MEETING MINUTES
Monday, April 9, 2002 - By C. Edward S. Mitchell
Present were: President Judge Smith, Judge Kieser, Judge Anderson, Andrea Bower, Joseph Campagna, Mike Dinges, Gary Harris, Ed Mitchell, Joe Rider, Kristine Waltz, Kevin Way, and Gary Weber.
Judge Smith reminded everyone of the Practice Seminar scheduled for Friday, April13. Three CLE credits will be available. The salary for attorney members of the Board of View is being increased from $85 to $125 per day. There is a need for two additional attorney members on the Board. The PHICO stay is in effect until May 2, 2002. Cases in which defendants are insured by PHICO have been identified and removed from the trial lists during the stay.
Judge Kieser – Members of the Association are urged to participate in the Practice Seminar scheduled for Friday, April 13, 2002. A session on mediation has been added to the afternoon session. The morning sessions will be in the Community Theater League facilities in the Trade and Transit Center Building. The afternoon sessions will be in the Courthouse.
Judge Anderson – No report.
Joe Campagna – Legal Services is experiencing problems resulting from late requests for representation at scheduled hearings where private attorneys are refusing to attend because of non-payment. Judge Smith and Judge Anderson indicated that in situations where the attorney has entered an appearance, they do not permit a withdrawal which will delay a scheduled hearing. They conduct the hearings in the order in which the motions have been filed which results in the hearing on the withdrawal motion occurring after the other hearing. If the attorney has not entered an appearance, there is nothing the Court can do to require attendance.
Gary Harris commended Gary Weber for the Lycoming Law Association Web site. Recommended that PBA polls on statewide judicial elections be published on the Web site. Suggested the need for a local rule on obtaining Court approval of settlements, distributions and allocations in wrongful death/survival actions.
Mike Dinges – no report.
Andrea Bower, President Lycoming Law Association. The email addresses are being updated by the Association and used for communication with attorneys. Approximately 125 attorneys now are able to be contacted through email. The Association is scheduling a social event including a picnic and Crosscutters game on June 29 at Bowman Field. The Law Association picnic is scheduled for July 17 at the Consolidated Sportsmans. A date for giving blood is being scheduled in conjunction with the Paralegal Association. Copies of the historical sketches of the Law Association members are being presented to area libraries. Bound volumes of the Lycoming Reporter will become available in the near future.
Joe Rider – Members are reminded of the reduction in Pennsylvania Transfer Inheritance Tax rates. The sibling rate has been reduced from 15% to 12%. The lineal rate has been reduced from 6% to 4 ½ %. There is no tax on transfers from children under 21 to parents.
Kristine Waltz – no report.
Kevin Way, Court Administrator – Registrants for the Practice Seminar should make sure they indicate in connection with their registration what sessions they will attend. A tri-annual report on the Lycoming County Court System for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 is being published. The problem discussed by Janice Yaw concerning scheduling conflicts between custody and family court is being addressed.
Gary Weber – There are no new rules. A Rules Committee meeting will be scheduled after amendments to the statewide criminal rules have been adopted. The Law Association is considering publication of a newsletter.