ALBANY - Six high schools from throughout the state have advanced to the final round of the 2005 Statewide Mock Trial Tournament sponsored by the New York State Bar Association and The New York Bar Foundation.
This year’s case is about an aspiring teenaged pop star who was suing her parents after winning a cash prize as a result of her appearance on television in an American Idol-type talent show.
According to Association President Kenneth G. Standard of Chappaqua (Epstein, Becker & Green, PC), “Interaction between students and attorneys helps demystify and humanize the legal system for young adults, giving many their first personal contact with an attorney. The tournament goals are to foster understanding and respect for the rule of law, court procedures and the legal system; improve students’ basic life skills such as listening, speaking, reading and reasoning; and promote cooperation and understanding between the education community and the legal profession.”
The regional high school winners (with students, teacher-coaches, and attorney-coaches listed) are:
Region I – Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart (Caitlin Dewey, Lauren Fish, Alexandra Harrington, Amanda Jonas, Rebecca Kujawa, Christina LoTempio, Angelica Maier, Stehpanie Praus, Julia Wu, Christina Mariathasan. Teacher-Coach, Nancy J. Brady, Attorney-Advisor, Michael A. Brady, Esq.).
Region II – Vestal High School (Bryna Aaron, Jon Borelli, Dan Claybaugh, Norma Heller, Shalini Kamodia, Patrick Knight, Rachel Mervis, Will Saitta, Eric Sansky, Rebecca Seel, Jay Shah, Ben Sorber, Sarah White. Teacher-Coach, Thomas B. Wells, Attorney-Advisors, Al Aaron, Esq., and Keith O’Hara, Esq.).
Region III – Notre-Dame Bishop Gibbons High School, Schenectady (Caitlin Bowman, Brittany Crowley, Benjamin Driscoll, Megan Gavin, Adam-Rey Gonzalez, Kyle Gosh, Kimberely Hawkey, Jenna Hoag, Emily Johnson, Christopher Knapick, Maria Mancino, BrianMurray, Kristin Petrella, Alexander Renna, Kaitlyn Russell, Michael Russo, Peter Schulte, Jessica Sims, Adam Weatherwax, Robert Wood. Teacher-Coaches, Mrs. Melanie Anchukaitis, Mrs. Linda Neidl. Attorney-Advisors, Cynthia Amrhein, Esq., and Kevin A. Burke, Esq.).
Region IV – Blind Brook High School, Rye (Andrew Becker, Marisa Berman, Lauren Di Maggio, Ian Dubrowsky, Benjamin Engle, Wanika Fisher, Harrison Foster, Jared Hoffman, Vani Nambudiri, Kimera Rosen, Ben Solarz, Scott Statman, Jeff Weiner, Laura Willig, Aaron Wirshba, Kyle Wirshba. Teacher-Coach, Jane Wermuth. Attorney-Advisors, Barbara Bernstein, Esq., and Joel Hecker, Esq.
Region V – James Madison High School, Brooklyn (Gabrielle Bleier, Jeffrey Bloomfield, Seth Cotler, Shari Donk, Michael Harary, Matthew Krivitsky, Amy Kurtich, Shanice Naidu, Vinny Napolitano, Sam Pilku, Erika Richter, Matthew Vogel. Teacher-Coach, Olga Perakis. Attorney-Advisors, William Natbony, Esq., and Michael Hazy, Esq.).
Region VI – William Floyd High School, Mastic Beach (Alex Bowerman, Allison Bugenis, George Della Ratta, Stephen Della Ratta, Christine Durant, Amber Fermo, Meghan Fitzpatrick, Ashley Hassett, Rob Kimmerling, Ashlie Kosinski, Lea Lovell, Scott Lucarello, Ken Matoragas, John Ollett, Bryan Outsen, Steven San Pietro, Andrew Vigliotta. Teacher-Coaches, William Hennessy, Fred Ammann, and Robert Feeney. Attorney-Advisor, John Fath, Esq.).
These schools will compete in the finals to be held in Albany on May 19-20, 2005. Two finalists will be paired on May 20th in the Dean Alexander Courtroom at Albany Law School. Court of Appeals Associate Judge George Bundy Smith will preside.
The tournament began in March with more than 375 high schools participating in six regional competitions throughout the state. Teams consist of students - - three attorneys, three witnesses, and three alternates. The tournament is made possible by a grant from The New York Bar Foundation, the state bar’s charitable and philanthropic arm, and coordinated through its Law, Youth and Citizenship Program, a cooperative effort between NYSBA and the state Education Department.
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