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The Causeway
The Monthly Newsletter for the Franklin County Bar Association
June 2020
"The law is a causeway upon which, so long as he keeps to it, a citizen may walk safely" Robert Bolt, playwright
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Thank you to Marty Walker, Barb Townsend, and David Spang for the beautiful flowers in the Courthouse planters!
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Press Releases, Memos and Important Notices
39th Judicial Memos and Information
The Pennsylvania Judiciary has provided updates at the link below regarding county-by-county court operations and proceedings. They continue to monitor developments regarding the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on court operations.
http://www.pacourts.us/ujs-coronavirus-information
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* Laken Lynch and her fiancé Triston Chase O'Savio welcomed Sparrow into their family (pictured above). Sparrow Chase O'Savio was born at home at 11:04 p.m. on May 16. He weighed 7 lbs 2 oz.
* John A. "Jay" Abom has been selected to the 2020 list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. This is his 10th straight year for the recognition. He is among the five percent of lawyers in the state selected by Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
In addition to Attorney Abom's selection, three Abom & Kutulakisattorneys have been named 2020 Rising Stars, including FCBA member Michele L. Kluk. Each year no more than 2.5 percent of Pennsylvania lawyers are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
* Richard K. Hoskinson passed away in May. We offer our condolences to Dick's family and partners. We have not scheduled an in-person memorial service at this time. We have posted a video created by our memorial resolution committee featuring messages from FCBA president A.J. Benchoff and memorial resolution committee chair Forest Myers. You may read the resolution and view the video HERE.
* We offer our condolences to Janice Hawbaker and her family for the passing of her father Herbert Arnold Muller, M.D. You may read more about Dr. Muller HERE.
* We offer our condolences to the Honorable Mary Beth Shank and her family for the passing her father of William H. "Buzz" Shank, III. You may read more about Mr. Shank HERE.
* We offer our condolences to the Spang Family. David Spang's father and Nathaniel Spang's grandfather Donald Frederick Spang, Esquire passed away. You may read more about Mr. Spang HERE.
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Franklin County Legal Journal
We continue to publish the Franklin County Legal Journal on a weekly basis. We now have a PO Box to streamline retrieval of mail. The Heritage Center building has limited access, which may interrupt mail delivery. (Our mail is being forwarded to the new PO Box.)
You may continue to email notices using legaljournal@franklinbar.org
Please may mail notices/checks to:
Franklin County Legal Journal
PO Box 189
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Members who normally receive their copy of the legal journal delivered to the Courthouse will receive a PDF via email. If you would like a member of your staff added to this distribution list please let us know. If you would prefer to receive your legal journal mailed to your office please let us know.
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Franklin County Bar Association and Franklin County Law Library Reopening
Franklin County transitioned from Red Phase to Yellow Phase on Friday, May 29th. The Franklin County Bar Association office and Franklin County Law Library reopened on Friday. We are using the CDC's and Department of Health's guidelines to operate in a manner that prioritizes the safety of members, visitors, and staff while granting access to our facility. The total number of people allowed in our facility is eight (8), which includes law library visitors, conference room use, and staff. Please call 717-267-2032 or email director@franklinbar.org with any questions.
Franklin County Law Library
The Franklin County Law Library is open and available by appointment (starting May 29th). To schedule an appointment please call 717-267-2071. Staff will schedule appointments during normal business hours of Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Staff is typically in the office Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings. If you call during these times you may be granted immediate access to the Law Library if we have not reached capacity.
Procedures
- A maximum of four (4) people are allowed in the Law Library research area. This includes staff.
- Everyone over the age of 2 is required to wear a mask. *
- Everyone is asked to use the hand sanitizer located at the front desk or wash their hands in the bathroom when entering and exiting the Law Library.
- DO NOT use the Law Library if you are experiencing an elevated temperature of 100 or greater, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell. These are symptoms of COVID-19. Staff will ask about these symptoms. We reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone based on safety concerns, at the discretion of our Executive Director.
- Staff and visitors are always expected to maintain proper social distancing and avoid physical contact.
- Surfaces will be cleaned between visitors. Please be patient when waiting to use Law Library equipment, including computers, the copier, and books.
- All Law Library visitors will be asked to provide their name and phone number for our visitor log. The information on the visitor log will be shared with the Department of Health if requested for public safety purposes (i.e. contact tracing of COVID-19).
Please visit www.franklinbar.org/find to learn more about the legal research tools that are available for you to use from home.
FCBA members
may access the Law Library after hours (if you have keys). You are not required to schedule this time with staff. Please complete the visitor log when you arrive. Please maintain the four (4) person limit after hours.
* Disposable masks are available. Please inform staff if you are unable to wear a mask due to a medical reason. We will make accommodations for you to use the Law Library safely.
FCBA Conference Room 1
Conference room 1 will be available for members and non-member attorneys.
- A maximum of four (4) people are allowed in the conference room. Amelia can set up Zoom for FCBA members who have clients or other attorneys wishing to join remotely.
- Persons using the conference room will be asked to follow the same safety procedures as the library patrons. i.e. hand washing, wearing mask, etc.
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FCBA Invites you to join us for Happy Hour via Zoom
You are invited to join us for a virtual Happy Hour on Thursdays 5 -6 p.m. You can join us from the comfort of your home or office using Zoom. Click on the link below.
Topic: FCBA Happy Hour
Time: 5-6 p.m. Thursdays
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 155 324 465
Password: 009250
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PBA Avoiding Legal Malpractice program
The Franklin County session of Avoiding Legal Malpractice program was cancelled this Spring. One of the benefits of ALMS is the USI insurance program, particularly the lawyers professional liability insurance program, but USI does offer a variety of additional insurance coverages. Those who choose to purchase their LPL insurance through the bar endorsed program, can save 5% on their premium. In addition, by attending the ALM program each year, they may also qualify for an additional 7.5% discount when they renew their policy!
We know this is a significant factor in what makes the ALM program so popular. And even if an attorney is not insured through USI, they earn 1.5 hours of ethics CLE and get their yearly reminders on steps they can put into place to avoid malpractice or to mitigate escalation if there was an error. This program has shown success in helping to reduce the number of claims, the severity of claims, helping to keep insurance premiums low, and it gives attorneys greater peace of mind. PBA enjoys providing these programs in person and sincerely hopes to schedule programs again next Spring!
Until then, we know that many attorneys are wondering how they can qualify for the discount on their LPL insurance provided by CNA through USI Affinity. On June 9 we will be offering a live, online version of the ALM program from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM.
We have kept the cost at $30, the same as the in-person programs. Attorneys will be able to participate in this live webcast program from the convenience of their home or office computer. The program will be presented by Josh Byrne, the current Chair of the PBA Professional Liability Committee, Shelly Lawson, Vice President at USI Affinity and Brian Quinn, the Education Coordinator from Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. If you have questions, you will be able to ask the presenters. The program will also be taped for later on-demand viewing. Both options will qualify for the USI discount.
To register for the live program on June 9, please visit the
PBI CLE webpage
. You can also call customer service at
1-800-932-4637
and reference course number 11139 or the PBA Avoiding Legal Malpractice program.
After the program has aired live, it will take a few days to make it available on demand.
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Complete all 2020 CLE Credits Online with Courses from Local Bar Associations!
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently announced that all required CLE credits for 2020 can be earned through distance learning courses. Now you can fulfill your entire credit requirement from home while supporting local bar associations! The Franklin County Bar Association and other bars across PA have partnered with Axom Education to offer online CLE courses. All courses are available to any attorney seeking PA CLE credit- you don't need to be a member of the bar association offering the course.
Recently released courses (and more coming soon!):
- Coronavirus and Your Mental Health: A Lawyer's Guide to Coping with Isolation, Anxiety, and Fear in Uncertain Times (1 Substantive Credit)
- Malpractice Avoidance and Mitigation (1 Ethics Credit)
- 2020 New Sentencing Guidelines (2 Substantive Credits)
- Mobile Home Park Management (1 Substantive Credit)
- 2020 Family Law Update (1 Substantive Credit)
- Social Media in Private Practice (1.5 Substantive Credits)
- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Impaired Lawyers (1 Ethics Credit)
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Amazon Smile for FCB Foundation
Did you know you could make a donation to the FCB Foundation when you shop at Amazon?
CLICK HERE to select FCB Foundation as your charity.
You shop. Amazon gives.
- Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
- AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
- Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com
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Coffee Corner
"Coffee Corner" is a periodic column in The Causeway by Bar members Annie Gómez Shockey, Brandon Copeland, Krystal MacIntyre, and Brendan Sullivan.
Check back next month for Coffee Corner!
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Franklin County Bar Association
100 Lincoln Way East, Suite E, Chambersburg, PA 17201
director@franklinbar.org
717-267-2032
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