Mock Trial News

Congratulations to our new executive team!
President: Erin Rossiter
Vice President: Evan Holland
Treasurer: Chevis Fletcher
Secretary: Katherine Joyce

Case Summary:
Davis v. HappyLand Toy Company
In 2009, a young child swallowed several dozen beads from his older sister's make-your-own jewelry set. His babysitter found him lying on the carpet minutes later and hurried him to the hospital. The boy died shortly after. Tests revealed that the beads he swallowed contained 1,4-butanediol, a precursor for a controlled substance called gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid ("GHB"). The boy's parent has brought a civil lawsuit for negligence and strict liability against the toy company that designed and manufactured the jewelry set that allegedly caused the boy's death.

Case Summary:
In a first for Midlands, three entrepreneurs joined forces to create Trifecta Entertainment, a major movie studio. After some initial growing pains, Trifecta was about to embark on its most profitable year. But then one of the partners went missing. Foul play was suspected and then police discovered the missing partner’s corpse buried at the base of Calkins Cliffs. The two remaining partners have been indicted for murder.

Check out the Picture from Relay for life!! Link
Not all of the Mock Trial fun occurs in the courtroom - check out the Picture from Relay for life!!

Team 596 finished high enough in the power rankings to get an invitation to the Opening Round Championship - The ORC.
Brianna Schwenk received a Best Witness Award!!
Good Job Team 596!!

The AMTA Civil Case Committee is excited to introduce the 2008-09 national case problem: Drew Walton v. Buzz News Network ("BNN"). The case is based on the submission of Tom Burke from Harvard Law School and Adam Siry from Columbia Law School.

On September 24, 2006, Midlands gubernatorial candidate Drew Walton participated in a gun control debate against Professor Lane Hamilton at the Midlands Civic Center. After the debate, the two became embroiled in an argument in the Civic Center parking lot. Shots were fired and Lane Hamilton was found dead in the parking lot, the victim of an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Within an hour, BNN reporter Reagan Thomas—present to cover the debate—gave a live broadcast that implicated Walton in Hamilton's death. Walton maintains that Hamilton committed suicide.

Walton has now brought a claim for defamation, arguing that BNN's statements during the September 24, 2006 broadcast falsely accused Walton of shooting Hamilton. BNN denies the allegations, asserting that its statements were truthful and its broadcast was proper. In addition to Walton and Thomas, available witnesses include a janitor, camera person, television producer, corporate executive, crime scene investigator, psychiatrist, and journalism professor.

The Civil Case Committee will publish the case on August 15, 2008.

Blue Jay Open: The dates have been set for the Fall 2008 BlueJay Open - November 14-15.
The location of the tournament will again be the Creighton Law School.
Information about room reservations will follow.

The new Mock Trial Officers for 2008-2009 have been elected - see sidebar for Link.