1980s Class Notes
1980
J. Scott Bovitz was selected, for the fourth year, as a Southern California Super Lawyer. He is also the executive editor Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice in California. Edythe L. Bronston founded the California Jazz Foundation to help jazz musicians in need. Janet I. Levine is president the LA chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
1981
James C. Hughes joined Greenberg Glusker as a partner in the firm’s LA office, specializing in real estate law. Mark S. Strukelj passed away on December 9, 2006 in Houston. Strukelj was vice president and general counsel for Fluor Corporation. He is survived by his wife, Catherine, and two grown children.
1982
Peter C. Anderson is the US trustee for the Central District of California. The US Trustee Program is part of the Justice Department and protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system. Rod S. Berman authored “Changing Invention Law Conventions,” published by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. Mark J. Geragos relocated his firm, Geragos & Geragos, to Engine Company No. 28.
1983
The Hon. Margaret Miller Bernal of the LA County Superior Court was honored as Judicial Officer of the Year. Jeffrey C. Lapin was named president and CEO of RazorGator Interactive Group, a sports/entertainment event company. Dulcy Bradford Rimac passed away in 2004. Rimac was a retired elementary school teacher and was actively involved with the American Association of University Women and Daughters of the King, and served as an usher at Saint Stevens Episcopal Church. The Hon. Michael Villalobos was appointed to a judgeship with the LA County Superior Court.
1984
Philip Davis was named chief compliance officer for HealthNet, Inc. and continues as vice president, deputy general counsel and corporate ethics officer. Curtis F. Pierce was featured in the California Lawyer article, “Is the Immigration Court System Working?” Wei C. Wong is the president of the Board of Directors for Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County, which provides free legal services to the needy. Helen Zukin joined Kiesel, Boucher & Larson LLP as of counsel.
1985
John Aitelli was elected a shareholder of LaFollette Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames. Stephen M. Garcia of the Garcia Law Firm was named by Lawdragon as one of 500 Leading Plaintiffs’ Lawyers in America. Jayne (Taylor) Kacer was selected as the 2007 Professor of the Year by students at Chapman University School of Law. She was appointed assistant dean of student affairs in 2006. Andrew G. Petillon was appointed associate regional director and co-head of enforcement in the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Pacific Regional Office in LA.
1986
Joan B. Kessler joined ADR Services, Inc. as a mediator. Mitchell J. Popham was named by Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP as partner-in-charge of the firm’s LA office. Jan D. Smutny-Jones is a member of the California Air Resource Board’s Economic and
Technology Advancement Advisory Committee.
1987
Douglas A. Greer opened his own firm in Manhattan Beach, focusing on insurance coverage, bad faith and complex civil litigation. Stuart A. Liner and his wife, Stephanie, were presented the Help Fore Children Humanitarian Award at the Help Group's Annual
Keyes European Mercedes Benz Teddy Bear Golf Classic and Lockton Insurance Brokers, LLC Awards Dinner. Liner is the managing partner and co-founder of Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstreif LLP and serves on the Loyola Law School Board of Overseers. Lisa J. Perrochet, a partner with Horvitz & Levy LLP, received an Attorney of the Year award for appellate litigation from California Lawyer. Dean J. Smith joined Taylor Blessey LLP, where he will continue to specialize in health care law. Amy Fisch Solomon of Girardi & Keese is president-elect of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles.
1988
Kathleen M. Collins was appointed senior vice president and director of corporate compliance with First American Corporation. Neil M. Popowitz joined the Newport Beach office of The General Counsel, an in-house legal solutions firm.
1989
Lawrence B. Burke of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP was appointed chair of the firm’s national environmental practice group. Richard Ceballos, an LA County deputy district attorney, was honored by the Criminal Courts Bar Association for his work “in defense of the constitutional rights of an accused.” The Hon. Roger T. Ito, an LA district attorney and more recently a commissioner, was appointed to a judgeship with the LA Superior Court. Brian S. Kabateck relocated his firm, Kabateck Brown Kellne LLP, to Engine Company No. 28. Neil J. Sheff is serving his second term as co-liaison between the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Southern California Chapter and the LA District Office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services. He recently served as chair of the LA Sephardic Jewish Film Festival.