Dear Mary-Alice:

I wanted to thank you again for coming to our court and giving such an outstanding course last Friday. I am sorry I could not stay after the program, but everyone who attended had given the afternoon rave reviews. We really appreciate your assistance and I very much enjoyed our lunch.

Yours,

Julie Conger

Dear Ms Coleman,

Thank you for your recent correspondence and for your fine handbook. You did an outstanding job in preparing this book. We will make good use of it and also hope to use your training program.

Sincerely,

Judith O. Stein

Dear Mary-Alice:

I want to thank you for giving a guest lecture in my Political Science 298T class-Issues in Court Administration this past Fall semester. Your lecture was very interesting and important for my class. You covered a broad range of information in a way that was easy for my class to understand and appreciate. I think the students especially appreciated your practical experience as well as your relaxed manner of presentation. Your lecture generated a great deal of discussion at the review, which is a tribute to the interest you generates in the students. Several students chose Dispute Resolution as their topic for their term papers which is another indication of the interest in your presentation.

Very Truly Yours,

Teodora C. DeLorenzo

Dear Ms. Coleman:

I am writing to thank you for the wonderful seminar that you put on recently in our county on Small Claims. The program was extremely well received. As you know, it was videotaped and Municipal Court Commissioner Talmage is going to take staps to ensure that any new employees or pro-tem judges will be required to review the training tape prior to the assumption of their duties. The tape will also be sent to the North County office and used in a similar fashion there. So, as you can see, your efforts will be alive and well in Santa Barbara for years to come.

The members of my staff were also impressed by the manual on Consumer Affairs and feel that it will be an excellent source book to all members of our staff.

Again, thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come to our county and particularly thank you for the excellent job that you did in assisting not only this office, but this county, in providing better services to our community.

Very truly yours,

Thomas W. Sneddon, Jr.

District Attorney

Dear Mary-Alice:

As this New Year begins, I wanted to take a few moments and especially thank you for your great leadership and assistance related to the work of the Dispute Resolution Advisory Council. It goes without saying that a great deal of the progress made is directly attributable to your willingness to tackle the Council’s work with great confidence and enthusiasm. It was great working with you on that project during the last two years!

Enclosed is a letter I wrote to Governor Deukmejian in which I commend you and others involved in staffing the Council for the outstanding contribution you made to its work. I sincerely hope others recognize the important assistance you have provided and value your service to the state.

I will miss the stimulation of our meetings and conversations about dispute resolution. Perhaps you and I will have the opportunity to continue periodic contact, at least in a modified way, as we work in the dispute resolution field. In the meantime, I send my very best wishes for a prosperous and healthy new year.

Warmest regards,

L. Randolph Lowry

Director, Institute for Dispute Resolution

Dear Mr. Kelley:

It has been my good fortune to work with Mary-Alice Coleman, Staff Attorney in your department, for many years. I have found her to be an extremely talented individual, creative in carrying out assignments, and effective in her dealings with public agencies and the court system, as well as a knowledgeable and helpful human being who is able to contribute to discussions of ideas and concepts. Ms. Coleman has continuously demonstrated to me, and to others, an excellent rapport with all persons and agencies with whom she comes in contact.

From the beginning of my acquaintance with Ms. Coleman she has displayed qualities of character, ability, initiative and performance seldom realized from an employee in public service, regardless of tenure. It was with Ms. Coleman’s help that this court presented, in 1985, its first seminar for pro tem attorneys sitting as commissioners and judges to hear civil or small claims matters. Since then Ms. Coleman has gone on to develop a seminar program and presented it to numerous courts throughout the state of California. Knowing her busy schedule, we especially appreciated her willingness to visit this court again on June 10 of this year, to participate, with characteristic success, in another seminar for pro tem attorneys.

My background for this commendation includes 30 years’ experience in both superior and municipal courts throughout the State of California, working as Assistant County Clerk with San Diego Superior Court, subsequently as Municipal Court Administrator in Monterey County, and currently as Court Administrator for the San Mateo County Municipal Court. I am also a past president of the California Municipal Court Clerk’s Association.

I sincerely believe that Ms. Coleman is an asset to your department and wish to let you know how highly regarded she is in the California Court system.

Sincerely,

William J. Stanford

Court Administrator

Dear Mr. Kelley:

Before the second half of the 1989-90 legislative session resumes, I wish to express my appreciation for your department’s assistance in securing passage of my Senate Bill 1137.

I have been involved in legislation too long not to understand how essential Consumer Affairs’ support was in obtaining the Governor’s signature.

I believe SB 1137 will provide consumers with greater access to the small claims courts, and I appreciate your Department’s many efforts in its behalf.

Cordially,

Milton Marks

Dear Mr. Kelley:

This is a letter of thanks and praise for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and particularly, Mary-Alice Coleman and Richard Elbrecht.

My perspective is that of Small Claims Legal Advisor for San Francisco. For over nine years, I have seen the Department of Consumer Affairs enhance the average person’s access to our justice system through excellent informational pamphlets. I am happy when I tell my clients what an effective government agency you operate.

The Small Claims Court booklets for Plaintiffs and Defendants have been used extensively, making the Small Claims Court process more understandable to the people of California. The Collection of Judgment booklet helps to make the Small Court process more effective. The book RESOLVING CONSUMER DISPUTES: SOURCEBOOK FOR SMALL CLAIMS JUDICIAL OFFICERS is a gem for pro Tem judges. It is available for anyone who wants to be informed on consumer issues. I use it as a text in my Consumer Protection class at San Francisco State University’s Extended Education Paralegal Program. The work of the Department of Consumer Affairs in expanding the use of alternative dispute resolution programs benefits the individual, the community, and the courts.

I support the simplification and consolation of Small Claims Court statutes and rules. I thank you for the interest the Department of Consumer Affairs has in the Small Claims Advisor programs in California and in its role of helping people go through the dispute resolution process.

I wish you and the Department of Consumer Affairs Continued health and success.

Sincerely,

Jeanne F. Stott

Attorney at Law

Small Claims Court Advisor

Dear Ms Coleman,

Thank you for your impressive training seminar last week. Your efforts in drafting the written materials, organizing the seminar, and presentation of the laws were very much appreciated. The knowledge imparted will permanently enrich our judicial pro tem programs. We are indeed grateful for the contribution of your agency as well as your excellent presentation.

Very truly yours,

Hon. Gayle C. Guynup

Dear Mr Kelley,

I would like to thank you for the program presented by Mary-Alice Coleman on February 17, 1989. The presentation was well prepared and presented in a manner that evoked attention with 50 lawyers who attended the program.

The response to my inquiries about the quality of the program were extremely complimentary. Numerous letters have been coming in since the program was completed and repeated the praise of those who talked with me,

I have highly recommended this program to other presiding judges in Orange.

Sincerely,

Robert E. Thomas

Presiding Judge