ICBA honors attorneys at 117th annual dinner

By Roberta M. Gubbins Legal News Members of the Ingham County Bar Association (ICBA), jurists, friends and family came together at the Country Club of Lansing on the evening of November 2nd to recognize and honor outstanding attorneys in the local legal community. Scott Mandel, ICBA opened the ceremony recognizing the many distinguished jurists, legislators and other community leaders attending the event. Presenting the past presidents plaque to Pat Gallagher, Mandel said "His (Gallagher's) leadership has been tremendous for our association. For all that Pat has done, it is my considerable honor to recognize him as the past president." Gallagher thanked the ICBA Board for its support as the organization transitioned to a new phase. Melissa Keener, current president of the ICBA Young Lawyer's section presented the past presidents plaque to Ross Bower, president of 2010-11, who started the lawyer mentoring program. Bower thanked the board and members of the section for donating their time to make the programs a success. Marlaine Teahan and Mary Schrauben, co-chairs of the Probate and Trust Law Section, presented the Distinguished Service Award to Ryan Wilson for his past six years of service as co-chair of the section. Wilson, also a Captain in the Navy Reserve JAG corps was not present since he is currently on active duty in Washington, DC. Teahan accepted the award for him. Schrauben presented the Distinguished Service award to Micki Pasteur, co-chair with Wilson. Pasteur, accepting the award, said "I see section work as where the rubber meets the road. It is pleasure to have monthly meetings where you get together with your colleagues to build relationships that carry over into your daily practice." She thanked all for the honor. Mandel introduced Frank Reynolds who presented the first of two Liberty Bell Award recipients. The award, which recognizes outstanding service performed by a non-lawyer citizen who has given time and energy to strengthen the effectiveness of the American system of justice, has not been given out in a number of years. "Freedom demands sacrifice and requires leadership," said Frank Reynolds, presenting the award to co-recipient, Heather Spielmaker who provided the leadership when she organized Service to Soldiers, the Legal Assistance Referral Program sponsored by Cooley Law School in April 2007 to provide free legal assistance to Michigan military personnel who are deploying to, serving in, or returning from combat areas. "I am very honored to receive the award," said Spielmaker. "I want to remind everyone that I am one of 400 who helped make the program successful. We have 180 attorneys throughout the state providing service and we have over 200 law students eager to drive to Camp Grayling, be there at 8am and at their own expense to create wills and powers of attorney." Spielmaker noted that administrative staff at Cooley assisted and donations from organizations such as the Ingham County Bar Foundation, State Bar of Michigan and continued support of Cooley Law School helped make the program possible. Lt. Col. John Wojcik presented to Sgt. Major David L. Dunckel, co-recipient. Dunckel was honored for his participation in the Ingham County Veteran's Court at 54B District Court under the guidance of Judge David Jordan. Dunckel, a recipient of numerous state, federal and international awards has volunteered "his time to help the veteran criminal defendants work their way through the system to help with their mental, social and general problems." Sgt. Major Dunckel, who received a standing ovation, thanked the Ingham County Bar, his father, a veteran of World War II who was present and Judge Jordan saying "it takes the right guy in the right place with the right sense of justice, kindness, fairness and love for our veterans that made this whole thing (Veteran's Court) possible. It has made a huge impact on these veterans." The Thomas E. Brennan Sr. Lifetime Achievement was presented to Justice Michael F. Cavanagh. The Award is given to lawyers who have made a significant and long standing contribution to the advancement or improvement of the justice system and the betterment of the legal profession in the State of Michigan and have also attained professional excellence as demonstrated by accomplishments in the law or service to the profession during his or her career. The Lifetime Achievement Award may be given in any one year. However, the award is given only in those years when it is determined that an exceptionally worthy recipient(s) has been nominated. Thomas Brennan, Jr. presented the award to Justice Michael F. Cavanagh, recognized for his many years of service to the legal profession and his community. He was elected judge of 54A District Court in 1972 and elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 1975 where he was the youngest person ever elected to that court; in 1982 he was elected to state Supreme Court and has served on that court since that time. His current term expires in January, 2015. Justice Cavanagh was instrumental in the planning, design, construction and eventual completion of the Michigan Hall of Justice. He has served as Supreme Court Liaison, Michigan Indian Tribal Courts/Michigan State Courts since 1990, and has attended many national Indian Law conferences and participated in Federal Bar Association Tribal Court symposiums. "Justice Cavanagh gave and never counted the cost," said Brennan. "I appreciate the Ingham County Bar Association's long standing dedication to the fair, equitable and speedy administration of justice," said Justice Cavanagh accepting the award. "And it is because I appreciate those efforts that I am also honored to accept this award tonight. Thomas Brennan Sr. set a very high bar and it is truly gratifying to me that this bar association deems that I have followed somewhat in his direction." Larry Nolan presented the Theodore W. Swift Civility Award to Shauna L. Dunnings. The Theodore W. Swift Civility Award is presented to a member of the Ingham County Bar Association who has distinguished himself or herself by manifesting civility in his or her relations with the Bench, Bar, clients, and the public, while adhering to and advancing the highest principals and traditions of the legal profession. The award recognizes skill and success in practicing one's profession while at the same time exhibiting that civility and collegiality may co-exist and contribute to overall and long-term success. "When I received the message from Scott (Mandel) that I had received the award, I was overwhelmed with emotion," said Dunnings, Ingham County Friend of the Court, accepting the award. "I am so honored to receive this award. It is privilege." Robert Dietzel presented the Camille S. Abood Distinguished Volunteer Award to Michael Brennan Farrell. "I could come up with a hundred examples of Mike's generosity. He exemplifies what volunteerism is and does not like the spotlight." Scott Mandel accepted the award for Farrell who could not be present. "True to form," said Mandel, "Mike sent me an e-mail giving strict instructions to give this acceptance speech--'Thank you.'" The Camille S. Abood Distinguished Volunteer Award is presented to a member of the Ingham County Bar Association who has distinguished himself or herself by making voluntary contributions of time and talent for the benefit of others. Karen Bush Schneider received the Leo A. Farhat award. James A White presented the award. "Karen Bush Schneider, a Lansing native, is a zealous and determined advocate and a tireless servant to the Bar Association and our community. She is one of the few attorneys who is able to represent both sides of a labor and management equation." He noted that she has served as an arbitrator, takes time to teach law students at Cooley Law School and mentors new lawyers. Schneider thanked all the members of the with whom she has practiced law, saying that the "award is a shared award. Practicing law is a team sport and the team is made up of attorneys and legal assistants. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart." The Leo A. Farhat Outstanding Attorney Award is presented to a member of the Ingham County Bar Association who manifests exemplary character, integrity, judgment and legal scholarship while adhering to and advancing the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession. Special consideration is given to those members who have made an extraordinary commitment to bench and/or bar activities at the local, state, or national levels Mandel concluded the ceremonies congratulating the winners and thanking all the members of the Board who worked so hard on the ceremony. Sponsors for the event included: Raymond James Financial Services, PM Environmental, Inc.' The Gallagher Law Firm, Gallagher & Associates CPAs, Sinus, Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre, Law Offices of Catherine Groll, Ingham County Legal News, Hackney, Grover, Hoover & Bean, PLC, Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, Gerald B. Mannausa, PLC, Fraser, Trebilcock, Davis & Dunlap, Country Club of Lansing, Hon. Amy Ronayne Krause, Thrun Law Firm and White, Schneider, Yound & Chiodini, PC. Published: Thu, Nov 10, 2011

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