March Meeting Minutes March 8, 2006

The Executive Committee of the Litigation Section met on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at 8:00 a.m. at the Utah Law & Justice Center in Salt Lake City.

Executive Committee members present were:

• Sammi Anderson
• George Burbidge
• Jared Casper (by speakerphone)
• Lee Curtis
• Ryan Frazier
• Jon Hafen
• Elaina Maragakis
• Bryan Pattison (by speakerphone)
• Mike Petrogeorge
• Scott Reed
• Dan Steele

Bruce Badger, Wayne Klein, Willis Orton, Ryan Harris and Jackie Rogers were excused.

1. Minutes The minutes were reviewed and approved.

2. Financial Report Dan Steele provided a financial report. Dan has agreed to determine the amount contributed to the Appellate Section in connection with the CLE co-sponsored by the Section in January 2006.

3. Donation of Interest to "And Justice For All" Elaina Maragakis reported that interest in the amount of $1,483.92 was donated to "And Justice For All."

4. Report on Governmental Relations Committee Ryan Harris was unable to attend the meeting. A report will be given at the next meeting.

5. Revisions to Bylaws Elaina Maragakis reported that the Subcommittee on Revisions to Bylaws will meet and circulate a new draft of the Amended Bylaws in the future.

6. Report on Mid-Year Convention Dan Steele reported that this event is ready to go. The Committee agreed to reimburse presenters for their actual expenses, not to exceed $1,500.

7. Report on Annual Convention Mike Petrogeorge reported that this event is ready to go. In addition to four separate break-out sessions on legal writing, there will be an additional break-out addressing e-discovery.

8. Update on Committee Membership Elaina Maragakis reported that Nan Bassett and Tracy Fowler have resigned their membership on the Committee. Discussion was had on whether to recruit new members.

9. Request for Funding

a. The Committee approved a $1,000 donation in connection with Law Day to help fund an insert in the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. The insert will be published on Sunday, April 30, 2006, and will address the Law Day theme.

b. The Committee has previously approved a $2,000 annual contribution to both BYU and University of Utah to award the top four trial advocacy participants at each school. Dan Steele agreed to coordinate the award with BYU, and Mike Petrogeorge agreed to do the same at the University of Utah.

10. Report on Recent CLE Seminar

a. Quarterly Luncheon. February 8, 2006. Litigation training with Roger Dodd. Mike reported that he conducted the opening presentation and that the luncheon was very well attended.

11. Upcoming CLE Seminars

a. Mid-Year Convention March 9-11, 2006. St. George.

b. CLE Luncheon April 12, 2006, 12:00 - 2:30 p.m. The Committee agreed to co-sponsor this event with the Appellate Section. The Panel will consist of Justice Wilkins as Moderator, Judge Greenwood, Matty Branch, Clark Sabey and Karen Thompson. The Committee agreed to split the costs with the Appellate Section equally.

c. Quarterly Luncheon May 3, 2006. Jan Smith will present on the topic of cross examination.

d. NITA Trial Seminar June 14-17, 2006. Salt Palace.

e. Annual Convention July 12-15, 2006. Newport Beach.

f. Quarterly Luncheon August 2, 2006. One possible topic is the recent rule amendments.

g. Fall Forum November 3, 2006. Ryan Frazier reported that the Section will likely have only two break-out sessions. Potential topics for those sessions were discussed.

h. Potential CLE Event in Utah County Jared Casper and Dan Steele reported that they are tentatively considering September 2006 for a Utah County CLE and golf event. Topics and presenters are still being discussed.

12. Reception for First Year Law Students Elaina Maragakis reported that due to difficulty in reconciling the two schools' calendars, the first year law student reception will not take place until September 2006.

13. Report on Creation of Law Student Division Sammi Anderson and Jon Hafen reported that they each have suggestions for students at both BYU and the University of Utah that might assist the Section in beginning a Law Student Division. Jon and Sammi will attempt to contact the suggested individuals in advance of the next meeting. Possible events and presentations in connection with each school were discussed.

14. Bench Books Ryan Harris was unable to attend the meeting. An update on any progress with the Bench Books will be given at the next meeting.

15. Recognition of Section Members Elaina Maragakis reminded the Committee to forward information related to awards, achievements or recognition of Section members so that Elaina can include these items in the upcoming quarterly e-mail.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 a.m.

Dated this 12th day of April, 2006.

For the Executive Committee

Sammi Anderson
Secretary