News About Our Firm

News About Our firm

Joe Foster, Nancy Little, and Micki Pasteur have all been selected for inclusion in the 2009 Best Lawyers in America. Joe was named in the areas of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates, Nancy was named in the area of Trusts and Estates, and Micki was the only attorney in Michigan named in the area of Elder Law. We’re proud that in addition to being selected for inclusion, our lawyers were “top-listed” - named among the best of all lawyers selected by Best Lawyers in America.

Dave Russell was recently admitted to the Florida Bar and is now available to help with your Florida legal needs. Dave was named by Michigan SuperLawyers as a “Rising Star” among Michigan lawyers. Dave is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law and Central Michigan University.

Nancy Little recently completed a multi-volume hard cover set of books on trusts and estates for West Publishing, a division of the New-York based Thomson Reuters company, a leading publisher of legal resources. Nancy was very relieved to have this project completed, but now can look forward to the commitment of preparing annual updates! Nancy has also been recognized by Michigan SuperLawyers, for the second year in a row, as among the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Michigan.

Mark Pasquali has joined our firm and will practice in the area of trusts and estates, estate planning, estate and gift tax, and guardianships and conservatorships. Mark earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and graduated cum laude from the Michigan State University Law School. He worked in the estate planning field for two years before joining our firm. Mark is originally from L’Anse, Michigan.

We’re pleased to announce that Nancy Little is the incoming Chair of the Council of the State Bar of Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Section. The Council represents the 5,500 members of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar and has 26 standing committees as well as 11 Liaisons to other entities within the State Bar. She will serve for the 2008-2009 year. Nancy previously has served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Chair, and Chair-Elect, and has also served as Editor of the State Bar Probate and Estate Planning Journal since 2001. She has been named as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers” in Michigan.

Marlaine Teahan also serves on the Council Board, where she is the Liaison to the State Bar Court Rules and Forms Committee, a standing committee of the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO). This committee consists of representatives from various trial court associations, some sections of the State Bar of Michigan, and relevant state departments or agencies. The committee makes recommendations to the State Court Administrator for the creation of new court forms and the revision of existing forms to keep the forms consistent with statute and court rules. As statutes and rules change, so do the court forms, so the committee’s task is never-ending. Marlaine also serves the Council Board on the following committees: Michigan Trust Code Committee and Charitable Giving/Exempt Organizations Committee.

Nancy and Marlaine will have assistance on the Council from several other members of FZLPM. Kris Arnett will serve on the following committees: Uniform Power of Attorney Act Committee and Contested and Uncontested Probate Proceedings Committee. Melisa Mysliwiec will assist Nancy with editing the Journal and will also serve on the Elder Law Committee and Amicus Curiae Committee. Mark Pasquali will assist Marlaine on the Court Rules and Forms Committee.

Micki Pasteur was elected Vice-President of the Ingham County Bar Association (ICBA) Board of Directors. She will also continue to co-chair the ICBA Probate Section for the 2008-2009 program year. The ICBA was founded in 1895, and serves the legal profession and the greater Lansing community. Among her duties as co-chair of the Probate Section, Micki will be in charge of scheduling monthly educational programs for members of the ICBA. Micki was also recognized by Michigan SuperLawyers in the area of Elder Law.

Kevin Manning was recently appointed a Receiver by Judge Giddings in the Ingham County Circuit Court. A Receiver is a fiduciary of the Court whose powers and duties typically include managing, operating and preserving the business and receivership property while the matter before the Court is pending. Kevin has been appointed Receiver by judges in both Ingham and Clinton Counties. Kevin also was appointed arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), a national organization. The AAA role in the dispute resolution process is to administer cases, from filing to closing. The AAA provides administrative services in the U.S., as well as abroad through its International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Ultimately, the AAA aims to move cases through arbitration or mediation in a fair and impartial manner until completion.

Marlaine Teahan has been re-elected to the Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council (GLEPC), where she will serve as Secretary for the 2008-2009 year. Membership in GLEPC is open to accountants, attorneys, financial planners, insurance agents, trust officers, and related professions. GLEPC’s goal is to ensure its members are kept current on topics relating to estate planning. It also aims to encourage communication and sharing of ideas between the various professions it represents in order to provide the best possible estate planning services to the public.

Kevin Winters and Dave Russell spoke at the ICBA Probate Section’s September 2008 meeting on the topics of intellectual property issues in estate planning and Florida property transfers. Scott Breen will be speaking to the ICBA Probate Section’s October 2008 meeting on the topic of foreclosures.

Scott Breen has been elected to another term on the MSU College of Law American Inns of Court. An American Inn of Court is an amalgam of judges, lawyers, law professors, and law students. Each Inn meets approximately once a month both to "break bread" and to hold programs and discussions on matters of ethics, skills and professionalism. The American Inns of Court adopted the traditional English model of legal apprenticeship and modified it to fit the particular needs of the American legal system.

Micki Pasteur, Kris Arnett and Marlaine Teahan have each been awarded a Probate and Estate Planning Certificate from The Institute of Continuing Legal Education (“ICLE”). This certificate is awarded to candidates who successfully complete 10 seminars within a 3 year period. The required seminars focus on estate planning, estate administration, as well as financial planning for the Elderly and Disabled. Attorneys who complete this program are considered to be highly qualified to practice in these areas of law.

We’re proud of our lawyers’ activities and involvement, which helps keep our firm up to date and on the forefront of the legal fields in which we practice.

Rhonda Fleming, assistant to Kevin Manning and Scott Breen, spends her time away from the office working on a degree from Lansing Community College. We’re pleased to announce that Rhonda completed her last semester with a 4.00 GPA. Way to go, Rhonda – keep up the hard work!

Edith Loomis has joined our firm as receptionist. Edith has spent most of her career working in legal firms and comes to us with excellent qualifications. In her spare time, Edith does rescue work with abandoned pets. Edith looks forward to greeting you on your next trip to our office. Jen Sweers, who has been our very able receptionist, is now working as legal assistant to Marlaine Teahan and Melisa Mysliwiec.

Becky Wareing, paralegal in the trusts and estates area, and her husband Mark celebrated their 30^th wedding anniversary this year. Congratulations, Becky and Mark!

During the summer, we like to goof off and enjoy the some vacation time just as you do. Here are some of the things we have been doing:

Marlaine and Jim Teahan recently spent a week on the beach with their three sons (ages 9, 11 and 12) at Topsail Island, North Carolina. The trip was rather nostalgic for Jim who lived on Topsail Island from the late 80s to the early 90s while stationed at nearby Marine Corps base, Camp Lejeune. Their trip highlights include visiting the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Memorial and witnessing 85-100 loggerhead turtles march from their nest to the sea. Boogie boarding, shell collecting and finding shark teeth occupied the rest of their wonderful and relaxing vacation.

Kathie Lindberg, assistant to Joe Foster, Nancy Little, and Mark Pasquali, spent many summer weekends at her cottage on LaSalle Island, where she is sometimes joined by daughter Melanie and granddaughter Hannah. Kathie also enjoyed helping Hannah, who starts kindergarden this year, select items for her first day of school.

Kevin and Mariah Manning and Kevin and Anne Winters took their children along for a vacation in Kevin and Anne’s home state of New York. They stayed in Kevin and Anne’s old stomping grounds at Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region, where they enjoyed lots of water activities, good food, and good fellowship.

Micki and Ernie Pasteur, along with their daughter and grandson, spent labor day week-end fighting the New River Rapids in West Virginia. At the start of the trip Ernie was heard yelling, “Bring it On!” After the first couple hour of rafting, he exclaimed: “Is that all you’ve got!” However, Ernie’s voice softened at the level 5 “Double Z” bend when the raft flipped and caught all occupants under the boat in swirling water. The guide later reported hearing Ernie saying, “I’m coming to join you St. Peter” as the foursome floated downstream. I’m happy to report that all survived the exciting white water rafting excursion, and Micki has now checked this activity off her bucket list.

Nancy Little welcomed a new granddaughter, Anastasia, born May 23. The following weekend, she watched granddaughter Andrea medal in the 300 meter hurdles at the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s state-wide track championships. And, on August 2, she attended the wedding of granddaughter Abby to Jeremy Lutz in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Scott and Toree Breen spent time relaxing with their son Jared in Manistique, where they enjoyed swimming, relaxing, and the beautiful sunsets on Lake Michigan.