by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Jerrett McConnell presided over his first meeting as Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar Association President Wednesday at the River Club.
The regular meeting of the association featured guest speaker U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Corrigan. While Corrigan may see few bankruptcy cases in District Court, it only hears bankruptcy appeals, of which there were five last year, he did have memories of bankruptcy court from early in his career in law. The first time he got to examine a witness was during a bankruptcy case. Senior partner Harris Ditmar was called away on an emergency and Corrigan was selected to replace Ditmar.
“I am up there examining this witness for the very first time I’ve ever examined a witness in court, and it was the vice president of Charter, if I remember correctly,” said Corrigan. “At the end of the examination and I got back to the office I asked Harris Ditmar, who was my mentor, ‘How did I do?’ He said, ‘You did a great job of asking the questions. Next time listen to the answers.’ I thought that was a pretty good lesson for a young lawyer. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we are doing we forget to listen to the answers.”
Corrigan presented some comical filings by people who represented themselves and professional legal counsel and presented his list of “Top 10 Bankruptcy Appeal Tips.” (See box)
McConnell thanked immediate past President Lynn Drysdale for her service to the association during the last term. He also announced the next “Bankruptcy Boot Camp” is Aug. 26 and the topic of the camp will be initial consultations. The camps were created to help new bankruptcy lawyers become better informed on the ethical practices and professionalism of bankruptcy law. For more information contact Association Administrator Barbara Campbell at [email protected] or 358-6465.
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