Minutes for July 7, 2004

The Executive Committee of the Litigation Section met on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 at 8:00 a.m., at the Utah Law & Justice Center in Salt Lake City.

Executive Committee members present were:

• Lee Curtis
• Wayne Klein
• Richard Gray
• Bryan Pattison (speakerphone)
• Ryan Harris
• Mike Petrogeorge
• Judge Deno Himonas
• Dan Steele

1. Financial/Minutes The draft minutes for the June meeting were reviewed and approved (and have been posted on the Section’s Web site). It was noted that the bar has established a separate line item to track payment of law clerk expenses for the MUJI advisory committee.

2. Quarterly E-mails Lee Curtis will send a new quarterly e-mail to section members advising them of the new Section leadership, the expanded services to be offered to members, and the initiation of quarterly membership meetings with luncheon CLE presentations.

3. Assistance to Regional and Local Bar Associations Bryan Pattison obtained and distributed a list of contact persons for the local and regional bar associations. Lee Curtis drafted a letter to send to those groups offering co-sponsorship and financial assistance for litigation-related CLE seminars. The draft letter was reviewed and approved for mailing.

4. Quarterly Section Meetings/Luncheons Mike Petrogeorge reported on the cost estimates for holding quarterly luncheon meetings at the bar offices. Each meeting is estimated to cost approximately $4,000 plus any speaker expenses. The Executive Committee approved going forward with this approach and offering free admission for the first 100 section members to register for each event. The next meetings will be:

a. Use of Mock Juries/Focus Groups This August 18 seminar is being arranged by Judge Himonas. The presenter will explain how mock juries and focus groups can assist in improving trial preparation and case presentation.

b. Golf/CLE This CLE will be held in late October in St. George. The Section will subsidize the event costs, but participants will pay their own golf fees.

c. Other A third event will be held early in 2005 and another expected for May. Mike Petrogeorge will solicit others to organize each event.

5. Upcoming CLE Programs The status of upcoming events, other than the quarterly meetings, was discussed:

a. The Litigation Section’s sessions at the annual meeting are ready.

b. Options are being evaluated for presenting the Trial Academy this year, including inviting NITA to hold a session in Utah.

6. Judge’s Benchbook Ryan Harris reported additional new profiles have been added to the benchbook.

7. Letter from Bar on Section Operations Lee Curtis discussed a letter sent to him by the bar describing goals for operation of the sections and asking for updates from each section. Wayne Klein was assigned to draft a response for review by the Executive Committee.

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 a.m. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 11, 2004, at 8:00 a.m. at the Law and Justice Center.

DATED this 11th day of August, 2004.

For the Executive Committee

________/s/________________________
Wayne Klein
Secretary