Vol. 1 | No. 51 | December 22, 2021
Oklahoma Supreme Court
No published opinions this week.
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma Court Calendar
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma is in session year round, unless otherwise noted. The Court regularly schedules conferences on Mondays and other days as needed.
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
No published opinions this week.
Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals
No published opinions this week.
Dispositions Other than by Published Opinions
CLICK HERE to read Dispositions Other than by Published Opinions.
JNC Announcements
Court of Civil Appeals Applicants
The Judicial Nominating Commission on Dec. 20, 2021, announced the following individuals have applied for the position of Judge for the Court of Civil Appeals, District 4, Office 2, a vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Trevor Pemberton on October 18, 2021:
- Scott F. Brockman, Norman
- Tim J. Downing, Purcell
- Donald B. Lynn, Oklahoma City
- Stacy R. Morey, Norman
- Laura M. Palk, Norman
- Bevan G. Stockdell, Edmond
With the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the JNC will immediately commence background reviews on these candidates, and interviews will be scheduled as soon as is practicable upon conclusion of these background reviews. The JNC strongly encourages the public to submit comments on these applicants. Comments may be mailed to:
Administrative Office to the Courts
Attn: Tammy Reaves
2100 North Lincoln, Suite 3
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105 and/or
James Bland
Chair, Judicial Nominating Commission
17 East Carl Albert Parkway
McAlester, OK 74501
Court of Criminal Appeals Interviews
On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, the Judicial Nominating Commission will conduct interviews for the position of Court of Criminal Appeals, District 1. The following individuals have applied for this position:
- Martha Rupp Carter, Tulsa
- William J. Musseman, Jr., Broken Arrow
- Joy L. Thorp, Broken Arrow
- Russell C. Vaclaw, Bartlesville
Immediately following the interviews, the JNC will provide the Governor a list of three nominees, and the Governor will have sixty days to make the appointment from those nominees. The JNC strongly encourages the public to continue comments for these applicants. Comments must be received prior to January 18, 2022, and should be mailed to:
Administrative Office of the Courts
Attn: Tammy Reaves
2100 North Lincoln, Suite 3
Oklahoma City OK 73105 and/or
James Bland
17 East Carl Albert Parkway
McAlester, OK 74501
Can you reduce a Medicaid lien beyond the customary 50% reduction? What about seeking an 80% or 90% reduction? Federal law requires state Medicaid programs to seek recovery for the amounts Medicaid has paid for medical treatment from any money recovered from a tort claim.1 The claim that a state Medicaid program has against a tort recovery is known as a “Medicaid lien.”
Typically, negotiations with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) will result in a 50% reduction in the Medicaid lien to account for the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees and costs, which are often around 50%. However, should it end there? What about where the settlement is only a small fraction of the lifetime care estimate? Read more.
The last day of 2021 is the last day to earn any remaining CLE credit for 2021 without having to pay a late fee. The deadline to report your 2021 credit is Feb. 15, 2022. Not sure how much credit you still need? You can view your MCLE transcript online. Still need credit? Check out great offerings from OBA CLE.
REMINDER. Your ETHICS MCLE requirement is now two hours. Choose from available online ETHICS courses here.
If you have questions about your credit, email mcle@okbar.org.
NOTICE OF HEARING ON THE PETITION FOR REINSTATEMENT
RYAN ANDREW KUZMIC, SCBD # 7040
TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Rule 11.3(b), Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings, 5 O.S., ch. 1, app. 1-A, that a hearing will be held to determine if Ryan Andrew Kuzmic should be reinstated to active membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Any person desiring to be heard in opposition to or in support of the petition may appear before the Professional Responsibility Tribunal at the Oklahoma Bar Center at 1901 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 9:30 a.m. on TUESDAY, JAN. 18, 2022. Any person wishing to appear should contact Gina Hendryx, General Counsel, Oklahoma Bar Association, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152, telephone (405) 416-7007.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TRIBUNAL
NOTICE OF HEARING ON THE PETITION FOR REINSTATEMENT
KELLY JO WALKER, SCBD # 7167
TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Rule 11.3(b), Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings, 5 O.S., ch. 1, app. 1-A, that a hearing will be held to determine if Kelly Jo Walker should be reinstated to active membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Any person desiring to be heard in opposition to or in support of the petition may appear before the Professional Responsibility Tribunal at the Oklahoma Bar Center at 1901 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 9:30 a.m. on TUESDAY, JAN. 25, 2022. Any person wishing to appear should contact Gina Hendryx, General Counsel, Oklahoma Bar Association, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152, telephone (405) 416-7007.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TRIBUNAL
NOTICE OF HEARING ON THE PETITION FOR REINSTATEMENT
BYRON EARL HARVISON, SCBD # 7166
TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Rule 11.3(b), Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings, 5 O.S., ch. 1, app. 1-A, that a hearing will be held to determine if Byron Earl Harvison should be reinstated to active membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Any person desiring to be heard in opposition to or in support of the petition may appear before the Professional Responsibility Tribunal at the Oklahoma Bar Center at 1901 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 9:30 a.m. on THURSDAY, JAN. 27, 2022. Any person wishing to appear should contact Gina Hendryx, General Counsel, Oklahoma Bar Association, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152, telephone (405) 416-7007.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TRIBUNAL
By Jim Calloway, Director
Management Assistance Program
My friend Dennis Kennedy, who serves as Interim Director, Center for Law, Technology & Innovation at Michigan State University, recently did a LinkedIn post titled Fast Fish And New Technologies– Are Small Law Firms Outcompeting Large Firms?
Perhaps the easiest way to explain his piece is to quote the first two paragraphs.
We have moved from a world where the big fish eat the little fish, says Tom Peters, the famous management consulting guru, to a world where the “fast fish eat the slow fish.”
I’ve noticed lately that many of the most innovative developments in legal technology have come from smaller firms and solo practitioners. Small firms and solos have developed some of the most successful legal website, pioneered the use of legal applications, and taken the lead in productizing legal services with technology. They have become the fast fish.
Dennis then outlines 10 advantages he believes small firms and solos have over large law firms when it comes to innovation and technology. Dennis is a gifted writer with as much background as anyone in the legal technology field. This is a thought provoking read.
