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Your WAELA Board needs new members! Email waela@waela.org to nominate yourself or another WAELA member to serve on the Board of Directors

YOUR WAELA WEBSITE

Updated by Steve King, Committee Chair 

Case Law Updates 

Recent elder law-related Washington court cases featured on the WAELA website: 

In re Clearman v. Clearman, Slip Op. 57008-4-II, 2023 WL 4574800 (Wn. App. July 18, 2023) (Div. 2) – UNPUBLISHED (concerning applicability of VAPA after death of vulnerable adult).  

Radliff v. Schmidt, 532 P.3d 622 (Wn. App. July 10, 2023) (Div. 1) (concerning court interpretation of community property agreement in conflict with will). 

In re the Guardianship of Zerr, Slip Op. 39137-0-III, 2023 WL 4362808 (Wn. App. July 6, 2023) (Div. 3) – UNPUBLISHED (affirming trial court’s order maintaining guardianship conditions following complaints from biological mother).  

Summaries of these cases, along with numerous other cases relevant to WAELA practitioners, are available on the Case Law Updates page of the WAELA Website.

WELCOME NEW WAELA MEMBERS!

A big WELCOME to our new members who have joined in the past 12 months: 

Minta A. Andreve, Rehmke Andreve, P.S., Fircrest, WA 

Margaret Cheong 

Elizabeth A. Johnson, Liz Ann Johnson Elder Law, PLLC, University Place, WA 

Laura Mancuso, Mancuso Law Office, Vancouver, WA 

Lauren A. Pitman, Pitman Huff Raedel Magaro Lifetime Legal, PLLC, Olympia, WA 

Amanda G. Proujan, Law Office of Amanda G. Proujan, PLLC, Longview, WA 

Philip R. Andrews, Andrews Terry Jeffers LLP, Vancouver, WA 

Colleen M. Cook, Cook & Bartlett, PLLC, Seattle, WA 

Margaret Delp, Law Office of Margaret Delp, Langley, WA 

Kendel Froese, Thrive Law PLLC, Spokane, WA 

Anna Lim-Mikkelsen, Evergreen Estate and Elder Law, Spokane, WA 

Sarah Lynn Mathews, Pettis Webber Pacific P.S., Vancouver, WA 

Jeffrey G. Nielsen, Gordon Thomas Honeywell, LLP, Tacoma, WA 

Carolyn Powell, Law Office of Carolyn Powell, Everett, WA 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Many WAELA members first meet Leigh Bennett when they run into a sticky legal issue in one of their cases. “Maybe you should ask Leigh Bennett?” is a common refrain. Whether it is one-on-one, at WAELA’s annual Unprogram CLE at Lake Chelan, or at the monthly Elder Law Forum, Leigh welcomes questions and engages in discussions that often help light the way to a solution. This generous spirit makes us all better practitioners and gives WAELA members a very positive example of what it means to belong to a community of lawyers.

Leigh has practiced law since 1987, when he started out in his father’s firm, straight out of law school. He practices law with his brother, Pete, and his nephew, Blair, at the Bennett & Bennett firm in the heart of Edmonds. He is the quintessential “Elder Law Attorney,” practicing a blend of estate planning, long-term care Medicaid planning, and probate, along with the variety of legal issues that overlap with this corner of law. While he does not limit himself to Elder Law issues, word spreads (especially in Edmonds!) and his clients know they can count on him when the legal issues surrounding aging and long-term care appear. 

Leigh has a positive attitude about sharing information and mentoring other attorneys, which stands out even in the collegial community of WAELA members. “I just make the time,” he says, when asked how he fits this in. “I was a young attorney once, too, and I know what it’s like.” Leigh’s father died just 6 months after Leigh joined the firm as an attorney. “I didn’t have that ‘attorney down the hall’ to talk to. So many solos don’t have the attorney down the hall, and I want to be that person.” 

In addition to practicing law, Leigh has maintained a work-life balance as a father and active outdoorsman. He skis, hikes, and golfs, often spending time away from work in the Cascade Mountains. He wistfully recalls many earlier years of mountaineering and windsurfing. “But having kids and practicing law slows down some of the riskier activities,” he notes with a smile. 

 When asked about his favorite part of belonging to WAELA, Leigh responds that it is the members, with particular gratitude for members who helped him along the way. “The members are all so kind, and willing to share information at a level of quality that you don’t see in other professional groups. For example, I would not have become the attorney I have become if not for the mentoring of Sean Bleck and Barbara Isenhour. They always made the time for me. And I try to make the time for others.”

WAELA GUARDIANSHIP FORUM CONTINUES TO BENEFIT ATTENDEES

The WAELA Guardianship Forum will continue to meet on the first Thursday of each month via Zoom webinar. Attendees have found this to be a valuable opportunity to bring their issues, challenges, and successes forward as they tackle new 11.130 RCW, the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and other Protective Arrangements Act.

If you would like to be included as a recurring participant, please e-mail Carissa Linnane. 

WAELA is your organization. Please contact us if there are ways that we can support you in your practice. 

Best wishes, 

Sharon C. Rutberg  

Attorney at Law 

WAELA Wire author and Member, WAELA Board of Directors 

sharon@salmonbaylaw.com 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carissa Linnane