Mock Trial II
Mock Trial II – Full-Day Seminar (Nominally 6.0 to 8.0 Contact Hours)
This mock trial is loosely based on the case of Dillehay v. Gibbs, a case involving neighbors who own old family land where the common boundary line has become obliterated over the decades. A dispute arose between the neighbors, and surveyors were hired to survey the common boundary line. Two surveyors attempted to survey the line from the deeds, which all called for adjoiners (bounds only) who were long since gone along with their memories of where the boundary line used to be located. Based solely on the statement of locals that the boundary line was “down yonder” in the holler, the third surveyor based his survey entirely on extrinsic evidence—evidence outside the deeds. 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 Dillahay v. Gibbs, 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.