IL STAFF for www.theindianalawyer.com

Alexis “Alex” Cholis, 96, retired this year after practicing more than 70 years in South Bend. (IL file photo)

In 2013, Indiana Lawyer kicked off its series “Legal Lions” as a way to highlight attorneys who have had long and distinguished careers spanning half a century, or in Alexis “Alex” Thomas Cholis’ case, more than 70 years. Cholis was admitted to the bar in July 1942 and decided in 2013 that it was finally time to retire at the age of 96.

For more than 60 years, he came to the office his older brother Nicholas founded in South Bend in 1936. Before joining that firm, he served in the Army during World War II. He likely would have continued practicing beyond 2013 if it wasn’t for his eyesight becoming worse.

Phil Kappes (IL file photo)

Cholis practiced in tax and estate matters. Those who knew and worked with Cholis described him as a gentleman and unique character, in addition to being a lot of fun.

Until his retirement, Cholis was the longest-practicing attorney in Indiana by six years, according to the Roll of Attorneys. The No. 2 spot is held by Philip “Skip” Kappes, who is going on 66 years of practice in 2014. Upon graduating from law school in 1948, Kappes worked for Indianapolis Legal Aid Society before going into private practice, eventually forming the firm Dutton Kappes and Overman. After its dissolution, Kappes founded Lewis & Kappes P.C., where he continues to practice a few days a week.

Poff

Don’t think it’s just men who dedicated their lives to the practice of law. Phyllis Gratz Poff, a solo practitioner in Auburn, has been a lawyer for 60 years. She’s the longest-practicing female attorney in the state based on Roll of Attorney records. Poff was admitted to the bar in December 1953 and opened her office in February 1954. Those who know her and work with her say she is compassionate, generous and a very skilled lawyer. She concentrates her practice on family law and some estate work and says she has no plans of retiring.

ObamaCare will push 2 million workers out of labor market: CBO – ObamaCare will push the equivalent of about 2 million workers out of the labor market by 2017 as employees decide either to work fewer hours or drop out of the job market altogether, according to estimates released Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO said the number of workers dropping out of the labor force will grow from 2 million in 2017 to 2.5 million by 2024. (Washington Times; 2/4/14)

ObamaCare and the incentive to work - The Congressional Budget Office issued a sobering report this week that projected how many people will choose to work less because of the effects of the Affordable Care Act. CBO predicts that the health care law will shrink the number of hours worked by the equivalent of 2 million full-time jobs. That’s about twice the impact that CBO predicted in 2010, when the law was signed. (Chicago Tribune; 2/6/14)

HealthCare.gov can’t handle appeals of enrollment errors - Tens of thousands of people who discovered that HealthCare.gov made mistakes as they were signing up for a health plan are confronting a new roadblock: The government cannot yet fix the errors. Roughly 22,000 Americans have filed appeals with the government to try to get mistakes corrected, according to internal government data obtained by The Washington Post. They contend that the computer system for the new federal online marketplace charged them too much for health insurance, steered them into the wrong insurance program or denied them coverage entirely.(The Washington Post; 2/2/14)

ObamaCare enrollees hit snags at doctor’s offices – After overcoming website glitches and long waits to get ObamaCare, some patients are now running into frustrating new roadblocks at the doctor’s office. A month into the most sweeping changes to healthcare in half a century, people are having trouble finding doctors at all, getting faulty information on which ones are covered and receiving little help from insurers swamped by new business. (Los Angeles Times; 2/4/14)

 

Small Business Health-Care Premiums Have Nearly Doubled Since 2009 - At the end of last year, the National Small Business Association polled 780 business owners with fewer than 500 workers for its annual health-care survey. Here are two important takeaways. (Bloomberg Businessweek; 2/6/14)

ObamaCare will reduce incomes of most Americans – There’s no doubt the Affordable Care Act will redistribute wealth in America. People at the top of the income ladder will pay more; people at the bottom will benefit. But how, exactly, will that work. A new study finds that ObamaCare’s redistribution will be stunningly lopsided. (Washington Examiner; 2/3/14)

Poll: 51% disapprove of ObamaCare – A majority of Americans still disapprove of ObamaCare, according to a new poll. In a Gallup Poll, released Tuesday, 51 percent of Americans said they disapprove of the Affordable Care Act and 41 percent say they approve of the law. (Politico; 2/4/14)