Eastern District of Michigan Chapter

www.fbamich.org

A Message from the Chapter President

For more than 40 years, the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the FBA has served the 34 counties which form the eastern half of Michigan's lower peninsula. Its area extends beyond metropolitan Detroit, and includes Ann Arbor, Flint, Bay City and Port Huron (each of which has federal court offices), as well as Saginaw, Jackson, Monroe, and a host of other population centers, large and small, urban and rural. The Eastern District of Michigan includes (according to the 2000 census) 6,670,858 people — about 2/3 of the state's population.

Our chapter serves its members and our federal bench in a variety of ways. Specifically, it promotes professionalism within the Eastern District by offering its members continuing legal education, practical information, and opportunities to help advance the sound administration of justice. Our chapter also promotes collegiality by providing forums for our members and others to get together professionally and socially, by promoting civility in the practice of law within this district, and by commemorating, recognizing and celebrating those whose lives serve as a source of inspiration.

In addition to serving our members, we look for reasonable, achievable opportunities to help chart the FBA's course at a national level as well as to be an active, responsible citizen in our extensive community. Our chapter is recognized nationally as one of the largest and most active within the FBA.

Given the variety of services our organization provides and our limited resources and staffing, we rely upon volunteerism from the active and committed members of the bench and bar who comprise our leadership at the officer, board, and committee levels. Currently, the chapter has six officers (president, president-elect, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and program chair), each of which serves a one-year term in each respective office. There are fifteen members of an executive board, each of whom serve a three-year, staggered, term. The chapter has 15 active practice and event committees and two foundations that are involved in fulfilling the chapter's mission.

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Calendar of Events

April 10, 2008
Pro Bono Seminar: The Prisoner Civil Rights Case
Sponsored by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the FBA
For a full description of events, please visit www.fbamich.org.
Time: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Location: Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, 231 Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, Mich., Room 245
Cost: There is no charge. Continental breakfast and lunch provided.
Scholarships available to law students and others in special circumstances.
Registration: Please register by April 7 to Ann Malayang at (313) 234-5165 or ann_mayalang@mied.uscourts.gov or at www.fbamich.org.

April 17, 2008
Bench/Bar Conference
Presented by the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the FBA
Featuring Helen Thomas, former dean of the White House Press Corps www.helenthomas.org and Clarence Darrow–a dramatic presentation by Periaktos www.periaktos.com
Time: 11:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Location: The Dearborn Inn
Cost: Early Bird Pricing Until March 13: $95 for FBA members, $110 for nonmembers
After March 13: $110 for FBA members, $125 for nonmembers
Scholarships available to law students and others in special circumstances.
Registration: For further information, please contact Eastern District of Michgan Chapter President Brian Figot
Register Online
Downloadable registration form

April 23, 2008
Careers in Justice
On April 23, we are launching the "Careers in Justice" program with a presentation to the children at Pepper Elementary School in Oak Park. Through this program, we will seek to introduce, through panel presentations, the wide range of professions and professionals in law and law-related fields.

If you would like to share the story of your journey or its destination with youngsters, please contact Social Justice co-chairs Michael Lee or Miriam Siefer. Michael can be reached at (248) 350-5900 or mlee@leeandcorrell.com. Miriam can be reached at (313) 967-5868 or miriam_siefer@fd.org.

May 1, 2008
Law Day at the Courthouse: "Ask the Lawyers"
Your help is needed
Please join us on Law Day, Tuesday, May 1, 2008 for our "Ask the Lawyers" program, in conjunction with the Federal District Court's Annual Law Day Celebration. Attorneys are needed from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 to meet with pro se litigants and others with legal questions to provide answers, brief advice, and possible referrals, if appropriate.

If you are able to assist, please respond to mcostello@dykema.com Include your name and phone no., and select your area(s) of expertise from the following list:

          __labor and employment law
         __general commercial litigation
         __bankruptcy
         __personal injury litigation
         __social security claims
         __consumer law
         __civil rights law
         __ other (specify)   [                               ]

Please spread the word, so that we will have a good turnout on May 1.
Thanks.
Patrice Arend and Peggy Costello
Pro Bono Committee Co-Chairs

Recent Events

April 20, 2007
NO, You Can’t Just Flush It Down the Sewer: Enforcement of the Laws That Protect Our Waters
Time: Noon– 1:30 p.m.
Location: Dykema, 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Mich.
Cost: members: $25; nonmembers $30. Includes Lunch
Registration: RSVP to Brian Figot, (248) 358-0870 ext. 11 or register online at www.fbamich.org

April 24, 2007
Media Relations in High-Profile Cases
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Location: Room 115, federal courthouse
Speakers: Tom Cranmer of Miller Canfield, Sam Damren of Dykema, and Matt Friedman of the Tanner Friedman media relations firm
Contact: Tom Schehr, (313) 568-6659, tschehr@dykema.com

April 26, 2007
Leonard R. Gilman Award Luncheon
Speaker: Justice Maura D. Corrigan, Michigan Supreme Court
Award Recipient: Jim Thomas
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Gem Theater
Registration: Contact Laurie J. Michelson, michelso@butzel.com or register online at www.fbamich.org

April 30, 2007
Selden Society Brown Bag Lunch
Speaker: Professor Brian Simpson, University of Michigan Law School
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Levin Courthouse
Bring your sandwich. Dessert provided.
Registration: Contact: Stephanie Mizkowski, stephanie_miszkowski@mied.uscourts.gov. Limited to the first 50 RSVPs.

May 1, 2007
Open House At The Levin Courthouse
Time: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Contact: Dona Tracey, (313) 471-3644, dona.tracey@va.gov

May 30, 2007
Pro Bono Seminar: Nuts and Bolts of the Employment Case*
Time: 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Location: Levin Courthouse
Lunch provided.
Registration: Contact: Charlene Gill (313) 234-5165 Charlene_Gill@mied.uscourts.gov.

June 7, 2007
28th Annual Dinner and Meeting
Location: Detroit Athletic Club
Time: Cocktails 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:45 p.m.
Entertainment: A (Habeas) Chorus Line
Contact: Cam Evans, (313) 465-7370, cje@honigman.com

June 27, 2007
An Early Evening Joint Program
With The Brighton Bar Association and Diane Nelson, Legal Tech Manager, Bienenstock Court Reporting & Video
Learn about the upcoming trend in trial preparation: "show & tell"
Location: Ciao Amici, 217 W. Main, Brighton
Time: 6–8 p.m.
Cost: First 10 FBA members to register will have their fee refunded at the door! Brighton Bar Assoc. and FBA members = $10; Non-members = $20; Walk-ins add $5 to applicable rate. A cash bar will be available.
Registration: Register online, or mail name, address, email, and check to: FBA: Brighton Bar Event, 30100 Telegraph Rd, Ste 428, Bingham Farms, MI 48025

September 11, 2007
Annual Luncheon Program Featuring Chief Judge Bernard A. Friedman
Time: Reception, 11:30 a.m.; Luncheon, 12:00 p.m.
Location: TBA
Cost: Members, $25.00; Non-members, $30.00
Contact: Michael Riordan, (313) 226-9602 or fbamich@fbamich.org

December 4-5, 2007
31st Annual New Lawyers' Seminar (for national FBA members)
Day one—"Federal Day", with intensive focus on the practicalities of federal practice
Day two—"State Day", discussing the vagarities of the tri-county court systems
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: Seminar Center, Levin Courthouse, downtown Detroit
Cost: Two-day seminar, reception, luncheon, and seminar materials all provided for $65.00/members of the national FBA, $95.00/non-members
Tentative seminar agenda
Registration: Register online at www.fbamich.org, or print form at www.fbamich.org and mail with check payable to Federal Bar Association to: New Lawyers' Seminar, 30100 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 428, Bingham Farms, MI 48025
Contact: Brian D. Figot, (248) 593-5928, fbamich@fbamich.org

December 4, 2007
Holiday Party
Celebrating 50 years since the founding of othe Eastern District of Michigan Chapter!
Time: 5–8 p.m.
Location: The Detroit Club, 712 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members
Hor D'oeuvres, Cash Bar, Complimentary Valet Parking, Business Attire
Registration: Register online at www.fbamich.org or mail your check, payable to FBA Eastern District of Michigan, to:
Brian Figot, Executive Director
30100 Telegraph Road, Suite 428
Bingham Farms, MI 48025
Questions: Contact Sandy Bera at (248) 267-3345 or bera@millercanfield.com

January 22, 2008
Book Club Meeting
Presented by the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the FBA
Time: Noon
Location: Levin Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette, Detroit, MI 48226, Judges' Conference Center, Room 722
Moderator: C.J. Peteres, Assoc. Law Professor, Wayne State University
Cost: No charge for FBA members, $5 per session to non-members. Lunch will be offered for $10 or bring your own.
Registration: For more information

January 25, 2008
Worksite Enforcement Representing Employers
Presented by the Immigration Law Section of the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the FBA
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Atheneum Suite Ballroom, Greektown
Cost: $40 for members, $50 for non-members, $15 for students
Registration: For more information or to register online

February 26, 2008
Wade Hampton McCree Jr. Award Luncheon
Presented by the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the FBA
Honoree: Jack Kresnak; Keynote Speaker: Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton
Time: Noon
Location: Atheneum Hotel
Cost: FBA members, $25; Nonmembers, $30
Registration: For more information