� Recognized for legal assistance to the poor, outstanding leadership
in the legal profession and 50 years of membership in the association �
HARRISBURG (June 1, 2004) � The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) recently presented Special Achievement, Pro Bono, President�s and Fifty-Year Member awards to 114 Pennsylvania lawyers for their legal assistance to the poor, outstanding leadership in the legal profession and 50 years of membership in the association. The awards were presented during the association�s annual meeting May 13-15 in Hershey.
The PBA Special Achievement awards recognize those lawyers who have donated resources and time to the improvement of the association and the legal profession. The PBA Pro Bono awards are presented to lawyers who have committed themselves to the cause of pro bono. Through legal services offices, local bar associations and community organizations, these lawyers work to provide free legal services to the poor. The PBA President�s Awards are bestowed at the discretion of the president to recognize outstanding service during the president�s term in office. The PBA Fifty-Year Member awards are presented to lawyers who have been members of the association for 50 years.
The award winners are as follows:
Allegheny County
Walter J. Blenko Jr., 50-year Member Award
Buchanan Ingersoll PC, Pro Bono Award
Francis E. Corbett, Pro Bono Award � for providing pro bono legal services to clients of Neighborhood Legal Services Association (NLSA). He assumed the responsibility of recruiting and scheduling consumer law attorneys for NLSA's Debt Advice clinics, which assist 20 to 24 clients each month.
Maria Greco Danaher, Pro Bono Award � for being a long-time volunteer in Neighborhood Legal Services� Protection From Abuse Referral Program. She personally accepted 27 cases last year and also organized a team of associates from her law firm that handled 91 cases.
Thomas J. Dempsey, 50-year Member Award
Daniel B. Dixon, 50-year Member Award
David B. Fawcett Jr., 50-year Member Award
Nora Barry Fischer, Special Achievement Award � for her work as tri-chair of the PBA Health Care Task Force, which was formed to address the serious issues surrounding the current health care crisis in Pennsylvania.
Howard K. Hilner, 50-year Member Award
Carrie Matesevac, Special Achievement Award � for her work on the 2003 annual Women in the Profession Retreat, which featured the �Make a Difference Day� project and �Cleaning Closets for a Cause� program.
C. Bryson Schreiner, 50-year Member Award
W. Edward Sell, 50-year Member Award
Jay Silberblatt, Special Achievement Award � for his work on behalf of the PBA Professional Liability Committee on the creation of the CD-Rom and handout materials used for the current county bar malpractice avoidance programs.
Arthur E. Uber Jr., 50-year Member Award
Charles H. Wolfe Jr., 50-year Member Award
Beaver County
E. Earl Autenreith Jr., 50-year Member Award
Hilary Andrew Kinal, Pro Bono Award � for his work with Neighborhood Legal Services (NLSA) and the Beaver County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee.
Berks County
Richard A. Bausher, 50-year Member Award
Darlington Hoopes Jr., 50-year Member Award
Judge Calvin E. Smith, 50-year Member Award
Elaine T. Stanko, Pro Bono Award � for her pro bono work in the area of entitlement to health care benefits and home schooling by handling. During 2002-03, Stanko handled a difficult case involving a child trying to receive medical treatment for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Bradford County
John J. Griffin, 50-year Member Award
Bucks County
Kristine A. Michael, Pro Bono Award � for her pro bono work in the area of family law, specializing in custody and protection from abuse.
John H. Wood Jr., 50-year Member Award
Butler County
Marion Laffey-Ferry, Pro Bono Award � for her work with Neighborhood Legal Services Association�s reduced fee program and for continuing her representation of the clients when the reduced fee retainer expires. Last year, she provided 68 hours of representation for a reduced fee and then went on to provide 30 additional hours of pro bono services in 29 cases.
Cambria County
John J. Bagnato, Special Achievement Award � for his work as tri-chair of the PBA Health Care Task Force, which was formed to address the serious issues surrounding the current health care crisis in Pennsylvania.
Donald C. Nokes Jr., Pro Bono Award � for his pro bono work in Cambria County and for representing individuals in court who do not qualify for free legal services from the local legal service organization.
Centre County
Donald Lee, Pro Bono Award � for his pro bono work in Centre County and for working with clients in the areas of wills and estates.
Chester County
Marion Kallfelz Rechsteiner, Pro Bono Award � for her pro bono work in Chester County and for encouraging other senior lawyers to donate their time for pro bono cases.
Anthony Summa, Pro Bono Award � for her pro bono work in a broad range of practice areas.
Timothy Trott, Pro Bono Award � for his work with the Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania�s Pro Bono Program.
Clearfield County
Donald R. Mikesell, 50-year Member Award
Clinton County
Frank S. Miceli, Pro Bono Award � for his ten years of work with the Clinton County legal services program.
Cumberland County
Robert Graci, Special Achievement Award � for his service as co-chair of the newly-created PBA Post Trial and Appellate Practice Committee.
Kimberly Gray, Special Achievement Award � for her response in marshalling the PBA Health Care Law Committee to deliver a �HIPAA Resource Guide.�
Charles Shields III, Special Achievement Award � for his six years of service on the PBA Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee.
Dauphin County
Heath L. Allen, 50-year Member Award
Karen Balaban, Special Achievement Award � for her service as tri-chair of the PBA Public Relations Task Force, which was charged with examining the issue of lawyer image in Pennsylvania and finding ways to educate the public about the important role of lawyers in society.
Sandy Ballard, Pro Bono Award
Richard W. Cleckner, 50-year Member Award
James W. Evans, 50-year Member Award
Carmen Santa Maria, Special Achievement Award � for his outstanding service as chair of the Intellectual Property Section.
Dorothy Mott, Pro Bono Award � for her pro bono work with MidPenn Legal Services and through her law firm.
John A. Roe, 50-year Member Award
Mark T. Silliker, Pro Bono Award � for his pro bono work with the Dauphin County Bar Association and its monthly Pro Se Custody clinics.
Delaware County
John Butterworth, 50-year Member Award
F. D. Hennessy Jr., Pro Bono Award � for his work with the Pro Bono Project of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania - Delaware County Division.
Joseph Neff Ewing Jr., 50-year Member Award
Frederick J. Olsson, 50-year Member Award
Dean Mark A. Sargent, Pro Bono Award
Francis A. Scanlan, 50-year Member Award
Erie County
David H. Lund, 50-year Member Award
James H. Richardson Jr., Pro Bono Award � for his work with the Legal Aid Volunteer Attorneys since the program was founded in 1982.
Douglas D. Rozelle, 50-year Member Award
Huntingdon County
Robert M. Covell, Pro Bono Award � for his work with MidPenn Legal Services and representing individuals in bankruptcy, custody and divorce cases.
Lackawanna County
Ralph P. Carey, 50-year Member Award
Michael J. Donohue, Pro Bono Award � for his work with Lackawanna Pro Bono, Inc. in the area of landlord-tenant.
Judge Morey M. Myers, 50-year Member Award
Christopher Osborne, Pro Bono Award
Powell Law Firm, Pro Bono Award � for having 100-percent pro bono participation by all five of its attorneys during 2003. Each attorney accepted at least one new case from Lackawanna Pro Bono, Inc.
Lancaster County
John T. Barber, 50-year Member Award
Michael J. Rostolsky, Pro Bono Award � for his pro bono work through the Lancaster Bar Association�s Volunteer Attorney Program. In 2003, he handled custody, support and protection from abuse cases.
Lawrence County
Donald J. Nicolls, 50-year Member Award
Lehigh County
Edward M. Nagel, 50-year Member Award
James L. Weirbach, 50-year Member Award
Lycoming County
John P. Campana, 50-year Member Award
Montgomery County
Judge Mason Avrigian, Special Achievement Award � for his work as tri-chair of the PBA Health Care Task Force, which was formed to address the serious issues surrounding the current health care crisis in Pennsylvania.
Judge Lawrence A. Brown, 50-year Member Award
David Cohen, 50-year Member Award
Daniel Foster, Pro Bono Award � for his more than 10 years of pro bono work with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Montgomery County Division. In addition, to donating his time, Foster has made significant financial contributions to the program.
Charles A.J. Halpin Jr., 50-year Member Award
Peter Platten, 50-year Member Award
Marc Steinberg, Special Achievement Award � for his service as tri-chair of the PBA Public Relations Task Force, which was charged with examining the issue of lawyer image in Pennsylvania and finding ways to educate the public about the important role of lawyers in society.
Northampton County
Susan Hutnik, Pro Bono Award � for her pro bono work in Northampton County and for her service on the Lehigh Valley Legal Services Board of Directors.
Karl K. LaBarr, 50-year Member Award
Christopher T. Spadoni, Pro Bono Award � for his 11 years of pro bono work with the Lehigh Valley office of North Penn Legal Services
Philadelphia
Daniel Anders, Pro Bono Award � for her pro bono work in the area of discrimination. Over the past five years, Anders has donated over 1,300 hours to needy clients.
Walter L. Bartholomew Jr., 50-year Member Award
Perry S. Bechtle, 50-year Member Award
Marshall A. Bernstein, 50-year Member Award
Marc Bogutz, Special Achievement Award � for his work on behalf of the PBA Professional Liability Committee on the creation of the CD-Rom and handout materials used for the current county bar malpractice avoidance programs.
Charles Craven, Special Achievement Award � for his service as co-chair of the newly-created PBA Post Trial and Appellate Practice Committee.
Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project, Pro Bono Award
Edward C. German, 50-year Member Award
George T. Guarnieri, 50-year Member Award
Clifford E. Haines, Pro Bono Award
Mervin J. Hartman, 50-year Member Award
Louis E. Levy, 50-year Member Award
Louis Matkoff, 50-year Member Award
Judge Charles P. Mirarchi Jr., 50-year Member Award
Kathy E. Ochroch, Pro Bono Award � for her work as the pro bono coordinator for Blank Rome LLP. Ochroch founded the Blank Rome Child Advocacy Practice Group to assist and support attorneys who have volunteered through the Support Center for Child Advocates, representing abused and neglected children in dependency proceedings in Philadelphia Family Court.
Philadelphia Bar Association�s Delivery of Legal Services Committee, Standing Committee of the Public Interest Section, Pro Bono Award
Arthur R.G. Solmssen, 50-year Member Award
Andrew Susko, Special Achievement Award � for his service as tri-chair of the PBA Public Relations Task Force, which was charged with examining the issue of lawyer image in Pennsylvania and finding ways to educate the public about the important role of lawyers in society.
Somerset County
Nathaniel A. Barbera, 50-year Member Award
William L. Kimmel, 50-year Member Award
Tioga County
Judge Robert M. Kemp, 50-year Member Award
Washington County
Judge Thomas J. Terputac, 50-year Member Award
Westmoreland County
Gay B. Banes, 50-year Member Award
Maureen Kroll, Pro Bono Award � for her work with the Westmoreland Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program. She provides free consultations to approximately 50 clients per year through the Westmoreland Bar Foundation's Custody Program.
Wyoming County
John R. Morgan, 50-year Member Award
York County
Jack Barton, 50-year Member Award
Robert H. Griffith, 50-year Member Award
Wilson H. Oldhouser, 50-year Member Award
Donald T. Puckett, 50-year Member Award
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