Contra Costa Lawyer - Contra Costa County Bar Association

Contra Costa Lawyer 

Volume 23, Number 9 • October 2010 

The official publication of the 

The Bench | Bar Issue 

B A R 

A S S O C I A T I O N 

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Volume 23, Number 9 • October 2010 

B A R 

A S S O C I A T I O N 

features 

contents 

8 2010 Year in Review 

Presiding Judge's Perspective - Judge O'Malley 

Civil Law Perspective - Judge Goode 

Criminal Law Perspective - Judge Kennedy 

Family Law Perspective - Judge Cram 

Juvenile Law Perspective - Judge Haight 

Richmond Courthouse - Judge Maddock 

Walnut Creek Courthouse - Judge Kolin 

18 High TEch solutions in the wake of the budget crisis 

Barry Lynch 

20 A year of great change, challenge and opportunity for our adr programs 

Mindy Morgado 

21 Doing less with less - impact of the state budget on the courT 

Kiri Torre 

22 Richard E. Arnason Justice CEnter - From vision to realiTY 

Lucy Fogarty 

23 2011 judicial assignments 

departments 

4 Inside 

Kiri Torre 

6 President's message 

Ron Mullin 

16 MCLE Spectacular Preview 

24 Question Man 

given the number of new judges on the bench, what can be done 

To ensure a strong relationship between the bench and the bar? 

25 Bench/ Bar Relations 

Matthew Talbot 

26 Annual Court Scholarship Presentation 

28 Pro Bono 

A Conversation with Frank Acuña 

34 Classifieds Cover Image: Architect's Rendering, Courtesy of HOK Architects

inside 

2010 BOARD of DIRECTORS 

Ron Mullin President 

Kathy Schofield President-Elect 

Audrey Gee Secretary 

Jay Chafetz Treasurer 

Larry Cook Ex Officio 

Richard Alexander 

Amanda Bevins 

Christopher Bowen 

Oliver Bray 

Mike Brewer 

Leigh Johnson 

Kristen Thall Peters 

Alan Ramos 

Ron Rives 

Dana Santos 

Stephen Steinberg 

Candice Stoddard 

CCCBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Lisa Reep: 925.288.2555 • lgreep@cccba.org 

CCCBA main office: 925.686.6900 • www.cccba.org 

Jennifer Comages 

Membership Coordinator 

Emily Day 

Systems Administrator and 

Fee Arbitration Coordinator 

Manny Gutierrez 

Administrative Assistant 

and Legal Interviewer 

EDITOR 


925.942.5100 

CO-EDITOR 

Nicole Mills 

925.351.3171 

BENCH LIAISON 

Hon. Mary Ann O'Malley 

925.646.4001 

BOARD LIAISON 


925.942.5100 

COURT LIAISON 

Kiri Torre 

925.957.5607 

PRINTING 

Steven's Printing 

925.681.1774 


PHOTOGRAPHER 

Moya Fotografx 

510.847.8523 

Kerstin Firmin 

Communications Coordinator 

Barbara Tillson 

LRIS Coordinator 

Michele Vasta 

Section Liaison/Education 

& Programs Coordinator 

EDITORIAL BOARD 

Mark Ericsson 

925.930.6000 

Matthew P. Guichard 

925.459.8440 

Patricia Kelly 

925.258.9300 

Craig Nevin 

925.930.6016 

David Pearson 

925.287.0051 

Erika Portillo 

925.459.8440 

Andy Ross 

925.296.6000 

Dana Santos 

925.901.0185 

Kathy Schofield 

925.253.7890 

Audrey Smith 

925.969.3561 

Stephen C. Steinberg 

925.385.0644 

Marlene Weinstein 

925.942.5100 

The Contra Costa Lawyer (ISSN 1063-4444) is published 10 times 

a year by the Contra Costa County Bar Association (CCCBA), 

704 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553. Annual subscription of 

$25 is included in the membership dues. Second-class postage 

paid at Martinez, CA. POSTMASTER: send address change to 

the Contra Costa Lawyer, 704 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553. 

The Lawyer welcomes and encourages articles and letters 

from readers. Please send them to: Kerstin Firmin, CCCBA, 704 

Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553; or email to: kfirmin@cccba.org. 

The CCCBA reserves the right to edit articles and letters 

sent in for publication. All editorial material, including editorial 

comment, appearing herein represents the views of the respective 

authors and does not necessarily carry the endorsement of 

the CCCBA or the Board of Directors. Likewise, the publication 

of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement 

of the product or service offered unless it is specifically stated 

in the ad that there is such approval or endorsement. 

by Kiri Torre 

Court Executive Officer 

This Bench-Bar edition contains reflections on 2010 from our Judicial 

Leadership – Presiding Judge Mary Ann O’Malley, Supervising Judges 

Barry Goode - Civil; John Kennedy - Criminal; Joyce Cram - Family; Lois 

Haight - Juvenile; Thomas Maddock - Richmond; and William Kolin - 

Walnut Creek-Concord. 

2010 was the second full year of significant economic challenges facing the California 

Judicial Branch and our Court in particular. These challenges have tasked our ability 

to continue to provide exemplary service to the public, since the Court has suffered 

a 20 percent loss of staff through attrition and layoffs. In this issue, we describe how 

the Court’s budget strategy has begun to address the monumental budget reductions. 

Very difficult decisions have allowed the Court to remain financially solvent while 

some other courts struggle to manage these deep ongoing cuts. The mandated Court 

Closure days continued throughout California on the third Wednesday of each month 

through June 2010 to assist with the budget reductions. 

With fewer staff resources, the Court hired a top level Information Technology Director 

to assist the Court in the implementation of significant technology enhancements 

to enhance services to the public and to help mitigate the loss of staff. This issue provides 

highlights of achievements to date and a preview of initiatives to follow. 

The Court will also update readers on the challenges and opportunities concerning 

our Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs (ADR) in 2010. Many thanks to our 

ADR panel, consisting of 300+ members, who offer specialized expertise in 47 different 

subject areas. The overall settlement rate for cases referred to mediation remains 

in the 50% range and referrals to ADR continue at the rate of over 1,000 each year. 

We have also included an update on the completion and opening of the new Arnason 

Justice Center – planned for November of 2010. We watched with anticipation as 

California's first state-funded courthouse took shape and began to resemble the artist’s 

rendering of this institution of justice. 

The Court greatly appreciates its partnership with the Contra Costa County Bar Association 

and the local bar and is very pleased to share key information with the 

magazine’s readers. Thank you for the continuing opportunity to participate.u 

4 September 2010

We gratefully acknowledge 

the following 

Gala ReceptiOn 

in support of the Elder Law Center 

principal SpOnsOrs 

Commitments as of 

9/17/2010 

Platinum 

Casper, Meadows, 

Schwartz & Cook 

CCCBA’s Conservatorship, 

Guardianship, Probate 

& Trust Section 

GOld 

John A. Hartog 

JAMS 

JFK University 

Miller Starr Regalia 

Celebrating Judge Norm Spellberg (ret.) 

for his lifelong contribution 

to the Contra Costa Legal Community 

Thursday, NOvember 4, 2010 

5:30-7:30pm 

BedfOrd Gallery 

Dean Lesher RegiOnal Center fOR the Arts 

Walnut Creek 

Master of Ceremonies | Bill Gagen 

$50|$25 for CCCBA Barristers or Law Student members 

Morison Holden 

Derewetzky & Prough, LLP 

Silver 

Frankel & Goldware, LLP 

Gagen, McCoy, McMahon, 

Koss, Markowitz & Raines 

Guichard, Teng & Portello 

Littler Mendelson’s 

Walnut Creek Office 

McNamara, Ney, Beatty, 

Slattery, Borges & Brothers, LLP 

Shapiro Buchman Provine LLP 

It is not too late to join this 

exclusive group of supporters! 

Take advantage of sponsorship 

and pledge opportunities by calling 

today: 

Michele Vasta 

mvasta@cccba.org 

925-370-2548 

Contra Costa Lawyer 5

president’s message 

by Ron Mullin 

Across the board, attorneys report some 

of the highest levels of burnout amongst 

any profession. However, practicing 

with, for, and against attorneys who are 

social and reasonable can help deal with 

the problem of burnout. Fortunately, 

Contra Costa County has a community 

of attorneys who are both social and reasonable. 

Even more fortunate, there is a place 

where the community comes together, 

along with a focus on continuing education: 

The Robert G. McGrath American 

Inns of Court. Inns of Court are designed 

to meld the professionalism and talents 

of the bench and the bar. The McGrath 

Inn is no different. It meets once every 

month at the Lafayette Park Hotel to 

help attorneys and judges learn more 

about the ever changing landscape of 

the law. 

At the meetings, attorneys learn to 

become better advocates for their clients, 

concentrating especially on ethics. 

Members get the opportunity to learn 

alongside judges. Each judge is assigned 

a Pupilage Group, which consists of approximately 

ten attorneys ranging in experience 

from law students to legal masters. 

At an Inns event, a judge and his or 

her Pupilage Group put on an entertaining 

performance about a legal topic of 

their choice. This program is a great way 

to provide MCLE credit, including difficult-to-obtain 

credits such as Prevention 

and Detection of Substance Abuse and 

Elimination of Bias in the legal profession. 

Pupilage Groups frequently present 

their programs with funny skits or in 

a game show-style manner. 

The programs generally last about 

an hour. Afterwards, all members enjoy 

a dinner catered by the Lafayette Park 

Hotel. During dinner, members make 

new acquaintances, reconnect with old 

friends, and help mentor less experienced 

practitioners. The dinners provide 

everyone with a relaxed atmosphere in 

which the Inn members can better get 

to know each other. Few other counties 

provide as many opportunities as Contra 

Costa does to get to know not just the 

local judges better, but members of the 

First District Court of Appeals as well. 

For solo practitioners and those who 

work in small to mid-size firms, the Inns 

of Court provide great networking and 

business opportunities. The days of the 

general practitioner are long gone, even 

in this county. Attorneys skilled in personal 

injury defense could never manage 

a probate, while a business attorney 

would be lost trying to handle a divorce 

matter. In these days of hyper-specialization, 

meeting attorneys outside your 

practice field is a great opportunity provided 

by the Inns of Court. The juvenile 

dependency attorney sitting next to the 

IP attorney never knows when he or she 

might find themselves with an IP case to 

refer and vice versa. 

Any level of experience is welcome at 

the Inns. Legal masters and judges are 

encouraged to provide mentoring to 

younger attorneys. They can view the 

Inns as a way to impart their knowledge 

to a new generation of attorneys. 

Younger attorneys can view the Inns as 

a way to gain expert insight not only 

into the inner workings of the legal profession, 

but also the inner workings of 

Contra Costa County itself. After a few 

meetings, they might find themselves 

easily striking up a conversation with 

any and all judges and master attorneys. 

We are fortunate to practice in such a 

congenial county with so many intelligent 

professionals. To take advantage of 

the opportunities provided by the Inns, 

please contact the Inns of Court President 

David Pearson at (925) 287-0051 

or attorney@mac.com. u 

— Ron Mullin, a lawyer in this county for over 

30 years, dedicates his practice to estate planning, 

wills and trusts, conservatorships/guardianships, 

business and commercial law, real property, and 

business formation. He also acts as mediator and 

arbitrator for disputed cases. 

6 September 2010

“After calling hundreds of attorneys, I finally found 

one that I can afford!” 

- Moderate Means client Adriana Arenas. 

“I never give up on protecting my client's interests. 

I want to be a champion.” 

- Moderate Means attorney Mark Zeller 

Do you know someone with a 

family law or immigration issue, in need of 

quality, affordable legal support? 

Today, many of Contra Costa County’s hardworking residents, living off moderate incomes, face the same legal 

dilemma. When a legal problem arises, they are caught between ineligibility for pro bono support and the inability 

to pay regular rates for private practicing attorneys. But quality and affordable legal support can now 

be a reality for moderate-income individuals - thanks to the Contra Costa County Bar Association’s Moderate 

Means Program. 

Moderate Means Program 

Now Accepting Applications for 

Family Law and Immigration 

The Moderate Means Program refers qualified individuals to its panel of 16 attorneys. The attorneys agree to 

charge reduced hourly rates and a reduced retainer fee. For hourly rates, the attorneys are permitted to charge 

$50.00 - $100.00 per hour. For the retainer fee, they are allowed to charge $500.00 - $750.00. The initial 

30-minute consultation is free. 

Eligibility for the program is based on the individual’s income and household composition. Moderate Means is 

not a low-income or pro bono service. Interested clients must have a case in Contra Costa County. However, 

they do not have to reside in this county. To sign-up for the program, individuals must fill out a simple application, 

submit six weeks of the most recent pay stubs, and provide a $40.00 processing fee. For an application, 

please call Manny Gutierrez at (925) 677-0234 or email mgutierrez@cccba.org. Interested individuals can also 

visit www.cccba.org for more information about the Moderate Means Program. 

For more information and materials, call 

MAnny Gutierrez or Barbara Tillson at 

(925) 677-0234 


2010 

Year 

In 

Review 

Presiding Judge Perspective | Judge O'Malley 

Civil Law Perspective | Judge Goode 

Criminal Law Perspective | Judge Kennedy 

Family Law Perspective | Judge Cram 

Juvenile Law Perspective | Judge Haight 

Richmond Courthouse | Judge Maddock 

Walnut Creek Courthouse | Judge Kolin 

8 September 2010

2010 Review from the Presiding Judge 

Hon. Mary Ann O'Malley 

When I last wrote to you as Presiding 

Judge last year, I mentioned 

that I had to deal with the lack 

of a statewide trial court budget, court 

closures, and two vacancies on our 

Bench. Well, déjà vu. Here I am again, 

awaiting a statewide trial court budget, 

which is 60+ days overdue as of September 

1 st , shortened court clerk office 

hours, and a vacancy created by Commissioner 

Green’s retirement. I really 

hate to sound like a broken record but 

it is what it is. 

One thing of which I am most proud 

and which hasn’t changed is that I work 

with the most dedicated, hard-working 

employees on the face of the earth. They 

have endured the most trying time for 

a trial court that I can remember, and I 

have been around the trial courts since 

1985. I am honored to have been their 

Presiding Judge throughout this ordeal. 

Last year the statewide trial court 

budget reductions totaled $393 million 

dollars. This resulted in a 12% cut to our 

own court budget. This year, as chair of 

the Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory 

Committee, I, along with many other 

Presiding Judges from around the State, 

traveled to Sacramento to impress upon 

our legislators that this was not acceptable. 

A budget which results in a Court 

having to close its doors is simply justice 

denied. Staff from the Office of Governmental 

Affairs of the AOC worked 

tirelessly to create solutions for the trial 

courts’ budget woes. We realized we had 

to solve our own budget deficit or suffer 

cuts as deep as last year. Frankly, most of 

the trial courts would not have been able 

to survive another year like last year. 

With the help of our Chief Justice, Ron 

George, who urged the Governor to give 

us the relief needed to operate our courts 

effectively, and a creative budget proposal, 

we prevailed. I hope. The budget 

proposal for the trial courts is not great 

but not as devastating as last year. It will 

by no means put us on easy street but 

will allow us to keep our doors open. If 

enacted, it will also allow us to maintain 

the status quo, avoiding further layoffs, 

for which I am very grateful. 

One bit of very big news was the announcement 

that our Chief Justice will 

retire at the end of this year. Chief Justice 

Ron George has been an innovative, forward-thinking, 

courageous advocate for 

the administration of justice in California. 

Among his many accomplishments 

was the unification of our Superior and 

Municipal courts, creating a statewide 

trial court budget structure and acquiring 

and maintaining all the trial court 

facilities and courthouses statewide. All 

these changes have allowed us to become 

a better, stronger and more effective 

branch of government. I have had the 

opportunity to work with the Chief as 

a member of the Judicial Council. I saw 

first-hand what a committed advocate 

and leader he is for the trial courts. He 

will be missed. I also have the pleasure 

of knowing and working with our Chief 

Justice nominee, Tani Cantil-Sakauye. 

Like the Chief, I have every confidence 

that she will be a wonderful Chief Justice. 

She is intelligent, well-spoken, has 

worked in the Legislature, is hard-working 

and, I’m sorry, guys, a WOMAN!!! 

Finally, I’d like to end on a high note. 

We will soon be the very happy occupants 

of the new Richard E. Arnason 

Justice Center in Pittsburg. Our targeted 

move in date is October 29, 2010. 

This new courthouse is an absolute gem, 

just like our Judge Arnason. Also, I am 

nearing the end of my term as Presiding 

Judge. I am relieved to know that the 

Court will remain in very capable hands 

under the guidance of my colleagues, 

Diana Becton-Smith as Presiding Judge 

and Barry Goode as the Assistant Presiding 

Judge. Judge Becton-Smith is 

intelligent, well-spoken, hard-working 

and, guys, you know where I am going 

with this… u 


Hon. Barry P. Goode 

Supervising Judge 

civil law 

In the judicial branch, change is 

generally slow but inexorable. So 

it has been with the Civil Division 

this year. There have been a few 

changes in recent months, but much has 

stayed the same. As of January 2010, 

Judge Flinn left the complex civil department 

and Judge Maddock left his 

fast track department, each after three 

years of dedicated service. They will be 

missed. 

Judge Cheryl Mills now sits in what 

had been Judge Maddock’s department. 

Judge Goode occupies the complex civil 

department. In all other respects, the 

assignments remain the same. Judges 

Craddick, Zuniga and Baskin continue 

to serve in fast track civil departments. 

Commissioner Sanders still does her 

extraordinary work with discovery motions, 

ex parte applications, orders of 

examinations, name changes and the 

myriad of other things she handles. 

However, as described elsewhere in 

this magazine, in just a few more months 

Judges Craddick and Zuniga will move 

on to new assignments. They will be replaced 

by Judges Brady and Austin. The 

division is lucky to have had the benefit 

of two such experienced judges and is 

equally lucky to be getting two seasoned 

judicial officers to replace them. 

There has been one other noticeable 

change this year. In January 2010, the 

Court divided the work of the limited 

jurisdiction civil department among the 

other civil departments. So, now each of 

the five unlimited civil departments has 

a portfolio of limited jurisdiction cases 

as well. That means that at 8:30 a.m. 

(most mornings) the fast track and complex 

civil departments call a calendar of 

up to a dozen limited cases. It also means 

that from time to time they have trials of 

limited jurisdiction matters. 

The merger of the limited civil caseload 

with the unlimited civil caseload 

during this time of budget woes has 

created strains in the clerk’s office. The 

Court’s staff has shrunk by approximately 

20% since the beginning of the 

current budget crisis – with commensurate 

reductions in the Civil Division. 

With fewer clerks to process papers, the 

unlimited civil cases have gotten priority 

attention to the detriment of the limited 

cases. Thus, defaults, writs and abstracts, 

new complaints and loose filings have 

become seriously backlogged. The Court 

has devised a plan to address that backlog 

and will, hopefully, have it cleared by 

late September or early October. No one 

likes having this backlog, and we are all 

looking forward to having it eliminated. 

We appreciate the great effort that all 

our staff has made to try to keep up with 

a truly overwhelming workload. 

Other changes are more subtle. For 

example, in the complex department, 

trials are now scheduled in the mornings 

as well as the afternoons. And Department 

19 is trying an experiment in recalendaring 

trials. If the parties agree 

that their case will be ready for trial in 

the next thirty to sixty days, they can 

contact the clerk. The Court will try to 

get them on calendar in lieu of a case 

that was previously set but has settled. 

Of course settlement is still very important. 

We are fortunate to have the active 

assistance of the CCCBA which – together 

with Magda Lopez - is the engine 

that drives our alternate dispute resolution 

program. With their assistance, we 

were able to dispose of more than a thousand 

cases last year. We are on track to 

hit that number again this year. 

Although great attention is rightfully 

paid to alternate dispute resolution, and 

although much has been written about 

the demise of civil trials, that death has 

been much overstated. Indeed, as of this 

writing, four of the five civil departments 

are in the middle of trial. One department 

has been in trial two thirds of the 

time this year. 

Two years ago, writing in these pages, 

Judge Flinn discussed the use of e-filing 

in the complex civil department. He explained 

its benefits and looked forward 

to expanding its use to other unlimited 

civil cases and even some types of limited 

jurisdiction matters. He said “we 

are now very close to making e-filing 

available for all unlimited civil actions...” 

That was before the bottom dropped out 

of the budget. However, it is still a goal 

to be pursued once the budget situation 

improves. It seems inevitable that we 

will someday swap electrons for ink and 

paper. Change is, after all, inexorable, albeit 

slow. u 

10 September 2010

criminal law 

Hon. John W. Kennedy 


With apologies to the 

A’s and the Giants, 

I would analogize 

our Criminal Courts 

trial team to the New York Yankees: We 

have an abundance of heavy hitters and 

a deep bench. We, however, manage to 

do it without steroids. 

Our Criminal Trial Departments 

are filled with a strong team of experienced 

trial judges. In Martinez, we have 

Judges David Flinn, Laurel Brady, Joni 

Hiramoto, Theresa Canepa, Jill Fannin, 

Leslie Landau, and John Laettner. Each 

of these Judges has the experience and 

ability to handle any felony trial, from 

the most routine petty theft with a prior 

to the most complex gang-related homicide. 

This depth of experience has given 

us a great deal of flexibility and the capacity 

to try the felony jury trials within 

the Speedy Trial time constraints and 

with less need to rely on our colleagues 

in the Civil Division. 

During the fiscal year ending June 

30, 2010, the District Attorney’s office 

filed 3,867 felony cases – almost exactly 

the same number as the prior fiscal year 

– and 9,728 misdemeanor cases, down 

from 11,300 last year. We tried 115 felony 

jury trials to verdict, including 20 

homicides and 23 sexual assault cases. 

We attribute much of our ability to 

dispose of all felony cases in a timely 

fashion to the efficient and effective 

Criminal Calendar work by Judge Brian 

Haynes. Judge Haynes combines his 

many years of experience in the District 

Attorney’s Office with his innate sense 

of fairness to resolve the vast majority 

of felony cases by plea agreements that 

are satisfactory to both sides. As the felony 

Calendar Judge, Judge Haynes also 

manages a heavy load and a wide variety 

of pre- and post-trial proceedings in 

felony cases. 

Judge Clare Maier currently oversees 

our Proposition 36 and Misdemeanor 

Domestic Violence calendars, as well as 

felony motions and Preliminary Hearings. 

Judge Maier guides these challenging 

cases with her boundless energy, her 

deep compassion, and her fortitude to 

hold people responsible for living up to 

their obligations. With our ever-shrinking 

budgets, the Prop. 36 Drug Court 

program is running out of funding. We 

are presently funded through March 

2011, and hope to secure additional 

funding to continue the program after 

that. The Drug Court no longer has a 

dedicated Probation Officer, so all Prop. 

36 defendants are placed on Court Probation. 

Judge Maier also supervises the 

more serious Misdemeanor Domestic 

Violence cases once the defendants are 

placed on probation. 

Judge Hiramoto continues to manage 

our Behavioral Health Court (“BHC”) in 

addition to trying felony jury trials. In 

its third year, the BHC gives specialized 

and tailored attention to defendants who 

are diagnosed with an Axis I mental illness 

and are charged with a non-violent 

felony or misdemeanor. They are usually 

placed on two years’ supervision with appropriate 

mental health treatment. After 

working without a Probation Officer for 

a year, the BHC is fortunate to have a 

dedicated Probation Officer, Ms. Eku 

Sako, thanks to a federal stimulus grant. 

The BHC has survived massive cuts in 

state funding due to the valiant efforts 

of the Contra Costa County Adult Mental 

Health Services, the Probation Office, 

the District Attorney, the Public Defender, 

the Sheriff, community groups, 

and Judge Hiramoto. Attorneys with 

clients who may be eligible for BHC services 

may contact Dr. Martha Wilson at 

(925) 646-1154 for information. 

Our Mount Diablo calendar has been 

ably handled by Judge Harlan Grossman 

and Visiting Judge Greg Caskey this year. 

Judge Grossman applies his nineteen 

years of bench experience to manage this 

high-volume calendar. Judge Caskey, our 

semi-permanent Visiting Judge, is a utility 

player with the ability to move from 

Mount Diablo to Pittsburg, to felony 

trials, to Family Court, and to Juvenile 

Court as the Court’s needs shift. 

We continue to have the wisdom and 

experience of the Dean of our bench, 

Judge Richard Arnason, who handles our 

felony probation calendar. With over 45 

years on the bench, Judge Arnason is a 

treasure trove of historical information, 

often based on his personal participation 

in the events that have shaped the Contra 

Costa Superior Court. 

Judge Joyce Cram presides over our 

Elder Court, including criminal cases alleging 

crimes against elder victims. 

Each of our Branch Courts is supervised 

by a Judge of tremendous and varied 

experience. Our Pittsburg Superior 

Court is headed by Judge Steve Austin, 

who has served in the Family Court, Felony 

Trial, and Civil Trial departments, as u 


well as the Branch Courts. Pittsburg is 

well served by Judges John Sugiyama, 

Trevor White, and Rebecca Hardie, and 

Commissioner Lowell Richards. We were 

thrilled to have Judge Hardie join our 

Bench and bring her wide breadth of civil 

and criminal experience to the Court. 

(Just don’t challenge her to a battle with 

paintball guns!) We all look forward to 

the opening of the Richard T. Arnason 

Superior Courthouse, presently scheduled 

for late October. This beautiful new 

courthouse will house courtrooms dedicated 

to Family Court, Juvenile Court, 

and arraignments, as well as four traditional 

courtrooms to handle the caseload 

from our ever-expanding East County 

population. 

Our Richmond Superior Court is ably 

supervised by Thomas Maddock, who 

also has served in almost every division 

of our Court. The Richmond Court is 

fortunate to have Judges Peter Berger, 

Nancy Davis Stark, Barbara Hinton, and 

Edward Weil, and Commissioner Robert 

Broughton. Judge Weil was appointed 

September 1, 2009, and graces us with 

a sharp intellect honed by the California 

Department of Justice (notwithstanding 

his fondness for skydiving). The George 

D. Carroll Superior Courthouse in Richmond 

keeps busy with a wide variety 

of civil, criminal, and traffic matters, as 

Judge Maddock reports in his article. 

Judge William Kolin, another Judge 

with long experience in several divisions 

of the Court, supervises our Walnut 

Creek Superior Court, with Judges 

Bruce Mills and George Spanos and 

Commissioner Joel Golub holding down 

the fort. Please see Judge Kolin’s article 

on the Walnut Creek Court for an update 

on their work. 

On March 30, 2010, our County Probation 

Officer, Lionel Chatman, retired 

after 34 years of service to Contra Costa 

County. Mr. Chatman began as a Probation 

Counselor in 1979 and worked his 

way through the ranks until he was appointed 

as the County Probation Officer 

on September 1, 2004. Mr. Chatman is 

respected and admired for his innovation 

and professionalism in supervising the 

Probation Department, particularly during 

the difficult budgetary constraints of 

the last several years. 

We are excited to welcome Philip 

Kader as our new County Probation Officer. 

Mr. Kader joins us from the Fresno 

County Probation Department, where 

he began serving in 1981 and rose to 

hold several upper-level management 

positions. When you meet Phil Kader, 

you will find a particularly warm and 

friendly man with endless enthusiasm 

and a deep commitment to the community 

and to effective probation services. 

Our Court remains blessed with Judges 

and Commissioners who work hard, 

work well together, and strive to resolve 

the cases before them with fairness, justice, 

and integrity to the law. 

Now, if we only had the Yankees’ 

operating budget . . . u 

Mark V. Murphy 

NEW SAN JOSE OFFICE! 

Personal Injury 

Referrals Requested 

Hon. 

Alfred 

Chiantelli 

(Ret.) 

Hon. 

James 

Emerson 

(Ret.) 

Hon. 

Richard 

Flier 

(Ret.) 

Hon. 

Richard 

Hodge 

(Ret.) 

Hon. 

David 

Lee 

(Ret.) 

Hon. 

Joanne 

Parrilli 

(Ret.) 

Over 25 years experience 

representing injury victims. 

Practice dedicated solely to 

Personal Injury. 

Each client given prompt, 

courteous attention. 

Antioch and 

San Ramon Offices 

925.552.9900 

Hon. 

Bonnie 

Sabraw 

(Ret.) 

Hon. 

Douglas 

Swager 

(Ret.) 

SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE 

Dorene Kanoh, VP 

50 Fremont St., Ste. 2110 

San Francisco, CA 94105 

tel 415.772.0900 

email dorene@adrservices.org 

Hon. 

James 

Trembath 

(Ret.) 

Stephen 

Blitch, 

Esq. 

www.adrservices.org 

Michael 

Carbone, 

Esq. 

Michael 

McCabe, 

Esq. 

NEW SAN JOSE OFFICE! 

152 North 3rd Street 

Suite 603 

San Jose, CA 95112 

tel 408.293.1113 

12 September 2010

Hon. Joyce Cram 


Family law 

The Family Law Division, like 

all other divisions, has suffered 

from the serious budget 

shortfall. Although filings 

remain essentially unchanged, we are 

handling those filings, more than 4,000 

per year, with fewer staff. To deal with 

this shortage, we have recently closed 

the Self Help Desk at 2:00 p.m. so that 

staff can have time to deal with filing, 

computer entries and other necessary 

behind-the-scenes tasks. 

On the other hand, we have a dedicated 

long cause trial department, thanks to 

Judge Ben Burch, to help resolve trials in 

an uninterrupted and efficient manner. 

Having Judge Burch at the ready to hear 

these trials has helped tremendously to 

clear up the backlog of our long cause 

trials. In addition, we have enlisted the 

help of one of the foremost family law 

experts to help cover calendars when a 

family law judge is away. That expert, of 

course, is Jim Libbey. Rather than a department 

going dark and cases getting 

continued, we have been able to keep the 

calendars going without interruption. It 

is so nice to have someone to help cover 

our calendars who knows the staff, the 

calendars and the attorneys. 

Finally, with the retirement of Commissioner 

Don Green earlier this year, we 

had the same dilemma of how to cover 

his very heavy calendar. Rather than 

have coverage every couple of days or 

a week at a time, we looked for a better 

solution. Fortunately for us, Virginia 

George was available to the Court to fill 

in on a full-time basis, at least until the 

Governor appoints someone to fill the 

position, which is now a judicial vacancy. 

I have been told countless times by family 

and probate attorneys what a wonderful 

job Virginia is doing and how nice it 

is to have consistency in covering a high 

volume and difficult calendar. 

Last but not least we look forward to 

moving a family law department to the 

Richard E. Arnason Justice Center early 

next year. This will be most helpful to 

Roger F. Allen 

510.832-7770 

Ericksen, Arbuthnot 

155 Grand Avenue, Suite 1050 

Oakland, CA 94612 

rallen@ericksenarbuthnot.com 

families living in East County who will 

no longer have to commute to Martinez 

for family law matters. Hopefully 

it will also alleviate some of the wait 

time and congestion in Martinez. In the 

meantime Judges Cram, Treat, Scanlon, 

Burch and Fenstermacher, as well as 

Commissioners Berkow and Huffaker 

are doing an outstanding job in our family 

law division. u 

Northern California 

Mediator / Arbitrator 

14 years as Mediator 

23 years as Arbitrator 

31 years in Civil Practice 

• Training includes Mediation Course at 

Pepperdine University 1995 

• Serving on Kaiser Medical Malpractice 

Neutral Arbitrators Panel 

• Settlement Commissioner, Alameda and 

Contra Costa Counties 

• Pro Tem Judge, Small Claims, Alameda County 

• Experienced in all areas of Tort Litigation, 

including injury, property damage, fire loss, 

malpractice, construction defect 


juvenile 

Hon. Lois haight 

Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court 

2010 has seen changes in Contra Costa 

County Juvenile Court. We lost one 

judicial officer to another division which 

has impacted our courts tremendously. 

Calendars are larger and the cases are 

more complex. We have fewer clerks 

and shorter court hours due to budget 

constraints. 

The bench officers in Juvenile, Judges 

Smith, Davis, Stark, as well as Commissioner 

Houghton, have done a tremendous 

job juggling and balancing the 

cases this year with excellent teamwork 

between the judges and their staffs. 

A significant change in dependency 

has been the large reduction in dependency 

filings in West County. The result 

of this has been that when cases 

are finally filed, they are usually much 

more serious and take a lot more court 

and attorney time (not to mention the 

effect on children and families). The reduction 

in the above filings is offset by 

the enormous increase in dependency 

filings in East County. Our new juvenile 

court, which is expected to open in East 

County in November 2010, will be a 

welcome and much needed resource for 

those living and working in that area. 

We are all very excited about this new 

court and appreciate the opportunity to 

have greater access for our county participants. 

The budget issues, both state and local, 

have obviously affected many areas 

but I am pleased to report that our very 

valuable CASA (Court Appointed Special 

Advocates) program has remained 

stable and even increased its ability to 

serve the abused, neglected, abandoned 

and/or molested children in our County. 

Of all the programs we have to help 

children - and we have some very good 

ones - nothing comes close to the work 

of our wonderful volunteers in helping 

children grow to successful adulthood. 

They help create miracles, and when you 

add a good, loving foster home, a caring 

social worker and a devoted, committed 

attorney, we see wonderful results. 

Our delinquency statistics have remained 

approximately the same as last 

year throughout the County with very 

little change reportable. 

Our outstanding Chief Probation 

Officer, Lionel Chatman, retired this 

year after 27 years in probation. It was 

a big loss to probation to lose someone 

who has done so much for the department 

and the youth it serves. During his 

tenure, our valuable Orin Allen Youth 

Rehabilitation Facility increased all education, 

vocational and therapeutic programs. 

Their high school graduations 

rates are among the highest of all comparable 

programs in California. 

Our new Chief Probation Officer for 

both juvenile and adult, Mr. Phil Kader, 

was recruited from Fresno County and 

has been working with Mr. Chatman 

and others to learn about our County, 

and all reports regarding Mr. Kader are 

full of praise. 

We will have some new assignments 

in Juvenile soon for the year 2011. I can 

say without qualification, that those of 

us who work here love what we do and 

feel privileged and honored to be able to 

help protect children, reunite families 

when possible, and participate in adoptions 

when appropriate. Further, we sincerely 

appreciate the outstanding work 

of the attorneys who devote themselves 

to our youth and families. u 

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14 September 2010

Richmond Court 

The George Carroll Courthouse 

Hon. Thomas M. Maddock 


2010 has been a great year at the 

George Carroll Courthouse in Richmond. 

Judge Hinton, Judge Weil, 

Judge Berger and Judge Stark join 

Commissioner Broughton and me as we 

hear all of the West County Felony Preliminary 

hearings (PX's), Misdemeanor 

Jury Trials, Small Claims cases and Appeals, 

Traffic cases, Domestic Violence 

cases, Unlawful Detainer matters and 

both Juvenile Dependency and Delinquency 

cases. 

We are operating with one less judge 

than historically assigned to this courthouse 

and through re-engineering of 

the calendaring and case assignments, 

together with the excellent staff effort, 

we are getting all the work done including 

any increases in case load. 

We have instituted a new trial by 

declaration procedure for traffic tickets 

when the defendant has failed to appear 

after notice and a signed promise to appear. 

This process allows us to eliminate 

a 5-year-old backlog on traffic tickets 

and also eliminate all of the warrants 

formerly issued. We have a new simplified 

request for trial de novo for such 

cases, when the defendant responds in a 

timely manner. 

There is also a new procedure for trials 

by declaration when requested by 

the defendant that eliminates unnecessary 

appearances. Finally, we have a new 

vendor for collection of traffic fines that 

will set up payment plans for those who 

require them, dramatically reducing the 

need for extra court appearances. 

Criminal trials are held on Mondays 

and Wednesdays. Felony PX’s are heard 

5 days a week. Unlawful Detainer cases 

are heard on Monday mornings as are 

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders. 

Law and Motion on criminal is heard on 

Tuesday and Friday afternoons and civil 

motions are heard Monday mornings. 

Traffic and small claims are heard Monday 

through Friday with extended hours 

to 8:00 PM on Wednesdays. Effective 

October 4, 2010 the Unlawful Detainer 

calendar will be heard by Commissioner 

Broughton, which will allow more time 

on Monday to start jury trials. u 

Walnut Creek Court 

Hon. William M. Kolin 


The Walnut Creek branch Court of 

the Contra Costa Superior Court 

has three assigned judges: Judges Kolin, 

Mills and Spanos. Commissioner Joel 

Golub is also assigned to the Court for 

traffic, small claims and other matters. 

Our Court is responsible for all misdemeanor 

cases filed in both the Walnut 

Creek-Danville Judicial District as well 

as the Mt. Diablo Judicial District. We 

do felony out-of-custody arraignments 

on all misdemeanors and felonies arising 

from cases originating within those two 

judicial districts. 

We are primarily a trial court and have 

four jury trial settings each week. We 

do both in-custody and out-of-custody 

misdemeanor jury trials, and handle outof-custody 

preliminary examinations on 

felony matters in our Court. u 


MCLE Spectacular 

Breakfast Kickoff 

MARK TUFT 

Partner, Cooper, White & Cooper; Vice Chair, State Bar of California, Commission 

for the Revision of the Rules of Professional Conduct; 

Co-Author, California Practice Guide on Professional Responsibility for Lawyers 

Forces of Change in the Practice of Law: 

Who Will Be Ready and Who Will Be Responsible? 

Recent economic and regulatory developments foretell significant changes in the practice of 

law. Market conditions, technology, lawyer mobility and regulatory changes here and abroad 

pose new challenges and ethical responsibilities for California lawyers and law firms. This 

program will survey significant developments in the law of lawyers, including the comprehensive 

new set of rules the State Bar is recommending for adoption by the Supreme Court, regulatory 

changes proposed by ABA Ethics 2020, proposed new federal regulation of lawyers and 

recent court decisions on non-consensual screening, fees and professional liability. 

Book signing to follow presentation 

Luncheon 

TOM RUNDALL 

Professor and Former Executive Associate Dean, 

UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health 

The Challenge of Building a Better Health Care System: 

How does the Affordable Care Act propose to increase access, 

improve quality and lower the cost of medical care? 

After a contentious political struggle, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law 

the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148), an ambitious set of reforms 

designed to increase access to health insurance, slow the growth of health care costs, and 

improve the quality of care. But, there is a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding about 

what is included in the Act and when various reforms will take effect. This presentation will 

provide an overview of the major reforms and lay out the timeline for the implementation of 

these reforms. 

Afternoon Plenary 

GUY ROUNSAVILLE 

Director of Diversity at Allen Matkins; 

Co-founder, California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP) 

Diversity: Inside/Outside 

Schedule 

Breakfast Kickoff 

8:00-8:30am | Registration 

8:30-9:30am | Program 

1 hour Legal Ethics MCLE credit, 

plus book signing 

Concurrent 

Morning Seminars 


9:45-11:45am | Program 

2 hours MCLE credit | 6 Seminars 

from which to choose 

Luncheon 


12:00-1:30pm | Program 

1 hour General MCLE credit 

Concurrent 

Afternoon Seminars 

8:00-1:45pm | Registration 

1:45-3:45pm | Program 

2 hours MCLE credit | 6 Seminars 

from which to choose 

Afternoon 

Plenary Session 

8:00-3:45pm | Registration 

4:00-5:00pm | Program 

1 hour Elimination of Bias in the 

Legal Profession MCLE credit 

As General Counsel at Wells Fargo, Guy Rounsaville became a leader in workplace diversity on 

the “inside,” including co-founding the California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP). As head 

of Allen Matkins corporate department from 1999 – 2001, and now its Director of Diversity, he 

became such a leader on the “outside.” Join us as Guy Rounsaville discusses the strong correlation 

between solid business practices and good diversity practices and how together they 

positively impact a business’ bottom line. 

16 September 2010

MCLE Spectacular 

CONCURRENT 

MORNING SEMINARS 

9:45 – 11:45am | Registration 8:00am – 9:45am 

CONCURRENT 

Afternoon SEMINARS 

1:45 – 3:45 pm | Registration 8:00am – 1:45pm 

SEMINAR #1 

0.5 hour Ethics & 

1.5 hours General 

MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #1 

SEMINAR #2 

2 hours General 

MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #3 

2 hours Elimination 

of Bias MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #4 



MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #5 


MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #6 

2 hours Ethics 

MCLE Credit 

Planning for the Inevitable – The 

Sale of Your Law Practice or Post 

Death Legal Proceedings 

co-sponsored by CCCBA, its CGPT, Elder Law & Taxation 

Sections | Speakers: 

Commissioner Don E. Green Ret. 

Carolyn L. Rosenblatt R.N., Attorney & Mediator 

Dr. Mikol S. Davis CA Licensed Clinical, Psychologist, 

M/F/C Counselor 

Norman C. Lundberg Masterson, Calhoun & Lundberg 

Mark Ericsson Youngman, Ericsson & Low, LLP 

Arlene Segal (Moderator) 

Litigating in the 21st Century 

co-sponsored by CCCBA & its Litigation Section 

Speakers: 

Andrew Lloyd Managing Director, Litigation Media 

Group, LLC 

Wendy Graves Certified Reporting Services 

Brad Lipetz Benchmark Video Deposition Services 

Gender, Generations, and the 

Practice of Law 

co-sponsored by CCCBA & its Women's Section 

Speaker: 

Hon. Alice Vilardi & friends 

A Day in the Life of a Mediator: 

Vignettes of What Can and Does 

Happen in Mediation 

co-sponsored by CCCBA & its ADR Section | Speakers: 

Hon. Richard S. Flier Ret. 

Claudia L. Bernard Chief Circuit Mediator, Ninth Circuit 

Court of Appeals 

Roger J. Brothers McNamara, Ney, Beatty, Slattery, 

Borges & Brothers, LLP 

David M. Miller (Moderator) 

CCP 998 Offers to Compromise – 

The Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them! 

sponsored by CCCBA & its Appellate Section 

Speakers: 

Justice Stuart R. Pollak First District Court of Appeal, 

Division 3 

Gary A. Watt Chair, CCCBA Appellate Section, 

Partner, Archer Norris LLC 

Don Willenburg Partner, Gordon & Rees LLP 

How Technology Can Get You Sued 

co-sponsored by CCCBA and its Family Law Section 

Speakers: 

Dana L. Santos CFLS 

David M. Lederman CFLS 

Carol Langford 

David S. Pearson 

From the Cradle to the Grave and 

Beyond 

co-sponsored by CCCBA & its Criminal SectionSections 

Speakers: 

David Pingitore Ph.D., Q.M.E. 

Patrick O'Reilly Ph.D. 

Make Lemonade! New Moneymaking 

Opportunities For Your Law 

Practice. (No Salesman Will Call) 

sponsored by CCCBA | Speaker: 

Martin Dean Essential Publishers, Inc. 

The ABC's of Domestic Violence 

Restraining Orders - What You Need 

to Know or May Have Forgotten 

co-sponsored by CCCBA & its Family Law Section 

Speakers: 

Hon. Joni Hiramoto 

Karen Olsen 

Ethical Issues for Labor and 

Employment Lawyers 

co-sponsored by CCCBA & its Employment Law Sectio 

Speakers: 

Delia Isvoranu Filice, Brown, Eassa & McLeod, LLP 

Eric Angstadt Partner, Miller & Angstadt 

Carol Langford 

Putting Civility Back Into *&%$#& 

Civil Litigation (& Criminal Too) 

sponsored by CCCBA & its Litigation & Barristers Sections 

Speakers: 

Hon. Joyce Cram 

Linda DeBene JAMS 

Michael J. Ney McNamara, Ney, Beatty, Slattery, 

Borges & Brothers LLP 

William B. Smith Abramson Smith Waldsmith LLP 

The Do's & Dont's of C&Ds - How not 

to get your Client sued 

co-sponsored by CCCBA and its Intellectual Property Section 

Speakers: 

Stuart J. West Managing Attorney, West & Associates, 

APC 

Charlotte Rodeen-Dickert Senior Associate, West & 

Associates, APC 

Running a Law Firm: Tips and Tricks 

for Solos and Small Firms 

co-sponsored by CCCBA and its Solo Section 

Speakers: 


Dorianne Romero Plihon 

William A. Hickey 

Ann Dalsin 

SEMINAR #7 

1 hour Substance 

Abuse & 1 hour 

General MCLE 

SEMINAR Credit #1 

SEMINAR #8 



MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #9 


MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #10 

2 hours Ethics 

MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #11 

1.5 hours Ethics & 

0.5 hour General 

MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #12 


MCLE Credit 

SEMINAR #13 

1 hour Ethics & 

1 hour General 

MCLE Credit 


High Tech 

Solutions 

in the Wake of the 

Budget Crisis 

by Barry Lynch 

Court IT Director 

In the April 2010 edition of the Contra 

Costa Lawyer, the Court Executive 

Officer, Kiri Torre, described how the 

Superior Court planned to focus on technological 

solutions to maintain critical 

services to the public during the budget 

crisis and significantly reduced staffing 

levels. The Court has restructured its 

Information Technology Division and 

redirected the division’s efforts to better 

support judicial officers, staff, and the 

public. 

IT staff have been formed into two 

functional groups: infrastructure (hardware, 

software, network and phones); and 

application (case management systems 

(CMSs), statistics) support. The infrastructure 

group is focusing on the opening 

of the new Arnason Justice Center located 

in Pittsburg, and the complete overhaul 

of the Court’s data network. The applications 

group is upgrading the civil case 

management system, to better support 

statistical reporting, and automating 

manual clerical processes. 

So, how is the Court doing on some of 

the 2010 priorities listed in the April 

article? 

Telephone System Upgrade 

new Interactive Voice Response 

A (IVR) system to provide a menu of 

choices to obtain information 24/7 without 

needing to talk to a clerk: Draft 

telephone message scripts for the traffic 

and criminal divisions have been completed 

and are under final review; drafting 

the remaining 

operational areas of the 

Court begins in September. 

The complete system is planned to be 

in place by the end of the calendar year. 

E-Citations 

The electronic submission of traffic 

citations from participating agencies 

to the court to eliminate manual data 

entry and expedite case processing time: 

The Court is currently identifying local 

law enforcement agencies (LEAs) that are 

actively considering the use of hand-held 

electronic ticketing devices for issuing 

traffic citations. The Court’s goal is to 

create a single data exchange interface for 

all county LEAs to use to transfer data to 

the Court’s case management systems 

eliminating the need for manual clerical 

data entry. 

Credit Card Payments 

at the Public Counter 

The ability to pay by credit card at the 

public counters: The Court is completing 

the installation of additional 

telephone lines to support credit card 

machines at the public counter windows 

in all county courthouses. Credit card 

payments are scheduled to be effective 

November 1 st . 

Expansion of Information on the 

Court’s Web Site 

The Court is in the process of redesigning 

and enhancing its website. The 

18 September 2010

Business Planning, Information and 

Programs Division is completing the 

redesign of the public web site, with 

improved navigation and expanded, reorganized 

content. The new site will be 

available to the public by the end of 2010. 

Electronic Filing of 

General Civil Documents 

Addressing system issues affecting 

e-filing on complex civil litigation 

cases: The Court has identified the system 

problems affecting e-filing in complex 

civil cases and is working with the vendor 

to resolve them. Once the application 

updates have been installed, the Court 

will analyze the impact of e-filing on court 

staff resources before deciding whether to 

extend e-filing to general civil cases. This 

analysis is planned to be completed by the 

end of the calendar year. 

Stay tuned for further updates from the 

Court. u 

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A Year of 

Great Change, 

Challenge and Opportunity 

for Our ADR Programs 

by Mindy Morgado, Deputy Executive Officer 

This past year has seen significant 

change in our Court’s 

Alternative Dispute Resolution 

(ADR) Program. In April 

of 2009, Mimi Lyster, who greatly 

enhanced our Court’s ADR program and 

supervised it with great success for many 

years, transitioned into her current role 

as Director of Business Planning, Information 

and Programs. Magda Lopez was then 

called upon to absorb the ADR Program 

Administrator responsibilities as part of 

her ongoing duties as Director of Court 

Programs and Services and she has done 

an outstanding job as well. The burgeoning 

budget crisis also forced us to make 

significant staffing reductions in the ADR 

program. 

Change continued, as Presiding Judge 

Mary Ann O’Malley expressed a desire to 

make service on the Court’s panel of civil 

mediators as attractive as possible for 

experienced litigators. Judge O’Malley 

worked with the Court’s ADR Committee 

- which is chaired by Hon. Judith Craddick 

and includes Hon. Barry P. Goode, 

Hon. Cheryl Mills, Magda Lopez and 

CCCBA attorney members Thomas 

Beatty, Andy Schwartz, Peter Mankin, 

David Miller, Kelly Balamuth, John 

Warnlof, and Lynn Yerkes - to determine 

the appropriate education and experience 

requirements for civil mediators. In late 

May of 2009, Judge O’Malley hosted a 

forum open to all CCCBA members to 

discuss this topic. By January of 2010, 

Local Rule 203 had been amended to allow 

persons with alternative qualifications to 

join the court’s civil mediation panel. The 

Court’s ADR Committee is completing 

the cycle by collaborating with the 

CCCBA’s ADR Section to create a fair 

and efficient process for evaluating these 

applications. 

The efficacy of the Court’s partnership 

with the CCCBA and its members, coupled 

with the ADR program’s well-deserved 

reputation for excellence, has ensured the 

ongoing success of the program. Our ADR 

panel has 300+ members who offer specialized 

expertise in 47 different subject 

areas. The overall settlement rate for cases 

referred to mediation remains in the 50% 

range and referrals to ADR continue at 

the rate of more than 1,000 each year. 

Surveys completed by participants in the 

ADR process routinely include comments 

such as this recent one: [our mediator] 

“was intelligent, thoughtful, concerned, 

compassionate and very effective.” 

In short, this has been a year of great 

change, great challenge and great opportunity 

for our ADR programs. u 

Law Offices of 

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Walnut Creek, CA 94596 

Candice E. Stoddard 

Personal Injury 

Real Estate Litigation 

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n 

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Lafayette, CA 94549-0479 

AV Martindale-Hubbell 

20 September 2010

Doing Less 

with Less 

Impact of the State Budget Crisis on the Court 

Kiri Torre, Court Executive Officer 

The judicial branch faced a 

second full year of significant 

economic challenges in 2010, 

and it’s not over yet. The Court 

began to address the significant $7.46 

million budget gap by completely restructuring 

the top administrative team, 

instituting technology solutions to create 

more efficient operations, and enhancing 

its Court collections program. In addition, 

the Court instituted a hiring freeze to 

reduce personnel costs, renegotiated two 

of our three labor contracts, canceled the 

3% scheduled salary increase for managers 

and unrepresented employees, renegotiated 

several vendor contracts to reduce 

the cost of services, and eliminated all 

non-essential office expenses and equipment 

purchases. We cancelled various 

court building leases and consolidated 

those operations into the recently vacated 

office space at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 

thus allowing the Court to eliminate 

building lease payments and reduce Court 

Security costs. 

After having eliminated all discretionary 

spending, however, it became evident 

that the Court would be forced to lay off 

staff to help meet the mandated budget 

reductions. The Court first eliminated all 

temporary worker positions through 

layoffs. Next, the Court made the very 

difficult decision to downsize its management 

ranks by eliminating four executive 

management positions and downsizing 

19 staff positions in virtually all classifications 

through layoffs. Through staff attrition, 

the Court continues to reduce personnel 

expenditures in order to help meet 

the mandated budget reductions. 

We started the 2010-11 fiscal year with 

16 fewer managers, 53 fewer permanent 

staff and 39 fewer temporary workers, a 

total reduction of 108 court personnel 

(over a 20 percent reduction). The clerk’s 

office hours were reduced by one hour, 

with the office closing at 2 p.m. each day 

to allow staff quiet time to process the 

work previously filed with the Court. 

Clerical backlogs formed in the areas of 

Misdemeanor Criminal, Limited Civil and 

Family 2336 Judgments. A plan to 

eliminate the backlogs was implemented 

by authorizing staff overtime in these 

targeted areas to bring the Court current. 

Over the past several years, the Court has 

been prudent in its expenditures building 

a modest reserve to allow the Court to 

provide a financial safety net, thus allowing 

the Court to address areas such as our 

clerical backlogs to help facilitate the 

timely adjudication of cases. Our plan will 

allow the Court to address the backlogs 

before the holidays, thanks to the dedication 

of our hard-working staff. 

The Court is now facing a remaining 

$2.8 million budget deficit in its operating 

budget, and is in desperate need of 

fiscal relief. In addition to the Court’s 

general operating budget, we have separate 

budgets for Court Security, Court 

Interpreters and Court Appointed Dependency 

Counsel. We were advised that these 

program areas will also face a budget 

shortfall, although no details have been 

provided as of yet. 

As of mid-September, the state has not 

yet adopted a budget for the current fiscal 

year. What does that mean for the Court? 

Since July, the Court has been receiving 

funds from the state to make staff payroll 

and has been drawing from its reserves to 

pay key vendors to maintain critical services 

to the Court, until the state adopts 

a budget. We are anxiously awaiting 

adoption of a state budget so we can plan 

our budget strategy for the remainder of 

the fiscal year, with the hope that some 

fiscal relief is provided to allow the Court 

to meet its mandates. u 


Richard E. Arnason 

Justice Center 

Lucy Fogarty, Deputy Executive Officer 

The Richard E. Arnason Justice 

Center, a new, state-of-the-art 

courthouse will be opening at 

the beginning of November. 

It will be located at 1000 Center Drive 

in Pittsburg, adjacent to the present 

courthouse at 45 Civic Avenue, which was 

built in 1957. Once the new courthouse 

is open, the present building will be 

demolished and additional parking provided 

in its place. 

The facility is named in honor of Judge 

Richard E. Arnason. Judge Arnason, now 

88, retired as a judge in Contra Costa 

County in 1995 after 31 years. He later 

joined the State's Assigned Judges Program, 

and now presides over Department 

28 in Martinez. Judge Arnason’s distinguished 

career has spanned more than 

sixty years in Contra Costa County where 

he has served as a leader over the Bar and 

Bench. It is the Court’s privilege to bestow 

this honor on a living judge who has 

dedicated his life and devoted a 

career to justice in serving this 

community – he truly is an 

American icon. 

This courthouse is the first 

trial court project in California 

funded entirely by State Trial 

Court Construction Funds, a 

significant change from previous 

county-funded courthouse projects. 

It is the first project planned, 

designed and built through a 

partnership between the trial 

court and the Administrative 

Office of the Courts. The State’s 

Judicial Council, the policymaking 

body of the Courts, in a 

cooperative effort with the City 

of Pittsburg entered into a land 

exchange agreement for the 

construction site of the new courthouse. 

Construction began April 2009, and has 

a scheduled occupancy target date of early 

November 2010. 

The Arnason Justice Center 

will be two stories plus a lower 

level that will house an arraignment 

courtroom and hold incustody 

defendants awaiting 

courtroom appearances.There 

will be seven courtrooms for 

Traffic, Criminal, Family Law and 

Juvenile matters. At 75,000 

square feet, the building is 3 

times larger than the existing 

courthouse. 

To better serve the community, 

there will be 15 customer service 

windows, a self-help/ library 

center with a children’s waiting 

area, a jury assembly room, 

attorney-client meeting rooms, 

and 280 parking spaces when the last 

phase of construction completes. The 

building is being built “Green” with current 

construction waste diverted from 

landfills at a current rate of 80 – 83%. 

The project managers are aiming for a 

Silver LEED certification form the USGBC 

- U.S. Green Building Council. Building 

materials throughout were selected for 

high-recycled content, renewable content, 

and durability. The project includes many 

other energy efficient and low environmental 

impact design and construction 

methods and materials. 

This project has been a true collaboration 

between the Administrative Office 

of the Courts and the Superior Court of 

Contra Costa County. u 

TOP LEFT: Architectual Rendering by HOK 

Architects; 

BELOW: Photo of Richard E. Arnason Justice 

Center, September 2010. 

22 September 2010

2011 JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS 

Diana Becton Smith 

Presiding Judge 

Barry P. Goode 

Assistant Presiding Judge 

MARTINEZ 

WALNUT CREEK 

Criminal Trials 

Judge John W. Kennedy 

- Supervising 

Judge Susanne Fenstermacher 

Judge David B. Flinn 

Judge John T. Laettner 

Judge Leslie G. Landau 

Judge Thomas M. Maddock 

Judge Mary Ann O’Malley 

Judge Barbara Zúñiga 

Criminal Calendars 

Judge Brian Haynes - Felony 

Judge Clare Maier - Bray 

Judge Nancy Davis Stark 

-Annex 

Judge Richard E. Arnason 

- Probation 

Civil 

Judge Barry Baskin 

- Supervising 

Judge Steve K. Austin 

Judge Laurel S. Brady 

Judge Barry P. Goode 

- Complex Litigation 

Judge Cheryl Mills 

Commissioner Judith A. Sanders 

Probate 

Judge John H. Sugiyama 

Family Law 

Judge Joyce Cram 

- Supervising/ Family & Probate 

Judge Charles 'Ben' Burch 

- Family & Probate Trials 

Judge Jill Fannin 

Judge Penny M. Scanlon 

Judge Steve Treat 

Commissioner Josanna Berkow 

Commissioner Jeffrey D. Huffaker 

(Pittsburg) 

Juvenile 

Judge Lois Haight - Supervising 

Judge Judith Craddick (Martinez) 

Judge Barbara Hinton 

(Juvenile Hall) 

Judge Joni T. Hiramoto 

(Richmond) 

Judge Stephen F. Houghton 

(Pittsburg) 

Judge William M. Kolin 

- Supervising 

Judge Harlan Grossman 

Judge Bruce C. Mills 

Commissioner Joel Golub 

Commissioner Ronald K. 

Creighton (Concord) 

PITTSBURG 

Judge Lewis Davis - Supervising 

Judge Rebecca Hardie 

Judge George V. Spanos 

Judge Trevor S. White 

Commissioner Lowell Richards 

RICHMOND 

Judge Theresa J. Canepa 

- Supervising 

Judge Peter A. Berger 

Vacant 

Judge Ed Weil 

Commissioner Robert 

Broughton 


Question man 

Given the number of new judges on the bench, 

what can be done to ensure a strong relationship 

between the bench and the bar? 

More interaction between 

the bench and 

bar at events that allow 

the bench to meet with 

and mentor younger 

attorneys. The Robert 

G. McGrath American 

Inns of Court is a great example of a local 

organization that provides the bench an 

opportunity to interact with and mentor 

local attorneys, particularly those who 

are just starting their careers. 


Law Offices of David S. Pearson 

May I suggest that the 

Judges host "meet and 

greet" at their respective 

court rooms as it 

is nice to meet and get 

to know the Judges 

and also their staff. The 

mixers are a nice touch as well, but again, 

it would be awesome to get to meet the 

entire staff along with the Judge. 

Jessica A. Braverman, Esq. 

Braverman Mediation & Consulting 

Tom Cain 

Law Office of Thomas W. Cain 

Have a bench-bar dinner 

and talent show, 

and a debate or moot on 

some lively and fun topic. 

Nothing like breaking 

bread together. 

We should host one judge per month 

to provide a short bio for the newsletter 

and to attend a CCCBA event (at which 

they appear on the event announcement 

and other program materials and will be 

introduced and invited to speak briefly). 

We should extend the same offer to private 

judges and ADR officials who serve 

the county bar. 

Lewis IV, Charles 

Pacific Gas and Electric Company 

In family law we’re 

used to new judges. 

They have never handled 

family law before, 

drop in for two years 

of purgatory, and then 

they’re gone. 

It would greatly smooth the relationship 

between the family law bar and 

our new judges if they could get more 

than two weeks minimal training before 

they’re asked to make decisions that affect 

the rest of people’s lives. Perhaps 

a one month internship with the existing 

judge including court time would 

help the transition. It would reduce the 

frustration of judges who feel inferior 

because they are called upon to make 

complex decisions by experienced attorneys 

who know infinitely more about 

the subject matter than they do and who 

are just as frustrated by amateurs telling 

professionals what should be done. 

Merritt Weisinger 

Walnut Creek Family Law Center 

I have found that for me the speakers' 

luncheon or mixers (where the judge 

speaks on a substantive legal topic or 

just introduces themself) are the best 

way to get to know the judge. The other 

great way is to get the opportunity to 

make many and frequent appearances in 

front of the judge (both regular and ex 

parte appearances). If this darn economy 

improves, that just might happen! 

Peter Sproul 

Mullen & Sproul LLP 

My concise response is: 

OBJECTION. Vague 

and ambiguous! (What 

realistically constitutes 

a "good relationship" 

between the bench and 

the bar?) A far better 

question would be: Please describe what 

would a "good relationship" between the 

bench and the bar mean to you? How 

would it look, feel and work? ( Such a 

question may increase the number of 

candid...and anonymous responses). 

Leonard J. Cook 

Attorney ~ Mediator 

To ensure a strong 

bench-bar relationship, 

don't waste court time 

in trial when disputes 

can and should resolve 

faster, at less cost and 

with greater satisfaction 

to all parties. MEDIATE! 

Joel Zebrack 

Law Office of Joel Zebrack 

24 September 2010

Why a Strong Bench-Bar 

Relationship Matters 

by Matthew Talbot 

The most important services the 

legal profession can provide 

for the Contra Costa County 

community are justice and 

peace of mind. The bench and bar must 

work together to provide timely and costeffective 

justice for the citizens of this 

County. Whether it is in the form of a 

smoothly probated will or an efficiently 

resolved rental dispute, peace of mind 

comes in all manner of forms. 

To help provide justice, it is important 

that the bench and the bar have a strong 

professional relationship. This is true from 

both sides of the equation. In these days 

of budget cuts and furloughs, Judges more 

than ever have to rely upon attorneys to 

act as the best officers of the court possible. 

When the Judges know they can 

trust an attorney to follow through on his 

or her word and treat all other parties with 

respect, it is much easier to resolve the 

matters before them. This benefits everybody 

involved. 

How can Judges build this trust in 

Contra Costa County attorneys? By taking 

part in local Contra Costa County 

events, either through the Bar Association 

or the American Inns Of Court, that allow 

the bench and bar to build stronger relationships. 

The benefit for the Contra Costa County 

practitioner is even greater. I know from 

personal experience how nerve-wracking 

it is to appear before a Judge you've never 

met before. These days, fewer and fewer 

attorneys appear enough times in front of 

the same Judge to build any real modicum 

of a professional relationship. The opportunity 

to build that relationship outside 

of the courtroom is invaluable for the 

attorney. Fortunately, Contra Costa is a 

county that provides many opportunities. 

Besides the Inns Of Court, another 

popular event is the "Get To Know Your 

Judges" evenings. A local law firm hosts 

an event after work where attorneys and 

Judges can mingle. Seeing a Judge in a 

relaxed atmosphere with a cocktail in hand 

can help remove a lot of the intimidation 

of seeing a Judge in a formal atmosphere 

with a gavel in hand. A pleasant discussion 

at one of these events can help quell 

the butterflies before a Court hearing days, 

weeks, or even months later. 

More than ever, the bench and bar need 

to work together to provide justice for the 

citizens of Contra Costa County. With 

the economic uncertainty, these can be 

disconcerting times. Providing peace of 

mind to an unsettled populace is one of 

the greatest roles the bench and bar can 

play. Working together, we can do just 

that. u 

— Wanted — 

Will/Estate Contests 


You handle the estate, we do the contest. 

Cases, except conservatorships, often 

handled on a contingent fee basis, but can 

be hourly. Referral fee where appropriate. 

Pedder, Hesseltine, 

Walker & Toth, LLP 

oldest partnership in Contra Costa County 

(since 1955) 

p 925.283-6816 • f 925.283-3683 

3445 Golden Gate Way, P.O. Box 479 

Lafayette, CA 94549-0479 

AV Martindale-Hubbell 

Arlene Segal 

Law Offices of Arlene Segal 

Litigation - Mediation 

Trust and Estate Disputes • Financial Abuse 

100 Pringle Avenue, Suite 780 • Walnut Creek, CA 94596 

telephone (925) 937-4224 • fax (925) 937-4273 


Gagen, McCoy, McMahon, Koss, Markowitz & Raines 

provides Generous annual Court 

Scholarship 

On August 13, 2010, the Court Scholarship Fund 

Committee and the Contra Costa County Bar 

Association honored five rehabilitated criminal 

offenders with scholarship awards at the annual 

Contra Costa County Court Scholarship ceremony presided over 

by First District Court of Appeal Justice James Marchiano. 

The Contra Costa County Court Scholarship program was 

established in the early 1990’s by the local Bench and Bar. It has 

always been, and continues to be, the intention that this scholarship 

be re-named the Judge Arnason Scholarship upon his “actual” 

retirement from the Bench. It is his dedication to the justice 

system that prompted the legal community in Contra Costa 

County to establish this scholarship in the first place. 

Scholarship Awards are generously provided by the Gagen, 

McCoy, McMahon, Koss, Markowitz & Raines law firm, which 

has participated as an annual awards sponsor for over a decade, 

the Tom Oehrlein Award in memory of a former public defender, 

Sheriff’s Charities Inc., and by individual contributions and proceeds 

from fundraising events. 

The purpose of the program is to provide much-needed financial 

assistance to people who have previously come before the 

criminal justice system and have set new goals to keep themselves 

out of the system in the future. Individual scholarships are granted 

to pay for tuition, books, childcare and other expenses related to 

their continuing education. u 

For more information about the Court Scholarship program, 

contact Michele Vasta at mvasta@cccba.org, or 925/370-2548. 

Judge Arnason (center) and Justice Marchiano (right) address 

Scholarship recipient Quintina Clark (left, seated) during the 2010 Award 

presentation. 

2010 Court Scholarship 

REcipients 

• Quintina Clark, who has been attending Los Medanos 

Junior College, and started her first semester at Contra Costa 

College in Spring 2010. She is currently working towards her 

Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a focus in 

Accounting. 

• David Turner, who is currently enrolled at Diablo Valley 

College and is working towards an A.S. Degree in Addictive 

Studies and an Addiction Counseling Certificate. 

• Caroline Mattie, who is attending Los Medanos Junior 

College and has almost completed her Welding Certification. 

• Keneithia Resino-Hopkins, who will start her first 

semester at Contra Costa Community College and is working 

towards getting her AA and BA to become a case manager. 

• Randy Gatewood, who is working towards his BS in 

Electrical Engineering while attending both Laney Community 

College and Contra Costa Community College. 

26 September 2010

Immigration Lawyer 

• Permanent Residence 

• Nonimmigrant Visas 

• Immigrant Visas 

• Citizenship & Naturalization 

• Deportations 

• Bilingual: English and Spanish 

Erika Portillo 

www.gtplawyers.com 

1800 Sutter Street, Suite 730 • Concord, CA 94520 

Phone: 925.459.8440 • Fax: 925.459.8445 • Email: eportillo@gtplawyers.com 

Conference Rooms for Rent 

• Standard Conference Room, 

with small adjacent waiting area 

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For more information, 

call Manny Gutierrez 

at 925.370.2549 

We didn’t just write the book 

on employment and labor law. 

Actually, we wrote several books on the subject. We also write tons of articles, briefings, compliance tools and webinars, 

all of which are valuable, some of which make our website an education in itself. Learn more about how our 

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For additional information, please contact 

Michael E. Brewer, Esq. • mbrewer@littler.com • 925.927.4515 

littler.com • Littler Mendelson, P.C. 

1255 Treat Boulevard, Suite 600, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 


Pro Bono Spotlight: 

Frank Acuña 

by Craig Nevin & CCCBA staff 

This month, the Contra Costa 

County Bar Association, The 

Law Center and Contra Costa 

Senior Legal Services would 

like to acknowledge Frank Acuña. Frank 

and his entire firm embody a deep commitment 

to pro bono legal help, especially 

as it relates to helping seniors and their 

families. 

For the past four years, Frank Acuña 

and his staff have been supporters and 

volunteers at the Durable Power of Attorney 

Workshops. These clinics usually 

begin by focusing on both the events and 

the ways that elders can protect themselves 

and their families in case of incapacity, 

namely, Powers of Attorney and 

Advance Health Care Directives. Participants 

have the opportunity to have 

their questions answered and, if appropriate, 

set appointments to have simple 

incapacity documents prepared for them. 

Frank recalls how it all started, over 

pizza: 

“About 3 or 4 years ago, Virginia 

George, who was a professor at JFK at 

the time, and two of her students, Jackie 

Klein and Kwi Yong Lee, came to me and 

explained that they wanted to set something 

up for seniors who couldn’t afford 

legal services. They asked me, ‘Are you 

interested?’ So we met over pizza and 

started kicking around ideas on how to 

make this work. After that initial meeting, 

Virginia started recruiting the promotions 

team while we, as a law firm, committed 

to simply put together the nuts and bolts 

– coming up with the forms and the data 

files and so forth. Since then they’ve been 

recruiting attorneys in the community to 

where now the program has got legs and 

they don’t really need us anymore – we’re 

now just ordinary volunteers, which is 

great. We’re simply the troops.” 

Mr. Acuña, as many of you know, has 

been practicing Estate Planning and Elder 

law in Contra Costa County since 1991. 

When asked why, over the last 4 years, 

he and his firm have not just been supporters 

of - but also volunteers - at these 

clinics, Frank explains: 

“I am an Estate Planning and Elder 

Law attorney. I make a good living helping 

people, doing their wills, their trusts, 

their Powers of Attorney but there are so 

many people who can’t afford my services, 

especially seniors. And that’s what the 

motivation is. I also have great staff. 

Everybody here in the office has volunteered 

- whether as a copy clerk or a 

notary public or an attorney – everybody. 

It’s just something everybody here is 

passionate about, so all I had to do was 

say ‘yes – sure, we’ll do it’" 

Asked to elaborate on his deep commitment 

to helping seniors in particular, 

Frank continues: 

“Doing something for somebody else 

gives life meaning. Helping elders is 

especially rewarding because when you’re 

older, everything is about losing something: 

‘I’ve lost my husband, I’ve lost my 

wife, I’ve lost my ability to walk, I’ve lost 

my ability to drive, I’ve lost my neighborhood 

because I had to move to this new 

place’ and so on. Everything is related to 

loss, so there’s a lot of fear there. When 

you can work with an elder and explain 

things and take some of that fear away, 

that’s work that has real meaning.” 

By participating in these workshops, 

28 September 2010

Mr. Acuña knows that he not only helps 

the individual with whom he meets. Helping 

seniors helps alleviate the fears and 

worries related to facing end-of-life challenges 

for the whole family. Frank recalls 

some of the most troubling obstacles 

families face: "How do I take care of mom 

and dad when the hospital won’t talk to 

me? The doctors won’t talk to me because 

they’re afraid of liability for violating 

privacy rights. How do I help mom and 

dad pay their bills when the bank won’t 

talk to me?” 

With respect to volunteer work, and 

doing Pro Bono legal work, Frank likes 

to point out that attorneys have a special 

opportunity and obligation to give back 

to their communities: “When you are a 

lawyer – truthfully – you are a member 

of a very privileged part of this society. 

You understand how the game is played. 

You can manipulate the game. You have 

that special knowledge. With that comes 

an obligation and that obligation goes 

beyond doing it for a fee. You have got 

to give something back. This doesn’t 

necessarily just apply to attorneys – I 

think everybody has an obligation to make 

this a better place.” 

Youngman, Ericsson & Low, LLP 

1981 North Broadway • Suite 300 


Tax Lawyers. 

As with so many of our Pro Bono 

champions, this is not Frank’s only volunteer 

work. Before entering law school, 

Frank worked as a Junior High School 

teacher. Going back to his teaching background, 

he still enjoys working with kids, 

coaching soccer and working with junior 

High school youth clubs. “It makes Walnut 

Creek a better place to live and it 

gives the kids a better experience.” 

When Frank is not working or volunteering, 

he enjoys spending time with his 

family, especially his morning hikes in the 

Walnut Creek Open Space with his wife 

and their two border collies. 

The Contra Costa Bar Association, The 

Law Center and Contra Costa Senior Legal 

Services would like to acknowledge Frank 

Acuña for his dedication to providing Pro 

Bono legal work. For those readers who 

have not yet made or fulfilled their own 

Pro Bono commitment for 2010, Frank 

Acuña helps us recognize some of the 

many ways in which attorneys can assist 

indigent parties and assist their families 

in navigating through very difficult and 

emotional issues. For further information 

on how you can make and fulfill your Pro 

Bono commitment, please contact Craig 

Nevin at cnevin@LawNRS.com. u 

Frank R. Acuña, Managing Partner, at the 

Northern California Business & Real Estate 

Group of Kimball, Tirey & St. John, LLP, specializes 

in estate planning, probate, inheritance 

contests, and wealth transfer issues. Formerly 

known as Acuña & Casas, P.C., Frank Acuña's 

business joined forces with Kimball, Tirey & St. 

John, LLP of the Northern California Business 

& Real Estate Group to provides a broad spectrum 

of services for individual property owners and 

small business owners. 

(925) 930-6000 

Pro Bono 

How Pro 

Bono 

Benefits you: 

Increase your visibility in 

the legal and general communities 

| Gain valuable 

legal experience & expertise 

| Give back to the 

community | Earn good 

PR, possibly even State 

Bar awards and recognition 

| Increase respect for 

and appreciation of our 

profession | Expand your 

network of contacts | Add 

valuable community service 

commitments to your 

resumé 

How to Get 

Involved: 

Find out more at 

www.cccba.org under 

build-your-practice/ 

pro-bono 

Call Michele Vasta 

Education & Programs Coordinator 

/ Section Liaison 

at 

(925) 370-2548 or 

mvasta@cccba.org 


New members 

Sung Bae Park 

(559)908-2628 

William Briggs 

(530)640-1506 

Kathryn Clayton 

Kathryn Clayton Consulting 

(925)389-7319 

Max Cline 

The Cline Law Group 

(510)464-8068 

Robert Endries 

(925)683-9670 

Frank Favaloro 

Favaloro & Associates 

(925)382-6287 

John Furstenthal 

Furstenthal Law Office, Inc. 

(925)284-1718 

Cindy Harrison 

(925)429-5713 

Robin Hart 

(510)273-2435 

Elisabeth Lazarus 

(415)577-6261 

Kathleen Lord-Black 

(415)205-5602 

Leora Lubliner 

(925)284-1075 

Inga Miller 

(925)254-3398 

Robert Morris 

(510)530-8865 

Michael Rabb 

(520)975-4261 

Mark Stanczak 

(925)726-9220 

Anne Swanson 

(925)287-1065 

Emily Vance 

Fox & Bank 

Elizabeth Woods 

(707)373-3850 

2011 

Membership renewal drive 

starting 11/1/2010 

Renew online - It's fast and easy! 

The 2011 Membership renewal drive 

starts soon - We will send out an 

email broadcast reminding you to 

renew online at www.cccba.org/ 

attorney. 

The first 250 members to renew online 

will be entered into a drawing. 

Details will be announced in the 

broadcast. 

30 September 2010

Will & Trust Litigation 

Elder Abuse Litigation • Conservatorships 

B A R R & B A R R 

A T T O R N E Y S 

318-C Diablo Road • Danville, CA 94526-3443 • (925) 314-9999 

Edward E. Barr (retired) 

Janet M. Li 

Loren L. Barr* 

Christopher M. Moore 

Joseph M. Morrill 

Konstantine A. Demiris 

Ruth Koller Burke 

Tracey McDonald, Paralegal 

*Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization 


The Law Offices of David M. Lederman 

Why YOU 

should make 

referrals to 

CCCBA’s 

David M. Lederman 

Certified Family Law Specialist 

State Bar Board of Legal Specialization 

Tom Smith 

Associate Attorney 

LRIS 

Practicing exclusively in all aspects of Family Law 

in Walnut Creek and Antioch 

3432 Hillcrest Avenue • Suite 100 • Antioch, California 94531 

309 Lennon Lane • Suite 102 • Walnut Creek, California 94598 

Phone 925.522-8889 • Fax 925.522-8877 

www.ledermanlaw.net 

Elder Law is 

Alzheimer’s 

Planning 

The average survival rate is eight years after being 

diagnosed with Alzheimer’s — some live as few as 

three years after diagnosis, while others live as long 

as 20. Most people with Alzheimer’s don’t die from 

the disease itself, but from pneumonia, a urinary 

tract infection or complications from a fall. 

Until there’s a cure, people with the disease will 

need caregiving and legal advice. According to the 

Alzheimer’s Association, approximately one in ten 

families has a relative with this disease. Of the 

four million people living in the U.S. with 

Alzheimer’s disease, the majority live at home — 

often receiving care from family members. 

If the diagnosis is Alzheimer’s, 

call elder law attorney 

Michael J. Young 

Estate Planning, Disability, Medi-Cal, 

Long-term Care & VA Planning 

Protect your loved ones, home and independence. 

n 

925.256.0298 

www.YoungElderLaw.com 

1931 San Miguel Drive, Suite 220 

Walnut Creek, California 94596 

• Our LRIS is the only 

State Bar certified & 

ABA approved lawyer referral 

service in our county 

• Our LRIS has been providing 

quality referrals as 

a public service since 

1978 • LRIS panel attorneys 

are required to meet 

specific experience requirements 

as a prerequisite to 

joining the service • Every 

LRIS attorney is required 

to carry malpractice insurance 

• Our LRIS has an 

experienced, friendly 

and knowledgeable staff 

to assist you! 

For more information, 

call LRIS Coordinator 

Barbara Tillson 

at 925.370.2542 

32 September 2010

2011Membership Renewal 

starting November 1 st 

Renew Online - 

It's Fast & Easy ! 

We will send out an email 

broadcast reminding you to 

renew online at 

www.cccba.org/attorney 

It's fast and easy: 

• Click the “Renew” link in the 

top right corner. 

• Log-in to your personalized 

application. 

• Review your current membership 

information and 

make any necessary changes. 

• Then fill-in the secure payment 

section using a major 

credit card, click “Submit 

Form” and you are renewed. 

• Renew early and you might 

win! The first 250 members 

to renew online will be 

entered into a drawing. 

First 250 members to renew on-line will be 

entered into a drawing. 

Details will be announced in the broadcast. 


classifieds 

advertisers’ index 

Addvantage Bookkeeping Service.....19 

ADR Services, Inc. .................12 

Roger F. Allen .....................13 

Armanino McKenna LLP ............14 

Barr & Barr Attorneys ..............31 

Diablo Valley Reporting Services......36 

Law Offices of Arlene Segal ..........25 

Law Offices of David M. Lederman....32 

Littler. ...........................27 

Mechanics Bank ...................19 

Mullin Law Firm ...................19 

Mark V. Murphy ...................12 

Myers-Stevens-Mello & Co...........35 

Palmer Madden ADR Services........30 

Pedder, Hesseltine, Walker & Toth ... 20,25 

David Pingitore, PhD ...............33 

Erika Portillo ......................27 

Paul Saad, Financial Advisor .........14 

Scott Valley Bank ..................34 

Candice Stoddard. .................20 

West .............................2 

Michael J. Young. ..................32 

Youngman, Ericsson & Low, LLP ......29 

Zandonella Reporting Service .......31 

Concord Law Offices Available 

Prestigious Trembath-McCabe building has 

multiple offices, two with fireplaces. 

Elegant Tudor style with fire resistant 

vault document storage. Ample parking. 

Please call Paul, 925.687.0111. 

Downtown Walnut Creek Office 

Local Walnut Creek business law firm has 

a lovely 130 sq' office for lease in professional 

and prestigious office suite with 

nice conference room. Office has access 

to receptionist, reception area, kitchen, 

copier, and spacious balcony overlooking 

downtown. Potential support staff desk. 

Central location close to shopping, dining, 

and BART. Building is handicap accessible 

and has lush central courtyard with 

fountain. Cleaning provided. $750/mo. 

Contact Jenny Cash at 925-944-3300/ 

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2 DOWNTOWN WC Offices – 

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Cordial Walnut Creek Law Suite Downtown 

Kitchen + Conf. Rooms + Secretarial 

Poss. Overflow Call 925-935-5566 

professional announcements 

Probate paralegal to attorneys 

Joanne C. McCarthy. 2204 Concord Blvd. 

Concord, CA 94520. Call 925.689.9244. 

Private Investigator 

Bob Bailie Investigations can help to find 

that witness and confirm facts. Over 30 

years of experience. Call 925.934.4904 

or email bailiepi@aol.com for a seasoned 

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right! 

Eco office signage 

Signs for office, building, door and windows 

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eco-friendly materials. Call 925.945.0700. 

To place an ad, please contact: 

Kerstin Firmin 

Communications Coordinator 

925.370.2542 | kfirmin@cccba.org 

34 September 2010


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• Deposition Suites Available 

• Expeditious Delivery 

• BART Accessible 

2121 N. California Blvd. 

Suite 310 


925.930.7388 

fax 925.935.6957 

dvrs2121@yahoo.com

Contra Costa Lawyer - Contra Costa County Bar Association

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