Here's the latest Solutions Letter

Website Links

Areas of Practice

Attorney Profiles

Millich, Kocon
Join HHM

HHM recently added two new lawyers. George Millich GEORGE P. MILLICH JR., who was a vice president at a regional bank, brings extensive experience in probate administration, tax law and business succession planning. Read the full news release here.
STEPHEN P. KOCON was a Stephen Kocon partner at an Akron law firm before joining HHM. His practice areas include real estate law, business law and business succession planning. Read more about Stephen here.

Hospital Board
Elects Dutton

Paul Dutton

The Akron Children's Hospital Foundation recently named HHM attorney PAUL M. DUTTON to its board of trustees. The foundation supports the Akron hospital and its regional affiliates, including the Mahoning Valley campus in Boardman.

Blomstrom Joins
Symphony Board

James Blomstrom

HHM attorney JAMES L. BLOMSTROM has been elected to the board of the Youngstown Symphony Society. Blomstrom will serve a three-year term on the panel.

Wenger Honored for
Support of Cycling

ALAN WENGER recently received the Roll Model Award in honor of his work to advance bicycling in the Mahoning Valley. The award is sponsored by Tour of the Valley and Talk Through Tools. An avid cyclist, Wenger appeared recently on WKBN Radio to talk about the sport.

L'Italien Joins United

'Wall of Fame'

SHAWNA L. L'ITALIEN was recently elected to the United Wall of Fame, an honorary roster of United High School graduates. A 1989 grad, she and others were inducted at a recent banquet at the high school in Hanoverton.

Christian on Bench
For Charity Cook-Off

SHIRLEY J. CHRISTIAN served as a judge in the recent Men Who Cook event, a fundraiser for the Catholic Charities Emegency Assistance Program. Joining her on the panel were Judges Kay Woods and Maureen Sweeney and Youngstown State University President Dr. Cynthia Anderson, among others.

WYSU Voice Boosts
On-Hold Message

WYSU listeners will readily recognize the voice on HHM's new on-hold message. It's WYSU announcer Barbara Krauss, who talks about the firm over the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Krauss has entertained WYSU listeners since 1970. HHM is a long-time underwriter of the public radio station at Youngstown State University.

AUGUST 2011 EDITION

The seminars covered the variety of legal issues landowners face.

SEMINARS FOR OIL & GAS LESSORS
ATTRACT 500+ IN COLUMBIANA

More than 500 individuals attended a free seminar HHM staged in morning and evening sessions in late June on legal issues related to oil and gas exploration. The seminar, geared to new oil and gas lessors, covered issues related to property and title, taxation and settling disputes with energy companies. Speaking were HHM lawyers Alan D. Wenger, George P. Millich Jr. and Christopher S. Baronzzi. The seminars drew news coverage from The Vindicator (story here) and WKBN News (story here). Landowners who would like a copy of the handout from the seminar can request one here.

LANDOWNER PROTECTIONS CRITICAL
IN TALKS FOR PIPELINE EASEMENTS

By Alan D. Wenger

With expected increased shale drilling come offers for pipeline easements. Pipelines are used for transporting well products, as well as potentially other drilling fluids. The typical industry right of way or easement document is slanted in favor of the grantee and against the landowner. Often the easement literally covers the whole acreage, without even any requirement of any specific location. A landowner should require that a pipeline easement include protections. Read more.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT
NEAR OIL & GAS DRILLING ACTIVITY

By Christopher S. Baronzzi

There is a lot of confusion about water testing near oil and gas drilling sites. People are understandably fearful about whether hydraulic fracturing will contaminate their water and I frequently get questions about what to test for, when to test, and whether independent water testing is really necessary. You should have your water tested before drilling operations begin but as close to when drilling operations begin as possible. A test immediately before drilling operations begin will help rule out other causes of water problems and establish a reliable baseline for your water quality before problem arise. Read more.

PUBLIC OFFICIALS SHOULD KNOW
IMMUNITY DEFENSE OPTIONS

By Neil D. Schor
When a political subdivision is sued, frequently the political subdivision itself, as well as involved officials and employees, are named. Public officials named in such legal action must be aware of immunity defenses for both the political subdivision and its employees in both the state and federal court systems. Sovereign immunity is a defense against lawsuits available through Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2744 that specifically provides protections for political subdivisions as well as political subdivision employees. Read more.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE LITTLE

AUTHORITY ON OIL & GAS MATTERS

By Matthew G. Vansuch

As concerned residents look for answers to issues related to oil and gas leasing, they often call their local governments asking what they can do. Unfortunately, the answer is nothing. While local governments used to be able to somewhat regulate the location of oil and gas wells, the General Assembly recently changed the oil and gas regulation landscape by granting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Mineral Resources Management the sole and exclusive authority to regulate oil and gas well activity. Read more.

HHM ATTORNEYS IN THE COMMUNITY

MICHAEL J. McGEE was

was featured recently as part of a WFMJ-TV Channel 21 story about employee theft. McGee, who advises businesses about a variety of labor and employment issues, provided tips about dealing with missing company funds.

Local print and broadcast media quoted FREDERICK S. COOMBS III about a recent court ruling that protected local foundation funds from being used to cover working expenses in the Forum Health bankruptcy case. Coombs represented the Tod Foundation in the matter.

ALAN D. WENGER was quoted extensively in a recent series of WKSU-FM stories on the rapid growth of oil and gas leasing activity in the Midwest. Wenger talked about the need for landowners to use caution. You can find the stories here.

MATTHEW G. VANSUCH spoke at Youngstown State University recently about the Commerce Clause and its impact on the debate over national healthcare policy. Vansuch addressed the YSU Insititute for Life after Retirement.

The Solutions Letter is published by Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell.

Comments can be directed to any of our practice group chairs:

William L. Hawley, Litigation, 330.392.1541 or by email.
Neil D. Schor, Public Sector, 330.744.1111 or by email.
Frederick S. Coombs III, Creditors Rights, 330.744.1111 or by email.
Alan D. Wenger, Business & Employment, 330.744.1111 or by email.
John L. Pogue, Estate Planning & Probate, 330.392.1541 or by email.