Last week, Saint Mary’s Student Government Association (SGA) announced the results of the first-year student government elections. Sofia Scott and Sophia Johnson won the positions of president and vice president of the class of 2019, and Jordan Myers and Annie Gregory were elected class senators.Scott said she has been part of various student governments for six years and enjoys being a leader among her classmates. She chose to run for the position of president because she wants to have a voice to make a difference in her class, she said.“I wanted our class to not just be another class who graduates from Saint Mary’s, but one who is remembered for what we have done,” Scott said. “I am most excited about being able to lead and represent our class at such a special place.”Scott’s goals for the year include bringing a color run to campus, implementing green initiatives and raising money for the class’ senior week, she said. Scott and Johnson have been brainstorming about numerous ideas and look forward to getting started, she said.“I am excited to implement our ideas and see a tangible difference that Sophia and I can make not only in our class, but also in the community as a whole,” Scott said.Vice president Johnson said she looks forward to working alongside Scott as they lead their class through the first year at Saint Mary’s. Specifically, one of her main goals is to focus on hearing everyone’s voice, she said.“It is extremely important to me that everyone gets a chance to give input about their ideas, a lesson I learned in the time I was involved in student government during my high school career,” Johnson said. “Sometimes it is better to take a step back and offer new insight into a situation.”Newly elected class senator Myers also plans to keep the entire class informed about student government issues as well as increase involvement in campus events, she said. She intends to incorporate lessons of leadership, cooperation and problem-solving from high school student government to achieve these goals, she said.“I intend to use the lessons of governmental integrity to find a voice for students,” Myers said, “As the class of 2019 senators, Anne [Gregory] and I would really like reaching out to the student body to allow the students to also have an active role in student government.”Gregory also participated in student government in high school and is excited to be part of the decision making process at the College, she said. Along with creating unity in the first-year class, Gregory also intends to unify clubs across campus, she said.“Since I am assuming a leadership role within the [first-year] class, I think it is crucial that I get to know all of my fellow classmates,” Gregory said. “This year I hope to create friendships with all of my classmates so they feel comfortable coming to me with concerns and ideas.”Tags: First year elections, saint mary’s, sga, Student Government Association read more

November 1, 2004 Regular News Ethics panel takes up title company rating disclosure Ethics panel takes up title company rating disclosure A subcommittee to examine whether attorneys must tell clients the financial rating of the title insurance company being used in their real estate transaction has been set up by the Professional Ethics Committee.The committee met October 1 in Tampa during the Bar’s rescheduled General Meeting and considered issues ranging from the use of “of counsel” to what an attorney must do when a client intends to commit perjury in court.Most of the discussion, though, came as the committee reviewed a staff opinion prepared for an attorney who inquired if he must disclose to the client and others the financial ratings of the title insurance companies the attorney would use in preparing a real estate closing.The staff opinion said the attorney should disclose the financial ratings and other relevant facts to the client. Nonclients should be told, staff concluded, if the attorney determines the information is a material fact which must be disclosed to avoid a crime or fraud on the nonclient.After extensive debate, the committee rejected 9-11 a motion to ratify the staff opinion and then voted 19-2 to refer the issue to a subcommittee, which will include a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section.Proponents of the staff opinion said attorneys have rule and ethical obligations, even when they are acting as title insurance agents, to disclose relevant facts to clients, and that attorneys also must ensure whatever company is used to underwrite the title insurance can cover any loss.But other members questioned whether requiring such a disclosure would lead to a requirement that the attorney disclose whether he or she has malpractice insurance. Some members also suggested the information was a matter of insurance law and was outside the scope of the committee. They said clients could be referred to the state Department of Insurance for such financial information.Also discussed was whether the issue should be left to an attorney’s discretion, to be disclosed to the client if the attorney believed it was relevant.On other matters, the PEC:• Sent Proposed Advisory Opinion 04-1, on candor toward a tribunal, back to a subcommittee for further work in light of comments received after the opinion was published in the July 15 Bar News. The draft opinion says that if an attorney knows a client plans to offer testimony the attorney believes or knows is false and refuses to be dissuaded, the attorney must withdraw and disclose the client’s intent to the court. Questions raised in comments included the timing of a disclosure, whether it would be made in open court or in camera and ex parte, what the court would do, and whether the subsequent counsel should be advised of the intended perjury.• Sent to a subcommittee Proposed Advisory Opinion 04-2, on whether a provision in a settlement violated Rule 4-5.6 which prohibits an attorney from being a party to a settlement agreement that restricts the attorney’s ability to practice. The opinion was published in the July 15 Bar News, and aside from comments, the inquiring attorney contacted the Bar and said a typographical error in the original question might affect the opinion’s outcome.• Affirmed a staff opinion that a lawyer could not list his retired father as of counsel on the firm letterhead, especially since the two never practiced together and the father retired before the son became a Bar member.• Agreed, with a slight modification, with a staff opinion that said a fee agreement — to charge an hourly fee in a personal injury case, but defer the payment to the end of the case and collect it only if successful — was a contingency fee and subject to Rule 4-1.5(f).• Voted to accept as final a redrafting of Proposed Advisory Opinion 00-2 as advertised in the July 15 Bar News. It says that safe haven accounts are permissible in some circumstances.• Decided to consider two questions relating to of counsel issues together and referred those for further study. One question was whether a Florida lawyer could list, with proper disclosures, a New York law firm as being of counsel on his firm letterhead. The second question, considered at earlier meetings, deals with fee division disclosures to clients when two firms want to act as of counsel to each other in various cases.The committee will meet again January 21 at the Midyear Meeting in Miami. read more

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