Article Published in California Trusts and Estates Quarterly

My article, Das Closes The Door On Civil Liability For Financial Institution Failure To Make Mandated Elder Abuse Report, was published in the California State Bar Trust and Estates Quarterly (Vol. 16, Issue 4, Winter 2010). The article discusses Das v. Bank of America N.A. (2010) 186 Cal. App. 4th 747, which confirms standards set by California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 15630.1 (f) and (g) to limit recovery against banks for failure to make the required elder abuse report by imposing a cap of $5,000.00 fine while also making it impossible for persons other than the Attorney General, District Attorney or County Counsel to bring suit for such failures. In my article, I urge the California legislature to amend Welfare and Institutions Code Section 15630.1 (f) and (g) to embrace California Evidence Code Section 669, omit the cap on recovery and allow for private civil action and protect our elderly population. Check it out!

Amy and I Won Second Place at the Negotiation Competition Last Weekend!

In Photo: Elmira Danielyan, WSU Negotiations Coach Paul Taylor Smith, Christina M. Wickers.

Event: California State Bar, Environmental Law Student Negotiations Competition, 2012

Held on March 23, 2012 at UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles

Congratulations to the winners of the 13th Annual Student Environmental Negotiations Competition! It was a great experience for both my team member Amy (Elmira Danielyan) and I. Miles Hogan and Drew Saruwatari were really good sports. Over all, the participants were friendly and dedicated. There were at least 24 teams in competition. The schools that participated were CA Western, Chapman, Empire College, Golden Gate University, Loyola Law, Santa Clara University, Southwestern, Thomas Jefferson, UC Berkley, UC Davis, UC Hastings, UC Irvine, UCLA, University of San Francisco, Western State, and Whittier.

Western State University College of Law (WSU) had two teams entered. My team consisted of me and Amy (Elmira Danielyan). Our other team was Kari Lines and Ghazal Youseffi. The competition was tough and truly worthwhile.

Special thank you to the California State Bar, Lauren Fletcher for coordinating and UCLA for hosting the event. The judges were exceptionally insightful and gave good tips for the future. And of course, thanks to WSU for sending us.

Here are the results:

First Place: UC Davis School of Law (R) - Miles Hogan & Drew Saruwatari
Second Place: Western State University College of Law (B) - Christina Wickers & Elmira Danielyan
Third Place: UC Hastings College of the Law (S) - Kathryn Miller & Melanie Desbiens-Sugarbroad
Fourth Place: Loyola Law School (Z) - Ryan Jones & William Bittner
Fifth Place: UC Hastings College of the Law (E)
Sixth Place: UC Irvine School of Law (T)
Seventh Place: Santa Clara University School of Law (P)
Eighth Place: Thomas Jefferson School of Law (Q)
Ninth Place: Whittier Law School (X)
Tenth Place: UCLA Law School (U)