Minutes for January 11, 2005

The Executive Committee of the Litigation Section met on Wednesday, January 11, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. at the Utah Law & Justice Center in Salt Lake City.

Executive Committee members present were:

• Sammi Anderson
• Wayne Klein
• Lee Curtis
• Willis Orton
• Jon Hafen
• Bryan Pattison (by speakerphone)
• Ryan Harris
• Michael Petrogeorge

1. Minutes/Financial Report Minutes of the December meeting were approved. There was a brief discussion of expenditures charged to the Section in November and concern over charges for the use of the bar’s meeting room.

2. Reports on Recent CLE Events

a. Jon Hafen reported the December seminar on evidence was very well attended with 200 participants. He said this will become an annual event. The Executive Committee agreed that the Section should remain a sponsor in future years.

b. Wayne Klein said the January 10 quarterly luncheon and CLE on trial tips from seasoned litigators was also a great success. Over 100 attended and the bar had to turn away some who wanted to attend. Elaina Maragakis did a superb job moderating the panel and also highlighted activities of the Section.

3. ABA Mid-Year Meeting in Salt Lake The Executive Committee reviewed requests for sponsorship of events related to the February ABA meeting. The Section has agreed to contribute $500 to the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section’s CLE and $500 toward a reception of the ABA House of Delegates. There were reservations about providing additional funding for the House of Delegates based on concerns about its positions.

4. Award Nominations The decision was made that the Section will not submit nominations for Spring Conference awards for advancement of women and minorities in the legal profession.

5. Governmental Relations Committee Sammi Anderson agreed to serve as the Section’s representative on the bar’s Governmental Relations Committee, which meets weekly during the legislative session.

6. Quarterly E-Mail Update Lee Curtis will prepare an update of quarterly activities for the Section and send it to all members who have provided e-mail addresses. It was agreed that he does not need to send it to the Executive Committee for review.

7. Bylaw Revisions Elaina Maragakis has completed a draft of proposed changes to the Section bylaws. She will send it to the Executive Committee for review in advance of the February meeting.

8. Web Site Sammi Anderson reported that she has added to the Section web site notice of upcoming CLE activities and that the Section logo will be on the web site and on linked locations such as MUJI. She plans to add highlights of upcoming activities.

9. Invitations to CLE Seminars by Other Sections Lee Curtis reported that the Cyberlaw Section had requested permission to extend an e-mail invitation to members of the Litigation Section for a CLE seminar. The Executive Committee gave approval and authorized Lee Curtis to exercise his judgment when receiving future requests.

10. Electronic Filing in State Court Jon Hafen said he and Mike Petrogeorge met with the vendor pushing for electronic filing. The vendor wants to move forward quickly. The first stage would be a contract with the state, followed by agreements with each participating law firm. The vendor will prepare a list of steps needed and may attend an upcoming meeting of the Executive Committee.

11. Judge’s Benchbook Jon Hafen reported he received approval from the federal bar association to place profiles of the federal judges on the benchbook site. He will send copies of the profiles to Ryan Harris for inclusion. Wayne Klein said the bar’s webmaster reported that the benchbook section of the web site has high traffic.

12. Upcoming Section CLE Programs There was a discussion of upcoming programs being sponsored by the section:

a. Quarterly Luncheon: Report on the New Administration Mike Petrogeorge said the next quarterly luncheon will be April 5 and is expected to include someone from the Governor’s office and perhaps a legislator. Ryan Harris agreed to contact a possible speaker.

b. NITA Trial Academy Ryan Harris reported on discussions between Judge Himonas and NITA regarding presenting a NITA trial academy in Utah. It is expected to be in May and involve four days, Wednesday through Saturday. It will be limited to 48 participants. The expenses were discussed as well as what fees we should charge and whether to limit attendance to Section members. Approval was given to go forward with planning.

13. Spring and Annual Meetings Bryan Pattison reported that Justice Nehring will be the keynote speaker for the Spring Meeting. There were suggestions of possible panelists.

The meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.

DATED this 9th day of February, 2005.

For the Executive Committee

__________________________________________
Wayne Klein
Secretary