OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
All of us at Faruki Gilliam & Ireland P.L.L. extend our deepest sympathies and strong support to the families of the victims of the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001. We admire and support the many public safety personnel and volunteers who continue to work in the recovery efforts. While our hearts are heavy, we are resolute in our commitment to serve our clients to the best of our ability in these difficult times.
FG&I continues to be busy representing its clients in disputes across the United States. Despite the sluggish economy of the first three quarters of this year, made worse by the tragic events of September 11th, FG&I, unlike many law firms, has seen its business remain steady, and is poised for continued success in 2002. While other prominent law firms are laying off attorneys and scaling back on recruiting, we continue to recruit top law students at the nation's leading law schools to meet the growing demand from new and existing clients for representation by FG&I.
On September 4 a criminal contempt proceeding against four of the firm's clients (three employees of a corporate client and the company's outside general counsel at another law firm) were settled by agreement, after trial, in a Consent Order Resolving All Contempt Issues. Special Counsel had been appointed to represent the Common Pleas Court; the underlying case in which the contempt charges were brought was a capital murder case in which FG&I was not counsel. The Consent Order, entered after the Common Pleas Court Judge heard all of the testimony at the trial of the criminal contempt charges, contained an explicit finding that "none of the Respondents acted with the requisite intent to interfere with the administration of justice; or to defy this Court's authority in any manner;" thus, since the quoted language is the definition of contempt under Ohio law, the Consent Order included a finding that Respondents had not committed contempt of court. Charlie Faruki and Tom Krae
mer tried the criminal contempt case and negotiated the Consent Order.
Committing time, talent and treasure, in September, FG&I "put its money where its mouth is" signing on as a "Founder" of Dayton's technology business incubator, the "i-Zone." Beginning its second year, the i-Zone partners with industry, public and private institutions, and professionals to offer a "one stop shop" for technology-oriented startups to access funding, advice, professional services and space to launch and grow new businesses.