Bucks Writs - Fall 2020 - 2

contents
FALL 2020

CONTACT INFO
President
Daniel M. Keane
Vice President/President Elect
Sean M. Gresh
Secretary
Julie D. Goldstein

LASP's Bristol office coordinates all-out
eviction prevention effort in Bucks County
Bristol Managing Attorney Joshua
Goldblum estimates that LASP has
represented more than 100 Bucks
County renters at eviction hearings
since Gov. Wolf's moratorium ended
Aug. 31, and the cases are continuing
to come in. LASP's entire Bristol office,
together with LASP CARES Attorney
Fellows, LASP interns and community
volunteers, have been engaged in the
effort since landlord-tenant hearings
resumed in September.
Goldblum observed that the eviction
crisis is going to worsen in Bucks
County and beyond. He pointed to the
Oct. 22 Spotlight PA story by Charlotte
Keith. The story, which can be found at
the Spotlight PA website, states, " While
moratoriums delay eviction filings,
relief programs directly provide aid to
help keep tenants in their homes. An
estimated 15% of Pennsylvania renters
will face eviction in January 2021,
according to a study of census data

Past Presidents' Representative
Joanne M. Murray
Writs Editor
Jason R. Weiss
Writs Committee
Susan Dardes
Scott I. Fegley
Scott L. Feldman
Nancy Larkin Taylor
Dianne C. Magee
Theresa Martin Golding
Paul Perlstein
Christopher J. Serpico
David J. Truelove

Bristol Managing Attorney Joshua Goldblum estimates that
LASP has represented more than 100 Bucks County renters at

LASP CARES Attorney Fellows Devyne Byrd (left), Maddie McCleary (center), and
Michael Chiacchio (right).
commissioned by the National Council
of State Housing Agencies. "

is the main contact for Bucks County
residents who need rental assistance.

In addition to providing free legal
representation at hearings, LASP's effort
also includes making sure that clients
know about rental assistance funding
available in Bucks County. The goal
is to keep clients in their apartments
once the Centers for Disease Control
moratorium ends Dec. 31. Bucks
County Housing Link (800-810-4434)

Michael Chiacchio and Kate Roth,
both CARES Attorney Fellows based
in Bristol, have helped to coordinate
LASP's county-wide effort, which is
separate from the pro bono initiative in
the Morrisville magisterial district court.

.......................................................................................... Page 8

If you have questions or require
assistance, do not wait to contact Bucks
County Housing Link. 

LASP'S DOYLESTOWN OFFICE HAS MOVED!
LASP's Doylestown
office moved to two
new locations this
fall. On September 18,
2020, staff members
who handle Protection
from Abuse (PFA)
matters moved to
224 N. Main Street in
Doylestown. On October
19, 2020, other
staff
8
based in Doylestown
moved to the fourth
floor of The Almshouse,
1260 Almshouse Road
in Doylestown. LASP's
Almshouse office
will handle custody,
children and youth, and
elder law cases.

Treasurer
Lawrence R. Sheetz, Jr.
Immediate Past President
Robert T. Repko

LASP's Bristol office coordinates all-out
eviction prevention effort

feature

CLE
Marathon
Day

LASP's Almshouse Office, which opened Oct. 19, handles mainly
custody, children and youth, and elder law matters.
The address is 1260 Almshouse Road, Doylestown, on the fourth floor.

To speak to a staff
member in either
Doylestown location,
you still can call
215-340-1818.
LASP offices are
currently closed to
the public due to
COVID-19, but all LASP
staff
are working.
As part of the celebration of the 12th National Pro
Bono

Mardi Busanus, longtime LASP volunteer, prepares the new Protection from
Abuse (PFA) office at 224 N. Main St., Doylestown. Moving day was Sept. 18.

Celebrating Pro Bono Service
in Bucks County!

Week, Bucks County lawyer Ronald J. Smolow of Newtown
LASP also has a
was recognized with a 2020 PBA Pro Bono Award on Oct.
Bucks County office
27 for his support of low-income tenants facing eviction.
in Bristol. LASP has
PBA President David Schwager presented the award after a
continued to serve
program on " Pro Bono in the Age of Covid-19 " presented
clients throughout
by PBA Pro Bono Coordinator David Trevaskis. Smolow was
the pandemic. 
honored for his innovative eviction project. Last fall, after
several years of research and development, he helped form
a pro bono program that provided attorney representation
and rental assistance to poor tenants facing eviction in the
County. Building on funding provided by the United Way of
Bucks County toward rental assistance for tenants, Smolow
helped bring together a partnership between the Bucks
County Bar Association, the Bucks County Opportunity
Council, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the
Bucks County Division of Housing and Human Resources.

Celebrating Pro Bono Service!

Amidst boxes to unpack at LASP's new Almshouse office,
Staff Attorney Rhonda Sherrod speaks with a client about her case.
FALL 2020

Additionally, 13 member attorneys were recognized as
2020's 'Bucks Keystone Attorneys' for devoting over
50 hours to Pro Bono legal services for the community
in the past year.

Bar Association Office
Greg Nardi, Executive Director
135 East State Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
215.348.9413 * www.bucksbar.org
email submissions to
WritsEditor@BucksBar.org
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Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc.
2921 Windmill Road
Reading, PA 19608
610.685.0914 x201
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Advertising Contact
Tracy Hoffmann
610-685-0914 x201 * tracy@hoffpubs.com

As part of the celebration of the 12th National Pro Bono
Week, Bucks County lawyer Ronald J. Smolow of Newtown
was recognized with a 2020 PBA Pro Bono Award on Oct.

e....................................................................................... Page 10

Thank you to the over 225 members of BCBA who let us
know about their Pro Bono service in the community! 

feature

BUCKS COUNTY SHERIFF'S
PATHFINDER INITIATIVE
By Chris Serpico

The death of Daniel Prude
in Rochester, New York this
past March, and the subsequent

A member of the Bucks County Sheriff's
Department for eight years, Kessler
is a member of Bucks County's Crisis

Intervention Team, which consists of
brouhaha that followed the mentally
members of local police departments and
ill man's death while in the custody of
sheriff's deputies in Bucks County who
the police, shined10the national spotlight
have received intensive training in developing
on an issue that had long been simmering
skills to more effectively respond to situations
beneath the surface throughout the
involving the mentally ill.
The Bucks County's Crisis
country: How can law enforcement
Intervention Team members
officers more effectively respond
Initially, Kessler attended and
receive intensive training
to the increasing numbers of
completed a rigorous forty-hour
mentally ill individuals with
in developing skills to more
course in negotiating skills presented
whom they interact?
effectively respond to situations by the Philadelphia Police Department.

involving the mentally ill.

Following that, he was one of thirty
law enforcement officers from across
the county who was trained in understanding how to respond to situations
involving people experiencing mental health crises offered under
the guidance of counselors from Lenape Valley Foundation.

In August, the Bucks County
Sheriff's Department instituted
its Pathfinder Initiative whereby
" deputies with appropriate training would be placed into
courtrooms within the Justice Center where their assistance
would be most needed. "

With a trained psychologist on the team, the members of
the group are prepared to aid local police when called upon
in a crisis. One seemingly minor but important step Kessler
has made recently was having the Radio Room take note of
those officers on duty who have received Crisis Intervention
Training (CIT), so that in an emergency they can be alerted
A veteran of the Gulf War, Corporal Kessler has struggled
to assist local law enforcement.
himself with minor PTSD symptoms as a result of which he
became increasingly interested in learning about methods
When I asked him for an example of how the Task Force
by which emotionally fraught situations involving people
has defused a dangerous situation, he recalled an instance
experiencing mental health issues could be " defused "
where he was assisting in the service of a PFA order on
safely before a tragedy occurred. His interest was partican individual when he was advised at the door by the
ularly sparked after he watched an HBO documentary
man's nephew that the person they were looking for was
called " Crisis Cops " that told the story of how two San
downstairs in the basement threatening to kill himself with
Here
is
the
Committee
that
was
created:
Antonio policemen changed the dynamics of how officers
a knife. Because of his knowledge and training, he and
TIME: Friday, September 25th, 6:09pm.
in that Texas police department learned to more effectively
the officers with him were able to persuade the person in
Hon. Robert Baldi
Hon. Skip Bateman
LOCATION: Northampton Valley Country
Club
respond
to issues involving individuals who presented with
crisis to put down the knife and come out safely without
(The Augusta of Lower Bucks)
Sarah
Bruciehimself, the officers, or anyone else in the house.
harming
mental health challenges. Megan Brooks

The death of Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York this past
March, and the subsequent brouhaha that followed the
mentally ill man's death while in the custody of the police,

........................................................................................ Page 14

BENCH BAR 2020

THE PLAYERS: Puglia, Keane, Nardi

14
Thomas
Donnelly

Brendan Callahan

The following is a paraphrased conversation that may or
may not have taken place at the above time and location,
with all appropriate social distancing measures in place.

Rob Gordon

PUGLIA: Boy that escalated quickly. I mean, that really
got out of hand fast.

Emma Kline

Josephine Lee

Hon. Jeff Finley

Dianne Magee

Tim Duffy

NARDI: It jumped up a notch.

Chris Mahoney

Julie Goldstein
Dan Keane

Hon. James McMaster

Joanne Murray

KEANE: It did, didn't it?
PUGLIA: I'm proud of you fellas. You kept your head
on a swivel. That's what you've got to do when you're
in the middle of a vicious cockfight.
(The men proceed to hug it out)
END SCENE.

Dawn Padanyi

Jeremy Puglia

Shauna Quigley

Aimee Schnecker

Michael Shelton

Tiffany Thomas-Smith

Tyler Tomlinson

Sara Webster

Melanie Wender

Shari Williams

Elaine Yandrisevits

If you want to know why the Bench Bar Conference
was such a success this year, and why we had the most
attendees in the history of our Association (161), this group
of people is why. Greg Nardi is why. The BCBA Staff (Barb,
I've received many congratulatory emails, calls and texts
Emily, Kristen, Dylan, Lynn) is why. Dan Keane is why. Thank
since the Conference ended. And, while I am humbled at
you Committee, Greg, the Staff, and Dan for your tireless
the gesture, I can't help but think that these accolades are
By Dianne C.commitment
Magee
to making the Conference a true success.
misplaced, as it is not just one person that runs the Bench
Bar Conference. It's just far too big of a task. When Dan
Next year we (hopefully) make our way to Crystal Springs.
Keane told me that his first three choices forIBench
haveBartwo confessions
to make.
Melanie Wender, who was instrumental in our initial plans
Chair said no, and that he was down to me, I was happy to
for Skytop, will be running the show. I can't wait to see
say yes. My first order of business was to establish
One, I aam officially old. I became a grandmother to a
she has in store for us. No doubt it will be the best
Committee of BCBA Members whose experience
at baby
Benchgirl onwhat
perfect
September 11! And so far, being a
Bench Bar since Hershey.
Bar ran the gamut. I wanted attorneys who had
been going
grandparent
is incredibly easy and nothing like parenting
for 20+ years. I wanted those who had goneattoall.
a few.
I
I'm sleeping
through the night, I'm not breastRespectfully,
wanted to reach out to members who hadn'tfeeding,
gone inI'm
a few
not changing diapers, and my clothes
Puglia
years, and those who had never been to one.are staying relativelyJeremy
clean. D.
The
painful reason for my
unencumbered lifestyle, though, is that I can't have any
physical contact with
Isabel because she's stuck in the
16
Dominican Republic, about 1500 miles from Bucks County.
The U.S. State Department has conspired to keep us apart.
Her mother's visa application has been pending for some
seven months now. Although Isabel is a United States
citizen, it seems that since she won't be able to run for
President in the future, her presence in this country is not
considered urgent. And, because I'm officially old, it's not
safe for me to visit her in a place which our government
deems to be at a Level 4 on the coronavirus scale. Hence,
my grandmaternal urges must be satisfied by glimpses of
the cutest baby ever on FaceTime, at times when she's
almost always sleeping. I just hope that she arrives here
before she's walking and while I still am.

WHAT A YEAR IT WAS TO CHAIR
THE BENCH BAR COMMITTEE.

Legacy

feature
Save Our Stages:
Live Music During the Pandemic
-Scott L. Feldman

Sheriff's Pathfinder Initiative

Under the leadership of Corporal Todd Kessler, the purpose
of the program is to " take new approaches to individuals
who come into the Courthouse in crisis or go into crisis to
allow for the safest possible outcomes. "

feature

Writs Photographer
Dylan Gilheany

LASP's Doylestown office moved to two new locations this
fall. On September 18, 2020, staff members who handle
Protection from Abuse (PFA) matters moved to 224 N.

........................................................................................ Page 9

The move was necessitated by Bucks County's
sale of its building
at 50 N. Main St.

feature

LASP's Doylestown office has moved!

Bench Bar 2020
What a year it was to Chair the Bench Bar Committee.
I've received many congratulatory emails, calls and texts
since the Conference ended. And, while I am humbled at

........................................................................................ Page 16
While my skills as a grandparent have
yet to be tested, I have officially failed
as a parent. My son, Isabel's father,
enrolled in (screams of terror) LAW
SCHOOL in August! Having been on the
inside of this profession for decades (I
am officially old) and, therefore, knowing
it, warts and all, perhaps mistakenly, I'd
always wanted something better for my
children and had actively discouraged
them from venturing into the law.

Two, while my skills as a grandparent have yet to be
tested, I have officially failed as a parent. My son, Isabel's
father, enrolled in (screams of terror) LAW SCHOOL in
August! Having been on the inside of this profession
for decades (I am officially old) and, therefore, knowing
it, warts and all, perhaps mistakenly, I'd always wanted
something better for my children and had actively
discouraged them from venturing into the law. My
sentiments were analogous to those of Willie Nelson and
Waylon Jennings in " Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow
up To Be Cowboys, " just in reverse. While the cowboys
recommend to " (l)et 'em be doctors and lawyers and
such, " I think I'd be happy if my son had decided to go
home on the range, rather than to Civil Procedure class.

mine, especially since he's taking all of his classes virtually.
Imagine that! There's no seating chart, no trembling in
fear that your name will be called to answer questions
about the one case you forgot to brief. The Socratic
method is alive and well, but in a kinder and gentler
sense. Eliminating the element of scary surprise, a small
group of students in each class is picked in advance to
be prepared to discuss certain topics and cases on certain
days. Wouldn't that have been great? I could probably
have avoided my hypertension medication (even at my
now advanced age) if my law school professors had been
so kind and accommodating. The students seem more
interested in collaboration, too, and work on projects
together. I remember the days of rushing to the library

Legacy
I have two confessions to make.
One, I am officially old. I became a grandmother to a perfect
baby girl on September 11! And so far, being a grandparent

........................................................................................ Page 18

Anyway, as an officially old person, what do I know? So
far, Kevin seems to be enjoying his first few months as a
1L and is thriving on racking up stress points as a new,
sleep-deprived parent and bleary-eyed student. I must
say that his law school experience is very different than

Music is probably the one real magic I have encountered in my life.
There's not some trick involved with it. It's pure and it's real. It moves,
it heals, it communicates and does all these incredible things. (Tom Petty)
Minnesota's concert halls, theatres, and places of
entertainment, like First Avenue in Minneapolis,
where Prince famously performed, have inspired
generations with the best of local music, art, and
education. This legislation would help ensure that
small entertainment venues can continue to operate,
and serve our communities for generations to come.

When the wildly popular Korean boy band, BTS, cancelled
their Asia-Pacific tour In February, ripples of concern were
felt here, all the way in the United States. By the end of
February, Khalid, Green Day and Ben Harper had cancelled
their Asian tour dates. Within several weeks, the concert
industry worldwide had ground to a halt. Locally, small and
mid-size concert and entertainment venues were among
the first businesses to close and would be among the last
to re-open. Most of these theaters, bars, comedy clubs and
concert halls are independently owned small businesses.

By August, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
had joined as a co-sponsor and a similar bill was introduced
in the House of Representatives. From NIVA's press release,
per its Executive Director, Rev. Moose:

Before long, the National Independent Venue Association
(NIVA) was created to " fight for venue survival amid
mandated, extended shutdowns. " Some 450 members
in 43 states were part of the initial founding and by
June, the organization grew to over 2,000 members,
representing venues ranging in size from 250 capacity
to 18,000. Fundraising and Congressional lobbying
efforts were underway.

Local independent scenes are the cultural lifeblood
of our communities as well as an economic driver
throughout America. A Chicago study last year
showed that for every $1 spent on a ticket at a local
venue, $12 of economic activity was generated for
area businesses such as restaurants, retailers, and
hotels. These mom and pop venues are unable to fully
reopen until well into 2021 due to safety concerns
posed by large gatherings. These institutions draw
most of their revenue from acts that tour the United
States, and until it's safe to gather people en masse, it
won't be possible for venues to bring back their staff,
which is one reason why the Paycheck Protection
Program (PPP) does not work for this industry.

#SaveOurStages
Music is probably the one real magic I have encountered in
my life. There's not some trick involved with it. It's pure and
it's real. It moves, it heals, it communicates and does all these

........................................................................................ Page 20

On July 22, the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act was
introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R) and Amy Klobuchar
(D), who stated:

Also in This Issue:
* President's Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
* From the Editor... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
* Pro Bono Honor Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

* Summer St. Patrick's Day . . . . . . . . . . . 12
* Woman's Power Summit . . . . . . . . . . . 13
* Young Lawyers' Division Bonfire . . . . . . 23

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Bucks Writs - Fall 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Bucks Writs - Fall 2020