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Lowell Team Wins National Mock Trial Competition

Berid & Schutzbank is proud to have assisted the Greater Lowell Law Explorers Mock Trial Team in the annual Learning for Life National Mock Trial Tournament. Berid & Schutzbank congratulates the team on taking first place at the tournament, recently held at the American University in Washington, D. C. on Saturday, July 25th.

Learning for Life is a coed school and work-site based program that is a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America. It utilizes programs designed for schools and community-based organizations that are designed to prepare youth to for the complexities of contemporary society and to enhance their self-confidence, motivation, and self-esteem.

Mock Trial Program is a law-related education program that introduces students to the American legal system and provides a challenging opportunity for personal growth and achievement. As part of the mock trial program, students exercise their critical thinking and teamwork skills.

The 2009 case involved a student alleging that his/her constitutional rights were violated when his/her school suspended the student for violating the school’s internet/lap top policy. The alleged violation involved the student sending a parody new article s/her authored about the school being blown up and no one seeming to care to a friend via person e-mail.

The Lowell Team is composed of students from Lowell High School and Lowell Catholic High School. The Lowell team has competed in the annual event every year since 1989, making the Finals in 1995 and 1997. This, however, is their first National Title. The Lowell bested the team from Fishers, Indiana in the final round. To get to the finals, Lowell had to get past teams from Washington County, Pennsylvania, Brooklyn, New York, Zeeland, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. In the Final Round, the Lowell Team handled the Defense side, representing the school in the trial.

In addition to winning the Tournament and taking home the First Place Team award, team members took six individual awards. Ashley Lemire won Best Overall Witness, and Sara Connaughton, Corey Lanier, Mike Fugate and Ritika Kumar also won witness awards. Victoria Gregory won an award for her attorney role.

The Lowell team was composed of Alex Noguerola, Ashley Lemire, Colin Loiselle, Corey Lanier, Courtney Vinal, Meaghan Mazzola, Michael Fugate, Monica Bun, Ritika Kumar, Sara Connaughton, Suty Komsonkeo and Victoria Gregory.

The Lowell team is coached by Lowell Attorneys Eric Schutzbank, Frank Talty and Patricia Sullivan Talty. Attorney Schutzbank coaches Lowell Catholic and the Taltys Lowell High during the Massachusetts Bar Association state tournament.

Berid & Schutzbank is proud of the team and commends them for a job well done