Dave Crissman led the meeting today.  

Credit Card Security Compliance
Robert Busch recently had Visa/MasterCard take $130 out of his account and told him he had to take a test for security purposes.  This is part of new compliance requirements.  They want to know that you are not storing credit card information anywhere.  Mike Whalen had his website scanned and recently his in-house accounts too.  They regularly scan his office server and his personal computer.  Jana Greene has also had it happen to her.  She had to get a whole new server and updated software at a cost of $7,000.  Sandro Menasci's credit card company gave him a new terminal at no charge. 

Securing Your Client Information
Barbara suddenly got very concerned about viruses because she stores a lot of personal information for her clients.  She made a decision to go to a different way of protecting that data.  Every work station has two computers, one for internal and one for external access.  There are two printers at every desk as well.  She has everything set up behind a firewall and each station has its own secondary protection as well.  The other thing Barbara did, so employees understand the seriousness of this, was have them sign a form that states they will be financially responsible if they get on the internet for personal use creating a security breach.  It is an expensive endeavor but when she considered the amount of billable time she could potentially lose she thought it a small price to pay to be safe.

Sandro has been doing this for over 4 years.  One reason is security.  Another reason is to keep employees from surfing the internet when they should be working. 

Potential Member Candidates
Chris Curran recommended Guy Lazeros as a potential member.  He has a company "Go For Cash Flow" which does ala carte landlord services including evictions, tenant screenings, things of that nature.  He is an "interesting cat" and has visited our website, read our bios and is interested in joining our group. 

Erin La Grassa brought in her mother Janice as a guest.  She is also interested in membership.  Her business is twofold.  The first part is "Waterworks on Wheels".  They provide swimming lessons for kids, group and private.  The other part is organizing fitness conferences for instructors to get their continuing education. 

FEATURED SPEAKER:  Stacy Hyder
Stuart Schindler went to Stacy's office to take her picture for MABE.  He said "I really want to know how you defend people who are guilty?".  That is what she talked about today.

They don't have to tell me they are guilty.  You can read the police report and tell they did something wrong.  Prosecutors get the knight and shining armor label...they are the "good side".  But there are bad prosecutors out there.  The reason defense attorneys do what they do is to protect our rights.  If we let the bad prosecutors and cops get away with what they do, it affects all of our rights.  I try to keep our rights in tact. 

There are some cases where I don't like the person and I turn them down.  And some people come in with unrealistic expectations.  One of the reason I went into private practice is so I could choose who to defend.

I have always been a person that likes to fight for the underdog.  Not everyone was as fortunate as I was growing up.  Sometimes people just make really bad choices.   Sometimes the penalty doesn't warrant the crime.    When you talk about sex offenders and murderers, that is 2% of the cases.  Most of the cases are with everyday people that make bad choices.  It is heartbreaking to see someone that is addicted to drugs, got into it when they were young and impressionable, and they got caught and hit with a stiff sentence.  They say if you want justice, stay out of the court. 

Do I enjoy it?  Today, I am not liking what I do because I am stressed out over a case.  But usually I do like it.  I am one of those people that is cut out for this job.  For whatever reason, I feel like it was something I was born to do.  You have to have empathy.  You have to have a thick skin, believe in what you are doing and enjoy it.  You have to believe that people can be rehabilitated.  The small victories keep you going. 

I have to earn a living.  Getting profitable business to come in the door is hard.  People in jail don't usually have money.   My age and the fact that I have only been practicing since 2002 doesn't help.  The defendants with money want an experienced attorney.  Experience is huge.  But the key to practicing litigation is preparation and work.  I don't claim to be the smartest person in the room but I will always be the most prepared person in the room.  And that is what gets people to hire me.  I see a lot of sloppy practices.  I try to do everything by the book and hold the other side to every possible rule.  That is the only way I can win these cases.  I work like a dog.  You are representing a person's life.  No matter how small the case may seem, they care, so I have to.  I don't do any advertising right now.  Everything is referral.  I bank everything on my reputation.  A lot of my business comes from other lawyers and judges that know how I work.