Court Issues Guidelines For Notaries Faced With Prospect Of Imposing Fine Or Jail Term - First ASN Meeting Adjourned For Lack Of A Quorum

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Aditya

The document compiles multiple American Society of Notaries (ASN) updates and related legal developments. It summarizes court guidance on what Ohio notaries and deposition-related officials should do when a witness refuses to answer, including handling potential fines or jail exposure, and describes a precedent case involving deposition refusal. It also reports ASN leadership appointments, committee aims, and the adjournment of the first annual meeting due to lack of quorum.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Court Issues Guidelines For Notaries Faced With Prospect Of Imposing Fine Or Jail Term

First ASN Meeting Adjourned For Lack Of A Quorum

President ASN To Publish Newsletter On Federal Taxation

Notary Performs Soggy Ceremony

Notary's Testimony

Vincent E.PalmeriHeads ASN CommitteeOn Legislation # Court Issues Guidelines ForNotaries Faced With ProspectOf Imposing Fine Or Jail Term Vincent E.Palmeri of Hamden,Connecticut has been named Chair-man of the newly organized Committeeon Legislation of ASN.Other mem-bers are Mrs.Ruth B.McDuff ofVicksburg,Mississippi and Mr.AustinBohn of Union Bridge,Maryland. The Court of Common Pleas of Clermont,Ohio,in a recently reported decisionlaid down guidelines for Ohio notaries,court reporters and others authorized totake depositions who may be faced with the prospect of imposing a fine or jailsentence when a witness improperly refuses to answer a question. The guidelines were set forth in the opinion in the case of Nord v.McMillanet al.,decided January 19,1966.The facts involved in the case were as follows: In announcing the appointments,Chairman Arthur C.Barton,Jr.,saidthat this committee will play a vitalrole in the future of ASN and the officeof Notary Public.He urges all mem-bers to give whatever support they canto the work of the committee. The deposition of a defendant in alibel action was being taken beforeDora DeTellem,a Notary Public.Onthe advice of her attorney the defendantrefused to answer a total of 36 ques-tions.The plaintiff's attorney thenasked the nctary to commit the de-fendant to jail for improperly refusingto answer the questions.Under Ohiolaw the notary could have fined thedefendant up to $50,or could havecommitted her to the county jail untilshe answered the questions.Insteadthe notary asked for a recess in thetaking of the deposition in order toobtain instructions from the court. # First ASN MeetingAdjourned ForLack Of A Quorum The new com-mittee will "watch-dog"proposed leg-islation affectingnotaries and wiilmake recommen-dations to theBoard of Directorsas to what positionthe Society shouldPalmeritake in regard tosuch legislation.The committee willalso consider ways to assist statelegislatures and interested governmen-tal officials in matters affecting notaries. The first annual meeting of the mem-bers of American Society of Notariesheld on August 31,1966,at 1629 KStreet,N.W.,Washington,D.C.,wasadjourned sine die because a quorumfailed to attend. Mr.Marvin F.Weissberg,Secretaryof ASN,who acted as chairman of themeeting,said that adjournment wasnecessary because no legal businesscould be transacted without a quorum. ☆ President ASN To PublishNewsletter OnFederal Taxation Wm.H.Taft One of the first tasks of the commit-tee will be to report to the Board ofDirectors regarding the effect on mem-bers of ASN of the newly proposedUniform Land Sales Practices Act. When he was a judge of the SuperiorCourt of Cincinnati,William H.Taft,later President of the United States,stated in one of his decisions that aNotary Public taking a deposition is anofficer of the court and could consultwith the court concerning the relevancyand the competency of questions put toa witness whose deposition is beingtaken. A new publication dealing withfederal taxation and related matterswill soon be published for members ofASN. Wide Experience The four page newsletter,whichdoes not yet have a name,will dealmainly with the tax problems of in-dividuals,small businessmen andprofessional people.Present plans areto issue it bimonthly. Mr.Palmeri has a rich background ofeducation and experience.He attendedthe University of Southern Californiaand has worked in public relations,teaching and the motion picturendustry. Court Decides The attorneys for both sides metwith the court and it was agreed thatthe deposition should continue andthat the notary would not be required All members of ASN will automati-cally receive the new publicationwithout charge.Subscriptions will beaccepted from non-members at a priceto be set later.☆ Since 1958,he has organized severalcompanies of his own to engage in realestate development and building.Helives with his wife and three childrenin Hamden.☆ # Notary Perf

FAQs

Why was the first annual meeting of ASN adjourned?

It was adjourned sine die because a quorum failed to attend, making it impossible to transact legal business.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Aditya