Hutchison & Steffen is thrilled to announce that Firm Partner Shannon Wilson has been awarded the Louie Wiener Pro Bono Service Award by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. Incredibly, this is the 3rd time Shannon has been recognized and singled out for the impact she’s made with her pro bono work. Congratulations Shannon!
Congratulations to Firm Attorney Astrid Perez on a recent win in a contentious labor arbitration concerning a governmental entity failing to promote a female deputy to sergeant for over twenty years. In the Arbitrator’s Award and written decision received, the Arbitrator found that the City violated Article 5 and Article 21 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it failed to promote the deputy to sergeant. Additionally, the Arbitrator found that the City violated Article 5, and Article 21 when it chose to provide an exception for promotion to sergeant to an otherwise ineligible deputy because it did not want to place a woman in a supervisory role. As such, the City failed to abide by the April 30, 2021 Announcement and Article 21 because it did not promote from the top three candidates. It further failed to abide by Article 5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement because it failed to provide information necessary for the administration or application of the Agreement. Specifically, it failed to provide the Union adequate documentation that promotions were being made in accordance with the Agreement and free of any discrimination. Congratulations to Astrid for a job well done in winning this very difficult and contentious Arbitration!
Rik has been with Hutchison & Steffen for over 10 years and has played an important role in our litigation departments. Congratulations, Rik!
On November 21, 2022, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced the appointment of Firm Partner, Patricia Lee, Esq., to the Nevada Supreme Court, Seat F, effective immediately. Patty will fill the recently vacated seat for the remainder of the term, expiring January 6, 2025.
“All of us at Hutchison & Steffen couldn’t be prouder and happier for Patty,” exclaimed John T. Steffen, Managing Partner of the Firm. “She has been a true partner to all of us, to her clients, and to the Southern Nevada Community. We know that the Court, legal community, and all Nevadans will benefit from her intelligence, character, and class as we have for the past 20 years. Godspeed.”
“It is with mixed emotions that I humbly take my seat as the next Nevada Supreme Court Justice. To the extent that Governor Sisolak felt that I was worthy of the appointment, it is in large part due to the mentorship, training, and support that I received during my time with Hutchison & Steffen. I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for each and every person at the Firm and will miss each of them terribly,” said Patty.
Patty joined the Firm in 2002 and became its first female partner in 2009. She has worked primarily in business law and complex commercial litigation, as well as areas including trademark law, family law, appellate litigation, and healthcare professionals advocacy. Throughout the years, Patty has been a tremendous asset to clients with a range of legal matters. In addition, she has contributed in so many ways internally at the Firm, including heading the Firm’s pro bono program, running the summer internship program, and managing and training associates.
Patty was born in Korea, to an African American military father and a native Korean mother. She is the first African-American woman and first Asian-American to serve on the State’s highest court. She attended the University of Southern California and obtained a dual degree in psychology and communications in 1997. Patty then attended the prestigious George Washington University Law School where she obtained her Juris doctorate in 2002.
Patty’s decades of community service have impacted so many. Since joining the Firm, she has served as a volunteer, board member, treasurer, president, chair, pro bono attorney, and/or representative with Children’s Attorney Project, Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association, Nevada Crime Commission, Self Help Center, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, and Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Southern Nevada.
Las Vegas business publication In Business Las Vegas honored Patricia with its “Women to Watch 2010” award. Due to her tenacious efforts to grant under-served communities with fair access to justice, Patricia was awarded the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada in 2012 and holds the honor of being the first attorney in Nevada to win the prestigious National Pro Bono Publico Award awarded by the American Bar Association. Patricia has also received recognitions and awards from the Asian American Group (Outstanding Community Achievement), the Lili Claire Foundation (“Live your Passion” Award), and the Womens’ Chamber of Commerce (Young Professionals Award and Humanitarian of the Year). Patricia has also been recognized for multiple years by Nevada Business Magazine (Legal Elite and Top Rank Attorneys) and Mountain West Super Lawyers.
Outside of all the above accomplishments and contributions, Patty enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, as well as traveling and reading. Please join us in congratulating Patty.
Firm Partner Michael Brooks recently won a motion for summary judgment last week in Minden, Nevada. Michael was brought in to handle the motion for summary judgment and trial for a home mortgage lender against a borrower that had not paid in over 10 years. He insisted the loan was unenforceable due to issues with assignments of the deed of trust. Prior to the hearing, Michael drafted supplemental briefing addressing the technical aspects of the chain of title. The Court adopted Michael Brooks’ argument entirely and the Firm prevailed. Congratulations, Michael!
Firm Associate Jonathan Chung was recently recognized by Vegas Inc. as one of Southern Nevada’s Top Family Lawyers of 2022. The peer-nominated list includes some of the most well-regarded legal professionals in the Valley. Congratulations, Jonathan!
Rik recently tried a case where a Plaintiff claimed she was injured after being brought onstage at a performance on the Las Vegas Strip. The Plaintiff alleged that her nose was broken, she received a concussion, and suffered severe emotional injuries as a result of this incident. The Plaintiff was seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. Rik was able to prove that the Plaintiff was not injured in the way she claimed, and she received nothing.
Firm Attorney Maliq Kendricks was recently nominated and chosen for The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. The National Black Lawyers Top 100 recognizes attorneys providing excellent legal work in their respective practice areas, creating an elite network of experts trusted by their communities.
Congratulations, Maliq!
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a summary judgment ruling in favor of a Hutchison & Steffen client seeking to enforce a promissory note secured by residential real property. Michael R. Brooks represented the lender against multiple claims by a borrower challenging the client’s ownership and the enforceability of a loan secured by residential real property. Significantly, the Court of Appeals affirmed that the FDCPA requires that any mistaken representation must be material and likely to mislead a least sophisticated debtor. The Firm was able to demonstrate to the Court that the alleged error was so inconsequential that it was neither material nor likely to mislead. Moreover, the Court of Appeals determined that the borrower did not have standing to challenge the lender’s acquisition of the loan and its status as a mortgage broker or mortgage banker. Moreover, the 9th Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court finding that the borrowers claim of a loan discharge in the form of a letter from the original lender was baseless and that the alleged discharge letter could properly be disregarded where its origins were suspect and there was no evidence to corroborate its existence.
Hutchison & Steffen recently won a major trust litigation case following a two-week trial in state district court. The firm’s client, who served as trustee and beneficiary of a sizable estate, prevailed in legal challenges asserted by siblings of undue influence, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud.
Congratulations to Mark Hutchison and Russell Geist who tried the case (along with Risa Beck providing paralegal trial support).