This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
Lafayette’s mock trial students excelled in their first tournament of the season, with two teams earning fifth and eighth place, and a team comprised primarily of newcomers earning 15th, at the 26-team Brown & Roger Williams Second Annual Mock Trial Tournament, held Nov. 1-2 at the Frank J. Licht Judicial Complex in Providence, R.I.
Lafayette’s first team finished higher than each of the two squads fielded by Wellesley, Brown, Amherst, Fordham, Roger Williams University, and University of New Hampshire, as well as the New York University team, among others. Lafayette’s second team topped all of those teams in the standings with the exception of one Brown team.
Ben Wilmoth’05 (Marysville, Ohio), a double major in government & law and international affairs, received an Outstanding Attorney Award. Outstanding Witness Awards went to history major Lori Weaver’06 (White Haven, Pa.) for her role as the defendant’s wife and government and foreign languages major Dyan Argento’05 (Pittsburgh, Pa.) for her portrayal of a physician.
Lafayette’s three teams won all of their ballots in playing defense for the first round of the tournament. With judges awarding up to ten points for each competitor in a round, all of the new mock trial members either received at least one ten for their efforts and/or were recognized as being one of the top three attorneys or witnesses in individual rounds.
“Being a member of the mock trial team is incredibly rewarding,” says Weaver. “I have learned a great deal about the legal system, and more importantly, had a great time doing it.”
“Mock trial is an incredibly rewarding experience,” says Argento. “Not only does it allow us to explore and understand our legal system, but it also helps us to develop our public speaking skills — something that we use on a daily basis.”
“The Lafayette mock trial team provides an outlet for both creative presentation and concise expression of legal argument,” adds Wilmoth. “It is refreshing to have the support of hard-working faculty members who [encourage] our co-curricular academic pursuits.”
(More student quotes are included at the end of this article.)
The fictitious criminal case involved the death of an ice hockey player following an injury suffered by the defendant, a member of the visiting team.
“The case as usual is full of holes that are difficult to fill, but make for an interesting trial where almost any combination of witnesses could be called,” says coach Diane Elliott, director for public service at the Meyner Center for the Study of State and Local Government. “Team members have to be ready for anything.”
Students interested in joining the mock trial team should contact Elliott as soon as possible at x5856 or elliottd@lafayette.edu.
In the concluding event of the 2002-03 season, Lafayette came away with a trophy March 21-23 at the American Mock Trial Association’s Silver Flight national tournament in Minneapolis, Minn. Trophies were awarded to the top 15 in the 52-team field.
Mock trial participants:
Team one – Argento; Rob Fallone ’04 (Bridgewater, N.J.), a double major in mathematics-economics and government & law; Bill Simmons ’04 (Trenton, N.J.), a double major in English and philosophy; mechanical engineering major Joe Narkevic ’06 (Ambridge, Pa.); Theresa Giamanco ’07 (Oak Ridge, N.J.); history and government & law major Alisandra Carnevale ’06 (Princeton, N.J.); neuroscience major Rachel Blackman ’04 (Warwick, R.I.); and Adrienne Stark ’04 (Oxford, N.J.), a double major in American studies and economics & business.
Team two – Weaver; government and law major John Landon ’05 (Shrewsbury, N.J.); Charles Landon ’06 (Shrewsbury, N.J.); Jillian Gaeta ’07 (Middletown, N.J.); Alex Kharaz ’06 (Holmdel, N.J.); biology major Rachel Elliott ’06 (Bethlehem, Pa.); and international affairs major John Raymond ’05 (Verona, N.J.). Computer science major Steve Caruso ’06 (Middletown, N.J.) did not compete due to an injury.
Team three — history and religious studies major Natalie Kamphaus ’05 (Athens, Ga.), team coach; Wilmoth, assistant coach; civil engineering major Jenna Cellini ’06 (New City, N.Y.), assistant coach; Malorie Ferrick ’07 (McKean, Pa.); English major Kathryn Kelley ’06 (West Chester, Pa.); Katherine Okon ’07 (Monroe, Conn.); David Myers ’07 (Rockville Centre, N.Y.); and government and law major Brandon Benjamin ’06 (Towanda, Pa.). Jennifer Gorchow ’07 (Cherry Hill, N.J.) could not compete due to illness.
The case: Tony Sturmanis, a player on the home team, was injured during an ice hockey game and subsequently died. The defendant, Michael Hammer Harmon, a player on the visiting team, is charged with his murder. It is alleged that following a goal by Tony in the second period that put Tony’s team ahead 1-0, Hammer, the opposing team’s enforcer, struck Tony with his hockey stick so hard that his helmet flew off and he went flying into the air, hitting his head on the ice with such force that he bled out. There is also evidence that he suffered from a subarachnoid (cerebral) aneurysm that the defense alleges hemorrhaged, causing Tony to bleed out. Hammer’s ex-wife, Victoria, started seeing Tony weeks after she filed for divorce and there was a photo that appeared in the local newspaper, while the divorce was pending, that showed her on a nude beach with Tony. This was the first Hammer knew of this relationship. It also happens that Hammer was being considered for a three-year, $30 million contract with Tony’s team, but Tony beat him out for it. In addition to the aneurysm, there is a potential affirmative defense of self-defense because before Hammer struck Tony and after Hammer knocked Tony into the boards, Tony came toward Hammer flailing his hockey stick.
The scoring for Lafayette:
ROUND ONE
Team one won both of its ballots. Fallone received a 10 for both cross and direct examination and for closing argument, and was recognized as first attorney on both ballots. Simmons received a 10 as the witness and was third witness on one ballot; mechanical engineering major Narkevic received a 10 as the defendant and was the first witness on one ballot; and Theresa was third attorney on one ballot.
Team two won both ballots, taking all three top attorney spots on one ballot. In her debut as an attorney, Weaver was first attorney on one ballot and third attorney on the other. John Landon was second attorney on both ballots; Charles Landon was third attorney on one ballot; Gaeta was second witness on one ballot; and Kharaz was third witness on one ballot and second on the other.
Team three won both ballots, with Wilmoth scoring a 10 on one ballot and earning top attorney honors on both. Ferrick scored a 10 on one ballot and was chosen third witness on both. Kelley scored a 10 on one ballot and was third attorney. Okon was second attorney on one ballot
ROUND TWO
Team one won both ballots. One judge awarded tens across the board – ten in all – for the team’s opening and all of its case in chief, with nines given for the remaining four scores. Narkevic received a 10 for direct examination from one judge and a 10 for opening and direct examination from the other. He was also first attorney on one ballot and second attorney on the other. Simmons received a 10 for direct and cross examination and was first attorney on one ballot. Carnevale received a 10 for her direct examination and was third attorney on one ballot. Argento received a 10 from both judges in her witness role as the doctor and was first witness on one ballot and second witness on another. Fallone received a 10 for his role as the hockey team owner and was third witness on one ballot. Giamanco received a 10 for her role as the defendant’s ex-wife.
Team two narrowly lost its ballots. John Landon was second attorney on one ballot and third attorney on the other. Elliott was second witness on one ballot; Weaver was third witness on one ballot and second on another; and Charles Landon was third witness on one ballot.
Team three lost both ballots. Myers scored a 10 as a witness on one ballot. Okon scored a 10 as an attorney on one ballot and was third attorney on one ballot.
ROUND THREE
Team one split the ballots. Narkevic received a 10 for his role as the defendant and was first witness on one ballot and third on the other. Fallone received a 10 for his closing and was third attorney on one ballot. In her debut as an attorney, Argento was second attorney on one ballot. Simmons was third witness on one ballot
Team two also split the ballots. Weaver received a 10 from both judges for her cross-examination and was first attorney on one ballot and second on one. Gaeta received a 10 from both judges as the doctor and was second witness on one ballot and first on the other. John Landon received a 10 for his cross examination and his closing argument and was third attorney on both ballots. John Raymond was third witness on both ballots.
Team three also split the ballots. Kelley was second attorney on one ballot, Okon was third attorney on one ballot, and Myers was third witness on one ballot.
ROUND FOUR
Team one lost both ballots. Argento received a 10 as the doctor and was second witness on both ballots. Simmons received a 10 for his cross examination.
Team two won both ballots. John Landon received a 10 for cross examination and closing and was first attorney on one ballot and second on the other. Kharaz was third attorney on one ballot; Weaver was first witness on both ballots; and Charles Landon was third witness on one ballot.
Team three had a tie on one ballot and lost the other. Wilmoth was first attorney on one ballot and third attorney on the other. Kelley was third attorney on one ballot; Myers was first witness on one ballot; Ferrick was first witness on one ballot and second witness on the other; and Benjamin was second witness on one ballot.
More quotes from mock trial students:
Kelley: “I like mock trial because it requires a different level of analytical thought than is necessary in most classes.”
Raymond: “I enjoy participating in mock trial because I get to compete against various schools, eat at new restaurants, learn a new skill, and meet new friends. Also, I like acting and playing a witness role. I get to pretend to be somebody else and be believable.”
John Landon: “I like mock trial because it allows me greater ability to learn about the legal system. The people are great and I am thankful I know them.”
Gaeta: “I really enjoy being a member of the mock trial team. I have met some great people and learned a lot about the law from competition. I think this is a very valuable activity to be a part of.”
Giamanco: “Mock trial is the closest real-life experience to trial court. I have always considered pursuing law; now I know I definitely want to be a trial lawyer.”
Carnevale: “Mock Trial is great preparation for a career in law. Participating in mock trial as an attorney has solidified for me that I want to pursue a career in law.”