During September, 2008, Karl Schneider was twice appointed by the Ohio Secretary of State to serve as special hearing officer for two separate ballot protest proceedings. Mr. Schneider presided over the challenge brought seeking to strike pay day legislation that was signed into law during the spring, and thereafter rendered his report and recommendation to the Ohio Secretary of State who accepted the recommendation. Thereafter, Mr. Schneider was appointed to preside as hearing officer over the protest seeking to remove the State issue 6, which was an initiative petition for a Casino near Wilmington, Ohio in Southwest Ohio. Mr. Schneider presided over the evidentiary hearing on the Casino protest on September 24th, and rendered his written findings and recommendation to the Ohio Secretary of State. The Ohio Secretary of State adopted Mr. Schneider’s findings and his recommendation on September 25, 2008.

Please see the attached article appearing in the Columbus Dispatch September 15, 2008.

http://blog.dispatch.com/dailybriefing/2008/09/hearing_on_payday_petitions_se.shtml

Please see the attached article appearing in the Dayton Daily News September 25, 2008.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2008/09/25/casino_issue_certified_for_bal.html

Partner Bradley Davis Barbin was invited by Judge Patrick Sheeran to present on the topic of Civil Discovery: Obtaining Cadillac discovery on a Chevy discovery budget. Judge Frye will be a co-speaker for this presentation on Tuesday, September 30, 2008.

Lisa Wu Fate has been asked to speak at a one-day seminar on April 18, 2008 titled "What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Ohio". Ms. Wu Fate is recognized statewide as an expert in the areas of public records and open meetings law.

Bradley Davis Barbin, a partner of Maguire & Schneider, has been asked to speak at the "Document Retention and Destruction in Ohio" seminar on February 29, 2008. Mr. Barbin has held several key positions in federal and state government over his twenty-four year legal career. Mr. Barbin devotes his practice to civil and criminal litigation in the state and federal courts.

Lisa Wu Fate and Karl H. Schneider presented an educational seminar regarding short sales to over 200 associates from Real Living HER, Inc. at the company’s 2008 All-Agent Kick-Off Meeting. The meeting is a quarterly event attended by hundreds of the company’s associates and is intended to keep Real Living’s associates at the cutting edge of developments in their chosen field. Recent events involving the mortgage market nationwide have caused increased risk of foreclosure and many homeowners find themselves in need of selling their properties on the open market to avoid a distressed foreclosure sale. Sometimes, to accomplish the arms-length sale, short sale negotiations are required. This option, however, creates a host of legal and ethical considerations for Ohio real estate agents, which were discussed in detail at the event.

Karl H. Schneider has been asked to speak at a title insurance agents’ forum sponsored by Old Republic Title Insurance Company on November 14, 2007. Mr. Schneider will address various litigation matters including foreclosure suits and attendant bankruptcy issues.

Karl H. Schneider and Bradley Davis Barbin have been asked to speak at the National Business Institute’s presentation “Criminal Defense: Pretrial Success." Mr. Schneider will address “Dealing With Uncooperative or Hostile Witnesses" and “Ethical Issues in Criminal Discovery." Mr. Barbin will discuss “Evidence--Do You Have All of It?” and “Trouble-Shooting Extreme Situations.” The seminar will occur on June 19, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio.

Maguire & Schneider, LLP had the honor of hosting the 2006 Pre-Paid Legal Annual Award Conference. One hundred and fifty eight Attorneys and Administrators from fifty law offices across the United States and Canada attended this event. The C.E.O., founder, and chair of the board Harland Stonecipher and Vice President of Attorney Resources, Leslie Fisher, presented Maguire & Schneider, LLP with the Outstanding Service Award for 2006.