On Wednesday, September 6, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law hosted the Orange County Bar Association’s first annual Diversity & Inclusion Unity in Service Celebration. The evening brought together several Orange County organizations for a conversation about diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.  At the event, “Be the Change” awards were bestowed on two honorees:  the Honorable Elizabeth Macias of the Orange County Superior Court, and Fowler School of Law’s Assistant Dean of Admission and Diversity Initiatives Justin Cruz. The awards were presented by the Honorable Frederick P. Aguirre, formerly of the Orange County Superior Court (Ret.).  The ceremony was hosted by president of the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association of Orange County Kimberly La Salle.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to receive the Be the Change award alongside the Honorable Judge Elizabeth Macias. This award symbolizes the Chapman Family spirit and how we have built bridges and partnerships to strengthen diversity and inclusion at the Fowler School of Law and in the Orange County legal community,” said Dean Cruz.

The event was held in collaboration with the Fowler School of Law’s Diversity & Social Justice Forum; Thurgood Marshall Bar Association; Orange County Hispanic Bar Association; Filipino-American Lawyers of Orange County; Muslim Bar Association of Southern California; Orange County Lavender Bar Association; Iranian American Bar Association; Orange County Korean American Bar Association; Orange County Asian American Bar Association; Orange County Women Lawyers Association; Veterans Legal Institute; OCBA Mommy Esq. Committee; OCBA Human Trafficking Task Force; Orange County Jewish Bar Association; OC Human Relations, OCBA Amicus Alo Task Force; Consumer Attorneys of Orange County Diversity Committee; EGM Legal Studies Academy; OCBA Young Lawyers Division; and the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law.

Jennifer Schaniel ’06 (JD ’09, LL.M. ’10) saw herself with two options when she graduated from Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law: patiently await her bar results as a law clerk, or get a leg up on the competition by participating in Fowler School of Law’s LL.M. in Trial Advocacy program.

The LL.M. program proved to be the perfect fit for Schaniel, who hoped to join the District Attorney’s Office after passing the bar. Fowler School of Law is one of the only LL.M. programs in the nation to offer a 15-week residency in a criminal law agency or law firm, allowing students to make court appearances, beginning with pretrial hearings and, ultimately, on to jury trials. Through the program, Schaniel handled nearly 50 preliminary hearings and conducted jury trials from beginning to verdict.

“Getting the practical courtroom experience, I believe, is really what helped me secure a deputy DA position, especially during a difficult hiring period,” she said. “It trains you to think on your feet and helps you learn to think quickly in high-pressure situations.”

As a law student, Schaniel thought she would pursue a career as a corporate attorney. She spent her summers clerking in bankruptcy court and a business litigation firm before realizing that the criminal courtroom was her dream. She then took on a clerkship with the DA’s gang unit.

“On the first day of my clerkship, I was handed an attempted murder case to review,” she said. “I knew this was what I wanted to do and I was going to do whatever it took to pursue this goal.”

By her final year of law school, she had begun taking courses to prepare her for her transition into the LL.M. advocacy program. She not only appreciated the hands-on curriculum but also the caliber of faculty, which was something that kept her coming back to Chapman University through all of her higher education.

“Having professors who were practicing while teaching gives such a different perspective than a normal, full-time professor,” she said. “It is great exposure to the type of subject matter you will handle in your career.”

On September 22-23, 2017, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law welcomed scholars from law schools around the nation for the Inaugural Junior Faculty Works-in-Progress Conference.  A new component of the law school’s vibrant intellectual life, the two-day conference brought together eight faculty members – rising stars in their respective fields – to share their most recent written work and engage with each other and members of the Chapman Law faculty.  Participants were invited to attend based on the strength of their scholarship, after Chapman conducted an extensive review of the work of junior scholars recently hired at law schools across the country.

The conference was developed and coordinated by Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development Donald Kochan.  It was made possible by a generous donation from Parker S. Kennedy.  Kennedy is Chairman of First American Financial Corporation as well as Chair of the Fowler School of Law Board of Advisors and Vice Chair of the Chapman University Board of Trustees.

Program speakers and topics included:

Marie C. Boyd, Assistant Professor of Law, University of South Carolina School of Law: Serving Up Allergy Labeling

Jonathon Byington, Associate Professor of Law, University of Montana Alexander Blewett III School of Law: Debtor Malice

Felix B. Chang, Associate Professor of Law, University of Cincinnati College of Law: Roma Inclusion, U.S. Civil Rights, and Federalism

Lauryn P. Gouldin, Associate Professor of Law, Syracuse University College of Law: Framing for Release

Jamila Jefferson-Jones, Associate Professor of Law, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law: Extending “Dignity Takings”: Reconceptualizing the Damage Caused by Criminal History and Ex-Offender Status

Jeremy Kidd, Associate Professor of Law, Mercer University School of Law: Probate Funding and the Litigation Funding Debate

Agnieszka McPeak, Associate Professor of Law, University of Toledo College of Law: Disappearing Data

David Noll, Associate Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School: Who Regulates Arbitration

The works-in-progress program was designed around a set of straightforward ideas about when scholarly interaction is most productively animated. “If we gather innovative thinkers engaged in exciting research projects all in one intellectual space, then we can create a stimulating environment for cross-fertilization of ideas and networking effects,” said Associate Dean Kochan. “We wanted a forum where the participants could present their most recent works, exchange information, learn from each other’s insights, and feed off each other’s enthusiasm for research,” he added.

Each participant was slotted into their own 70-minute session that started with some opening remarks where the junior scholar summarized their research paper.  Next, three commentators per participant were designated to provide prepared remarks after closely scrutinizing the draft ahead of the conference.  One of those three designated commentators was another junior scholar participant, and two distinct commentators per paper were drawn from experts on the Chapman Law faculty.  After that set of initial remarks framed the discussion, the bulk of each session was devoted to an organic exchange between all participants.  All eight participants and the Chapman faculty members came to the workshop well prepared to contribute and help one another improve their work.  The fact that every participant had carefully read every other paper in advance made the discussion period for every paper rich, detailed, interactive, and useful to the growth of all of the projects.  This collaborative environment provided a forum for the junior scholars to develop and refine their drafts before submitting these scholarly works for publication in the coming months.

Chapman was also pleased at the networking effects facilitated by the conference.  The workshop sessions, together with planned time for informal conversations, ensured that the junior scholars could walk away with an expanded network of interesting peers.  Not only did the junior scholar guests get to meet and interact with each other, they also engaged with 17 members of the Chapman Law faculty who served as commentators across the two days.  And, the networking benefits worked in all directions.  The participating Chapman Law faculty felt inspired by the energy these scholars brought to our building.  They enjoyed the opportunity to meet a cadre of passionate young scholars, particularly in fields that matched their own areas of expertise, and are excited by the sure-to-be lasting connections that developed with a new set of peers.

Chapman plans to hold the Junior Faculty Works-in-Progress conference annually.  This year’s program was just the latest in a series of programs that demonstrate the law school’s dedication to scholarly exchange.

On September 15 and 16, 2017, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law hosted more than 100 lawyers for the 11^th Annual National Conference of Vietnamese American Attorneys (NCVAA). The event attracted lawyers from across the country, while also welcoming a delegation of attorneys from Vietnam, including the Vice Chairs of the Lawyers Association of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, as well as directors and partners from several leading law firms. The overseas delegation was organized by Mr. Ken Dat Duong of the TDL International Law Firm. This year’s conference marked only the second time in 10 years that the event has been held in Southern California.

The law school community was pleased to host this event, as it has sought to maintain strong partnerships with a variety of professional organizations since the school’s inception. “Those partnerships are built, in part, by talented members of the Chapman Family that get involved in community and professional organizations such as the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Southern California (VABASC) and NCVAA,” said Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow. “We are fortunate to have members of the Chapman Family involved with these terrific groups,” he continued.

Dean Parlow also expressed gratitude to VABASC President and former Fowler School of Law faculty member Nhan Vu, who was instrumental in bringing the conference to our campus. Both Mr. Vu and Michelle Nguyen, Fowler School of Law Career Services Office Recruitment Program Manager and VABASC Board of Directors Member, participated in the conference.

The conference organizers sought to provide opportunities for attendees to meet new colleagues, strengthen connections within the Vietnamese American legal community, and gain knowledge about a variety of topics relevant to their practices. Topics for discussion ranged from the jurisdiction of U.S. courts over Asian firms engaged in international trade to a variety of issues related to civil procedure and legal education in the United States. In addition to providing educational and networking opportunities, the NCVAA aimed to inspire this year’s participants, selecting “Dream. Imagine. Achieve.” as the theme for the conference. That theme was driven, at least in part, by the entrepreneurial spirit of the Vietnamese American community and the growth that such networking opportunities can facilitate in the professional community.

Fowler School of Law Professor and Director of Graduate Legal Education Ronald Steiner welcomed conference participants to Kennedy Hall and also had the opportunity to meet with the delegation of attorneys visiting from Vietnam. Professor Steiner commented, “I was impressed with the level of interest and engagement of these lawyers, who clearly have a vision for the growth of trade and other relations beyond the borders of Vietnam.”

The Fowler School of Law has long been a partner to the legal community both locally and internationally. In addition to hosting events such as the conference, the law school regularly welcomes international legal scholars through its LL.M. programs. LL.M. students have included scholars focused on pursuing careers related to international law and humanitarian work.

Learn more about the LL.M. programs offered at the Fowler School of Law.

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law is pleased to welcome two new associate deans to its senior administrative staff, along with a new role for the law school’s longest-serving associate dean.

Fowler Law Professor Marisa Cianciarulo has been named the law school’s new Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Dean Cianciarulo is a passionate member of the law faculty who is a specialist in immigration law with a human rights focus. She previously directed the law school’s Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic, which she founded in 2007. She has published numerous articles in the nation’s highest ranking academic journals and has earned Professor of the Year honors at Chapman as well as the Valerie Scudder Award for outstanding achievement in teaching, scholarship and service. “I am excited to take this position of leadership and responsibility, supporting a dean who is dedicated to the success of this law school,” she said. “It is a privilege to serve our faculty in this capacity.” Dean Cianciarulo is responsible for academic and faculty-related matters at the law school, including scheduling classes, hiring adjunct professors, and maintaining compliance with ABA standards.  She takes over for outgoing Associate Dean Daniel Bogart, who returns to his full-time teaching position after serving as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (2012-2017) and Associate Dean for Administration (2010-2012).

Jayne Kacer, who previously served for six years as Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Administration, will now serve as the school’s Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Her new role allows her to focus exclusively on student matters, providing counseling on academics and personal issues, the expansion of student programs, and leadership of the school’s Career Services Office (CSO). “The CSO team’s goals include increasing job opportunities for our students and increasing student awareness and use of the many resources Fowler Law has to offer,” she said. “The CSO team will also increase events and student outreach and has already begun working with student organizations to connect members with relevant job opportunities.” As both a professor and associate dean, Dean Kacer has been a longstanding advocate and dedicated mentor to the Fowler Law students and alumni. She previously taught Pre-trial Civil Practice, Legal Research and Writing, and the Mediation Clinic, and is a former partner at Rutan & Tucker, LLP.

Amy Rogan-Mehta joins the Fowler Law family as the school’s new Associate Dean for Administration. Dean Rogan-Mehta oversees Admissions, Marketing and Communications, Events, Facilities, and a host of other operational areas of the law school. She also works closely with Fowler Law Dean Matt Parlow on budget matters and serves as the point person for various university departments. “I am excited and honored to join the Fowler Law team at a time when the school is experiencing such momentum,” she said. Dean Rogan-Mehta comes to Chapman after previously serving as Associate Dean for Student Development at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and as an associate at the Milwaukee firm of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

By creating a dedicated administrator for student affairs and another for the administration of the law school, the Fowler School of Law has positioned itself to enhance student programs and provide even greater personalized student services while strengthening and streamlining law school operations.

Learn more about Fowler School of Law’s Administrative team.

To say that Alan Rothenberg has made a significant impact in multiple industries over the course of his career only skims the surface of his enduring influence in sports, banking, business, and law. Rothenberg, whose resume includes the establishment of a major sports league, the co-founding of an international law firm, the creation of two successful banks, and leadership in one of the nation’s top sports consulting firms, spoke to the Fowler School of Law community on Wednesday during the first Chapman Dialogue of the season.

The Chapman Dialogue Lecture Series is the law school’s signature speaker series, where lawyers, judges, professors, and leaders in business and politics come to campus to engage with our community and in particular, our students, helping to provide them with the well-rounded, practice-ready education the law school is known for.  Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow commented, “By bringing to campus giants in the legal field like Alan Rothenberg, our students learn from, and have the opportunity to network with, distinguished guests who have used their law degrees to reach the heights of their respective professions.”

During his talk, Rothenberg recounted highlights from his impressive career. He shared vignettes from the early days of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, the international law firm he helped launch; discussed his work as an executive with the Los Angeles Lakers that included securing the deal that helped bring Magic Johnson to the team; and shared insights into his role in the wildly successful 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Rothenberg also advised attendees about the importance of building a solid reputation.

“I equate it to creating a mosaic,” he said. “It is one tile at a time until you have the whole picture, and that whole picture is who you are. But, also like a mosaic, you can lose a tile here or there around the fringes, but if you ever lose one from the middle, it all collapses.” He also encouraged guests not to let fear of failure impede their goals. “When you approach something, don’t be afraid to fail,” he said. “Calculate your risk, and go for it.”

Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow and Alan Rothenberg

To focus on only a few of his many accomplishments, Rothenberg spearheaded soccer’s rise in the U.S. as chairman and CEO of the 1994 World Cup (the most successful in FIFA history), chairman of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup (the most successful women’s sporting event in history), leadership in the U.S. Soccer Federation and U.S. Soccer Foundation, and, ultimately, the founding of Major League Soccer. He is also a former president of the State Bar of California who practiced law for over 35 years. He was a co-founder and named partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips (formerly Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg, & Phillips) and a partner at Latham & Watkins. Rothenberg also founded and served as chairman of 1^st Century Bank and has served on the boards of numerous companies, public entities, and civic organizations.

Currently, he serves as chairman of Premier Partnerships, an industry leader in the sponsorship of sports and entertainment properties, with clients that include professional sports leagues, universities, and major sports arenas across the country. He previously served as a top executive in the NBA and has represented a “who’s who” of sports clients, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, Portland Trailblazers, Seattle Supersonics, Bruce Jenner, Amy Alcott, Steve Garvey, and Greg Louganis,

The Chapman Dialogue wrapped up with a question and answer period moderated by Dean Parlow. The discussion provided an opportunity to glean Rothenberg’s expertise on the evolving business of sports, ranging from issues related to naming rights to his work with the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.  Rothenberg’s parting

Learn more about Alan Rothenberg.

Watch the webcast.

Following in the footsteps of legendary American labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez is no easy task, but Arturo S. Rodriguez has carved out his own legacy in the 24 years since he assumed the presidency of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). As president, Rodriguez has advocated on behalf of the country’s farm workers, pushed for historic legislation, and worked with key grower associations to protect workers, consumers, and the industry.

On Monday, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law welcomed Rodriguez for the second installment of the 2017-2018 Chapman Dialogue Lecture Series. “Arturo’s impressive career with the United Farm Workers of America has made a wide-reaching impact in the lives of farm workers across the country,” said Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow. “We look forward to seeing his innovative work continue to improve the agricultural industry.”

After an opening presentation, Rodriguez and Dean Parlow discussed the efforts UFW has made to bring about meaningful change for farm workers in California and across the country, including negotiations for fair hours and wages, regulations to keep farm workers safe in extreme heat, and efforts to regulate the use of pesticides. Throughout the conversation, Rodriguez wove stories about the day-to-day lives of the farm workers he met across the state – from the Coachella Valley to Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley – into a broader discussion of legal and policy-based initiatives.

Rodriquez expanded upon key initiatives, such as the UFW’s longstanding efforts to protect workers from the dangers of extreme heat. A campaign that began 25 years ago, Rodriguez described the organization’s work with Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown to create heat regulations — now in effect — to ensure employers provide periods of respite in the shade, sufficient water, and medical assistance to workers.

Rodriguez also described other areas where UFW has pushed for legislative changes to protect workers. He led negotiations with the country’s major grower associations to develop the agricultural provisions of a comprehensive immigration reform bill passed by the U.S. Senate in 2013, and he and the UFW worked closely with the White House on former President Barack Obama’s 2014 executive order on immigration. UFW also sponsored a bill in California, signed into law last year by Govorner Brown, that established overtime pay for farm workers on workdays exceeding 8 hours. The California law was the first of its kind in the United States, and Rodriguez plans to advocate for similar policies on a national level. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to develop legislation that will be supportive and erase some of the injustices that have been done throughout the years to farm workers,” he said.

Rodriguez also addressed a number of changes in the agricultural industry, such as the impact from the consolidation of retailers and the rise of “big box” stores. These market shifts have led to consumer demand for year-round produce and significant increases in imports from Chile, Mexico, Nicauragua, and other countries. UFW has responded to these changes with outreach to workers abroad as well as other constituencies – including Costco and other major retailers – and the development of innovative cooperative programs. In one such program, the Equitable Food Initiative, a consortium of major food buyers, growers, farm worker groups, and consumer advocates established a certification process to ensure that farm workers earn a dignified livelihood, that growers have a stable and professionally trained agricultural workforce, and that food is safer and more sustainable.

Rodriguez began his work with Chavez after his parish priest introduced them in 1966. On working alongside Chavez, Rodriguez said,“Cesar had a vision unlike many of the other labor leaders in the country. He believed that this needed to be a movement and we needed to bring together multiple groups of organizations.”

Since taking over as president of UFW, Rodriguez has helped the organization dramatically increase union membership to extend protections to farm workers. In the future, Rodriguez told the audience, the UFW hopes that those members can help ensure safer working conditions by reporting violations of workers’ rights directly to the UFW via social media.

Looking forward, Rodriguez said of the UFW, “We have to deal with issues here and in other countries, for the agricultural industry to continue to survive, for consumers to be protected, and for farm workers to continue to thrive and to grow.”

Learn more about Arturo S. Rodriguez.

Watch the webcast.

While the sports world watches closely this week to see if the Los Angeles Dodgers will recreate the magic that last brought the franchise a world championship in 1988, the Fowler School of Law on Monday hosted a talk by Molly Knight, sports journalist and best-selling author of The Best Team Money Can Buy: The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Wild Struggle to Build a Baseball Powerhouse.

“We are pleased to welcome such an engaging guest as part of this year’s lineup of distinguished speakers,” Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow said. “Molly’s expertise is impressive. She brings a broad context of the state of the sports industry and the current issues surrounding it.” Knight’s presentation is the latest in a series of sports industry insiders who have visited the Fowler School of Law this year, including Major League Soccer founder Alan Rothenberg and Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten.

Knight described her extraordinary path to sports journalism and her work during the eight seasons she served as a baseball writer for ESPN The Magazine. Her unconventional route to becoming a writer began as a biology student at Stanford University. After college, she moved to New York City where she worked as a bartender and waited tables to make ends meet while she forged her way as a freelance writer in a competitive market. She started out writing for a now defunct indie rock magazine, making $5 for each music review she submitted. In hindsight, Knight recalled that interviewing up-and-coming musicians, such as members of Arcade Fire after an early gig at a grocery store, prepared her for her future work with athletes. She later began picking up freelance work as a sports writer, ultimately landing a contract with ESPN The Magazine. On her route from biology major to full-time sport writer, she told the students, “You don’t have to know what you want to do – it’ll come to you. It’s never too late, unless you make it too late.”

In 2014, she moved to Los Angeles to begin writing her bestselling book, which details how the Dodgers were re-made from top to bottom, moving out of bankruptcy in 2012 with the most expensive sale in sports history. Knight shared anecdotes from her research in writing her book, including her work with star pitcher Clayton Kershaw. In describing the strength of his character, she recounted how she happened to be interviewing him in his home when he received confirmation of his $215 million contract renewal. When the news broke – and his cell phone begin buzzing incessantly with messages – Knight said that he insisted on honoring his commitment for the interview, proceeding to answer her questions as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

On how she has watched basketball star Magic Johnson handle his role as a co-owner of the Dodgers, Knight said, “He has an instinct that you can’t teach to people. I think one of the reasons that he’s been so successful at what he does, and he’s been successful in everything, is that he surrounds himself with good people who know what he doesn’t.”

Knight fielded questions from the audience, ranging from the future of sports broadcasting to her interactions with other sports superstars. The most important – and revealing – question may have come from a student who asked about her reaction to the recent allegations of widespread sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. Knight related her own experience as a female sports journalist, explaining that she had been shooed out of locker rooms – assumed to be a girlfriend or masseuse – and sometimes had athletes dismiss her attempts for an interview altogether. She regrets having to tell “young female reporters that you have to have a thick skin to be in there,” she said. “You’ve got to be able to handle cat calls or comments or jokes.” She also recounted the aggressive efforts ESPN has taken to address the problem over the past decade, including sexual harassment awareness training for its broadcasters and staff.

When asked about the future of networks such as ESPN in light of the news about recent layoffs, she pointed to the growing number of “cord cutters” – those who choose to end their subscriptions to cable television and opt for other options such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. She compared the issues facing broadcast sports to the trends that have decimated the journalism industry, pointing in part to the Internet and changes in technology, and predicted drastic changes ahead for the cable industry.

As the event concluded, Knight ended with her World Series forecast: “Dodgers in six!”

Learn more about Chapman’s Entertainment Law Program.

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law alumna and Board of Advisors member Dr. Zeinab H. Dabbah, M.D. (J.D. ’12) has been recognized with the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award for her exceptional work within and beyond the Chapman community.

“We could not be more proud to claim Zeinab as one of our distinguished alumni and board members,” Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow said. “The impact that Zeinab has made in her career and the Chapman community exemplifies the greatest qualities of the Chapman spirit.”

Dr. Dabbah was one of fifteen alumni honored at the inaugural Chapman University Distinguished Alumni Awards Celebration earlier this month. The honorees were recognized for the different ways they have used their talents to shape their respective industries and better their communities. Dr. Dabbah, who is an accomplished leader in the medical and legal communities, has long been a supporter of the law school and university.

Within the Chapman community, Dr. Dabbah and her husband, Dr. Daniel Temianka, have been great friends of the law school and university, contributing to the naming of the Professor Frank Doti Lecture Hall in Kennedy Hall as well as founding an endowed music professorship and scholarship in memory of Daniel’s father, renowned musician Henri Temianka. Dr. Dabbah serves as vice chair of the Chapman University Board of Trustees and serves on the Crean College of Health and Behavior Sciences Leadership Council. She joined the Fowler School of Law Board of Advisors in 2017.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life attending law school at Chapman, and it has been an honor to serve on the Board of Trustees,” Dabbah said. “There are no words to describe my gratitude for being chosen as a distinguished alumna and to be amongst such amazing recipients.”

Dr. Dabbah began her career in the medical field as a primary care physician and internist at Healthcare Partners Medical Group, where she also served as a regional utilization management medical director. She then became managing medical director with Blue Cross of California before serving as a senior medical director and regional vice president with Anthem Blue Cross. She is also a Certified Health Insurance Executive (CHIE) from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). She earned her M.D. from Cairo University Medical School and completed her residency at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. In addition to her work with Chapman, she has served on the clinical faculty at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She earned her J.D., cum laude, with an emphasis certificate in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution from the Fowler School of Law. She is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Zeinab Dabbah in San Marino, which provides legal counsel to health plans, hospitals and medical groups.

For the third straight year, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law welcomed up-and-coming scholars to participate in the 2017 Southern California Junior Faculty Workshop, held on Saturday, October 28, 2017. The workshop brought together faculty members from Southern California law schools to share their most recent scholarly work and seek feedback from their peers. All junior faculty members from Southern California law schools were invited to submit proposals based on draft papers, with six scholars participating in the workshop.

Workshop Speakers and Topics:

Leslie Culver, Legal Writing Professor and Program Director, A.I.M. for Law Diversity Pipeline Program, California Western School of Law: Gender Sidelining, Impostor Phenomenon, and the Rise of Self Sidelining 

Tabrez Ebrahim, Assistant Professor of Law, California Western School of Law: In-Silico Experimentation

Shawn Fields, Professor of Legal Writing, University of San Diego School of Law: From Guantánamo to Syria: The Extraterritorial Rights of Immigrants in the Age of “Extreme Vetting”

Ronnie Gipson, Assistant Professor of Law, University of La Verne College of Law: Stop, Don’t Arrest the Pilot!—The Call to Remove Knee Jerk Criminalization of Pilot Error from Aircraft Accident Investigations

Catherine Hardee, Assistant Professor of Law, California Western School of Law: Veil Piercing and the Untapped Power of State Courts

Timothy McFarlin, Assistant Professor of Law, University of La Verne College of Law: Pirate Art: Fair Use and The Who Sell Out

The Fowler School of Law was honored to provide a forum where rising stars of the Southern California academy could gather to exchange ideas and provide feedback on their works-in-progress, and network with other young scholars. During the workshop, each scholar had an opportunity to present their paper before receiving peer comments during a group discussion.

The event was organized by Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development Donald Kochan, furthering the school’s commitment to facilitating a forum for scholarly exchange. While the Fowler School of Law has hosted or co-sponsored the workshop for the past four years, the program was founded more than a decade ago when a group of young scholars – including Dean Parlow when he was a junior faculty member at Chapman – self-organized to create a collaborative setting to exchange ideas and provide feedback about works-in-progress.

“Chapman faculty members are committed to producing high quality scholarship,” said Dean Parlow. “The law school is also committed to providing multiple forums to bring together scholars to talk about legal issues, to share research, and to seek guidance on improving their published work. This workshop is an example of how we are fulfilling that commitment.”

Other programs designed to further the law school’s goals in this area include the Chapman Dialogue Lecture Series, the annual Junior Faculty Works-in-Progress Conference, and additional internal and external faculty workshops.

The most recent installation of the Chapman Dialogue Lecture Series welcomed PIMCO Managing Director and Global Counsel David Flattum to the Fowler School of Law on Wednesday, November 1, 2017. Based in Newport Beach, PIMCO is one of the world’s premier fixed-income investment managers.

“We were pleased to welcome David, particularly to speak to our students,” Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow said. “The practical techniques and lawyering skills he shared are invaluable to aspiring attorneys, as they start out in their own legal careers.”

During his presentation, Flattum discussed his path from first-year associate to Latham & Watkins partner, providing practical advice and professional insights to the law students in attendance. He stressed the importance of seeking out learning opportunities. “My perspective [as an associate] was that I wanted to learn as much as I could, and I wanted to learn as fast as I could. I really encourage you to follow whatever your passion is, but also keep an open mind.” On working with clients, he stressed the importance of collaboration, communication, and the ability to adapt one’s own style to fit the clients’ needs. He also talked about the need to recognize and cure areas of miscommunication. This philosophy has become a cornerstone in his strength as a negotiator. “If you bring people together, and over-communicate, you can get stuff done,” he said.

When discussing his transition to in-house counsel, Flattum stressed the importance of maintaining personal and professional growth in a career. He also described the unique concerns he faces as chief legal officer of various PIMCO funds. The global company remains one of the largest in its field, trading billions of dollars daily for a wide range of institutions including corporations, banks, universities, foundations, and private pensions.

Prior to joining PIMCO in 2006, Flattum served as managing director, U.S. general counsel, and chief operating officer of Allianz Asset Management of America. As a partner with the Orange County office of Latham & Watkins, he focused on mergers and acquisitions.

During the question and answer portion of the event, Flattum discussed the great recession’s impact on his work as general counsel of an investment firm and the impact of evolving technology on the industry. In closing, he encouraged students to use the years following law school to pursue different types of work to gain diverse experiences. “It is a moment where you have a great deal of energy and you can do so much good,” he said. ”Invest big in yourself by finding opportunities for experience, even if they’re not perfect.”

View Webcast of Flattum’s Dialogue.

Through astute personal networking and support from the law school’s Career Services Office, Hallie Lindsey (JD ’19) secured a position as a law clerk for the Major League Baseball Players Association’s Business Affairs Department in New York City this summer.

Lindsey, who is eager to work in the area of sports law after graduation, handled corporate sponsorships and events for a sports team and sports agency before coming to Chapman University Fowler School of Law. When she learned about the position with the Players Association, she seized the opportunity to combine her prior experience in the sports industry with the palette of practical legal skills she has developed at Chapman.

As a law clerk, some of her legal work this summer touched on areas of her prior work in sports marketing, providing a deeper context to the subtleties of the legal issues involved. Lindsey was responsible for providing legal research on a variety of issues related to players’ rights.  She also researched right of publicity issues that arose in connection with the launch of a new social media app and helped draft licensing agreements with the association’s marketing clients, including a major cell phone advertiser account.

Lindsey also helped in the negotiation process for deals with major advertisers, serving as a liaison between agents and brand partners. This work provided an excellent, hands-on learning opportunity to enhance her negotiation skills. “It was very interesting because I got to see the legal ramifications of the work I previously did on the marketing side,” she said.

According to Lindsey, the internship solidified her passion and desire to pursue a career in sports law. In addition to putting her legal skills to work in the day-to-day operations of one of the nation’s most powerful sports unions, the internship also helped her expand her network of legal and business contacts in the sports world. “For me, that was number one – being able to create those connections and relationships,” she said.

Diversity & Social Justice Forum

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law’s student-run Diversity and Social Justice Forum hosted its third-annual symposium titled “Changing Institutions, Disappearing Protections” on Friday, November 3, 2017. The event focused on civil rights, immigration, and health care reform and featured a keynote presentation by Co-founder and Executive Director of Life After Hate, Inc. Sammy Rangel.

Symposium Presenters

Opening Remarks

Matthew Parlow, Dean and Donald P. Kennedy Chair in Law, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law

Panel 1

Amira Hasenbush, Jim Kepner Law and Policy Fellow, the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law

Kimberly LaSalle, Principal, Law Offices of Kimberly LaSalle; President, Thurgood Marshall Bar Association (Moderator)

Patricia Leary, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Law, Whittier Law School

Susan Shelley, Editorial Writer and Columnist, Orange County Register

Keynote

Sammy Rangel, Co-founder and Executive Director, Life After Hate, Inc.; Founder, Formers Anonymous; Author

Panel 2

Andres Bustamante, Principal, Law Offices of Andres Bustamante; Immigration Rights Advocate

Karina Gutierrez, Staff Attorney, Public Law Center Immigration Law Section

Julie Marzouk, Assistant Professor, Clinical Faculty, Co-Director, Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law (Moderator)

Edna Monroy, Author, Immigrant Advocate

Panel 3

Lucas Botello, Campaign Manager, Sam Jammal for Congress (California’s 39^th Congressional District)

Kurt Eggert, Professor of Law, Director, Alona Cortese Elder Law Center, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law (Moderator)

Mirielle Jacobson, Associate Professor of Economics and Public Policy, Director, Center for Health Care Management and Policy, UCI Paul Merage School of Business

Alan Sedley, Partner, Sedley Health Law Group

Manohar Sukumar, Lead Staff Attorney, Public Law Center

The symposium opened with the panel “Who Watches the Watchmen?: Civil Rights and Accountability Under the New Administration,” which looked at the Department of Justice’s shift to socially conservative positions on major cases involving civil rights. The second panel, “’Crimmigration’: A Critical Look at Rationales for Increasing Deportation,” explored the intersection between border security, the human rights of those crossing the border, and related policies. The day ended with “American Health Care in the Face of Current Reform Efforts: How Much Should the Public Expect from Government Programs and Why?,” which analyzed how history has influenced the Affordable Care Act and provided predictions about the future of the healthcare industry.

“There is nothing more important than having symposia where we talk about issues and try to educate people, provide information, and have civil discussions,” Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow said.

In his keynote luncheon address, Rangel spoke about his path to becoming involved in Life After Hate, as well as his approach to working as a counselor with troubled populations. Life After Hate, founded in 2011 by former members of the far-right extremist movement, works with individuals who wish to leave a life of hate and violence. Rangel encouraged the audience to avoid quick judgments of people or groups and to practice compassion to help heal communities torn apart by hatred.

In discussing his own life path, Rangel described how he ran away from home to escape abusive parents at age 11 and began a criminal lifestyle that lasted for more than a decade, culminating in years of incarceration. Rangel eventually turned his life around, earning a Master of Social Work degree, cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago.

In recounting his life in prison, he told of being labeled as “incorrigible” by prison counselors and asked the audience to consider how the country’s judicial system can be changed to avoid reinforcing criminal behavior. His also shared insights into his work on a five-year project with the Department of Justice, where he developed a new approach to working with inmates and former inmates that significantly reduced rates of recidivism.

“Until we start talking about what it takes to pull people out of these systems that are broken; until we can reconnect with their humanity and help them reconnect with their own levels of humanity; we’re not going to be effective in any strategy that we try,” Rangel said. “No one is irredeemable, and no one is incorrigible, and no one is broken beyond repair.”

In addition to the annual symposium, the Diversity and Social Justice Forum publishes an online publication that addresses practice-oriented issues of social justice.

Learn more about the Diversity and Social Justice Forum.

Watch the symposium panels:

Panel 1

Keynote & Panel 2

Panel 3

As one of the law school’s earliest graduates, Heather Bush (JD ’99) sometimes marvels at where her law degree has taken her. A member of Chapman University School of Law’s second graduating class, she moved to Florida after law school and began her job search. She landed a position in construction defect defense, where she worked as a litigator for the next six years while building the foundation for a tremendously successful career.

Now, nearly two decades later, she leads a team as Vice President, General Counsel, and Compliance Officer for the North America Operating Group of Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection and certification (TIC). The company delivers high quality services to help clients meet the growing challenges of quality, safety, environmental protection and social responsibility. Bureau Veritas encompasses eight businesses worldwide, with 1,400 offices and laboratories in 140 countries. “It has been an amazing journey,” Bush said. “Never in a million years did I expect to be hired to manage litigation for a multi-billion dollar company, let alone become its North American General Counsel.”

Bush believes the foundation she received at Chapman prepared her well, and she appreciates the personal approach Chapman took in developing its students – a hallmark of the law school that continues to this day. “Here I am 20 years later and I can still rattle off my professors’ names,” she said. “That’s a testament to how inspirational and connected the faculty is. Those experiences have absolutely made me a better lawyer.”

She also points to foundational training she received at Chapman, including the critical art of listening and a collaborative approach to work. “I think I have a very unique perspective because the law school was so new that students and faculty were really working together to build the institution,” she said. That team approach has carried through her career. “I’ve always been about being collaborative,” she said. “I knew I couldn’t be a subject matter expert in everything , so I have always surrounded myself with a bright team.”

These days, she enjoys her expanded role overseeing litigation, risk management, compliance, employment law issues, real estate, QHSE , among other areas for the company’s North American Operating Group.  “It’s hard to say I miss working in litigation full time, but I do enjoy getting to dabble in it once in a while,” she said. Bush oversees a team of six, explaining that her team, in essence, provides customer service to the firm’s business partners. She believes that not portraying her office as strictly a legal department has garnered more respect – and success – from her business colleagues.

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law’s mediation clinics received the 2017 Ninth Circuit Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Education Award, presented by the Ninth Circuit ADR Committee at a ceremony in the law school’s appellate courtroom on Thursday, November 9, 2017. ADR Committee Chair, Andrew P. Gordon, U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada presented the award to Mediation Clinic Director David Dowling.

“Chapman is honored to accept this year’s ADR Education Award,” Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow said. “Under the guidance of Professor Dowling, our mediation clinics have proven to be important resources in Orange and Riverside Counties, positively impacting those communities and providing students with a wealth of hands-on experience.”

The Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit, the governing body of the federal courts in nine western states and two Pacific Island jurisdictions, created the award to recognize ABA accredited law schools that have demonstrated a commitment to advancing education in the field of alternative dispute resolution.

United States Circuit Judge Norman Randy Smith speaks as Fowler Law Dean Matt Parlow looks on

“Receiving this award is a great honor; and to have the Ninth Circuit judges at Chapman to meet with our students is incredible,” Dowling said.

Through the clinic program, students become certified mediators who provide services to approximately 700 actual parties in Orange and Riverside Counties each year. Mediation and ADR clinical opportunities at Chapman include the in-court Mediation Clinic, which provides dispute resolution services in civil disputes, restraining orders, and probate cases; the Criminal Justice Dispute Resolution Program, which delivers mediation, counseling, and dispute resolution training for incarcerated youth; and the Restorative Justice Clinic, where student mediators resolve conflicts between juvenile offenders and victims as an alternative to probation.

Fowler School of Law students have mediated 400 cases this year in Riverside County alone, most recently resolving a half-million-dollar probate case.  The Restorative Justice Program has a 96 percent success rate this year, with only one of the 26 participants re-offending post-mediation.  In addition to the clinics’ work in Southern California, Professor Dowling and his students have also provided training in alternative dispute resolution to international attorneys and law students.

The Ninth Circuit ADR Committee was created in 1997 to promote the use of ADR programs in the circuit, beyond the traditional practice of assigning judges to preside at settlement conferences. The Committee also developed a comprehensive model local rule for ADR, which was adopted by the Judicial Council in 1999.

Three faculty members from the Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law were featured at a November conference headlined by Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch.

John Eastman, Ph.D., Henry Salvatori professor of law and community service, Donald Kochan, associate dean for research and faculty development and Parker S. Kennedy professor of law, and Ronald D. Rotunda, Doy and Dee Henley chair and distinguished professor of jurisprudence, appeared at the Federalist Society’s national lawyers convention in Washington.

John Eastman

The theme of the prominent conservative and libertarian organization’s 2017 conference was “Administrative Agencies and the Regulatory State.”

Eastman presented on the topic “Is Everyone Now for Federalism?” and discussed shifting political stances on the role of the federal government and rights reserved for the states.

Donald Kochan (Photo/Matt Wood: The Federalist Society)

Chapman’s Kochan spoke on a panel titled “Environmental Law Without Congress: Are Alternatives to Legislation Eclipsing the Congressional Role?” and addressed issues including the Antiquities Act.

Rotunda’s subject was “Using the Licensing Power of the Administrative State: Model Rule 8.4(g),” examining a new American Bar Association ethics rule.

Ronald D. Rotunda

Other prominent legal figures who served as panelists or moderators at the convention included Yale Law School Dean Heather K. Gerken, Judge William H. Pryor Jr. of the U.S.  Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, Judge Amul Thapar of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Barry Anderson and Paulette Brown, former president of the ABA.

Display image at top/Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch was the keynote speaker at the Federalist Society convention in November. (Photo/Matt Wood: The Federalist Society)

A group of 101 alumni of the Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law passed the most recent California bar exam, with many returning to campus for a formal swearing-in ceremony Dec. 4 in Memorial Hall.

The state oath was administered by Orange County Superior Court Judge Layne H. Melzer, and the federal oath by U.S. District Court Judge Josephine L. Staton.

Fowler School of Law Dean Matthew J. Parlow

Fowler graduates taking the bar exam for the first time in July exceeded the overall first-time pass rate of the famously difficult California bar exam for the 11^th year in a row, with 65 percent of Fowler’s first-time applicants successful, The pass rate for all state bar applicants, including repeat applicants, was 49.6 percent.

The 101 Fowler alumni admitted to the bar included 87 first-time test-takers, 13 repeat-takers and one first-time California applicant who previously had passed the Minnesota bar.

“You have accomplished something extraordinary in passing the most difficult bar exam in the country,” Fowler School of Law Dean Matthew J. Parlow told the group, noting they enter “an honorable and learned profession.”

“I encourage you to embrace the great responsibility that goes along with it, and I can’t wait to see all the great ways in which you impact your communities,” he said.

Fowler offers extensive bar preparation

Many of the newest members of the bar from Chapman credited the bar preparation course offered to Fowler students free of charge after graduation as they study for the state bar exam in July.

“I found it to be very valuable,” said Scott Liebert (JD ’17). “It was one of those things where there is so much time over the summer but it constantly feels like you’re running out of time. To have a specific place to go every day was definitely huge and brought structure to the program.”

The class initially meets for three hours every day, then pares down to several times a week. Last summer, participants in the intensive bar-prep course combined to submit more than 4,800 practice essays and performance tests. Fowler also offers two for-credit bar preparation courses to students while they are still in law school.

Liebert served as a teaching assistant for the post-graduation course under Mario Mainero, Fowler professor of academic achievement and executive director of bar preparation, and was weighing two job offers after passing the bar.

Allison Howard (JD ’17) also said she would “highly, highly recommend” the free bar-prep class for Fowler graduates, adding that she felt better prepared than students from other schools who did only online preparation. “I think I passed because of that class,” she said.

Now working as an associate attorney for Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara in Newport Beach, Howard said the firm set up its own swearing-in ceremony but she chose to attend Fowler’s.

“It was meaningful,” she said. “I wanted to go be with my classmates.”

From the glittering skyscrapers of Dubai to the bustling commerce of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, special zones that operate under different economic rules than the areas around them are a familiar global phenomenon.

Yet new types of these generally duty-free zones are emerging, creating dramatic experiments in government that inspired the topic for the Chapman Law Review Symposium 2018, “Special Jurisdictions Within and Outside of the United States,” on Jan. 26 at the Dale E. Fowler School of Law.

Many entrepreneurs and political idealists seeking lower taxes and less regulation are interested in ventures involving Special Economic Zones, or SEZs, with unique government frameworks. Examples around the world include a planned floating startup society in the waters of French Polynesia and the Honduran government’s proposed Zones for Employment and Economic Development — known as ZEDEs for their Spanish acronym.

John Chisholm, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, speaks at the Chapman Law Review Symposium 2018. Photo/Amanda Galemmo ’20.

“We’re in this kind of Cambrian age of zones,” said panelist Tom W. Bell, Fowler professor of law and author of a new book on special jurisdictions, Your Next Government? From the Nation State to Stateless Nations. “There are going to be mistakes, but the point is, there’s a lot of experimentation in governance going on now. It’s really exciting for people who do the law.”

Seeking a new Silicon Valley

Keynote speaker John Chisholm, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and angel investor, addressed law students and legal professionals in a talk titled “Design the Optimal Legal System for Your SEZ.”

“Everywhere I go around the world, people ask, ‘How can I create another Silicon Valley?’” said Chisholm, a member of MIT’s board of trustees who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. He also is the author of the entrepreneurship guide Unleash Your Inner Company.

Although the Silicon Valley is not an SEZ, entrepreneurs are seeking to recreate the phenomenon of the business incubator that evolved in Northern California. Among Chisholm’s recommendations for policymakers establishing SEZs were adopting common law traditions with statutes that are “responsive not prescriptive,” aiming for low tax rates and light regulation, seeking long-term viability instead of luring investors with short-term tax incentives, and not trying to “pick winners” but creating an environment for all entrepreneurs.

Other questions the symposium sought to consider included the issue of how SEZs fit within conventional models of state authority, and whether Foreign Trade Zones – as SEZs are known in the U.S. – raise constitutional issues. It also aimed to weigh whether the U.S. should reconsider the surging popularity of the country’s more than 200 FTZs or leverage their success.

From ports and airports to floating startups

The law review event, led by senior symposium editor Cindy Park (J.D. ’18), included morning remarks on Foreign Trade Zones by Lotta Moberg, Ph.D., author of the book, The Political Economy of Special Economic Zones, followed by a discussion between Moberg and Fowler professor of law Deepa Badrinarayana.

Fowler Prof. Tom Bell Photo/Donald Kochan

An afternoon panel on SEZs and international law moderated by Fowler professor of law Lan Cao featured Michael Castle Miller,  founder of the nonprofit Refugee Cities, and Bell, who addressed ways that special international zones may infringe on the rights and liberties of refugees. In a side note, in addition to his role at Fowler, Bell is a legal consultant to Blue Frontiers, a company formed to build and administer the startup islands the French Polynesian government authorized in January in an agreement with the Seasteading Institute. The target for the first islands is 2020.

The symposium’s final session considering the future of SEZs featured Mark Frazier, chairman of the Startup Societies Foundation, and Sam Mulopulos, an expert on international trade, banking, housing, technology and communications with extensive Capitol Hill experience. It was moderated by Bell.

The global proliferation of SEZs could create employment opportunities for lawyers, some participants and attendees noted during the question-and-answer session after Chisholm’s keynote speech. Joe McKinney, CEO of the Startup Societies Foundation, said potential legal roles included drafting legislation, negotiating with governments, working with private developers or negotiating with businesses.

Display image at top/Rendering of a proposed floating SEZ planned for the waters of French Polynesia by the Seasteading Institute and builder Blue Frontiers. (Courtesy of Blue Frontiers)

The Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law has received a $1 million gift from Sherry and Parker Kennedy.

Park Kennedy is currently the chair of the Fowler School of Law’s Board of Advisors and vice chair of the University’s Board of Trustees. He also serves as chairman of First American Financial Corporation.

The focus of the Kennedys’ gift is supporting the work of the Fowler School of Law’s nationally recognized faculty in expanding opportunities for students. The gift establishes several professorships, as well as a specified fund for excellence. This gift is in addition to the Kennedys’ support of the first annual Junior Faculty Works-in-Progress Conference that Fowler Law School hosted last September.

“The Kennedy Family have been incredible supporters of the Fowler School of Law since its founding,” said Matt Parlow, the law school’s dean. “From Kennedy Hall to the Donald P. Kennedy Chair in Law to scholarship support for our top students, the Kennedy Family have been extraordinary partners in driving the success of this great law school. Park’s enthusiastic support means a great deal to us. This generous gift expands our faculty’s work in key areas for students and faculty scholarship.”

Park Kennedy commented on the quality of Fowler’s professors.

Park Kennedy

“The Fowler School of Law has an excellent faculty that prepares students for the practice of law through its innovative, practice-ready curriculum,” said Kennedy. “There is a lot of momentum at the Fowler School of Law, and we are thrilled to help expand student opportunities and support and recognize those faculty working with our students.”

This is the second million-dollar gift for the Fowler School of Law in the past year. The law school received a $1.125 million gift in August from alumnus Sam Mirejovsky ’14 and his law partner, James Bergener.

“Million dollar gifts are not very common in legal education, and receiving two in a year is a testament to the belief, support and confidence that our donors have in the important and impactful work that we do here every day with our students,” said Parlow.

Professors Schultz, Kochan, Heller Recognized

Part of the Kennedys’ gift will create the Kennedy Professorship in Dispute Resolution―a five-year term professorship providing recognition to the Fowler School of Law’s competitions program. Professor Nancy Schultz, who oversees the program, will assume this professorship. The gift will provide financial support to create more opportunities for students to participate in local, regional and national competitions.

Another portion of the gift will endow the Parker S. Kennedy Professorship in Law. The endowment will be used to support the scholarly and intellectual life of the Fowler School of Law. As the inaugural Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, Professor Donald Kochan will hold this professorship.

Yet another part of the gift will go to support a third professorship―the Kennedy Professorship in Law. This will rotate annually to support a different member of the Fowler School of Law faculty and a new program or initiative. Kathy Heller, who runs the Entertainment Law Program, will hold the Kennedy Professorship in Law for 2018. The financial support with this professorship will be used to facilitate events among alumni working in the entertainment field to help both alumni and current students build connections through networking.

The last piece of the gift will create the Kennedy Excellence Fund, which is dedicated to professional development.

Display image at top/Fowler School of Law Dean Matt Parlow and Park Kennedy in the lobby of Donald P. Kennedy Hall, which was named for Kennedy’s father in 1999.

The Flint water crisis, linked to more than a dozen deaths and devastating health consequences for many residents of the Michigan city, raises fundamental questions about governance and justice, Michigan Special Assistant Attorney General Noah Hall told an audience Feb. 8 at the first Chapman Dialogue lecture of 2018 at the Dale E. Fowler School of Law.

Noah Hall

“The residents of Flint spent two years drinking water that is deadly, plain and simple,” said Hall, also a professor of law at Wayne State University Law School. “It’s killed people in Flint and shortened lifespans in Flint, destroyed IQs in Flint, destroyed health in Flint.”

Co-sponsored by the Schmid College of Science and Technology, the dialogue was assisted by commenter Jason Keller, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences.

Flint’s water crisis unfolded after the state took over the city’s finances because of budget deficits and the city turned to the Flint River as a residential water source, resulting in insufficiently treated water tainted with lead flowing into residents’ homes.

“The people in Flint drank that water for two years instead of using the safe water that was previously available and coming through from Detroit and Lake Huron because of a governance decision, and it was a governance decision made by somebody who was not elected or accountable to the people who have to live with the consequences of that decision,” Hall said.

As a special assistant to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, Hall is charged with seeking justice on behalf of the people of Michigan.

“For me, justice is not people behind bars or paying a lot of money, frankly. I view people behind bars or moving money around as maybe the best we can do at this moment to give people a sense of justice, but those are certainly Band-Aids at best,” Hall said. “They don’t give people their lives back or restore their children or their families or their health.”

Hall said there is a three-part plan in motion:

• Criminal charges. Fourteen current or former government officials face criminal charges, including five charged with felony involuntary manslaughter in connection with deaths in the Legionnaire’s disease outbreak linked to the contaminated water supply.
• Civil cases. The Michigan Attorney General’s office has sued two engineering firms for their roles in the crisis for negligence, public nuisance, and in one case, fraud.
• Constitutional civil rights claims. These are claims against state and federal government officials involved for violating residents’ constitutional rights, Hall said.

“All these are very challenging,” Hall said.  In particular, Hall suggested that the success of the constitutional claims would hinge in part on the courts recognizing a constitutional right to environment, including an individual right to drink safe water.  While Hall notes that courts have previously “all but uniformly rejected this,” he hopes the Flint cases will establish a new legal precedent.

“Sometimes when the legal system is hit with something that so clearly shows the flaws and the shortcomings and the folks being left behind, the legal system is forced to change,” Hall said in summarizing the issues. “I do hold out hope that the constitutional right to environment is going to be one of the silver linings that will emerge from the Flint water crisis.”

The Chapman Dialogue Series

The lunchtime lecture series features innovative and thought-provoking legal scholars as well as some of the nation’s most prominent practitioners, leaders in business and politicians, speaking on topics of current interest. Speakers present their research and ideas to a wide audience of faculty, students, alumni and special guests. Each dialogue concludes with a question-and-answer session, typically led by Fowler Law faculty. Upcoming events include a talk on free speech on campus and a dialogue on the evolution of the sports business with Peter Ueberroth on March 15.

Next in the series:

Free Speech on Campus with Eduardo M. Peñalver, March 6

Cornell Law School Dean Eduardo M. Peñalver’s talk on “Protecting Free Speech and Maintaining an Inclusive Campus Culture” on Tuesday, March 6, strikes at the current challenge on many campuses to protect free speech while maintaining security. Peñalver, appointed the Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law at Cornell in 2014, previously was the John P. Wilson Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School.  A former Rhodes Scholar, Peñalver earned a degree from Yale Law School and clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and for U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Display image at top/Noah Hall, Michigan special assistant attorney general and Wayne State University professor of law, speaks at the Chapman Dialogue lecture. (Photo/Livi Dom ’20)