Keenan's Kids Foundation announces winners of the 7th Annual Law Student Closing Argument Competition

Abstract

November 10, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release: Law Student Closing Argument Competition
CONTACT: Jessica Holthaus, Community Relations Coordinator; Keenan’s Kids Foundation, 148 Nassau St. NW, Atlanta GA 30303;
Phone: 404-223-5437, Email: jholthaus@keenanskidsfoundation.com

Atlanta, GA – Nov. 9, 2009: The Keenan’s Kids Foundation is proud to announce the 2009 winners of the 7th annual Law Student Closing Argument Competition. The competition, which was held Saturday, Nov. 7 in the Keenan Law Firm mock courtroom, was established in 1997 to show students the importance of children’s rights and to encourage them into this most needed area of the law. The event also stands as an opportunity for students to gain experience in a courtroom in front of a jury.

This year’s winners included: - First place: Michael Lyles, II; Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law (3L) - Second Place: M. Gino Brodgon, Jr.; University of Georgia School of Law (2L) - Third Place: Matthew Ramsey; Georgia State University School of Law (3L) - Fourth Place: Rhani Morris Lott; Emory University School of Law (3L)

Additional UGA law students who participated in the event are: Erik Brooks Chambers, Elizabeth Givens, M. Gino Brogdon, Jr. and David Smythe.

“Each and every one of the students who competed in this event did an outstanding job,” said Foundation founder Don C. Keenan. “Our final scores were very close and I am so impressed with the dedication and preparation the students took before giving their closing arguments. We saw some excellent feedback from the judges and I am confident this has made a lasting impression with all the participants.”

Students applied to compete from all five state law schools including Emory School of Law, Georgia State University School of Law, John Marshall School of Law, Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law, and the University of Georgia Law School. This year, the Foundation received more than 50 applications, with only 20 students selected to give closing arguments. Monetary prizes were awarded to the top three competitors.

Since the competition’s inception over a decade ago, the foundation has sponsored seven Closing Argument competitions for 2nd and 3rd year law students in Georgia. Each student is given 15 minutes to give their argument while being judged by a panel composed of members of the local media, experienced plaintiff and defense lawyers and parents of an injured child who has gone through the civil litigation process. This jury helps provide students with an excellent cross-section of life experiences and perspectives.

The Keenan Law Firm specializes in catastrophic child injury and death cases. The Keenan’s Kids Foundation, started by the firm in 1993 to raise awareness on child safety, sponsors the competition to heighten the awareness of damage consideration to injured and maimed children.

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