The Michigan Daily - Friday, June 3, 1988- Page 5
Degree-less lawyer shocks firm with confession
BY ANN F. EVELETH uated from the University law
Former University law student school, which he attended from 1977
Michael Fontana's career seemed to 1979. He left the school one
promising. He had a partnership in a credit short of graduation.
prestigious Chicago firm and the "WE thought he was a first rate
praise of his colleagues as a "first- lawyer, and know him to be a first
rate" attorney. rate individual," said Harold Shapiro,
About the only thing Fontana a senior partner in the firm, who said
lacked was a law degree. he was shocked and "sick" over the
Fontana shocked the firm of So- incident.
nenschein, Carlin, Nath, and Rosen- Fontana, who worked for the firm
thal April 25, when he informed his for ten years, including three years as
partners that not only had he never a partner, was immediately dis-
taken a bar exam, but he never grad- missed. He told the firm he had ar-
feel guilty. They really inspired me
e to try and do something for myself
and others."
Continued from Page 3 "It is not just a dream to rid our
constructive criticism as well as new country of homelessness. We must
members for their group. all realize that change is possible and
"At first I was going to get up do something about the problem."
and leave," said Dudley Ware, a Uthappa said.
homeless Ann Arbor resident who But some of the homeless audi-
viewed the group's performance. ence said they wanted to help them-
"But after they told me that they had selves before helping others. Bertha
been homeless before, it made me Green, who tried to contain her tears
ranged to make up the credit with a said David Anderson, a spokesperson said the incident "raises interesting
paper he never finished. for the Illinois Bar Association. But questions about the validity of the
Shapiro would not discuss. he said Fontana could be held in bar exam."
whether the firm would rehire contempt of court and enjoined from "Here you have a guy who has
Fontana, but said the firm had not practicing in the future without a li- been praised as a litigator, who turns
discussed any legal action against cense. out not to even have taken the bar,"
him. He said he cannot discuss some While Illinois prohibits practic- Rendelman said. "Should he be eli-
details about the case while it is ing law without a license, he added, gible (to practice law)?"
"under investigation." the Supreme Court only has author- A local attorney, who asked not
Fontana could not be reached for ity over licensed attorneys. to be identified, said it is common
comment. The University Registrar's office for law firms to hire second-year law
THE I L L I N O I S Bar confirmed that Fontana attended the students whose credentials they have
Association has no authority to take law school from 1977 to 1979 and checked, and then offer them perma-
disciplinary action against Fontana, without graduating, but would not nent positions before graduation
release any information regarding without seeing their final transcripts.
throughout the performance, said her Fontana's academic record.
main concerns are her son, who lives The incident may cause further BUT Rendelman said he thought
in a foster home and her struggle problems because the cases Fontana Fontina's case was "a fluke," not the
with drug addiction. handled may now be reopened. Al- result of a flaw in the system. But
IT IS NEAR the end of the though a party may be legally repre- he added, "It's gotten to where a lot
skit, and as the lights dim the per- sented by someone who is not an of firms hire students between their
formers say their concluding lines. attoey, the requirement must first first and second year of law school."
But they're not just lines, they're a he waived by akjudge. In many ways, law schools
call for action. "NOBODY knows whether the reputations are on the line too,
"Since 1980 Ronald Reagan has cases he tried will be rendered in- Rendelman said, because law school
Sic 1hre 98 Ronaldheagawinchmsvalid," said Anderson. admissions offices place high prior-
cuthresgut."ofthDennis Rendelman, staff counsel ity on admitting highly ethical stu-
housing budget." for the Illinois Bar Association, dents.
The, Calendar
of The University of Michigan
The calendar combines meeting, /ecture workshop and con-
terence announcements with other events happening each week
on campus. It is based on The Universitc Record calendar, and
is open to all University sponsored groups and organizations
recognized bv the Michigan Student Assembl. Items must be
submitted in writing by Sp.m. the Tuesda before publication.
Address all information to: Michael Vargas, publications
assistant, Universit Record, 412 Macnard St. Asterisk /*
denotes events to which admission is charged.
FRIDAY
JUNE 3
Prog in Genetics--Sem series, The Genetics and Biology of AIDS:
J Osborn, "AIDS: The Prospects for Vaccines," 3-5 pm, MLB3.
Canmputing Ctr--Caarses: In Rm 3001 Still: Miccocoft Ward: Adn
Foamatting acd Glassaries (Macinash), 8:30-11:30 am; MS-DOS
Basic Skills, 9 am-noon; Using the MTS Message System, 1-3
pin; MTS Basic Skills, 1-4 pm, In Rm 4212 SEB: Intro to
Auhoing Systems for the Macintosh, 1-3 pm. Reg req. 763-
7630.
U-M-Dearborn--Sunset Serendipity nature walk, 8:30 pm,
Environmental Study Area main entrance. 593-5338.
*HRD--Info series, "Overview of University Budgets and
Accounting," 8:30 am-noon; wkshp, "Coping with Criticism and
Negative Feedback," 9 am-noon, 1111 Kipke Dr. Reg req. 764-
7410.
*Housing Bureau for Seniors--Senior Housing Conf, 8:45 am-3
pm, Kellogg Eye Ctr, 990 Wall St. 763-0970.
SATURDAY
JUNE 4
*Outdoor Rec Ctr--Man/Woman Altenate Shot 18 Hole Golf
Toumament, staggered starting times, Radrick Farms Golf Course.
To reg, 763-7040.
*AAFC--Film, House of Games, 9:30 pm, MLB3.
*M-CARE--Class, Infant and Child CPR, 10 am-2 pm, Northville
tllth Ctr, 350 Griswold. To reg, 344-1777.
*Ruthven Planetarium Theatre-See May 28.
*Nat Sei Museums--Children's wkshp, "All Those Legs--Insects
and Spiders": ages 8-17, 10 am-1 pm, Exhibit Mus. Reg req. 764-
0478.
SUNDAY
JUNE 5
Computing Ctr--Tour, 2-4 pm, 1075 Beal Ave. Reg req. 764-2121.
*Elec Engr & Computer Sci Dept--5-day conf begs, Computer
Vision and Pattern Recognition, 8:30 am, MLB. 764-5305.
Len Buddhist 'Tempte-See May 29.
*Rut hven Panetaritum 'Theatre--See May 29.
Univ Lutheran Cha pe-See May 29.
MONDAY
JUNE 6
Integrity---Lesbian-gay male community open house, 8:45 pm,
Canterbury house, 218 N Division. 665-0606.
*M Marceau World Ctr for Mime--Grand Kabuki of Japan:
recap. 6 pm; Mime Ctr preseniation to Japanese delegacion, 7 pm;
perf, "Ki Bikyaku Yamato Orai," 8 pm; recep, 10:30 pm, Power
Ctr. 995-4437.
Med Ctr Motherwell Maternity Fitness Prog--Maternity
classes beg, 5:30 & 7:30 pm, Ford Amphi lobby. 936-5186.
Hlth Svc--Volunteers info sess, 7 pm, Ford Amphi. 764-6874.
Macromolecular Res Ctr--Colloq, G Jannink, "Neutron
Reflecion and Surface Studies of Polymeric Systems,"4 pm, 1017
Dow Bldg.
Computing Ctr--Courses: Basic Concepts of Programming, 9-11
am, 4212 SEB; Computer Networking Technol, pt 1, 1-3 pm,
4003 SEB; Lotus 1-2-3, pt 1, 1-5 pm, 3001 SEB. Reg req. 763-
7630.
*ICLE--Video course, "Modification and Enforcement of Judgments,"
9 am-4 pm, 1020 Greene St. Reg req. 764-0533.
TUESDAY
JUNE 7
Ctr for Japanese Studies--Kabuki symp, WP Malm, MR McIlya,
H Tonomura & K Emerson-Dell, 2-5:30 pm, MLB1.
Mich Independent Filmmakers Coop--Mtg, 5 pm, Mich Union
Welker Rm.
Union Arts & Progs--Concert of the Month, Baroque music, 8
pm, Mich Union Pendleton Rm. 764-6498.
Computing Ctr--Courses: In Rm 3001 SEB: Microsoft Word:
Review Lab (no reg req), 9 am; Microsoft Word: Adv Formatting
(IBM PC-Compatibles), 10 am-noon; MacDraw, 10:30 am-12:30
pm; Macintosh Basic Skills, 1-4 pm; dBASE III Plus, pt 2, 1-5
pm. In Rm 4212 SEB: Intro to Computing, 9-11 am. In Rm 4003
SEB: Writing & Using Editor Procedures, 7-9 pm. Reg req, 763-
7630.
Rues Committee--Mtg, 8-10 am, Dining Rm D, Med Ctr. G
Moran, 593-5096.
Lesbian & Gay Rights Organizing Committee (LaGROC)-
-Mtg, 8:30 pm, 3100 Mich Union. 763-4186.
Wets Lutheran Campus Ministry--Bible disc, 7-9 pm, Mich
Union.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 8
Psychol/Rackham--Symp in memory of C Coombs, "Recent
Advances in Mathematical Psychology,"9 am-5:30 pm.
M Marceau World Ctr for Mite-Grand Kabuki of Japan: make
"peace notes" & origami cranes, & present a gift to Kabuki
troupe, 3-5:30 pm, Museum Art; *perf, "Koi Bikyaku Yamato
Grai," 8 pm, Piawer Ctr. 995-4437, 763-TKTS.
Kinesiology--Sem, 0 Rutherford, "Factorn=Affecting Bone Mass,"
noon, 1260 CCRB.
MSA Peace & Justice Committee--El Salvador Film Month:
Revolution or Death, 9 pm, MLB3. 763-3241.
Mechan Engr & Applied Mechanics--Sem Series in Dynamics,
Vibrations and Control: J-E Lee, "Suboptimum Maximum
Likelihood Identification of Armax Processes;" R Du, "A New
Approach for Failure Detection of Machining Processes," 12:10
pin, 1301 EECS Bldg.
U-M-Flitrt--Mich Shakespeare Festival presents "Shakespeare
Revue": noon, Windmill Place; 6 pm, Genesee Valley Ctr. 762-
3230.
Computing Ctr--Course, Computer Networking Technology, pt 2,
4003 SEB. Reg req. 763-7630.
CEW--Job hunt Club, 7-9 pm, 350 S Thayer. 763-7080. All
welcome.
Univ Lutheran Chapel--Supper, 6 pm; activities, Bible study &
devotions follow, 1511 Washtenaw Ave. 663-5560.
Mich Gay Union--Mtg, 9 pm, Guild house, 802 Monroe St. 763-
4 106.
*Zen Buddhist Temple--Yoga & breathing class, 9:30-11 am,
1214 Packard Rd. 761-6520.
THURSDAY
JUNE 9
Aerospace Engr/Mechan Engr/Applied Mechan--Sem, M
Bendsoe, "Shape Optimization as a Distributed, Discrete
Optimization Problem: Solution Procedures Using Continuous
Approximations,"4'pm, 107 Aerospace Engr Bldg.
Ctr for Res on Soc Organization--Brown-bag lec, M Hechter,
"The Attainment of Solidarity in Intentional Communities,"noon,
4051 ISA.
LSA/Amer Sociological Assoc/Ctr for Res on Soc
Organization--Publ talks, R Collins & L Coser, "Social
Movement Theory and General Sociological Theory," 6:30 pm,
Mich Union Kuenzel Rm.
U-M-Flint--Mich Shakespeare Festival presents "Shakespeare
Revue," 7 pm, City of Fenton.Community Ctr. 762-3230.
Computing. Ctr--Courses: In Rm 3001 SEB: Beginning Microsoft
Word (Macintosh), 8:30 am-12:30 pm; Microsoft Word: Outlining
& Style Sheets (IBM PC-Compatibles), 9:30 am-12:30 pm;
dBASE III Plus Programming: Intro, 1-5 pm. In Rm 4212 SEB:
Macintosh Basic Skills Lec/Demo, 9-11 am. In Rm 4003 SEB:
Text Formatting with LaTeX, pt 1, 9 am-noon. Reg req. 763-
7630.
*ICLE--Live via satellite prog, "Important Current Practical
Problems in Pension Plan Administration," noon-5 pm, 1020
Greene St. Reg req, 764-0533.
Acad Affrs Advisory Committee--Mtg, 1-3 pm, 4079 Fleming
Bldg. C Stofle, 764-9356.
*Cont Med Educ-3-day course begs, "Clinical Laboratory
Computer Symposium," Towsley Ctr. Reg req. 763-1400.
*Mich League--Intl night, Smoky Mountains, 4:30-7:30 pm, The
League Buffet.
His House Christian Fellowship--Bible study, singing &
prayer, 7:30-9 pm, 925 E Ann.