Houston Bar Association

HBA DAILY ALERTS:

Another training program for volunteer attorneys who would like to help answer legal questions, including FEMA-related questions, for those affected by Hurricane Ike has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Baker Botts, 32^nd floor of One Shell Plaza, 910 Louisiana, Houston, TX 77002. The training has been approved for 3.5 hours of MCLE credit and there is no cost to attend. You must RSVP by emailing mariar@hba.org at the HBA office.
The HBA has released the results of the 2008 Judicial Preference Poll. Click here for the Press Release. Click here for the JUDICIAL POLL RESULTS.
Jury service resumed Monday, Sept. 29. Persons summoned for that date are expected to report. If you need to reschedule, you can do it through Harris County Web site, www.hcdistrictclerk.com, or by using the fax or telephone numbers on your summons. The juror information line, 713-755-6392, will be updated regularly. All the courthouses are open and all services of the District Clerk’s Office are available. Throughout the recovery from Hurricane Ike, e-Filing was available through TexasOnline. Although filers may not have gotten a receipt from the District Clerk’s Office as quickly as normal, the filing time is recorded as the time the filer sent the document to his Electronic Filing Service Provider. The 24-hour drop box at the northwest corner of the Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline, remains open as always.
The Supreme Court of Texas has issued an Emergency Order Permitting Lawyers Displaced by Hurricane Ike to Continue Representing Clients from Temporary Offices and an Emergency Order on Enlargement of Time.
The portrait unveiling ceremony for Judge James Squier, former judge of the 312th District Court has been rescheduled for October 10 at 2 p.m. in the 312th District Courtroom at the Family Law Center, 1115 Congress.
In response to the devastation from Hurricane Ike, The American Institute of Architects Houston, from September 29, 2008 to December 19, 2008, will operate an emergency disaster action office to assess damaged buildings in the greater Houston area, including Galveston and Beaumont. American Institute of Architects Survey Forms, specifically created for disaster assessment of structures, will be completed by volunteer Registered Architects. Beginning Monday, Sept. 29, applicants for damage assessments can call 713-226-7443 (outside of Houston: 888-388-1885) or email hda@aiahouston.org to receive an appointment to meet with an Architect at the damage site.
Adjacent Counties Update: Galveston County- Courthouse employees to return next week, Judges hope to resume public use in mid-October, and no jury trials until November at the earliest. Juvenile cases being heard in Texas City and jail docket being held at the jail. CPS pickups and emergency cases can be heard. Attorneys and parties should not worry about trials, hearings, or appearances through September. District and County clerks fully operational in League City annex. Galveston Justice Center is undamaged and now has electricity. Montgomery County Courthouse- All offices are open. Liberty County Courthouse- All offices are open. Chambers County Courthouse- Offices open as of Monday, September 29. Chambers County West Side offices located at 10616 Eagle Dr. in Mont Belviue are open. Waller County Courthouse- All offices are open. Fort Bend County Courthouse- All offices are open.
Eight FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open in Houston to provide face-to-face assistance to those who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike. Volunteer attorneys are available at all locations to answer legal questions. The DRCs are located at the following locations; Our Lady of Lavang Catholic Church, 12320 Old Foltin Road, Houston, TX 77086; Wal-Mart parking lot, 1107 Shaver Blvd., Pasadena, TX 77506; San Jacinto Mall, 6109 Garth Road, Baytown, TX 7752; Greenspoint Mall, 12300, North Freeway, Houston, TX 77060; Ellington Joint Reserve Base, Building 1383, 14567 Sneider St, Houston, TX 77034; Rex Meador Park, 2100 N. Meyer Road, Seabrook, TX 77586; 301 W. Fairmont Parkway (Auto Zone parking lot) Across from City Hall, Laporte, TX 77571; African-American Chamber of Commerce, 6112 Wheatley St., Houston 77091. These centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.

Daily LegalLine for Those Affected by Storm

Volunteer attorneys from the Houston Bar Association will answer legal questions from the public from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. daily, beginning Tuesday, September 16, 2008 through Friday, October 10, 2008. The public may call 713-759-1133 or toll free

1-866-959-1133, to speak to a volunteer attorney, who will assist in answering their legal questions related to the storm.

The HBA's regular LegalLine program will be held on Wednesday, October 15, with attorneys answering calls from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Dinner provided by Salata (www.salata.biz) through March 2009.

Important Information For Lawyers

Dear Gulf Coast Lawyers:

The Houston Bar Association continues to coordinate programs to help lawyers and citizens affected by Hurricane Ike. Please note the following updates.

· On September 22, the HBA hosted training for over 160 attorneys on legal issues related to Hurricane Ike, including FEMA matters. We hope to have the program posted on CLEOnline by the close of business tomorrow, September 30. If you are interested in volunteering, you may download the training materials from www.cleonline.com at a discounted cost. You must call the HBA office, 713-759-1133, to get the discount code.

· A second training program for volunteers has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2008, from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Baker Botts, 32^nd floor of One Shell Plaza, 910 Louisiana. The training has been approved for 3.5 hours of MCLE credit and there is no cost to attend. Space is limited, so please RSVP to mariar@hba.org by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 6.

· The HBA is extending its daily Hurricane Ike LegalLine program for questions from the public through October 10. We need additional volunteer attorneys, including Spanish-speaking attorneys, to answer phone lines in the HBA office from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, through October 10. Please contact the HBA office at 713-759-1133 or by email at ashleyg@hba.org to volunteer.

· FEMA has now opened 11 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Harris County to provide face-to-face assistance to those affected by Hurricane Ike. The HBA’s Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, in partnership with Lone Star Legal Aid, will staff a legal advice booth at each DRC, as well as others that will open in the future, from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., seven days a week. The HBA is looking for volunteer attorneys who can commit to staffing one of the legal advice booths for three hours. The DRCs may change weekly, but at the time of this email locations are at Home Depot Stores at 11500 Chimney Rock, 77035; 6810 Gulf Freeway, 77087; and 10707 North Freeway, 77037; at the Medical Office Building, 8240 Antoine, 77088; Ellington Joint Reserve Base, 14657 Sneider St., Building 1383, 77034; Our Lady of Lavang Church, 12311 Old Foltin Road, 77086; African-American Chamber of Commerce, 6112 Wheatley St., 77091; Wal-Mart, 1107 Shaver, Pasadena; Rex Meador Park, 2001 Meyer Road, Seabrook; San Jacinto Mall, 6109 Garth Road, Baytown; and across from City Hall, 200 West Fairmont Parkway, Laporte. If you would like to volunteer at a DRC legal advice booth, please fill out a registration form found at http://www.hvlp.org/volunteers/registration.aspx on the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program Web site. Please choose the Disaster Recovery Center volunteer option. In the comments space below, please enter preferred location, dates and times you would like to volunteer.

· Many of our fellow attorneys in Galveston, Jefferson, Orange, Chambers and other counties have suffered severe losses to their offices. We will update you on ways to help with furniture, supplies and computers in our next email.

· The Houston Bar Foundation received a $15,000 grant from Mr. David J. Healey in honor of the opening of the Houston office of the Fish & Richardson law firm on October 1. Mr. Healey’s contribution is designated for Hurricane Ike emergency relief for housing and living expenses for legal assistants, legal secretaries, other non-lawyer employees of law firms in the Houston-Galveston area, and for students at the University of Houston Law Center, South Texas College of Law, Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the University of Texas School of Law. To apply for a grant, applicants should send a letter of explanation, along with copies of receipts, to the Houston Bar Foundation, 1001 Fannin, Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77002.

· The HBA’s Fall Clothing Drive is collecting gently-used clothing in all sizes, as well as blankets. Please deliver your donations to the HBA office, 1001 Fannin, Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77002, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

· Please consider donating blood to the Paul E. Stallings Blood Drive at any Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center location. See www.giveblood.org for a list of permanent donor locations and remember to use the HBA donor code, QM07.

· Monetary donations can be payable to the Houston Bar Foundation and sent to the HBA. Please note on the memo line that the donation is for Hurricane Ike Relief.

Travis J. Sales

President, Houston Bar Association

Doctor And Lawyer Volunteers Needed For Drug Education Program

Since 1992, the Interprofessional Drug Education Alliance (IDEA) has teamed physicians and attorneys to speak with youth about the medical and legal effects of illegal drug use. The program provides physicians and attorneys an opportunity to present a unified force throughout our community. IDEA targets 5^th grade students in Harris County schools, but we are working with local school districts to expand the program throughout the greater Houston community. If you know an attorney or physician that might be interested in the program please have them contact co-chairs Brad Allen (713-632-1790 or allen@mdjawlaw.com) or Mark Kressenberg (713-951-1000 or jkressenberg@sswpc.com.) We presently need an additional 30 or more physicians and attorneys to volunteer just a few hours to make this program a success in 2008.

The first training session for volunteers will be on October 2, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at the Houston Bar Association. To attend the orientation, contact Arcella Urena at 713-759-1133 or arcellau@hba.org. IDEA presentations are currently scheduled for October 23, 2008 and May 5, 2009. This program is a critical part of keeping the children and youth in our community safe and drug free, and we appreciate your support.

HBA Coat and Warm Clothing Drive

The HBA’s 2008 Coat and Warm Clothing Drive will continue through October 31, 2008. Sponsored by the HBA Campaign for the Homeless Committee, the drive collects gently-used coats, sweaters, and other clothing items that will be distributed to Houston’s homeless shelters. In addition to coats and warm clothing, the HBA will partner with Dress for Success Houston to collect business suits and black handbags for women. Cash donations also will be accepted; for every $75 donation, Dress for Success can purchase one new suit. For more information on the Coat and Warm Clothing Drive, please contact Maria Randall at 713-759-1133 or mariar@hba.org.

Last Chance to Have New 2009 Roster Photo Made

Legal Directories Publishing Company has scheduled one last photo session to allow members to have a new photo made for the 2009 HBA Pictorial Roster. A photographer will be in the HBA office on Tuesday, October 28 and Wednesday October 29, 2008 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The office is located in the First City Tower at 1001 Fannin, Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77002. There is no charge for the photo and no appointment is necessary. The submission deadline for individual photos has passed. This photo session is the only way to have your picture in the 2009 HBA Pictorial Roster.

59th Harvest Party Set for November 10

The 59th Harvest Party has been set for Monday, November 10, 2008 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. at River Oaks Country Club. Co-sponsored by the Houston Bar Association, the Houston Bar Foundation and the Houston Bar Association Auxiliary, the Harvest Party is the main annual fundraising event for the Houston Bar Foundation. Tickets are $105 per person. Click here for more information, Harvest Party sponsors and the ticket order form.

Sales Announces New Veterans' Initiative

HBA President Travis Sales has announced a new initiative to serve Harris County veterans. "Our veterans have sacrificed to preserve our freedoms and the rule of law," said Sales. "We as lawyers should ensure that the protectors of our justice system have full access to it."

The initiative will provide increased legal services, as well as education and additional resources, to all veterans. Many of the programs will implemented through the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program. Volunteer attorneys are needed to provide advice and counsel through legal clinics at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, as well as permanent residence facilities for vets in Houston.

Read more about it. Volunteer Form.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
From HBA President Travis Sales:
As hurricane season begins, the Houston Bar Association would like to provide you and your law office with information on disaster preparation and recovery. While many firms already have disaster plans in place, we hope the links below will serve as additional resources for those lawyers who do not have a formal plan or who want to view what others have developed.

The Law Practice Management Program of the State Bar of Texas

When Bad Things Happen: 60 Minutes to Save Your Practice – compiled from materials developed by the American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section’s Practice Management Advisors Committee

Planning for Disaster Prevention and/or Recovery – prepared for the Law Office Management Institute, March 23, 2003 by Roland K. Johnson of Harris, Finley and Bogle and Warren H. Gould of the Law Office of Warren Gould, Fort Worth, Texas.

Technology Related Resources for Disaster Relief – prepared by the American Bar Association

Disaster Recovery Kit - prepared by the Alabama State Bar Law Office Management Assistance Program

Personal Workplace Disaster Supplies Kit – prepared by the American Red Cross

Click here for more information

HBA All Day Ethics Program

The HBA's All Day Ethics Program will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at the Harris County Jury Assembly Room, 1019 Congress. It's Free to all HBA Members; $25 for non-HBA members. Pre-Registration is not required. There will be 6.5 hours MCLE credit and 6.5 hours ethics credit. Click here for details or contact Keizra Tyson at 713-759-1133 or keizrat@hba.org.

Discounts on Performances/Sports Events
HBA members can take advantage of discounts on tickets and/or priority seating for performances by the following organizations:

•The Houston Rockets will host HBA Night on Saturday, November 15, 2008 against the New Orleans Hornets. Tickets will be discounted for HBA members, friends and family. To order your tickets, go to www.rockets.com and enter promotion code: HBA1115. For more information and ticket order form, click here.

• HBA members can save time and money by purchasing tickets for the Houston Dynamo home games through a special Corporate Group Manager Link. Click here and provide the password hba08. Once you have purchased seats, the tickets will be delivered directly to your email box so you won't have to wait in line at the stadium. Discounts range from a savings of $2.75 on endline tickets to $6.75 on VIP Center tickets.

• The Houston Ballet offers a 25% discount to HBA members to the Houston Ballet's Classically Modern, Friday September 26th, 2008 at 7:30 and Saturday September 27th, 2008 at 2:00. Click here for details. Call Pam Perry at the Houston Ballet for discounted tickets 713-535-3258.

•The Houston Ballet also offers a discount to HBA employees, family, and friends to the Houston Ballet's The Nutcracker for performances starting November 28, 2008. To order your discounted tickets, call Pam Perry at 713-535-3258. Prices range from $20.50 to $94.50. Click here for more details.

• Da Camera of Houston offers HBA members a 20 percent discount on tickets to any concert. To purchase tickets, call 713-524-5050 and ask for the HBA discount.

Paul E. Stallings Blood Drive

Join the 7th Annual "Paul E. Stallings Blood Drive" the HBA's continuing partnership with the Blood Center. Please give The Blood Center the HBA code, QM07, to have your donation credited to the HBA drive. Visit www.giveblood.org to learn more about a drive in your area.

Gender Fairness Initiative
34 firms have signed a commitment statement that pledges an increase in various actions that promote gender fairness. To find out more about the Gender Fairness Initiative, please contact Tara Shockley or call 713-759-1133.

Order Your 2009 HBA Pictorial Roster
2009 HBA Pictorial Rosters are now available. Order Form

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