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MONROE COUNTY BRIEF
Published for the Monroe County Bar Association
First Quarter 2015
Volume 20 Issue 1
Issue 3
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Monroe County Bar Association, 913 Main Street,
www.monroebar.org info2@monroebar.org 570.424.7288
President’s Message
Todd W. Weitzmann, MCBA President
We are already one-quarter of the way through our centennial year. The year kicked off with a
quilt, show entitled “100 Years on the Courthouse Steps,” which was the result of a
collaboration by the MCBA, the Pocono Mountain Quilters’ Guild and the Pocono Arts
Council. Quilters used a fabric designed by our member, Jane Roach Maughan, to craft quilts
that focused on the architecture of our Courthouse, themes of justice and law and the events
of 1915, the year of our Association’s founding. The quilts were on display at the Bar Center, where they were judged
by a panel of experts and by the audience.
In keeping with the MCBA’s strategic planning goals to make productive use of our Bar Center, members celebrated the
St. Patrick’s Day parade from the porch while enjoying warm food, drinks, and fellowship. Based on the robust turnout
for this event, members are taking advantage of the opportunity to gather informally and establish new traditions for use
of the Bar Center.
The committees of the Association are in full swing, with the Strategic Planning Committee leading the way by
providing goals and priorities for the rest of the centennial year. The Bench Bar Conference Committee is actively
planning for an interesting and useful conference in the fall, while the Grant Committee is finalizing a policy for
donating some of our financial resources back to our community.
As the Law Day ceremonies approach on May 1st, please consider taking some time to participate in the activities,
including the Law Day Run on May 3rd, and to celebrate our 100th year.
Endowment Fund Created for Ronald E. Vican Memorial Scholarship
The Monroe County Bar Foundation announced the creation of the Ronald E. Vican Memorial Scholarship Endowment
Fund. From this fund, the Foundation will award an annual scholarship to a Pocono Mountain East High School senior
who plays varsity sports, achieves academic success, is involved in their community, and displays exemplary personal
attributes.
The Foundation feels this to be a fitting tribute, as Judge Vican excelled in all of these fields. The establishment of an
endowment fund will go a long way in supporting a well-rounded athlete in pursuit of their dream of further education.
The Foundation Board established an endowment fund goal of $10,000, which will provide scholarships for a number of
years. The Monroe County Bar Association, trustees and several Association members have already contributed but we
have a long way to go.
I ask you to consider contributing in honor of Judge Vican so that we may provide financial resources for a worthy
student this year and for many years to come.
Thank you.
Bill Reaser, Chairman
Monroe County Brief
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MCBA
YLD
Division
News from the YLD
2015 Shaping Up To Be Great!
The YLD welcomed two new officers this year, Elizabeth Field and Jason LaBar. Liz
and Jason are both very active members of the YLD and with Brian Jordan and Kat
Walters, the YLD is in good hands.
Officers
Brian C. Jordan
President
Kathleen Walters
Vice President
Elizabeth Field
Treasurer
Jason LaBar
Secretary
This year you will again find the YLD members supporting the community through
actively participating in local soup kitchens, building houses with Habitat for Humanity
and sitting on non-profits boards and committees. The mentoring lunches will continue
and soon the plans for the annual “Bowling with the Judges” event will be announced.
YLD representatives contribute too many MCBA committees not only as committee
members but also as chairs; including CLE, Law Day and Government Relations
Committees.
Working closing with staff, the YLD hope to develop a program to welcome new
members, especially YLD members and those attorneys new to the area.
With the support of the entire YLD membership, 2015 will be a great year!
MCBA Receives Two CCBL Awards
Monroe County Bar Association received recognition at the Conference of County Bar
Leaders this past February. Donating one of the largest, if not the single largest, gift to a
legal aid association by a bar association, MCBA was acknowledged for our generous gift to
North Penn Legal Services.
Our second award was for the undertaking of the daunting task of doing the first stratgic
plan in the history of MCBA.
Pictured Left to Right: Deb Huffman, Sara Austin, PBA VP, William Pugh, PBA President-Elect,
Todd Weitzmann, John Howland, CCBL Preisdent, Jeff Durney, Lori Cerato, Frank O’Connor, PBA
President, Denise Burdge, Bill Reaser, Tim McManus
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Monroe County Brief
Monroe County Bar Foundation
William J. Reaser, Jr., MCBF Chairman
The goal of the Monroe County Bar Foundation is to give back
to the community where we live and work. As I look back
over the years since the Foundation was organized, I am proud
of what we’ve done, how much we have contributed to local
organizations, school activities and scholarships we have
awarded.
This year we will be providing scholarships of $1,500.00 each
for to up to four graduating students from local public schools.
The scholarships are funded through the support of MCBA
members, MCBA, and our fundraising events. If you know a
graduating student furthering their education in the legal field,
whether it be law enforcement, paralegal studies or the law,
please feel free to contact the MCBA office for a scholarship
application.
To those who have donated to the foundation this year, “Thank
you”. Our community is a better place because of you.
Monroe County Bar Foundation
Board of Trustees
2015
William J. Reaser
Chairman
Elizabeth Bensinger Weekes
Treasurer
Thomas V. Casale
Trustee
Tom Dirvonas
Trustee
Diane Dagger
Trustee
Denise Murray
Trustee
Victoria Strunk
Trustee
Denise M. Burdge
Executive Director
Bill Reaser
Member Updates
Member Changes
Lisa DeLuca
(Formerly Lisa Karpf)
Ronald Karasek
The Karasek Law Offices, LLC
(Formerly Martino & Karasek LLP)
David Martino
Law Offices of David A. Martino
(Formerly Martino & Karasek LLP)
Michelle Polato
New Phone: 570.517.3042
New Members
Thomas Clark
Hubshman, Flood & Bullock
220 Stafford Ave., Ste 500
Scranton PA 18505
570.309.3965
866.842.1482 (Fax)
Thomas_P_Clark@progressive.com
Paul Schaffer
Law Office of Jill Snyder
660 W Germantown Pike, Suite 100
Plymouth Meeting PA 19462
484.351.0632
877.468.0855 (Fax)
schaffp@nationwide.com
Monroe County Brief
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B
2015 Mark Your Calendar Now!
April
August
April 1, 2015 – Bridge the Gap
Lunch 12:00 pm- MCBA Bldg
CLE 12:30-4:30 pm
August 5, 2015 – Bridge the Gap
Lunch 12:00 pm-MCBA Bldg
CLE 12:30-4:30 pm
April 13 2015 – Executive Board Meeting
Meeting 12:00 pm-Sarah Street
August 10, 2015 – Executive Board Meeting
Meeting 12:00 pm-Sarah Street
May
September
May 1, 2015 – Law Day
Continental Breakfast 8:30 am– Law Library
Law Day Ceremonies 9:15 am-Courtroom 1
Fairy Tale Trials 10:15 am – Courtrooms to be
announced
September 14, 2015 – Executive Board Meeting
Meeting 12:00 pm-MCBA Bldg
May 3, 2015 –Law Day Race
Morey Elementary 9:30 am Race Start
September 18, 2015– Bench Bar Conference
Member Meeting
Northampton Community College-Monroe Campus
May 8, 2015 – PBA House of Delegates
Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel
September 26, 2015- New York City Bus Trip
Leave MCBA 8:45 am
May 11, 2015 – Executive Board Meeting
Meeting 12:00 pm - Siamsa
September 29, 2015-Social on the Veranda
5:30-6:30 pm-MCBA Bldg
May 16, 2015 – New York City Bus Trip
Leave MCBA 8:45 am
May 20, 2015 – Member Meeting
Cocktails and Dinner 5:30 pm - Peppe’s
Meeting 7:00 pm
May 29, 2015 - Support Staff Annual Luncheon
Lunch 12:00 pm-Delaware Room
Pocono Inne Town
June
October
October 3, 2015 – Centennial Celebration
Skytop Lodge
October 13, 2015 – Executive Board Meeting
Meeting 12:00 pm-Siamsa
November
November 6, 2015 – Member Meeting
Lunch 11:30 am, Meeting 12:00 pm-Terraview
CLE 12:30 pm
June 8, 2015 – Executive Board Meeting
Meeting 12:00 pm-Willowtree Inn
November 9, 2014 – Executive Board Meeting
Meeting 12:00 pm-Willowtree Inn
July
November 20, 2015 – PBA House of Delegates
Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel
July 13, 2015 – Executive Board Meeting
Meeting 4:00 pm-MCBA Bldg
July 13, 2015 Member Meeting
Meeting 5:30 pm-MCBA Bldg
November 21, 2015 - Mock Trials
Location to be announced
December
July 13, 2015 – Social on the Veranda
6:00 – 7:00 pm-MCBA Bldg
December 14, 2015-Executive Board Meeting
Meeting 12:00 pm – Smugglers Cove
August
December 18, 2015 – Swearing Ceremonies
3:30 pm-Courtroom 1
August 2, 2015- Iron Pigs Game
Leaving MCBA 11:30 am
December 18, 2015 - MCBA Holiday Open House
4:30 pm-MCBA Building
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Monroe County Brief
Members in the News
Monroe County Brief
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Upcoming PBI Schedule at the Bar Center – Live-feed Groupcasts & Video Replays
For more details or to register for any PBI seminar, go to www.pbi.org
Courses are subject to cancellation by PBI if a minimum number of attendees do not pre-register.
Save time and money – Earn your CLE’s locally!
PBI – Representing the Undocumented Worker in a Catastrophic Injury Case Video
Date and Time: 4/8/15 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
PBI – Litigating in Orphan’s Court Groupcast
Date and Time: 4/9/15 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
PBI Unemployment Compensation Groupcast
Date and Time: 4/16/15 9:00 AM - 4:15 PM
PBI Ethics Potpourri Assisting a Colleague in Distress Video
Date and Time: 4/17/15 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
PBI Thorny Issues in Landlord Tenant Laws Video
Date and Time: 4/22/15 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
PBI Family Law Institute 2015 Groupcast
Date and Time: 4/23/15 8:30 AM– 4:00 PM and 4/24/15 8:30 AM – 11:45 AM
PBI Criminal Law Update 2015 Video
Date and Time: 4/29/15 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Tough Problems In Workers’ Compensation 2015 Groupcast
Date and Time: 4/29/15 12:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Estate Planning for Younger Couples Groupcast
Date and Time: 5/11/15 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Understanding Social Security Retirement Groupcast
Date and Time: 5/14/15 12:00 PM – 3:15 PM
20 Hot Tips in Family Law Groupcast
Date and Time: 5/21/5 12:45 PM – 4:00 PM
2015 Probate & Trust Law Quarterly Portability: Throwing a Wrench into Traditional Estate Planning Groupcast
Date and Time: 6/2/1512:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Due Diligence in Business Transactions Video
Date and Time: 6/3/15 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Dead Man’s Rule Groupcast
Date and Time: 6/9/15 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM
PA’s Power of Attorney-What You Need to Know-Six Months After Enactment Groupcast
Date and Time: 6/15/15 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Equal Justice Under the Law: The Magna Carta After 800 Years Groupcast
Date and Time: 6/16/16 12: PM – 4:30 PM
Practice before the PA Human Relations Commission Groupcast
Date and Time 6/23/15 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
General Practitioners’ Update 2015 Groupcast
Date and Time: 6/24/15 8:30 AM – 3:45 PM
How to win (or Defend Against) Summary Judgment Motions in Employment Law Cases Video
Date and Time: 6/26/16 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Evidence for Criminal Attorneys Video
Date and Time: 6/30/15 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
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Monroe County Brief
Members Have Fun
(and raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters)
When members of the Bar Association were challenged by the MCBA staff to
participate in the 2015 Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Bowl-a-Thon, they jumped,
or should we say, bowled at the opportunity! Three teams vied for the right to be
the 2015 MCBA Bowling Champs. Team “LLD”, or what we like to call our
Longstanding Lawyers Division, showed everyone that bowling is in their blood when
they easily defeated the YLD and staff. Of course, they are more experienced than
the YLD and the staff was too busy seeing who get the most gutter balls!
Thank you to the three teams for raising $566.00 and to the MCBA Board for the
dollar for dollar match. Big Brothers Big Sisters was the benefactor of $1,132.00
and the teams of a couple of hours of fun.
Front Row: Deb Huffman, Kat Walters, Ashley Narwid, Denise Burdge
Back Row: Todd Weitzmann, Geoff Worthington, Joel Madden, Hillary Madden,
Michelle Polato, Shamira Cooper
“Strategizing!”
Photos by Jeff Burdge and Michael Narwid (Who are just too shy to be in pictures!)
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2015 Mock Trial District and Regional Competition
Mock Trial District and Regional competitions were held in the Monroe County
Courthouse thanks to the generosity of President Judge Margherita PattiWorthington. East Stroudsburg South, Notre Dame, Pocono Mountain East,
Stroudsburg and Wallenpaupack all participated in the districted competition, all
vying for the chance to move to regionals. Wallenpaupack High School narrowing
won over Notre Dame in the playoffs for the opportunity to compete against
Abington. MCBA congratulates Abington on their win over Wallenpaupack.
Thank you to our Chairs Judge Marek and Judge Muth and the many volunteers that
worked to make the trials a success!
“Best
Party
Ever!”
Monroe County Brief
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2015 Monroe County Bar Association
Officers and Directors
Todd W. Weitzmann
Jeffrey A. Durney
Timothy J. McManus
Mark A Primrose
Lori J. Cerato
Elizabeth Bensinger Weekes
Elizabeth M. Field
Brian C. Jordan
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Past President
Member at Large
Member at Large
Member at Large YLD
President
Monroe County Bar Association
Holiday Schedule
FOR UP-TO-DATE MCBA NEWS
and
COURTHOUSE NEWS
GO TO
MCBA Legal Links Page
Remember to notify the MCBA office if
you have any changes to your
membership by emailing
info2@monroebar.org
Up-to-date member information is
available on the MCBA website:
www.monroebar.org
Good Friday, April 3, 2015
MCBA Office closed
Memorial Day, Monday May 25 2015
MCBA Office closed
YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
Willowtree Inn, Noon - 1:00 pm
Estate Lawyers Lunch – 1st Wednesday
Real Estate Attorneys Lunch – 2nd Tuesday
Municipal Law Lunch – 3rd Tuesday
Sarah’s Café, Noon – 1:00 pm
Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Lunch – 4th Tuesday
Siamsa, Noon – 1:00 pm
Social Security Disability Lawyers Lunch – 3rd Thursday
Coming Soon!
Family Law Lawyers Lunch
Watch for the email announcement
MCBA Staff
Denise M. Burdge, Executive Director dburdge@monroebar.org
Ashley Narwid, Events Coordinator info2@monroebar.org