TRUHLAR and TRUHLAR, L.L.P.
June 1, 2010 Newsletter
Doris is on the 2010-2011 Board of Directors of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association and will be making some trips with the president of the organization, including to Durango and Pueblo. Doris and Bob recently attended the CWBA convention in Vail, where they organized a Trivia Bowl Team that competed against seven other highly competitive teams. Our team was “Team Xena.” Bob was the only guy on our team. We took top prize; everyone won wine and chocolate. Doris and Bob have served on the board several times, including when Doris was president (2002-03). Doris is serving on the Alumni Council at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and also is planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands in September with a friend.
Bob Truhlar recently spoke at a two-day Employment Law seminar in Denver and received kudos for his informative and entertaining lecture. His topic was wage claims. Bob was listed as a Superlawyer (voted on by his peers) in the field of Employment & Labor in the April 2010 issue of 5280 Magazine.
The Truhlars and most of the staff had a wonderful gala celebration with departing law clerk Robley Sicard, who graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in May and has returned to Texas (where she’s from) to take the bar examination and practice law. Robley’s parents, Judge Dave and Phyllis Evans, joined her in hosting a party at Le Central restaurant, where toasts were made to the Truhlars (for mentoring Robley). Robley also showered everyone from Truhlar and Truhlar with gifts. We really miss Robley, who is a graduate of Texas A&M University. We tried to convince her to stay here and work for Truhlar and Truhlar, but she thinks it is “too cold” in Colorado.
Associate attorney Mary Jo Lowrey recently won an appeal (in a family law relations case) that had many complicated issues. Way to go, Mary Jo! She also was in a serious car accident in May, but is pretty much in one piece. Her Subaru was a wreck but stayed in one piece, too. Nevertheless, it is in the car hospital for eight weeks, and Mary Jo is driving a flashy red American-made car.
Carol Zumwalt, our paralegal who primarily does domestic relations work, has been with Truhlar and Truhlar for almost three years now. Way to go, Carol! Last year, Carol and her husband Brett had their first child, Taylor Renet Zumwalt. Taylor, who is 16 months old now, “is growing up so fast,” Carol says, “she’s walking, running, and climbing and she seems to learn a new word every week!” We think Taylor is a real cutie! This summer, Carol is looking forward to a Zumwalt family reunion in July and also a trip to Las Vegas in August with her brother to celebrate his 21st birthday.
When you come in to our office, the face at the front desk is our receptionist and employment law paralegal, Emily Ploch. Emily has now been with Truhlar and Truhlar for two years. Emily is going back home to Wisconsin at the end of June to enjoy vacation time with her old college gang at a cabin up north in Ladysmith, WI. There will be canoeing, grilling, bonfires, horseback riding, fishing, and a lot of reminiscing. Emily will also be doing a lot of hiking around Colorado, as she was challenged by her friends to hike Long’s Peak in September. This will be Emily’s first fourteener and she is excited but nervous! She’s looking forward to having her sister/roommate around for another summer and is hoping they can explore more of the city.
Angela Forss works for Truhlar and Truhlar as a law clerk. Angela is a third- year law student at DU. She was born and raised in Iowa, and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Business Management Entrepreneurship. Prior to law school, Angela interned for the Juvenile Public Defenders office in her hometown of Sioux City, Iowa. Angela has a passion for family law and has been involved in several student groups at DU including the ADR Society and the Children’s Legal Advocacy Group, where she organized DU’s annual Family and Juvenile Law Mentorship Dinner. Angela received an award for Outstanding Volunteerism for her work with Metro Volunteer Lawyers. She interned for MVL last summer and continues to take part in MVL’s Family Law Court Program and actively participates on the MVL Board. This past year, Angela participated in the Child Advocacy Practicum at DU through the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, where she served as guardian ad litem on dependency and neglect cases and juvenile delinquency cases. Angela also interned for District Court Judge Angela Arkin this past spring, where she gained invaluable experience working in a domestic relations docket. Outside of law school and work, Angela stays busy training her new German shepherd puppy, planning her wedding at the Notre Dame Basilica, and admiring her baby niece born this May.
Erika Omer is a summer extern who is entering her second year of law school at DU. Erika is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Colorado College in 2009 with a major in international political economy. She is interested in a career in employment law and plans to seek other externship opportunities in the fall to further that pursuit. Erika has experience working as a legal secretary at a law firm in her hometown of Milwaukee. She is excited for a great learning experience at Truhlar and Truhlar this summer.
Also externing this summer is Amanda Lawler. She is entering her third year of law school at DU (Truhlar and Truhlar only has DU clerks and externs). Amanda is from Fort Collins, Colorado and also attended Texas A&M University on a Track Scholarship. She graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. Amanda has a strong interest in Family Law and has previously worked for the Denver District Attorney's Office in the Family Violence Unit. After graduation, Amanda hopes to work for a small or medium sized firm concentrating in Family Law. After graduating, Amanda also hopes to become involved in International Justice Mission. IJM is an organization of Christian attorneys. She hopes to lead one or several of the organization's field offices located all over the world. In these field offices American attorneys help the local offices become self sustaining in successfully prosecuting cases involving illegal property seizure, slavery, and human trafficking. Amanda hopes to have the opportunity to become involved in various mission opportunities. She is excited to be working at Truhlar and Truhlar and is looking forward to a great summer!
We love taking Angela, Erika and Amanda to meetings with us – they are our “A-Team,” and we’re changing Erika’s name to Arika, so it matches the other two names.
Have a wonderful summer!