklahomawillhosttheSouthernConferenceofBarpresidents2013,andafundneedstobecreatedin2011forseedmoneyforexpensesthatwillbeincurreduntilregistrationfeesbegincomingin.ShereportedtheTechnologyTaskForceisresearchinginternaltechnologyneeds,whichwillexceedwhatcanbefundedinasingleyear.Theproject,calledQuantumLeap2.0,willbeamulti-yeareffort.Theboardheldfurtheractionuntilafterexecutivesession.

resOlutIOn FOr FranK JaQues

TheboardvotedtoissuearesolutionhonoringAdaattorneyFrankJaquesforhis40yearsasamemberoftheOklahomaBoardofBarExaminers.

YOunG laWYers DIVIsIOn BYlaWs amenDment

ExecutiveDirectorWilliamsbriefedtheboardontheYLD’scurrentprocedureforconductingitsannualelections.HereportedtheYLDwasrequestinganamendmenttoitsbylawstoallowelectronicvoting.TheboardapprovedtheYLDamendmenttoallowelectronicvoting.

tulsa COuntY teleVIsIOn FOr VIDeOCOnFerenCInG

ExecutiveDirectorWilliamsreportedheheardtheTulsaCountyBarAssociationwasnotinfavorofpermanentlymountingatelevisiontothe

wall,whichhadbeensuggestedatthepreviousboardmeeting.ItwasnotedthattheTechnologyTaskForceislookingintoimprovingthequalityofvideoconferencing,whichmightchangetheequipment,aspartoftheQuantumLeap2.0project.

sOutHern COnFerenCe OF Bar PresIDents

president-ElectReheardreviewedtheeventsheldatpointClear,Ala.ShesharedinformationaboutanexcitingprojecttheStateBarofTexasisdoingtobenefitveteransthatwasmadepossiblebyagrantfromitsbarfoundation.Shestatedthatshewillmakeanout-of-cyclegrantrequestfromtheOklahomaBarFoundationtofundasimilarprograminOklahoma.

eXeCutIVe sessIOn

TheboardvotedtogointoexecutivesessiontodiscusstheproposedOBAbudget,metinexecutivesessionandvotedtocomeoutofexec-utivesession.

2011 OBa BuDGet aCtIOn

Theboardunanimouslyvotedtorecommendtheproposed2011OBAbudgetforapprovalbytheOklahomaSupremeCourt.

neXt meetInG

TheBoardofgovernorsmetinTulsaonNov.17,2010,inconjunctionwiththeOBAAnnualMeeting,andasummaryofthoseactionswillbepublishedaftertheminutesareapproved.ThenextmeetingoftheBoardofgovernorswillbeat9a.m.onDec.17,2010,attheOklahomaBarCenterinOklahomaCity.


TheOklahomaBarFounda-tionhaditsbeginningin1946.OBApresidentgeraldB.KleinappointedaspecialcommitteetoformtheOklahomaBarFoundation.Theexecutivedirectorandfoundersdeter-minedthefirstprojectwhichtheOklahomaBarFoundationshouldsponsorwouldbetheacquisitionofa“home”fortheOklahomaBarAssocia-tion.ThespecialcommitteeontheOklahomaBarFoundationasappointedatthattimewereJohnH.Cain,Bartlesville;VillardMartin,Tulsa;CharlesB.Cochran,OklahomaCity;I.J.Underwood,Tulsa;Street-erFriend,OklahomaCityandJohng.Hervey,Norman.AnexcerptfromanOklahoma Bar JournalarticlepublishedSept.28,1946,titled“ExecutiveCounseloftheOklahomaBarAssociationCreatesOklahomaBarFoundation”stated,onSept.21,1962,the60-yeardreamofOklahomalawyersandjudgeswasrealizedwiththecompletionanddedicationoftheOklahomaBarCenter.Thebarcenterwasbuiltbylawyersforlawyers.

TheOklahomaBarFounda-tionevolvedintoacharitablearmforOklahomalawyers.Inearlyyears,thefoundationmadesizableawardstotheUniversityofOklahoma,OklahomaCityUniversityandtheUniversityofTulsalawschools.

OBFexpandeditscharitablegivingbeyondlawschoolsandby2004,morethan$5.5millionhadbeenawardedto

charitableprograms.Throughtheyear2010,theOklahomaBarFoundationwillhavegivengrantawardsinexcessof$9.5million.

Inspiteofthefoundation’slegendarybeginningandtre-mendouslysuccessfulcharita-blecontributionsthroughtheyears,theBoardofTrusteesandpastpresidentRenéeDeMossnotedin2008thatthefoundationwassomewhatcurtailedbyanidentitycrisis.AlthougheverylawyerinthestateofOklahomaisauto-maticallyamemberoftheOklahomaBarFoundation,veryfewkneworunderstoodthepurposeandactivitiesoftheOklahomaBarFounda-tion.RenéeDeMossbeganeffortswiththeBoardofTrusteestodevelopamissionplanaswellasamissionstatement.Thisprogramwasfollowedbyhersuccessor,pastpresidentRichardRiggs,in2009.UnderRichardRiggs’leadership,theBoardofTrust-eesbeganprogramstopro-moteawarenessabouttheOBF.Activitiescontinuedthroughthisyear.

paulaLovewaschosentodevelopapublicrelationspro-gram.Throughherefforts,thepublicaswellasbarassocia-tionmembersweremadeawareofthefoundation’sfundingofanadditiontotheOklahomaCountyJuvenileCourtBuilding.ThroughtheeffortsofTrustees,JudgeVal-erieCouchandgabeBass,assistedbypaulaLove,theOBFreceivedrecognitionfor

makingimprovementstothejuvenilecourtfacilitypossible.OtherprojectshaveincludedWi-FicapabilitiesfortheTulsaandOklahomaCountyDis-trictCourthouseswhichhavedonemuchtoincreaseaccessinthestate’stwolargestcoun-ties—inadditiontootherelectronicequipmentforcourthousesacrossthestate.

ThisyearourTrusteesbegan“sitevisits”tomanyoftheoperationallocationsofgrantees.Trusteesdevotedsubstantialtime,alongwiththefoundationstaff,toarrangeandcoordinatevisitstothesitelocations.TheresultofthesitevisitswasanimpressionupontheTrusteesastotheimportanceofthefoundationtothegranteesaswellasthefulfillmentoftheOBFmissionasundertakenbythegrantees.Many,manythankstoalltheTrusteesandcommitteechairsfortheirtimeandeffortsothecharitableworkofthefoundationcancontinue.

ThefoundationcontinuedtoreceivehelpandsupportthisyearfromDonitaDouglaswhohasmadeitpossibleforthefoundationtomakepre-sentationsatCLEprogramsinfurtheranceoftheFellowsprogram.ItisthroughtheenrollmentofnewFellowsthatthefoundationisabletocontinuetofundmanyofourgrantprograms.

OBAExecutiveDirectorJohnMorrisWilliamswasextremelyhelpfulandsup-

bAR FOUNDATION NEWS

Legend Has It…By Phil Frazier


portivethroughouttheyear.TheOBFandOBAworkedtogetheronseveraljointproj-ectsincludingtheupdatingofawebpageandajointmeetingoftheOklahomaBarAssocia-tionandtheOklahomaBarFoundationinSeptember.

StephenBeamcameontheboardasaTrusteefollowinghis2007termasOBApresi-dent.Hisideasandassistancethroughouttheyearwereextremelyhelpfulandmostappreciated.Asfoundationpresident,IcouldnothavehadabetterOklahomaBarAssociationpresidentwithwhomtoworkwiththanAllenSmallwood.Ourdiscus-sionsregardingjointactivitiesofthebarandfoundationwereshort,sweetandtothepoint,andAllenneversaidno.AllwhoknowAllen,cli-entsandcolleaguesalike,havecometoexpectalotfromhimandheneverdisappoints.

NancyNorsworthy,ourdirector,hasnowcompletedher25thyearwiththefounda-tion.IhadtheexperiencethisyeartolearnthatNancyisaswellthoughtofthroughouttheUnitedStatesassheisin

Oklahoma.OtherfoundationdirectorscontinuallycalluponNancyfordirectionandguid-ance.SheisablyassistedbyTommieLemasterandRondaHellman.

ThisyearwasaparticularlychallengingyearfortheOBFaswellasthecharitableorga-nizationswhichweregularlyassistandwhocontinuallylooktousforsupport.Theeconomicclimatehadanadverseeffectnotonlyonourcharitablegrantees,butalsouponfundsavailablethroughthefoundationtoprovidesuchassistance.

Inspiteofthetougheco-nomictimes,thegrantsandAwardsCommitteechairedbyJudgeValerieCouch,withtheboard’sapproval,wasabletoawardatotalof$478,646withanother$39,000inlawschoolscholarships.

ThefoundationworkedwithKentFratesandphotog-rapherDavidFitzgeraldthisyear,whoputtogetherabooktitled,“OklahomaCourthouseLegends.”Theyhavegener-ouslycommittedtoprovidethefoundationwithadesig-

natedpartoftheproceedsobtainedthroughbooksales.ThesefundswillbeusedtocontinuethemissionandthelegendofyourOklahomaBarFoundation.

Thegreatestassetofthefoundationduring2010,asithasalwaysbeen,isourverycapablestaffandthegener-ouslawyerswhoenablethefoundationtohelpneedyOklahomans.ThankstoallwhoenabletheOklahomaBarFoundationtocontinueitslegendofhelpingotherneedyOklahomansand,thus,helpusalltofeelevenbetteraboutbeinganOklahomalawyer.Iappreciatetheopportunityyouhavegiventometobeapartoftheleg-endforthepast10yearsandforallowingmetoserveaspresidentofthefoundationthisyear.MyspecialthankstoRenéeDeMossandRichardRiggsforprovidingtheleg-endoflargeshoestofillandseeingtoitthatIdidnotslipcompletelyoutofthem.

Phil Frazier is president of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. He can be reached at [email protected].

How Do I become an OBF Fellow?

follow-up process each year.

•

OBF awarded grant funds to 23 different law-related nonprofit organizations during 2010. The Fellows gift is minimal at $100 annually for a 10-year period. Helping 23 different organizations for only $100 is a pretty good bargain.

To become a Fellow, the pledge is $1,000 payable within a 10-year period at $100 each year; however, some may choose to pay the full amount or in greater increments over a shorter period of time.

The OBF offers lesser payments for newer Oklahoma Bar Association members: — First Year Lawyers: lawyers who pledge to become OBF Fellows on or before Jan. 2 of the year immediately following their admission may pay only $25 per year for 2 years, then only $50 for 3 years, and then at least $100 each

year thereafter until the $1,000 pledge is fulfilled.— Within Three Years: lawyers admitted 3 years or less at the time of their OBF Fellow pledge may pay only $50 per year for 4 years and then at least $100 each year thereafter until the $1,000 pledge is fulfilled.

Sustaining Fellows are those who have completed the initial $1,000 pledge and continue their $100 annual contribution to help sustain grant programs.

Benefactor Fellows is the highest leadership giving level and are those who have completed the initial $1,000 pledge and pledge to pay at least $300 annually to help fund important grant programs. Benefactors lead by example.

Fellows make annual charitable contributions to the foundation and in turn the OBF holds a formal grant review and

•

•

•

•


mAttorneymNon-Attorney

Name:___________________________________________________________________________ (name, as it should appear on your OBF Fellow Plaque) County

Firmorotheraffiliation:___________________________________________________________

Mailing&DeliveryAddress:_______________________________________________________

City/State/Zip:__________________________________________________________________

phone:____________________Fax:___________________E-MailAddress:_________________

__IwanttobeanOBFFellownow–BillMeLater!__Totalamountenclosed,$1,000__$100enclosed&billannually__New Lawyer 1st Year,$25enclosed

&billasstated__New Lawyer within 3 Years,$50enclosed

&billasstated__IwanttoberecognizedasaSustaining

Fellow&willcontinuemyannualgiftofat least $100–(initial pledge should be complete)

__IwanttoberecognizedattheleadershiplevelofBenefactor Fellow&willannuallycontributeat least $300– (initial pledge should be complete)

signature & Date:______________________________________OBa Bar #:________________

Makecheckspayableto:OklahomaBarFoundation•pOBox53036•OklahomaCityOK73152-3036•(405)416-7070

OBF sPOnsOr:____________________________________________________________________

m I/we wish to arrange a time to discuss possible cy pres distribution to the Oklahoma Bar Foundation and my contact information is listed above.

m General contribution: I need to do more this year and my added donation in the amount of $____________ is enclosed.

Many thanks for your support & generosity!

Lawyers Transforming Lives through educa-tion, citizenship and justice for all. Join the OBF Fellows today!

Fellow enrollMent ForM


OnOct.17,2009,IstoodinthegreatHalloftheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesofAmericaandreadiedmyselftoenterthecourtroom.IhadafeelingsooverwhelminglysurrealthatIhadtotakeamomenttopinchmyself—wasIreallyabouttowalkintoournation’shighestcourttoreceiveanawardformyworkasalawyer?Iwas!DidIreallyjusthaveacon-versationwithJusticeSandraDayO’Connor?Idid!Thatnightwasoneofthemostamazingandjoyfulexperi-encesofmyprofessionallifethusfar.

AsarecipientoftheAmeri-canInnsofCourtSandraDayO’ConnorAwardforprofes-sionalService,IwashonoredattheannualAICCelebrationofExcellenceheldinWash-ington,D.C.attheU.S.SupremeCourt.TheAmeri-canInnsofCourtestablishedtheawardtohonoranAmeri-canInnofCourtmemberinpractice10orlessyearsforexcellenceinpublicinterestorprobonoactivities.Itisanationalaward,selectedfrommanynominationssubmittedbyvariousinnchaptersthroughouttheUnitedStates.TosaythatIwasthunder-struckwhenIwasnotifiedthatIhadbeenselectedasthe2009recipientofthisawardisagrossunderstate-ment.Frankly,Ifoundmyself

renderedspeechless,whichforthosewhoknowmeisnoinsignificantfeat.Evennow,ayearlater,IfinditdifficulttoputintowordshowincrediblyhumbledandgratefulIamtoberecog-nizedandhonoredformyworkinpublicinterestlaw—workthatItrulybelieveisitsownreward.Furthermore,forthathonortobeinthenamesakeofatrulyamazinglegalpioneer,JusticeSandraDayO’Connor,isutterlydivine.

Theverycoreofmyexis-tenceasanattorney,andasahumanbeingforthatmatter,isfueledbyasenseofre-sponsibilitytomakeadifferenceinthisworld.Mymission,ifyouwill,hasbeentomakeeveryefforttoensurethatthosewhoaretouchedbytheworkIdoarebetterforit.IhavefoundthewordsofJusticeO’Connortoringtrueformylife.Shesaid:

Ensuringthatthereis,indeed,“equaljusticeunderlaw”—notjustforthewealthybutalsoforthepoor,thedisadvantagedandthedisenfranchised—isthesus-tenancethatbringsmeaningandjoytoalawyer’sprofes-sionallife.1Ihaveindeedfoundjoyinhelpingempow-erindividualsbyprovidingthemwiththeinformationandmaterialstheyneedtoensuretheyhaveaccessto

justice.Thosearemy“just”rewards.TheyaretherewardsIsoughtasIbeganmycareeratLegalServicesofEasternOklahomadevel-opingprosematerialsforindividualswhowouldnototherwisebeservedduetoourlimitedresources.TheyaretherewardsIcontinuetopursuetodayasastate’sattorneyforOklahomaChildSupportServices,adivisionoftheOklahomaDepartmentofHumanServices.

Mychosencareerpathismostdefinitelyoneforthepublicgood,butitisnotanentirelyselflesspathtotake.AsIstatedabove,thepayofffordoingthiskindofworkcanbequitepowerful.And,althoughanactualcareerinpublicinterestlawisnotforeveryone,manyopportuni-tiestoengageinprobonoactivitiesaffordeverymem-berofthebarachancetoreaptherewardsthatdoingworkforthepublicgoodsows.Ifthereisanythingthispastyearhastaughtme,itisthatthoserewardsaremorefarreachingthanevenIhadimagined.Asitturnsout,theremunerationisgenerousandwideranging.

PrO BOnO reWarDs

Themostobviousrewardsofprobonoactivitiesare,ofcourse,thepositiveoutcomesforthosewhoareonthe

‘Just’ RewardsBy Catina R. Drywater

ACCESS TO JUSTICE


receivingendofthehelp.Individualswhowouldnototherwisehaverecourseoraccesstothejusticesystemareprovidedwithopportuni-tiestobeheardwiththehelpofprobonoassistance.Therearealsothoseinstanceswhennon-profitgroupsorentitiesarebenefitedbyprobonoserviceswhich,inmostcases,helpstofurtherthegoalsandmissionsofthegroupbyensuringthatvitalresourcesaredirectedtotheservicestheyprovideratherthanlegalfees.

Thelistofrewardsforthosehelpedbypublicserviceworkcouldgoon.However,thoseindividualsorgroupshelpedbyprobonoactivitiesarenottheonlyrecipientsoftherewardsthatcomefromdoingworkforthepublicgood.We,asmembersofthebar,alsoreapgreatrewards.Oneofthemostsignificantrewardsistheimprovementofcommu-nityperceptionsregardingourprofession.Eachmemberofthebarmustshareintheresponsibilityforpromotingpositivepublicperceptionsofthelegalprofession.UnlikethefamousrockerJoanJett,wereallyhavetogiveadamnaboutabadreputation—andnotjustourindividualreputations.

Wemustbeactivelyinvolvedinthecommunitiesweserveandensurethatwitheveryfiberofourbeingsweareadheringtoourobli-gationsofprofessionalism,whichrequireustodomorethanbereceptaclesofthelawbutalsotoupholdtheinteg-rityofourprofession.Active-lyengaginginpublicserviceworkhelpstoensurethatpublicperceptionsofthelegalsystembeingfunda-

mentallyunfairorunjustarenotperpetuated.Eachactofpublicservicefortifiesourrespectabilityinourcommu-nities.Additionally,thoseactsofpublicserviceandthegainedcommunityrespectarenotlostonfellowmem-bersofourlegalcommuni-ties.Theywillnotice.OneofthemostsignificantlessonsIlearnedthispastyearwasthatothermembersofmyprofessionwerepayingatten-tiontowhatIwasdoing,andmoreimportantly,theyweremovedbyit.Infact,TulsaCountyDistrictJudgeMaryF.Fitzgeraldwassomovedbymyactivitiesthatshetookthetimetonominatemefortheawardthatledtoanextraordinarymomentinmyprofessionalcareer.2

Finally,ifhelpingthepro-fessionalreputationofthebarisnotenoughreward,howaboutthephysicalrewardsofdoingworkforthepublicgood?Yes,youdidjustreadthat.Thereareindeedphysicalbenefitstoourbrainsandbodiesasaresultofengaginginaltruis-ticendeavors.AccordingtorecentresearchconductedbyDr.Stepheng.post,founderanddirectoroftheCenterforMedicalHumanities,Com-passionateCareandBioethicsatStonyBrookUniversity,therearepositivephysicalreactionsrelatedtoengagingingooddeedsthatworktoalleviatestressinthebody.Stressinthebodycanulti-matelyleadtoanumberofcellularchanges,onebeingprematureaging.post’sresearchindicatesthat“[u]ltimately,theprocessofcultivatingapositiveemotionalstatethroughpro-socialbehaviors—beinggenerous—maylengthenyourlife.”3Infact,post’s

studieshaveactuallyfoundthatolderadultswhovolun-teerreapsignificantbenefitsintheirhealthandwell-beingoverthosewhochosenottovolunteer.Infact,thosewhovolunteeredwerelivinglon-gerthannon-volunteers.Hefounda44percentreductioninearlydeathamongthosewhovolunteeredalot—agreatereffectthanexercisingfourtimesaweek!4

Additionally,oneofourown,AllenLuks,aNewYorklawyerknownforhismanydecadesofpublicservicework,isfamousforhavingcoinedtheterm“helper’shigh,”whichisthepowerfulphysicalfeelingspeopleexperiencewhendirectlyhelpingothers.Luksconduct-edastudyofmorethan3,000maleandfemalevolunteersandconcludedthatregularhelpersare10timesmorelikelytobeingoodhealththanpeoplewhodon’tvol-unteer.5Hisbook,The Healing Power of Doing Good,listssev-eralfactorsthatsupporttheideathatthereisabiochemi-calreactiontoaltruisticendeavors.Justafewofthosefactorsareasfollows6:

•Helpingotherscontrib-utestothemaintenanceofgoodhealthandcandiminishtheeffectofminorandseriouspsy-chologicalandphysicaldiseasesanddisorders.

•Thehealthbenefitsandsenseofwell-beingreturnforhoursorevendayswheneverthehelpingactisremembered.

•Stress-relatedhealthproblemsimproveafterperformingkindacts.


•Helpingothers:

oReversesfeelingsofdepression.

oSuppliessocialcontact.

oReducesfeelingsofhostilityandisolationthatcancausestress,overeating,ulcers,etc.

Allofwhichisfurtherevi-dencethatdoingworkforthepublicgoodandengaginginprobonoactivitiescanhavesomeprettyamazingrewards!

Inclosing,Ihopethatmystoryandpassionateremarksformakingthecasetoengageinprobonoactivitiesandpublicserviceworkhashelpedtopersuademyfel-lowmembersofthebarthattherewardsofdoingthistypeofworkarenotjust“rewards,”theycanbelife-changingevents.Tothosewhoarealreadypartakinginthoserewards—mysincereandheartfeltgratitudegoesouttoyou.Tothosewhoarenotyetpartaking—let’shavelunch!

1.JusticeSandraDayO’Connor,The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice230(2004).

2.JudgeFitzgerald’snomination,onbehalfofmyexcellentInnChapter,HudsonHallWheaton,wasalsoaccompaniedbywonderfullettersofrecommendationfromgaryDart,directorofOklahomaChildSup-portServices,ClaudiaArthrell,directorofprofessionalServicesatFamilyandChil-dren’sServices,andVickiA.Cox,TulsaCountyDistrictCourtadministrator.Iamextremelygratefultothemfortakingthetimetosupplementmynomination.

3.JeanieLercheDavis,The Science of Good Deeds: The helper’s high could help you live a longer, healthier life(2005),www.webmd.com/balance/features/science-good-deeds.

4.Id.5.AllenLuks,The Healing Power of Doing

Good,(2001).6.Id.

Print or Electronic?You now have a choice.

Continue receiving your printed Oklahoma Bar Journal court issues (two per month) in the mail – or receive an e-mail with a link to the electronic version instead. Mailed copies stop. There’s no dues reduction, but you save some trees. If you want the electronic version of the court issues and didn’t indicate that on your dues statement go online to http://my.okbar.org/Login and sign in. Click on “Roster Info” to switch to electronic. Be sure your e-mail address is current.

Want the print version? No need to do anything.

Volume 78 u No. 35 u Dec. 22, 2007

Court Material


AsIwritemylastletterastheYLDchair,Iwouldliketotakethisopportunitytoreflectbackuponthepastyearandrecognizesomepeoplewhohavebeeninvolvedinmakingthisyearsuchasuccess.IthasbeenanhonorservingasYLDchair,andIsincerelyappreciatemycolleaguesatHallEstillandmyhusbandBrianforpermittingmetomakethetimecommitmentandforsupportingmealongtheway.

WestartedouttheyearinJanuarywithanorientationinOklahomaCityforallmembersoftheYLDBoardofDirectors,allYLDcommitteechairs,andYLDliaisonstoOBAcommittees.WealsohostedourABAYLDChair-ElectMichaelBergmannofChicagoandourABAYLDDistrict24RepresentativegwendolynRuckerfromLittleRockatthisevent.

InFebruary,ourboardpreparedBarExamSurvivalKitsanddistributedthemtoallapplicantstakingthebarexaminbothOklahomaCityandTulsa.WealsohadfourdelegatesandanalternateattendandparticipateintheABAYLDAssemblyattheMid-YearMeeting,andIalsohadtheopportunitytorepresenttheOBAYLDintheABAHouseofDelegates.

InMarch,ourYLDMockTrialCommitteeheldtheOklahomaStateFinalsforhighschoolstudents.IwouldliketothanktheMockTrialCommitteeanditsChair,ErinMoore,fortheircontinuedeffortsandsupportofthisevent.InApril,wehostedareceptionfornewadmitteesaftertheswearing-inceremony.WealsohostednewattorneyreceptionsinOklahomaCityandTulsaforexistingmembersofthebartowelcomenewadmittees.

Maywasabusymonthforus,asweheldourinauguralStatewideCommunityDayofServiceforlibraries,and,withtheassistanceofover70attorneys,

weperformedcommunityserviceprojectsfor13librariesacrossthestate.WewererecognizedbytheABAwithanAwardofAchievementforthiseventandwereveryproudofthatrecognition.IwouldliketothankYLDCommunityServiceChairJenniferKirkpatrickofHallEstillforherworkandeffortsinplanningandorganizingthisevent,

alongwiththemembersoftheYLDBoardofDirectorswhohostedeventsattheirlocallibraries.

WealsoheldaWillsforHeroeseventinMuskogeeinMayinconjunctionwiththeirLawDayactivities.Additionally,wehadthreerepresentativesattendandparticipateintheABAYLDSpringConference,wherewe

YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Letter from the YLD ChairBy Molly Aspan, YLD Chairperson

YLD Chair Molly Aspan (center) recog-nizes Debbie Brink (left) and Carol Man-ning as Friends of the YLD.

The YLD recognizes Roy Tucker (left) as Officer of the Year, Jennifer Kirkpatrick (second from right) as Committee Chairperson of the Year and Doris Gruntmeir as Director of the Year.


hadtheopportunitytohighlightourStatewideCommunityDayofServiceeventtootherstatesattheAffiliateShowcase.

WeheldourYLDMid-YearMeetinginconjunctionwiththeOBASoloandSmallFirmConferenceinJune.WehostedMissouriYLSChairJasonRewtoparticipateinandpresentatthemeeting.Additionally,wehostedahospitalitysuiteforallYLDandbarmembersatthemeetingandconference.

InJuly,ourboardagainpreparedBarExamSurvivalKitsanddistributedthemtoallapplicantstakingthebarexaminbothOklahomaCityandTulsa.InAugust,wehadfourdelegatesandanalternateattendandparticipateintheABAYLDAssemblyattheAnnualMeeting,andIagainhadtheprivilegetorepresenttheOBAYLDintheABAHouseofDelegates.

OurYLDDisasterResponseandReliefCommitteewasunfortunatelybusythissummerasOklahomahadseverestormsandfloodingduringthesummermonths.AlongwiththeOBADisasterResponseandReliefCommitteeandOBAstaff,theYLDsetupandhadtraining

forapproximately15volunteerattorneyswhoprovidedlegalservicestoabout21individualsneedingassistanceduetothestormsandfloodingintheOklahomaCityarea.

InSeptember,wehostedareceptionfornewadmitteesaftertheswearing-inceremony.InOctober,wehostednewattorneyreceptionsinOklahomaCityandTulsaforexistingmembersofthebartowelcomenewadmittees.

Novemberwasanotherbusymonth,asitstartedwithourYLDAnnualMeetingheldinconjunctionwiththeOBAAnnualMeeting.Atthismeeting,electionresultsfortheYLDBoardofDirectorswereannounced,and,forthefirsttimeever,wedevelopedandpermittedelectronicvoting

forthesepositions.Asaresult,ourvotingparticipationincreasedbymorethan1,000percent!Thiswasatremendoussuccess,and

weplantoimproveuponandcontinuethesystemforfutureelections.

WealsohostedourfirstpastChairsReceptionattheOBAAnnualMeetingforallpastchairsoftheOBAYLD.Inconjunctionwiththisevent,wealsocompiledacompletehistoricallistofourpastleadershipandawardrecipients.Wealsorecognizedthisyear’sawardrecipientsatthisevent.Therewasanexcellentturnoutforthisreception,andtheover-whelmingresponsewasthatwemakethisanannualevent.

InadditiontoourYLDAnnualMeetingandpastChairsReception,theYLDalsoorganizedaCLEtrackforyoungattorneysfortheAnnualMeetingandhostedCasinoNightforallbarmembers,alongwithahospitalitysuite.

Inadditiontotheseactivitiesandevents,wehavealsohadothercommitteesactivelyinvolvedinpublicserviceprojects.OurSeniorsCommittee,chairedbyBryonJayWillofEdmond,preparedandupdatedaSeniors Handbook.Thecitizens

Gina Hendryx (left), Keri Foster (second from right) and Luke Gaither are inducted as Fellows in the YLD.

Past Chairpersons who attended the reception at the Annual Meeting are (from left, top row) Jack Brown, John Morris Williams, Chris Camp, Luke Gaither, Richard Rose, Jon Parsley, John Stuart, Brian Hermanson, Richard Ogden, (bottom row) Keri Foster, Molly Aspan, D. Renée Hil-debrant, Lou Ann Moudy and M. Courtney Briggs.


handbookprovideslegaladviceonawidearrayoftopicsrelevanttoseniorcitizens.ThisSeniors Citizens Handbookwillbepublishedbothinpaperformandelectronicallywithinthenextfewmonths,andthiscommitteeisalsopreparingtoroll-outaServingOurSeniorsprogram.

Next,IwouldliketothankDorisgruntmeir,attorneywiththeVAHospitalandanOBAYLDdirectorformanyyears,forhercontinuedserviceandsupportoftheYLD.Dorishasco-chairedtheYLDNewAttorneyOrientationCommittee(thecommitteethatcoordinatestheBarExamSurvivalKitsandreceptionsfornewadmittees)forthepastfewyears,andwasalsoinstrumentalthisyearincoordinatingvolunteersforthedisasterreliefservicesprovidedduringthesummerandpreparingahistoricallistofOBAYLDleadershipandawardrecipients.DorishasrecentlymovedtoIndiana-polis,andIknowIamnottheonlypastchairwhoowesmuchofmysuccesstoher.Doris,youwillbemissedbymany.

Inadditiontothosementionedspecificallyabove,IwouldliketothankeverymemberofourBoardofDirectorsandExecutiveCommitteethisyear.

Ithasbeenabusyyear,anditwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthehardworkandcommitmentofourdirectors.Finally,IwouldberemissifIfailedtothanktheOBAstaff,whohasbeensupportiveoneverylevelandneverfailstolendahelpinghand.ToJohnMorrisWilliams,Iknowitisyourjob,butyoudoitwell.

Beforethemusicstarts,Iwouldliketotakeamomenttolookforwardto2011.IampleasedtoleavetheYLDingoodhands,asRoyTuckerhasbeenbusypreparingtotakeoveraschairinJanuary,thenJenniferKirkpatrickinJanuary2012.Roywilldoanexcellentjobnextyear,andIamexcitedtoseewhathehasinstore.IknowIamsafesayingitwillnotbeboring!

YLD BOARD OF DIRECTORSJudge Nathan JohnsonoftheLawtonMunicipalCourt

Roy D. Tucker,CityofMuskogeeJennifer Kirkpatrick,HallEstillinOklahomaCity

Richard L. Rose,Mahaffey&GoreinOklahomaCityJacob W. Biby,Martin,Jean&JacksoninPoncaCity

Hannah A. Cable,OklahomaDepartmentofMentalHealthandSubstanceAbuseServicesinOklahomaCity

Robert R. Faulk,FaulkLawFirminEnidAmber Peckio Garrett,GarrettLawCenterinTulsa

Doris Gruntmeir,VAHospitalKaleb Hennigh,MitchellGastonRiffel&RiffelinEnid

Breea D. McCorkle,UniversityofOklahomainNormanLeAnne Z. McGill,McGill&RodgersinOklahomaCity

Kimberly K. Moore-Waite,LegalAidServicesofOklahoma,TulsaOfficeLane Rudder Neal,OklahomaCountyDistrictAttorney’sOffice

inOklahomaCityJavier Ramirez,MooreLawFirminOkmulgee

Karolina Roberts,EliasBooksinOklahomaCityBriana J. Ross,OklahomaREOClosing&TitleServicesinTulsa

Jeff Trevillion,OG&EinOklahomaCityJoe Vorndran,StuartCloverDuranThomasinShawnee

Collin R. Walke,KyleSweet&AssociatesinOklahomaCityBryon Jay Will,LawOfficeofBryonJayWillinOklahomaCity


Past YlD CHaIrs1966 C.B.Savage,Tulsa(deceased)1966 RobertS.Baker,Arcadia1967 FredA.gipson,OklahomaCity1968 Stanleyp.Doyle,OklahomaCity1969 AndrewM.Coats,OklahomaCity1970 DavidF.James,Tulsa1971 phillipD.Hart,OklahomaCity1972 BertC.McElroy,Tulsa(deceased)1973 garyF.glasgow,OklahomaCity1974 JimD.Shofner,Tulsa1975 LoyalJ.RoachIII,Muskogee1976 patrickM.Ryan,OklahomaCity1977 JamesE.pence,Norman1978 JohnR.Barker,Tulsa1979 JohnJ.griffinJr.,OklahomaCity1980 WarrenK.Miller,Norman1981 Johng.Johnson,DelCity1982 BrianT.Hermanson,poncaCity1983 garyW.pullin,Chickasha1984 N.KayBridger-Riley,Tulsa1985 JohnM.Stuart,Duncan1986 JamesE.goldenJr.,OklahomaCity1987 RichardA.Woolery,Sapulpa

1988 DwightL.Smith,Tulsa1989 MarkStonecipher,OklahomaCity1990 StephenR.Clouser,Tulsa1991 EricS.Eissenstat,OklahomaCity1992 JackL.Brown,Tulsa1993 JohnMorrisWilliams,OklahomaCity1994 JamesHicks,Tulsa1995 BradFuller,Tulsa1996 RichardOgden,OklahomaCity1997 M.CourtneyBriggs,OklahomaCity1998 RobertSartin,Tulsa1999 patCipolla,Tulsa2000 RenéeHildebrant,OklahomaCity2001 LouAnnMoudy,Okmulgee2002 Jonparsley,guymon2003 LeslieL.Lynch,OklahomaCity2004 MarkW.Osby,Yukon2005 Lukegaither,Henryetta2006 KeriWilliamsFoster,Stillwater2007 ChristopherCamp,Tulsa2008 KimberlyWarren,Tecumseh2009 RickRose,OklahomaCity2010 MollyAspan,Tulsa

LAWYERS HELPING LAWYERSASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Free 24-hour confidential assistance• depression/anxiety

• substance abuse

• stress

• relationship challenges

800.364.7886 www.okbar.org/lhl

Counseling and peer support are available.

Some services free as a member benefit.

You are not alone.




OBA Military Assistance Task Force Meeting;3p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:DietmarCaudle(580)248-0202

18 OBA Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors Meeting;10a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:MollyAspan(918)594-0595

23-24 OBA Closed–ChristmasDayObserved

31 OBA Closed–NewYearHolidayObserved

5 OBA Law-related Education Law School for Legislators;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JaneMcConnell(405)416-7024

7 OBA Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program Committee Meeting;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCitywithteleconference;Contact:TomRiesen(405)843-8444


OBA Board of Governors Swearing-in Ceremony; 10:30a.m.;SupremeCourtCourtroom,StateCapitol;Contact:JohnMorrisWilliams(405)416-7000

OBA Family Law Section Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:KimberlyK.Hays(918)592-2800

17 OBA Closed–MartinLutherKingJr.DayObserved


21 Oklahoma Bar Foundation New Trustee Orientation;10:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:NancyNorsworthy(405)416-7070

Oklahoma Bar Foundation Trustee Meeting;1p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:NancyNorsworthy(405)416-7070

22 OBA Law-related Education We the People State Finals;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JaneMcConnell(405)416-7024

27 OBA Legal Intern Committee Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCitywithteleconference;Contact:H.TerrellMonks(405)733-8686

28 OBA Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program Training;12p.m.;TulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:TomRiesen(405)843-8444

1 OBA Law-related Education Committee Meeting;4p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JackG.Clark(405)232-4271

4 Oklahoma Bar Foundation Grants and Awards Committee Meeting;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCitywithteleconference;Contact:NancyNorsworthy(405)416-7070

9 Ruth Bader Ginsburg American Inn of Court; 5p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:DonaldLynnBabb(405)235-1611

Calendar

January

December

February


11 OBA Family Law Section Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:KimberlyK.Hays(918)592-2800

16 OBA Law-related Education Close-Up Program;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JaneMcConnell(405)416-7024

Oklahoma Council of Administrative Hearing Officials;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:CarolynGuthrie(405)271-1269Ext.56212

17 OBA Law-related Education Close-Up Program;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JaneMcConnell(405)416-7024

OBA Law-related Education Close-Up Teachers Meeting;1:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JaneMcConnell(405)416-7024

21 OBA Closed–President’sDayObserved

22-25 OBA Bar Examinations;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:OklahomaBoardofBarExaminers(405)416-7075

OBA Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program Training;12p.m.;TulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:TomRiesen(405)843-8444

Oklahoma bar Journal Editorial Calendar

2011

nJanuary:meet Your OBaEditor:CarolManning

nFebruary:tort/Civil litigationEditor:[email protected]:Oct.1,2010

nMarch:Criminal lawEditor:[email protected]:Jan.1,2011

nApril:law DayEditor:CarolManning

nMay:real estate and title lawEditor:[email protected]:Jan.1,2011

nAugust:Children and the lawEditor:[email protected]:May1,2011

nSeptember:Bar ConventionEditor:CarolManning

nOctober:labor and employment lawEditor:[email protected]:May1,2011

nNovember:military lawEditor:[email protected]:Aug.1,2011

nDecember:ethics & Professional responsibilityEditor:[email protected]:Aug.1,2011

If you would like to write an article on these topics,

contact the editor.


FOR YOUR INFORMATION

New�Supreme�Court�Leaders�to�Take�OathJusticeStevenW.TaylorwilltaketheoathaschiefjusticeandJusticeTomColbertasvicechiefjusticeduringasessionofthecourtat10a.m.onMonday,Jan.3,2011,intheSupremeCourtCourtroomonthesecondflooroftheStateCapitolBuilding.

The�Supreme�Courtof�the�State�of�Oklahoma

Youarecordiallyinvitedtotheceremonyforthe

swearing-inof

DouglasL.Combsas

JusticeoftheSupremeCourtTheStateofOklahomaFriday,January7,2011

2:00p.m.

SupremeCourtCourtroomSecondFloor

StateCapitolBuildingReceptionImmediatelyFollowing

StateCapitolRotunda

For further information, contact [email protected]

or (405) 521-3847

Bar�Center�Holiday�HoursTheOklahomaBarCenterwillbeclosedThursdayandFriday,Dec.23and24,inobservanceoftheChristmasholiday.ThebarcenterwillalsocloseFriday,Dec.31,fortheNewYear’sholiday.

New�Leaders�Selected�for�Court�of�Criminal�Appeals

OnJan.1,2011,JudgeArleneJohnsonwillbecomepresidingjudgeoftheCourtofCriminalAppeals,andJudgeDavidB.Lewiswillbecomevicepresidingjudge.Theywillservetwo-yeartermsinthoseleader-shippositions.

Judge Arlene Johnson Judge David B. Lewis

Court�of�Civil�Appeals�Elects�New�Leadership

JudgeRobertDickBellhasbeenelectedtoserveaone-yeartermaschiefjudgeoftheOklahomaCourtofCivilAppeals.ThecourtelectedJudgeBellduringaNov.18meetingandselectedJudgeDouggabbardasvicechiefjudge.JudgeBellassumesresponsibili-tiesfromoutgoingChiefJudgeJaneWise-manonJan.1,2011.BothJudgeBellandJudgegabbardhaveservedontheCourtofCivilAppealssince2005.

Judge Robert Dick Bell Judge Doug Gabbard

OBA�Member�ReinstatementThefollowingOBAmembersuspendedfornonpay-mentofdueshascompliedwiththerequirementsforreinstatement,andnoticeisherebygivenofsuchreinstatement:

JohnArthurCoatesOBANo.183236416S.QuebecAvenueTulsa,OK74136-1611


OBA�Member�ResignationsThefollowingOBAmembershaveresignedasmembersoftheassociationandnoticeisherebygivenofsuchresignations:

New�OBA�Board�Members�to�be�Sworn�InNinenewofficersandmembersoftheOBABoardofgovernorswilltaketheiroathsofofficeonJan.14,2011,at10:30a.m.intheSupremeCourtCourtroomattheStateCapitol.ThenewofficersarepresidentDeborahReheard,Eufaula;president-ElectCathyChristensen,OklahomaCity;andVicepresidentRetaM.Strubhar,piedmont.

TobeswornintotheOBABoardofgovernorstorepresenttheirjudicialdistrictsaregeraldC.Dennis,Antlers;Scottpappas,Stillwater;andO.ChristopherMeyers,Lawton.RenéeDeMoss,Tulsa,waselectedtoanat-largeposition.Allwillservethree-yearterms.

Totaketheoathforone-yeartermsontheboardareImmediatepastpresidentAllenSmallwood,Tulsa;andYoungLawyersDivisionChairpersonRoyD.Tucker,Muskogee.

OCU�LAW�Dean�Announces�Intention�to�

Step�Down�in�2011OklahomaCityUniversitySchoolofLawDeanLawrenceK.Hellman,thelongest-servingdeaninthelawschool’shistory,hasannouncedthatheintendstoleavethedeanshipattheendofthecurrentacademicyearonJune30,2011.

DeanHellmanwillreturntoteach-ingandscholarshipatOCULAW,wherehehasbeenamemberofthefacultysince1977.Hebecamedeanin1998.Alongwithresuminghisteachingduties,DeanHellmanwillcontinuetoleadOCULAW’sexpandingprogramswithChineselegalinstitutionsandthecreationofitsinnocenceclinic—projectedtobeginoperationsin2011.

WalterL.BrignonIIIOBANo.1133p.O.Box241747Anchorage,AK99524-1747

HilarygracephillipsOBANo.18294737WellingtonAve.,No.3Chicago,IL60657

pamelaM.RoachOBANo.19387800S.KellyAvenue,Apt.104Edmond,OK73003

JulianStuartSmithOBANo.20112500NW48thStreetOklahomaCity,OK73118

Coming�Soon�–�New�OBA�Membership�Cards

MembershipcardsforallOBAmembersexpireattheendofthisyear,butnewcardswillbemailedwithinthenexttwoweeks.Whentheyarrive,theywillbehardtomissbecausetheoutsideoftheenvelopewillsay,“NewMembershipCardEnclosed.”

Know�a�Teacher�and/or�School�Who�

Deserves�Recognition?NominationsarenowbeingacceptedforOklahomaSupremeCourtSchoolandTeacheroftheYear.EachyeartheSupremeCourtrecognizesoneschoolandoneteacherfortheiroutstandingcon-tributiontocivicseducation.Honoreesarepresentedwithatrophyand$1,000duringaspecialsessionoftheSupremeCourt.Educatorsareencouragedtonominatetheirschool,aspecialteacher,orthemselvesfortheaward.Nominationformsareavailableonlineatwww.okbar.org/public/lre/awards.htm.SubmissiondeadlineisJan.12,2011.

VOLUNTEERS�CRITICAL�TO�OBA�SUCCESSpresident-ElectDebReheardknowsyouarebusymakingalivingatpracticinglaw.She’sasmall-townlawyerherselfandknowsthechallengesoffindingtimeforvolunteerwork.ButtheOBAneedsyou,andsheurgesyoutosignupforacommitteeortore-enlistifyourtermisexpiring.Signingupforacommitteeiseasyonline(linkatwww.okbar.org)orusetheforminthisissue.DeadlinehasbeenextendedtoDec.17,2010.


John r. Hargravewasrecentlyinauguratedas

EastCentralUniversity’s8thpresident.Mr.HargravewasnamedpresidentofECUbytheBoardofRegentsoftheUniversitySystemofOklaho-ma.HegraduatedfromECUwithhonorsin1977,andthenwentontoreceivehisJ.D.fromtheUniversityofOkla-homain1980.priortohisinauguration,Mr.HargravewasamanagingpartneroftheEdmondsColeLawFirminOklahomaCity.

Russell l. andersonwasnamedDirectorofpro-

gramsforgWACSDefenseInc.inTulsa.gWACSisadefensetechnologycompanythatdesignsanddevelopsacousticalgunshotdetectionsystemsforthemilitaryandlawenforcement.priortogWACS,Mr.AndersonservedasTulsaCountyADAandTulsaCountyReferee.HegraduatedfromTULawSchoolin1981.

Brent Wrightwasrecentlypromotedtotherankof

colonelandwillserveasthevicechiefoftheJointStaff,AirfortheOklahomaNation-alguard.Col.Wrightiscur-rentlyassignedastheStaffJudgeAdvocate,138thFight-erWing,OklahomaAirNationalguardBaseinTulsa.Col.Wrighthasextensiveexperienceintheareasofinternationalandoperationallaw.Heisalifememberofthe45thDivisionAssociation,

HarvardAlumniAssociation,NationalguardAssociationoftheUnitedStates,NationalguardAssociationofOklaho-maandVeteransofForeignWarsaswellasamemberoftheCherokeeNationandtheAmericanLegion.

Dennis l. Bakerwasrecentlynamedasthe

newspecialagentinchargeoftheFBI’sSt.LouisDivision.Mr.BakerhasbeenwiththeFBIsinceJune1988,andservedmostrecentlyasspe-cialassistanttothedeputydirector,whereheprovidedassistancewithpolicyandadministrativematters.HegraduatedfromtheUniversi-tyofTulsa,whereheearnedaB.A.inEnglishandaJ.D.Mr.BakerisalsoaformerTulsapoliceofficer.

SDouglas DoddofTulsa,.James e. Green Jr.of

Tulsa,laura mcConnell- CorbynofOklahomaCityandJohn KenneyofOklaho-maCitywererecentlyrecog-nizedbyLegalAidServicesofOklahomaInc.withtheWilliamg.paulOklahomaJusticeAwardattheOklaho-maBarAssociation’s106thAnnualMeeting.

Neal r. “nick” Kennedywasrecentlyrecognized

bytheIntellectualpropertyLawSectionwiththe2010HallofFameInduction.Mr.KennedywasgiventheawardforhiscontributiontothesuccessofthesectionandtothepracticeofintellectualpropertylawinthestateofOklahoma.

Federman&SherwoodofOklahomaCityannounces

sara e. Collierhasbeensuc-cessfulintworecentappellate

engagementsassistingtheVeteransConsortiumproBonoprograms.Ms.CollierhasbeenworkingwiththeVCpBpforoverthreeyearsvolunteeringhertimetorep-resentVeteranswhomaynotbeabletoaffordattorneystorepresenttheminappeals,wheretheirVAbenefitshavebeenwrongfullydeniedorcurtailed.

Jerry shilesandsara murphyofOklahomaCity

recentlyattendedtheNation-alAcademyofElderLawAttorneys2010AdvancedFallInstituteinSanDiego,Nov4-6.SessionsincludedupdatesonMedicaidlaws,MedicareSetAsideTrusts,MedicaidIrrevocableTrustsandAdvanceCareplanningforpersonswithdementia.

David a. trissell,FEMAAttachetotheU.S.Mis-

siontotheEU,recentlydeliv-eredapresentationontheuseofsocialmediaindisastersatthe2ndAhrValleyCivilpro-tectionDaysConferenceinBad-Neuenhar,germany.

Meyer,Leonard&AllisonpLLCofOklahomaCity

announcesWayne allisonasitsnewestpartner.Mr.Alli-son’spracticeinvolvescom-plexfederalandstatecourtlitigation,employmentlaw,healthcarelaw,commercialtransactions,classactionsandwhistleblowersuits.

bENCH & bAR bRIEFS


Craig e. Brown,formerlyofBrown&RobertspC

inOklahomaCity,hasnowjoinedthelawfirmofWheel-er,Wheeler,Faulkner,Don-aldson&Brown.Thefirmislocatedat50pennplace,Suite450,OklahomaCity,73118;(405)840-5151;[email protected].

Lyons&ClarkInc.ofTulsaannouncesallyson s.

Caveasitsnewestassociate.Herpracticefocusesoncrimi-naldefenseandgeneralcivillitigation.ShegraduatedfromtheTUCollegeofLaw.

TheLawFirmofField,Trojan&LongpCofEnid

announcesClint a. Claypoleasitsnewestattorney.Hisareaofpracticeincludesgen-eralcivillitigation,personalinjury,criminallaw,familylaw,businessandcorporatelaw,estateplanning,probate,trialandappellatepractice.HeislicensedintheOklaho-maSupremeCourt,allotherinferiorcourtsofOklahomaandtheU.S.DistrictCourtfortheWesternDistrictofOklahoma.

Keith DanielshasjoinedthelawfirmofLove,Beal

&NixonpCinOklahomaCity.Mr.Danielsmostrecent-lywasgeneralcounselforJanaFerrell&AssociatesLLC.HereceivedhisB.A.fromtheUniversityofCentralOklaho-main1995andhisJ.D.fromtheUniversityofOklahomain2003.

gretchen G. Harris,formerOklahomaassistantattor-

neygeneral,hasjoinedthelawfirmofScoggins&CrosspLLCinOklahomaCity.Herpracticeinvolveslitigation,regulatory,licensureandadministrativematters.SheisagraduateoftheOUCollegeofLaw.

Minon m. Fryeandtiffany a. Hussof

Tulsahavecombinedprac-tices.TulsaMetroLawCenterpLLC,locatedat803ANorthElmplace,BrokenArrow,74012;(918)615-4944;www.tulsametro.com.Thefirmconcentratesintheareasoffamilylaw,juvenilelaw,estateplanning,criminallaw,realpropertyandbusinesslaw.

John mahoneyhasjoinedTheOklahomaEducation

Associationasanassociategeneralcounsel.priortojoin-ingOEA,Mr.MahoneywasassistantgeneralcounselfortheOklahomaInsuranceDepartment.

Titus,Hillis,Reynolds,Love,Dickman&Mc-

CalmonofTulsaannouncesJ. miles mcFaddenasitsnewestassociatetothefirm.HeisagraduateoftheOUCollegeofLaw.Whileinlawschool,hewasspecialfea-tures/noteeditoroftheAmerican Indian Law Review,aswellasamemberoftheFirstAmendmentMootCourtCompetitionTeam.

Looney,Nichols&JohnsonofOklahomaCity

announcestodd a. murrayasitsnewestassociate.Hispracticewillfocusongeneralcivillitigation,includinginsurancedefense.priortobecominganattorney,Mr.Murraytaughtdebateandtheatrecoursesfor19yearsinOklahomapublichighschools.HeisagraduateoftheOCUSchoolofLaw.

glassWilkinpCofTulsaannounceselise s. neely

asanassociateattorney.Herpracticeinvolvesgeneralbusinesstransactions,health-carelaw,litigationmanage-mentandrealestate.Ms.NeelyearnedherB.S.incommunicationsciencesand

disordersfromOklahomaStateUniversity.ShethenearnedherJ.D.fromtheTUCollegeofLaw.

Helms&greeneLLChasrecentlyopeneditsOkla-

homaoffice.Brent OlssonofOklahomaCity,formerpart-nerwithHuckaby,Fleming,greenwood&Olsson,willbemanagingthenewoffice.Thefirmconcentratesintheareasofemploymentlaw,insurancedefense,constructiondefectandproductliability.

Shena-rae Dell schrammofTulsahasopenedher

ownpractice.Shena-RaeSchrammislocatedat1776S.UticaAve.,Suite200B,Tulsa,74104;(918)550-0528or(918)289-0528.Herpracticeinvolvesworkers’compensa-tionclaimsandSocialSecuri-tydisability.Ms.SchrammgraduatedfromtheTUCollegeofLawin2004.

Wyatt,Kingery,Hale&Associatesannounces

Casey l. saundersasanassociate.Mr.SaundershasbeenanadjunctprofessorofLegalStudiesatEastCentralUniversity.HeisasustainingmemberoftheNationalOrganizationofSocialSecuri-tyClaimant’sRepresentatives(NOSSCR)andislicensedtopracticebeforeallSocialSecu-rityAdministrationofficesofHearingsandAppeals,theWestern,EasternandNorth-ernU.S.DistrictCourtsofOklahoma;theEasternandNorthernU.S.DistrictCourtsofTexas;the10thCircuitCourtofAppealsandtheCourtofVeteransAppeals.

FormerTulsaMayorandOklahomaCommerce

SecretaryKathy taylorhasjoinedthelawfirmofMcAfee&Taft.Aftereightyearsofpublicservice,includingmostrecentlyas


educationadvisortoOklaho-magov.BradHenry,Ms.Tay-lorisreturningtothepracticeoflaw.Shewillfocusherpracticeonfranchisinganddistribution,corporateandcommercialtransactions,mergersandacquisitionsandthefacilitationofpublic-privatepartnerships.

Christian (szlichta) Whit-ney,formerassistantgen-

eralcounseloftheOklahomaCorporationCommission,hasjoinedtheDepartmentofBusiness,EconomicDevelop-mentandTourism,StrategicplanningDivisionforthestateofHawaiiasanenergypolicyanalyst.Ms.WhitneywillbemovingtoHonolulutospecificallyfocusonHawaii’saggressiverenew-ableportfoliostandardsandcleanenergyinitiatives.

Eric l. Johnsonrecentlyspokeattheannualcon-

ferencesfortheOklahomaChapteroftheRiskManage-mentAssociation.Mr.John-sondiscussedhowtherecentenactmentoftheDodd-FrankWallStreetReformandCon-sumerprotectionActwillimpactthefinancialservicesindustry.Heisafrequentspeakeroncommercialandconsumerfinancialserviceslawtopics.Herepresentsnationalfinancecompaniesandawiderangeofbusinessandfinancialinstitutions,providingconsumercreditcomplianceadviceoncom-plexfederalandstatelawsandregulations.HeisalsoagraduateoftheOCUSchoolofLaw.

Matt stumpandKelli stumpofOklahoma

CityrecentlyparticipatedinapaneldiscussionattheAmer-icanImmigrationLawyersAssociationTexasChapterFallConferenceinplayadelCarmen,Mexico.Mr.Stumpdiscussedpracticeadvisoriesandpracticealtersforthevar-iousfieldofficesoftheU.S.CitizenshipandImmigrationServices.HecurrentlyservesasAILA’sliaisontoUSCIS’

OklahomaCityfieldoffice.Ms.StumpdiscussedwaiversincourtandbeforeUSCISDepartmentofStateandCustomsBorderpatrol.ShecurrentlyservesassectionchairfortheAILAOKCUSCISfieldoffice.

Howtoplaceanannounce-ment:IfyouareanOBAmem-berandyou’vemoved,becomeapartner,hiredanassociate,takenonapartner,receivedapromotionoranawardorgiv-enatalkorspeechwithstate-wideornationalstature,we’dliketohearfromyou.Informa-tionselectedforpublicationisprintedatnocost,subjecttoeditingandprintedasspacepermits.Submitnewsitems(e-mail strongly preferred)inwritingto:

CommunicationsDept.OklahomaBarAssociationp.O.Box53036OklahomaCity,OK73152(405)416-7017Fax:(405)416-7089orE-mail:[email protected]

articles for the Jan. 16 issue must be received by Dec. 27.

IN MEMORIAM

Edwin Wade ashofTulsadiedOct.20.Hewasborn

Sept.18,1935,inWestVirgin-ia.Mr.AshgraduatedfromWestVirginiaUniversityandSalemCollegein1953.HethenwentontoreceivehisJ.D.fromTUin1965.Aftergraduation,hebeganhispri-vatepracticeastheAshLawfirm.Hespecializedinper-sonalinjury.Hewasamem-beroftheAmericanCollegeofTrialLawyers,AmericanBoardofTrialAdvocatesandAmericanInnsofCourt.HewasadmittedtoallOklaho-

maCourtsstateandfederal,the9thand10thCircuitCourtofAppeals,U.S.SupremeCourt,theTribalCourtofMuskogee(Creek)NationandproHacViceinMissouri,Kan-sas,ArkansasandCalifornia.MemorialcontributionscanbemadetotheJohn3:16Missionatwww.john316mission.orgortheCatholicCharitiesofTulsaatwww.catholiccharitiestulsa.org.

Frank William JamesofWynnewooddiedNov.30.

HewasbornonFeb.19,1953,inMcAlester.Hegraduated

withadegreeinaccountingfrompanhandleStateUniver-sity,hethenwentontoreceivehisJ.D.fromOCU.Upongraduationfromlawschool,heopenedaprivatepracticeinOklahomaCity.HemovedhispracticetoWynnewoodin1990wherehepracticedlaw,farmedandranched.HewasafoundingmemberoftheHartshorneMethodistChurchandanassociatememberoftheWynnewoodandpaoliMethodistchurches.Hisothermembershipsinclude


WynnewoodChamberofCommerce,WynnewoodKiwanis,WynnewoodAcademicsforExcellence,WynnewoodAmbulanceServiceBoardandgarvinCountyBarAssociation.Mr.Jamesservedasdistrictchair-manfortheWashitaDistrictofBoyScouts,andservedinleadershiprolesinhischurchandcommunity.HewasalsoaproudmemberoftheChoctawNation.Memorialcontribu-tionscanbemadetotheWyn-newoodorthepaoliFirstUnitedMethodistChurches.pleasesendcondolencetowww.dearmanfuneralhome.com.

Joe s. rolston IVofOklaho-maCitydiedOct.19.He

wasbornFeb.28,1964,inOklahomaCity.HegraduatedfromOSUandthenwentontoreceivehisJ.D.fromOCU.Mr.Rolstonservedasgeneralcounselforcompaniesassoci-atedwiththegamingandconstructionindustriesandtheAttorneygeneral’sOffice.HehadrepresentedtheNevadaAthleticCommissionintherevocationofMikeTyson’slicensetobox.HeappearedonLarryKingandnumerousnewsnetworksastheattorneyrepresentingtheAthleticCommission.Hispracticealsofocusedonintel-lectualpropertyandpersonalinjury.Heenjoyedwriting,historyandliterature.Memo-rialcontributionscanbemadetoTheEducationandEmploymentMinistryatwww.teem.org.

Sidney Phelps upsherofOklahomaCitydiedNov.

28.HewasbornJuly31,1923,inOklahomaCity.Hegradu-atedfromfromOldClassenHighSchoolin1941andthenwentontoreceivehisB.A.in1947andalawdegreein1948,bothfromtheUniversi-tyofOklahoma.His educa-tion was interrupted by World War II, when he enlisted in the army air Corps, where he earned his pilot’s wings and Officer’s commission. as the com-mand pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress, he successfully completed a 50-mission tour of duty in the european theatre of Operations. as a result of this service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the air medal with Four Oak leaf Clusters, and the european theater of Operations ribbon with Four Battle stars. He was then assigned to the air transport Command and, as a First Pilot, flew personnel and cargo across the Pacific until he was discharged in October 1945.HereturnedtoOklahomaandtheUniversityofOklahomatoresumehiscollegecareer,afterwhichhepracticedlawinOklahomaCityuntiltheoutsetoftheKoreanWar.Atthattime,hewasrecalledtodutywiththeAirForceinMarch1951,wherehewasassignedtotheOfficeoftheSecretaryoftheAirForceatthepentagon.WhenhewasreleasedfromdutyinOctober1952,hebecamegeneralcounselforLeeWayMotorFreight.HeleftLeeWayin1977asa

memberoftheBoardofDirectorsandexecutivevicepresident.From1977to1987,wasthechiefexecutiveofficerofMistletoeExpress.In1987hebecameofcounseltothelawfirmofMcAfee&Taft,retiringin1999.Hisparticipa-tionincommunityaffairsincluded:TheUnitedWay,firstasboardmember,thenaspresidentandTrustee;Casa-dySchool,asTrusteeandvicepresident;theCityofNicholsHills,firstascouncilmanthenasmayor;boardmemberofWillRogersBankandTheFirstNationalBankandTrustCompany.HewasamemberandpresidentoftheEconomyClubofOklahomaCityandtheAppealsReviewBoard.MemorialcontributionscanbemadetoAllSouls’Episco-palChurch,6400Northpenn-sylvaniaAve.,NicholsHills,73116.

Martin edward WyattofTulsadiedNov.27.He

wasbornJune4,1933,inTulsa.HegraduatedfromCasciaHallpreparatorySchoolin1951andreceivedhislawdegreefromtheTUCollegeofLawin1958.Hepracticedlaw,assistedwithhisfather’sinsurancecompa-nyandhadotherjobsuntilsemi-retiring.Hewasalong-timeactiveanddevoutmemberoftheChurchofMadalene.Hewasanavidreader,serverandhappilyassistedinanywayneeded.MemorialcontributionscanbemadetotheChurchofMadaleneinTulsaortheCatholicCharitiesofTulsaatwww.catholiccharitiestulsa.org.


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aFarm Consulting, l.C.RaleighA.Jobes,ph.D.

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Willprovideindependentandobjectiveanalysisofagriculturalrelatedproblems.

ResumeandFeeschedulesentuponrequest.

RESIDENTIAL AppRAISALS AND ExpERT TESTI-MONYinOKCmetroarea.Over30yearsexperienceandactiveOBAmembersince1981.Contact:Dennisp.Hudacky, SRA, p.O. Box 21436, Oklahoma City, OK73156,(405)848-9339.

CONSULTINg ARBORIST, tree valuations, diagnoses,forensics, hazardous tree assessments, expert witness,depositions, reports, tree inventories, DNA/soil test-ing, construction damage. Bill Long, ISA Certified Ar-borist, #SO-1123, OSU Horticulture Alumnus, All ofOklahomaandbeyond,(405)996-0411.

OKLAHOMA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

ATTORNEY PLACEMENT

A GREAT OPPORTUNITYFor attorneys seeking employment!

A GREAT WAYFor law firms to find qualified attorneys!

For more information please contact:Pam Bennett

(405) 235-4399 or e-mail [email protected] applications and positions

kept confidential.

OFFICe sPaCeBEAUTIFULHERITAgEHILLSOKCOFFICESpACE:Availableforsubleasetooneattorneyinfourattorneyoffice. Reception area, multi-task copy-printer-fax-scanner,DSLInternet,networkserver,largeconferenceroom,monitoredburglar/firealarm,kitchenette, tele-phone,freeparking,overflowreferrals.$550monthly.CallFloydTaylor(405)525-2232.

WESTSIDEOFMETRO,EASYACCESSTOI-40.Twomember firm relocating to South Meridian seekingthird attorney for office sharing arrangement. Rate,amountofspaceandincludedexpensesarenegotiable.CallMarkat(405)494-4690.


POsItIOns aVaIlaBleROBERTSON & WILLIAMS, anAV-rated law firm,searching for a self-sufficient, and financially sup-portive,knowledgeable,experienced,compatibleandskilledattorneypracticingcivillaw,withownclients,tojointhefirmatournewofficesinnorthwestOkla-homa City. Send resume and history by e-mail [email protected].

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY pOSITION MCALESTER:LawfirminMcAlesterseekingapplicantsforanentrylevelassociateposition.Caseloadwillincludefamilylaw,criminaldefenseandgeneralcivillitigation.Excel-lent opportunity for young attorney to get lots of incourt experience. Salary negotiable. Submit resumeandsalaryrequirementsto“BoxQ,”OklahomaBarAs-sociation,p.O.Box53036,OklahomaCity,OK73152.

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IN-HOUSE LEgAL COUNSEL. Love’s Travel Stopsand Country Stores Inc. seeks full-time attorney forOKCtransactionalposition.3to8yearscorporateortransactionalexperiencepreferred;realestateexperi-ence a plus. Must have strong drafting, negotiationand oral communication skills and be comfortablemanaginglargenumberofprojects.Salarycommen-suratewithqualificationsandexperience.Eligibleforfull benefits package and long-term incentive plan.Submitresumebye-mailorU.S.Mail (tobeheld inconfidence)to:Amyguzzy,DirectorofLegalServices,10601 N. pennsylvania Ave., Oklahoma City, OK73120,[email protected].

OURCLIENTISWIDELYREgARDEDasapreeminentlawfirminthecapitalmarketsindustry.Theidealcandi-date will have experience in drafting, negotiating andreviewing commercial loan documentation in connec-tionwithawiderangeofcomplexloantransactionsandhaveexperienceinrepresentingissuers,sellers,purchas-ers and/or underwriters in structured finance transac-tions.JoinasophisticatedOklahomaCitypracticewithoneof themost impeccable reputations in the country.Thecandidatewillhaveaminimumof5yearsapplicableexperience, J.D. from an accredited law school with aminimumgpAof3.5preferred.Thefirmhasacollegialand flexible work environment and offers competitivesalaryandbenefits.pleasecontact;[email protected](512)745-4778.

IMMEDIATENEEDFOROFCOUNSELATTORNEYinlawfirminNWOklahomaCity/Edmondarea.Ex-perienceinestateplanning,probate,employmentand/or personal Injury preferred. No phone calls please.Faxresumesto(405)748-6293.

ExpERIENCED LEgAL ASSISTANT for busy estab-lishedNWOKClawfirm.practice includescriminal,divorce,pI,generalCivil.Experienceinalltheseareasmandatory.Sendrepliesto“Boxx,”OklahomaBarAs-sociation,p.O.Box53036,OklahomaCity,OK73152.

OFFICe sPaCe

pERIMETERCENTEROFFICECOMpLEx,locatedat39thandTulsacurrentlyhasofficesavailablerangingfrom 1,325 – 8,500 square feet. We are offering twomonthsfreerentonathreeorfiveyearleasecontract.pleasecall(405)943-3001forappointment,orstopbyM–Fbetweenthehoursof8a.m.–5p.m.

McAfee&TaftisseekingtwoattorneystojointheAvi-ation practice group to work on FAA (aircraft) title,registry,regulatoryandtransactionalmatters.Thefol-lowingpositionsareavailableforlicensed,practicinglawyerswithtopacademiccredentials:•Faa (aIrCraFt) tItle, reGIstrY, reGula-

tOrY anD transaCtIOnal assOCIatewith one to three years experience in general cor-porate,realestateorcommercialtransactionwork.Aviationrelatedexperienceispreferredbutnotre-quired. The position is exclusively related to FAAtitle,registry,regulatoryandtransactionalwork.

•Faa (aIrCraFt) senIOr assOCIate Or OF COunsel(possiblepartnertrack)with5ormoreyearsexperienceinFAAtitle,registryandregulato-rymatters(someaircrafttransactionalworkwouldbeaplus).

Allinquirieswillbetreatedconfidentially.pleasesub-mitresumeandlawschooltranscripttoJudyCross,Director of Human Resources Recruiting at McAfeeandTaftAprofessionalCorporation,TenthFloor,TwoLeadershipSquare,211N.Robinson,OklahomaCity,OK73102.Noe-mailsorphonecalls,please.

DOWNTOWN EDMOND OFFICE BUILDINg FORLEASE.2,000sq.ft.nexttoEdmondofficeofCountyCourt-house.11East1stStreet.CallBarryat(405)341-1654.


NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA LAW FIRM seeksattorneywith2-5yearsexperienceinrealpropertylaw,realestatetransactions,oroilandgasandappearingincourt. Landman experience is also helpful, but notrequired.Sendresumeandwritingsampleto“BoxV,”OklahomaBarAssociation,p.O.Box53036,OklahomaCity,OK73152.

TITLE ExAMINATION ATTORNEY position available.Commercial and residential examination experience re-quired.Underwritingexperienceaplus.SendresumetoJenniferMoradiat701N.BroadwayAve.,Suite300,Okla-homaCity,[email protected].

POsItIOns aVaIlaBleOILANDgASATTORNEY-OKLAHOMACITY.Oiland gas operating company, headquartered in Okla-homaCity,isseekingaself-startingindividualtojoinourteam-orientedenvironmentasastaffattorney.po-sitionwillbeactivelyinvolvedindiverselegalmattersrelated to company operations, including negotiationandreviewofvarioustransactioncontracts,interpreta-tionof compliance requirements, litigationcaseman-agement with outside counsel, regulatory issues, etc.Targetedcandidateshave4-7yearsexperienceinhan-dling oil and gas related litigation, including surfacedamage cases and remediation claims. CandidatesmustbelicensedinOklahomaorTexasandpossessex-cellentverbalandwrittencommunicationsskills.Sub-mitresumeandcredentialstoresumeokc@gmail.com.

CLASSIFIED RATES: One dollar per word per inser-tion. Minimum charge $35. Add $15 surcharge per is-sue for blind box advertisements to cover forward-ing of replies. Blind box word count must include “Box____ , Oklahoma Bar Association, p.O. Box 53036, Okla-homa City, OK 73152.” Display classified ads with bold headlineandborderare$50perinch.Seewww.okbar.orgforissuedatesandDisplayAdsizesandrates.DEADLINE: Tuesday noon before publication.Ads must beprepaid.Sendad(e-mailpreferred)inwritingstatingnumberoftimestobepublishedto: Jeff Kelton, Oklahoma Bar association P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152 e-mail: [email protected] and contents of any advertisement is notto be deemed an endorsement of the views expressedtherein, nor shall the publication of any advertisementbe considered an endorsement of the procedure or ser-viceinvolved.Allplacementnoticesmustbeclearlynon-discriminatory.

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THE bACK PAGE

Althoughmypracticeisprettymuchlimitedtorepresentingemployeesinemploy-mentlawmatters,Irecentlyappeartobeamongaselectsmallgroupoflawyersbeingcontactedbye-mailfromNigeria.Iambeingaskedtobranchoutandrepresentvariouswidowsofvariousheadsofstate,physi-cianstopresidents,secretariestotreasur-ersandotherbigshots.Thesegrievingwidowshaveremarkablysimilarplights...theirhus-bandsdiedsudden-ly,leavingmillionsandmillionsinU.S.currency,securities,goldcoinsorbullion.

Sadly,asifthesud-denlossofaspousewerenottragedyenough,thecurrency/securities/goldishopelessly“tiedup.”perhapsIwasselectedbecauseIknowhowdifficultitcanbetodealwithbureaucra-cies,Redtape,import/exportandbankregu-lations.Allofthisontopofthetragedyofsuddenwidowhood.Andtheyturntomeintheirdespair.CanIhelp?

WellofcoursethefirstlawyerlythoughtIhaveishowcanmenofsuchimportanceandwealthfailtohaveagoodestateplan?Isupposethat,likemeneverywhere,theythoughttheywould

liveforeverandputoffgettingwithanestateplannerorprobatelaw-yertomakeaplanthatwouldkickinwhentheykickedoff.And,intheirdefense,theywererelativelyyoungwhentheydied,andyoungandfieryNige-rianmoversandshak-ersrarelydothinkofthefuturewithoutthem.IadmitIammomentarilystruckbythehighmortalityrateforNigerianbigwigs.Whowouldhavethoughttheirparticularexaltedpositionwouldbesodangerous?Oh

well,thatisthepastandthisisthepresent.

So,Iamdrawntothesewidows,because,afterall,althoughIhavenoknownpres-enceinNigeria,oreventheAfricancontinent,

nonetheless,myrepu-tationasagoodandhonest,compassionatelawyersomehowmadeitacrosswhateverseasandcontinentsseparateTulsafromNigeria.And,sincetheyhavegonetosuchlengthstoresearchlawyersallovertheworld,andsettledonlittleoldme,Iamflatteredandwanttohelp.Oh,alright.Theydopromisememillionsinexchangeformyservices.

AllIhavetodoisprovidethemwithabankingrelationshipin

theU.S.to“runthemoney/securities/goldthrough,”andIwillberich.Say...whynotmybankhereinTulsa?Splendidandsimple.givethemmyaccountnumber,andtheywillmakeahugedeposit.

TheywillhavetensofmillionsofU.S.dollarstohelpthemfacethefuturewithouttheirdeardepart-ed,andIwillhavemillionstosaveorfritter.ThatyachtIhavealwayswant-edtodreamof.perhapsacastleneargrandLake,orperhapsinthesouthofFranceIdon’tknowany-thingabout.Imag-

inegoingtotheATMandseeingthatmybal-anceis$15,674,328.73.So,bythetimeyouotherlawyersreadthis,I’llbeintallcotton,andyouwillbewondering,“HowcanIgetinonadeallikethis?”Sorry,butIamoneofthechosen.

Mr. Nix practices in Tulsa.

Editor’s Note: Have a short funny, intriguing or inspiring story to share? E-mail submission to [email protected].

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vol. 81 — no. 33 — 12/11/2010 the oklahoma bar journal 2769vol. 81 — no. 33 — 12/11/2010 the...

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