Dreams Will Come True, Students Can Now Earn a J.D. Degree at

featureMore Career DreamsWill Come TrueStudents Can Now Earn A J.D. Degree At Any Cooley CampusFounded in 1972, it’s the largest law school in the country,the only accredited law school with three branch locations,the only year-around program in the country for 30 years.More career dreams will come true now that CooleyLaw School has received the green light from theAmerican Bar Association (ABA) to establish full,three-year Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree programs at itscampuses in downtown Grand Rapids and Rochester/Oakland University. Students will be able to earn theirJ.D. degree at those locations without the necessity ofcommuting to Cooley’s Lansing campus to completetheir course work. Previously, Cooley was authorizedto offer 15 of the 90 required credits at the GrandRapids and Oakland University locations.Implementation of the full programs began with theterm that got underway in September and, according toCooley President and Dean Don LeDuc, so far things aregoing well. “Getting started is one thing and now we’relooking forward to the challenge of making this work,”he said.Of course, Thomas M. Cooley Law School has a proudhistory of making things work well. Founded in 1972,it’s the largest law school in the country, the onlyaccredited law school with three branch locations, theonly year-around program in the country for 30 years,and the only law school with close ties to two Carnegieratedresearch universities — Oakland University (OU)and Western Michigan University (WMU).Thomas W. Cranmer, who was president of the StateBar of Michigan when the ABA-approval was announced,said that Cooley’s branch campuses are “a win-win”for both Cooley and the residents of Grand Rapids andOakland County. “One of our goals at the State Bar is tohelp ensure that everyone, regardless of their economicstatus, has equal access to the legal system. Cooley’sclinical programs will help provide individuals who otherwisewould not be able to afford legal representationaccess to justice.”

Grand Rapids Leaders Praise SchoolThis enthusiasm is shared by other leaders in thelegal and academic communities.Paul T. Sorensen, president of the Grand RapidsBar Association and a visiting professor at CooleyLaw School in Grand Rapids, said that “having afull three-year program at Cooley’s Grand Rapidscampus creates a great benefit to the community,the local bar, and all those law students for whomattending classes here will be much moreconvenient. The Grand Rapids Bar Association(GRBA) has already worked very closely with thelaw school on many projects, and the law school’sgreater presence here now will allow us to doeven more together. The GRBA has a specialsection for law students and as the law school’sprogram here has expanded we have seentremendous growth in that section.”Sorensen also said that the Grand Rapids BarAssociation wants to offer law students opportunitiesto interact with practicing lawyers. “Our barassociation is very grateful for the support wehave received from Cooley, and we look forwardto a mutually rewarding relationship in the yearsto come.”Dr. Darrell Johnson, dean of extended universityprograms for Western Michigan University, said,“We are delighted to continue growing togetherin this exciting venture. This only enhances thegreat relationship we share with Cooley.” It’spossible for students to obtain both a Master ofPublic Administration and a Juris Doctor degreethrough the partnership between Cooley LawSchool and Western Michigan University’s Schoolof Public Affairs and Administration. The programenables students to expedite the completion ofthe requirements for both degrees by eliminatingduplicative course work.Law students, faculty and staff, and communityleaders in Grand Rapids are definitely excitedabout the implementation of the full degreeprogram there, Marion M. Hilligan, associate deanof Cooley’s Grand Rapids campus’ said. “Thiswill benefit both traditional and nontraditionalstudents and make it easier for them to plan theirlife,” she said. The excitement caused by the newprogram is reflected in Grand Rapids’ Septemberclass enrollment of 100 incoming students, asignificant increase from previous fall terms. Totalcurrent enrollment at the Grand Rapids campusis 300 students. “We’ve never doubted the needfor a law school in west Michigan,” Hilligan said.“This is just the beginning of our mission to bringfirst-rate, practical legal education to westMichigan and beyond.”Cooley Law School in Grand Rapids opened itsdoors in 2003. The renovation of the beautifulLaw Center building at 111 Commerce SW in thecity’s historic Heartside District was completedrecently. The Law Center is the hub of studentactivities and classes, housing the law library,faculty and administrative offices, large and smallclassrooms, courtrooms, student organizations’offices and a student lounge.President LeDuc said. “We appreciate the area’sstrong welcome and support and look forwardto the continued growth of our campus in themonths and years to come.”Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell praisedCooley Law School and the expansion to a fulldegree program at the campus. “Cooley LawSchool is the latest addition to the rich fabric of“The downtown Grand Rapids campus has been asignificant factor in the urban renaissance andrevitalization of the Heartside District.”higher education institutions that call downtownGrand Rapids home. The ability to obtain a J.D.degree in Grand Rapids is hugely important to ourcitizens and will attract others from around theMidwest to study law in Grand Rapids,” he said.BENCHMARK TRINITY 20063

Warm Welcome Given inMetropolitan DetroitThere is also plenty of excitement at Cooley’s OaklandUniversity campus over the availability of the fulldegree program.“The ability of our students to take all 90 credits atthe Oakland University campus means that they cannow take full advantage of the opportunity to focus ontheir studies and to interact with the faculty, staff, andtheir fellow students here at OU on a daily basis, andcan help us create a real law school community, whichwas much harder to do when everyone was on theroad back-and-forth to Lansing,” John Nussbaumer,associate dean of Cooley’s OU campus, said. “Weare already seeing this in the increased student trafficon the faculty floor in O’Dowd Hall, the number ofstudents studying in the library, the renewed interestbeing shown in student organizations, and the turnoutsfor our Career and Professional Developmentprograms,” he added.Nussbaumer also said it means that Cooley’s OUbasedstudents “can for the first time take full advantage”of their J.D.-L.L.M. programs in taxation andintellectual property and their new M.B.A.-J.D. andM.P.A.-J.D. degree partnership agreements withOakland University. “We expect these programs togrow as our partnership with OU develops, particularlyin the area of business incubation and start-up here inAutomation Alley,” he said.The biggest impact on the metropolitan Detroit area,Nussbaumer said, “will be the increased opportunitiesfor people from all walks of life to pursue the dream ofearning a law degree, particularly people with job orfamily responsibilities who cannot attend lawschool full-time, and people from the many diversecommunities in the Detroit area.”The less fortunate in the metropolitan Detroitarea also are expected to benefit from the fulldegree program at Cooley’s OU campus. “Wecan really develop the pro bono and clinicalopportunities that our students want and need,which will help the less fortunate,” Nussbaumerexplained. “We are already working on thingslike mentoring programs for at-risk high schoolstudents in Pontiac and clinical programs forsenior citizens and victims of domestic violencethat will touch the lives of those in need.”“We can really develop the pro bono and clinicalopportunities that our students want and need,which will help the less fortunate.”Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Pattersonexpressed congratulations on behalf of OaklandCounty government and himself for the establishmentof the full degree program at the OUcampus. “Please know that I am an enthusiasticsupporter of Cooley’s presence on the OU campusand in Oakland County,” he stated in a letterto Dean Nussbaumer. “Our judicial system and lawenforcement operations will certainly be enhancedby your extended presence here, and our citizenswill benefit from the clinical programs you plan tooffer. County government looks forward topartnering with Cooley, just as we have withOU,” Patterson wrote.The news about the full degree program alsomade Oakland University President Gary Russihappy. “We’re pleased that area students can4 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

Students can now take full advantage of the opportunity to focuson their studies and to interact with the faculty, staff, and theirfellow students here at OU on a daily basis.now get their law degree at Cooley’s OaklandUniversity campus,” he said. “By making acomplete legal education available to area residents,we are providing accessibility to an advanceddegree program that has not previously beenavailable in this region.”Oakland University Vice President for AcademicAffairs and Provost Virinder Moudgil said, “Thisprogram not only provides area residents with achance to get their law degree, it also providesadditional opportunities for OU students andprofessional development opportunities for OUfaculty and staff. This is another example of apartnership grounded in our core value ofacademic excellence.”The current enrollment at Cooley’s OU campus,which first offered classes in 2002, is 435 students.The facilities, which are centrally located in O’DowdHall on OU’s main campus, include a full law schoollibrary, a computer lab, large and small classrooms,all served by a wireless computer network, plusoffices for faculty, administrators, and staff. Theyalso include two high-tech, 40-seat classroomswith cross-campus videoconferencing capabilityto connect all three of Cooley’s campuses. Thefuture at this Cooley branch is so bright thatCooley officials have begun discussions with OUleaders regarding a permanent new facility ontheir campus.Cooley Continues to ExcelCooley Law School also recently completed a majorexpansion and renovation of its Lansing campus andnow has more than 400,000 square feet of space inservice. There are 3,000 students enrolled there.Cooley’s rolling admissions system that acceptsstudents and begins incoming classes three times ayear; the ability of Cooley students to earn a lawdegree by taking classes part-time, full-time, or juston the weekends; the high quality of its faculty andprograms; and now the ability to earn a J.D. degreeat any of its three campuses can be expected tocontinue to draw increased numbers of students.2006 has certainly been an outstanding year forThomas M. Cooley Law School. In addition to beingable to offer the full degree program at all threecampuses, the American Bar Association in Augustselected Cooley as a winner of the E. SmytheGambrell Professionalism Award. The ABA notedin its award that Cooley was chosen for “outstandingachievement in the design and implementationof a model professionalism program.”The Higher Learning Commission - North CentralAssociation also granted the school continuingaccreditation for the next 10 years. The commissionteam that visited the school said in its report:“The Thomas M. Cooley Law School is a qualityinstitution that is grounded in its mission. Theschool has a clear sense of what it is and whereit’s going.”“The Thomas M. Cooley Law School is a quality institution thatis grounded in its mission. The school has a clear sense of whatit is and where it’s going.”With this rich tradition of excellence in legal educationand outstanding service to both students andcommunities, Thomas M. Cooley Law School canbe expected to set new benchmarks in the yearsahead. With this rich tradition of excellence in legaleducation and outstanding service to both studentsand communities, Thomas M. Cooley Law Schoolcan be expected to set new benchmarks in theyears ahead.BENCHMARK TRINITY 20065

featureJohnWarner FitzgeraldAGreat Loss to the 1924 - 2006Cooley CommunityCooley Law School lost one of the founding membersof its academic family this year with the passing offormer Michigan Supreme Court Chief JusticeJohn Warner Fitzgerald on Friday, July 7, 2006.Justice Fitzgerald taught the very first class at the brandnew Thomas M. Cooley Law School on January 13,1973. He was a founding member of the Cooley Boardof Directors, a former state senator, and an originalmember of the Michigan Court of Appeals.Justice John W. Fitzgerald was born in Grand Ledge,Mich., on Nov. 24, 1924. His father was twice MichiganSecretary of State and twice governor of the state ofMichigan in the 1930s and his grandfather served in theMichigan legislature in the 1890s.Justice Fitzgerald graduated from Grand Ledge HighSchool in 1942, Michigan State University in 1947, andthe University of Michigan Law School in 1954. DuringWorld War II, Justice Fitzgerald served in the U.S.Army.Justice Fitzgerald met his wife, Lorabeth Moore ofHillsdale, while both were working at Michigan StateUniversity. They married June 6, 1953. The Fitzgeraldsraised three sons, Frank Moore, Eric Stiles, and AdamWarner.After graduating from law school, Justice Fitzgeraldwent to work as legal counsel for the Michigan Senate.In 1958, he was elected to the Senate. Justice Fitzgeraldpracticed law in the firm of Fitzgerald & Wirbel through1964, when he was elected to the first Michigan Courtof Appeals. He served on that court until his appointmentby Gov. William Milliken to the Michigan SupremeCourt in 1973 for a one-year term. He was subsequentlyelected to the Michigan Supreme Court to an eight-yearterm. In 1982, he was named as Chief Justice.For 34 years, Justice Fitzgerald was affiliated with theThomas M. Cooley Law School, first as a board memberand then as a professor of Property. At Cooley, classesare named for distinguished jurists. The class whichbegan its studies in September 2003 and graduated inSeptember 2006 was named for Justice Fitzgerald.Longtime friends and colleagues of Justice Fitzgeraldspoke out at his memorial service.Cooley Emeritus Professor Otto Stockmeyer first methim as a legislative intern in the summer of 1963 whenJustice Fitzgerald chaired the Michigan Senate Business6 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

“Committee. When Justice Fitzgerald was elected as oneof the original nine judges of the Court of Appeals in thefall of 1964, he took Professor Stockmeyer along as hisfirst law clerk. Years later they ended up teachingtogether at Cooley.“What I remember most about the 1964 election wasJohn’s amazing ability to generate press coverage,”Stockmeyer recalled. “Wherever he went, John wasable to generate a news story.”And the stories were all positive. “Throughout his life,John enjoyed a warm relationship with the press,”Stockmeyer recalled. “I cannot recall ever reading anegative article about him of anything he did or said.”Justice Fitzgerald inspired friendship and respect amongall those he met.Cooley Professor Ernest Phillips, who served as JusticeFitzgerald’s law clerk on both the Court of Appeals andthe Michigan Supreme Court, noted that his former bosswas a “man of considerable substance and uncommongrace.” He added that each of Justice Fitzgerald’s formerclerks at the service appreciated “the rare and wonderfulopportunity we had to learn from him … We learnednot only about the law, but how to treat people withcourtesy and respect … (how to) disagree without beingdisagreeable.”Phillips recalled that former Michigan Chief JusticeThomas Giles Kavanagh referred to Justice Fitzgerald as“a paragon of civility.”“We learned much from this gentle master,” Phillips saidof Justice Fitzgerald, “and for this we are grateful.”Phillips noted that Cooley President Don LeDuc characterizedJustice Fitzgerald as “a shining example of whateveryone in government service should be, settingunparalleled standards in professionalism and ethics.”Phillips also recalled the words of former Michigan ChiefJustice Thomas Brennan, founder of Cooley Law School.At Justice Fitzgerald’s Supreme Court RobingCeremony, Phillips said Justice Brennan described JusticeFitzgerald as “a gentle man, whose calm, pleasantdemeanor and good-humored wit would engender anambience of goodwill and collegiality, complementing hiskeen intellect and thoughtful judgment.”Justice Fitzgerald was known for his legal work as well.Recalled Stockmeyer, “John’s judicial opinions wereexquisitely crafted, as well as influential. No less thansix of his opinions, some written while on the Court ofAppeals and others as a Supreme Court Justice, werereprinted as leading opinions nationally by the editorsof American Law Reports.”Justice Fitzgerald was revered by both his colleaguesand students.“He was,” recalled Phillips, “without exception,universally loved and respected. Many of his formerstudents have told me, time and time again, of theirfondness and admiration for him. He was just awonderful colleague to have.”Justice Fitzgerald will be missed, Phillips said, but hisinspiration lives on.“His wit and optimism enabled him to view the world asa celebration to be enjoyed rather than an ordeal to beendured. We can all share his legacy by living our lives ashe did — by treating others the way we would like to betreated. We are better people and the world is a betterplace for Judge Fitzgerald’s having been with us.””“We can all share his legacy by living our lives as he did — by treatingothers the way we would like to be treated. We are better people andthe world is a better place for Judge Fitzgerald’s having been with us.”BENCHMARK TRINITY 20067

DisabilityIncome Insurance:What Every Small Business Owner Needs to KnowBy Andrew P. Gozinsky (Carpenter Class, 1993)No matter how much of yourself you put into your business, chances are you work for themoney as well as for the personal satisfaction of helping your clients with their various legalneeds. Your income helps meet daily expenses and, in addition, helps you save for goals,such as the down payment on a house, college tuition, and expansion of your business ora comfortable retirement.Disability income insurance is so important, precisely because so much is riding on yourability to earn your income, year in and year out. And no matter how young or healthyyou are, you are at risk of becoming disabled at some point in your life.Consider the statistics:• If you’re under age 35, chances are one in three that you will be disabled for at leastsix months during the course of your career.• Men have a 43 percent chance of becoming seriously disabled during their workingyears. Women have a 54 percent chance.• At age 42, it is four times more likely that you will become seriously disabled thandie during your working years.Speaking the lingoThe right disability policy can help you keep your household going, even if you suffer along-term disability. But before you go shopping for a DI policy, you need to know whatfeatures to look for — and the language the insurance industry uses to describe them. Thefollowing terms are part of the language describing high-quality policies, and are what youshould look for to get coverage you can count on:• Non-cancellable: To avoid the possibility of losing your coverage just when you needit most;• Guaranteed renewable: with premiums guaranteed until age 65;• Renewable for life: Although premiums may increase after age 65, your policy shouldbe conditionally renewable for life, as long as you are at work full time;• “Own Occ:” Own occupation coverage defines being “totally disabled”— and thereforeeligible for benefits — as not able to work in your own occupation even if you are atwork in some other capacity;• A choice of “riders:” Riders offer optional additional coverage such as ResidualDisability, Future Increase Option, and Cost of Living or “COLA.”To find policies that offer all these features, look for a reputable company with a history ofexperience in the DI business.Protecting your business, as well asyourselfAs a business owner, you must also protect the sourceof your income: the business you’ve worked so hard toestablish and grow. Special policies, available from thesame DI providers who offer high quality individual coverage,offer your business protection while you recoverfrom a disability.To help meet the expenses of running the office while youare disabled, consider a separate type of disability coverageknown as Business Overhead Expense or BOE. Benefitsreimburse business owners for expenses such as office rent,electricity, heat, telephone, and utilities, as well as intereston debts and lease payments on furniture and equipment.In addition, business owners who are in a partnership orhave co-owners will want to consider a policy known asDisability Buy-Out or DBO. In much the same way that lifeinsurance benefits can be set aside to fund a buy-out by theremaining partner if the other partner dies, this type of policyis designed to fund the healthy partner’s purchase of thedisabled partner’s share of the business. With the properagreement in place before disability occurs, hard feelings andthe conflicts of interest that result from a partner’sdisability can be avoided.

Furthermore, in combination with the disabled partner’sindividual Disability Income coverage, a DBO policy can allowthe business to continue to generate an income for the healthypartner – while the disabled partner is supported by thebenefits from his/her individual DI policy. The fact is, as partof your overall business planning, you owe it to yourself tolook into protection for the one thing that makes all theother planning possible: your ability to earn an income.Andrew P. Gozinsky, can be reached at (516) 677-6256,or by e-mail at andrew_p_gozinsky@glic.com. His firm,Alumni Benefits Group, 80 Crossways Park West,Woodbury, NY 11797.Disability income products underwritten and issued byBerkshire Life Insurance Company of America,Pittsfield, MA, a wholly owned stock subsidiary of TheGuardian Life Insurance Company of America(Guardian), New York, NY. Products not available in allstates. Innovative Planning Services, Inc. is a general agency ofThe Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, NY, NY.As part of your overall business planning,you owe it to yourself to look intoprotection for the one thing thatmakes all the other planningpossible: your abilityto earn an income.

featureThe alumni association raises its Cooley for Kids funds by selling holidaywreaths each Michaelmas term.Cooley Treats Local Kidsby Amanda YorkCooley StudentThomas M. Cooley Law School treatedabout 500 area children to lunch and aminor league baseball game as part of thisyear’s Cooley for Kids event. Each year thelaw school sponsors Cooley for Kids, wherethe school provides money to send childrenaffiliated with Lansing Parks and Recreationto a Lansing Lugnuts game at OldsmobilePark. The children watch a minor leaguebaseball game, eat lunch, and participate ina parade around the baseball field.This year’s event took place Aug. 2.Attendance was down slightly because of thesoaring temperatures that gripped parts ofthe Midwest this summer. “It was during themiddle of a heat wave here,” said BrettKaschinske, manager of leisure services forLansing Parks and Recreation. “That heldback a few people.” Children who participatedranged from five to 12 years old and wereenrolled in the summer playground programthrough Lansing Parks and Recreation. Theprogram provides activities and field trips forchildren during the summer months.Kaschinske said Cooley for Kids counts as afield trip for the children and a way for themto explore their hometown. “Sometimes youneed to be a tourist in your own town,”Kaschinske said. “You go all over to vacationand do fun stuff and a lot of times there isgreat stuff in their backyard that they needto be exposed to and for one reason oranother may not have been able to get therewith their family.”Terry Carella, director of communicationsat Cooley, said the school had sponsoredthe event for at least six years. “We did itbecause we wanted to do something for thecommunity and for kids,” Carella said. Themoney comes from the Student BarAssociation, the Alumni Association, andfrom faculty and staff at the law school.This year the SBA chipped in $1,000, theCooley Alumni Association contributed$1,612.50, and faculty and staff providedanother $1,676. The alumni associationraises its Cooley for Kids funds by sellingholiday wreaths each Michaelmas term, saidDarryl Parsell, Cooley’s Director of AlumniRelations. “The alumni want students toknow that alumni donations are supportingstudent activities that are important to ourcommunity,” Parsell said.SBA Vice President Caycie Dix helped organizethe event. Dix said the children weren’tthe only ones who enjoyed the day. “I reallyenjoyed it,” Dix said. “I always love workingwith kids, and it was good to hang out withthe kids and take a study break.”10 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

Alumni Mentors NeededFor Current Students andRecent GraduatesThomas M. Cooley Law School offers a mentoring service, matchingcurrent students and recent graduates with experienced attorneys. Youcan be a wonderful partner for a new friend from Cooley in several ways.You may mentor a first-year law student to give that person advice, andencouragement in their career. You can also help a senior level student ornew graduate who is entering a new professional environment and islooking for your help as they start their career.Mentoring makes a direct impact on students’ futures. As a mentor,you'll help law students as they establish their careers. You’ll provide thestudents with a contact in the legal community who has an expressedwillingness to give them time and answers to questions about law school,the legal field, and the professional environment.In turn, as a mentor you'll benefit knowing that you’ll be helping new,up-and-coming lawyers by giving them the benefit of your experience andcontacts. Through mentoring you'll build personal relationships with thosewho will be your peers in practice. Most importantly, mentoring allowsyou to give back to the legal community.Mentor Heather Burns noted, “I want to let you know about a mentoringprogram success story. You may see in your records that about three yearsago, a fellow graduate, Jill Robertson, was assigned to me as my mentee.She was from Michigan but really wanted to move to New York City towork in corporate law.“I met with her for lunch when she was visiting the city twice. Sheeventually took the New York bar, passed it and moved to New York.We stayed in touch over her first year and a half in the city. A position inmy group opened up and we wound up hiring her! She has now beenwith Citigroup Trust for two years and has proven to be a valuable assetto the company.“This just goes to show that the mentoring program really works. I’mgrateful for the mentoring program bringing us together. So, thank you!If you ever see any more good fits for me, just let me know. I'd be happyto continue to participate in the program.”Please volunteer for the Alumni Mentor Program by going tohttp://www.cooley.edu/alumni/alumnimentor.htm on the Cooleywebsite, or call the Cooley Alumni Relations Office at (800) 243-ALUMfor additional information.BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006 11

featureYour Gifts Are Important to CooleyBy Thomas M. Garikes, Director of DevelopmentWhy is your gift important?Since 1972, the faculty and staff of CooleyLaw School have led the way in the classroom,research, and administration.Cooley’s academic tradition of excellencecontinues to teach students the knowledge,skills, and ethics needed to be a success inthe law and a valuable member of society.Cooley has developed a legal education curriculumand program designed to prepareits students for the practice of law throughexperienced-based teaching lawyer skills.Tomorrow’s leaders learn from today’s leaders, and itis vitally important to support the education of ournext generation of leaders.Students learn to apply legal theory to situationsthey may encounter as practicing attorneys. Aspart of Cooley’s Professionalism Plan, Cooleystudents are also taught the professionalismprinciples adopted by the Cooley Law Schoolcommunity.Cooley is also committed to providing a legaleducation to people from all walks of life.Cooley is proud of its diverse national andinternational student body where students,through fair and objective admission policies,have the opportunity to learn the law.Cooley is a young law school, and participationis key to building a tradition of philanthropy.Every gift makes a difference. It is yourparticipation and giving, year after year, thatis important. When more of Cooley’s alumniand friends give, it demonstrates to prospectivestudents, employers, and donors thatthose people who are closest to the law schoolvalue Cooley’s contribution to their lives, trustin its leadership, and believe in its future.Each year, alumni and friends express theirloyalty and interests in the people and programsof Cooley Law School. The financialcontributions of graduates and friends ofCooley Law School support the nextgeneration of attorneys, judges, electedofficials, public interest law providers,corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs whileenhancing the legal profession as a whole.Private support of a private institution ismore than a tradition — it is critical toincreasing the stature of Cooley Law School.Providing for the future requires greaterresources than tuition alone.The support by graduates and others for thecommon good is one of the most vital principlesof our society and our legal community.Support for private education must increaseif the next generation of lawyers is to be ableto serve the community and the profession.Philanthropy, so distinctly American,improves the human condition. Philanthropicsupport of education immeasurably benefitseveryone. Your support of Cooley LawSchool is key to our quest of providing a highquality legal education to all our students.Tomorrow’s leaders learn from today’s leaders,and it is vitally important to support theeducation of our next generation of leaders.“One person can make a difference, and everyperson must.” President John F. KennedyA Special GiftThe Melissa MitchellMemorial ScholarshipFund is now a reality.The future is indeed bright, and we aregrateful to our community of donors andalumni who believe in Thomas M. Cooley LawSchool and the promise of an excellent legaleducation. Through your thoughtfulness andgenerous support, we can now announcethat the Melissa Mitchell MemorialScholarship Fund is now a reality.In August of 2005, a small group ofindividuals decided to make a difference inmemory of a former Cooley student whotouched many lives in a very special way.That student was Melissa Mitchell, a memberof the 2003 Swainson Class. A campaign toestablish a scholarship in Melissa’s memorywas inaugurated with a financial goal of$25,000. The Thomas M. Cooley Law SchoolDevelopment Office is happy to announcethat we have received a total of $21,000toward our goal as well as an estate planninggift for the future of this scholarship.To those readers who wish to make adonation to the Melissa Mitchell MemorialScholarship Fund, please contact theDevelopment Office at (517) 371-5140,ext. 2045 or e-mail Tom Garikes atgarikest@cooley.edu. Your gift is importantbecause it will make a difference in the livesof Cooley students who dream of making adifference. Melissa Mitchell made a difference.“If you want to liftyourself up, lift upsomeone else.”Booker T. Washington12 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

featureHarriet GairLawyer, Humanitarian, Businesswoman,and Devoted MotherBy Don LeDuc, President and DeanI am saddened to announcethe death of Harriet E. Gair, aprominent New York lawyer,a 1985 recipient of a Doctorof Laws honoris causa degreefrom Cooley, and a leadingCooley benefactor.Throughout her 100 years, Mrs. Gair was a leaderin the profession and significant sponsor of manyimportant causes.Mrs. Gair received her B.A. degree from New YorkUniversity and, in 1940, her LL.B. from New YorkUniversity School of Law, where she was one ofthe first women to graduate. Later, she became apartner in the firm of Gair & Gair along with herhusband, Harry A. Gair, who was the dean of thenegligence bar in New York.In addition to her work in private practice, whichincluded full management of the law firm, HarrietGair was devoted to the public, to her community,to the advancement of women, and to her faith.Harriet Gair was devoted to the public,to her community, to the advancement ofwomen, and to her faith.She served as president of the New York CityWomen’s Bar Association, and member of the NewYork State Women’s Bar Association, theMetropolitan Women’s Bar Association, theNational Association of Women Lawyers, and theJewish Lawyers Guild, in addition to her membershipin many other national, state, local, and specialtybar associations. She was a member of thetown board of Putnam Valley and, in the late1970s, was elected Town Justice of the town ofPutnam Valley, where she served on the benchwith distinction.A lover of literature, Mrs. Gair single-handedlycreated the Putnam Valley Free Library, goingso far as to purchase and donate to the city thebuilding that housed the books she caused to becollected as president of that library’s Board ofTrustees. Mrs. Gair was also president anddirector of the Mid-Hudson Library Association,which encompassed about 60 libraries in theMid-Hudson area and experienced unprecedentedgrowth during her tenure.Mrs. Gair knew the importance of an education.She completed her own education after manyyears of working to support herself and herfamily as a stenographer and law clerk, whichshe began while in high school and continuedThroughout her 100 years, Mrs. Gair wasa leader in the profession and a significantsponsor of many important causes.through her undergraduate and law schoolyears at NYU. Knowing how limited opportunitiesin the law were for women in those days,Mrs. Gair actively worked to help develop thecareers of numerous young women, serving as aconscious role model, sponsor, and counselor tomany who, though starting out as messengersor secretaries, later went on to become lawyersin their own right.Mrs. Gair remained involved in educationthroughout her 40-year career in the bar. Shewas a director of the NYU Law School AlumniAssociation and the Board of Governors of theNew York University Law Review. Mrs. Gairalso devoted great effort to a number of worthyJewish causes and Jewish jurisprudence, and washonored for her work by such institutions as theInstitute for Jewish Humanities.Throughout her career as lawyer, judge,public servant, and community leader, Mrs.Gair and her husband also managed to raisea family of six children, Donald, Elwood,Barbara, Joyce, and twins, Roger and Anthony.Through her family came her connection toCooley. Son Anthony, a cum laude graduate ofthe 1980 Potter Class, served on Cooley’sboard of directors from 1992 to 2004. Hergrandson and Anthony’s son, Daniel A. Gair, isa 1996 graduate of the Stone Class at Cooley.Our thoughts and best wishes go out to Tony,Daniel, and all the rest of the Gair family.BENCHMARK TRINITY 200613

school newsstudent awardsAlumni President BrittGrants DistinguishedStudent Awards for theFitzgerald ClassThe faculty, staff, and students of Cooley LawSchool gathered in the auditorium on July 21 forthe Honors Convocation of Trinity Term 2006.Alumni Association President Diane J. Britt(Chandler Class, 1983) was on hand to grant theDistinguished Student Award to Lisa Esser andDiea Kroulik of the graduating John W.Fitzgerald Class.The 16 students nominated for this term’sDistinguished Student Award furnished a varietyof information, including résumés and letters ofreference that were reviewed by the executivecommittee. Nominees were also personally interviewedas part of the selection process. Membersof each graduating class were evaluated on thecriteria of character, academic accomplishment,leadership, and extracurricular activities in thedecision to grant the Distinguished StudentAward.Fitzgerald Class Distinguished Student Lisa Esserwill sit for the February 2007 Michigan BarExamination. Esser is seeking a position at herexternship location, the Southfield law firm ofSommers Schwartz Silver & Schwartz, P.C., or atthe Federal Defender’s Office. Later in hercareer, Esser would like to become a judge onthe Michigan Court of Appeals.Esser’s reaction to winning the award was that“this award is not just another notch on therésumé, it represents something much greater —respect from a group of people I have looked upto my entire law school career. I am honored tobe associated with some of the most brilliant andsincere people I have ever had the pleasure ofmeeting.”She went on to say that “I have never thought ofmyself as a distinguished student and all thatentails, but rather, just another person trying tofind their place. When asked about my academicaccomplishments, extracurricular activities, andleadership in my interview with Mr. Parsell, I hadto rack my brain because I have never done anyof those things for the purpose of getting anaward or recognition; rather, I did them to meeta lot of amazing people along the way. Thanksagain!”Fitzgerald Class Distinguished Student DieaKroulik will sit for the February 2007 Florida barexamination. Kroulik would like to work at herexternship location in Boca Raton, Fla., atMcClosky, D’Anna & Dieterle, L.L.P., focusing oncommercial litigation. Eventually, Kroulik plans tobecome a partner in the firm, continuing herpractice in corporate and commercial law, andperforming pro bono service in family law.The alumni association is proud and pleased togive recognition to these outstanding membersof the Fitzgerald Class and extends its best wishesfor their continuing success.Cooley Students and Alumni GetAcquainted at May Lansing MixerCooley Law School and the Alumni SpecialEvents Committee hosted an alumni receptionand student mixer at the Lansing campus on May23. One hundred forty-three guests, includingCooley faculty, staff, graduates from the mid-Michigan area, and current students joined cohostsAlumni Association President Diane Britt(Chandler Class, 1983), Special EventsCommittee Chair Aletha L. Honsowitz (WitherellClass, 1990), and Alumni Relations DirectorDarryl Parsell (Wiest Class, 1979) for theevening in the Cooley Center.Alumni President Britt said she “felt the groupwas energized and enjoying the opportunity toget together. The setting was conducive to conversationsbetween alumni and students, as peoplecould move freely through the area to talkwith each other.”Special Events Chair Honsowitz said that hercommittee was “happy to sponsor mixers thatbring students and alumni together. The mixersprovide students the opportunity to meet andbegin networking with practicing attorneys thatshare the common experience of being graduatesof Cooley. For alumni, it is an opportunity to meetup with former classmates; learn how the alumniassociation and Cooley continue to provideopportunities for graduates, share their lawschool experiences with current students, learn ofthe issues and challenges facing today’s law1. From left, Lisa Esser receives the Distinguished Student Award from Alumni President Diane Britt. 2. Diea Kroulik, Distinguished Student Award Winner. 3. From left, Associate Dean of Enrollment &Student Services Paul Zelinski, and Leadership Achievement Award winners Jacqueline Alexander and Robyn Bass.14 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

school news1. From left, Kristin Heyse, Laurie Hrydziuszko, and Douglas Meeks at the Lansing Alumni Mixer. 2. From left, Alumni President Diane britt and Cooley Director of Development Tom Garikes at theLansing Alumni Mixer.students, and renew the excitement and enthusiasm that brought them tothe legal profession.”George Oparanozie (Fitzgerald Class, 2006) said that he enjoyed the alumnimixer. “I think it has a personalized feel to it. It is always a good thing forstudents to talk to the alumni who have gone through what the studentsare currently going through in a relaxed setting. The ultimate outcome is awin-win situation because the alumni can look back as they interact with thecurrent students and appreciate where they have gotten, while the currentstudents can look forward to being alumni in the not-so-distant future.”Oparanozie went on to say that “the mixer created an instant mentormenteerelationship in at least two separate situations I observed. I sawtwo different alumni give their respective business cards to two studentsfor future mentoring and professional contact. Personally, I spoke with differentalumni, including the president of the Thomas M. Cooley AlumniAssociation.”Student Pascale Duvert noted that “I do think that these events are worthwhileto see that there’s life after Cooley and success to be had,” whileCharrisse N. Artry “thought that the mixer was a great opportunity forcurrent students to connect with those who have traveled through thesame path. There should be more opportunities for students to connectwith alumni because it gives us hope and inspiration.”The Cooley Law Review staffed a table with information and explained howgraduates are invited to submit articles for publication in that journal. AlsoCareer and Professional Development Assistant Director Julie Mullins wasthere to thank those alumni who attended Alumni Access. Alumni Accessseeks to bring interested alumni together to learn from one another’sexperiences and perspectives in an open and supportive environment. Ifyou would like more information regarding Alumni Access, please contactJulie at (517) 371-5140 ext. 4103 or via e-mail at mullensj@cooley.edu.The Cooley contingent included Student Services Coordinator GoldieAdele (Paterson Class, 2002), Director of Enrollment Programs andStudent Services Bill Arnold, Alumni Association Vice President andProfessor Julie Clement (McDonald Class, 1998), professors Cynthia M.Ward, Judith Frank (Mundy Class, 1986), Richard Henke, Eileen Kavanagh,Ernie Phillips, Otto Stockmeyer, Evelyn Tombers (Lawrence Class, 1991),F. Georgann Wing (Felch Class, 1977), and Nancy Wonch (Kelly Class,1978); Director of Development Thomas Garikes, Director of GraduatePrograms Debra Hirsch (Sherwood Class, 1986), Associate Dean ofCommunity Relations Helen Mickens (Bushnell Class, 1980); Associate Deanfor International, Graduate and Extended Programs William Weiner, andRegistrar Sherida Wysocki.The alumni guests included Karl Benghauser (Morse Class, 1987), AlumniMembership and Outreach Committee Chair George Betts (Moore Class,1993), Constituent Alumni Group Committee Chair Christine Campbell(Potter Class, 1980), Karen Carpenter (Reid Class, 2006), Edward Cook(Morell Class, 1985), Eric Eggan (Dethmers Class, 1981), Robert Ellis (MorseClass, 1987) Brian Fortino (Sherwood Class, 1986), John Frame (EdwardsClass, 2006), Norman Gaffney (Campbell Class, 1976), Stephen Gobbo (BirdClass, 1995), John Haarala (Boyles Class, 2005), Gerard Haddad (WeadockClass, 1999), Kristin Heyse (Swift Class, 2004), Laurie Hrydziuszko (SmithClass, 2003), Lawrence Kish (Marston Class, 1978), Alumni Student ServicesCommittee Chair Garry Kregelka (Paterson Class, 2002), Suzanne Lockwood(Kavanagh Class, 1981), Suzanne Lowe (Long Class, 1981), Judge PaulaManderfield (Goodwin Class, 1982), Irene Mead (Potter Class, 1980),Robert Meade (Flannigan Class, 1999), Douglas Meeks (McAllister Class,2005), Alexandra Nassar (Edwards Class, 2006), Billie J. O’Berry (ManningClass, 1984), Ammie Rouse (Swift Class, 2004), Alecia Ruswinckel(Swainson Class, 2003), Diane Smith (North Class, 1980), Darcel SmithBozen (Mundy Class, 1986), Alumni Association Past President and CooleyLaw School Board Member Charles R. Toy (Kavanagh Class, 1981), MarieWaalkes (Turner Class, 1991), and Dean Winnie (Wiest Class, 1979).Current Cooley students also attended the event including Faheemah Abdullah,George Andonyan, Charrisse Artry, Robert Beaupre, John Brennock, TimishaBrooks, Andrew College, Rebecca Coyle, Wilfred Denis, Eric Dick, MiguelDominguez, Conan Duda, Pascale Duvert, Stephanie Ellis, Noel Erinjeri,Navjyot Francis, Sean Fromang, Larry Furdge, Iniv Gabay, Scott Goldman,Jeremy Goodman, Marianna Guiffre, Issa Haddad, Walli Haley, Chris Harris,Eboney Hughes, Kevonna Hunter, Deborah Innocent, Alyscha Johnson,Rashida Kennedy, Elieso Luna, Barry Malone, Jeremy Marks, Joon Mo Kang,Joe Nafissi, Ciara Nelson, Jennifer Nelson, Adam Newhouse, Johanne Nicolas,Alec Nolan, Ifiok Nwa, Raquel Olivo, George Oparanozie, Jeff Owens, AnnMarie Pape, Maria Pardue, Walter Rivera, Jeffrey Rothstein, Caleb Sandoval,Brian Scarpelli, Marie Schraugher, Denise Service, Hayley Silverberg, LeticiaSmith, William Somerville, Charles Thomas, Chandra Treat, Dan Wagnitz,John Waksmundski, Jonathan Williams, Keyshia Williams, Julieanne Yanez, andAmanda York.BENCHMARK TRINITY 200615

school newsCooley Grads Have Memorable Day atAdmission Ceremony for Passers of theFebruary 2006 Michigan Bar ExamSuccessful examinees from the February 2006 Michigan Bar Examinationwere admitted as new attorneys at a ceremony held on May 18, 2006, inthe fifth floor courtroom in the Cooley Center. Faculty, family, andfriends were able to share the moment when these candidates becamemembers of the State Bar of Michigan, then socialized at a reception heldby the school after the ceremony.The program was provided with the assistance of the Ingham CountyClerk’s Office and the Ingham County Bar Association. Cooley Presidentand Dean Don LeDuc welcomed the admittees and their guests onbehalf of the school. Ingham County Bar President David Brake wasresponsible for the convening of the court, and the Hon. William E.Collette, Chief Judge of the 30th Circuit Court, granted the motions toadmit the new attorneys.Many of the admittees and sponsors were graduates of Cooley LawSchool. Twenty-seven new attorneys entered the legal profession at theceremony, with 15 of them being Cooley alumni.Cooley set up a program to offer individual admission sponsors for all ofits graduates. M. Ann Miller, Associate Dean for Planning and Programs,volunteered to be an individual sponsor. She observed that “the personalrelationships that the sponsors described distinguished this Cooley swearing-inceremony. When the motions to admit are made with personalknowledge of the new admittee, with pride in their accomplishments,and with a touch of humor, the ceremony becomes what it should be:a celebration of welcome to the practice. It was a great honor for thefaculty and staff of Cooley Law School to share this joyous event withthese new attorneys and their guests. Our congratulations and bestwishes go to them!”New attorney Tony Snyder (Boyles Class, 2005) thought it was “veryfitting that I would start my law career the same way I started my laweducation, at Cooley Law School. As you sit there and look around atthe familiar faces, both those you sat with in class, as well as those thathave been supporting you all these years, it’s a very surreal experience.Cooley is the reason I got a law school education. Cooley is the reasonI passed the Bar. Cooley was the place I wanted to become a lawyer.Thank you to all the Cooley folks that made yesterday such a happyexperience. I look forward to working with Cooley and all its alumni inthe future!”Admittee Jana Hewett (Reid Class, 2006) had these impressions.“I thought the ceremony was overwhelming at first because it is such abig step in my career, but as I looked around and saw some familiar facesfrom around Cooley, it just made the ceremony even more special, andmade me realize that Cooley was, and will always be, a big part of mylife. I am really glad I chose to get sworn in where my law career started.Thanks!”Edward Whalen (Starr Class, 2005) gave his impressions of the day asfollows. “First of all, what a pleasant mix of seriousness and joviality.What a monumental milestone; there was just so much blood, sweat,and tears embodied in that ceremony, it was almost too difficult tocomprehend. What a great day! What a great venue!”Stacy M. Lebbon (Reid Class, 2006) put it this way. “It was reallymeaningful to have the swearing-in ceremony at Cooley as it felt like Ihad come full circle. I started my law school training and my law careerin the same building. Having Professor Bretz individually sponsor me wasalso full circle as he was the one who called on me my very first day oflaw school in my very first class — Criminal Law. So, thank you toCooley for being there from the beginning.”Niki Wilkinson, also a graduate of the Reid Class, said that the“swearing-in ceremony was a very special day for me because I was fortunatejust to get accepted into a law school and to pass character andfitness. I worked very hard to finish law school, to make it within the top5 percent, and to pass the bar exam; and I was sponsored by one of theprofessors that I admire most (Professor Joni Larson).Thank you.”Finally, Danielle Havenstein of the Reid Class reported that “the swearing-inceremony was a great culmination of my experiences at Cooley.I live in Grand Rapids, so I was invited to the Kent County swearing-in,but I wanted to do it at Cooley with my classmates and professors. KathySwedlow has been my mentor, teacher, friend, and shoulder to cry onthroughout my Cooley experience. I have also found other Cooleyprofessors to be open, caring, and willing to give their time to students.I credit these Cooley professors with my success in law school, andapplaud Cooley for its ability to attract and retain highly skilled lawyerswho are able to make the transition to highly skilled teachers.”16 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

The individually sponsored Cooleygraduates in the group were AllanArchie (Smith Class, 2003), sponsoredby Alumni Association Past PresidentVirginia P. Allen (Wing Class, 1982);Stephen Cornish (Reid Class, 2006),sponsored by Professor Nancy Wonch(Kelly Class, 1978); Joseph Ernst (ReidClass, 2006), sponsored by ProfessorGary Bauer (Green Class, 1988);Danielle Havenstein (Reid Class, 2006),sponsored by Professor Kathy Swedlow;Jana Hewitt (Reid Class, 2006), sponsoredby Professor Daniel Ray; StacyLebbon (Reid Class, 2006), sponsoredby Professor Ronald J. Bretz; JosieLewis (Reid Class, 2006), sponsored byProfessor Kathy Swedlow; JenniferOlson (McAllister Class, 2005),sponsored by Robert L. Renfior II;Clinton Perryman (Reid Class, 2006),sponsored by Professor Ronald J. Bretz; Mark Pritzlaff (Swift Class, 2004),sponsored by Andrea E. Pritzlaff; Kathryn Rice (Starr Class, 2005),sponsored by Steven Shelton (Boyles Class, 2005); Andrew Rockafellow(Starr Class, 2005), sponsored by Michael Newell (Boyles Class, 2005);Neal Smith (Boyles Class, 2005), sponsored by Professor Terry Cavanaugh;Anthony Snyder (Boyles Class, 2005), sponsored by Associate DeanCharles Cercone; Milea Vislosky (Starr Class, 2005), sponsored byProfessor Terry Cavanaugh; Edward Whalen (Starr Class, 2005),sponsored by Associate Dean M. Ann Miller; and Niki Wilkinson(Reid Class, 2006), sponsored by Professor Joni Larson.I credit theseCooley professorswith mysuccess in lawschool, andapplaud Cooleyfor its ability toattract andretain highlyskilled lawyerswho are able tomake the transitionto highlyskilled teachers.”The alumni in the group sponsored by Ingham County Bar AssociationPresident David Brake were Jacqueline Freeman (Reid Class, 2006),Joy McConnell (Reid Class 2006), John McKisson III (Starr Class, 2005),Thomas Munley (Reid Class, 2006), Trevor Robinson (Swainson Class,2003), and Katica Trajkovski (Reid Class 2006).Denver Area Grads and Incoming StudentsMeet at ReceptionKay Granath (Johnson Class, 2002) and Linda Kreusel (Chase Class,2002) hosted an afternoon reception for 13 graduates, prospectivestudents, and friends of Cooley Law School on June 24. The groupgathered at Eisenhower Park in southeast Denver, Colo.Ms. Granath and Ms. Kreusel welcomed the group and asked fortheir ideas for future events and activities for the alumni in the area.Ms. Kreusel said, “My impression is that for the attendees, theywere excited about the possibility of a Cooley Alumni Club inColorado. Their main goal in attending the reception was to meetother Cooley alumni and have the opportunity to network withother Cooley graduates in the area. When I decided to participate instarting this club in Colorado, that was also my main goal. It was agood experience. There was a lot of talk about our time at Cooley,as well as common professors we had. It was a fun experience.”According to graduate Elizabeth Lindsay-Ochoa, “The picnic was agreat opportunity to catch up with former classmates as well asmeet Cooley graduates from other classes. I also enjoyed meeting anew student and answering all her questions about law school.”Bringing alumni and admitted new students together is one of thebest things about these events. Graduates can give these “newbies”the lowdown on living in Lansing and what to expect as they begintheir law studies.Graduate Patrick Costigan said that attending Cooley was the besttime of his life. He learned the law from some of the best instructorsand is successful now due to the knowledge he gained from them.Additionally, he said it was also great because he met his wife atCooley. Others present made comments that because they attendedCooley they felt confident setting up their own practices.The alumni guests included Greg Clifton (Sharpe Class, 1998),Cherami Costigan (Swainson Class, 2003), Patrick Costigan (ChaseClass, 2002), Sue Kokinos (Reid Class, 2006), Liz Ochoa (IredellClass, 2001), and John Waters (Reid Class, 2006).Alumni GolfOutingJoin us at the 2007 Cooley Alumni Association Golf Outing on August 13The Thomas M. Cooley Law School Alumni Association wishes to announce that its 2007 Annual Golf Benefit willbe held at the Country Club of Lansing on Monday, August 13, 2007. The afternoon activities will begin with an11 a.m. “Off the Grill Luncheon Buffet” and a 12:30 p.m. ‘Shotgun Start.’The $150 per person fee will include 18 holes of golf, cart, and hot and cold hors d’oeuvres with soft drinks,beer, cocktails, and special prizes. Further information will follow in the spring of next year. We look forward toseeing you and again, thanking you for your support of the Alumni Association Memorial Scholarship Fund.BENCHMARK TRINITY 200617

school newsgraduation highlightsTop. State Bar of Michigan President Thomas Cranmer delivers the commencement address.Middle. From left, Cooley President Don LeDuc, Paul Michael Collins, summa cum laude; GregoryMichael Matlock, President’s Achievement Award winner, and State Bar of Michigan PresidentThomas Cranmer.Bottom. Left and middle: Graduates of the Edwards Class. At right: Mable Martin-Scott was thewinner of the Beattie Award for Excellence in Teaching.Edwards ClassCommencement ceremonies for the Edwards Class wereheld May 20, 2006, at the Breslin Center.The invocation was given by Assistant Dean andAssociate Professor Nelson Miller. Senior Michael Brushwas chosen by his fellow graduates to deliver the valedictoryremarks.Commencement speaker was State Bar of MichiganPresident Thomas W. Cranmer, a principal with the firmof Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone.Paul Michael Collins, summa cum laude, was the recipientof the James E. Burns Memorial Award. Gregory MichaelMatlock was the recipient of the President’sAchievement Award.The Burns Award is given to the student who graduateswith the highest grade point average in the class, whilethe President’s Achievement Award goes to the studentwho had the highest percentage increase betweenincoming index and graduating G.P.A.Professor Mable Martin-Scott won the Beattie Award forExcellence in Teaching, an award voted on by membersof the graduating class.18 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

May 20, 2006Wesley AblesJamie Tennille Adams,CUM LAUDEStephen Glenn AdkinsDavid Garland Aiello,CUM LAUDESamantha Lee AielloImie V. Aisiku, CUM LAUDERaffi Akelian, CUM LAUDEEric Delanyo AlifoJames Frederick Allen Jr.Brynn Hart Anderson, CUMLAUDEMichael George ArdeleanCarla L. ArevaloEmma Rose Armstrong-Blanchard,MAGNA CUM LAUDEApril Lee BabcockJuan BaltierresLaverne Bobbie Barber-CampeseStephanie Barone,CUM LAUDE, LEADERSHIPACHIEVEMENT AWARDAlicia Catherine BartolovichScott Alan BassJonathan Robert Beato, LEADER-SHIP ACHIEVEMENTAWARDChris Henry Begeman,MAGNA CUM LAUDECrystal Amber BeitlerAaron Eugene Bellm,CUM LAUDEMatthew Lee BenavidesAndrew Thomas Bethart,MAGNA CUM LAUDEVanessa Anne BevingtonCarrie Ann Bidigare,CUM LAUDECheryl Anne BinosaStuart Black,MAGNA CUM LAUDETara Aubree BlackJames Edward BlissAmy D. BoehmsElizabeth Victoria BoldenDarien J. BorgesCheré Rosalind BoschJeanelle Ayeshia BovellJames Edward Bowman II,CUM LAUDEJimmy D. Boyd,MAGNA CUM LAUDEHoward Henry BrauckmullerJennifer Renee BriscoMichael Paul BrushJohn Wesley BurkholderTeresa BurnsJordan Wayne BushVernon Elliott Cardwell Jr.,WITH DISTINCTIONBrent CartwrightMichael ChabanMin-Cheng ChenPaul Michael Collins,SUMMA CUM LAUDERae-Anne CopatKevin Michael CotterSara Marie CovillJames Crane, CUM LAUDEStacey Lyn CubitLisa Ann Damuth, CUM LAUDEKelley Amanda DayAustin B. DeFreeceMehul DesaiNathan Chad DoctorColleen A. Dooley, CUM LAUDEJames Edgar Drury IIIDouglas Ian DuffinOneika Duncan, LEADERSHIPACHIEVEMENT AWARDJeff Scott DunsonJenny Marie EastmanAdam James EgglestonAudrey Eglajs, CUM LAUDEBradley Earl EkdahlHarold Leo Emelander,MAGNA CUM LAUDEElterrice Dovet FarleyElizabeth Ann Favaro,MAGNA CUM LAUDECynthia FavilaSteven Mark FeigelsonSarina FiferVasiliki P. FilippakosDaniella FoljaCharles Larry Fountain IIJohn Turner Frame IIMaria Alexis FrantomAaron Neil FreedmanHenry George Fuhs III,CUM LAUDEFrank M. Gagliardi,MAGNA CUM LAUDEPatrick James GarrettPatricia Gelderloos,MAGNA CUM LAUDEJennifer Claude GermainAutumn Lynn GillJohn Paul GillMichael Jay GliddenKatherine Anne GonosLillian Grizel GonzalezMichelle GonzalezJoseph Cole Good IIISetsuko Regina GormleyChristopher Charles GraffeoBridget Anne GreeneTrevor Gerard Grove,MAGNA CUM LAUDEDaniel HarrisonThomas Ward Hart IIIDylan McCaughey HartiganRebecca Sue HarwoodLydia Yvonne HendersonNicole Marie Herron,CUM LAUDEJennifer Margaret HetuTodd Michael Hill,MAGNA CUM LAUDECharles Edward Hirth IIIVeronika Emese Hokagraduates edwards classMark HoldridgeDerek Thomas HowardMichelle Marie HurrenJavier IllasFrancina Mary JamesJaclyn Kay JelsemaBrian Grant JohnsonMiranda Lynn Johnston,CUM LAUDEHussein KarmaliJason Ray KatzHeather Bridgette KavanaughAngela Hope KaylStephen Edward Kennedy,CUM LAUDETodd Robert KenneyHoward Roberts KinardMarcie Joan Klida, CUM LAUDENode Kokusi KludzeAdam Edward Kneisley,CUM LAUDEChristopher Mark KrollMatthew C. KrullKathleen KuglerCalvin K. KuzaMichael LamScott Robert LamimanJennifer Lynne LascariDaniel Song-Kyu LeeRobert Alford LenoirChristopher LeonardChristina Kay Lichty,CUM LAUDERyan Nicholas LindingerLainie Jess LittleOlga Maricruz LopezJennifer Marie LoTurcoAnn Marie MalaveClovis Wayne MartinStephanie Julia MassiGregory Michael Matlock,MAGNA CUM LAUDE,PRESIDENT’SACHIEVEMENT AWARDMichael William Matthews,WITH DISTINCTIONRandall Joseph MattsonMichael Prince MbahAnn Allen McDonoughMarcie Kanoelani McWayne,LEADERSHIPACHIEVEMENT AWARDShant MelkonianElizabeth Marie MesserNorman Frederic MillerSandra Mireles, CUM LAUDEChristopher David MorrowMichele MortonJerome Anthony Moschetta,MAGNA CUM LAUDEMoshood MuftauCatherine Ann Mullhaupt,CUM LAUDEEric Clifford Musser,CUM LAUDEKyung-Sun Na, CUM LAUDEAlexandra Nassar, CUM LAUDELourdes NeriosStephanie NgAlphonso NicksonDavid NowakCristy Nicole OakesRuth O’Connor,WITH DISTINCTIONPatricia Lynn O’DellRaquel OlivoMichael Scott Owen,CUM LAUDESandra Kay OwensCristine Anne OyerGale Lyn PalmerBrett David Parker,MAGNA CUM LAUDEKristin Leigh PauporeRobert PawlowskiKalvanetta Kristina PeeteChelsea Alexandra PejicKevin Gerard PelkeyJaHarr Sareen PenningtonRobert Scott PewKaren Lynn Phillips,CUM LAUDELaurel L. Poe, CUM LAUDEMark Daniel Potts, CUM LAUDEJulie Marguerite PrimozicJay Robert RademacherPeter Rafal RamiscalPaula Renee RamseyRenee Marie RashleighJonathan Adam ReevesCarleen Meagan Reid-ColemanCharles Robert Riney,CUM LAUDEJennifer Elizabeth RiskieAaron Robert RiveraNadia Rivera SanchezMichael Anthony RomanRonald Anthony RosaRobert J. RossJoseph Anthony Rossi JrJessica Erin Routley,CUM LAUDEBrian Dean RussellHelly SaadzoiGable Maxwell SadovskyGaudys L. Sanclemente RonquilloKyle Ann SauerMichelle Elizabeth SawickiMatthew Dene Scholz,MAGNA CUM LAUDEEvan Matthew SelikCherry Lynn SewellWilliam Allen ShelbyBrendan Doyle Simaytis,MAGNA CUM LAUDERachel Elizabeth SimsAntonio Guiseppe SissonMarion Frank Siuta,WITH DISTINCTIONKevin Scott SkinnerSally Ann SkodinskiJoanna Stephenie Smith,CUM LAUDE, LEADERSHIPACHIEVEMENT AWARDThomas Andrew Smith, CUMLAUDE, LEADERSHIPACHIEVEMENT AWARDJames Kevin SnyderJeffrey Michael Stanglin,CUM LAUDEJoseph Rodney StarrChristopher StavrisPaul Wesley Steele III,CUM LAUDEAngela Renee SteinJohn Charles StenderKyle David Stewart,CUM LAUDEElizabeth Ann StomskiJoohyung SuhMehpara Angelina SulemanMonika Lina Sullivan,MAGNA CUM LAUDEMelanie Sue Summers,CUM LAUDEAaron SumrallRachel TaimanaoJessica Lynn TarsiJaron Paul Thompson,CUM LAUDERamona Winona TodorutDorothy Tochan TranLinda Thi TranTheodore Levette Tsoras,MAGNA CUM LAUDEJason Twede, CUM LAUDEJodi VanAveryEric Van SteelPhilip George VeraChristopher Stephen VetvickJoseph VredeveltBeau Lawrence Wagner,CUM LAUDEPatrick Steven Wall,CUM LAUDEJaime Marie WallaceTanya Sue WanageshikJennifer Owen WardJason Scott WeaverDionne Elizabeth WebsterBenjamin Ross WeimertDouglas WeinertPatrick Francis WelshElizabeth Anne WetenkampJamee Borton WheelerJacinda Martina WhiteW. Bryan White,WITH DISTINCTIONAlison Sarra WidoffErycerla Bree Willie,CUM LAUDERalph James WilsonMaike WinterWoojin Won, CUM LAUDESeokgwon YoonAndrew James ZenkTalbot DeWitt ZieglerBENCHMARK TRINITY 200619

school newsJanuary 22, 2006Richard Kingsley Allen III, CUM LAUDEAisha Nichol AlleynePatricia Anne AmbroseAshley Elizabeth AmeikaCyrille Albert El Amm, CUM LAUDEImelda Udui Antonio, CUM LAUDESimone N. Archer, CUM LAUDEYesenia Maria ArévaloKaterina ArvanitakisEbonee C. Avery,LEADERSHIP ACHIEVEMENT AWARDJessamy Ann Barnes, CUM LAUDEThomas George BarnesElizabeth Jane BarringerJoseph Jeffrey Baumann, MAGNA CUM LAUDERonald Paul BenderKunal BhathejaLawrence Joseph Boivin, CUM LAUDEJoel Frederick BornkampTodd Frank BovoMelissa Ruth Bozell, CUM LAUDEMichael Anthony BraemChristopher George BuckKimberly Hope CambronDavid Leonard Campbell,LEADERSHIP ACHIEVEMENT AWARDKaren Marie CarpenterJohn Joseph CaseyChristine Louise CattaniDanny CeronZuleyma M. ChapmanVanessa Chauhan, CUM LAUDEErica Leigh ChisholmCarey Michele ClarkStephen Michael Cornish, CUM LAUDEJames Randall Davis Jr.Thea D. Davis, CUM LAUDELuis De Los Santos Jr.Patrick J. DelaneyHarsharn Sharon DhamiNoelle Elizabeth DobbsJ. Stephen Dolembo, CUM LAUDEJohn Joseph Doud, CUM LAUDEMichael Todd DouglassMatthew B. DownsMichelle Duff, CUM LAUDEBrandi Kae DukesGwynne Rondolos DumbrigueRosie DwyerPaul J. Elam IIJoseph Edward Ernst, CUM LAUDEEmma Mae EvansKimberley Ann FarrellArden McCullough FieldsRichard Jason FosterJacqueline Anne Freeman, CUM LAUDEBarry L. GairNina Marie Garrett, CUM LAUDEBrad Andrew GeeWendy Sue GillisChristopher Michael GioeMahdiyeh GoodarziJohn Russell Goodin, CUM LAUDEDonna Sophia GopaulRyan Salim GoresDrinan Jeanne Gorney, CUM LAUDEPeng Grossklaus, MAGNA CUM LAUDESheryl Denise GuinnHolly Marie HanniJason Adam HarrisDanielle René Havenstein, SUMMA CUM LAUDEgraduates reid classJessica M. HaydenRoshanda D. HeathJason Alexander HeistGeorgia Lee HenningJana Ann HewittJames C. Higgs, MAGNA CUM LAUDEAaron Hilgendorf, CUM LAUDEBethany M. HillisMichael Robert HoneywellJames Allan Houston, CUM LAUDEBrandon Scott HultinkJames Richard HussSteven HyderOmonzusi Margaretta Imobioh, CUM LAUDEJill Marie IrelandToshinori IsoaiAlbert James Iuele IIJordan Suzanne Jackson, CUM LAUDENicole Marie JanesJenny DeAnn Jansch, CUM LAUDESheila JohnsonAmy Beth KalbaughArmand S. KalfayanEdward James KaushasAngela Marie KimberSue Ann KokinosCasey Callahan KolbVirginia Kerr KostmayerKarin Leigh LakeDena Marie Lampinen, CUM LAUDECheryl Lorraine LandrumMichael Scott LanierAdedapo Rasheed LawalGregory Gail LeavittStacy Marie LebbonMildred LecorpsTasha Elaine Leise, CUM LAUDEStephen Francis Cruz Leon GuerreroJosie Lea LewisOsvaldo Lopez, CUM LAUDEChristian Barry LozukeRashidatu Mahama, CUM LAUDEClint J. MansourLuis Enrico Martin del CampoJoel MartinezJoy Elizabeth McConnell, MAGNA CUM LAUDEJule McReynoldsBrian Eugene MelsonPhilip John MelvilleTemus Clifford Miles Jr., CUM LAUDEMichael B. Miller IIChristina Lynn MitzelBobbi J. Morrow, CUM LAUDEThomas Edward Munley, MAGNA CUM LAUDEMatthew Edward MunsonRayni Mayuri NakamuraStephanie M. NeretteJoseph William NugentAlexander Scott O’BrienScott Patrick O’NeillChiyoon OhCheryl Charmaine OosterhoutTheresa PanzicaPalmer David ParrottRobert Joseph Payne, CUM LAUDEMichele A. PerlinClinton Wood PerrymanBethany Marie PlantCynthia Marika Pressley-BescoWilliam Brian RamsayLaSandy Katriece RaynorAlberto Diego RecaldeJason Andrew Rhodehouse, CUM LAUDEMichelle Marie RichardsAudra Ricketts-BelmamounSara Lynn Rickson, CUM LAUDE, ALUMNIDISTINGUISHED STUDENT AWARDDeborah E. RiddickRichard Alan RiekkolaCharity Rose RiversKevin John RobinsonRobert L. Robinson Jr.Jeffrey Philip RolandStuart Seth RonickerRyan Scott RossJason Kyle RuggerioErnesto E. RuizJohn RulliRichard Jeffrey RussellJames Gregory SalyardsLynda Sangmor, CUM LAUDEJuan Carlos ScarboroughJeremy Adam Schneider, CUM LAUDEEric Ryan SeversonRichard I. Sexton, CUM LAUDERebecca Christine SharpeCatharine Clare Shea, CUM LAUDEChristopher Lance ShropaBarbara Anne Shutler, CUM LAUDELewis LaMont SmithDarren M. SouthardLorethea Benice SpencerChristine Marie Stabile, CUM LAUDEMatthew James Stark, MAGNA CUM LAUDEVictoria Diane StarksCianti Anise Stewart-Reid, CUM LAUDELacey Vaughan StoneMelissa Marie SwaneyJill Marie TannerCarrie Michelle ThomasDorothy Lisa ThomasMarkeisha Di’Ann Thompson, CUM LAUDE,LEADERSHIP ACHIEVEMENT AWARDJani Sanura TilleryDavid TonKatica TrajkovskiKien H. TranAmanda Marie TrottChristopher Michael Turner, CUM LAUDEKenneth Ray Turner Jr.Johnny William UlmerJoan E. WalkerJohn Palmer WatersValerie Elizabeth WattsAmy Gracelyn WelchDalph L. Wells-WatsonMelisa Marie Werkema, CUM LAUDEBrandi Nicole WestJames Lee WidrigNiki Lee Wilkinson, CUM LAUDE,PRESIDENT’S ACHIEVEMENT AWARDEvelyn Williams, CUM LAUDE, ALUMNIDISTINGUISHED STUDENT AWARDNaing (Freddie) Latt WinJustin Michael WrightJames Matthew WujcikAlethea Denise Wurn, CUM LAUDEJay S. YooMelissa Lynn YoungEric Wee Keong Kekoa YuenJames Christian Zellen20 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

school newsfaculty briefsGary Bauer,Associate ProfessorAppointed, Chairperson-Elect, State Bar of MichiganLaw Practice ManagementSection, for 2006-2007.Quoted, in Prelaw, aNational Jurist publication, inan article, “Other Specialties, Thomas M. CooleyLaw School, General Practice, Small Firm andSolo Concentration,” Vol. 10, No. 1, 2006.David C. Berry,Associate ProfessorAttended, the 32nd AnnualIntellectual Property LawSummer Institute in TraverseCity, Mich., co-sponsored bythe Institute of ContinuingLegal Education and the StateBar of Michigan Intellectual Property Law Section.Published, an article, “ ‘Tangential Relation’Criterion Clears Way For Infringement ofAmended Patent Claims Under Doctrine ofEquivalents,” in the Journal of Intellectual PropertyLaw and Practice, an Oxford University Presspublication.Interviewed, by NPR’s Nina Totenbergconcerning the Supreme Court’s decision ineBay Inc. v. MercExchange, LLC.Served, on the dissertation panel for Nancy E.Larsen, who was awarded a Ph.D. in Educationby Oakland University based on her researchon K-12 educators' understanding of, attitudetoward, and compliance with, the Copyright Actin public schools.Ronald Bretz,ProfessorLectured, on recentcriminal appellate decisionsto the Michigan JudgesAssociation Annual Meetingon Mackinac Island, Mich., onAug. 21, 2006; at a criminaldefense seminar in Tucson, Ariz., April 14, 2006,and with Cooley Professor James Peden on Nov.18, 2005, to the Wayne County defense bar.Published, a chapter, “170 Years of a BalancingAct: A Brief History of Criminal Justice InMichigan,” in The History of Michigan Law,Ohio University Press 2006.Participated, in a symposium on the Historyof Michigan Law at Wayne State University LawSchool, Sept. 12, 2006.Participated, in a panel on the History ofMichigan Law at the State Bar of Michigan annualmeeting in Ypsilanti, Mich., Sept. 14, 2006.Spoke, at the Indiana Public Defender Serviceseminar in Indianapolis, Ind., on Understandingand Effectively Arguing Forensic Evidence Issues,on Sept. 15, 2006.Testified, before the Michigan House ofRepresentatives, on pending legislation designedto eliminate preliminary exams in certain felonies.Elected, in January 2006 as president of theBoard of Directors of the Citizens Alliance onPrisons and Public Spending.Headed, a panel on diversity for DiversityWeek at Cooley, March 9, 2006.Spoke, to a group of Lansing high schoolstudents visiting Cooley, on March 2, 2006.James L. Carey,Associate ProfessorAppointed, as OfficialReporter of the MichiganState Bar Committee on theLimited Liability Company Act.He was appointed by theMichigan State Bar to workwith the State Bar and the Michigan legislature toimprove the act and to draft the official commentarydescribing various provisions of the act.Paul Carrier,Assistant ProfessorDelivered, a paper, “U.S.Policy on Exercises ofJurisdiction by InternationalTribunals — Positivist vs.Naturalist Theories — theU.S. Position with Referenceto the International Criminal Court,” for a paneldiscussion, Jurisdictional Trends and Mechanismsin International Law, June 17, 2006, at CooleyLaw School.Karen Chadwick,Associate ProfessorAccepted, for publication,an article, “Is Leisure-TimeSmoking a Valid EmploymentConsideration?” in theAlbany Law Review.Attended, the Dan E. Dobbs Conference onTort Law, March 3-4, 2006, in Tucson, Ariz.Submitted, a grant proposal, along withCooley Associate Professor John Taylor and twoOakland University professors, to the Law SchoolAdmissions Council, entitled, “Critical FactorsAffecting Law School Success.”Patrick Corbett,Associate ProfessorSpoke, on Sept. 21, 2006,on Searching and SeizingComputers - the FourthAmendment in Cyberspace,at Washtenaw CommunityCollege, Ann Arbor, Mich.Spoke, on Sept. 19, 2006, on Identity Theft,for the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association’sPeople’s Law School 2006, at Cooley LawSchool, Lansing, Mich.Spoke, on Sept. 15, 2006, on A Review ofMichigan Cyber Crime Laws, for the MichiganJudicial Conference, at the State Bar of MichiganAnnual Meeting, Ypsilanti, Mich.Spoke, on Sept. 6, 2006, on Cyber Bullying andOther Computer Crimes Involving Teens, atOkemos High School, Okemos, Mich.Attended, on Aug. 15, 2006, SUMIT_06Symposium, at the University of Michigan,Information Technology Security Services, AnnArbor, Mich.Attended, on July 13, 2006, a High TechnologyCrime Investigations Association Conference, at theTroy Police Department, Troy, Mich.Attended, on July 13, 2006, the MichiganElectronic Crimes Task Force Conference, at theMichigan Information Technology Center, AnnArbor, Mich.Norman Fell,ProfessorAwarded, on May 18,2006, The Justice For AllAward from the CriminalDefense Attorneys ofMichigan for his extraordinaryefforts to defend therights of defendants and to ensure due processand justice for all.BENCHMARK TRINITY 200621

school newsGerald Fisher,Associate ProfessorSelected, by his peers, forinclusion in 2007 Best Lawyersin America.Spoke, at the NationalBusiness Institute Seminar onEminent Domain on Aug. 28,2006, in Southfield, Mich. Topic: The Debate onGovernmental Authority and Private PropertyRights Under the Takings Clause.Spoke, at an Institute for Continuing LegalEducation seminar on Land Use and Developmenton Sept. 7, 2006, in Troy, Mich. Topic: Use of theCommunity Master Plan to the Fullest Advantageby Both Public and Private Interests.Anthony Flores,Associate ProfessorTaught, at Widener LawSchool in Wilmington, Del.,an Intensive Trial AdvocacyProgram May 18-23, 2006.Interviewed, for article inthe Ingham County LegalNews, on “Technology from the Attorney’sDesk.” (May 2006).Conducted, training for the State of MichiganOffice of Training and Staff Development, ChildWelfare Institute, Protective Services and FosterCare Training, on testifying in court, June 1,2006, and Aug. 10, 2006, in Detroit, Mich.Attended, AALS Workshop for New LawTeachers, in Washington, D.C., June 22-24, 2006.Attended, AALS Workshop for New ClinicalTeachers, in Washington, D.C., June 24-25, 2006.Interviewed, for an article in the St. JosephHerald-Palladium, for the story “Registry UnderFire; Critics say requirements should be changedfor sex offender list,” September 2006.Christopher G. Hastings,Visiting ProfessorAppointed, to theWestern District of Michigan’sProject Safe Childhood TaskForce, which is charged aspart of the BushAdministration’s nationalinitiative with the development and implementationof a local plan for combating Internet predationupon children.Elected, Second Vice President of the Girl Scoutsof Michigan Trails.Reappointed, to the Standing Committee onthe Unauthorized Practice of Law of the State Barof Michigan.Joseph Kimble,ProfessorPresented, a writingseminar at the annualmeeting of the State Bar ofMichigan. Kimble was afeatured speaker.Spoke, at the annualmeeting of the Law and Society Conference, inBaltimore, Md. His presentation, called RevisingHallowed Text: Lessons from the Federal Rules ofCivil Procedure, was about his work in redraftingthose rules. They have now been approved bythree federal committees and are in the hands ofthe U.S. Supreme Court.Interviewed, in depth, by three publicationsabout his views on legal writing. The interviewsappeared in The Editorial Eye, Issues in Writing,and the Bimonthly Review of Law Books.Received, positive reviews of his book Liftingthe Fog of Legalese: Essays on Plain Language, inPerspectives:Teaching Legal Research and Writing,the Student Lawyer, the Chicago Bar AssociationRecord,Trial, the Law Institute Journal, the Journalof the Law Society of Scotland, and the AustralianLaw Journal (in a review by a Justice of the HighCourt of Australia).Dorean Koenig,ProfessorServed, as vice-chair ofthe drafting committeeresponsible for creating anIRR resolution establishingprotections from the deathpenalty for severely mentallyill defendants that was passed by the AmericanBar Association House of Delegates.Daniel W. Matthews,Assistant ProfessorAccepted, for publication,an article, “A Fight to theDeath: Slaying the EstateTax Repeal Hydra,” in theWhittier Law Review.Appointed, as Vice Chairof the Tax Committee of the Oakland CountyBar Association.Raised, over $1,300 for the MuscularDystrophy Association.Cited, with approval by the Supreme Court ofSouth Carolina, his article “Should The Doctrineof Lost Volume Seller Be Retained? A Responseto Professor Breen,” in Collins EntertainmentCorp. v. Coats and Coats Rental Amusement,629 S.E.2d 635 (S.C. 2006).Nelson P. Miller,AssistantDean/AssociateProfessorCo-authored, withAssociate Professor andAssistant Dean Joan Vestrand,“Of Shining Knights andCunning Pettifoggers: The Symbolic World of theModel Rules of Professional Conduct,” in 110Penn St. L. Rev. 855 (2006).Elected, as President of the Board of Trusteesof the Legal Assistance Center, serving over10,000 patrons per year at the Kent County(Michigan) Courthouse.Marla Mitchell,ProfessorPublished, “One WeekLater at 8:58,” a poemreflecting on the events ofSept. 11, Cooley Journal ofPractical and Legal Scholarship,2006. This poem receivedHonorable Mention in the 1992 Clinical LegalEducation’s Annual Creative Writing Contest.Guest speaker, on The Blessings of Our Labor,Sept. 3, 2006. Discussed the rewards of her worklife, particularly as it relates to the CooleyInnocence Project, for Labor Day service atFellowship for Today.Attended, the National Association of CriminalDefense Lawyers' conference, Tools and StrategiesFor Making Criminal Justice Reform a Reality, July27-28, 2006, in Miami, Fla.Attended, a workshop: Yearning and Justice,Writing the Unlived Life, Aug. 17-21, 2006, atThe Leaven Center, in Lyons, Mich.Appointed, Co-Director, Australia and NewZealand Study Abroad Program for 2007.Martha Moore,Associate ProfessorAppointed, by theMichigan Supreme Courtto serve on the MichiganAttorney GrievanceCommission, Sept. 30, 2006,for a three-year term. TheSupreme Court appoints six lawyers and threenon-lawyers to supervise the GrievanceAdministrator and the staff, propose court ruleamendments, and decide the disposition of theinvestigations completed by the GrievanceAdministrator —whether to dismiss the investigation,privately admonish, or institute formalpublic proceedings before a hearing panel of theAttorney Discipline Board against attorneyssuspected of misconduct.22 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

John Nussbaumer,Professor andAssociate DeanPublished, an article,“Misuse of the Law SchoolAdmissions Test, RacialDiscrimination, and the DeFacto Quota System forRestricting African-American Access to the LegalProfession,” in the St. John’s Law Review, Vol.80, Winter 2006, No. 1, pages 167-181.Donald Peterson,Associate ProfessorPerformed, as a stand-upcomic, at fundraisers held bythe Legal Assistance Centerand the Auburn HillsOptimist Club.Co-authored, a bookreview with Cooley Assistant Dean Nelson Milleron The Consciousness of the Litigator, by DuffyGraham. The book has been accepted forpublication by The Journal of Markets & Morality.John Rooney,Professor EmeritusSpoke, at the SemioticSociety of America’s annualmeeting at Purdue, Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2006. His paper iscalled “The Misuse of Languagein the Pursuit of Justice.”Lauren A. Rousseau,Associate ProfessorAuthored, an article thatwas published in the RutgersJournal of Law and UrbanPolicy, Spring 2006 edition(Vol. 3, No. 2), entitled,“Privacy and Jury Selection:Does the Constitution Protect Prospective JurorsFrom Personally Intrusive Voir Dire Questions?”Marjorie Russell,ProfessorNamed, to the NationalYouth Court CenterVolunteer Hall of Fame foractivities related to LansingTeen Court, including servingas a volunteer judge.Presented, a lecture and demonstration onPreparing and Conducting Direct Examinations,and served as a small group instructor for thethird annual CDAM/Cooley Criminal DefenseTrial College, Aug. 18-23.Chris A. Shafer,ProfessorPublished, an article,“Navigating the Shoals ofWetlands Protection andthe Clean Water Act: TheSupreme Court’s Decisionin Rapanos and Carabell,”in Planning & Zoning News, Vol. 24, No. 9(July 2006).Spoke, on “The Public Trust Doctrine andWetlands Protection: Modern Application ofAn Ancient Doctrine,” at the InternationalWetlands Symposium, Aug. 28, 2006, inTraverse City, Mich.Participated, in a panel discussion on “WaterUse in Michigan” for the DNR/DEQ LeadershipAcademy on Sept. 12, 2006, in Lansing, Mich.John A. Taylor,Associate ProfessorAttended, the AmericanBar Association annualconference Aug. 5-10 inHonolulu, Hawaii.Proposed, along withCooley Professor KarenChadwick and two Oakland Universityprofessors, to the Law School AdmissionsCouncil, a study of the critical factors affectinglaw school success. The proposal seeks fundingof $104,000.Amy Timmer,Associate Deanand ProfessorAccepted, as Chair ofCooley’s ProfessionalismCommittee, the E. SmytheGambrell ProfessionalismAward given to Cooley LawSchool by the ABA Professionalism Committeeon Aug. 4, 2006, for Cooley’s ProfessionalismProgram.Evelyn C. Tombers,Associate ProfessorAttended, the State Bar ofMichigan Leadership Forum,on Mackinac Island, Mich. Thisconference prepares state barleaders for their section orcommittee leadership roles.Elected, Chair, State Bar of Michigan Children’sLaw Section.Christopher Trudeau,Assistant ProfessorAttended, the LegalWriting Institute’s 12thbiennial conference June7-10, 2006, in Atlanta, Ga.Developed, a pro bonoprogram at Cristo ReyCommunity Center in Lansing, Mich. Theprogram began Oct. 4, 2006.William Wagner,ProfessorAuthored, an amicusbrief filed in two casesbefore the U.S. SupremeCourt: Moises Sanchez-Llamas v. State of Oregonand Bustillo v.VirginiaDepartment of Corrections (2006).Provided, expert non-partisan testimony onthe constitutionality of HB 5251 revising the StateSchool Code, made to the House StandingCommittee on Education of the Michiganlegislature (2006).Presented, Protecting Reputation: ProfessionalEthics for Litigating Public Interest ConstitutionalClaims, at the Blackstone Legal Institute’s nationalconference of civil rights lawyers in Laguna Niguel(2006).Presented, Responding to the TransnationalInvasion of American Jurisprudence, at asymposium sponsored by the InternationalLaw Society (2006).Presented, Transnational Law and its Role inInterpreting the United States Constitution, at anational symposium at the Franklin Pierce LawSchool in Concord, N.H. (2006).Presented, The Connection between PersonalVirtue and Institutional Integrity, to the Universityof Windsor Law School in Windsor, Ontario,Canada (2006).Presented, Bringing Justice to the Nations— Using the Rule of Law to Protect InalienableHuman Rights, to the Christian LegalFoundation’s National Conference of CanadianLaw Students in London, Ontario, Canada (2006).Sponsored, an Integrity Lecture Series wheremembers of the bench and bar speak and meetwith law students about issues of integrity in thepractice of law (2006).BENCHMARK TRINITY 200623

alumni mattersletter fromthe alumni presidentalumni news20 Michaelmas Term 2005By Diane Britt,Alumni Association PresidentA year as president of the Cooley AlumniAssociation has passed quickly.It has been a time of change, and still is. Cooley Law School and thisalumni association continue to reinvent themselves. Probably the clearestevidence of this is that Cooley students can now earn all of their 90 lawschool credits at any of Cooley’s three campus locations in Michigan. Wehope that this will also open the door for much more alumni and studentcontact at each of Cooley’s three locations in Lansing, Grand Rapids, andon the campus of Oakland University in Rochester. It will both allow us,and require us, to be more flexible and diverse in our interactions. Ibelieve we are up to the challenge.During the past year it has been a distinct pleasure for me to present theAlumni Association’s Distinguished Student Awards for each term, as wellas the annual Alumni Memorial Scholarship. These awards are given at thethree Honors Convocations held during the academic year. The awardsare made by our association to several Cooley students who have not onlyachieved scholastically, but who have also been outstanding in their participationin the larger community. Their résumés and letters of support saymuch about them. Still, it has been exciting to meet them in person andhear their individual stories. We look forward to having theseoutstanding students as future members of the alumni association.I see energy and enthusiasm among the alumni association members. Ihave also seen this spark among those who have not yet becomemembers — and we hope you will consider becoming a member if you arenot yet part of this organization. This energy and enthusiasm tends to beself-renewing. It transforms and benefits all of us, whether we are alumni,staff, faculty, or students.In my experience, I have found that alumni association members aremulti-faceted and multi-talented. As alumni association members, we applyour talents and expertise, and are dedicated to building this associationand enhancing the Cooley Law School experience. Association membersbuild bridges between alumni and students. They offer mentoring to newalumni and current students. They provide moral support, networkingopportunities, and encouragement to alumni who live across Michigan, thenation, and the world. I thank you for the opportunity to be president ofthis vital and forward-thinking organization. I hope to see you at thealumni association’s local, state, and national events in the future.Grand Rapids Area Graduates, Staff, andStudents Socialize in JuneCooley’s western Michigan alumni and current students gatheredon June 27 at McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon on Ionia Ave. SWin downtown Grand Rapids, Mich. Forty-one alumni, students,faculty, staff, and friends of the law school joined the hosts at thealumni reception and student mixer.Associate Dean of the Grand Rapids campus Marion Hilligan(Johnson Class, 1989), Alumni Association President Diane J.Britt (Chandler Class, 1983), Alumni Association Vice Presidentand Professor Julie Clement (McDonald Class, 1998) and AlumniRelations Director Darryl Parsell (Wiest Class, 1979) welcomedthe guests. Alumni co-hosts Alumni Special Events CommitteeChair Aletha Honsowitz (Witherell Class, 1990), Lisa Pohl (KuhnClass, 1995), and Colleen Klesmith (Whipple Class, 1985) werea great help as they met and registered all of the guests.Additional Cooley faculty and staff attending the reception andmixer included professors Curt Benson (Mundy Class, 1986),Lynn Branham, Paul Carrier, and Don Petersen; GR EnrollmentCoordinator David Dee, GR Assistant Dean Nelson Miller, andGR Deputy Director Joan Rosema-David (Jay Class, 2000).In addition to the staff and distinguished guests already mentioned,graduates attending included Patrick Beatty (Needham Class,2004), Maureen Burns Van Hoven (Grant Class, 1987), RonaldDavid (Carr Class, 1984), Sandra Densham (Starr Class, 2005),Kathleen Dunne (Stone Class, 1996), Travis Earley (Boyles Class,2005), Patricia Gelderloos (Edwards Class, 2006), William Hawley(Swift Class, 2004), Chris Krupp (Lawrence Class, 1991), DavidLedbetter (Douglass Class, 1987), Matthew Miller (Starr Class,2005), and Jennifer Racine (McAllister Class, 2005).Current students enjoyed the opportunity to network with thegraduates. Students at the mixer included Wafa Adib-Lobo, MaryBrattain, Thomas Clark, Melanie Croft, Candace Daunis, MattDeLange, LeeAnn Ford, Aaron LeClair, Sharnelle Porter, KimRoyster, Don Stauffer, R. John Stephan, and Roumiana Velikova.24 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

alumni mattersWe are very interested in hearing about you and your alumni news • E-mail the Alumni Office at alumni@cooley.edu21In MemoryHoward Soifer, He specialized in litigation, zoning, and employmentlaw, but his passion for basketball, baseball, and football led him to representseveral prominent professional athletes, including Steve Smith.Lecture series launched in memory of Howard SoiferThe inaugural Howard Soifer Memorial Lecture in Sports and Entertainment Law welcomed NBA All-Star andformer Michigan State University All-American Steve Smith as one of two featured speakers May 22, 2006, atCooley Law School.The lecture series was named for Howard Soifer (Christiancy Class, 1977), who passed away Jan. 29, 2003.He was a shareholder in the law firm of Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting, P.C.Soifer began his legal career as an Assistant Ingham County Prosecutor. After entering private practice, he specializedin litigation, zoning, and employment law. He frequently lectured at Cooley Law School and co-authored anarticle published in the Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical Clinical Law regarding the 1998-99 NBA Lockout.He specialized in litigation, zoning, and employment law, but his passion for basketball, baseball, and football ledhim to represent several prominent professional athletes, including Smith. He was proud to have negotiated a$2.5 million donation to Michigan State University by Smith, which was and still remains the largest gift from aprofessional athlete to his alma mater.Smith had been Soifer’s client ever sincethe basketball star went “pro” at age 18.“At that time,” Smith recalled, “Howardbecame my lawyer. His favorite wordswere ‘go for it.’ He pushed me to becomea better person. He always made sure Iunderstood the terms of every contract. Hewould go over things again and again until Iunderstood it.” It didn’t take long for Soiferand Smith to become friends.Drawing upon that history, Smith, along with Russ Granik, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officerof the National Basketball Association, were chosen to launch the Soifer Memorial Lecture program.Granik’s topic was “The Explosive Growth of Professional Sports: A Talk on Dramatic Changes Over the Last 30Years From an Insider’s Perspective.” Smith spoke about his personal and professional relationship with Mr. Soifer.The lecture was produced with the assistance of Cooley’s Center for Ethics and Responsibility. It was also the publickick-off for the Howard Soifer Memorial fundraising campaign to endow the lecture series. Cooley plans to host thelecture series annually, featuring keynote speakers from the sports and entertainment field. All proceeds benefitfuture lectures. Donations can be made by contacting the Development Office at (517) 371-5140, ext. 2045.He was proud tohave negotiateda $2.5 milliondonation to MichiganState University bySmith, which wasand still remains thelargest gift from aprofessional athleteto his alma mater.BENCHMARK TRINITY 200625

alumni mattersTexas Alumni Scholarship Grantedto Student Maria PardueThree Lone Star State graduates of Cooley LawSchool have made the future a little brighter fora current student who came to the school fromTexas. William D. Cox, III (Witherell Class,1990), Scott Doggett (Bacon Class, 1991), andDonald Hood (Krinock Class, 1991) were generouscontributors to the Texas Alumni ScholarshipFund. In Trinity Term 2006, that fund was usedto give a $1,275 tuition credit to Maria Pardue,who entered law school with the September2005 Kavanagh Class.Ms. Pardue earned her B.A. in English and herM.S. in education from Baylor University inWaco, Texas. She also held a position aftergraduation from Baylor as a middle school languagearts and computer teacher with the WacoIntermediate School District. She has lived inmany parts of Texas including Houston, Austin,Arlington, and Irving. She has been in Texassince she was 12 years old, but came a long wayfrom her birth home in Poland.Ms. Pardue said that when she became aware ofthe Texas Alumni Scholarship, it “…made myheart skip a beat or two because I just receivedmy annual letter indicating how much I owe forschool already. Because a law degree is a vitalelement to pursuing a career in law, I can copewith the high numbers of debt for the timebeing. I would like to create scholarships andgive back to Cooley when I am able. I appreciatethe opportunity of receiving assistance from theTexas alumni.”Ms. Pardue has distinguished herself academicallyat Cooley by assisting with the editing of a bookfor Cooley’s Criminal Law Department underthe supervision of Professor Dorean Koenig. Sheis interested in a career as a litigator, with specialinterest in the area of criminal law.Please consider helping Cooley students bysupporting the law school’s scholarship funds.Contact the law school by calling toll free (800)243-ALUM or by e-mailing husseinf@cooley.edu.Cooley Hosts June Reception inAtlanta for Graduates andIncoming StudentsCooley Law School held an Atlanta alumnireception on June 8. Twenty-eight Georgiaalumni, prospective students, and friends joinedhosts Alumni Association Vice President andProfessor Julie Clement (McDonald Class, 1998),and professors Eileen Kavanagh, Joseph Kimble,Norm Plate, and Christopher Trudeau (ChaseClass, 2002) at AZIO Downtown on PeachtreeStreet in Atlanta.The alumni guests included Linda Bass (StoneClass, 1996), Karen Fultz (McDonald Class,1998), LaKeisha Gantt (Smith Class, 2003),Vickie Hughes (Toy Class, 2003), Ray Lail(Ostrander Class, 1994), Jule McReynolds (ReidClass, 2006), Michael Mondy (Boyles Class,2005), Kathy White (Williams Class, 1994),and Katrina Wilson (Swainson Class, 2003).In addition to being a great opportunity for alumnito catch up on the news from their school andlongtime friends, the reception offered incomingstudents a chance to learn more about the legaleducation process. Graduate Ray Lail said it was“refreshing to speak with the students. They allseemed very anxious and excited about attendingCooley. I sat with Professor Kimble and a localAtlanta lawyer whose daughter will be attendingCooley this fall.”Lail’s impressions were backed up by Cooley’sDirector of Enrollment & Student ServicesWilliam H. Arnold. “We know from recentresearch on prospective students that having theopportunity to meet with the school’s graduatesis second only to visiting the campus in terms ofinfluencing a student’s decision to apply to thatlaw school.” Prospective Cooley students andother guests included Nadia Sara Haque, KingsleyMegwara, Pagah Pourreza, Christina Shuman,Bill Stoll, Natalie Teemer, Jessica D. Weaver-Stoll,and Jessica Woghiren.The group exchanged information regardingtheir practice specialties and locations. Theywere advised of the many ways they could stayconnected to their law school, both in serviceand financial support. The graduates enjoyedthe opportunity to network and prospectivestudents appreciated the opportunity to getsome first-hand information about Cooley.Cooley Hosts Seventh CanadianKrinock Lecture, BringingToronto Alumni and CurrentStudents TogetherCooley Law School hosted a Krinock Lectureand Reception at the University Club in TorontoMay 26. The event was hosted by Professor KeithHey and James Morton, Cooley Law School’sToronto Program co-directors.This year’s Canadian Krinock Lecture featuredEdward (Tom) Boughter of the Political/EconomicSection of the U.S. Consulate General. He spokeon U.S./Canadian relations, particularly about theissues relating to trash shipments from Ontarioto Michigan. Many in the crowd mingled until theclosing hour.Associate Dean for International, Graduate andExtended Programs Bill Weiner, Professors PaulCarrier and John Scott, and graduates Antonio(Tony) DeBartolo (Toy Class, 2003), MelissaGust (Fead Class, 1999), Raffaele Masellis(Iredell Class, 2001), Paul Ramacieri (LawrenceClass, 1991), John Reva (Paterson Class, 2002),Anthony Savaglio (Starr Class, 2005), ElkaZagazeta (McAllister Class, 2005) and NorkaZagazeta (Needham Class, 2004) joined numerouscurrent Cooley students and friends of thelaw school. In all, more than 60 people attendedthe program.26 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

Grand Rapids Bar Salutes PresidentDon LeDuc at Law Day FestivitiesCooley Law School’s annual Law Day luncheonwas held May 1 at the Western MichiganUniversity Graduate Center in downtown GrandRapids, in partnership with the Grand Rapids BarAssociation. One hundred and five guests, includingCooley’s graduates, faculty, and staff, andother members of the Grand Rapids legalcommunity attended the program.Grand Rapids Campus Associate Dean MarionHilligan (Johnson Class, 1989) welcomed thegroup and spoke on Cooley Law School’s partnershipwith the Grand Rapids legal community.Cooley’s President and Dean, Don LeDuc, thenreceived the Grand Rapids Bar Association’sPresident’s Award from 17th Circuit Court ChiefJudge Paul Sullivan for the many benefits that hehas brought to the Grand Rapids community byestablishing the law school’s campus in downtownGrand Rapids. President LeDuc credited the workof the law school’s faculty, staff, and students inthis achievement.One development that illustrates the partnershipbetween the law school and the Grand Rapidslegal community is the creation of the LegalAssistance Center that has recently become anindependent resource for the people in the GrandRapids area. President LeDuc anticipates manymore joint activities in the future.The keynote speaker was U.S. District Court ChiefJudge Robert Holmes Bell, who addressed the2006 Law Day theme, Liberty Under Law:Separate Branches, Balanced Powers. He spokeabout how our constitutional system can result, atany particular time, in undue concentration ofpower within one branch, but in the long run, thechecks and balances designed into the system doin fact serve to bring those powers back intoequilibrium.Alumni guests included members of the followingclasses: James Alexander (Adams Class, 1997),Alumni Association Past Presidents CommitteeChair Virginia P. Allen (Wing Class, 1982), JohnBoyko (Dethmers Class, 1981), Steven Buquicchio(Voelker Class, 1997), Barbara Craft (RansomClass, 1978), Thea Davis (Reid Class, 2006),Kathy Dunne (Stone Class, 1996), Travis Earley(Boyles Class, 2005), Tonya Fedewa (Carr Class,1984), Elizabeth Gauthier (Wilson Class, 2001),Jane Hofmeyer (Wilson Class, 1990), RichardKrause (Dethmers Class, 1981), Diane Munson(McAlvay Class, 1984), Stephanie Neal (BushnellClass, 1980), Bradford Winkler (Stone Class,1996), and Lori Zellers (McDonald Class, 1998).These alumni guests were joined by a large numberof Cooley’s administration, faculty, and staff,including Associate Dean of Community RelationsHelen Mickens (Bushnell Class, 1980), AssociateDean of Development James Robb, AssociateDean of the Library Duane Strojny; AssociateDean of International, Graduate and ExtendedPrograms William Weiner; Associate Dean ofEnrollment and Student Services Paul Zelenski,Assistant Dean of Admissions Stephanie Gregg,Professors Curt Benson (Mundy Class, 1986),John Brennan, Paul Carrier, and Mike Molitor.Cooley staff members in attendance includedCareer Services Director Bernice Davenport, GREnrollment Coordinator Dave Dee, CareerServices Deputy Director Kathy Fox, DevelopmentDirector Thomas Garikes, Development DirectorPam Heos, Graduate Programs Director DebraHirsch (Sherwood Class, 1986), Alumni SpecialEvents Committee Chair and Grand Rapids Headof Public Services Aletha Honsowitz (WitherellClass, 1990), Grand Rapids Campus Director CJKruska, Alumni Relations Director Darryl Parsell(Wiest Class, 1979), GR Administrative AssistantKathryn Postema, Grand Rapids Deputy DirectorJoan Rosema-David (Jay Class, 2000), AlumniRelations Office Executive Assistant Amy Swope,and Grand Rapids Coordinator of AcademicSupport David Tarrien. Kim Coleman, theExecutive Director of the Grand Rapids BarAssociation, co-hosted the event with Cooley.Online Alumni Database Ready toMeet Your NeedsWould you like to find another Cooley graduatefor a case referral in a different location or with aparticular specialty you need? Would you like tolocate a friend from school with whom you havelost touch? The Cooley alumni database is readyfor your use, whenever and wherever you need it.It is always worthwhile to review your informationlisting on the searchable alumni database. Makesure it is up-to-date and that all of your practicespecialty areas are listed. Please list your officeinformation to maximize your referrals fromother Cooley graduates.The Cooley Law School website can be found atwww.cooley.edu. Once there, click on the word‘Alumni’ at the top of the home page. When youreach the specific alumni section, you will see alisting of options on the top of the page. Click on‘Directory and Services.’ The next page will describethe services available. At the bottom of thatpage, click on ‘Alumni Directory Terms of Use.’Agree to the terms and a pop-up security box willthen ask for your username and password. Theusername will always remain the word ‘alumni.’The password changes each term and is disclosedon the inside front cover of the Benchmark. Then,click ‘Search’ at the top of the next page.Select your factor(s) and click on the ‘Start search’bar at the left side of the page. Please e-mailswopea@cooley.edu or call the Alumni RelationsOffice at (800)243-ALUM (in the Lansing area call371-5140, ext. 2038), if you have any problemsor wish to update your information.The Student RecruitmentCommittee: Supporting AdmissionsA young husband asks, “How do I balance thedemands of law school with the needs of ourrelationship?” A worried mother asks about thejob market awaiting her daughter upon law schoolgraduation. Countless prospective students wantBENCHMARK TRINITY 200627

featureto be reassured that a Cooley degree will preparethem to pass the bar. These are sample questionsroutinely fielded by alumni at the annual Cooleyopen houses held at the Lansing, Grand Rapids,and Oakland campuses. The open houses are afavorite activity among alumni. In addition toanswering the questions of prospective studentsand their families, there is a chance to visit withfaculty and other alumni and to enjoy refreshmentson all three campuses.Alumni representation at every Cooley open houseis just one of the ways the Student RecruitmentCommittee supports the admissions program. Asa member of the Law School Admissions Council,Cooley participates in a number of regional forumsheld around the country each year. These forumsfunction in a manner similar to career fairs, but theexhibitors are law schools and the attendees areprospective students. This past year, the committeerecruited local alumni to assist staff to tell theCooley story at forums in Washington D.C.;Atlanta, Ga.; New York, N.Y.; Houston, Texas;Los Angeles, Calif.; the Bay Area, Calif.; and inwestern New York. This coming year, the StudentRecruitment Committee will once again contactalumni to participate in these events.The partnership between the StudentRecruitment Committee and the AdmissionsOffice is a vital one, according to AssistantDean of Admissions Stephanie Gregg. “Ourbeing able to introduce a prospective studentto one of our graduates gives us the chance toshow and tell. A conversation that beginsbetween a law school candidate and a practicinglawyer who graduated from Cooley LawSchool may cover what skills the lawyer usesevery day, how those skills are honed, and howCooley Law School helped prepare that personto become a member of the legal profession. Italso provides the graduate with the opportunityto inspire someone else. Prospective studentsand their parents often tell me that meetingalumni helped them make the decision tochoose Cooley Law School for their education.”This year, the Student Recruitment Committeealso looks forward to being an active partner withDean Gregg and Director of Enrollment Programsand Student Services Bill Arnold, as theAdmissions Office devises a regional recruitmentstrategy. Local alumni will be invited to supportvarious activities, including undergraduate campusvisits. The current members of this committeemeet monthly and teleconferencing and e-mailingallows participation for non-local members. Thereare 21 alumni from 17 different cities in Arizona,Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, NewYork, Idaho, and Indiana serving as members ofthis geographically diverse committee. Newcomersare always welcome and anyone wishing to join inthe exciting and rewarding work of recruiting newstudents for Cooley Law School can contactDirector of Alumni Relations Darryl Parsell atparselld@cooley.edu or (517) 371-5140.July 2006 Alumni MemorialGolf Outing Raised $13,000 forScholarshipSeventy-six golfers played in the 2006 AlumniMemorial Scholarship Golf Outing July 15, 2006.This was the seventh outing held at WheatfieldValley Golf Course near Williamston, Mich. Theannual gathering raises funds for the scholarshipgranted to current Cooley students each HilaryTerm.The Alumni Memorial Scholarship is awardedbased upon financial need, academic achievement,extracurricular activities, and other considerations.This year, $13,063.66 will be added to the scholarshipfund. The generosity of the golfers and holesponsors is greatly appreciated by the AlumniAssociation and Cooley’s students. Thirty-eighthole sponsors donated $200 each, and another 11sponsors donated prizes valued at $200 or more.An early fog kept the golfers cool for a while butit became quite warm at the end, so the golferswere glad to enter the air-conditioned clubhousefor the awards ceremony and lunch. The winningfoursome was comprised of Jason Bomia, H.William Stertz (Christiancy Class, 1977), andDarryl Mumford. Team captain Judge DouglasDosson (Campbell Class, 1976) was unable toattend, but the team seemed to do pretty wellwithout him.Professor Ernie Phillips, Professor Mark Dotson(Wilson Class, 1990), Fred Blackmond (ButzelClass, 1979), and Ray Purdy (Champlin Class,1987) came in second. Thomas A. Halm (CarrClass, 1984), Vincent Welicka (Pratt Class, 1988),David E. Prine (Sherwood Class, 1986), andCharles Justian (Chandler Class, 1983) were thethird-place finishers.The team with the lowest score in which all fourgolfers were Cooley graduates consisted of PeterCronk (Fead Class, 1999), Amir Mahjoory (SnowClass, 1998), Chris Brown (Flannigan Class, 1999),and George Betts (Moore Class, 1993). The groupwith the highest score was comprised of LewLangham (Blair Class, 2001), Bob Blacksher,Robert Orr, and Laura Graham (Wilson Class,2000). The team members with the highest numberof cumulative years since graduating fromCooley (and apparently the permanent winnersof this contest) were all graduates of the January1976 Cooley Class: Larry Nolan, Gary Tyler,Richard O’Neill, and Jerry Sutton.In the category of individual awards, RhondaSanders (Wilson Class, 2001) sank the longestputt. Fred Blackmond’s (Butzel Class, 1979) shotmade him the person who was closest to the pin.Current student Anthony Sorentino made thelongest men’s drive on the fairway, and CharBailey was the woman with the longest drive.The shortest drive was made by AmyPuffenberger. Unfortunately, no one won thehole-in-one contest prize, a two-year lease of a2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer LT, although J. V.Anderton came the closest.This year’s outing also determined the winners ofthe Sixth Annual Cooley Cup. This is a traveling28 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

trophy that recognizes the team with the lowestscore that has at least three members from thesame law firm or legal employment association(such as a prosecuting attorney’s office.) In 2000,the firm of Bernick, Omer & Radner, P.C. won thefirst Cooley Cup. In 2001, the Hubbard Fox lawfirm won the prize.The cup returned to the firm of Bernick, Omer &Radner in 2002 and stayed there through 2003,2004, and 2005. Changing what seemed to be anunbreakable pattern, the 2006 Cooley Cup wentto Kevin Roragen (Adams Class, 1997), MikeRhodes, Jeff Green, and J. V. Anderton of the firmof Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting, P.C.Beyond celebrating the athletic abilities of thegolfers, the contributions of hole sponsors andother donors to the event must be recognized.The Principal Sponsor was graduate Andrew P.Gozinsky and Alumni Benefits Group.The hole sponsors for the 2006 AlumniMemorial Golf Outing were the members ofthe Alumni Association Executive Committee:Virginia P. Allen, George Betts, Larry Betz,Diane Britt, Chris Campbell, Mary AnnCartwright, Julie Clement, Aletha Honsowitz,Garry Kregelka, Henry Legere, Jr., DarrylParsell, Marie Templo, and Charles R. Toy;AFLAC; Virginia P. Allen; Amway Grand PlazaHotel; Bernick, Omer, Radner, Ouellette, P.C.;Canteen Services; Mike Carr, Lee WayneCorporation; Clara’s Lansing Station Restaurant;Rush Clement; Cooley Law School; Cooley LawSchool associate deans M. Ann Miller, JohnNussbaumer, Amy Timmer, Paul Zelenski, CharlesMickens, Helen Mickens, and James Robb;Cooley Law School Bookstore; Cooley Law SchoolDirector of Alumni Relations Darryl Parsell;Cooley Law School faculty members TerryCavanaugh, Gary Bauer, Mike Cox, Ron Bretz,Mary D’Isa, Judy Frank, Keith Hey, Dan McNeal,and Kathy Swedlow; Cooley Law School in GrandRapids faculty and staff members Curt Benson,Lynn Branham, Paul Carrier, David Dee,Christopher Hastings, Marion Hilligan, CJ Kruska,John Marks, Michael Molitor, Nelson Miller,Donald Petersen, Joan Rosema-David, DavidTarrien, and Tracey Weaver; Cooley Law SchoolLaw Library/Grand Rapids Aletha Honsowitz;Cooley Law School Law Library/Lansing facultyand staff members Marlene Coir, Michael Kukielka,Leah Fitch, Duane Strojny, and Marie Templo;Cooley Law School LL.M. Program - AssociateDean Bill Weiner; Cooley Law School at OaklandUniversity faculty members Stevie Barachkov,David Berry, James Carey, Karen Chadwick, MarkCooney, Gerald Fisher, Lisa Halushka, AshleyLowe, John Nussbaumer, Lauren Rousseau, JohnTaylor, Gina Torielli, and Joan Vestrand; CooleyLaw School Practice, Advocacy and Litigation SkillsDepartment Professor Marjorie Russell; CooleyLaw School President and Dean Don LeDuc;Cooley Law School Purchasing Department;Cooley Law School Research & WritingDepartment faculty members Tammy Asher, JulieClement, Eileen Kavanagh, Joe Kimble, NormPlate, Chris Trudeau, and Ann Wing; Cooley LawSchool staff members Tony Alvarado, MarylynnBain, Cherie Beck, Rich Boruszewski, GusBreymann, Terry Carella, Kathy Conklin, MargieDoyle, Audra Foster, Tom Garikes, StephanieGregg, Pam Heos, Fifi Hussein, Amy Swope,Laurie Taylor, and Sherida Wysocki; Cooley LawSchool Student Bar Association/ Lansing; CooleyLaw School Student Bar Association/GrandRapids; Law Offices of William D. Cox III, inDallas, Texas; The Daily Bagel; Delta Dental; TheDetroit Tigers; Farhat & Story, P.C.; GWCompany - Phyllis Groenewoud; Grand RapidsBuilding Services, Inc.; Jeff Jablonski and BrendaPopplewell; Kleinbrook Financial, Inc.- Chip Kleinbrook; Henry J. Legere, Jr.; LansingSymphony Orchestra; Loomis, Ewert, Parsley,Davis & Gotting, P.C.; Myers Nelson Dillon &Shierk, PLLC; Plante & Moran; Rhoades McKeeAttorneys & Counselors; Ryan, Podein, Joyce andPostema, P.C.; James Vlasic; Westlaw; andWheatfield Valley Golf Course.In addition to the aforementioned hole sponsors,the Lansing Lugnuts gave a contribution of prizesthat helped make the outing a success.Jerry Sutton (Cooley Class, 1976) also donatedluxury tickets to an MSU Spartans football gamethat were auctioned off to benefit the AlumniMemorial Scholarship Fund. Professor ErniePhillips submitted the winning bid.Following the completion of 18 holes of golf, theparticipants gathered at the Wheatfield Valleyclubhouse for a steak lunch and the awards ceremony.Cooley Law School’s Alumni Associationthanks all of the golfers and donors who made theevent so successful and invites everyone to attendthe July 2007 Alumni Memorial Scholarship GolfOuting. It will take place in the afternoon ofMonday, Aug. 13, at the Country Club of Lansing.Please help us to increase the number of scholarshipsgranted next year. There are few need-basedscholarships available at Cooley, and our AlumniMemorial Scholarship is the most important one.To build the fund, you can play golf at the 2007outing, sponsor a hole, or make a direct contributionto the Alumni Memorial Scholarship Fund.Contact Alumni Relations Director Darryl Parsellat (800) 243-ALUM (in Lansing, call 371-5140,ext. 2038), or e-mail parselld@cooley.edu formore information. He will return a donationreceipt for tax purposes to you along with theappreciation of the Alumni Association.BENCHMARK TRINITY 200629

class notesclass notesThe Benchmark encourages all graduates to contribute informationto the Class Notes. Please include graduating class name and yearwhen submitting your information. We encourage information aboutyour law practice and other accomplishments in the legal profession.You can e-mail your Class Notes information to alumni@cooley.edu.The Benchmark has a policy of not printing bar passage information.1976 Campbell ClassJordan, Stephen H., wasselected by hispeers to beincluded in the2007 editionof The BestLawyers inAmerica forLabor andEmployment Law. He is one ofeight Rothman Gordon attorneysselected. He is a shareholder ofRothman Gordon P.C., inPittsburgh, Penn., and has practicedlaw with the firm since 1976.He also was honored with the Dr.Howard A. MermelsteinLeadership Award on May 18,2006. The award is given to aJewish Family & Children’s Serviceboard member who displays leadership,talent, commitment to thecommunity, and dedication to themission of JF&CS. He has been amember of the JF&CS ofPittsburgh Board of Directorssince 1999, serving on the executivecommittee since 2001. Hewas also named by Law & PoliticsMagazine and PhiladelphiaMagazine as a Pennsylvania SuperLawyer in Labor and Employment.He was also listed on The Top 50Pittsburgh Super Lawyers list,which is a list of lawyers within thePittsburgh area who received thehighest point totals in the ballotingand review process.1977 Felch ClassPorteous, David, was namedas the 2006 Distinguished Alumnirecipient by the Reed City AreaPublic Schools. He is in practicewith Porteous Law Office, P.C., inReed City, and is chairman of theboard of trustees at Michigan StateUniversity.1978 Marston ClassMcFadden, Douglas, has beenappointed Chief AssistantProsecuting Attorney forMontcalm County, Mich. He hasoperated a private practice inBelding, Mich., since 1978. He hasbeen an instructor in MontcalmCommunity College’s criminal justiceand paralegal studies program,and was the founding instructor ofthe Belding Police ReserveAcademy, where he teachescriminal and constitutional law.Ransom ClassHagy, John, has joined thesenior management team ofMetaBank, it was announced byMeta Payment Systems. He servesas Chief Risk Officer and GeneralCounsel for all business units ofthe Meta Financial Group, a publiclytraded corporation. He cameto Meta from FSV PaymentSystems in Houston, Texas, wherehe served as Chief AdministrativeOfficer and General Counsel forover seven years.Kelly ClassPretty, Keith, was named presidentof Northwood University,with campuses in Midland, Mich.,Cedar Hill, Texas, and West PalmBeach, Fla. Most recently, Prettyserved as president and chief executiveofficer of Walsh College, abusiness school in Troy, Mich. Hehas also served Western MichiganUniversity as its vice president forexternal affairs and general counsel,was president and chief executiveofficer of the WesternMichigan University Foundation,and in 1998 was appointed bythen-Gov. John Engler to design astate Department of CareerDevelopment that matchedMichigan’s education resources toits business needs. In the privatesector, Pretty held governmentaffairs positions with AmocoCorp. from 1980 to 1987. He isalso a former college football playerwho was drafted by the GreenBay Packers.1979 Wiest ClassBailey, Janice Fuller, wasappointed Deputy City Attorneyfor the city of Grand Rapids, Mich.Phone: (616) 456-4026.Hertzberg, Robert S., apartner withPepperHamiltonL.L.P., hasbeen electedchairperson ofthe board ofJVS Detroit, aleading human services organizationfounded in 1941 as the JewishVocational Service. The term isfor two years. He is a bankruptcylawyer and fellow of the AmericanCollege of Bankruptcy. He hasbeen practicing almost exclusivelyin the bankruptcy and restructuringfield for more than 25 years,representing secured lenders,debtors, debtors-in-possession,trustees, creditors, and creditors’committees.1980 Potter ClassGair, Anthony H., was inductedinto Best Lawyers in America.Phone: (212) 943-1090; e-mail:ahg@gairgair.com.Bushnell ClassCagle, Mary, is the ChiefExecutiveOfficer ofCHARLEE(ChildrenHave AllRights, Legal,Educational,andEmotional) of Dade County, Fla., afoster care/adoption program forthe care of abused, neglected, andabandoned children that hashelped thousands of children inthe foster care system begin a newlife. Previously, she served 22years with the Miami-Dade StateAttorney’s Office, most recentlyas Chief Assistant of Felonies andSpecial Prosecutions. E-mail: mcagle@charleeprogram.org.1981 Kavanagh ClassToy, Charles, was elected as acommissioneron the StateBar ofMichigan. Hewill serve athree-yearterm. He is ashareholder atFarhat & Story, P.C., in Lansing,serves on the ExecutiveCommittee of the State Bar astreasurer, and chair of the FinanceCommittee. He has been on therepresentative assembly for eightyears.1982 Goodwin ClassSmolenski, Sara J., ChiefJudge for the 63rd District Courtin Kent County, Mich., has been30 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

1990 Bacon ClassMorley, Daniel M., has joinedthe law firm ofSmith HaugheyRice & Roeggeas a shareholderin theTraverse City,Mich., office.He focuses hispractice on banking and finance.Prior to joining Smith Haughey,Dan served as Vice President andTrust Officer at First Bank, UpperMichigan in Escanaba. His legalexperience includes practicing businamedthe 2006 Athena Awardrecipient. The award is given annuallyto an individual who hasdemonstrated leadership inher/his field, mentored andopened doors of opportunities forwomen, and contributed time andtalent to the community. JudgeSmolenski was honored Sept. 26at an awards ceremony and luncheongiven by the Grand RapidsArea Chamber of Commerce.Phone: (616) 336-4254; e-mail:sara.smolenski@kentcounty.org.Brooke ClassLynch, Denise K., was appointedby Colorado Gov. Bill Owensas district court judge in the NinthJudicial District, encompassing RioBlanco, Garfield, and Pitkin counties.She has been assistant attorneyfor Garfield County sinceApril of 2003. Formerly, she wasa civil litigator in private practice.1983 O’Hara ClassMurkowski, David, wasappointed by Michigan Gov.Jennifer Granholm to the bench inthe Kent County (Michigan)Probate Court. He will fill a vacancycreated by the retirement ofJanet Haynes (Kavanagh Class,1981). Murkowski most recentlywas the managing partner in theprivate practice firm Dilley, Dilley,Murkowski & Goller.Riethmiller, William, hasopened a second office at 8783S.E. Fairwinds Way, Hobe Sound,Fla. 33455. He continues to practicein personal injury, real estate,and civil litigation. Referral fees of25 percent. Phone: (561) 447-0009; e-mail:wrieth@bellsouth.net.Chandler ClassReynolds, Catherine M., ofJackson, Mich., has been namedvice president and corporate secretaryfor CMS Energy and itsprincipal subsidiaries, ConsumersEnergy and CMS Enterprises. Shehas worked for the company for27 years. She will manage CMSEnergy and Consumers Energycorporate secretary activities, aswell as investor services and thecorporate records department.Blair ClassAsbury, Kurt C., has beennamed County Prosecutor for BayCounty, Mich. He has worked forthe office for 20 years, becomingChief Assistant Prosecutor fiveyears ago.McNamara, E. Michael, hasaccepted an Assistant Prosecutorposition with the Emmet CountyProsecutor’s Office in Petoskey,Mich.1984 Carr ClassDeVincent, Frank A., shareholderfor theAtlanta,Georgia-basedlaw firm ofDavis,Matthews &Quigley P.C.,has beenadmitted to the AmericanAcademy of Matrimonial Lawyers.DeVincent has practiced in thefirm’s matrimonial and family lawsection since joining the firm in1989. Previously, he was associatedwith the national law firm ofThorp, Reed and Armstrong.1985 Whipple ClassMarabondo, Salvatore,announces that the name of hislaw firm, located at 26 JournalSq., Suite 1001, Jersey City, N.J.07306, has changed to the LawOffices of Salvatore Marabondo.He continues to practice personalinjury law, and works considerablyas a court-appointed mediator,and an arbitrator named by thecourts, insurance companies, andretained by other attorneys. Newphone: (201) 792-0900;e-mail: marabondolaw@optonline.net.1986 Mundy ClassBlazs, Kevin, was appointed byFlorida Gov. Jeb Bush to the DuvalCounty Court. Blazs, ofJacksonville, was most recently apartner with the law firm ofGobelman, Love, Gavin, Blazs andWasilenko, a position he has heldsince 1990. Previously, he servedas trial counsel in the JudgeAdvocate General Corps of theU.S. Army Reserve.Fleischmann, Frank, has beennamed Executive Director of theLegal Resource Center (LRC) inAnn Arbor, Mich. The LRC is aself-help center for individuals representingthemselves in court.Previously, he had a solo practicein Charlotte, Mich., for five years.His areas of practice have includedinsurance defense, regulatory andadministrative law, criminal, family,and landlord-tenant law.Miles ClassBenda, Gail, is now in privatepractice in Portland, Mich., developinga practice in equine law. Sheformerly served as the IoniaCounty Prosecutor.Sherwood ClassO’Connor, Michael J., ofFrackville, Penn., was elected bythe Pennsylvania State Council ofthe Knights of Columbus as theKnights of Columbus State Deputyfor the Fraternal Years 2006-2008. In this role, he is the ChiefExecutive Officer for the entirejurisdiction of Pennsylvania whichtotals over 66,000 members. Heis the head of Michael J.O’Connor and Associates, L.L.C.,with 14 offices throughout thestate. He was also a presenter atthe 2006 Annual Workers’Compensation Seminar on March10, 2006, in Sun Valley, Idaho. Hispresentation, entitled “NationalIssues in Workers’ CompensationLaw,” encompassed the concernssurrounding specific state workers’compensation systemsthroughout the United States.Phone: (570) 874-3300; e-mail:michaelj@oconnorlaw.com.1987 Morse ClassRombach, Tom, participated ina panel discussion for a “Dealingwith the Media” seminar, April 29,2006, with Michigan State BarPresident Thomas Cranmer andDetroit Free Press columnist BrianDickerson, for the RepresentativeAssembly meeting.1988 Pratt ClassFuesting, Matt, was appointedas an alderman on the city councilof West Chicago, Ill. He is an attorneywith the law firm of Kupisch &Carbon, Ltd.Panarese, Joseph D., wasappointed by the Illinois SupremeCourt to the bench on the CookCounty Circuit Court. He formerlyserved as the chief of staff to thecity clerk of Chicago. In addition tohis government work, Panarese hasmaintained a private practice since2000. Before that, he spent 10years as an assistant state’s attorneyin Cook County, trying morethan 300 cases and working hisway up from the Traffic CourtDivision to the Special ProsecutionsBureau.1989 Copeland ClassKarpus, Mark R., of Matoon,Ill., has joined the Glenn and LogueLaw Firm. Previously, he practicedlaw for 10 years with the BrainardLaw Office in Charleston, Ill., andfor seven years with the Craig &Craig Law Firm in Mattoon.BENCHMARK TRINITY 200631

class notesness, banking, real estate, andcommercial law and litigation atthe law firm of Butch, Quinn,Rosemurgy, Jardis, Bush, Burkhart& Parks, P.C.Wilson ClassMcGinn, Cate, was appointedas associate general counsel ofGlobal Security, Aviation andTravel for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., inBentonville, Ark. Phone: (479)277-2755; e-mail:cate.mcginn@walmartlegal.com.1991 Turner ClassHulsing, Jon, was appointed tothe 20th Circuit Court bench inGrand Haven, Mich. He mostrecently served as an OttawaCounty Assistant Prosecutor. Hepreviously served as a police officerafter undergraduate schooland while in law school, and thenworked in private practice.1992 Montgomery ClassFrank, A.T., was appointed byMichigan Gov. Jennifer Granholmto the Saginaw County DistrictCourt bench. Frank most recentlywas assistant general counsel forthe Michigan EconomicDevelopment Corp. In 2003,Granholm named him chairman ofthe State Tax Commission, onwhich he served for six months.He also served as a legislator inthe Michigan House ofRepresentatives.Durand ClassBrown, Michelle Simmons,retired from the practice of lawJuly 1, 2006, and is living temporarilyin Suzhou, China. Sheplans to teach American businesslaw at the Kenneth Wang Schoolof Law. E-mail,rlbmas@hotmail.com1993 Moore ClassNudo, Christopher, alongwith the other members and staffof the law firm of Nudo, Poteracki& Associates, P.C., joined the firmof Di Monte & Lizak, L.L.C., inPark Ridge, Ill., Memorial Dayweekend, 2006. Nudo is a transactionallawyer, emphasizing businesstransactions, estate planning,and real estate.Perfetto, Louis, recently cofoundeda full-service law firm,Cohen & Perfetto, L.L.P., withpartners Marshall Cohen andJennifer Padnick on MadisonAvenue in New York City.Perfetto focuses on all aspects ofreal estate including development(residential and commercial), lendingand borrowing, ground leasing,space leasing (office and retail),sales and acquisitions for investorsand owners, government incentivesand zoning. Clients rangefrom major private and corporatedevelopers, to Fortune 500 companies,to middle market lendersand borrowers, to small businessesand first-time developers.Carpenter ClassLegere, Henry J. Jr., and hiswife, Pam Heemer, announce thebirth of twins on April 14, 2006.Benjamin weighed 6 lbs 12 oz andmeasured 20 1/2 inches;Johnathan weighed 6 lbs 3 oz andmeasured 20 3/4 inches. E-mail:legerelaw@comcast.net.1994 Ostrander ClassClark-Kreuer, Rhonda, hasjoined Chalgian & Tripp LawOffices in Ithaca, Mich., as a partner.She previously had a solopractice in St. Louis, Mich.Stern, Steven, marks 10 yearswith the firm of Davidow,Davidow, Siegel & Stern inIslandia, N.Y. The firm specializesin elder law on Long Island andStern focuses on estate planning,guardianships, business succession,and long-term care planning forclients.Williams ClassStobbs, Steve, was appointedas an associate judge in the 3rdJudicial Circuit Court inEdwardsville, Ill. He has served onthe Madison County Board, andhas most recently been a memberof the law firm of Stobbs &Sinclaire, in Alton, Ill.1995 Steere ClassBenchetrit, Michael, accepteda partnership at an InternationalLaw firm in Miami. He is now apartner with Robert Allen Law inMiami, Fla. Benchetrit is the headof the Immigration Practice Groupand continues to represent internationalclients throughout thecountry who have immigrationissues. Phone: (305) 372-3300;e-mail: mbenchetrit@robertallenlaw.com.Pettinato, David, of MerlinLaw Group in Tampa, Fla., wasrecently elected as Chair for theAssociation of Trial Lawyers ofAmerica’s Bad Faith LitigationSection for 2006-2007. He practicesFirst Party PropertyInsurance Litigation in addition toInsurance Bad Faith on behalf ofpolicyholders. He previouslyserved as Vice Chair for ATLA’sBad Faith Litigation section for2005-2006. Phone: (813) 229-1000.Kuhn ClassSanger, Brendan Joseph, ofLitchfield, Mich., was married Oct.29, 2005, to Torrie MichelleCleland.Selin, Todd S., has been nameda principalpartner in theLansing, Mich.-based law firmof Mallory,Cunningham,Lapka & Scott,P.L.L.C. Hefocuses his practice on domesticrelations litigation, character andfitness defense, and corporate collections.Stawiarski, Lawrence V., anassociate principal with the lawfirm of Foley, Baron & Metzger,P.L.L.C., in Farmington Hills,Mich., was recently named presidentof the Livingston Countychapter of the Great LakesInteractive Marketing Association.Stawiarski’s practice is concentratedin the areas of complex businesslitigation, general corporate,product liability, and intellectualproperty matters. Additionally, heserves as local and national counselthroughout the United Statesfor several multi-national corporationsand has expertise in representingstart-up and high-techcompanies.1996 Stone ClassPhilipps, John N. Jr., hasbeen appointedas shareholderandofficer of thelaw firm ofChelus,Herdzik,Speyer, Monte& Pajak, P.C., in Buffalo, N.Y. Hisareas of practice include insurancedefense litigation, personal injury,and commercial litigation. He is afrequent lecturer at continuinglegal education seminars on civillitigation issues. Phone: (716) 852-3600.Moody ClassKubiak, Kelly, with the MerlinLaw Group in Tampa, Fla., wasrecently elected as vice chair forthe Association of Trial Lawyers ofAmerica’s Bad Faith LitigationSection for 2006-2007. She practicesFirst Party PropertyInsurance Litigation and InsuranceBad Faith claims on behalf of policyholders.Moore, Robert C., of St. Louis,Mo., and his wife, Suzanne,welcomed their first child, AnnaLouise Moore, on April 4, 2006.Shinabarger, Kimberly A.,was married April 8, 2006, toJeffrey G. Harper. Kimberlyserves as general counsel/agencymanager of TitleAmerica inBrighton, Mich. Phone: (810) 229-4770; e-mail: kshin@titleam.com.32 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

Black ClassRooney, Sean, was appointed inApril 2006 to represent theWestern Region of the UnitedStates on the National Board ofDirectors of the National WhiteCollar Crime Center. The NW3Cis a congressionally funded, nonprofitorganization whose membershipis limited to law enforcementagencies, state regulatorybodies with criminal investigativeauthority and state and local prosecutionoffices. Sean has been anattorney with the EnforcementDivision, California Department ofCorporations for nine years. Seanprimarily criminally prosecutessecurities, commodities, andfranchise felonies under Californiastate laws.1997 Adams ClassGroen, Brian, was married toMaribeth Perreault on Oct. 22,2005, in Grand Rapids, Mich. Heis employed at Wardrop &Wardrop, P.C. The couple lives inGrand Rapids.Voelker ClassBerry, Chad, was named as apartner withthe law firmof Jones &Davis, L.L.P.,in Dallas,Texas. Jones& Davis, L.L.P.has offices inDallas, Denver, and Los Angeles.His practice focuses on commerciallitigation. E-mail:cberry@jonesdavis-law.com.Buquicchio, Steven, wasnamed one of the BusinessLeaders Under 40 for 2006 byBusiness Review Western Michigan.He is with Varnum RidderingSchmidt & Howlett L.L.P., and lastyear was chosen as one of fiveMichigan Lawyers Weekly’s Up &Coming Leaders in Law (and theonly one from western Michigan).Fellows ClassStrother, Philip Carter, ofRichmond, Va., representing afamily with an autistic son, won infederal court in September. Thecourt ruled that the HanoverCounty school system in Virginiadid not provide an appropriateeducation for a 12-year-old boyand must pay for his privateschool tuition.1998 Sharpe ClassKranz, Roy, was named 2006Prosecutor of the Year by theMichigan Arson PreventionCommittee. He is the ChiefAssistant Prosecuting Attorney forIsabella County, Mich. E-mail:rkranz@isabellacounty.org.Roys, Lisa, has accepted theposition of State Bar Public Affairsdirector for the State Bar ofWisconsin. She advises State Barmembers on government relationsstrategies and tactics; assists sections,committees, and the Boardof Governors in developing legislation;and represents the State Barand its sections before the U.S.Congress and Wisconsin StateLegislature. Roys also serves asthe chief liaison to the media,State Bar members, the public,and other associations. Phone:(608) 250-6128, e-mail:lroys@wisbar.org.McDonald ClassSteiger, Rick, was appointed asprosecutor for Presque IsleCounty, Mich. Previously heserved as assistant county prosecutorfor Presque Isle County.1999 Flannigan ClassDuBois, Daniel J., has beenhired as anassociate bythe law firm ofCohen &Lombardo,P.C., inBuffalo, N.Y.He concentrateshis practice in the area ofcriminal defense. DuBois previouslyserved four years as an ErieCounty Assistant DistrictAttorney. He also headed TheLaw Offices of Daniel DuBois,concentrating on criminal cases.Gauthier, Aaron J., openedthe law office of Gauthier &Goodrich, P.C., 10595 N. StraitsHwy., Ste. 201, Cheboygan, Mich.49721. He concentrates his practicein the area of appeals, estateplanning, and civil litigation.Phone: (231) 627-2500. He isjoined by Melissa M. Goodrich ofthe Chase Class, 2002.Horvath, Tracy, and her husband,Tim Horvath, announce thearrival of their daughter, IsabellaGrace Horvath, born Aug. 20,2005. Isabella weighed 8 pounds,2 ounces at birth and was 21 and3/4 inches long. Tracy is an assistantprosecuting attorney forIngham County, Mich. Phone:(517) 483-6204; e-mail: thorvath@ingham.org.Scott, Bobby, opened a sololaw practice, Bobby ScottAttorney at Law, P.L.L.C., at 113W. Mountain St., Kernersville,N.C., 27284, on July 1, 2006. It isa general practice firm. He wasalso recently promoted to captainin the U.S. Army Reserve JAGCorps. Phone: (336) 996-4500; e-mail: info@bobbyscottlaw.com.Fead ClassBlack, Steven E., has becomethe managing partner of the 12-attorney law firm of FormanRossabi Black, P.A. in Greensboro,N.C., where he focuses his practicein real estate litigation andland use law. Phone: (336) 378-1899; e-mail: sblack@frb-law.com.Stratton, Tim, was named byIllinois-based investment bankHutchinson, Shockey, Erley & Co.as a new vice president of publicfinance in its Chicago office. Hismain focus will be on educationand Illinois municipalities. Strattoncomes to Hutchinson from fouryears at Chapman and CutlerL.L.P., the seventh-ranked bondcounsel firm in the nation.Weadock ClassTaylor, Michael, and his wife,Holly, announce the birth of theirdaughter, Ainsley Grace, born onJune 7, 2006. He is with Arent FoxP.L.L.C., in Washington, D.C.Phone: (202) 775-5718; e-mail: taylor.michael@arentfox.com.2000 Jay ClassDinser, Stacey, is an attorneyin Hamburg Township, Mich. Shefocuses primarily on family law,and also handles criminal law, juvenilelaw, and estate planning. She isalso an adjunct professor at CooleyLaw School and serves on the SixtyPlus, Inc., Elderlaw Clinic board ofdirectors.Philpot, Margaret, was promotedtoSeniorAssociate in theAnn Arbor,Mich., office ofKitch DrutchasWagnerValitutti &Sherbrook. Margaret joined thefirm in 2002 and is a member ofthe firm’s malpractice team. Shepreviously worked as a commercialactress and was an active memberof the Screen Actors Guild for over20 years.She has served as an adjunct facultymember in both the intra-schoolmoot court and law practiceprograms for Cooley Law School.Rutledge ClassBorushko, Nancy, was promotedto Chief Assistant Prosecutorfor the Bay County, Mich.,Prosecutor’s Office. She has beenwith the office since 2001.Habeck, Melissa K., was selectedas a “2007 Rising StarAttorney” for the state ofWashington by Washington Law& Politics magazine. This is a peernominatedaward that only twopercent of the attorneys inBENCHMARK TRINITY 200633

featureWashington State receive. TheRising Star award is for attorneysunder the age of 40 or who havebeen practicing less than 10 years.2001 Wilson ClassFrance, Jennifer, was marriedon March 11, 2006, to CharlesFrance. She is in private practicewith her own firm, Jennifer J.France Attorney at Law, in SaultSte. Marie, Mich. She focuses herpractice on criminal, family, tribal,and appellate law. As part of herpractice, she is the public defenderfor the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe ofChippewa Indians. E-mail:jjflaw@sbcglobal.net.O’Brien, Jamie L., has joinedNichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach& Buiteweg, P.C., a family law firmin Ann Arbor, Mich. O’Brien previouslyworked as a research attorneyfor a Livingston County probatejudge.Roper, Michael, has openedRoper Law Firm at 600 High St.,Ste. 101, Hazard, Ky. 41702. Hepractices criminal defense, familylaw, and personal injury. Phone:(606) 487-0651; e-mail: roperm@msn.com.Blair Jr. ClassDurkin, Terry, was promotedto seniorassociate inthe Detroitoffice of KitchDrutchasWagnerValitutti &Sherbrook.He focuses his practice on medicalmalpractice defense litigation.He joined the firm in 2002, afterclerking for the Hon. Thomas S.Eveland of the Eaton CountyCircuit Court.Verlinden, Joy D., has joinedSusan G. Wideman (OstranderClass, 1994) of The WidemanLaw Center, P.C., in Marquette,Mich. She is experienced in probateand estate planning; proper-ty, business, construction, andfamily law; insurance matters, andlitigation. Phone: 906-226-4600.Wandalowski, Alan G., hasjoined the law firm of Mosebach,Funt, Dayton & Duckworth, withoffices in Allentown andBethlehem, Penn., on June 19,2006. Alan resides in Orefield,Penn., with his wife, Susan, andson, Owen.Iredell ClassCoodin, Steven M., has hisown law practice, Coodin LawOffices, L.L.C., at 7300 HudsonBlvd., #290, Oakdale, Minn.55128. His main practice areas arecriminal defense, family law, andpersonal injury. Phone: (651)209-6654; e-mail:stevencoodin@lawyer.com.McGraw, J.R., was named presidentof the Central MichiganChapter #210, of the Society ofFinancial Service Professionals.2002 Johnson ClassHomrich, Jennifer L., hasopened the Law Offices ofJennifer L. Homrich, P.L.C., at 29E. Front Street, Monroe, Mich.48161. She represents clients inthe areas of estate planning, probateadministration, real estate,family law, and business law.Phone: (734) 240-4900. E-mail:homrichlaw@aol.com.O’Neill, Julie A., has openedO’Neill Law Firm, P.L.L.C., at 115W. Allegan St., Ste. 1000, CapitolHall Bldg., Lansing, Mich., 48933.She specializes in criminal defense,domestic matters, and personalinjury. Phone: (517) 374-7870.Sevick, Christopher A., hasopened the Law Office ofChristopher Sevick, P.L.C., at 124Pearl Street, Ste. #405, Ypsilanti,Mich., 48197. He most recentlyworked full-time in real estate foreight years. Christopher focuseson estate planning, estate administration,and probate matters, realestate transactions, general business,and civil matters. Phone:(734) 480-9100; e-mail:chris@sevicklaw.com.Paterson ClassRikon, Joshua H., of NewYork, N.Y., was appointed vicechair of the CondemnationCommittee of the ABA Section ofReal Property, Probate, and TrustLaw. Phone: (212) 422-40000;e-mail: jrikon@ggrgpc.com.Chase ClassGoodrich, Melissa M., openedthe law office of Gauthier &Goodrich, P.C., 10595 N. StraitsHwy., Ste. 201, Cheboygan, Mich.49721. She is joined by Aaron J.Gauthier (Flannigan Class, 1999).She concentrates her practice inthe area of family law. Phone:(231) 627-2500.2003 Swainson ClassHarris, Christopher R.,has joined the law firm of Morgan& Morgan, P.A., in CoconutGrove, Fla. His practice areasinclude family law, commerciallitigation, and personal injury.Phone: (305) 569-9900; e-mail:chrisharrislaw@yahoo.com.Smith ClassTowle, Amy S., has joinedSachs Sax Klein as an associate inPalm Beach, Fla. She was previouslyan assistant state attorney forthe Miami-Dade State Attorney’sOffice.Toy ClassBennett, Franklin A. III,opened a real estate and lawoffice, Bennett & Associates,L.L.C., 7104 Rising Sun Ave.,Philadelphia, Penn. 19111. Phone:(215) 744-5550; e-mail:frank@blaw.us.2004 Cross ClassGear, John, is teaching EnergyLaw at Cooley during Fall Term2006.Gunter, Jacob S., moved hissolo practice to 401 N. Main St.,Ann Arbor, Mich., 48104. He alsoreceived the Washtenaw CountyBar Association’s Pre-EminentYoung Lawyer Award. Phone:(734) 913-8110; e-mail: gunterjacob@yahoo.com.Poindexter, Stephen H., hasopened his own law firm at 306Public Sq., Columbia, Ky. 42728.He also married Dr. KristyFlowers Poindexter on June 24,2006, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.Phone: (270) 385-9501; e-mail:poindexter718@hotmail.com.2005 McAllister ClassJohnson, Nicholas, andJennifer Smith (McAllisterClass, 2005) were married May27, 2006, and reside in Antioch,Ill. Nicholas continues to practicelaw for Querrey & Harrow, Ltd. inWaukegan, Ill. He focuses his practiceon construction litigation, constructionlien law, municipaldefense, attorney malpracticedefense, and personal injurydefense. He also sits on the LakeCounty Contractors Association’sProfessional Services Committee.Miller, Mark, recently joined thelaw firm of Hults & Helder,P.L.L.C., in Big Rapids, Mich., as anassociate attorney. His practiceincludes criminal defense, familylaw, personal injury, Michigan No-Fault and wrongful death issues,landlord/tenant, real estate, andbusiness law. He also was marriedJan. 28, 2006, to Amber Weerstraat Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.Phone: (231) 796-3525; e-mail:mmiller@hultsandhelder.com.Miller-Watson, Felicia, hastaken a position as an associatewith the Milwaukee, Wisc., officeof Borgelt, Powell, Peterson &Frauen S.C. Her area of practice isworkers’ compensation defenseand liability defense. She was alsoan instructor for the Fall 2005University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin Mini-Course of Law and34 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006

Court. Prior to this new position,she was an associate withSpencer & Associates, L.L.C., inMilwaukee. Phone: (414) 287-9159; e-mail: fmillerwatson@borgelt.com.Olson, Charity A., an attorneywith Plunkett & Cooney, P.C., inBloomfield Hills, Mich., was amongthe featured speakers during aroundtable discussion on diversityheld at Lawrence TechnologicalUniversity. The purpose of theevent was to analyze argumentsmade in a fall 2005 debate aboutaffirmative action in Michigan educationalinstitutions.Smith, Jennifer, and NicholasJohnson (McAllister Class, 2005)were married May 27, 2006, andreside in Antioch, Ill. Jennifer continuesto practice law for Zank,Coen, & Wright, P.C., in CrystalLake, Ill. She focuses her practiceon debt collection, family law, andgeneral civil litigation.Boyles ClassChikovsky, Arielle, won theAmerican Eagle Outfitters LiveYour Life online essay contest anddonated the $25,000 prize towww.hopeforvision.org, a nonprofitorganization dedicated toeradicating blindness.Niven, Chad, has started hisown law practice at 8180 N.Hayden Road, Suite D-204,Scottsdale, Ariz., 85258. His practicecovers criminal litigation as aprosecutor for contracted Arizonatowns as well as criminal defense.Photo radar defense has become aspecialty. Phone: 480-766-1168;e-mail: cniven11@hotmail.com.Raqueno, Marietta E., hasjoined the law firm of Gilbert &Marlowe, in Santa Ana, Calif., asan associate. She practices in thearea of family law. She also volunteerswith the Harriett BuhaiCenter for Family Law in LosAngeles where she assists clients inissues of divorce, custody and visi-tation, spousal and child support,paternity, and domestic violence.Starr ClassDensham, Sandra J., hasjoined theGrand Rapidsoffice ofPlunkett &Cooney, P.C.She was formerlya paralegalspecialistfor the U.S. Attorney’s Office inGrand Rapids, Mich. Denshamfocuses her practice on title insurance,labor and employment law,and litigation involving premises,product and motor vehicle liability.She is a member of the firm’sComplex and CommercialLitigation practice groups.Gower, Jason, has opened asolo practice, Gower Law, at BayJustice Building, 814 N. Monroe,Bay City, Mich. His practice isfocused on criminal defense,Michigan administrative matters,and personal injury. E-mail: jpgower@hotmail.com.2006 Reid ClassBaumann, Joseph J.,has joinedthe law firmof DykemaGosset inthe firm’sGovernmentPolicyDepartment.He is an associate in the firm’sLansing office. His practice focuseson state government law andgovernment relations. Formerly,he was a legal analyst with theMichigan Department ofCommunity Health and a legislativeaide to the chairman of theAppropriations Committee in theMichigan House of Representatives.Bender, Ron, has been promotedto associate attorney at theAuburn Hills, Mich., intellectualproperty law firm of Warn,Hoffmann, Miller & LaLone, P.C.He previously was a law clerk atthe firm. Bender’s industryexpertise includes mechanical engineering,powertrain components,automatic transmissions, clutchplates, transfer cases, and limitedslip differentials. Phone: (248)364-4300.Davis, Thea D., has joined thelaw firm of Miller Johnson inGrand Rapids, Mich., as an associate.She practices in the area oflitigation.O’Brien, Alex, has been hiredas an assistant state attorney inKankakee, Ill.Thomas, Carrie M., hasjoined the law firm of Campbell &Kording, Ltd., in Bloomington, Ill.,as an associate. Phone: (309)828-3600; e-mail:carrie@campbellkording.com.Welch, Amy Gracelyn, ofMurrells Inlet, S.C., was marriedAug. 5, 2006, to Bryan KennedyWates of Kingstree. The coupleresides in Myrtle Beach, S.C.Werkema, Melisa M., hasjoined the law firm of Foster ZackLittle Pasteur & Manning, P.C., inOkemos, Mich. She focuses herpractice on trusts and estates,probate litigation, and commerciallitigation.IN MEMORIAM1988 Green ClassBaumann, Jeffrey L., 53, diedunexpectedly July 21, 2006. Hewas a veteran of the U.S. Army. Heformerly served as a police officerfor the Dowagiac PoliceDepartment, then as ChiefAssistant Prosecuting Attorney forCass County. In 1997, he wasnamed the Administrator in Chargeof the Office of Audit, InternalAffairs and Litigation for theMichigan Department ofCorrections. He was also a DeWittTownship Trustee. His son, JosephBaumann, is also a Cooley graduate(Reid Class, 2006).1989 Douglass ClassTier, Ronald G., 58, of Gladwin,Mich., passed away Aug. 11, 2006,at the Mid-Michigan Medical Center,in Midland, Mich., following a briefillness. He had a career practicinglaw in Gladwin.BENCHMARK TRINITY 200635

T H E N E WTHOMAS M. COOLEYL A W S C H O O LA L U M N IASSOCIATIONTHE COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ALUMNIHOLIDAY WREATHORDER FORMNUMBER OF WREATHS TO YOUR ADDRESSNAMEADDRESSCITY STATE ZIPPHONE NUMBERRETURN ORDER FORM WITH PAYMENT TO:COOLEY LAW SCHOOLALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE300 SOUTH CAPITOL AVENUEP.O. BOX 13038, LANSING, MI 48901PHONE 1-800-243-ALUME-MAIL SWOPEA@COOLEY.EDUPLEASE CHECK WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE DELIVERY OF WREATH(S).FOR DELIVERY THEYOUR ORDER MUSTWEEK OF:BE RECEIVED BY:NOV. 13, 2006 NOV. 8, 2006NOV. 20, 2006 NOV. 15, 2006NOV. 27, 2006 NOV. 22, 2006DEC. 4, 2006 NOV. 29, 2006DEC. 11, 2006 DEC. 6, 2006TOTAL NUMBER OF WREATHS @ $35 EACHTOTAL PAYMENT $METHOD OF PAYMENT:CHECK MONEY ORDER CREDIT CARD(MAKE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO COOLEY LAW SCHOOL)PLEASE CHARGE MY:VISA MASTERCARD DISCOVERCARD NUMBEREXP.SIGNATUREHAPPY HOLIDAYSHoliday wreaths make great gifts!GIFT RECIPIENT’S NAMEADDRESSCITY STATE ZIPPHONE NUMBERGIFT MESSAGEGIFT RECIPIENT’S NAMEADDRESSCITY STATE ZIPPHONE NUMBERGIFT MESSAGE(GIFT MESSAGE LIMIT 35 CHARACTERS)GIFT RECIPIENT’S NAMEADDRESSCITY STATE ZIPPHONE NUMBERGIFT MESSAGE(GIFT MESSAGE LIMIT 35 CHARACTERS)GIFT RECIPIENT’S NAMEADDRESSCITY STATE ZIPPHONE NUMBERGIFT MESSAGE36 BENCHMARK TRINITY 2006