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Lyons and O’Dowd form new law firm

Marc Lyons has teamed with Megan and Luke O’Dowd to form a new law firm: Lyons O’Dowd, PLLC.

Lyons, formerly with Ramsden & Lyons, has more than 30 years of experience in the practice of law. Lyons will continue to represent local government entities and provide legal services in the areas of education and employment law.

Megan O’Dowd’s practice focuses on real estate, public entity and employment law. Luke O’Dowd’s practice focuses on business and securities matters. Lyons O’Dowd also offers a

range of other legal services, including contracts, business combinations and civil

litigation. The law firm office is located at 201 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene, in the former

train depot at Third and Lakeside.

Community 1st Bank reports earnings

Community 1st Bank reported pretax net income of $356,045 for the first half of 2015, compared to $300,051 for the same period in the prior year. Total assets on June 30 were $95.1 million, an increase of $6.7 million or 7.83 percent from the prior year. For the first six months of 2015 total loans increased to $62.5 million and total deposits increased slightly to $84.3 million. There are no non-performing assets for the period, representing a decrease from 0.26 percent as of June 30, 2014.

“As we move past the midpoint of 2015, we are very pleased with the consistently strong performance of our bank toward achieving what we believe will be our best year yet. The benchmarks we have established to guide and direct our local focus continue to be met and exceeded, as noted by our pre-tax earnings for the second quarter of $197,181. This success is primarily a function of our growth in locally centered loan production, where we have achieved 12.5 percent growth over June 30, 2014, and a 7.6 percent increase for the first six months of 2015,” said David Bobbitt, CEO and chairman of the board, in a press release.

Ramsden & Lyons announces new name

Entering its third decade as a law firm, effective Aug. 1, Ramsden & Lyons has become Ramsden, Marfice, Ealy & Harris, LLP. The partnership will continue to provide general and specialized legal services in the areas of professional malpractice defense, real estate, land use, development, corporate and business entity law, construction and construction defect law, mediation, estate planning and complex civil litigation.

Founding partner Michael Ramsden has practiced law in Coeur d'Alene for more than 35 years. Recognized in the Mountain States Super Lawyers list since 2007, Ramsden also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell indicating that his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. Ramsden will continue to emphasize representation of health care professionals in liability defense cases and complex tort litigation. Ramsden is a Fellow in the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Defense Research Institute and International Association of Defense Counsel. Ramsden and his wife, Cyndi, live in Mead, Wash.

Douglas Marfice has practiced law with Mike Ramsden for the past 26 years. His clientele includes many of the premier real estate brokerage professionals, business owners, real estate developers, title companies and property managers in the Northwest. Marfice also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been a certified real estate educator. Marfice's primary practice areas will continue to be real estate, land use, development and commercial/business related litigation and arbitration, including broker/agent liability defense. Marfice and his wife, Jill, live in Coeur d'Alene.

Michael Ealy, a Kootenai County native and University of Idaho alum, has practiced law with Ramsden and Marfice in Coeur d'Alene since 1999. Ealy is a past president of the Kootenai County Bar Association. He will continue to practice primarily in the area of insurance defense litigation. Ealy is experienced in construction law, construction defect litigation and arbitration, as well as water and environmental law. Ealy is also a certified civil mediator. Ealy and his wife, Kelli, live in Coeur d'Alene.

Rick Harris is a graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Harris has practiced law with Ramsden, Marfice and Ealy since 2001, and focuses on commercial and corporate law, including business formation/dissolution and business dispute resolution. Harris is the firm’s managing partner and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Harris and his wife, Linda, live in Hayden.

Ramsden, Marfice, Ealy and Harris are all admitted to practice in both Idaho and Washington.

Former partner Marc Lyons has left the firm to pursue other interests. Ramsden, Marfice, Ealy & Harris will continue to enjoy their association with William Boyd who serves ‘of counsel.’ Boyd recently celebrated his 50th year as an active member of the Idaho State Bar Association and is one of Idaho’s most well-respected lawyers. Attorneys Christopher Gabbert, Theron De Smet and Krista Bartels continue to associate with the firm. The firm is located at 700 Northwest Blvd. in Coeur d'Alene and can be reached at (208) 664-5818.