Minutes for May 14, 2008

Litigation Section Executive Committee
Minutes for May 14, 2008

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The Executive Committee of the Litigation Section met on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at 8:00 a.m. at the Utah Law & Justice Center in Salt Lake City.
Executive Committee members present or participating by telephone were:

• Sammi Anderson
• Gary Anderson
• George Burbidge
• Keith Call
• Lee Curtis
• Ryan Frazier
• Ryan Harris
• Bryan Pattison
• Isaac Paxman
• Michael Petrogeorge
• Dan Steele

Executive Committee members excused were:

• Jonathan Hafen
• R. Willis Orton·
• Tish Toombs (ex officio law school rep for U of U)

1. Minutes. The minutes of the April 9, 2008 meeting were reviewed and unanimously approved.

2. Financial and Budget Report. Dan reported that he had related to Jeff Einfeldt the Executive Committee’s frustrations about getting more detail on the financial reports. Mr. Einfeldt arrived at the meeting. He reported that we should be receiving reports that provide the information requested for events held at the Utah Law and Justice Center, which is called the Utah Law & Justice Center Reservation Form. He reported that we should follow up with Connie Howard to make certain that we are receiving these forms showing this detail..

3. Upcoming CLE Events.

a. Annual Convention. Sammi Anderson reported that the panel for the discussion on the Model Utah Jury Instructions is now at six, including Judges Lindberg and Mower and someone from the Legal Defenders office.

b. Fall Forum. Sammi Anderson said that there is nothing new to report on the Fall Forum but that the Section is moving forward in preparing for the Section’s sponsored break-outs.

c. Quarterly Luncheon. Mike Petrogeorge read an e-mail from Jonathan Hafen reporting on the next Quarterly Luncheon. The e-mail reported that the next Quarterly Luncheon will be in June. It will be a panel discussion that will focus on separation of powers and the recent debate and subsequent legislation regarding judicial retention. It is anticipated that the panel will be comprised of Judge Stott, Greg Bell, and someone from the Governor’s Office.

4. Web Site. A discussion on the Section’s web site was tabled.

5. Program for Helping Third-Year Prepare for the Bar. The Committee determined that this event must be held in June because July is too late.

6. Mechanics of Trial Scholarship. Mike Petrogeorge reported that he had received a scholarship request from a woman who recently moved into Utah. The Committee decided that the e-mail would be forwarded to the Committee members for their consideration and that the Committee would then vote on whether to approve the scholarship by e-mail.

7. Supporting State Court Judges. Mike Petrogeorge reported that he and other members of the Executive Committee had a lunch meeting with Justice Durham and a representative of the administrative offices of the Courts to discuss possible ways in which the Litigation Section could support state court judges. Although various ideas were discussed, it was determined that the Section did not need to duplicate the efforts of the Bar Commission. The Section determined that the Section can provide education on how the legislature and the judiciary work. The Section would sponsor focus group presentations at which information regarding these issues would be provided. Subsequent to the meeting, the request was distributed via email, and the scholarship request was approved by the Committee.

8. Proposed Sponsorship of Clarence Darrow-Type CLE. Mike Petrogeorge reported that Connie Howard has asked the Section to sponsor a Clarence Darrow-type CLE presentation like the one that the Bar hosted in 2006. The Committee approved a $2,000 sponsorship subject to approval of the speaker, topic, etc.

9. Bench Books. Ryan Harris reported that another letter was sent out to 12 or 13 different judges. Dan Steele requested a list to be passed out at the next meeting of the judges that still have not provided any information so that Committee Members could contact judges with which they are familiar..

10. Mike Powers Litigation Topic CLE Presentation Report. The Mike Powers’ CLE went very well. Approximately 45 people attended of which approximately 15 were law students. Of the attorneys that attended, they were largely securities practitioners rather than litigators. They complimented the presentation and stated that the Section should continue the program. Mike Petrogeorge commented that he would like to have a similar presentation made at BYU.

11. Logan Golf & CLE. Dan Steele reported that he would like to continue pursuing holding a gold and CLE presentation in Logan possibly using retired Judge Low. Gary Anderson reported that the Cache County Bar could be a co-sponsor. The committee will look at this further.

The meeting adjourned shortly after 9:00 a.m. The next meeting will be held on May 14, 2008.

Dated this ___ day of June, 2008.

For the Executive Committee

_________________________________________
Ryan B. Frazier
Secretary