On Friday, November 30, 2012, the Dade County Bar Association held its inaugural mock trial demonstration at the Dade County Courthouse in the fully-restored Courtroom 6-1. Conceived by DCBA President Garrett Biondo and WSH attorney Eric P. Hockman, the “Legal Legends v. Young Guns” demonstration brought together some of the greatest legal legends in Miami Dade County and pitted them against the stars of the next generation. The concept allowed the audience to observe the styles of some of the best attorneys in South Florida. The event also afforded an opportunity to see cutting-edge trial technology put to use in a courtroom environment.
The “Legal Legends,” Judith Korchin (Holland & Knight), Michael Nachwalter (Kenny Nachwalter), Joseph H. Serota (Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske), Marty Steinberg (Bilzin Sumberg) and Eugene Stearns (Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.) represented the plaintiff in a complex business breach of contract claim. The defendants were represented by the “Young Guns,” Michael Austin (DLA Piper), Carlos Canino (Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.), Melanie Damian (Damian Valori), Scott Dimond (Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A.), Tiffani Lee (Holland & Knight), and Ricardo Martinez-Cid (Podhurst Orseck).
Judge Jennifer Bailey volunteered to preside over the case and volunteer jurors from the jury pool were seated to hear the evidence. Following the close of the case, the jury’s deliberations were broadcast to the audience and they answered questions posed to them by Dr. Daniel Wolfe, TrialGraphix jury consulting national director. Actors played the role of witnesses and were cast by “Actors-at-Law.”
Author(s): Eric P. Hockman
