B & F News

Richard F. Brown wrote an article entitled “Coal Controversy” for the December 24, 2007 issue of the Texas Lawyer.  The Texas Lawyer is a weekly publication of American Lawyer Media.

The firm would like to congratulate Richard F. Brown and Mary M. Bearden for being selected as 2007 Super Lawyers.  Mr. Brown was selected in the area of Oil & Gas and Ms. Bearden was selected for Health Law.  Both attorneys have been recipients of this award in the past.  The list of Super Lawyers is published in the October issue of Texas Monthly.  The Super Lawyers selection process includes peer nomination, a blue ribbon panel review and independent research of candidates.  Less than 3% of lawyers receive this award in Texas each year.

Richard F. Brown has been asked to co-author a commemorative book on twenty of the landmark cases in Texas oil and gas jurisprudence.  Mr. Brown will author commentary on Texas Co. v. Daugherty 107 Tex. 226, 176 S.W. 717 (1915).  The Texas State Bar’s Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section took on this project in 2006.  The book will be for sale through the State Bar.

Denise M. Fletcher, health care attorney, is serving as Board Chair of the High Plains Division for the March of Dimes.  Her term will expire in December 2009.

Michele Fortunato was appointed by State Bar President Kelly Frels to the Professionalism Committee of the State Bar of Texas in 2006.  She has been asked to serve a second term which began in June 2007 and will expire after the 2009 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting. The Professionalism Committee identifies factors that influence professionalism, and develops and recommends to the Board of the State Bar ways to improve professionalism with particular attention to the professional development of new lawyers.

Michele Fortunato was elected to the postion of President of the Amarillo Area Bar Association for the 2008 term.  The swearing in ceremony was held at the Spring Institute dinner on May 5, 2007 at the Amarillo Club.

Richard F. Brown is serving as the Vice Chairman of the Center City Development Committee and as Chairman of the Tax Increment Refinancing Zone #1 Board of Directors.  The committee and board of directors were established as part of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan.  Mr. Brown has been involved with Amarillo development and downtown revitalization since 1990.

Bradley W. Howard will serve as Legislative Chair for the Panhandle Human Resources Association for the 2007 calendar year.

Mary M. Bearden, health care attorney, was elected Secretary-Treasurer to the Board of Directors of the Harrington Regional Medical Center, Inc. for 2007.

Michele Fortunato was invited to attend the Judicial Conference of the Fifth Circuit.  The conference was held in San Antonio, TX May 6 - May 8, 2007.

Brown and Fortunato, P.C. proudly announces that Jill A. Berry, Phuong D. Nguyen, and Jeffery A. McCarn, recently joined the firm.  Jill obtained an undergraduate degree from Northwestern State University of Louisiana where she graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing.  She obtained a law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2004. Phuong obtained an undergraduate degree in 1998 from Southwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Math and Philosophy.  In 2006, he received a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.  Jill and Phuong both practice in the area of health law.  Jeff obtained an undergraduate degree from Texas Lutheran University where he graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business.  He obtained a law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law, cum laude, in 2006.  Jeff will focus his practice in oil & gas and litigation.

Jeffrey S. Baird, health care attorney, is currently serving on the Medtrade Education Planning Committee.  The committee consists of eight members who meet twice a year to review program proposals from prospective speakers.  The MEPC selects programs that will be the most valuable to the attendees of the Medtrade conferences.   Medtrade is a conference attended by owners and employees of home medical equipment companies, pharmacies, and the manufacturers and other vendors that sell products and provide services to them. Medtrade has two basic components: the showroom floor where manufacturers and vendors exhibit their products and services; and the education programs. Approximately 20,000 people attend Medtrade Fall and approximately 5,000 people attend Medtrade Spring. 

Denise Fletcher was appointed as a Board Member to the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. Denise is board certified in Health Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. ACHC is a national accrediting body which has an accreditation program for Home Health Infusion, Home Medical Equipment, Hospice, Home Care Aides, Women's Health Care Products and Services, Specialty Pharmacies, Medical Supply Provider Services, Rehabilitation Technology Supplier Services, and Respiratory Nebulizer Medication Pharmacies.

Brown & Fortunato is proud to announce the purchase of a portable defibrillator. The Red Cross trains
several employees on CPR and the new machine every year.

Mary M. Bearden, an attorney with the Health Care Group of Brown & Fortunato, P.C.,  was listed in the 2007 edition of the Best Lawyers in America in the practice of Health Care. She has received that award for more than ten consecutive years.

Clay Stribling was appointed to the Board of Directors for Center City of Amarillo, Inc. starting January 2007.  Center City is involved with the revitilization of downtown Amarillo.

Nicole Shannon, SPHR, Administrator for Brown & Fortunato, P.C., has been appointed Assistant State Director over Districts for the Texas State Council of SHRM.  The position is for a two year term beginning January 2007.  Nicole will lead the directors over the 36 local chapters throughout the state of Texas.

Clay Stribling, health care attorney, earned board certification in health law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.  Stribling represents health care providers on a broad range of issues including licensure and certification, Medicare/Medicaid compliance, provider contracting, physician group practice formation, federal program reimbursement, operational and security issues, fraud and abuse issues, criminal and fraud investigations and compliance matters.  With Stribling's certification, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. has six attorneys who are board certified in health law and leads the State of Texas in the number of board certified health law attorneys.