Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

With all due respect to Justice Albright (to whose present campaign I have contributed the "Widow’s Mite"), I was there. Further, since nothing interesting ever happened in reader (as Jim Haught, Editor of the Gazette can attest), my memories are still vivid. There may have been a second auctioneer, but I remember clearly who stole the show. Maybe we can have a photo line-up.

H. John Rogers

Dear Editor:

I appreciate the kind opinions expressed by H. John Rogers, Esquire, in his article in the January, 2000, "The West Virginia Lawyer" entitled "In Re Mediation," regarding my services as a mediator in several cases.

However, a bit of Mr. Rogers’ recollections in that article are incorrect.

My Father, M.P. "Jinks" Albright, never worked as an auctioneer and I never attended auctions with him. In the 1940's and early 50's, Dad was a furniture manufacturers’ representative who called on the elder Mr. Rogers and Mr. Vic Starcher of Sistersville. I had the pleasure as a youngster of being with my Dad on some of those calls. In later years Dad was a merchant who, with my Mother, founded and successfully operated his own business.

In those earlier years, Dad on one occasion located for Mr. Starcher an auctioneer who was experienced in furniture auctions. As I recall, the auctioneer hailed from Iowa and reportedly did skillfully conduct an auction at Sistersville for Mr. Starcher and his associates.

Indeed my Dad was a master at his work, but his work was not being an auctioneer.

Sincerely,
Joseph P. Albright
p.c.: H. John Rogers, with thanks for your kind comments.

Dear Editor:

I am pleased to extend appreciation on behalf of West Virginia University and the WVU Foundation for the WV Bar Foundation’s recent gift of $6,400 in support of the ACL Public Service Fund at the WVU College of Law. A receipt is enclosed for your records.

Dean John Fisher, his colleagues and students join me in expressing thanks for this gift as well as the distinguished history of annual support for the WV Bar Foundation. West Virginia University is very fortunate to have a State Bar that values and recognizes the role that its law school can have in supporting legal concerns and issues addressed its public service efforts.

Again, all of us here thank the members of the WV Bar Foundation for their investment in the future of the WVU College of Law.

Sincerely,

D. Lyn Dotson, JD
Vice President for Development

 To The Editor:

I am writing to share some observations after my reading of Todd Twyman’s column in the March, 2000, issue of The West Virginia Lawyer. In his column, Mr. Twyman expresses his concern over what he sees as a decline in the public image of lawyers in general. Ultimately, Mr. Twyman blames the problem with lawyer image on the mass media including, but not certainly limited to, Rush Limbaugh.

If Mr. Twyman really wishes to get to the root of the problem with lawyer image, if indeed one exists, he should look no further than his own columns for the previous several months. In his columns, Mr. Twyman has engaged in pedantic, self serving arguments in support of some of the more questionable practices of the trial lawyers’ bar. I recall in particular, lengthy diatribes in support of the contingency fee and lawyer advertising. I would direct one’s attention to the yellow pages, late night television commercials, and the billboards on Corridor G, if one wishes to locate the source of the problem with lawyers’ images today.

It has been my impression that the young lawyers’ section of The West Virginia Lawyer is supposed to reflect the interests of all young lawyers, not merely those who concentrate their practice representing plaintiffs. If Mr. Twyman is unable to take a more balanced approach in his writing, then perhaps he should consider stepping down.

Very truly yours,

John T. Molleur