Rising Student Loan Default Trends Bucked at Some Elite Schools
Rising Student Loan Default Trends Bucked at Some Elite Schools
Posted by Shannon Rasberry on Sep 19, 2011 in Student Loan Debt, Student Loan Defaults | 0 comments
In 2009, federal student loan defaults at US colleges and universities reached a ten-year high and were up dramatically from the year before, especially at for-profit schools, which saw a 30percent increase. However, more elite institutions appear to be bucking the national trend with low student loan default rates that are increasing almost imperceptibly or, in some cases, falling even lower.
According to the Education Department's official fiscal year 2009 national student loan cohort default rate, the average national student loan default rate increased from 7percent in 2008 to 8.8percent. Default rates increased from 6percent to 7.2percent at public institutions and from 4percent to 4.6percent at private schools. At for-profit schools, the default rate swelled from 11.6percent to 15percent.
But at Georgetown University, the default rate of students who borrowed federal student loans and entered repayment between Oct.1, 2008 and Sept.30, 2009 fell from an already low 0.9percent to a slim 0.8percent-- just 23 students out of a cohort containing 2,560 borrowers.
Patricia Webb, dean of the Office of Student Financial Services, credited Georgetown students with doing a good job of managing their student loans. This number includes all the university, with law and medical indebtedness being quite high, Webb said. Sounds like we have it under control and that our graduates are able to repay their loans.
Other elite private universities and peer institutions also had federal student loan default rates significantly lower than the national average. For example, the default rate was 0.7percent (13 defaults out of 1,834 borrowers) at Duke University, 0.8percent (23 defaults out of 2,687 borrowers) at Cornell University, and 1.7percent (29 defaults out of 1,564 borrowers) at Vanderbilt University.
Scott Fleming, Georgetown's vice president for federal relations, said that while the student loan default rates at his and other top universities were low, rising default rates nationally could factor into the next budget debate and affect funding for Pell grants and other at-risk federal financial aid programs.
[The default rates] will certainly be used by individuals who want to see cuts in federal loans and federal aid programs, Fleming said in an interview. My point is that it is very important that people delve into the details so that they do not do something reactive that will hurt all students" ("Student Loan Default Rate Falls for Alums," The Hoya, Sept.16, 2011).
Deputy Undersecretary of Education James Kvaal told reporters in a press conference that the ongoing, contentious budget battle has made the future and security of federal financial aid programs unclear. However, he said the administration remains fully supportive of federal aid for college students.
The administration takes affordable student loans very seriously, Kvaal said. We continue to believe that college can be one of the best investments of a lifetime.
Easton Sports Names John Graham Senior Vice President of Commerce
VAN NUYS, Calif., Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
Easton Sports, Inc. - a developer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor of baseball, softball, hockey, and lacrosse equipment for both sports professionals and enthusiasts -- today announced that John Graham has been named Senior Vice President - Commerce, effective mid-September. Reporting to Chris Zimmerman, president of Easton Sports, Graham will lead the sales teams across the sports it serves.
"John has a diverse sales background, having worked in the European, Canadian and U.S. markets. His breadth and depth of brand and sales management experience will strengthen our ability to become a more effective partner across our diverse set of retail accounts," said Zimmerman. "This is the first time all Easton sales organizations will be under one leader, which will bring sales consistency and integration across the Easton brand and help us further leverage key product launches."
Prior to joining Easton Sports, Graham spent 18 years with Nike Inc., where he held progressive management positions in sales, operations and merchandising. His most recent role was Commercial Director of Action Sports. Graham's prior Nike roles include: Director of Apparel Sales - North America; Director of Sales - Canada; and USA General Merchandise Manager - Foot Locker Inc. Graham has also held executive positions with Reebok and Warnaco Group, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Boston College.
About Easton Sports
Easton Sports is a developer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor of baseball, softball, hockey, and lacrosse equipment for both sports professionals and enthusiasts. Easton Sports focuses on its ability to innovate and create products of unmatched quality and performance including the #1 bat in the College World Series®, Women's College World Series®, Little League World Series®, and Slow-Pitch Softball, as well as the #1 stick and #1 glove in the National Hockey League. Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., Easton Sports employs over 1,200 people worldwide and maintains facilities in Utah, California, Mexico, Canada and Asia. For further information, please visit the company online at
www.eastonsports.com .
Contact: Matt KovacsFormula PR(310) 578-7050kovacs@formulapr.com
SOURCE Easton Sports, Inc.
Copyright (C) 2011 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
Oakland Athletics Vs. Texas Rangers 9/20/11: Mark’s Free MLB Baseball Pick
The Texas Rangers look to move a step closer to locking up the AL West with a win at Oakland Tuesday.
With only nine games left in the season, Texas is looking to close out the Angels in the American League West while gaining some momentum for the opening round of the postseason. The Rangers seem to be headed towards accomplishing both goals as winners in six of seven and seven of ten overall. A quick look at the seven wins and we see an offense that is hitting their stride at just the right time with at least seven runs in six of those victories. Although the pitching hasn't matched the offense in terms of dominance in this stretch it has been more than competitive. Scheduled starter Derek Holland is one of the Rangers pitchers that has been throwing well as the season draws to a close with seven quality starts in his last ten outings. Five of those has been a shutout or where Holland has allowed a single run.
The Athletics are going to finish with a losing record once again but can play spoiler in this weekday series with American League West rival Texas. Even if Oakland does win this series it doesn't do anything to solve the issues that have kept this team from challenging for a playoff berth. Last season I mentioned that the only way for the A's to shake things up and get some more scoring punch was to trade one or two of their pitchers in exchange for a few offensive threats. Oakland didn't make a move and here we are looking at this team in almost an identical spot as a season ago. Right hander Rich Harden opens the series on the mound needing to rebound from a pair of mediocre starts that saw him give up seven runs on 15 hits in only 10.1 frames. Overall Harden has been inconsistent in his last ten outings with only four quality starts.
Harden does throw well on occasion but hasn't been a guy that can be depended on to deliver every five days. Holland has been heating up as the end of the season nears, giving Texas quality innings. The Rangers are crushing the ball right now making them tough to bet against...
Conference jumping ruining college athletics
Its easy for me to remember growing up watching the Syracuse basketball team play some classic matchups with the Georgetown Hoyas.
There were some great rivalries for the Orangemen, or the Orange as they are called today. The showdowns with UConn and St. Johnss; Providence and Syracuse; West Virginia and Pitt; Notre Dame and Villanova. They were the type of matchups that made the Big East so special.
They are the type of matchups that we will soon never see again.
Such is the state of things in college athletics.
Legendary rivalries, historic conferences, they are all going by the wayside as we quickly move toward a world where a handful of super conferences reign supreme.
The Backyard Brawl between Pitt and West Virginia, those Texas/Texas AM matchups and showdowns between Nebraska and Oklahoma are all a thing of the past.
While the announcement today that Syracuse and Pitt are leaving the Big East for the ACC may have come to a shock for some, it really shouldnt be a surprise at all.
Things have been changing for some time now. Colorado left the Big 12 for the Pac 10, or I guess its Pac 12, or maybe soon to be the Pac 14 or 16 or 64.
Soon after Nebraska helped give the Big 10 its 12th team, leaving the Big 12 with 10 teams.
Now Texas AM is leaving for the SEC and Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., Texas, Texas AM and every other school in the Big 12 are deciding on their future.
For the past few years weve heard about a future with four super conferences for football, and the Big East wasnt one of them.
Theres been talk of Rutgers going to the Big 10 or West Virginia to the SEC, so it makes perfect sense for the Orange and Panthers to secure their football futures in the ACC.
No, the ACC is not the SEC or the Big 10, but its not the Big East either. The Big East had become a basketball conference that played some football.
The ACC has a strong football history with Florida State, Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College. And, its not like Syracuse and Pittsburgh have no connections to the conference as Miami and Boston College were once full-time Big East members and Virginia Tech played football in the Big East at one time.
If West Virginia and Rutgers had ever left the Big East, the conference would have likely lost its status as a BCS football conference. There would be no automatic bid to a BCS game and just check with Boise State and see how impossible it would be to ever play for any type of national title.
With the state of college sports today the move makes sense, but its a move that should never have had to happen.
College sports is being run by football. Its being run by money, by the bowl games and by the BCS system.
Its a problem you would never see in college basketball, a sport where every conference champion gets into the NCAA Tournament and has a chance to win it all.
College basketball is what helped build the Big East. A conference that was unmatched in the sport. A conference which had schools such as Georgetown, Villanova, St. Johns and Seton Hall who dont even play Division I A football, but help anchor the conference for basketball.
Thats all gone now. Two of the top basketball powers in the conference are gone and the future of the league is at stake.
Does West Virginia or Rutgers wind up leaving? What about the basketball only schools, do they break off and form their own conference? With the Big East in peril does Notre Dame, who is an independent for football but plays every other sport in the conference, finally decide to join the Big 10?
Money, greed and the BCS have helped to kill one of the most historic conferences in the country.
But, hey, its hardly something new.
This isnt about Syracuse and Pittsburghs choice. Maybe they jumped the gun, didnt wait to see how things would turn out.
Maybe they just killed the Big East and if they had stayed it could have survived. But tell that to schools like Kansas and Missouri, who are watching the Big 12 collapse around them and could soon be left out in the cold.
Its a problem thats been happening for a while. Forget about those rivalries. Forget about geography. Forget about basketball and all those Olympic sports.
None of that can match up when it comes to money and the BCS.
The Big East had already made it clear none of that stuff mattered too much. After all, TCU is joining the conference. A perfect fit considering they are only 869 miles away from the nearest other school in the conference.
That distance means little when it comes to college football. It just means a little extra frequent flyer miles for the football team.
But, what do all these changes do for all those other sports.
What happens for sports like soccer, field hockey, volleyball and baseball and softball?
What happens to the student part of student athletes?
This season if Syracuse went on the road to face all 15 Big East opponents they would travel 7,285 miles. Its an average of 485.66 miles per trip a sports team takes.
Even with Pittsburgh in the ACC, a school that is 361 miles away, the Orange would travel 9,065 miles to visit the 13 opponents in the new ACC, an average of 697.30 miles per trip.
Its not something that will bother the football or basketball teams. They are used to travel. They make long trips for non-league games.
Most are full scholarship players. They are athletes who picked the school precisely for the chance to play their sport at a high level on a national stage.
They know the sacrifices they had to make in order to try and balance athletics and academics.
Things are much different for some of the other sports.
A lot of those Olympic sports have athletes on partial scholarships.
These are athletes who arent dreaming of turning pro, but rather trying to continue playing a sport while getting a degree.
They arent making a flight to their games, but rather hopping a bus and taking a drive.
Look at the womens soccer team at Syracuse.
After their kick-off tournament down in Fort Myers, Florida, they travel a total of 2,744 miles. All of their games are played on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday. They average 274.4 miles a trip and are able to get back while missing at the most a couple of days of the week.
What will things be like in the ACC? Lets take the four non-league road trips on the Syracuse womens soccer schedule this year, one of them is against Boston College of the ACC.
The Orange play six Big East schools on the road this season, so lets take the six closest opponents they could play in the ACC. That wont ever happen, but lets go with a best case scenario and lets replace Boston College with a team of equal distance for that non-league game.
Syracuse would be making league trips to Boston College, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Duke.
Even with this best case scenario its 3,384 miles next season, an increase of over 60 miles a trip. This years Syracuse team makes no trip over 420 miles, they would have three over 450 with the new schedule, including one of over 600 miles.
The big difference is going to be those long trips and long weekend. In the Big East, there are only six schools out of 15 that are over 500 mile trips. In the ACC, with just 13 opponents, there are nine, including three over 900 and one that is 1,400 miles away.
It could mean an extra day away from school. Its extra money for travel expenses, that could lead to cuts in scholarships or in some cases it could wind up leading to sports being cut.
In reality Syracuse and Pitt to the ACC is a much better fit than some of the other changes going on in college sports.
If the Sooners join the Pac 12, how are those Olympic sports teams at Oklahoma going to like the 2,000 mile trips to the University of Washington, Washington St., Oregon and Oregon St.?
The real question is does it matter how they like the trips?
This isnt about those sports, its not even about college basketball.
This is about money, greed and the BCS. Its about TV deals and forming super conferences.
Sure, those Duke and UNC match-ups for basketball will be cant miss games and Pitt and the Orange could one day form a great rivalry with schools like Maryland.
But, dont be fooled. The ACC is nowhere near as good at the Big East in basketball. Outside of UNC, Duke and Maryland the rest of the conference has won a total of 32 NCAA Tournament games since 2000. By contrast the Orange and Panthers alone have won 31 times.
Syracuse and Pittsburgh change that. They help make the ACC comparable to the Big East in basketball. They provide some balance so its not Duke, North Carolina and then everyone else.
The schools are now safe, if, or maybe its when, super conferences become a reality, they wont be left out in the cold.
Its the move the Orange and Panthers felt like they had to make. A move that with the landscape the way it is in college sports that probably was the right one.
Its just a shame that college sports has come to this.
Goodbye rivalries. Goodbye Big East Conference as we know it. Goodbye to student first and athlete second for Olympic sports.
Its sad to see you go, but lets be fair, you never stood a chance when your opponent was a corrupt system like the BCS.
____
Brian Fees is the Sports Editor at The Daily Review. To contact him e-mail to reviewsports@thedailyreview.com.
Is Spanking Considered Domestic Violence?
Reporter: Do you believe in spankings?
Karen Hudson: Yes, but you have to define the terms.
Thats the answer most parents gave me. Hudson says she has nine children ranging from one to 19-year -old and she disciplines them all differently.
Discussion round-up: The role of business schools in advancing sustainability
To read the full discussion, please click here.
Early in the discussion the distinction was made between learning about sustainability (acquiring knowledge) and learning for sustainability (more reflective examination and interpretation of the issues).
Learning about sustainability
Business schools often integrate sustainability into at least one course for each of their disciplines. Some have gone further by embedding a focus on sustainability across the entire curriculum.
Participants agreed that it is preferable for sustainability to be integrated into core business programmes and across the curriculum, than to be taught as a separate topic. This gives students a better understanding of the concepts and how they can be applied to a business context.
Integration across the curriculum helps future leaders integrate sustainability into their thinking process. This applies to people with a particular dedication to sustainability, as well as those whose main interest lies in areas such as finance, strategy and marketing.
Learning for sustainability
There can be a disconnect between what students learn on sustainability/CSR focused courses and the skills that businesses expect their new recruits to have. An issue also exists in that students from dedicated CSR or sustainability MBA programs are focused on working for CSR or sustainability departments of major companies, whereas businesses need graduates to embed sustainability within different departments such as HR, finance, operations, distribution and marketing.
The benefit of learning about sustainability issues accross a variety of disciplines was highlighted as this broadens a students perspective.
Shift the mindset - business schools
A significant obstacle to sustainability becoming more embedded into the business school ethos is that a major mind-shift away from academic traditions is required for this to be come a reality.
At Harvard Business School, there has been a backlash against the revamp of its curriculum towards sustainability.
At another school change is being slowed down by divisions between faculties, with some viewing sustainability as being irrelevant to business and others pushing for innovation in the way business education is delivered.
An example of good practice is the model pioneered by Gifford and Libba Pinchot at Bainbridge Graduate Institute where social and environmental responsibility and been woven into all courses, including MBA core competencies.
Encouragingly, 381 business schools worldwide have signed the UN initiative for Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).
A wider problem highlighted by panellists is the lack of an economic model, roadmap or clear vision of a sustainable economic system. One said, We lack an uber-theory, and another, How can we have a meaningful conversation if we dont know where you are going.
Shift the mindset - students
The relationship between personal and sustainable development was noted. Programmes such as the personal leadership and development Marlboro sustainability MBA, which places a lot of value on community building, focus on this idea. The Doughty Centre at The Cranfield School of Management takes a similar approach with its Organisational Behaviour and Personal and Professional Development (OBPPD) course, which involves psychologists and sociologists as advisers.
Shift the mindset - society
Sustainability should be integrated into all of higher education, not only business schools. Schools in South America, Africa, and Asia have strong sustainability curriculums.
There are cultural differences between regions in the approach to teaching. Holistic approaches seem more common in developing countries than in western society.
What drives the teaching of sustainability in business schools?
Experience suggests that the integration of sustainability into faculties has been most successful when a few staff are personally motivated. However, overall integration requires a clear strategy and commitment from the head of school.
Accreditations appear to be a valuable way of encouraging business schools to change. Examples include:
o The European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), an international system of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration.
o The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which provides accreditation to assure employers, students and parents of the top quality education of the accredited schools.
o The Association of MBAs (AMBA), which takes in students, graduates and employers with links to the accredited business schools.
The role of businesses
Businesses are looking for answers and tools relating to the how to of sustainability, and business students should be the ones testing, exploring and creating these new ways of thinking.
Two panellists said the business sector was more advanced in dealing with sustainability issues than business schools, while it should be the other way around.
One said that what tends to happen is an individual within an organisation would develop a particular idea in response to a business need. This would materialise into a new business practice, and eventually a business school would notice the trend, give it a name, and help spread the idea.
Businesses could be effective in communicating the need for change in the curriculum, and there is a need for genuine partnerships between businesses and busiess schools. The challenges and dilemmas facing businesses should drive a large part of research and teaching in the schools.
Already some positive corporate involvement is leading to initiatives such as the Academy of Business in Society (EABIS), a partnership between Business Schools in Europe and some large companies. Another initiative is led by the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI), a network of companies and learning institutions focusing on the exchange of learning.
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Supreme Court disciplines 23 attorneys
09/05/2011
from The Florida Bar News
The Florida Bar, the state?s guardian for the integrity of the legal profession, announced that the Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 23 attorneys, disbarring five and suspending 12. Some attorneys received more than one form of discipline. Two attorneys were placed on probation; six attorneys were publicly reprimanded.
Keith Alan Michael Manson of Jacksonville was disbarred.
As an official arm of the Florida Supreme Court, The Florida Bar and its Department of Lawyer Regulation are charged with administering a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct for the 90,000-plus lawyers admitted to practice law in Florida.
Since Aug. 1, 2007, case files have been posted to attorneys? individual Florida Bar profiles and may be reviewed at or downloaded from The Florida Bar?s website, www.floridabar.org.
Court orders are not final until time expires to file a rehearing motion and, if filed, determined. The filing of such a motion does not alter the effective date of the discipline.
Disbarred lawyers may not re-apply for admission for five years. They are required to go through an extensive process that rejects many who apply. It includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam.
Historically, fewer than 5 percent of disbarred lawyers seek readmission.
? Brad Alexander, 19 W. Flagler Street, Suite 410, Miami, publicly reprimanded and further, placed on probation following a July 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1980) Alexander was negligent in the handling of an immigration case that forced the client to retain new counsel. (Case No. SC10-2258)
? Scott Vincent Boruta, 402 Knights Run Ave., Suite 100, suspended until further order, following an Aug. 10 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2003) According to a petition for emergency suspension, Boruta appeared to be causing great public harm by the misappropriation of client trust funds. Boruta told a client that he no longer had the $100,000 entrusted to him by the client for a specific purpose. Instead, he admitted to using the funds for a personal business venture. (Case No. SC11-1515)
? Raymond O. Burger, 3200 Marilyn Drive, Moore, Okla., suspended for 91 days, effective 30 days from a June 8 court order. (Admitted to practice 2003) Burger was found in contempt for non-compliance with the conditions of a Jan. 5 suspension. Burger failed to submit a sworn affidavit within 30 days of his suspension, he failed to submit the required list of persons/entities to whom he provided a copy of his suspension order, and he failed to respond to official Bar inquiries regarding the matter. (Case No. SC11-520)
? Wilfred Calero, PO Box 100178, Palm Bay, suspended for 91 days, effective 30 days from a July 14 court order. (Admitted to practice 1998) In three separate instances, Calero was hired to represent clients and he failed to file necessary paperwork. He also failed to adequately communicate regarding the status of the cases and he closed his law office without advising his clients. (Case No. SC10-2260)
? Byron T. Christopher, 2526 Amity Road, Washington, Ga., disbarred effective immediately, following a July 26 court order. (Admitted to practice 2005) Christopher pleaded no contest and had adjudication withheld on one felony count of False Statement in Support of Insurance Claim. (Case No. SC11-1075)
? Daniel Gary Gass, 10001 NW 50th St., Suite 204, Fort Lauderdale, publicly reprimanded following a July 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1994) Gass failed to timely resolve a fund dispute, resulting in a civil suit being filed against him. (Case No. SC11-1087)
? Fernando Hernandez, 2701 S. Bayshore Drive, Suite 605, Miami, suspended until further order, following a July 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1990) According to a petition for emergency suspension, Hernandez appeared to be causing great public harm. A Bar audit indicated that as of Dec. 31, 2010, Hernandez? trust account had a significant shortage; Hernandez failed to disburse settlement proceeds to his client and he misused and/or misappropriated client funds. (Case No. SC11-1363)
? Dwayne Bisford Johnson Sr., 733 Cypress Drive, Apt. A, Lake Park, suspended until further order, effective immediately, following a June 20 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) Johnson was found in contempt for noncompliance. He failed to respond to official Bar inquiries. (Case No. SC11-430)
? Patricia A. Johnston, Calle Cesar Chavez 84, Arrecife de Lanzarote, Canary, Spain, suspended until further order, following a July 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) According to a petition for emergency suspension, Johnston appeared to be causing great public harm by misappropriating client funds and engaging in other unethical conduct. Johnston is the subject of several Bar disciplinary matters. She abandoned her Orlando law practice, changed her Bar status to retired and moved to Spain. Efforts by the Bar to contact Johnston have failed. (Case No. SC11-1424)
? Constantine Kalogianis, 8141 Bellarus Way, Suite 103, Trinity, publicly reprimanded following a June 17 court order. (Admitted to practice 1993) Kalogianis is further directed to complete ethics school. Kalogianis failed to maintain communication with clients and failed to properly supervise his legal assistant who oftentimes performed tasks of a lawyer. Kalogianis also used a misleading firm name. By calling his company Kalogianis Associates, it implied that more than one attorney worked at the firm, when in fact, he was a sole practitioner. (Case No. SC10-1739)
? Howard A. Kusnick, PO Box 25646, Tamarac, disbarred effective immediately, following a July 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1978) Kusnick signed a false settlement letter on behalf of a party that he did not represent, purporting to settle a claim for $310,000. (Case No. SC11-1220)
? Norman Malinski, 2875 NE 191st Street, Suite 508, Aventura, disbarred effective 30 days from a June 14 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1974) Malinski failed to preserve and apply client funds. He also made misrepresentations regarding the amount and location of funds held in trust. (Case No. SC11-218)
? Joseph John Mancini, 328 S. Second St., Fort Pierce, publicly reprimanded following a July 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) In several separate cases, Mancini failed to diligently represent clients. He failed to properly communicate clients and opposing counsel, he failed to appear at scheduled court hearings and in one instance, he failed to timely comply with discovery requests. (Case No. SC11-640)
? Keith Alan Michael Manson, 8355 Chason Road W., Jacksonville, disbarred effective immediately, following a July 20 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2005) Manson was found in contempt for non-compliance with the terms of a court order conditionally admitting him to The Florida Bar. He also practiced law while suspended. (Case Nos. SC09-2318 SC10-1187)
? Peter U. Mayas, 2784 SW 129th Terrace, Miramar, suspended for 90 days, effective 30 days from a July 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2003) When a client complained to the Bar that Mayas did not pay one of her health care providers when settling a case, an audit found that Mayas had not created or maintained the minimum required trust accounting records. He also allowed his two non-lawyer employees to handle unsupervised, all aspects of fund closings, for which he was responsible, resulting in the misappropriation of more than $100,000. (Case No. SC10-2342)
? Michael Joseph McNerney, 796 N. Rio Vista Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, suspended until further order, effective 30 days from a June 14 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1973) McNerney is the subject of a Bar disciplinary investigation. On May 16, McNerney entered into a plea agreement with the US government, in which he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. (Case No. SC11-1145)
? Marsha Wilson Montgomery, 4771 Bayou Blvd., #19, Pensacola, publicly reprimanded following a July 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Montgomery was held in contempt of court when she failed to appear in her client?s guardianship case. She also failed to respond to inquiries from the court and the Bar regarding the matter. Montgomery was further ordered to send a letter of apology to the presiding judge within 30 days of the order. (Case No. SC10-2255)
? Dominyka Mindaougas Netchiounas, 2203 N. Lois Ave., Suite 953, Tampa, suspended for 91 days, effectively immediately, following a June 23 court order. (Admitted to practice 2002) Netchiounas was found in contempt for non-compliance with the conditions of her June 2010 suspension. She failed to submit the required sworn affidavit listing persons/entities to whom she gave notice of her suspension and provided a copy of her suspension order. She also failed to respond to official Bar inquiries. (Case No. SC11-681)
? Carolyn Dianne Olive, PO Box 13949, Tallahassee, suspended for two years, effective immediately, following a July 13 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1984) After being hired, Olive failed to adequately represent clients in six separate cases. In one instance, a client unsuccessfully attempted to contact Olive for four months. When Olive finally returned the call, she informed the client that the papers and court filings were in progress. The client later learned from the court clerk the papers had never been filed. She terminated Olive?s services. (Case No. SC11-596)
? Timothy Allen Patrick, 800 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 2, Tampa, suspended for one year, effective 30 days from a June 23 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1993) At mediation, Patrick improperly induced his client to reject a settlement offer by offering to pay any attorney fee award imposed against the client in the event trial was unsuccessful. The settlement offered would have fully compensated the client but would have paid only a small amount for attorney fees. Patrick also paid improper financial assistance to the client, beyond litigation expenses. (Case No. SC09-2057)
? Lafe Ranier Purcell, 1403 W. Colonial Drive #A, Orlando, publicly reprimanded following a June 17 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1997) Purcell contracted to practice law with a loan modification/legal staffing company. At the time, he was unaware that doing so constituted practicing law through a non-legal entity; a violation of Bar rules. (Case No. SC11-965)
? J. Christopher Rich, 124 E. Rich Ave., Deland, permanently disbarred effective immediately, following a July 25 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) Rich was found in contempt for failing to comply with the terms of a June 2010 suspension order and subsequently, a Feb. 17, 2011, disbarment order. Rich was ordered to notify all his clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his disbarment and provide to the Bar a sworn affidavit listing the names and addresses of all persons and entities that were furnished a copy of the disbarment order. He also failed to respond to the Bar?s letter dated Feb. 22, 2011. (Case No. SC11-914)
? Joshua Johnson Stewart, 5435 Main Street, New Port Richey, suspended for 91 days, effective immediately, following a June 20 court order. Upon reinstatement, Stewart is further placed on probation for three years. (Admitted to practice: 2004) Stewart pleaded guilty in circuit court to possession of Oxycodone, a third-degree felony, and no valid driver?s license, a second-degree misdemeanor. The trial court withheld adjudication and placed Stewart on 18 months of drug offender probation. (Case No. SC10-594)
Exotic animals are in and around fair
NEW YORK STATE FAIR -- Its not unusual to see cows, goats or even chickens around here. But Fairgoers have also been going wild about monkeys.
Especially baboons. Thats always been our specialty is baboons. I love them. I think theyre the most social of all primates even more than the gorillas, said Wild About Monkeys Presenter Kevin Keith.
Mickey the baboon proved that, by taking some time to smile for the camera with some of his newest fans after the show.
If he looks familiar to you, you are correct. Hes been featured in a few movies including Evan All Mighty and The Run Down.
From the big screen to the big splash, these sea lions travel from Florida every year to show off their moves and special talents. They do have an important message about recycling they want to get across.
Sea Lion Splash Trainer Marco Peters said, Most of our sea lions are rescued sea lions or called beached sea lions. These are sea lions that can no longer take care of themselves anymore because they either got injured, sick, most likely a victim of pollution. And we incorporate that in our message. Recycle plastic bottles. Especially here at the fair because the fair has a big recycling program.
And Bubba the Camel is making his New York State Fair Debut and giving the young, and young at heart a rare opportunity to ride a Camel. Bubba is 18 and can live up to 50.
We got him when he was three weeks old. We bottle raised him. So you know, me and him weve been together since then. I was in diapers when we got him. We just worked with him, said Camel Expert William Sullivan.
So you can have fun with him, at the fair.
The sea lions and monkeys have three shows a day and camel rides are offered throughout the day.
No indication of next moves at Maryland forum
I promise you if you make this environment fun, people will come, Maryland student Ary Manzhukh said at a public meeting of a commission studying the operations and finances of Marylands athletic department. Manzhukh, a senior, raised a number of concerns including parking.
The 17-member Presidents Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics called the meeting so faculty, students and staff could provide input. Spectators filled less than one-half of the student union atrium. Only two speakers signed up in advance to speak and one said they hadnt realized what they were signing. Commission co-chair Barry Gossett joked that he might start calling on audience members.
Ultimately, 14 audience members did speak, voicing a number of concerns and suggestions. Several speakers said they hoped the university wont cut any of Marylands 27 sports teams.
The commission was created in July. It is examining conditions that led to the athletics department having to employ now-depleted reserves to balance the annual budget.
The commission, which is studying ways to boost revenue and cut costs, will issue recommendations by Nov. 15 to university president Wallace Loh.
Loh, athletic director Kevin Anderson, mens basketball coach Mark Turgeon and football coach Randy Edsall have all been at the university less than a year. Edsall spent much of the offseason promoting the team to fans and recruiting.
I dont want to see womens sports eliminated, said Karel Petraitis, a board member of the Terrapin Club, which provides scholarships for Maryland athletes. I am just hoping we dont gut the program now.
Members of the commission offered few hints of what it might recommend. Mostly, they asked questions and listened.
Terrapin Club official Colin Potts was asked how Maryland can generate more excitement among fans .
Potts said fan outreach efforts with coaches and players would be useful. He said new family activities outside the stadium this season have already proved beneficial. And he said having a team that is ranked every year would certainly help.
jeff.barker@baltsun.com
twitter.com/sunjeffbarker
State disciplines health care providers
For immediate release:
September 13, 2011
(11-134)
Contacts:
Media inquiries: Sharon Moysiuk,
Communications Office 360-236-4074
Public inquiries: Health Systems Customer Service
360-236-4700
State disciplines health care providers
OLYMPIA
¾
The
Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or
withdrawn charges against health care providers in our
state.
The department's Health Systems Quality Assurance Office works with boards,
commissions, and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 70
health care professions (eg, medical doctors, nurses, counselors).
Information about health care providers is on the agency website. Click on
"Provider Credential Search" on the left hand side of the
Department of Health home page
(www.doh.wa.gov). The site includes information about a health care provider's
license status, the expiration and renewal date of their credential,
disciplinary actions and copies of legal documents issued after July 1998. This
information is also available by calling 360-236-4700. Consumers who think a
health care provider acted unprofessionally are also encouraged to call and
report their complaint.
normal>
Asotin County
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program charged certified nursing assistant
normal>Erin M. Bowman (NC10072799) with unprofessional conduct. In April
2011 she was convicted of seven counts of attempting to obtain a controlled
substance through fraud.
County
In August 2011 the Health Care Assistant Program ended the probation order
against
normal>Rachel A. Burt (HC60068180).
Clark County
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program charged
registered nursing assistant Mayra I. Garcia (NA00195349) with
unprofessional conduct. She allegedly failed to comply with terms and conditions
set against her registration.
In August 2011 the Chemical Dependency Professional Program
granted the application of chemical dependency professional trainee Christina
Ann Stroup (CO60224108) and placed her certification on probation for two
years, due to convictions for possession of methamphetamine with intent to
deliver -- bail jumping on a class B or C felony, and possession of
methamphetamine hydrochloride. She must comply with terms and conditions set
against her certification.
King County
In August 2011 the Health Care Assistant Program ended the
probation order against Courtney Renee Barr (HC60071850), also known as
Courtney Renee Kinzer.
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program charged
registered nursing assistant Bart Finkbiner (NA00153447) with
unprofessional conduct. He allegedly sexually abused a patient on multiple
occasions.
In August 2011 the Medical Commission charged physician
assistant M. Gwendolyn Jones (PA10004952) with unprofessional conduct.
She allegedly wrote or called-in prescriptions for controlled substances and
other medications for non-patients including family and friends.
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program granted the
application of certified nursing assistant Nicole Ann Kunz (NC60224374)
and placed her certification on probation for two years due to previous
convictions of violating civil anti-harassment orders, and minor operating a
vehicle after alcohol consumption. She must comply with terms and conditions set
against her certification.
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program reinstated the
registration of nursing assistant Jackson M. Muriuki (NA60008337) and
placed conditions against his registration.
In August 2011 the Dental Commission charged dentist H.
Melvin Olson (DE00003488) with unprofessional conduct.
Prescription practices for controlled substances that he provided to a
patient allegedly fell below the standard of care, and exposed the patient to
risk of harm.
In August 2011 the Secretary of Health charged registered
nurse Mary Patterson (RN00061617) with unprofessional conduct. She
allegedly had sexual contact with a patient.
In August 2011 the Dental Commission charged dentist
Gerard D. Schultz (DE00002469) with unprofessional conduct. The charges
allege that he suddenly retired and abandoned his patient, failed to provide
records to the patient, failed to provide patient records to the Department of
Health upon request, and indicated a third party disposed of the requested
records eight months after the request was made.
In August 2011 the Health Care Assistant Program denied the
application of Christina M. Strick (HC60193206). In January 2011 her
Washington registration to practice as a nursing assistant was suspended and
license to practice as a health care assistant was revoked.
Kitsap County
In August 2011 the Health Care Assistant Program denied the
application of Sarah Ruth Connor (HC60196999), due to a conviction for
manufacturing marijuana. She failed to appear at her requested pre-hearing
conference.
Pierce County
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program entered into
an agreed order with registered nursing assistant Patrick Crews
(NA00170767). In February 2010 he took a check without permission from a
co-worker, wrote, signed and cashed the check to himself for $350, and admitted
he used the money to purchase oxycodone without a prescription. He must comply
with terms and conditions set against his registration.
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program charged
registered nursing assistant Kenneth Michael Lee (NA60184667) with
unprofessional conduct. He allegedly left a patient unattended in a swimming
pool where the patient fell and began struggling in the water, and failed to
report the incident to the licensed caregiver at the facility where the patient
resides.
In August 2011 the X-Ray Technician Program charged
Sickham Phouthavong (XT00005313), also known as Sickham Phouthavoung, with
unprofessional conduct. He allegedly engaged in criminal conspiracy with other
persons to fraudulently obtain narcotics from various pharmacies. In December
2010 he was charged with two counts of identity theft, seven counts of obtain or
attempt to obtain a controlled substance by fraud; deceit or misrepresentation,
and one count of forgery. In March 2011 he was charged with leading organized
crime, and two counts of identity theft.
Snohomish County
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program charged
certified and registered nursing assistant Lamin Sonko (NC10045877,
NA60088539) with unprofessional conduct. He allegedly falsified his identity by
using a credential issued in another's name and a social security number that
didn't belong to him to obtain employment as a nursing assistant.
Spokane
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program charged
registered nursing assistant Judy M. Brown (NA60017734) with
unprofessional conduct, due to convictions for methamphetamine possession and
assault.
In July 2011 the Emergency Medical Services and
Trauma System Programs charged emergency medical technician and paramedic
Adam M. Knight (ES01171918, ES60105344) with unprofessional conduct. He
allegedly diverted fentanyl for his own use from his employer.
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program granted the
application of certified nursing assistant Kristofer Alan Latta
(NC60218438) and placed conditions against his certification.
Walla Walla County
In August 2011 the Nursing Commission charged registered
nurse Lynda K. Corn (RN00122305) with unprofessional conduct. She
allegedly failed to comply with terms and conditions set against her license.
Whatcom County
In August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program granted the
application of certified nursing assistant Crystel Marie Baldwin
(NC60189415) and placed her certification on probation for two years. In 2010
terms and conditions were placed against her registration to practice as a
nursing assistant.
Out of State
Alaska: In
July 2011 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Jacqueline K. Olsen
(RN60040058) with unprofessional conduct. She allegedly failed to comply with
terms and conditions set against her license.
Canada: In
August 2011 the Veterinary Board of Governors reinstated the license of
veterinary technician Hakam Singh Bhullar (VT00004783).
Colorado: In
August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program reinstated the credential of certified
nursing assistant Chris Allan Coffey (NC10040870).
Oregon: In
August 2011 the Nursing Assistant Program reinstated the credential of certified
nursing assistant Shalonda D. Hart (NC10088331).
Note to Editors: Health care
providers charged with unprofessional conduct have 20 days to respond to the
Department of Health in writing. The case then enters the settlement process. If
no disciplinary agreement can be reached, the case will go to a hearing.The
Department of Health website (www.doh.wa.gov) is your source for a
healthy dose of information. Also,
find us on Facebook and
follow us on Twitter.
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