Moot Court in Session
Moot Court was in session this month at Huntington High School. Street Law II course students convened the court, culminating a tort law unit about the art of protecting yourself from being sued and how to go about suing for damages when a situation warrants it.
The courtroom, which was constructed earlier this year in room 239 at the high school, was overseen by three guest judges who helped create a realistic atmosphere for four separate legal re-enactments.
The judges included security guard Todd Jamison, dean of students Paul Caleca and English teacher Victoria Lombardi, who volunteered to fill-in for another judge that bowed out as a result of an emergency.
“The students had one week to prepare their cases,” said Suzi Biagi, who teaches the Street Law II course. Plaintiffs and their attorneys and defendants and their lawyers faced off over everything from prenuptial agreements and defective products to landlord negligence and the assault of a suspected shoplifter.
“These ‘true life’ experiences help solidify the material taught in the classroom,” Mrs. Biagi said. The students were amazed at how much they have learned and how they must strategize and think like the other side in order to thoroughly prepare their cases.
Each case resulted in three decisions being rendered, with one handed down by the presiding judge, another by Mrs. Biagi and the real-life decision issued by a State Supreme Court justice. “All of these cases were actual suits embellished by each party [of students],” Mrs. Biagi said.
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