Just back from our 28th Law Seminar in New Orleans. Developed in collaboration with CAI's College of Community Lawyers (CCAL), the Law Seminar provides a forum on emerging legal issues for over 320 attorneys, community managers, and other industry leaders. Held this year in New Orleans, the event was also an opportunity to help that city in its continuing recovery from the damage of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. CAI donated a portion of every registration to Habitat for Humanity's Musicians Village housing project.
We were honored to have the opportunity to induct 11 new members into CCAL at this years seminar. New inductees included:
* Joseph J. Cusimano, Esq., Kaman & Cusimano, Cleveland, OH
* Helio De La Torre, Esq., Siegfried, Riveria, Lerner, De La Torre & Sobel, Coral Gables, FL
* Andrew G. Elmore, Esq., Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn, P.C., Glen Allen, VA
* Lynn Krupnik., Esq., Ekmark & Ekmark, L.L.C., Scottsdale, AZ
* Jamie Lyons, Esq., Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco, PC, Atlanta, GA
* P. Thomas Murray, Jr, Esq., Eads, Murray & Pugh, P.C., Indianapolis, IN
* Charles A. Perkins, Jr., Esq., Perkins & Anctil, P.C., North Chelmford, MA
* Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., Richardson & Harman, LLP, Pasadena, CA
* James H. Slaughter, Esq., Forman Rossabi Black, PA, Greensboro, NC
* Wilbert Washington, Esq., Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn, P.C., Fairfax, VA
* Alan P. Young, Esq., Young & Haros, LLC., Stroudsburg, PA
Pictured below are the 2006-2007 CCAL inductees along with CCAL Dean George Nowack and Law Seminar Chair Jeff Van Grack.
The highlight of the event (at least for this non-attorney) was the luncheon presentation by Judge Andrew Napolitano, Fox News' constitutional law expert. The judge addressed the issue of community associations as business entity vs. government actor in the context of the pending Twin Rivers case in New Jersey. His presentation was controversial, though-provoking, relevant, and very entertaining, to say the least. You can imagine his position on the New Jersey Appeals Court legislating new constitutional protections and limitations on private businesses and contracts from the bench.
Special thanks to the CCAL Board of Governors and especially to this years Law Seminar Chair, Jeff Van Grack, for putting together another stellar event.
A quick note on New Orleans for anyone thinking about a trip there. The city was extremely inviting and accommodating to all of our members and guests. The areas of the city typically frequented by tourists, including the French Quarter, Garden District, and Central Business District are fully open for business and effectively back to their pre-storm state. While other areas of the city are still in major recovery mode, substantial visible progress has been made in the past 11 months since my last trip there. We at CAI were proud to do our (albeit small) part in assisting with the city's recovery through our meeting.
