Law Newsmakers

Achievements

An article written by attorney Dee Wampler was published in the April edition of The Missouri Bar Journal. The article, "Courts to Criminal Defense Attorneys: Shape Up!" discussed leading state and federal court cases requiring attorneys to conduct thorough investigations and to properly research and file pretrial motions regarding more stringent standards imposed upon attorneys by the courts.

Joseph S. Passanise, a partner with The Law Offices of Dee Wampler, was elected vice president of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers at the association's annual meeting in St. Louis. The association, which has 323 members, represents the interests of criminal defense attorneys and their clients.

Richard L. Schnake, partner with the law firm of Neale & Newman LLP, was reappointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to its Appellate Practice Committee. He was reappointed for a three-year term on the committee, which comprises judges from the three districts of the Missouri Court of Appeals and lawyers from around the state. The committee works to streamline procedures and practice in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, and proposes amendments to court rules affecting appellate practice. Schnake has practiced law in Springfield since 1983 and he has been a partner with Neale & Newman since 1988.

Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois, received the 2004 Regius Award from the department of social sciences at Evangel University. The annual award honors alumni of the social services department for outstanding professional accomplishments. Der-Yeghiayan, a 1975 graduate of Evangel, took the oath of office as a federal judge in 2003. He is the first district court judge of Armenian ancestry.

Attorney Rita Sanders was appointed 2003 Businesswoman of the year by the Business Advisory Council for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Springfield Area Legal Support Professionals held its annual Bosses Night on April 8 at The Tower Club. Andrea Sandoval, ALS, of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin received the Outstanding New Member award. Christy Wittmaier of Fredrick, Rogers & Vaughn PC received the Legal Secretary of the Year award, and Gary Powell, local managing partner with Husch & Eppenberger LLC, received the Boss of the Year award.

Law enforcement

Springfield Police Department was reaccredited for a three-year term by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The reaccreditation represents satisfactory completion of a continuous process of thorough agency-wide self-evaluation, concluded by an outside review by a team of independent assessors.

Four employees of Branson Police Department were honored for 20 years of service protecting and serving the citizens and visitors in Branson. Those honored were Steve Mefford, police chief; Neil Mabry, lieutenant in the detective division; Scotty Penner, captain in the patrol division; and Steve Lisby, training lieutenant. The four were honored at a reception held in the municipal courtroom at Branson City Hall.

Staffing

Shane P. Cantin joined the law firm of Reynolds, Gold & Grosser PC as of counsel. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from College of the Ozarks and earned his law degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1993. His previous experience includes serving as the assistant prosecuting attorney for the city of Springfield. In his new position, Cantin practices in the areas of municipal, state and federal criminal defense, personal injury and all matters of family law.

Mike Nichols joined Husch & Eppenberger LLC as an associate attorney in the firm's general business litigation practice group. Nichols holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Southwest Missouri State University. He earned his law degree in 1997 from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Nichols concentrates his practice in the litigation of business, commercial, employment, negligence and product liability matters.

Anne Sallee Mason rejoined the law firm of Neale & Newman LLP as of counsel. She first joined Neale & Newman in 1989 and was a partner when she left in 1996. Prior to rejoining the firm, Mason spent eight years as a trust officer first for Mercantile Trust Company and most recently for The Commerce Trust Company. Mason is a graduate of William Woods College. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Prior to joining Neale & Newman in 1989, Mason was the law clerk for Judge Douglas W. Greene of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District.

Judson B. Poppen joined the law firm of Neale & Newman LLP. Poppen holds a degree in business administration from the University of Northern Iowa. He earned his law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa School of Law in 2001. Prior to joining Neale & Newman, Poppen practiced law for three years with Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP in Kansas City, focusing his practice primarily in litigation and environmental law.

Jacinda A. Thudium joined Lathrop & Gage as of counsel in the firm's Springfield office. Prior to joining Lathrop & Gage, Thudium was the head of the workers' compensation department at the Springfield office of Wallace, Saunders, Austin, Brown & Enochs. She has experience in several areas, including personal injury, medical malpractice and products liability. In her new position, her practice is concentrated in workers' compensation law.