EASTON, Pa.(www.lafayette.edu), February 20, 2008 — Both of the College’s Mock Trial teams qualified for the Hamilton National Tournament after taking fourth and fifth place out of 28 teams this past weekend at the Baltimore Regional Competition, hosted by the University of Maryland’s School of Law. The Hamilton National Tournament will take place March 7-9 at Miami University in Hamilton, Ohio.
“By qualifying two teams for the National tournament, we have met our goal for the year, and now look to continue our success at the national level,” says Adam Pie ’08 (Doylestown, Pa.), history major and president of the College’s Mock Trial teams.
The fourth place team, finishing with a record of 6-1-1, is comprised of Pie, Sara Bruno ’08 (Wilkes Barre, Pa.), a government & law and American studies double major and team captain, Rich Beatty ’08 (Milford, N.J.), a history and government & law double major, Jeff Beavan ’09 (Nazareth, Pa.), who is pursuing a BS in civil engineering and an AB in economics and business, Steve Beavan ’11 (Nazareth, Pa.), Margi Schierberl ’10 (West Hartford, Conn.), an English major and Trustee Scholar, Amy Polizzano ’08 (Bethlehem, Pa.), a government & law and English double major, and Elizabeth Mancuso ’11 (Nanuet, N.Y.), a civil engineering major.
Schierberl won an All Region Witness award for her performance as well.
The fifth place team finished with a record of 6-2 and is comprised of Ryan Osterweil ’08 (Forest Hills, N.Y.), team co-captain and a chemistry major, Taryn Ann Barry ’09 (Bridgewater, N.J.), team co-captain and a history and government & law double major, Brett Doyle ’11 (Lakeside, Conn.), a history major, Jason Pang ’10 (San Mateo, Calif.), a government & law major, Lisa Van Batavia ’08 (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.), a government & law and anthropology & sociology double major, Carolyn Fast ’10 (Rockaway, N.J.), Trustee Scholar, and T. Daniel Reynolds ’08 (Gates Mills, Ohio), an economics and business major.
Reynolds and Fast won All Region Attorney awards for their performances.
The team is coached by Diane Elliott ’74, visiting instructor of government and law, and Rob Fallone ’04. Carmella Karns, administrative assistant for forensics and the government and law department, serves as logistics coordinator for the team.
The total of 28 competing teams represented 17 various academic institutions. Along with the College, these included Georgetown University, Gettysburg College, Johns Hopkins University, Mount St. Mary's University, Princeton University, Saint Vincent College, University of Maryland-College Park, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Penn University, University of Pittsburgh, Villanova University, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania State University – Altoona, George Washington University, Swarthmore College, and Carnegie Mellon University.
This year’s fictitious case is The State of Midlands vs. Bobbi Campbell. Don/Dawn Francis, a Child Protective Services worker, entered the home of Bobbi Campbell to remove a child from Campbell’s care. Upon Francis’ entrance, Campbell stabbed Francis with a needle infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Campbell entered into an open guilty plea on the single charge of assault in the second degree and retained the right to a jury sentence recommendation. The mock trial teams are focused on the penalty phase. The State will present evidence of aggravation and the defense may present evidence of mitigation. The penalty range is five to 30 years.
The National Tournament is preceded by major changes to the case, including the addition of new witnesses and evidence.
