Metropolitan Conciliation Panel
TROUBLED BY RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL ATTORNEYS?
NEED HELP DEALING WITH A "RAMBO" ATTORNEY?"
The Metropolitan Conciliation Panel provides
FREE ONE-ON-ONE INTERVENTION
Call (303) 860-1115
Have you ever had an opposing lawyer refuse to cooperate in scheduling matters? Have you ever been involved in a matter where the opposing lawyer refuses to respond to your letters or return your phone calls? Have you ever had to deal with another lawyer who is consistently rude and contentious?
WHAT CAN YOU DO? It's tempting to send a series of nasty letters or to "storm out" of depositions or pre-trial meetings. Right? Now you have an alternative! The Metropolitan Denver bar associations have a program where you can get help in working through the problem. Even if you want nothing more than a "reality check" to see if your impression of the other lawyer's boorish behavior is well-founded, or if you just want to brainstorm over the phone about how to deal with the other lawyer, the Metro Conciliation Panel program can help.
WHAT KIND OF MATTERS WILL BE RESOLVED BY THE CONCILIATION PANEL? Breaches of professionalism, as exemplified by principles set forth in the DBA's Principles of Professionalism will be addressed by the Conciliation Panel. The Conciliation Panel will not address violations of the Colorado Supreme Court's Rules of Professional Conduct.
WHAT WILL THE CONCILIATION PROGRAM DO FOR ME? The Conciliation Panel members will work with you on a one-on-one basis to help resolve professionalism issues. By calling the CBA/DBA offices at (303) 860-1115 any lawyer, practicing in the metropolitan Denver area, can be put in contact with an “on-call” conciliation panel member. The on-call panel member who receives your call will talk with you to learn about the problem and review any documents, such as nasty letters, that you feel are indicative or related to the problem. You can meet with the panel member in person, or discuss the matter by phone, whichever you prefer. The extent of the Conciliation Panel member's involvement depends primarily on what you would like them to do. If you simply want to talk through the problem and get some ideas on how to handle it yourself, you certainly can do so. Alternatively, the Conciliation Panel member could, with your consent, contact the other person, without you being present. Another option, after the Conciliation Panel member has spoken with both sides, is to have a joint meeting to resolve the problem. The options for handling these problems are never set in stone and depend very much on the unique circumstances of each situation. The Conciliation Panel member will help resolve these professionalism issues using the Denver Bar Association's Principles of Professionalism. Dispute resolution is completely voluntary. The powers of persuasion, mediation and conciliation are the tools available to the volunteer lawyers who serve as Conciliation Panel members. No sanctions can be levied against lawyers for failure to comply with a panel member's suggestions. Nonetheless, since the program has been operational, positive responses and the resolution of unprofessional behaviors has been the rule, rather than the exception.
WHO ARE THE CONCILIATION PANEL MEMBERS? The Conciliation Panel consists of a diverse group of experienced Metropolitan Denver lawyers, who are known for their integrity and professionalism. They are volunteers who have offered their time to help resolve professionalism disputes. Conciliation Panel members who have been appointed are listed below and rotate on a monthly basis to handle phone calls.
March 1, 2008 through April 30, 2008
Kerry Hada (303)771-3030
Rich Hennessey (303)839-1204
Jim O’Connor (303)799-9001 Ext. 1228
Fran Fontana (303)468-2668
John Baker, Co-Chair
David Furgason, Co-Chair
Bennett Aisenberg
T.J. Carney
John Castellano
Roger Castle
Frances Fontana
Mark Fogg
Kerry Hada |
Rich Hennessey
Steven Lass
Pamela Mackey
Mary Malatesta
Marion McBain
Barry Meinster
James O’Connor
Karen Pearson
Barbara Quade |
Howard Rosenberg
Helen Shreves
David Steefel
Ralph Torres
Hal B. Warren
James Wallace
Teresa Wilkins
Murray Wilkening |
IS IT EFFECTIVE? The Denver Bar Association's Conciliation Panel operated for six years before it was converted in 2002 into a metropolitan-wide panel, consisting of attorneys from the bar associations from the First Judicial District, and Adams/Broomfield, Denver, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties. Numerous other states, along with a number of Federal bar associations are actively and successfully using these programs. Conciliation Panels in Colorado and across the country have been found to be quite effective and have contributed to enhancing the professionalism of the bar as a whole.
