Ana Mencini of Wood Dale, a third-year student at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, received a $2,000 scholarship to add to another awarded to her recently by the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers.
Mencini, who has a master's degree in writing, is a self-employed consultant in addition to her law studies. She has been on the Dean's List for three years.
Greg Leiter, a second-year student at The John Marshall Law School and law clerk at Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz, received a $1,500 scholarship. A peer leader in work for underprivileged children, he organized a "Walk for Awareness."
Awards of $1,000 each were made to two first-year students: Jose Moya of Aurora, the University of Illinois College of Law, and Brian Cohen of Northbrook, the Northwestern University School of Law. Moya is a Casa Central team leader in workshops that provide skills training for mothers on public aid.
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The Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois Scholarship Fund awarded grants to three law students during a reception law month in Chicago.
They are Frank Antonio Baer of the DePaul University College of Law, Aracely Munoz Contreras of the University of Iowa College of Law, and Geanette Shakira Wittendorf of the University of Illinois College of Law.
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Cleo Kung is serving a National Association for Public Interest Law fellowship at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
Lawyer teaches English at high schoolin Italy
What did you do on your last vacation? Chicago attorney Tanya J. Stanish spent two weeks teaching conversational English to high school students in Monopoli, Italy!
She is one of nine members of a Global Volunteers team that visited the ancient town on the Adriatic Sea. The work may seem routine, but the picturesque setting and warm welcome they received were gratifying.
Based in Minnesota, Global Volunteers sends teams throughout the year to 18 countries to work with community leaders. Founded in 1984, it is a private, not-for-profit, non-sectarian organization that receives no government or religious subsidies.
"I formed relationships with other volunteers, an Italian teacher and her family, and many, many students," said Stanish, a lawyer at Jenner & Block. "The Italian people are incredibly wonderful and warmhearted."
The volunteers incorporated games, songs and sports talk into their creative lessons with the teenagers. Some used the word game Scrabble, and others led students in football cheers. Even the old reliable "Hokey Pokey" became a communication bridge.
Stanish recalled that the teaching stint in October also provided an opportunity for the American volunteers to explain the celebration of Halloween.
During free time, team members explored fishing villages, quaint plazas, cobblestone streets, shops and sidewalk cafes. They took a weekend trip through communities nestled along the rocky southern Italy coast.
"The most memorable event occurred while walking through Old Town in Ostuni," Stanish recalled. "Another volunteer and I were invited into a family's home for coffee and liqueur. The exchange was fascinating and delightful."
Global's volunteers need no special experience or skills, just a desire to serve and learn from another culture. In addition to teaching, some programs involve light construction, medical assistance and computer training.
Team members pay all their own expenses. The tax-deductible service fees include meals, lodging, ground transportation in the host community, orientation materials, project costs and services of an experience team leader.
Two- and three-week programs take place in selected European, Asian and South American locales, and one-week programs are available in the United States. For information, call Global Volunteers at (800) 487-1074 or access the web site at www.globalvolunteers.org.
Child welfare procedures seminar slatedMarch 30
The ISBA Child Law Section Council and the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section Council will conduct a half-day update on juvenile case law and procedural issues from 9 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Friday, March 30, in the Chicago Regional Office.
Moderators are Danville attorney Barbara L. Delanois of the Child Law Section Council Michele M. Jochner of the General Practice Section Council, law clerk to Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow. Both serve on the ISBA Assembly.
Delanois and Jochner will open the program at 9 a.m. with an Introduction to the Federal Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA).
At 9:10 a.m., Best Interest Factors Under ASFA will be discussed by Shelly Davis Knuppel, special assistant to the general counsel of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Knuppel also will review Time Frames Under ASFA at 9:40 a.m. and Permanency Review Under ASFA at 10 a.m.
At 10:40 a.m., Robert J. Backis, permanency review hearing officer for the Cook County Circuit Court Child Protection Division, will speak on Practical Aspects of Permanency Review Hearings Under the Juvenile Court Act.
At 11:10 a.m., Matthew E. Franklin, chief administrative law judge for DCFS, will explain DCFS Administrative Hearings: What They Are and How They Impact Issues in Abuse and Neglect Cases.
At 11:30 a.m., Kelly Browe Olson, director of the ChildLaw Mediation Project of the Loyola University School of Law, will talk about Alternative Dispute Resolution in Child Welfare.
The program will conclude with a Case Law Update at 11:55 a.m. by Kathryn A. Bischoff of Rockford, vice chair of the Child Law Section Council.
Advance registration for "Federal Law, Permanency Reviews and Administrative Hearings in Child Welfare" should be made by calling Joyce Farries at (312) 726-8775. Walk-ins may be accommodated if space permits. The fees are $25 for ISBA members and $50 for non-members.
The 146-year-old Law Bulletin Publishing Co., publisher of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer, entered the new year with changes in the responsibilities of several senior executives.
Chairman and publisher Lanning Macfarland Jr., who joined the family firm in 1953 as vice president and general manager and became president in 1963, retains his title of chairman.
Lanning "Sandy" Macfarland III, formerly a vice president, is now vice chairman and chief executive officer. Brewster Macfarland was promoted from vice president to president and chief operating officer. Bernard M. Judge, who was vice president and editor of the two publications, is now editor and publisher.
In addition to the newspapers, Law Bulletin publishes Sullivan's Law Directory and Judicial Profiles, the Illinois Courts Rule Book, the Lawyers' Handbook, the Jury Verdict Reporter, and other products in the real estate, municipal code and financial areas.
Among several automated services for lawyers that are provided through the Law Bulletin Information Network are DM2000 for online docket management, Access Plus and DocuServices for research.
Supreme Court disciplinary orders: January 2001
The Illinois Supreme Court entered the following disciplinary orders Jan. 23. The summaries are provided by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
GWENDOLYN DALE ANDERSON, Chicago: Anderson, who was licensed 1977, was suspended for 18 months. She neglected four client cases, failed to refund unearned fees, knowingly advanced an unwarranted position in litigation, failed to put a contingent fee in writing, made obscene remarks at jurors and deputy sheriffs in a criminal case, and knowingly made a false statement of material fact during the course of the disciplinary investigation.
ANTHONY THEODORE BERTUCA, Chicago: Bertuca, who was licensed in 1970, was suspended 90 days for neglecting two civil matters and for making misrepresentations to those clients about the status of their matters.
R. RONNAE BLACK, East St. Louis: Black, who was licensed in 1982, was suspended from the practice of law for 36 months, with the last 18 months of the suspension stayed by probation. He neglected three client matters, converted $336 that had been advanced to him by two of the clients, and settled potential malpractice claims without first advising the clients to seek independent legal counsel.
ARTHUR HERMAN BOELTER JR.: Seattle, Wash.: Boelter was licensed in Illinois in 1973 and in Washington in 1979. He was suspended in Washington for six months after he had attempted to collect an unreasonable fee and made misrepresentations to a client. Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for six months.
VINCENT LAURENCE CARNEY, Lincoln, Nebr.: Carney was licensed in Illinois in 1967 and in Nebraska in 1972. Nebraska reprimanded him for engaging in a conflict of interest. He gave legal advice to a man about his divorce after having represented the man's former wife in that divorce. Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and reprimanded him.
LAWRENCE EDWARD GOOSBY, Chicago: Goosby, who was licensed to practice in 1975, was suspended for four months and until he repays a prior registration fee and penalties. He engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by continuing to practice after his name had been removed from the Master Roll due to his failure to register. He was previously disciplined for professional misconduct.
DANIEL F. GRIDLEY, Barrington: Gridley, who was licensed in Illinois in 1987, was disbarred on consent for neglecting several different matters, making misrepresentations to clients about the status of their matters, entering into a fraudulent settlement with a client, and giving false testimony in a civil matter.
MARK JAMES KANELOS, Brookfield: Kanelos, who was licensed in 1985, was suspended from the practice of law for three years, stayed after the first 18 months by probation. Without authority, he converted funds from a decedent's estate where he served as both the attorney and executor during a period when he was suffering from depression. He made full restitution and reported his own misconduct.
ROBERT BERRY MAYS JR., Aviston: Mays, who was licensed in 1969, was suspended for 90 days for misrepresenting his client's identity to a process server and giving a false explanation of the incident to a judge. In addition, he notarized a signature on a deed when he did not witness the signing. Subsequently, it was learned that the signature was a forgery.
PAUL MICHAEL NERO, Elmhurst: Nero, who was licensed in 1986, was disbarred on consent for misappropriating approximately $25,000 in client funds he received in connection with a real estate transaction, and for taking for his own use approximately $10,000 in fees and costs that had been due a prior employer.
MICHAEL ANTHONY RILEY, Peoria: Riley, who was licensed in 1997, was suspended from the practice of law for two years and until further order of the Court. He failed to maintain a separate client trust account, converted client funds that were given to him for litigation costs, did not return $4,950 in unearned fees, neglected client matters, and made misrepresentations to various clients concerning the status of their matters.
RICHARD HUNTER ROGERS, Dayton, Ohio: Rogers was licensed in Illinois in 1964 and in Ohio in 1974. He was suspended in Ohio for one year with the entire year stayed after he commingled personal and client funds. Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for one year with the entire period of suspension stayed.
DOUGLAS LOWELL SHOOK, Irvington: Shook, who was licensed in 1975, was disbarred on consent after pleading guilty to willfully attempting to evade paying $96,609.58 in federal income taxes. He was previously disciplined for professional misconduct.
IVAN H. TEPPER, Lynchburg, Va.: Tepper, who was licensed in 1969, was disbarred. For several years, he failed to file or pay Illinois income taxes and he was convicted of a misdemeanor for violating the Illinois Income Tax Act. He also made false representations to a client about his failure to attend a criminal court proceeding on her behalf, did not communicate with the client, and failed to refund an unearned fee. He was previously disciplined for professional misconduct.
FRANK WILLIAM TITONI, Pueblo, Colo.: Titoni was licensed in Illinois in 1982 and in Colorado in 1985. Colorado disbarred him for engaging in a conflict of interest, mishandling client funds, and misrepresenting the status of those funds. Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.
SCOTT ALAN WHITE, St. Louis, Mo.: White, who was licensed in 1990, was censured. After opposing counsel refused to provide a current authorization for the release of autopsy records, he obtained the records by affixing a current date on an undated authorization that was two years old.
In addition, the Court transferred Richard P. Eickhoff of Springfield to inactive status, pursuant to Rule 757, after he was judicially determined to have a disability.
The following disciplinary orders were entered by the Supreme Court before the January term and were not included in any prior information released.
SCOTT DOUGLAS CLARK, Chicago: Clark, who was licensed in 1991, was suspended on an interim basis. He engaged in conduct involving unlawful restraint, assault and battery when he tied up three different women. In one instance, he offered to show a legal secretary at his law firm a "rope trick," and then restrained her against her will. In another instance, he failed, when asked to do so, to untie a prospective candidate for employment as a lawyer with his firm. A recommendation is pending that he be suspended for two years and until further order of the court.
KAREN A. POPECK, Chicago: Popek, who was licensed in 1979, was suspended for three years. She neglected three criminal appeals, an appeal in an involuntary commitment matter, and an appeal of juvenile court orders relating to the custody of a minor child. She also failed to notify three of the criminal defendants that their appeals had been dismissed.
The ISBA Board of Governors will meet at 9 a.m. Friday, March 30, at Rend Lake Resort in Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park, north of Benton.
On Wednesday, May 2, the Board of Governors will meet at 9 a.m. at the Illinois Bar Center in Springfield. The LAWPAC legislative reception is scheduled to follow the meeting.