MINUTES OF THE MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

October 9, 2007

 

 

 

A regular meeting of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Nevada was convened on October 9, 2007 at the Postal Palace in Ely , NV at 9:05 a.m.

 

The following members were in attendance:

Nancy Allf, President

Bruce Beesley, President-Elect

Kathleen England, Vice President

Connie Akridge

Larry Digesti

Cam Ferenbach
Francis Flaherty

Dara Goldsmith

Elana Hatch

Bryan Scott

John White

Robert Witek

 

By Phone:

Gregg Kamer

Bridget Robb Peck

Bill Turner

 

State Bar Staff Present:

Chris Boadt

David Clark

Kimberly Farmer

Marc Mersol

Gale Skala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting was called to order by President Nancy Allf at 9:05 am and a quorum was declared.

 

2.         CONSENT ITEMS

 

The Board of Governors agreed that item number 8, Report of Access to Justice Commission, should be removed from the Consent Agenda. The following Consent Agenda items were accepted or approved unanimously, as follows:

 

Approval of Minutes of August 30, 2007

 

Report of Director of Admissions

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Eileen O’Grady to the Board of Bar Examiners to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Paul Taggart.   It was moved, seconded and approved to reappoint Carol Zucker to the Board of Bar Examiners and John Bailey to the Character and Fitness Committee for an additional three year term.

 

Report of Director of Finance

 

 

Report of Fee Dispute Committee/Clients’ Security Fund

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to approve the suggested changes to the By-Laws for the Fee Dispute Arbitration Committee.  The most substantive change is the expansion of jurisdiction to include all attorneys subject to discipline by the State Bar of Nevada.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint the following volunteers to the Fee Dispute Arbitration Committee for a three year term effective October 2007:

 

Dan Waite                    Las Vegas Panel A

Joanna Grigoriev         Las Vegas Panel C

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to reappoint the following volunteers to the Fee Dispute Arbitration Committee for an additional three year term effective October 2007:

 

Corby Arnold               Las Vegas Panel A

Rea Melanson             Las Vegas Panel A

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to reappoint Shari Thomas to the Clients’ Security Fund Committee for an additional three year term effective October 2007.

 

Report of Law Related Education

 

 

Report of Lawyer Referral and Information Committee

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Gina Corena to the Lawyer Referral and Information Service Committee for a three year term effective immediately.

 

Report of ABA House of Delegates Meeting

 

 

Report of the Young Lawyer’s Section

 

 

3.         Report of Access to Justice Commission

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to support the Emeritus rule created by the Access to Justice Commission.  The AJC will provide an ADKT Petition to the Board in December for review.

 

4.         Comprehensive IOLTA

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to approve the ADKT requesting to amend Supreme Court Rule 217 allowing conversion from the existing “Opt-Out” program to a “Comprehensive” program.   

 

5.         Report of Director of Operations and Education

 

Chris Boadt shared his written report highlighting the mission and goals of the CLE Committee.    Mr. Boadt reviewed the proposal agreement with Webcredenza to provide live teleconference seminars.   Upon discussion, the Board asked the CLE Committee to continue to investigate the benefits of using Webcredenza , develop a marketing plan along with a strategic plan for which Webcredenza could distribute Nevada specific CLE programs.  It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Virginia Hunt to the CLE Committee for a three year term effectively immediately.

 

6.         Committee Reports

 

Midyear Meeting

Bruce Beesley talked to the Young Lawyer Section regarding the dates and venue for the Midyear Meeting.   Gale Skala will arrange for a meeting within the next month.

 

Audit Committee

Dara Goldsmith is investigating the audits from the previous years with respect to the Rate Search matter.

 

Finance Committee

Cam Ferenbach reported that the committee is investigating different investment options for State Bar funds.

 

Member Services

Larry Digesti shared the highlights of the Member Services Committee meeting.   The Committee is researching Casemaker as a member service.

 

 

Document Retention

Frank Flaherty shared the history and the draft of the proposal.  Marc Mersol has asked the Directors of the Bar to review the policy regarding document retention to provide feedback.   

 

7.         Report of Rate Search

 

David Clark shared the status on the Rate Search investigation.  

 

8.         Report of the President

 

Board Redistribution

Nancy Allf reported on the distribution of the Board of Governors as outlined in the rules.  It was moved, seconded and approved to keep the Board distribution as it is presently regardless of the population status in the different counties.   David Clark will do an ADKT reflecting this change.

 

Mandatory Documents

Kimberly Farmer shared the history on attorneys filing their mandatory documents with the State Bar.   David Clark clarified the Supreme Court rule concerning the filing of the mandatory documents.   After discussion, it was moved, seconded, and approved that the Bar will send one last letter indicating to the member what is needed to be in compliance.  If the member does not comply, they will be suspended or fined according to the rule. Kimberly Farmer will notify the Court of the situation.

 

Request for ADKT-Offers of Judgment

Nancy Allf will talk to Craig Roecks and decide what direction should be taken.

 

Legal Services Organizations

The Board discussed the shortfall of the legal services organizations due to a lost grant from the Department of Justice.  The Board took no action on this matter.

 

 

9.         Report of Deputy Bar Counsel

 

David Clark shared the highlights of his written report.   It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Todd Ford and Wayne Nicholson to the Southern Standing Lawyer Advertising Committee.  Bruce Beesley, Bridget Robb Peck and Bill Turner abstained from voting on the appointment of Wayne Nicholson. It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Jerry Mowbray and Walter Fey to the Northern Standing Lawyer Advertising Committee.

 

10.       Report of Bar Counsel

 

The Board requested that Bar Counsel prepare a report analyzing the pros and cons of listing discipline matters on the website.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to accept the resignations of Jeffrey Wing and William Ansert.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint laymember Marcus Cusick to the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board.  

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to reappoint John Blink to the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board for a three year term expiring October 2010.   It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Clark Seegmiller to the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board for a three year term effective immediately.  It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Stephen Kent for a three term on the Northern Nevada Disciplinary Board effective immediately.

 

11.       Report of Executive Director

 

Kimberly Farmer shared the highlights of her conversation with Judge Flanagan concerning having a representative from the Board serve on the Historic Preservation Committee.   It was moved, seconded and approved to ask Magistrate Robert Johnston to serve as the representative.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business before the Board the meeting was adjourned at 3:00 pm.