Recognized as Best of the Best

Jim Dyer has been recognized among the top 5% of attorneys in Arizona and New Mexico by Southwest Super Lawyers. Southwest Super Lawyers accepted nominations from more than 18,000 Arizona and New Mexico lawyers. Each nomination was then subjected to an extensive process of balloting, blue ribbon panel review and investigation. Jim was recognized for his work in the area of personal injury. Southwest Super Lawyers can be viewed at superlawyers.com.

Top honors

Tucson Business Edge honored Olivia Sethi as one of Tucson's best and brightest on its annual 40 Under 40 list. Olivia was nominated by fellow members of the Southern Arizona Women's Foundation Board of Directors who noted that she maintains a commitment to community service and activism while raising two young children.

Dev Sethi has been named the new chair of the State Bar of Arizona Trial Practice Section. He will also be teaching an October 1, 2007 seminar for the State Bar of Arizona. The topic is "Winning Strategies in Summary Jury Trials."  To register, go to myazbar.org.

Casual Friday gives the dedicated KBSDS staff an opportunity to show their team spirit.

Congratulations to the McCallum-Anderson Family. Erica McCallum and Alan Anderson welcomed a baby girl. Wren Swift Anderson - July 26, 2007. Older siblings Kael and Juno McCallum are excited by the new addition to the family.

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”  Those words hold a special place in the heart of our paralegal Sher Rhea, as they are the words of the athletes who participate in the Special Olympics. Sher has been active in Special Olympics for many years as a volunteer coach and mentor, bringing her high school varsity coaching experience to the field. She has continued her efforts since moving to Tucson two years ago. Most recently, Sher assisted 3rd and 4th graders from Marana School District at the Pima County Track and Field Competition on March 24, 2007. She has also handed down her admiration for these athletes to her adult daughter and son, who increase awareness and raise funds for the Special Olympics through the annual nationwide Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Ted Schmidt received the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Convocation Award from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. This award is conferred at convocation on a select number of alumni and friends of the law school whose professional achievements and community service are distinctive and inspiring examples to the law school’s graduates. Ted is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law and has been an active supporter of the law school and the university since his student days. He and his wife, Ann, have established the Tara Nicole Schmidt "Have a Dream" Memorial Scholarship at the UA, a program that funds educational pursuits of worthy Arizona students.

Burt Kinerk has been designated one of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers. This designation is bestowed by Arizona’s Finest Lawyers, a web-based listing of Arizona’s preeminent lawyers. Members are invited to join based upon a strict and objective criteria established by commissions within each practice area. Burt was honored for his work in the areas of medical malpractice and personal injury. Arizona’s Finest Lawyers can be viewed at arizonasfinestlawyers.com.

During the past 14 years, Bob Beal has been instrumental in educating the Arizona legislature on proposed laws that affect tort victims and consumers. Over the years, Bob has provided a great deal of information to members of the House and Senate to help them decide whether to pass bills that preserve or eliminate the rights of individuals who have been injured by the negligence of others. Most recently, he provided valuable assistance to the legislature to make sure that our state’s judges are properly paid, resulting in the Legislature’s approval of judicial salary increases to go into effect in 2009. He has also worked for the successful passage of a bill to extend high school special education services to older students, so that students who reach the upper age limit do not have to stop going to school after their 22nd birthday but may continue to attend through the end their final school year.

Our Newest Graduate

Congratulations to our own Bea Flesher and her husband Mark, the proud parents of William Phillips. William graduated from Rincon High School on May 24th. Throughout his high school career, he has been involved in the Tucson Police Explorers, dedicating many hours to community service and training. In 2005, 2006, and 2007, he received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. William plans to pursue a career in law enforcement and will be attending Pima Community College.