Archive for March, 2009
March 25th, 2009 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Family Law, Mediation
In the March 18-31, 2009 edition of Indiana Lawyer, attorney/mediator Elisabeth Edwards is quoted in a feature on the Indianapolis Bar Leader Series. The article, written by Phil Isenbarger, chair of the Bar Leader Series VI, discusses the benefits for young attorneys who are selected to participate in the series. Ms. Edwards, an alum of the Bar Leader Series Class IV, shared her experience, ‘“The Bar Leader Series has provided me with priceless networking opportunities and friendships with talented attorneys who are outside of my area of practice, and with whom I would not normally have crossed paths but for the program. We have become a tremendously valuable resource to one another to better serve our clients.”’
In addition to receiving mentoring and traditional leadership focused presentations, participants cooperate together in teams to coordinate service projects which benefit the Indianapolis community. There are numerous projects in this year’s series, including Peyton Manning’s Children’s Hospital Family Home and Second Helpings. Laura Holt, also an attorney in JHDJ Law’s Family Law Practice Group, is a member of this year’s Bar Leader Series VI, and will graduate in May.
To read more in Indiana Lawyer, visit their website: http://www.theindianalawyer.com
March 23rd, 2009 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Family Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site address: http://www.jhdj-law.com
CARMEL ATTORNEY/MEDIATOR PRESENTING AT NBI LEGAL EDUCATION SEMINAR
CARMEL, IN – March 23, 2009 – Holly Wanzer, an attorney and domestic mediator at JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC, is presenting a teleseminar on Collaborative Law sponsored by the National Business Institute (“NBI”) on April 17, 2009.
Ms. Wanzer is a member of the Family Law Group of JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, she graduated magna cum laude from Ball State University, and earned her Juris Doctor summa cum laude from Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis in 1999. Ms. Wanzer represents clients with family law matters including divorce, child support, custody, parenting time, modification and contempt issues. Her commitment to the private resolution of family issues, the preservation of positive working relationships within families and her calm demeanor and sensitivity in the face of emotional challenges make her the ideal choice as a mediator for family matters. As a domestic mediator, she has been active in promoting alternative dispute resolution, and became one of three attorneys of JHDJ Law to complete collaborative law training. She is now a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“IACP”), and the Collaborative Family Law Association of Indiana, Inc.
Collaborative law is a relatively new form of dispute resolution, pioneered by Minneapolis family lawyer Stuart G. Webb. Primarily used in divorce as a means of resolving issues privately while minimizing conflict and bitterness, it is gaining in popularity. In collaborative divorce, the separating couple and their attorneys pledge at the outset to try to work things out through consultation and open communication, using lawyers and sometimes other experts to assist in the details. The parties pledge in advance not to go to court or use the information shared in collaborative discussions in litigation. Parties have more control to work out settlement details and find creative solutions for their problems, which they understand better than any judge or third party. Positive outcomes are best reached through respectful communications, not courtroom battles.
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC provides personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. Experienced attorneys offer assertive advocacy for clients complemented by a philosophy focused on minimizing conflict and negotiating resolution. With a dynamic team of professionals, the practice assists clients in all areas of family law, collaborative law, adoption, mediation, business litigation and appeals. For more information, please contact Amber Burton Small at 317.569.0770, or visit http://www.jhdj-law.com.
March 10th, 2009 | Posted by Leah | Posted in General Law
Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson, PC now has a Facebook page and Twitter account, where news, information, resources and links will be updated frequently. Become a fan of our Facebook page, or sign up to follow our “tweets” on Twitter.
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March 10th, 2009 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Business Litigation
In the case of Stephen Blessing v. Indiana Department of Correction, U.S. District Court, Southern Distric of Indiana, Indianapolis Division No. 1:06-cv-1294, a jury rendered a verdict in favor of the Defendant. Blessing, the Plaintiff, was a nurse employed at the Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility. Blessing alleged gender discrimination, claiming he was treated differently than his female coworkers. In support of his claim, Blessing asserted that he had been treated unfairly when he was suspended for five days for inappropriate computer use, while a female nurse received a written reprimand for the same infraction. Blessing was subsequently terminated when it was determined he was providing an improper dosage of medication to a juvenile. Blessing again claimed that females nurses were committing the same errors but were not subjected to investigation or disciplinary proceedings.
Blessing’s attorneys, Raymond Haftsten, Jr. and Christopher Wolcott, had filed a complaint on his behalf against the employer, requesting compensation for injuries including lost wages and emotional distress. The case went to trial on January 26-27, 2009. Despite Blessing’s claims, the jury failed to find in his favor, and instead returned a verdict for the employer.
March 9th, 2009 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Business Litigation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site address: http://www.jhdj-law.com
CARMEL ATTORNEY PRESENTS AT WOMEN’S BENCH BAR CONFERENCE
CARMEL, IN – March 9, 2009 – Attorney Jill Dimick was a presenter at the Indiana State Bar Association’s 2009 Women’s Bench Bar Retreat on March 7 at Culver Cove, Indiana. The theme of this year’s event was “The Magic of Eight” as it marked the 8th annual retreat, providing continuing legal education seminars as well as fun and relaxation for the attending attorneys. Ms. Dimick’s presentation focused on “How to Transition to a Small Practice” and discussed the challenges faced during the first five years of practice. Having been a partner in two of Indianapolis’ largest law firms, Ms. Dimick’s experience was valuable to seminar attendees, as she shared information on her own transition as the founder of boutique Carmel law firm, Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson, PC.
Ms. Dimick is Chair of the Business Litigation Group of JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC. A native of Muncie, Indiana, she graduated from Ball State University Honors College and received her Juris Doctor in 1989 from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Ms. Dimick went on to practice in New York City for a Wall Street firm before returning to Indiana.
With 20 years in litigation, Ms. Dimick brings a wealth of experience representing an array of clients ranging in size from large public companies to small privately-owned businesses, professional corporations, franchisees, and financial institutions. Ms. Dimick’s clients also comprise public officials, business owners, directors, officers and former employees. Her cases involve a variety of issues such as breach of contract, shareholder disputes, breach of fiduciary duties, receiverships, landlord-tenant issues, zoning, trademark infringement, defamation, unfair competition, covenants not to compete, wage claims and employment discrimination. Her diverse litigation history includes being retained as legal counsel for a congressional campaign for one of the top-ten contested elections in the nation.
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC provides personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. Experienced attorneys offer assertive advocacy for clients complemented by a philosophy focused on minimizing conflict and negotiating resolution. With a dynamic team of professionals, the practice assists clients in all areas of family law, collaborative law, adoption, mediation, business litigation and appeals. For more information, please contact Amber Burton Small at 317.569.0770, or visit http://www.jhdj-law.com.
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March 6th, 2009 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Adoption
Readopts are an important step in the international adoption process. While in the past, this step hasn’t been commonly discussed with adoptive parents, now Indiana courts and foreign authorities are encouraging adoption agencies and attorneys to inform parents about this process in order to domestic foreign decrees and protect adopted children. “Readoption” is a common term used to cover a couple of different types of processes, which are dependant upon the foreign country from which the child is adopted. In the simplest of cases, parents only need an Acceptance of Foreign Decree. This is a legal process in which the foreign decree is submitted to the local county court and is “domesticated” (given full credit or acceptance in the U.S.). However, for some countries, (i.e. India and Philippines) adoptive parents must complete a full domestic adoption here in the U.S. There are also situations in which parents may have to process a complete domestic adoption if the foreign documents are insufficient or issues with immigration status require it. This has also been necessary when only one spouse has adopted a child internationally, in which case, the remaining spouse must do a full adoption of the child. Fortunately, most foreign adoptions can be easily domesticated.
For a simple readopt, it is a basic legal matter in which the attorney files a petition to register the foreign decree along with a proposed order. The petition requests that the court enter an order recording the foreign decree as an Indiana adoption decree and thus, the child receives all of the rights afforded to a child adopted in Indiana. One of the most important aspects of the readoption process is that the decree orders the Indiana Health Department to issue a new Indiana Birth Certificate, which is necessary to prove parentage in Social Security issues (death benefits, etc.) and in inheritance situations. Many adoptive parents fails to realize this crucial element in protecting and providing for an adopted child should a parent die or if a child requires proof of parentage (specifically a U.S. Citizen parent). Another important aspect for children brought home on an IR4 visa is that it will provide the sufficient and required documentation for U.S. citizenship. Lastly, with some foreign adoptions, name changes are not incorporated within the original foreign petitions and the foreign decrees do not include the new names parents may give their children. With the readoption process, a name change is accomplished as well.
The readoption process is inexpensive and expedient, and JHDJ Law provides instructions and assistance to clients on how to obtain new documentation once the orders are granted by the Indiana court. Until new documents are processed, the order domesticating the foreign decree may be used for most purposes (taxes, USCIS & SSN).
If you would like more information about readoption or international adoption and current programs, please contact Amber Burton Small, Director of Business Development, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 317-569-0770.
This article is for information only, and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Each situation is unique and your case may be more complicated, and can only be evaluated by a licensed attorney.
March 2nd, 2009 | Posted by Leah | Posted in Adoption
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site address: http://www.jhdj-law.com
ADOPTION PRACTICE GROUP FEATURING PROSPECTIVE PARENT PROFILES
CARMEL, IN – March 1, 2009 – Beginning March 2, 2009, Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson’s Adoption Practice Group has a new monthly feature on its website adoption calendar highlighting prospective adoptive parents. The profiles include photos and biographical information of the parents or couples seeking to add to their families through adoption. The profiles are personalized and are intended to give a glimpse of relationships and personalities for interested expectant parents who are considering adoption. Featuring the profiles on the firm’s website is one way that JHDJ Law assists its adoption clients (both adoptive parents and expectant parents) in facilitating a match, and helps couples market their intentions to adopt. For March, the first couple featured is Matt & Carrie, who are hoping to add a baby to their loving home. Read more about Matt and Carrie by selecting their profile link: Matt__Carrie_Adoption_Profile_Final.pdf
The Adoption Practice Group at Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson, PC is chaired by attorney Michele L. Jackson, who focuses her practice exclusively in adoptions. She offers services in domestic and international adoption including adoptive parent and birth parent representation, readoptions (domesticating foreign decrees), adoption disruptions, stepparent adoptions, second parent adoptions, orphan visa appeals (“NOIDS”), and international family law matters, including international custody and abduction prevention.
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC, is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. Experienced attorneys offer assertive advocacy for clients complemented by a philosophy focused on minimizing conflict and negotiating resolution. With a collaborative team of professionals, the practice assists clients in all areas of family law, mediation, business litigation and adoption. For more information, please contact Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson, PC at 317.569.0770, or visit http://www.jhdj-law.com.
Tags: Michele Jackson