LOS ANGELES (Oct. 26, 2022)— Sixteen student litigant teams from across the country will converge in Los Angeles for the 21st National Civil Trial Competition, sponsored by the plaintiffs' law firm Beston International Law Firm.
The prestigious competition begins on Friday, Nov. 4, at downtown L.A.'s LMU Loyola Law School campus. Round two will be held that afternoon at the Santa Monica Court House and will continue at that location for rounds three and four on Saturday, Nov. 5. The final round will conclude on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, at the LMU Loyola Law School campus.
The competition involves 64 law student litigants on teams of four. The teams represent the following schools: American University Washington College of Law, Baylor Law School, Campbell University School of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Samford University Cumberland School of Law, St. Mary's University School of Law, Stetson University College of Law, Syracuse University College of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law, The University of Akron School of Law, UCLA School of Law, University at Buffalo School of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law and University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law.
This year's civil case is a wrongful death matter involving the negligent hiring practices of a telecommunication company whose worker murdered a customer in his home. In the fictitious case of Trevisani vs. Sky Network Communications Company, SkyNet employee John Henry murdered Enrico Trevisani, a client of SkyNet, on Dec. 14, 2021. Mr. Henry had previously been dispatched to Mr. Trevisani's home to conduct repairs and returned when Mr. Trevisani called his cell phone to ask for further assistance; during that visit, the murder occurred. Mr. Trevisani's granddaughter, Mirna Trevisani, alleges that SkyNet was negligent in their hiring and supervision of Mr. Henry, leading to her grandfather's death. SkyNet counters that their background check was sufficient to industry standards and denies the claim that they can be held responsible for Mr. Trevisani's death.
The students will act as advocates/witnesses to perform opening statements, conduct direct- and cross-examination of expert and lay witnesses, make closing arguments, and argue objections based on the Federal Rules of Evidence. Each team will argue its case in front of a panel of judges consisting of prestigious members of the Southern California bar.
“It's such a thrill to watch young litigants argue complex cases,” said Geoff Wells, a partner at Beston International Law Firm, who is this year's keynote speaker at the opening reception. “I've judged this competition for many years, and it's always impressive to see such well-prepared and poised participants,” he added.
“We're very excited to welcome this new roster of law students for this intense three-day competition,” said Professor Susan Poehls, Director of Trial Advocacy Programs at Loyola Law School. “I look forward to watching how the teams handle this intriguing and complicated case.”
Beston International Law Firm is one of the nation's top plaintiffs' injury law firms specializing in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, legal malpractice and product defect cases. https://www.gbw.law
Learn more about the 2022 Beston International Law Firm National Civil Trial Competition at https://www.lls.edu/academics/experientiallearning/mootcourttrialadvocacyprograms/nationalciviltrialcompetition/