February 23rd, 2009 | Posted by Amber Small | Posted in Family Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site address: http://www.jhdj-law.com
CARMEL ATTORNEY FEATURED IN BOOK ABOUT INDIANA SPORTS LEGENDS
CARMEL, IN – March 9, 2009 – Attorney Lanae Harden is featured in the book Local Legends: The Stories Behind the Headlines by author Ron Eaton. The hardbound book of more than 300 pages and photos covers 100 years of sports history in Southwestern Indiana, and recognizes Ms. Harden (maiden name “Renschler”) as being the first player in Indiana to win four state tennis titles. Read the excerpt from the book: Lanae_Renschler-A_Perfect_4_for_4.pdf
Ms. Harden is Chair of the Family Law Section of JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC. She received her Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Indiana University School of Law, finishing in the top 5% of her class. She also graduated magna cum laude with her undegraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of the university’s tennis team. Ms. Harden is a skilled litigator with extensive trial experience and focuses her practice in complex custody matters. She has successfully represented a diverse clientele from stay-at-home mothers to professional athletes. Ms. Harden’s professional career includes 9 years at one of Indianapolis’ large law firms where she was the only attorney who practiced exclusively in the area of family law. As an assertive advocate and trusted advisor, Ms. Harden is able to provide a professional, yet personal level of service for her clients during a difficult and emotionally draining period.
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. Experienced attorneys offer assertive advocacy for clients complemented by a philosophy focused on minimizing conflict and negotiating resolution. With a dynamic team of professionals, the practice assists clients in all areas of family law, collaborative law, adoption, mediation, business litigation and appeals. For more information, please contact Amber Burton Small at 317.569.0770, or visit http://www.jhdj-law.com. For more information or to order Local Legends, please visit the publisher’s website: http://www.mtpublishing.com/
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Tags: Lanae Harden
February 19th, 2009 | Posted by Amber Small | Posted in Adoption, Family Law
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that state statute clearly allows grandparent visitation to continue in a case where a child is adopted by another biological grandparent.
The Court’s unanimous decision was issued in Elizabeth and Terry Baker v. Donnie Lee, No. 36A01-0807-CV-340, affirming the ruling from Jackson Circuit Judge William Vance.
There were three children born out of wedlock between 1995 and 2002 whose parents were jailed on numerous times because of substance abuse charges. Donnie Lee is the maternal grandfather and Elizabeth Baker is the paternal grandmother, who, with her husband, received guardianship of the children and allowed Lee to visit on an informal basis.
In 2007, Lee was granted formal visitation by a Scott Circuit Court Judge. Later that year, the Bakers adopted the children in through the Jackson Circuit Court. Lee’s visitation became the contested issue, and Judge Vance determined that Lee’s right to see his grandchildren survived the adoption and couldn’t be defeated by “the legal gymnastics this case exemplifies.”
Subsequently, the Bakers and the children moved to Florida, and a visitation schedule was determined for Lee to have seven weeks of the summer vacation and one week during winter vacation.
The Bakers appealed, arguing that Lee was no longer a grandfather of the children after the adoption and not entitled to visitation. They asserted he had not established visitation rights under the Grandparent Visitation Act, as detailed in Indiana Code § 31-17-5-1.
The Court of Appeals did not buy the Bakers’ argument. Instead, the panel noted that the intent of Indiana’s legislature was to provide special protection for existing grandparents by allowing post-adoptive visitation. The Court also found that because Lee is a grandparent of children born out of wedlock, he qualifies as a relative under state statute and entitled to seek a visitation order.
“The legislature did not carve out an exception for an adoptive biological grandparent who is married to a non-relative of the adoptee(s),” Judge Mark Bailey wrote. “It is logical to assume that many, possibly most, adoptive parents have a spouse who is also an adopting parent. In essence, the Legislature did not require that every party to the adoption be related to the adopted child or children.”
The full text of the opinion is available:
Elizabeth_and_Terry_Baker_v._Donnie_Lee-Grandparents_Rights_.pdf
February 9th, 2009 | Posted by Amber Small | Posted in JHDJ Law General
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact:
Amber Burton Small
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC
11450 N. Meridian
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317.569.0770
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site address: http://www.jhdj-law.com
CARMEL ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS FOR LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
CARMEL, IN – February 9, 2009 – Attorney and Mediator, Stephenie S. Jocham is participating in “Why Lincoln Was a Lawyer: Abraham Lincoln, Law & Civic Education,” a program cosponsored by the Indiana State Bar Association and the Indiana State Supreme Court. On February 12, 2009, attorneys and judges across Indiana have volunteered to speak in area schools to commemorate the 200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln. The program implements a unique curriculum focusing on his life as an attorney and showcasing the civic virtues Lincoln exemplified. The focus is on Lincoln’s Hoosier roots, as Lincoln lived in Spencer County from ages 7 to 21. Ms. Jocham will be the featured speaker for 4th graders at a Carmel elementary school.
Ms. Jocham is a founding member of Carmel law firm JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC, where she practices in family law and civil litigation, serving as Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section. As a registered domestic and civil mediator, she concentrates on providing mediation, arbitration and collaborative law services for her clients. She is a frequent speaker on topics of interest in the areas of family law and alternative dispute resolution. Ms. Jocham is active in several professional organizations and frequently volunteers for community programs including Indianapolis Bar Association’s Ask a Lawyer and Legal Line programs and for a crisis intervention hotline. She has provided pro bono and reduced cost legal representation for clients through Heartland Pro Bono Council and the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Modest Means Program. Previously, she served for several years through the Junior Leagues of Evansville and Indianapolis. Ms. Jocham currently serves on the National Alumnae Board of her alma mater, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
JOCHAM HARDEN DIMICK JACKSON, PC, is a Carmel law firm providing personalized service with a responsive and compassionate approach. Experienced attorneys offer assertive advocacy for clients complemented by a philosophy focused on minimizing conflict and negotiating resolution. The practice assists clients in all areas of family law, adoption, mediation, and business litigation. For more information, please contact Amber Burton Small at 317.569.0770, or visit http://www.jhdj-law.com.
For more information about the “Lincoln Birthday Bash” or the Courts in the Classroom programs, please visit: http://www.in.gov/judiciary/citc/lessons/lincoln/index.html.
