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September 30, 2004

Objectives of Revocable Trusts

Objectives of Revocable Trusts
by Langdon T. Owen, Jr.

Why use a revocable trust? Revocable trusts can be a good tool to help clients achieve their objectives; but they are only a tool. Let's review some key objectives:

Tax Savings
Clients sometimes ask how trusts can save them transfer taxes. Let's look at the long and the short of the matter, starting with the short. The short answer is that trusts have no magic to reduce taxes. The long answer, however, is more interesting: certain transaction structures can reduce taxes, and trusts are marvelous tools for creating such structures.

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The Utah Marshaling Requirement: An Overview

The Utah Marshaling Requirement: An Overview
by Ryan D. Tenney1

Rule 24(a)(9) of the Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure states that "[a] party challenging a fact finding must first marshal all record evidence that supports the challenged finding." At first glance, this rule may appear misguided. After all, ours is a profession that stresses zealous advocacy on behalf of a client. It may sometimes be difficult for an appellate litigator to imagine why he or she should have to make the opponent's case for them; it may be even more difficult for the attorney to then imagine having to explain that particular portion of the brief to their client. As the reported cases suggest, however, the appellate courts can and do regard a failure to marshal as a fatal defect.

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Facsimile Advertising and the Requirement to Get Signed, Written Consents

Facsimile Advertising and the Requirement to Get Signed, Written Consents
by Berk W. Washburn

Recently, much attention has been focused in the media on new rules and regulations issued by the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC") and the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") in connection with a national Do-Not-Call Registry. For the most part, the media has not noticed that there are included within the same new FCC rules substantial changes in the statutory guidelines for the legal requirements in facsimile advertising. These new facsimile advertising rules apply to both residential phone lines (consumer transactions) and business phone lines (commercial transactions). In the last decade, facsimile advertisements have become a cheap and pervasive form of advertising. Many businesses quickly embraced facsimile advertising in order to capitalize on the minimal cost and time required to reach a very large audience. On the other hand, because much of the cost and wasted time is shifted to the recipient, "fax ads" have become the bane of many dedicated facsimile lines, both for business and residential users. In Utah, many businesses have been at different times both a sender and a receiver of fax ads. Since the FCC has now substantially reversed its position on the legal rules for fax ads, both senders and receivers of fax ads in Utah will be interested in the new rules.

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Mental Illness, Addiction and Attorneys

Mental Illness, Addiction and Attorneys
by Jack M. Morgan, Jr.

Mental illness and addiction are devastating to lives, careers, relationships, families, and communities. In any given year, 9.5% of the population, approximately 18 million Americans, suffers from a depressive illness, generally defined to include major depression, dysthymia and bipolar disorder.1 Nearly 1 in 13 adults abuse alcohol or are alcoholic.2 A 1999 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration concluded that an estimated 4 million people - about 2% of the population - were using prescription medication non-medically,3 and the same study a year earlier found that 1.7 million - about 0.8% - were using cocaine.

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Possible Defense Responses to Plaintiff's "Experts"

Possible Defense Responses to Plaintiff's "Experts"
by Gordon Strachan

This article clarifies differences between the testimonial latitude permitted for defendants' and plaintiffs' expert witnesses in negligence-based personal injury litigation and clarifies Utah law regarding granting increased discretion to defense experts. This should help curtail the proliferation of plaintiffs' motions in limine designed to reallocate - impermissibly - the burden of proof.

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Practice Pointer: When Can a Lawyer End an Attorney-Client Relationship?

Practice Pointer: When Can a Lawyer End an Attorney-Client Relationship?
by Kate A. Toomey

Attorneys sometimes ask about the circumstances under which they must withdraw from a representation, and those under which they are permitted to end it. The answers vary with the situations: some are essentially no-brainers (for example, you must withdraw from the representation if the client fires you) while others are far more ambiguous (for example, you want to withdraw because it has become clear the lawyer-client relationship requires high maintenance).

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October 24, 2004

Casemaker Coming Soon

Casemaker Coming Soon
by Toby Brown

Imagine a Bar benefit that provides online legal research of Utah law for free. That's Casemaker and it's coming soon to Utah State Bar members.

What is Casemaker?
Casemaker is an online legal research service provided through state bar associations. It is easily accessed via the Internet and requires no special software. The content of each state bar library focuses on primary law for that jurisdiction. This normally includes applicable state case law, codes, court rules and some administrative law. There is a federal law library, as well, consisting of case law for the US Supreme Court back to 1935 and all Federal Circuits, at least back to 1995.

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An Overview of State Sovereign Immunity

An Overview of State Sovereign Immunity
by Bless Young and Kurt Gurka

I. State Sovereign Immunity and the Eleventh Amendment

A. Historical Perspective
Sovereign immunity shields states from having to defend themselves against suits in law or at equity in the federal system. Although not explicitly incorporated into the constitutional text, it seemed apparent that sovereign immunity, as it had existed up to ratification, would remain in place. However, this assumption was destroyed by the 1793 case of Chisholm v. Georgia, 2 Dall. 419 (1793), where the Supreme Court, in a 4-1 vote, upheld its jurisdiction over an action in assumpsit brought by a South Carolina citizen against the State of Georgia.

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October 26, 2004

Judicial Disqualification in Utah

Judicial Disqualification in Utah
by Steve Averett

The purpose of this article is to summarize Utah law regarding disqualification of judges.

Judges are generally not allowed to hear cases in which they: (1) are interested parties, (2) are closely related to a party, or (3) have served as an attorney for one of the parties. Utah Code Ann. ¤ 78-7-1 (2002).

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Cracking the Computer Forensics Mystery

Cracking the Computer Forensics Mystery
by Christopher Wall and Jason Paroff1

Only a few short years ago, the term "computer forensics" was a mystery to most attorneys. In the digital age, however, attorneys are discovering that a basic understanding of "computer forensics" and computer forensic protocol is crucial in both civil and criminal lawsuits. Without a doubt, most information generated today is stored electronically. In 2002, approximately 5 exabytes of new information was stored in print, film, magnetic, and optical storage media. 92% of that information was stored on magnetic media, mostly in hard disk drives.2 Because of the increasing trend toward creating and using electronic documents, the computer is becoming a vital point of investigation in almost every case. Computer forensics can be essential in uncovering twenty-first century evidence.

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Practice Pointer: Neither a Borrower Nor a Lender Be

Practice Pointer: Neither a Borrower Nor a Lender Be
by Kate A. Toomey

You've known her for years, and in many respects the two of you have a great deal in common; she regards you as a friend. You've been around her young children a few times, and you like them a lot. She's a wonderful mother and she works hard, but she struggles to provide for the kids because she's been on her own since her husband died overseas. You've been helping her with a wrongful death action, but it's going to be awhile before the money comes through, and she may have to file a lawsuit to get everything she's entitled to. She hits a financial rough patch but doesn't qualify for a loan and can't borrow money from her extended family. Meantime, she's so behind on paying her bills that she could lose her house, and if she loses her car, too, she could lose her job as well. Then one of the boys gets sick. She can't stay at home to care for him, but she can't afford a babysitter, either. Finally, she asks you for a small loan, just until her money comes through. You're a generous person who cares about others, and besides, you know she'll do anything she can to pay you back. What can you do to help her?

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December 19, 2004

The Construction Attorney's Toolbox - Building Solutions

The Construction Attorney's Toolbox - Building Solutions
by Kent B. Scott

Introduction
Today's current economic climate presses owners and contractors to complete projects in less time for less money. These pressures have created more demanding time schedules and monetary budgets that, in turn, have created an increased number of disputes. Another developing trend is the increased costs in time, money, efficiencies and lost opportunities taken up by these disputes. Rather than solving the technical problems experienced on the project, the parties get mired down into bolstering opposing positions. The fees incurred in resolving disputes become a major component of the dispute. The dollars that should go into the project are now going into the project dispute.

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I Will Not Take The Oath (Unless I Really Have To)

I Will Not Take The Oath (Unless I Really Have To)
by Robert H. Henderson

Sometime I hope to write an article on mediation, or arbitration, or cross examination, or trial tactics, or getting along with difficult lawyers (is there any other kind?), etc. For some time, however, I have been preoccupied with our Bar's "Pledge To Racial And Ethnic Diversity." You know it - you can't miss it. It is so prominently displayed on our Bar's web site that even a computer idiot like me can pull it up. I went to the Utah Trial Lawyer's annual CLE seminar and at lunch I heard my friend and its President, Doug Mortensen, proudly announce that that organization had adopted it.

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Practice Pointer: Managing Your Trust Account

Practice Pointer: Managing Your Trust Account
by Kate A. Toomey

Every attorney knows that lawyers in private practice who handle client money must do so in a manner prescribed by the Rules of Professional Conduct. But the nuances of the requirements often prompt calls to the Office of Professional Conduct's Ethics Hotline. I've discovered that many attorneys share a near-phobic aversion to the whole concept of trust accounts and handling other people's money. Here are some answers to the most common questions.

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June 11, 2005

Paperless? Hah! Less Paper - Absolutely

Paperless? Hah! Less Paper - Absolutely

by Heather Holland

If you have not considered records management as part of your business or firm plan, it can be time consuming and if done in-house it can be overwhelming, however it is absolutely necessary. Good recordkeeping and a good recordkeeping system are essential components and healthy for every business: ensuring compliance with state and federal employment laws, it can also play a defining role in litigation, arbitration or mediation or when the auditor comes knocking at your door. (See Arias v. United States Service Industries, Inc., D.C. CA, No. 95-7158, 1996.)

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Message from ABA President

Message from ABA President

As members of the legal profession, I know you share my concern over the public's misunderstanding of the judiciary's role and the politically motivated criticism of the judiciary stemming from the Terri Schiavo case, and are equally alarmed about the murders of Judge Lefkow's family members in Chicago and the attacks at the Fulton County Courthouse in Georgia. The circumstances of these tragic events require careful analysis, thoughtful leadership, and measured response. The American Bar Association has long held the preservation of judicial independence as one of the most important Association goals. These recent events have elevated the urgency of that commitment among the ABA's leadership. In the past several days, I have issued public statements condemning the violence against our judiciary and the gratuitous and vicious public attacks on the dedicated men and women who are our country's judges. During my speaking engagements, I have taken the opportunity to call for a change in tenor when the national discussion turns to our justice system.

Regardless of how one feels about the specific circumstances of the Schiavo - or any - situation, the role of the judiciary is clear. Federal and state judges are charged with weighing the facts of a case and following the remedies set forth in the law, responsibilities they carry out valiantly and with great dignity and sensitivity.

It is vital that the legal community address the current atmosphere in which our legal system operates, in what can only be called a decline in civility and respect toward our justice system. Too often judges are characterized as political tools and the justice system merely an offshoot of politics, and not the independent leg of our democracy that they are. Efforts to address the problems of courthouse security have been initiated by the Judicial Conference of the United States and the National Center for State Courts, and I have approached these organizations as well as a number of entities within the ABA to determine where and how we can best contribute to resolving problems faced by the nation's courts and judges.

The Association is committed to promoting the importance of judicial independence. The four entities that comprise the ABA Justice Center: the Judicial Division, the Standing Committee on Judicial Independence, the Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements, and the Coalition for Justice work tirelessly to develop resources, initiatives, policies, and programs that support our justice system, our judges, and our courts. Information on each of these entities' initiatives can be accessed through the Justice Center's Web site at http://www.abanet.org/justicecenter/home.html

Thank you for your continued support of the ABA, the legal profession, and the judiciary. As the voice of the legal profession, we must not allow those among us who would do harm, in any form, to destroy the very freedoms our legal system is entrusted to protect.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Grey, Jr.
President, American Bar Association

Standard 11 - Ex Parte Communications

Standard 11 - Ex Parte Communications

by Judge Gregory K. Orme

Editors' Note: A member of the Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on Professionalism will discuss one of the new Standards of Professionalism and Civility with each issue of the Bar Journal. The opinions expressed are those of the member and not necessarily those of the Advisory Committee.

"Lawyers shall avoid impermissible ex parte communications." There's nothing novel about this idea: Don't talk to a judge (or other adjudicator) about a case unless opposing counsel is in on the conversation. The same precept holds for conversations with the judge's law clerk or other members of the judge's staff. There are a few exceptions, mostly having to do with procedural things, like scheduling, but always err on the side of avoiding one-sided conversations about cases.

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New Laws Every Lawyer Should Know

New Laws Every Lawyer Should Know

by Brent N. Bateman

This article highlights some important bills passed in the recently concluded 2005 Utah legislative session. The new laws discussed here are important to members of the State Bar, not because they are interesting or controversial, but because they include changes that attorneys should be aware of in practice. For example, some legislative changes may affect the advice an attorney gives to a client. Naturally, this article will not provide an exhaustive review of new legislation impacting the bar. Rather, it will briefly discuss a few selected laws, hoping to inspire members of the bar to undertake a more detailed review.

The newly enacted statutes are organized here into very general practice areas. Note, however, that a bill often impacts more than one practice area. For example S.B. 47, Wrongful Lien Offenses, discussed below in the criminal section, also raises issues of real property law, tort law, and estate planning.

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Some Thoughts Concerning Trustee Selection

Some Thoughts Concerning Trustee Selection

by Langdon T. Owen, Jr.

The selection of an appropriate trustee is of concern for anyone establishing a trust. A good trustee will provide real tangible benefits, and a bad trustee will provide nothing but nightmares. This article contains thoughts on the subject of trustee selection that counsel drafting trust instruments may find useful in dealing with clients.

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Outsourcing - for Easy, Effective Data Protection

Outsourcing - for Easy, Effective Data Protection

by David Saperstein

Attorneys' Data - and Practices - Are Vulnerable
Attorneys, whether solo practitioners, members of a small or large firms, or in-house counsel for corporations, need to consider these statistics:

¥ 40% of data loss arises from hardware failure and 29% from human error.1

¥ About 7 million laptops are lost, badly damaged, or stolen each year.2

¥ 47% of organizations surveyed by the Computer Security Institute experienced between 1 and 5 computer security breaches in the last 12 months.3 56% of disaster recovery professionals identified such issues (e.g., unauthorized access, viruses) as an extreme threat to business continuity.4

¥ The amount of stored data is growing at 125% per year.5 This growth increases the data security, long-term recordkeeping, and/or auditing challenges of compliance with such laws as Gramm-Leach Bliley, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Sec. Rule 17a-4, and Sarbanes-Oxley.

¥ Companies that cannot resume operations - including recovering key data - within 10 days of a disaster are not likely to survive.6

What do these statistics have to do with the practice of law? Answer these questions:

¥ Who performs data backup in the office (or branch offices) and how often? Is the backup reliable?

¥ Does the office maintain a copy of its data off-line - and off-site in a secure location - so that it is safe from natural disasters, technical malfunctions, and accidents at your site (as well as from a range of human risks such as deletion errors, viruses and hacking)?

¥ How fast can the office recover its data? How much of it can be recovered?

Continue reading "Outsourcing - for Easy, Effective Data Protection" »

Standards for Standards' Sake

Standards for Standards' Sake:

by Eric K. Johnson

On October 16, 2003, the Utah Supreme Court approved Rule 23 of the Utah Supreme Court Rules of Judicial Administration (itself comprised of twenty new rules), entitled "Standards of Professionalism and Civility" "[t]o enhance the daily experience of lawyers and the reputation of the Bar as a whole." I am all for satisfying daily experiences and for burnishing the Bar's reputation, but I submit that the passage of twenty new rules over and above those that already apply to the profession do little to achieve either goal. This is not to state that the motives for Standards are somehow wrongheaded. The Preamble to the Standards of Professionalism and Civility, which has no normative force, is, for the most part, as sensible as it is aspirational. It reads, in part:

In fulfilling a duty to represent a client vigorously as lawyers, we must be mindful of our obligations to the administration of justice, which is a truth-seeking process designed to resolve human and societal problems in a rational, peaceful, and efficient manner. We must remain committed to the rule of law as the foundation for a just and peaceful society.

* * * * * *

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Why Don't They Like Us?

Why Don't They Like Us?

by Keith E. Taylor

In the January 2000 issue of the Utah Bar Journal, I bid my fond farewell to a noble profession. Since then I have given some serious thought to why the general public does not recognize lawyers as being trusted representatives of a noble profession. After all, lawyers are responsible for our unprecedented freedom in this wonderful country. The difference between our society and those of such totalitarian states as the late USSR is not in the words of our respective constitutions but in the vigorous implementation, application and enforcement of those words, almost exclusively done by lawyers. Well then, why don't they like and respect us?

With some justification, some think that a major cause are those few self-aggrandizing buffoons frequently foisted upon us by the mass media. Others blame the media itself for creating circus - like trials such as the O. J. Simpson trial. However, I suggest that these are aberrations and simply can't be the sole cause of widespread disdain of the legal profession among members of the general public.

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August 6, 2005

Get Ready for the Bankruptcy Amendments of 2005

Get Ready for the Bankruptcy Amendments of 2005

by Joel Marker

On April 20, 2005, President Bush signed S.256, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (the "Act"). While critics have noted that the Act is long on attacking perceived abuses of the bankruptcy laws by consumer debtors and short on protecting individuals from their creditors,1 the Act is now law and members of the bar need to determine how the changes will affect their clients and practices. The following survey of changes imposed by the Act is not complete and readers are encouraged to educate themselves on the Act's provisions prior to its implementation. Two internet resources are helpful in digesting the changes brought by the Act. First, the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell has a blackline version of the entire Bankruptcy Code marked to show the amendments from current law at http://dpw.com/practice/code.blackline.pdf. Second, the American Bankruptcy Institute offers a wealth of summaries and articles explaining the Act at http://www.abiworld.net/bankbill.

Continue reading "Get Ready for the Bankruptcy Amendments of 2005" »

"Making Law" and "Finding Facts" - Unavoidable Duties of an Independent Judiciary

"Making Law" and "Finding Facts" - Unavoidable Duties of an Independent Judiciary

by John J. Flynn

The role of judges and the duties they are called upon to perform are not well understood by the public generally and many politicians in particular. Recent physical and political attacks on particular judges and the judiciary in general and the politicization of the nomination and appointment processes for judges require a campaign to educate the public about the role of the judiciary in our society.

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Bankruptcy Litigation: Some Practical Pointers

Bankruptcy Litigation: Some Practical Pointers

by J. Robert Nelson

Introduction
The premise of this article, that litigation frequently spawns bankruptcy, is not a novel insight. The recent spate of mass tort suits involving asbestos and dangerous drugs have pushed numerous companies to respond with Chapter 11 filings. Mass tort situations aside, the substantial costs of litigating even one complex case have driven some defendants to seek bankruptcy protection. The mere possibility of a large adverse judgment leads others to bankruptcy. Even the inability to post an undertaking in connection with appeal of an adverse judgment has resulted in bankruptcy filings. Although the circumstances vary, bankruptcy has become a frequently used response to litigation.

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A Guide to The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

A Guide to The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

by Robert A. Youngberg

Utah companies do business in foreign markets now more than ever before. Among the 50 states, Utah has the seventh fastest growth rate in export shipments of goods. 2,141 companies exported goods from Utah in 2002, and most (83 percent) were not large companies. In 2003, the value of exported goods shipped from Utah topped $4 billion.1 Compliance with foreign trade laws is, therefore, increasingly vital to the success of Utah businesses.

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Federal Appeals: The Scoop on Electronic Submission and Filing

Federal Appeals: The Scoop on Electronic Submission and Filing

by Douglas E. Cressler

Senior partner: "There was a time when we had to print everything that was to be filed with the court on paper, along with several copies as required by the rules, then physically mail or deliver the whole stack of stuff to the court and send additional paper copies of everything to all the parties in the case."

New associate: "Wow. And were the deliveries made on dinosaurs?"

A near-future law firm conversation.

Continue reading "Federal Appeals: The Scoop on Electronic Submission and Filing" »

Standard 8

Standard 8

by Linda Jones

Editors' Note: A member of the Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on Professionalism will discuss one of the new Standards of Professionalism and Civility with each issue of the Bar Journal. The opinions expressed are those of the member and not necessarily those of the Advisory Committee.

Standard 8 of the Utah Standards of Professionalism & Civility states:

When permitted or required by court rule or otherwise, lawyers shall draft orders that accurately and completely reflect the court's ruling. Lawyers shall promptly prepare and submit proposed orders to other counsel and attempt to reconcile any differences before the proposed orders and any objections are presented to the court.

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Pro Bono Honor Roll

Pro Bono Honor Roll

Kent Alderman
Reha Deal
Michael Deamer
Kevin Fife
Richard Gallegos
Richard Grealish
D. Rand Henderson
Brent Johns
Alejandro Maynez
Perry, Malmberg, & Perry
Walter Merrill
William Morrison
William Ormond
Ralph Petty
Kristine Rogers
Gregory Simonsen
Linda Smith
Mary Woodhead
Donald Winters
Dorsey & Whitney

Utah Legal Services and the Utah State Bar wish to thank these attorneys for their time and willingness to help those in need. Call Brenda Teig at (801) 924-3376 to volunteer.

October 16, 2005

Antitrust & Unfair Competition Law Section: An Introduction

Antitrust & Unfair Competition Law Section: An Introduction

The Antitrust & Unfair Competition Law Section of the Utah State Bar was established in January 2005. Our membership currently includes lawyers on both the plaintiff and defense sides of the Bar, academics, government prosecutors and economists. In that regard, we would like to invite all Utah lawyers whose practices involve antitrust and unfair competition matters to join our Section and add their expertise to our group. We believe we will form an effective network of lawyers in Utah whose knowledge and expertise allow us to support each others' practices.

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Why Paralegal Certification Counts

Why Paralegal Certification Counts
by Debra J. Monke

Designation as a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA), or Certified Paralegal (CP) is more than the pinnacle of professional achievement for individual paralegals. It is also a sound indication of proficiency to the attorneys, firms, and organizations that hire them.

Since the CLA program was launched by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) in 1976, it has become widely recognized as the definitive credential for paralegals. More than 25,000 individuals have participated in the program, and some 12,500 paralegals are on the certification rolls today.

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New Rules governing IOLTA program adopted by the Utah Supreme Court

New Rules governing IOLTA program adopted by the Utah Supreme Court

by Steve Sullivan, Utah Bar Foundation President and Kim Paulding, Utah Bar Foundation Executive Director

On June 27, 2005, the Utah Supreme Court executed an Order setting out new rules to govern the IOLTA (Interest on LawyersÕ Trust Accounts) Program. The Order is effective upon signing and the new set of rules clarifies many of the questions that have arisen during the 22-year history of the program.

The new IOLTA rule no longer allows attorneys to opt-out of the IOLTA program and still maintain a non-interest bearing trust account. It now states that all client trust accounts must be interest bearing with the attorney making one of two choices of where the interest should be directed. The first option is that the interest be generated for the benefit of the client if it is a large enough sum of funds or is being held for a long enough period of time to generate net interest on behalf of the client. (Net interest would be the remaining funds left after the bank has taken their service fees and other charges associated with administering the account). If the first option is not viable, the second option is to direct the interest to the IOLTA program. The Utah Bar Foundation enjoys a good relationship with the Utah Banker's Association and at this time, most of the participating banks in the IOLTA program waive all services fees associated with the IOLTA accounts helping to generate even more funds for legal services for the poor and law related education.

The IOLTA program was created in 1983 by the Utah Supreme Court Opinion In The Matter of Interest on LawyersÕ Trust Accounts, 672 P.2d 406 (Utah 1983). It allowed attorneys to pool client funds that were to be held for a minimal amount of time or were of small amount in an interest-bearing client trust account. The interest from this account is directed to the IOLTA Program.

Over the past 22 years, the Utah Bar Foundation has donated more than $4.1 million dollars for charitable purposes that:

¥ Promote legal education and increase the knowledge and awareness of the law in the community.

¥ Assist in providing legal services to the disadvantaged.

¥ Improve the administration of justice.

¥ Serve other worthwhile law-related public purposes.

Past recipients of funds have included agencies such as Utah Law Related Education Center, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, Utah Legal Services, Disability Law Center, DNA People's Legal Services, International Rescue Committee, Community Mediation Center, Multi Cultural Legal Center, as well as many others.

It is worth noting that the Utah Bar Foundation is a completely separate non-profit organization from the Utah State Bar. While there is a long-standing good relationship between the two organizations, they are completely separate from one another.

The Foundation has been organized as a member organization in which every licensed attorney in Utah in good standing is a member. The general membership elects seven members from the membership to serve on the Board of Directors to govern the operations of the Foundation. If you are interested in serving on the Board or becoming more involved, please contact the Foundation offices.

To see a complete copy of the petition, new rule or Order from the Court, please visit our website at http://www.utahbarfoundation.org/ html/downloadable_forms.html. For questions about the IOLTA program or help with bringing your account in to compliance with the new rule, please contact the Foundation offices at (801)297-7046.

Standard 6 - Adherence to Promises & Commitments

Standard 6 - Adherence to Promises & Commitments
by V. Lowry Snow

It is late Friday afternoon after a harried week of work. You are tired and want to get out of the office early. Just as you think you are finally free to leave the demands of your clients and enjoy your weekend, a return telephone call comes in from opposing counsel on one of your cases, dealing with an important issue. The attorney on the other end of the line makes one or more of the following representations to you:

Continue reading "Standard 6 - Adherence to Promises & Commitments" »

Maneuvering Through Mediation: The Tricks, Twists and Turns of Finding Untracked Powder Resolution

Maneuvering Through Mediation: The Tricks, Twists and Turns of Finding Untracked Powder Resolution
by Michele Mattsson and Kent B. Scott

Anyone who has ever experienced the joy of skiing through Utah's dry, untracked powder has felt euphoria, the bliss of floating, effortlessly. But like mediation, getting there takes lots of work and creativity. Do you hike up to your favorite backcountry spot before anyone else does? Do you hire a helicopter? Do you dash up to the nearest resort and try to be the first person on the lift? How do you avoid the dangers? In this article, we'll discuss the tricks, twists, and turns of getting to the untracked powder Ð getting to a settlement.

Continue reading "Maneuvering Through Mediation: The Tricks, Twists and Turns of Finding Untracked Powder Resolution" »

Migrating the Utah State Bar to VoIP: Motivations and Lessons Learned

Migrating the Utah State Bar to VoIP: Motivations and Lessons Learned
by Lincoln Mead

VoIP Who?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and it should be the only acronym in this article. In a nutshell, VoIP or broadband telephony, is a technology based on the same type of communications standards that drive our Internet connections. The phones connect to the existing data network and the conversations become just another digital stream running through the network wiring. Calls placed to numbers outside the office are routed over the Internet or a service provider's private network. The calls can link up with traditional phone systems, so someone on a regular landline or cellular service and another using VoIP can talk to each other.

Continue reading "Migrating the Utah State Bar to VoIP: Motivations and Lessons Learned" »

ERISA Standards of Review and the Administrator's Conflict of Interest

ERISA Standards of Review and the Administrator's Conflict of Interest
by Scott Hagen

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals recently provided helpful guidance for district courts evaluating claims of wrongful denial of employee benefits under ERISA. In particular, the court clarified the standard of review to be applied where the plan administrator of the employee benefit plan had a potential conflict of interest at the time the benefits were denied.

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Considerations in Purchasing and Using Malpractice Insurance

Considerations in Purchasing and Using Malpractice Insurance
by Michael Skolnick

A couple of months ago, members of the Utah State Bar received a letter from Salt Lake attorney Grant Clayton. When he's not out driving his vintage TR-6 or writing patents, Grant serves as chairperson of the Bar's Lawyers Benefits Committee. His recent letter urged members of the Utah Bar to support our Bar-endorsed malpractice insurance program. That program is administered by Marsh Affinity and underwritten by Liberty Mutual. This article is intended for those who take the next step; either in obtaining malpractice insurance for the first time, or carefully reviewing their existing policy to ensure it meets their needs. The article will briefly address key considerations in obtaining and using malpractice insurance, with the goal of helping the reader become a wiser consumer of this professionally-invaluable commodity.

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January 20, 2006

Applying the Standards of Professionalism and Civility to the Practice of Criminal Law

Applying the Standards of Professionalism and Civility to the Practice of Criminal Law
by Sandi Johnson

Many attorneys criticize the Utah Standards of Professionalism and Civility, not because they are a bad idea, but because they are "unenforceable." Despite their external unenforceability, attorneys should support these Standards. If attorneys rely on external consequences to guide their behavior, they will always be at risk of compromising their professionalism and integrity as officers of the court. The purpose of the Standards should be to create higher expectations for ourselves and for each other as colleagues, regardless of the practical consequences. After all, it is better to aim for the stars and hit the moon. The Rules of Professional Conduct are the baseline, and most attorneys find those rules relatively easy to follow. This is a tumultuous time period when the judiciary and legal profession are under attack. As external validation and respect are waning, attorneys should exhibit pride in their own professionalism and integrity, and the Standards provide one means to reach that goal.

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Reflections on Poverty, Bankruptcy, and Heresy

Reflections on Poverty, Bankruptcy, and Heresy
by Paul Toscano

Introduction
In January and February of 2005, the Salt Lake Tribune published a series on bankruptcy in which Utah was reported to have the highest bankruptcy-filing rate in the country. The articles were extensive and informative. I was, however, disturbed by them because, while they discussed bankruptcy, they said so little about poverty. I decided to do some research on:

* How poverty is measured;

* The actual number of Utah households living in functional poverty;

* How much credit card debt Utahns carry;

* How much credit card companies earn annually in Utah;

* How Utah bankruptcy discharges affect those credit card companies; and

* How some new Bankruptcy Code amendments may affect Utahns seeking debt relief.

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An Analytic Approach to Defining the "Practice of Law" - Utah's New Definition

An Analytic Approach to Defining the "Practice of Law" - Utah's New Definition
by Gary G. Sackett1

Introduction
Here's a test for lawyers who think they know what their profession is fundamentally about: Define the "practice of law." Is it what we lawyers do when we help clients or employers deal with legal issues? Is it what law school and studying for and passing a bar exam prepares us to do? Is it the application to the circumstances of another person of legal principles and judgment that require the knowledge and skill of a person trained in the law? More difficult yet, what is the unauthorized practice of law? Does that occur when a person who hasn't passed the Bar exam tries to do what we lawyers are licensed to do?

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The Tyranny of the Courts

The Tyranny of the Courts
by David R. McKinney

The recurring political battles over federal judicial nominations demonstrate a continuing and disturbing development Ð the increasing politicization of the courts. These battles would not occur, but for the willingness of courts to decide political questions. The fighters on both sides implicitly recognize the courts as institutions through which policy preferences can be turned into law. The political leanings of judicial candidates therefore become all-important, as evidenced by the recent hearings on the nomination of John Roberts as Chief Justice.

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January 31, 2006

A Conservative View of the Originalist View of the Bill of Rights

A Conservative View of the Originalist View of the Bill of Rights
by Boyd Kimball Dyer

The "Originalist" view of the Bill of Rights taken in Mr. David McKinney's article "The Tyranny of the Courts" in the last issue of the Utah Bar Journal is not historically accurate. A conservative view puts the Bill of Rights in its true historical context as the first step in its interpretation.

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February 7, 2006

The Bible of Elder Law

The Bible of Elder Law
by Just Learned Ham

I was puzzled when Sister Emily Latella asked me to write an article for the special Bar Journal elder law issue. I was, of course, flattered and eagerly agreed - you've always got to be thinking about the resume, and the exposure of a major legal periodical is intoxicating - but it seemed like such an unlikely subject. Missionaries don't typically face many legal issues. I have to confess that, at first, I couldn't think of enough elder law issues to fill an elder law issue. But the more I thought about it, an elder faces tough legal calls every day of the best two years of his life. And there really aren't any good treatises available. Even if there were, the "triple combination" is hefty enough as it is. I think we'll have to settle for some issue-spotting.

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Assisted Living in Utah: A Brief Overview for Consumers

Assisted Living in Utah: A Brief Overview for Consumers
by Mary Jane Ciccarello and Joanne Wetzler

What is Assisted Living?
The term "assisted living" describes a wide range of facilities that provide some type of long-term care to older or disabled persons who can no longer live independently. Assisted Living has become a very popular long-term care option in recent years, and assisted living facilities now provide a greater variety of services than ever before. In the past, assisted living residents generally needed no more than limited assistance with "activities of daily living," (ADLs), such as bathing, grooming, dressing, eating, toileting, and walking. Today, however, assisted living facilities provide or arrange for a significant amount of health care, from medication administration to physical therapy and wound care.

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February 14, 2006

Private Care Management - Professional Assistance for the Care of Elderly and/or Disabled Clients

Private Care Management - Professional Assistance for the Care of Elderly and/or Disabled Clients
by Margy Campbell

The Growing Challenge
The over-80 population is steadily increasing and creating a challenge to lawyers - older clients with problems in their decision-making capacity. It seems that more and more frequently lawyers are faced with the issue of mental capacity of their clients.

Rule 1.14, ABA's Model Rules of Professional Conduct, 2002 Revised, concerning the client with diminished capacity, provides some guidance. The rule triggers protective action when an attorney reasonably believes that a client has diminished capacity, there is a potential for harm to the client, or the client cannot act in his or her own interest.

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Why a Private Conservator?

Why a Private Conservator?
by Becky Allred

He drove an automobile dangerously - and without insurance. Their checking account held in excess of $100,000 and he adopted the habit of handing blank, signed checks to people to fill in as it was to difficult to write it out himself. He decided he no longer wanted to visit the doctor for medication refills and would cause disturbances at the pharmacy when demanding medications inappropriately. His wife was frightened of his driving and would not ride in the car with him but was equally as frightened to take away the car keys. Together they could not fill out an insurance form so they paid full price for prescriptions. When they did decide to cook, they often forgot that there was food in the oven. She needed help and assistance but he, being frugal, thought it would be too expensive. She became malnourished and dehydrated and had to be hospitalized. They both suffered. Clearly there was a need for a conservator and/or a guardian.

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The Road Ahead for the Practice of Elder Law1

The Road Ahead for the Practice of Elder Law1
by Jilenne Gunther and Alan K. Ormsby

I. Introduction
Utah's senior population is booming, and consequently, the demand for elder law attorneys is increasing. This demographic change will impact both private practitioners and Utah's non-profit community. Utah's legal community needs a clear vision of the legal problems seniors face to plan for the future.

To prepare for these challenges and opportunities, Jilenne Gunther from the Borchard Foundation on Law and Aging, and Alan Ormsby from Utah's Division of Aging and Adult Services collaborated on a pioneering study of the legal needs of Utah's aging population. This study has received positive national attention from the Administration on Aging, AARP, the American Bar Association, and the Center for Social Gerontology. Many states, including Iowa, Georgia and Florida, are now using Utah's study as a model to conduct similar studies of their own.

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The Estate Planner / Insurance Salesman and the Fiduciary Duty of Loyalty:

The Estate Planner / Insurance Salesman and the Fiduciary Duty of Loyalty:

Why no amount of disclosure and consent should overcome the breach of the fiduciary duty of loyalty by the attorney who drafts an estate plan and then receives a sales commission for the financial products sold to fund the plan

by Scott M. McCullough

Introduction
Imagine a client comes to your office needing to plan his estate in anticipation of retirement from the family business and you recommend an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) as the vehicle to transfer wealth and minimize taxes. To fund this plan you recommend he purchase a $2,000,000 life insurance policy, and you refer him to an old friend to purchase the policy. The commission on the sale of a $2,000,000 policy is 3% ($60,000). Now imagine that you repeat this for similar clients four times a year, your friend is making $240,000 from your referrals. Why not take a piece of the action? Why not get licensed (or have you spouse get licensed) to sell the insurance and keep those commissions for yourself?

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Update on End-of-Life Issues in Utah

Update on End-of-Life Issues in Utah
by Maureen Henry

Utahns have faced two cases in the last six years that have shaken and informed their views of end-of-life issues. The local case against psychiatrist Robert Weitzel led to news coverage that appeared to equate the use of morphine with murder - a problematic message for patients and physicians alike. Weitzel was charged with murdering five elderly patients under his care in a geriatric psychiatric ward in a Davis County hospital. Although he was ultimately acquitted of the charges in the second of two trials, the case raised concerns that it had become impossible for physicians to walk the line between quality pain management and the threat of charges of murder or malpractice.

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April 17, 2006

A Guide to the Administrative Safeguards of HIPAA's Security Rule

A Guide to the Administrative Safeguards of HIPAA's Security Rule

by Michael P. Barry

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") was originally signed into law in 1996. To implement HIPAA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") published the "Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information" (the "Privacy Rule")and the "ecurity Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information"(the "Security Rule"). See 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164, Subparts A, C, and E. Both the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule include important compliance deadlines for entities subject to HIPAA.

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April 24, 2006

Finding a Solution to the Problem With Finders in Utah

Finding a Solution to the Problem With Finders in Utah

by Brad R. Jacobsen and Olympia Z. Fay

A significant issue facing attorneys and their clients in Utah is the use of unregistered securities brokers by small businesses and start-up companies to raise investment capital. The unregistered securities brokers are commonly referred to as "finders," however, other titles exist to describe these individuals, including, unlicensed broker-dealers, intermediaries, private placement brokers, merchant bankers, investment bankers, financial public relations advisors and business consultants.1 Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, defines a finder as "an intermediary who contracts to find, introduce and bring together parties to a business opportunity, leaving ultimate negotiations and consummation of business transactions to the principals." For convenience of reference throughout this Article, these unregistered securities brokers will be referred to as "finders." Finders usually charge a transaction fee based on the amount of capital which the finders are responsible for bringing to the company. This type of compensation is commonly referred to as a "finders fee" and is usually paid in either securities or in cash (or a combination of both) as a percentage of the money raised (generally around 5-10%).

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SPYWARE: Living in a Cyber-Fishbowl

SPYWARE: Living in a Cyber-Fishbowl

by Polly Samuels McLean and Michelle M. Young

One of the most potent and pervasive types of cybercrime is commonly known as spyware. Spyware, a general term used for software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising, collecting and transmitting personal information, or changing a computer's configuration without the owner's knowledge or permission, invades consumers' privacy, inundates users with pop-up windows, slows computers down, and causes computers to crash.

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Phishing and Pharming and Trojans - Oh My!

Phishing and Pharming and Trojans - Oh My!

by Polly Samuels McLean and Michelle M. Young

"DEAR SIR/MADAM: I REPRESENT THE RECENTLY DEPOSED MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE FOR NODAMBIZIA, WHO HAS EMBEZZLED 30 MILLION DOLLARS FROM HIS STARVING COUNTRYMEN AND NOW NEEDS TO GET IT OUT OF THE COUNTRY. . ."

"Dear Client of US Bank: As the Technical service of bank have been currently updating the software, we kindly ask you to follow the reference given below to confirm your data, otherwise your access to the system may be blocked."

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April 25, 2006

The First 50: "Celebrating Diversity in the Law"

The First 50: "Celebrating Diversity in the Law"

by Professor Robert L. Flores & Karthik Nadesan

On October 15, 2005, the Utah Minority Bar Association hosted a gala celebration honoring the First 50 minority lawyers admitted to the Utah State Bar. Reaching 50 minority lawyers in the state was an important milestone in the Bar's history. Following are two perspectives on reaching that milestone - one from a lawyer who arrived on the legal scene shortly after the final members of the First 50 entered practice in 1980, and one from a lawyer who entered practice not long ago.

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