Mock Trial teams place 3rd, 5th at national competition

Two Mock Trial teams of third-year students from Wayne State University Law School placed third and fifth at a national competition Saturday, Nov. 12, and Sunday, Nov. 13, in Cleveland.

The teams were among 20 from across the country participating in the invitation-only Case Classic, hosted by Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Ault Mock Trial Team. This year’s case was a criminal case regarding insurance fraud. This was the first year Wayne Law participated in the competition.

Wayne Law’s Team 1 made it to the semifinals and placed third overall after falling to one of the host teams from Case Western Reserve in the semifinal round. Wayne Law’s Team 2 went undefeated throughout the competition and placed fifth overall. Placements were determined by total wins, the number of judges’ ballots that were cast for each team and point differentials between teams.

Members of Team 1 were Ashley Attisha of West Bloomfield and Brandon Barlog of Macomb Township for the prosecution and David Adgate of Ann Arbor and Madeline Young of Troy for the defense. Team 2 members were Brooke Mathis of Whitmore Lake and Katie Stearns of Redford for the prosecution and Michael Ajami of Dearborn Heights and Sharae Smiley of Detroit for the defense.

“Both teams represented Wayne Law proudly, as they had just over a month to prepare for this trial,” said Wayne Law Mock Trial advisor Lawrence Mann of Grosse Pointe Park. “Having both teams place in the top 25 percent of all teams is an incredible accomplishment. The teams are greatly appreciative of the ongoing support from the law school and its alumni network.”