Click here to DONATE NOW or click on the Legal Food Frenzy link below.  Under the “firm” category please scroll down and select “Schettine & Nguyen, PLC.”

Thank you for your continued support for this worthy cause!

- Winning law firm raised 6,881 pounds per person -

RICHMOND (May 4, 2010) – Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced today that Virginia’s legal community joined together to raise more than 1.7 million pounds of food for Virginia’s hungry during April.  The fourth annual “Legal Food Frenzy” broke previous fund raising records by bringing in 36 tons more than in 2009.  The statewide competition is sponsored by the attorney general’s office and pitted 197 firms against each other.

Schettine & Nguyen from Richmond raised the most food per employee to win the “Attorney General’s Cup” for the third year in a row. The law firm has 13 employees and raised almost 6,881 pounds of food per person.

According to Leslie Van Horn, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, “This is beyond our expectations. Food Banks are experiencing a historic surge in demand for assistance during the recession. Law firms throughout the commonwealth heard our call. The collaboration of the attorney general’s office, the Virginia Bar Association, and food banks has made a difference for those in need throughout Virginia.”

“Although food is one of our most basic needs, there are still people in Virginia – in 2010 – who struggle to find enough of it to feed themselves and their families.  That’s why the attorney general’s office has built a partnership over the years with Virginia’s food banks – the organizations serving on the front lines in fighting hunger in Virginia.  Food banks can’t do this good work by themselves. They need money, time, and food donations. In short, they need us to pitch in and help,” said Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

            The contest ran April 5 through April 16 and was open to all lawyers, their staffs, and members of the legal community across Virginia.

            In addition to thanking the food drive coordinators and representatives across the state, Mr. Cuccinelli thanks the Virginia Bar Association’s Food Frenzy co-chairs, Chris Gill of Christian & Barton, Derek Swanson of McGuire Woods, Virginia Robinson of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and Katja Hill of LeClairRyan.

Note:  Pounds of food listed above and below are counted by both food and cash donations.  Cash donations are converted to the number of pounds of food they will provide.

The winners of the Fourth Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy”

Attorney General’s Cup Winner (largest per capita contribution):

Schettine & Nguyen, PLC (Richmond) – 6,881 pounds per person
   

Small (1-20) Law Firm – Total Pounds Winner: “The Brunswick Stew Award”

Jackson Lewis (Norfolk) - 25,500 pounds

Small (1-20) Law Firm – Per Capita Winner: “The Shenandoah Apple Award”

Jackson Lewis (Norfolk) – 4,250 pounds per person

Medium (21-100) Law Firm – Total Pounds Winner: “The James River Shad Award”

Christian and Barton, LLP (Richmond) – 64,319 pounds

Medium (21-100) Law Firm – Per Capita Winner: “The Hanover Tomato Award”

McKenry, Dancigers, Dawson & Lake (Virginia Beach) – 1,284 pounds per person

Large (101 and up) Law Firm – Total Pounds Winner: “The Smithfield Ham Award”

McGuireWoods LLP (all locations) – 223,551 pounds

Large (101 and up) Law Firm – Per Capita Winner: “The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Award”

Cooley Godward Kronish LLP (Reston) – 678 pounds per person

Sole Proprietor (1-2) Law Firm – Total Pounds Winner: “The Virginia Peanut Award”

B Cullen Gibson (Norfolk) 12,600 pounds

Law School Winner of Attorney General’s Cup Total Pounds and Per Capita:

University of Richmond School of Law (Richmond) – 96,326 pounds, 215 pounds per person

Government and Public Service – Total Pounds Winner:  “The Urbanna Oyster Award”

Office of the Attorney General (Richmond) – 100,195 pounds

Government and Public Service – Per Capita Winner: “The Old Dominion Soybean Award”

Prince William County Attorney Office – 878 pounds per person

Contributions to each regional food bank in Virginia:

Food Bank                                                                              Total Pounds     
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (Charlottesville area)                       27,887          
Capital Area Food Bank (Northern Virginia)                               305,085           
Central Virginia Food Bank (based in Richmond)                       878,305         
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia (based in Norfolk)               433,372            
Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula                                               14,263
Fredericksburg Area Food Bank                                                      8,981                
Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank                       57,436                 

Food Frenzy

Starts Today!

All across the Commonwealth of Virginia, lawyers, clerks, judges and other legal professionals are competing against each other to raise the most food and funds for the benefit of the Central Virginia Foodbank and to help defeat hunger in Virginia.  The winner of the competition receives the coveted Attorney General’s Cup.  The Legal Food Frenzy runs from April 5 -16. 

For the past two years in row, Schettine & Nguyen, PLC has won the competition beating all other law firms in Virginia by raising the most food (based on a per person average – attorneys and staff). 

Schettine & Nguyen, PLC intends to defend our title again this year.  Our goal is to raise the most food ever this year.  In order to do so, we need your help! 

To donate please click here.  *****Under the “Firm” category, simply scroll down the list of names and select Schettine & Nguyen, PLC.*****

If you would like to donate non-perishable food items, please stop by our offices during regular business hours to drop off your donation.

Thank you again for supporting the Central Virginia Foodbank and this worthy cause!

The registration process takes less than fifteen (15) minutes and consists of a brief review of your medical history and a cheek swab sample.  Your tissue type will then be entered into the Marrow Donor Registry. 

If you are determined to be a possible match for a patient in need of life-saving treatment, then you will be called upon for another cheek swab sample or blood sample to confirm the match.  You then would be asked to donate blood-forming cells (PBSC donation) or give marrow through a minor surgical procedure (marrow donation).  Both methods of donation are extremely safe and have minimal impacts upon the donor.  To learn more about the donation process/procedures please visit the “myths and facts” about bone marrow donation page.

This is a unique opportunity for you to safe a life, by just giving a little bit of yourself and your time!

For more information about the registration and donation process please visit http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/index.html or contact Jim Schettine at jschettine@snlawfirm.com or (804) 788-7070.

 ‘Legal Food Frenzy’ Breaks Records,

Raises the Equivalent of More Than 1.6 Million Pounds of Food for the Hungry

Schettine & Nguyen of Richmond Wins Third Annual Statewide Competition Among Law Firms

RICHMOND – The recently-completed “Legal Food Frenzy” broke previous records, raising the equivalent of more than 1.6 million pounds of food for the hungry. The third annual statewide competition pitted law firms against each other to help the hungry, and beat its goal of 1.5 million pounds.

            The law firm that raised the most food per capita – thus winning “The Attorney General’s Cup” — was Schettine & Nguyen from Richmond for the second year in a row. The law firm has 12 employees and raised almost 8,141 pounds of food per capita. Attorney General Bill Mims relayed the news to the firm in a phone call this afternoon.

            Virginia’s statewide food-and-funds drive by lawyers has become so popular that other states are copying it. Attorney General Mims will make a presentation in June to the National Association of Attorneys General to lay the groundwork for a nationwide effort.

            According to Leslie Van Horn, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, “This is beyond our expectations. Food Banks are experiencing an historic surge in demand for assistance. Law firms throughout the Commonwealth heard our call. The collaboration of the Attorney General’s Office, Virginia Bar Association and food banks truly has made a difference for those in need throughout Virginia.”

            Founded by former Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the benevolent contest runs during a traditionally slow period for food bank donations. The “Legal Food Frenzy” is the first statewide food drive in the history of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.

            The contest ran March 30 through April 10 and was open to all lawyers and members of the legal community across Virginia. Two hundred sixteen law firms participated, up from 181 last year.  

            In the first year of the statewide “Legal Food Frenzy,” nearly 679,000 pounds of food were raised. That amount doubled in 2008, when more than 1.3 million pounds of food were donated.

            “Our third annual ‘Legal Food Frenzy’ brought out the best in the legal community, as we competed together to raise food for the hungry,” Virginia Attorney General Bill Mims said. “It has been an honor to travel across the Commonwealth and see the Bar Association and the Food Banks serving Virginians in these dire economic times. I was gratified by the outpouring of generosity.”

            According to Chris Gill of the Virginia Bar Association and Christian & Barton law firm in Richmond, “The fact that this year’s Legal Food Frenzy raised more food and funds than ever before, in a down economy, shows that even though times are tight, people recognize that there are many for whom times are much worse.”

            In addition to thanking the work of the food drive coordinators and representatives across the state, the Attorney General specifically wishes to thank the Virginia Bar Association’s co-chairs Gill, Derek Swanson of McGuire Woods, and Katja Hill of LeClairRyan.

The winners of the Third Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy” Categories:

• Attorney General’s Cup Winner: Per Capita:

      Schettine & Nguyen, PLC (Richmond)
      8,140.93 pounds per person
     

• Small (1-20) Law Firm: Total Pounds: “The Brunswick Stew Award”

     Schettine & Nguyen, PLC (Richmond)
     97,691.25  pounds

• Small (1-20) Law Firm: Per Capita: “The Shenandoah Apple Award”

      Schettine & Nguyen, PLC (Richmond)
      8,140.93 pounds per person

• Medium (21-100) Law Firm Total Pounds: “The James River Shad Award”

Christian and Barton, LLP (Richmond)
68,415.25 pounds

• Medium (21-100) Law Firm Per Capita: “The Hanover Tomato Award”

McKenry, Dancigers, Dawson & Lake (Virginia Beach)
1,397.88 pounds per person

• Large (101 and up) Law Firm Total Pounds: “The Smithfield Ham Award”

McGuireWoods LLP
308,106.75 pounds

• Large (101 and up) Law Firm Per Capita: “The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Award”

Cooley Godward Kronish LLP (Reston)
654.82 pounds per person

• Sole Proprietor (1-2) Law Firm Total Pounds: “The Virginia Peanut Award”

Law Offices of David A. Greer, PLC  (Norfolk) 5,050  pounds

• Law School Winner of Attorney General’s Cup Total Pounds and Per Capita:

University of Richmond School of Law (Richmond) 37,583.75 pounds, 85.22 pounds per person

Totals for each regional Food Bank in Virginia are as follows:

Food Bank                                                                              Total Pounds     
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (Charlottesville area)                      63,807.20          
Capital Area Food Bank (Northern Va)                                       279,775.64           
Central Virginia Food Bank (based in Richmond)                            836,220.96         
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia (based in Norfolk)                374,821.20            
Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula                                                  8,626.32            
Fredericksburg Area Food Bank                                                      12,688.00                
Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank                         76,792.20                 

###

Nguyen, who is a partner with the law firm of Schettine & Nguyen, PLC said of his participation, “I believe this to have been an incredible opportunity and an invaluable experience. It is seldom that one gets a venue to discuss important legal issues and challenges in today’s environment with the best and brightest legal minds in the country. Not only was I able to be actively involved in the process of recommending the next judges for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, but it was also a chance to potentially help shape the direction of appellate decisions and establish new legal precedent on the Fourth Circuit for years to come.”

Virginia’s Legal Community Shows Remarkable Generosity in 2nd Annual Legal Food Frenzy

Christopher M. Gill

As attorneys, we generally have the good fortune of being somewhat insulated from the insecurities that plague many when economies soften. Of course, in times like these, where we have seen such dramatic increases in prices for food, gasoline, and many other basic commodities, it is difficult for any of us to avoid feeling the pangs of dwindling buying power. But none of us is hungry.
Unfortunately, many Virginians are. A recent study found that more than 600,000 residents of the Commonwealth are considered either “food insecure” or “food insecure with hunger.” Though recent, that study was conducted prior to this year’s rises in prices for gas and many staple food items. As prices go up, an increasing population of working poor, senior citizens on fixed incomes, and young children go without food—especially nutritious food—for longer and longer periods of time.

Fortunately, there are places people can go when in desperate need of food. Last year the seven food banks that make up the Federation of Virginia Food Banks distributed over 70 million pounds of food to our less fortunate neighbors. This year the need is even greater. But while food banks across Virginia are reporting significant increases in demand, donations have decreased, and costs for food purchased to supplement donations and fuel for delivery trucks are up about 50 percent.
Enter the Virginia legal community. In its second year, the Legal Food Frenzy, a collaborative effort between the Virginia Bar Association and the Office of the Attorney General, which recognizes the most munificent Virginia law firm with the “Attorney General’s Cup,” raised 1,366,401 pounds of food (in food and converted monetary donations at four pounds per $1), enough food for approximately 1,067,501 meals. That number is more than double last year’s total of almost 679,000 pounds and surpassed this year’s once daunting goal of 1 million pounds.
The effort was led by the winner of the 2008 Attorney General’s Cup, Schettine & Nguyen, PLC, of Richmond, which raised 4,187.75 pounds of food per each of the ten people in its office. Their enormous generosity has shown that any firm, no matter its size, can win the Cup. More importantly, they showed that one person can make a 4,187.75-pound difference— the equivalent of approximately 5,360 meals— in the fight against hunger.
Extraordinary performances aside, the success of the Legal Food Frenzy was truly a team effort. My co-chair, Katja Hill of LeClairRyan, and I would like to thank in particular Attorney General Bob McDonnell, for his tremendous leadership and support of the Frenzy from its inception; the many members of the VBA Young Lawyers Division who devoted countless nonbillable hours to the project’s success; and Leslie Van Horn, Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, and the numerous food bank representatives who worked so hard to organize and publicize the event. And last but certainly not least: Thank you to Nhon Nguyen, Jim Schettine, Angela Schettine, and their staff, and to the attorneys and staffs of firms across the Commonwealth, for your tremendous displays of kindness and generosity. It is not often that lawyers are in the news for doing something good. The good that we have done here is something of which every member of Virginia’s legal community can feel proud. Again, thank you—and well done!

Christopher Gill is an associate in Christian & Barton’s Commercial Real Estate and Environmental Law sections. He can be reached at cgill@cblaw.com.

Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Courtesy of Virginia Lawyers Weekly:

By Alan Cooper
May 12, 2008

The second annual Legal Food Frenzy produced twice as much food as the first and exceeded its goal by more than a third.
The Richmond firm of Schettine & Nguyen PLC won the “Attorney General’s Cup” by raising the most food per capita, Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell announced last week. The firm has three lawyers and seven staff members.

The first food frenzy generated 679,000 pounds of food, and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks set a goal of 1 million pounds of food for this one, which ran from March 31 to April 11. More than 180 law firms participated and produced 1,366,401 pounds of food for food banks in the state.

McDonnell said, “To raise over 1.3 million pounds of food, in only the second year of this event, is incredible. Thousands of Virginians will receive the nutritional meals they desperately need because of the generosity of Virginia’s legal professionals.”

Leslie Van Horn, executive director of the state food bank group, said, “At a time when we are seeing a surge of individuals and families looking for assistance from their local food bank, the incredible generosity of the legal community will be felt throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

The statewide frenzy is an extension of a program developed in Hampton Roads by the Foodbank of Southeast-ern Virginia. The Young Lawyers Division of the Virginia Bar Association coordinated the event with the state’s seven food banks.

Firms were grouped by size and awards were given based on the total amount of food produced and on the amount produced per capita. Schettine & Nguyen also received “The Brunswick Stew Award” for producing the most pounds per person among firms with 20 or fewer lawyers and staff and “The Shenandoah Apple Award” for the total amount of food from firms of that size.

Other winners are:

• Medium Law Firm (21-100 lawyers and staff): “The James River Shad Award” to Christian & Barton LLP (Richmond) for total pounds and “The Hanover Tomato Award” to McKenry, Dancigers, Dawson & Lake (Virginia Beach) for the amount of food per capita.

• Large Law Firm (101 and up): “The Smithfield Ham Award” to McGuireWoods LLP for total pounds and “The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Award” to Vandeventer & Black LLP for the amount per capita.

• Sole Proprietor (1-2): “The Virginia Peanut Award” to Thomas A. Louthan (Winchester) and Lumsden & Overstreet (Roanoke).

• Law school: Regent University Law School (Virginia Beach) for both total pounds and pounds per capita.

© Copyright 2009, by Virginia Lawyers Media, all rights reserved

Practice Notes

As featured in the most recent edition of Practice Notes: A Publication of the Virginia Medical Group Management Association, Angela shares valuable insight for collection attorneys:

As collection attorneys, we represent a vast group of businesses on collecting their aging accounts receivables. However, our health care clients pose the most interesting questions and unique nuances as they pertain to collections — and we understand why.

Medical practices walk the fine line of getting paid for the quality medical care they provide without alienating or destroying the doctor-patient relationship. When asked to write this article, we thought it might be helpful to recount the most asked questions from our health care clients and their answers.

Q: How long do I have to collect on delinquent accounts? Are there legal time limitations?

A: The statute of limitations in Virginia for delinquent accounts can be a bit complicated. The law states that if you obtain a signed patient contract/patient agreement, then you have five years to collect. If it is an “open account” with no signatures or contract, then you only have three years to collect. The time starts tolling on the date of last service or the last payment you received from the patient.

Q: What is the FDCPA? Does it apply to our internal collection process?

A: The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal statute enacted to protect and prevent consumers from abusive practices from third-party collectors. It does not specifically apply to your own internal collection process, but health care practices may want to notify accounting and collections staff about the FDCPA and ensure that the staff adheres to the spirit of the statute.

Q: If the patient/debtor has filed bankruptcy, can I still recover?

A: There are two types of personal bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Currently, most bankruptcies filed are Chapter 13 bankruptcies. Under Chapter 13, all hope is not lost. Your office or your attorney can file a Proof of Claim, which is a document that puts you in line as a creditor after the bankruptcy has been filed. This ensures that you may receive monies disbursed by the trustee of the bankruptcy.

Q: What if the debtor is deceased. Can we still recover for the services we provided?

A: If the debtor had an estate, you may receive payment from that estate.

Q: Are spouses financially responsible for one another’s health care incurred debt?

A: Virginia Code Section 20-108.2 states that spouses will be liable for expenses incurred as a result of a medical emergency. If a spouse is a guarantor on the patient agreement/contract, then of course they are also liable.

Q: What is a Warrant in Debt? Can I file a Warrant in Debt myself, or do I need an attorney?

A: A Warrant in Debt is a form used in General District Court to seek money from another party. Fees for filing such a warrant vary from $29 to $36, depending on the city or county where the warrant is filed. A medical practice may file the document and go to court without an attorney.

Q: What post-judgment remedies are available?

A: After a judgment has been obtained, there are various post-judgment remedies available to make certain that your practice gets paid. These remedies include: debtor interrogatories, liens and levies and garnishment of bank accounts and wages. In Virginia, the most commonly used form of remedy is garnishment of bank accounts/wages. We advise our clients that it is important to always update the patient file with employment information and to keep copies of checks, just for this occasion.

As our economy takes a dip, inevitably we will see an increase in outstanding accounts receivables. This does not have to mean a decrease in revenue for your health care practice. By keeping in mind the legal issues involved, defining an internal process for accounts receivables and employing a skilled third-party collector, your practice can limit lost revenue via delinquent accounts. By simply committing to a defined approach to aging accounts receivables upfront, you can protect the financial strength and integrity of your health care practice, thus leaving you time to focus on what really matters — high-quality patient care.

The attorneys at Schettine & Nguyen PLC are always available for questions via phone or e-mail. They can be reached at (804) 788-7970 or aschettine@snlawfirm.com.