New this year at Park Center is the Mock Trial team. One of PC’s math teachers, Mr. Marshall Thompson, decided to head this program after encouragement from students. While other teams started as early as November, our team started early January. This late start has caused the team to push hard to get things done. So it has meant early mornings, meeting at school as early as 6:00, and after school time spent on the trial at least three or four times a week. Team members include Jordan Browen, Ally Moravec, Mark Williams, Rachel Krambeer, Brittany Rawson, Edward Stronge, Faruq Karim, Lani Harms, and I.

Kelli Jasper, our attorney coach, gave us her time and talents which prepared us greatly in spite of the short amount of time that we have had. Attorney coaches like Kelli are volunteer lawyers/law students who are either chosen by a school to help assist the team, or assigned to each school by the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) if a school is unable to find a coach. Besides the actual trials themselves, spending time with your attorney coach is probably the greatest part of the learning experience. Students get to learn from a real professional with years of experience.

This year’s case is based on a soccer injury: Plaintiff Shannon Spain, previously injured in a car accident 5 years earlier, is injured by defendant Linn Anderson in a semifinal soccer match. Some say the slide tackle was clean, others say a cheap punch from behind was thrown in as well. Spain suffered severe back injuries due to this slide tackle. Assumption of risk is a main part of playing any sport, but Spain says Anderson was negligent in the amount of force she used, saying it was outside the rules of the game. Spain also alleges that the contact constitutes battery. Anderson believes her slide tackle was within the rules of the game and the force was not excessive. Anderson asserts the defense of “assumption of risk”, and “contributory negligence”. Assumption of risk is basically saying that everyone knows the risks of playing a sport. Injuries and/or complications resulting from playing sports are something everyone is aware of. As for contributory negligence, that’s just a fancy way of saying the Plaintiff contributed in some way to the injury caused to her. In this case the contributory negligence is referred to the plaintiff not exercising care/restraint knowing full well she has a back injury.

The newly formed PCSH Mock Trial team was ready to argue the case after 3 weeks of preparation. The trial on January 31 was a huge success. Park Center’s plaintiff team crushed Eagle Ridge’s defense team. With a total score of 215 to 191, Park Center dominated Eagle Ridge. In a close match the point differential is usually about 3-5 points, so this 24 point difference was a decisive victory.

The trial ran smoothly from start to finish. Jordan Browen was the attorney directing Lani. Ally Moravec directed Brittany Rawson, and I directed Mark Williams. You direct one of your own witnesses by asking them a set of open ended questions, allowing them to elaborate and go into detail that will help your case. Lani, Brittany and Mark were also cross examined by Eagle Ridge’s lawyers. All three of our witnesses tried to make it a difficult time for the opposing attorneys to get anything beneficial out of them. Jordan, Ally, and I crossed their witnesses as well. For cross examination the questions should usually be able to be answered with a yes or no, confining the witness, so as not to give them any room to slide in their side of the story. The witnesses received a score out of 10 based on how well they did answering the direct questions, and another score out of 10 based on how well they did on cross examination. The attorneys received a score based on their direct questions, objections, and their cross questions. Jordan delivered a complete and concise opening, while Ally followed up with an extremely strong close. Opening and close were scored out of 10 as well. There were three judges present. Two were scoring judges and the other was the judge presiding over the trial.

Scoring Against Eagle Ridge

Tuesday, February 7th we faced Totino Grace. We ended up tying them 152-152; it was an extremely close match. Jordan, Faruq, and Rachel were our witnesses, while Edward, Ally, and I filled the role of defensive attorneys. Unlike the other round where scoring was high, these judges were strict in their rulings. But either way, Totino Grace is usually a state level participant every year, so this close match was great experience. The parents of the Totino students said, “We have never seen such a close match in such an early round”.

After that round, we moved on into the Regional Playoffs. Teams compete under single elimination rules. The brackets will be formed by the power-match system, where the highest-ranked team goes against the lowest-ranked team. After Regional Playoffs comes the State Tournament. And finally the winner of state moves onto nationals.

For the third round we again faced Totino Grace. We were given the plaintiff side of the case while Totino was given the defense. It was another close match; although we lost it was a good match. Our opening and closing statements were phenomenal. And our witnesses played their parts very well. With the score from one judge tallying 103-101 in Totino’s favor and the other judge’s score tallying 106-91, also in Totino’s favor, the final was 209-192. This loss knocked us out of the tournament. For how much time we had, and how much effort we put in, it took a tremendous amount to make it this far and the whole team should be proud of making it to the Regionals.

Students participate in mock trial for a variety of reasons: anywhere from having already participated in it and loved it and want to do it again; to newcomers who were either convinced by friends to join, or thought it would be a great experience. Also there is the possibility to letter in mock trial which is an added bonus to the outstanding experience. Next year, with more time, preparation, two or more teams from our school, and the possibility of official Mock Trial team sweats, the experience will be even better then it is this year.

-Alex Scharber