Rizio Law Firm signs on as Platinum sponsor of the February 2018 Joint Inn Meeting

Rizio Law Firm became the first sponsor for the February 21, 2018 Joint meeting of the Inland Empire Inns of Court, hosted by the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court (Riverside).  The Rizio Law Firm - a platinum sponsor - donated $1000 to the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court for this joint meeting.

The attorneys at Rizio Law Firm have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our injured clients. Our case results are matched by very few other personal injury attorneys in the state of California and throughout the nation. That is why Rizio Law Firm is certified by the Trial Lawyers Board of Regents as being in the top 1% of attorneys nationwide on the basis of their case results.

Additional information about Rizio Law Firm may be found at their website:  https://www.riziolawfirm.com/

Thank you for your sponsorship!

December 6, 2017 Meeting

On this date, Team Francis Hopkinson presented on the topic of the First Amendment - Freedom of Speech.

Team Francis Hopkinson is comprised of Judicial Master Irma Asberry, Attorney Master Dorothy McLaughlin, Barrister Jean-Simon Serrano, Barrister Keith Willis, Associate Erica Alfaro, Associate Rabia Chaudry, Associate Goushia Farook, Associate Michelanne Hrubic, and Associate Patricia Mejia.

Team Hopkinson enlightened the audience with a game of JeoPARODY, with Barrister Jean-Simon Serrano portraying host Alex Trebek, complete with salt-and-pepper hair and a moustache that appeared to be falling off.  The five remaining teams squared off in this game in order to win the grand prize of Starbucks Gift Cards.

Congratulations to the winning team!

October 25, 2017 Meeting

On this date, Team Samuel Chase presented on the topic of the First Amendment - Freedom of Religion

Team Samuel Chase is comprised of Judicial Master Kenneth Fernandez, Attorney Master Robyn Lewis, Attorney Master Wendy Seto, Barrister Sylvia Choi, Barrister Marc Steven Colen, Associate Kristine Borgia, Associate Ruthann Elder, Associate Dawn Saenz, and Associate Lauren Strickroth.

Guest speakers Glenn Wenzel and Kristi Smith, Supervising Deputy City Attorney for the City of Riverside, spoke about the history of the cross on Mt. Rubioux and the litigation that threatened it.  The City of Riverside auctioned off the cross and surrounding land (approximately 0.43 acres) and the winning bid of $10,500 was made by Totally Mt. Rubidoux, an alliance of the Mission Inn Foundation, Riverside Land Conservancy and Friends of Mt. Rubidoux.  Totally Mt. Rubidoux raised approximately $300,000 to protect the cross and these proceeds will be used to pay for liability insurance, future maintenance of the property and related costs.

Additional information about this organization can be found here:

http://www.totallymtrubidoux.org/history/

Five Inn Members Installed as Officers of the Riverside County Bar Association

On September 28, 2017, five Inn members were installed as officers of Riverside County Bar Association (RCBA). The installation ceremony took place at the Mission Inn, located in Downtown Riverside.

The five members installed are as follows:

• L. Alexandra Fong, President of RCBA;

• Sophia Choi, Chief Financial Officer of RCBA;

• Nicholas Firetag, Secretary of RCBA;

• Stefanie Field, Director-at-Large of RCBA (1st year);

• Jean-Simon Serrano, Past President.

In addition, two former Inn members (Jeffrey A. Van Wagenen, Jr. and Jack Clarke, Jr.) were installed as officers of RCBA. The Hon. Jacqueline C. Jackson, President of the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court, administered the oath of office to the RCBA Board.

Congratulations to all!

September 27, 2017 Meeting

Our September meeting opened with an Orientation for the seventeen (17) new members of our Inn.  The Inn's President, the Honorable Jacqueline Jackson, addressed the members.

Judge Jackson announced the Inn's two newest Emeritus members:  The Honorable Carol Codrington, Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeals, Fourth District, Division Two and The Honorable Virginia A. Phillips, Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  Congratulations Your Honors!

Judge Jackson announced the winner for Best Team Presentation for the 2016-2017 year.  Congratulations Team Codrington, which consisted of Judicial Master Codrington, Attorney Master Abram Feuerstein, Attorney Master Ted Stream, Barrister Sophia Choi, Barrister Melissa Cushman, Barrister Jean-Simon Serrano, Associate Tara Hanson, Associate Joshlyn Pulliam, and Law Student Melissa Wilner.

Judge Jackson announced the recipient of the Honorable Doug Weathers Distinguished Honoree Award.  Former Inn Attorney Master John Porter of the San Bernardino office of Lewis, Brisbois, Bigaard & Smith LLP was awarded this great honor for the 2017-2018 year.

The Honorable Sharon Waters addressed the members, letting them know the story of how the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court was founded in 1992.

Finally, teams drew their meeting dates and topics for the upcoming year.

Honorable Jacqueline C. Jackson and John M. Porter, 2017-2018 Douglas E. Weathers Distinguished Honoree

John M. Porter, 2017-2018 Douglas E. Weathers Distinguished Honoree

May 24, 2017 Meeting

Our final meeting of the year was packed with activity.  Inn President, Jeremy Hansen presented the following awards:

Judge Elwood Rich Award went to Justice Thomas Hollenhorst

The Terry Bridges Award went to John Michels

The Louis Biddle Book Award went to Joshlyn Pulliam

In addition to all the awards, Team Ottolia closed out the year with a presentation of the Andrea Yates Case.  The presentation covered post-partum depression and insanity.  This portion featured a discussion with lawyer,  PsyD, and LMFT, Jim Husen.  Then the discussion moved to ethics and the false testimony of an expert witness. 

April 26, 2017 Meeting

Our April meeting featured a presentation of the People v. Brock Turner case.  The famous Stanford Rape Case was addressed in terms of creating uniformity in sentencing, bias, and victim rights.  Team Jackson brought in experts to engage the Inn in a deep discussion of this headline grabbing case. 

March 2017 Meeting

Our March meeting discussed the MacDonald's hot coffee case.  The discussion centered around the true facts of the case, the media and pubic's interpretation of the case, and the impact on similar types of litigation in the future.

January 25, 2017 Meeting

Team Codrington gave a presentation on copyright infringement.  The presentation focused on 3 prominent cases; Thicke, Williams v. Estate of Marvin Gaye, Skidmore v. Plant, Harrington v. Sheeran.  Thicke, Williams involved the song Blurred Lines which has similarities to Gaye's Got to Give it Up.  Skidmore sued the Band Led Zepplin over similarities between Taurus and Stairway to Heaven.  Harrington sued Sheeran over similarities between Amazing and Sheeran's Photograph.

December 7, 2016 Meeting

Our December meeting featured a presentation from Team Asberry detailing the case of Bollea (Hulk Hogan) v. Gawker Media.  This case involved Gawker media releasing an explicit "sex tape" of Bollea and the wife of a friend.  Bollea's lawsuit was supported by Billionaire Peter Thiel.  Thiel had been the subject of earlier news from Gawker and he supported the suit because of his belief that Gawker ruins people's lives for no reason.  The suit ended up bankrupting Gawker.  The presentation highlighted several interesting issues in right of privacy, ethics, and sponsored litigation.  Team Asberry members included Judge Irma Asberry, Dorothy McLaughlin, John Michels, Wendi Seto, Dani Mouri, Trent Packer, Aaron Chandler, Kelly Moran, and Fredrick Whitley.

October 26, 2016 Meeting

Our October began on a bittersweet note.  The Inn presented Judge David T. Bristow with the Judge Douglas Weathers Award.  Judge Weathers passed away earlier in the week and the Inn had a moment of silence to honor his passing. 

The meeting featured Team Moyer's presentation of the Menendez Brothers trial.  The presentation highlighted the patient-psychotherapist privilege and special master search warrants.  

2015-2016 Inn of Court Member Satisfaction Survey

If you were a member of the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court for Program Year 2015-2016, please complete the Member Satisfaction Survey via the link provided below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSda-Ckr8xEAe9dws_jwT_eIVZ12FNrWGPfPmFO73uj_E_--Ww/viewform

Our Orientation Meeting

The Inn held its first meeting of the season on September 28, 2016 at Cafe Sevilla.  New members received an orientation from President Jeremy Hanson.  We welcomed two new Judicial Masters.  Judge Irma Asberry and Judge Daniel Ottolia.  

The Inn announced last year's winner for best team presentation.  Team Lucky received the award for their Real v. Reel presentations based upon The Simpson's portrayal of attorneys.  Team Lucky is comprised of  Jackson Lucky IV (Judicial Master),  Abram Feuerstein (Attorney Master), Eric Keen (Attorney Master), Wendy Seto (Attorney Master), Melissa Cushman (Barrister), L. Alexandra Fong (Barrister), Kristine Borgia (Associate),  Aaron Chandler (Associate), Trent Packer (Associate), and Carolina Duvanced (Law Student).

The Inn honored two individuals with The Douglas Weathers Distinguished Honoree Award.  The Honorable David Bristow (Magistrate Judge, USDC) and attorney Jack Clarke (Best Best & Krieger LLP) will bring their wealth of knowledge to the Inn.  Inn members divided into their teams for the year.  Teams received their presentation dates and topics, based upon our theme "Ripped from the Headlines."  Additional details may be found in the "About" tab and presentation dates may be found in our Calendar.

The highlight of the evening came from Terry Bridges.  Terry graced us with his presence and described the history of the Deegan Inn.  Terry highlighted how the Inn created a renewed level of professionalism and civility within the bar.