summer/ fall- 2016 - oceancountybar.org side bar - summer fall 2016.pdf · summer/ fall- 2016...
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SUMMER/ FALL- 2016
Inside This Issue … President’s Messge Page 2 New Members Page 3 Pro Bono Page 4 5K Run Page 4 State Bar Report Page 5 In Memoriam Page 6 Golf Outing Page 7 Golf Sponsors Page 9 Installation Photos Page 10 Committees Page 14 Per Diem/Classified Page 23
Ocean Side Bar
Official Publication of the Ocean County Bar Association
Ocean County Court House P.O. Box 381
Toms River, NJ 08754
Director Karin Poola
(732) 240-3666 President
Richard M. Sevrin (732) 279-7520
As you know, I was sworn in as President of the Ocean County Bar As-sociation on June 10, 2016. I wish to thank all of those who attended the event at the Crystal Point in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. I thank those who came and I thank the Ocean County Bar Association for extending me the privilege to be the President of the Association for the upcoming year. I greatly appreciate the confidence and support given me by all of those who are involved in the Association.
I wish to thank Karin Poola for her great efforts in continuing as the Ex-ecutive Director of the Bar Association. As we all know, Karin has been ill for several months and continues on to ensure that the work of the Ocean County Bar Association is maintained at the highest level. Thank you Karin for all of your efforts both to me and the Bar Association as a whole.
As the New Year ap-proaches, I have certain in-terests that I have proposed for the upcoming year. The first is the Diversity Committee of the Ocean County Bar which was brought to my attention by Lubna Qasi-Chowdhry, Esq., a member of the Bar Association and a fine lawyer. She indicated to me that there were several of our membership who feel that they are unrepresented and do not have a say in the Bar Association.
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These include minorities, African American, the lesbian and gay community, Asian American, and other di-verse minority groups who have not had the opportunity to participate and make their needs known to the Bar Association. On that basis, myself and the Board of Trustees have created a Diversity Committee which will be chaired by Lubna Qasi-Chowdhry, Esq. and will hopefully be the beginning of an era in our Bar Associa-tion’s history that will provide a more diverse viewpoint in representation to our members.
At the Mid-Year meeting, I announced that I am seeking with the help of the Board of Trustees, a committee to provide for a trip to Washington to the United States Supreme Court in order that we swear in those mem-bers who have yet to be sworn before the United States Supreme Court and admitted to the Bar. I will be ap-pointing the committee with the Trustees for the research necessary to start an organized trip for members of the Bar to go to Washington to the Supreme Court and have those members who desire to be sworn in to prac-tice and be admitted before the Supreme Court.
Years ago when I made this trip sponsored by Retired Judge Peter Giovine, it was a great experience and, frankly, an opportunity to participate in a once in a lifetime ceremony. The admission to the United States Su-preme Court was a great event. I wish to have those who seek admission to have the opportunity to do so as I did years ago.
I would appreciate members of the Bar Association providing Karin Poola with an email to advise whether or not they are interested in being sworn in to practice before the United States Supreme Court. A simple email will do. I would like this committee to commence immediately and we will do the research necessary as to how the swearing in of members of the Bar Association may be accomplished. I intend to sponsor those who desire to do so; however, I would like to have a count of those who would participate,
As usual, our yearly Judges Law Clerks Dinner was held on September 28, 2016 at La Bove Grande, I would hope all of our membership attended. This historically has been a great night and gives all of us the opportu-nity to meet the Judges and law clerks who have started their term.
We will continue with Continuing Education events throughout the year. Notably, our yearly Ethics seminar chaired by Steven Secare, Esq. is scheduled for October 20, 2016. I would hope we continue with the turnout we have had in the past. To all, have a great year and please encourage your colleagues to join our association if they have not already done so.
In closing, I would like to thank the membership, the Board of Trustees and all who participate in our Associa-tion for allowing me to serve as President. Again, I wish to thank Karin Poola for her efforts and support as Executive Director.
Richard M. Sevrin, Esq. President
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President : Richard M. Sevrin
President Elect: Ronald E. Prusek
Treasurer: Terrance L. Turnbach
Secretary: Lynne A. Dunn
Trustees : Renee T. White
Stacie Brustman
Marianna Pontoriero
Matthew Sage
Christine L. Matus
Adam J. Steuerman
Jamie L. Schron
Gary McLean
Karin Sage
Young Lawyer Liaison: Clifford Yannone
State Bar Trustee: Richard M. Sevrin
Immediate Past President: Eugenia Lynch
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS
JOSE ALCANTARA
AIMEE BLENNER
SYLVIA L. BREITOWICH with
Davison, Eastman & Munoz, PA
MARTIN S. BUCKLEY with
Dasti, Murphy, Ulaky, Koutsouris & Connors
JUSTIN D. BURNS
SARA B. COHEN with
Stolfe & Zeigler
JAKAI JACKSON
KIMBERLY CARR with
O.C.Prosecutor’s Office
JESUS A.COLLAZO with
Milstein, Weber & Collazo
ROBERT A. HATAMI with
Clark & DiSefano, P.C.
TRACY E. JULIAN with
Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, PA
JILIAN McLEER with
Ronan, Tuzzio & Giannone
MICHAEL F. O’CONNOR
KATHLEEN MORIARTY with
Kelaher, Van Dyke & Moriarty
MELISSA ROTH
WILLIAM E. WELLS
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PRO BONO EXPUNGEMENT ATTORNEYS NEEDED
Because of the recent changes in the law, South Jersey Legal Services, Inc. (SJLS) has received a large number of requests for assistance with ex-pungements of their criminal records. Many of these individuals need the expungements in or-der to secure employment.
We at SJLS would like to start a project to refer eligible individuals who need expungements to pro bono attorneys through the Private Agency Involvement Program. Under this Program, SJLS staff would gather the necessary documen-tation for the pro bono attorney to provide ad-vice and, if applicable, extended representation on expunging the client’s criminal records. At-torneys who certify that they have performed at least 25 hours of voluntary qualifying pro bono service in New Jersey are exempt from being appointed to take a Madden v Delran pro bono case for the following year under Rule 1:21-12.
If you are willing to assist and/or would like more information about the SJLS Private Attor-ney Involvement Program, please contact Kristine Carranceja-Gurski, Assistant Pro Bono Coordinator at SJLS, at 732-414-6750 ext. 6516 or at [email protected] or Michelle Nuciglio, Director of Pro Bono Services at SJLS, at 856-964-2010 ext. 6229 or at [email protected].
5K Run/Walk The Ocean County Bar Association organized a 5K fundraiser to benefit The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The race was held on May 14, 2016 in beautiful Ocean County Park, Lakewood.
The FoodBank’s mission is to alleviate hunger and build food security in Monmouth and Ocean Coun-ties.
The FoodBank envisions Monmouth and Ocean Counties as a food secure community where all peo-ple at all times have access to enough nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy life.
The FoodBank distributes more than 10 million meals annually through a network of over 300 feed-ing programs. But hunger in Monmouth and Ocean Counties is no longer a crisis that can be remedied with emergency food alone. That’s why the Food-Bank works toward long-term solutions to the chronic problem o f food insecur it y. Through programs and services like our Culinary Training Program and nutrition education, and out-reach programs such as SNAP and free tax assis-tance, we are working to build food-secure commu-nities.
The fundraiser raised $3,662.00 which amounts to nearly 11,000 meals for our neighbors in need!
Many thanks to the Committee Members who made the event possible: Eugenia Lynch, Kelly Toner, Alex Coven, Tim Horn, Bethany Adams, Bradley Billhimer,Cliff Yannone, Matt Sage and Hon. Patricia Roe.
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As the State Bar Trustee for Ocean County, I wish to report on the rele-
vant topics that are being reviewed by the State Bar Association Executive Board and Trustees. In addi-tion, I will update you on the latest developments at State Bar and, of course, the upcoming State Bar As-sociation Mid-Year Meeting in the Netherlands.
As you know, the New Jersey State Bar Association Mid-Year is being held from October 22, 2016 through October 29, 2016 in Amsterdam-Netherlands at the Hilton Amsterdam Hotel. Regis-tration is ongoing for the State Bar Association Mid-Year meeting. As we all know, this is a great oppor-tunity for members of the Bar to network with their colleagues, receive legal education credits and obtain the opportunity to spend time in Europe in Amster-dam, a beautiful and historic city. Having attended these events over the course of many years, I cannot understate the value of our members to be involved in this legal education and travel event. Presumably you have all received registration forms distributed through the State Bar Association and the Ocean County Bar Association for your registration. I would ask all who can take the trip to do so and en-joy a fantastic event sponsored by our State Bar As-sociation.
As you are aware, Thomas H. Prol, was sworn in as the President of the State Bar Association at the an-nual meeting held in May in Atlantic City. Tom pro-vides a varied background and is certainly an indi-vidual who can lead our State Bar Association for the upcoming year.
Still of importance to the State Bar Association is the need for continued efforts to secure judicial inde-pendence for our judges throughout the state. Over the last several years as we know, there have been attacks on the independence of the judiciary. The politicization of the judicial appointment system is greater than ever seen in the State of New Jersey.
The denial of tenure to competent and well-respected judges and a general feeling of disappointment in the manner that politics has played in our judicial sys-tem. This started with the Governor’s refusal to nominate sitting Supreme Court Justice John Wal-lace to give him tenure and it then came more appar-ent when the sitting Supreme Court Justice Helen Hoens was also not nominated to give her tenure. It appeared recently that we had a deadlock for the ap-pointment of numerous judges throughout the State and only efforts by State Bar members and others involved in the process did we have final nomina-tions and approval to 43 judges who were waiting to be tenured and who were on the cusp of not receiv-ing tenure nominated for approval and advice and consent of the Senate. This was all political.
At the present time, the State Bar Association is in-vestigating and seeking to determine the Bar Asso-ciation’s protection of lawyers who are involved in certain corporate marketing techniques which estab-lish a referral service through on-line communica-tions to look for lawyers to obtain clients. The State Bar Association is investigating whether or not these on-line services violate attorney ethics and the Rules of Professional Conduct. Many, if not all, have re-ceived solicitation by on-line services who promote client contact by paying certain fees to the organiza-tion in exchange for client referrals. This appears to create many issues that involve lawyers violating the rules of professional conduct. Based upon the cir-cumstances, the State Bar Association Board and Trustees are investigating, the outcome of which is yet unknown. However, we will keep you posted as to the developments on this very important issue.
The State Bar Association is also investigating the American Bar Association’s position concerning corporate ownership of law firms when the stock-holders or partners are not attorneys. This creates issues concerning the independence of lawyers in the practice of law, the nature of how legal services will be performed in the future and the method by which clients may be treated by lawyers practicing for non-lawyer owned firms or organizations. The American
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Bar Association has, at this point, approved these non-lawyer owned firms or organizations. The State Bar Association has taken the position for many reasons that the non-lawyer owned firms or organizations that practice law are not in the best interest of the public. It violates the basis of independence of the attorneys and their views and representation of their clients. It violates the ability of attorneys to act independently of a body which may make policy decisions not in the best interest of the clients. It does not serve to make the public gain any benefit from having access to attorneys at a reasonable price for legal services. The argument is that non-lawyer owned organizations will provide legal service more readily to reach out to the public and give people more of a choice at more reasonable prices to gain legal representation. At the present time, the State Bar Association has a program involving providing legal services by underemployed and unemployed attor-neys at reasonable rates for those who cannot afford legal services at standard rates. This satisfies the needs of those people who need to obtain legal services at less than the market rates and, at the same time, provides those attorneys who are unemployed or underemployed the opportunity to gain clients and income to their firms by having clients at reduced rates.
All of these issues are such that the State Bar Association on a constant basis is working for the benefit of all attorneys and those members of the New Jersey State Bar Association. I would implore those who are attor-neys in the State of New Jersey to join the New Jersey State Bar Association and become active in its many committees and sub-committees if not members already. The more members that the Association has, the more benefit to lawyers as a whole throughout the State can be gained. The State Bar Association is the voice that protects the interest of ourselves, our clients and the general public which we all serve.
Richard M. Sevrin, Esq. State Bar Trustee
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IN MEMORIAM
John W. Cerefice Peter R. Strohm
Their many years of service to the Bar and the Community shall long be remembered!
OCEAN COUNTY BAR
ASSOCIATION GOLF OUTING
Woodlake Country Club
September 15, 2016
RESULTS
1ST PLACE TEAM: SCORED A 59
Michael Ayres, Joseph Russell,Jr., Matthew Sage & Joseph Russell, Sr.
2ND PLACE TAM WON MATCH OF CARDS, 66
Hon. James Blaney, Hon. Joseph Foster, Hon. David Millard & Hon. Mark Troncone
3RD PLACE TEAM, LOST MATCH OF CARDS, 66
Richard Butz, John Conforti, Douglas DeVincens & Tim Wintrode
4TH PLACE TEAM: SCORED A 67
Kevin Beirne, James Brady, Mickey Jackson, Leon Kulpa
5TH PLACE TEAM: SCORED A 68
Kevin Cairns, Mark Callazzo, Gary McLean, Ken Palmer
SPECIAL PRIZES
Closest to the Pin Hole #4: James Brady 21ft. 6in.
Closest to the Pin Hole #17: Matt Sate 9ft. 4in.
Longest Drive Hole #12: Joseph Russell, Jr.
NOTABLES & REST OF THE FIELD RESULTS
Team Armstrong Shot a 70
Team Brogan Shot a 72
Team Davies shot a 75
Team Felicetta Shot a 75
Team Christos Shot a 78
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Photos by Valter Must, Esq.
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COMMITTEE MEMBERS WANTED
MINORITY COMMITTEE
Although few and across, there are some minorities who have made there presence known at the Ocean Bar.
Purpose: to include the minorities that makes up this Bar Association and includes all minorities who consider themselves a minority based on race/ethnicity; gender orientation.
Immediate concerns:
1. Monthly meetings- to include a liaison to the General Bar Association and one who dis-cussed current concerns with the Bar at large.
2. Issues that concern the minority bar in this county- what should we change
3. Representation of the minority bar in this county- we should present CLE’s on current legal topics, areas or “concerns” that effect the minorities in this Bar Association
4. Yearly event- possibly that includes the other local Bar Associations.
5. Possible joint venture with Monmouth County as they do not have one.
6. Lunch/events with the Judges- espe cially to include and interact with minority judges.
7. Community Give Back- Possibly in joint venture with Law Day- to show the different faces that com prise the Bar.
PRO BONO COMMITTEE
To provide information, education and op-portunities for the members of this Asso-ciation to render pro bono legal services to the indigent residents of Ocean County.
Anyone interested in serving on either or both of these committees should contact Karin Poola at [email protected].
Marsha Rosenstein, LCSW, LLC
Individual, Couples and
Family Psychotherapy Families of Divorce
Parenting Coordinator Family Reunifications
Therapy for Children of Divorce
2517 Highway 35 Building G, Suite103
Manasquan, NJ 08736 Email: mrose-
[email protected] marsha-rosenstein.com (732) 583-7987
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We are Ocean County Lawyers since 1970. Our attorneys have been members, offi-cers and supporters of the Ocean County Bar Association for forty years.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
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BRONZINO, PETER J. (732) 202-7104, 44 Princeton Ave. Brick NJ 08724. Available for research, briefs and court appearances. Also accepting overflow referrals. Former law clerk to the Honorable Thomas E. O'Brien, P.J.Cv. GERSTENBLATT, JEFFREY H., - 545 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 17B, Lakewood, NJ 08701, (732) 901-4793. All court appearances including family, civil, criminal, chancery, special civil part and municipal court. Briefs, research, depositions, motions. KELLY, THOMAS F. - (732) 946-9000. As-sistance to you and your clients in complicated IRS cases, audits, collections, criminal mat-ters. Formerly, District Counsel IRS. PURRAZZELLA, JOSEPH - (732) 341-2222. Specializing in Social Security Disabil-ity Appeals. Member of the National Organi-zation Claimant’s Representatives (NOSSCR). Accepting referrals. RYBAR, AGNES - (732) 966-2836. Special-izing in Family Law. Available for research, motions, briefs, court appearance and vacation coverage. Accepting referrals. SIMMONS, DANIEL - 121 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ (732) 349-0401. Gen-eral Law; specialty in Municipal Court appeals and briefs. WIEDEKE, FREDERICK, JR. - 769 Route #9, Bayville, NJ (732) 269-3377. Research, Briefs, Motions and all types of Court appear-ances; Family Law; Civil Litigation.
Seeking lost Will for Catherine A. Madonia. If she was a client please contact Vicki at 201-424-7013
Private Office Space for Rent - One block from Court-house. River View. Attractive newly renovated office 650 sq. ft. Possible overflow/conflict work. Call 732-244-8800 for details
I have decided to finally make good on my threat to retire. In or around year-end, my firm will cease doing business with, possibly, my being of counsel at a location to be determined. To those of you who knew me my selection of computers, telephone sys-tems, copy machine, fax and hard equipment of any kind sucked. I did, however, always have nice con-ference rooms. The building (145 N. Green Street, Tuckerton, NJ) is sold with closing to occur in early January. The buyer does not intend to utilize it as a law office. Accordingly, I a offering some pretty decent conference room furniture and furnishing as well as some reception area stuff, which probably isn’t as good. If anyone would like to look at it, just give me a little bit of notice as I have nothing better to do The pick-up would occur between January 1 and January 15, 2017 as it will be a functioning law office until year-end.
Your Pal,
Howard Butensky
PER DIEM ATTORNEYS & CLASSIFIED
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OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT
SEEKING INFORMATION
OFFICE FURNITURE FOR SALE