Mock Trial I – Full-Day Seminar (Nominally 6.0 to 8.0 Contact Hours)
This mock trial is loosely based on the case of Dowdell v. Cotham, a case involving neighbors who for over 20 years lived in happy-peaceful-coexistence, until one of the neighbors hired a surveyor to survey his property. After that—well—let’s just say that things were never the same. This seminar will explore the world of civil litigation through a mock trial based on a real-life boundary dispute case. Through audience participation, volunteers will play the roles of attorneys, landowners, lay witnesses and expert land surveyor witnesses; the seminar leader plays the role of judge. The remainder of the audience will be divided into jury pools, each with a foreman spokesperson. The size and number of juries will be determined by the size of the remaining audience. The trial will include elements of Dowdell v. Cotham, with features of other boundary dispute cases utilized as appropriate. The trial will be held and the juries will deliberate. Following deliberation, each jury will then render their verdict, and discuss their reasoning. Each jury will be required to field questions from the trial participants and other juries, and defend their verdict. This seminar is designed to demystify the litigation process and explain the rules of engagement that will be used in court. Volunteers will be required to play the roles of the attorneys, the parties and the witnesses.
OBJECTIVES: To enhance professional competency and improve practitioner’s knowledge of the law as it relates to the practice of land surveying.