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<b>From:</b> Scott C. LaBarre
[<a href="mailto:slabarre@labarrelaw.com" eudora="autourl">
mailto:slabarre@labarrelaw.com</a>] <br>
<b>Subject:</b> 18th Annual Mock Trial<br>
<br>
Hear yee, hear yee, heary, all rise and draw nye for the Honorable Court
for the District of Wilks-Barre, Pennsylvania will soon be in session,
the Most Esteemed and Honorable Charles S. Brown presiding!<br>
<br>
The National Association of Blind Lawyers announces the
18<sup>th</sup> Annual Mock Trial which will be held Monday, July
6<sup>th</sup> in Junior Ballroom G, Level 1, at 4:15 pm
inside the beautiful Rosen Center Hotel as part of the 75<sup>th</sup>
Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. <br>
<br>
This year’s trial features an all-star cast including Dr. Marc Maurer,
Daniel F. Goldstein, Carla McQuillan, Kevan Worley, Haben Girma, Ray
Wayne, Timothy Elder, Bennett Prows, Anthony Thomas, Parnell Diggs, and
Scott LaBarre. The year is 1940, the place Wilks-Barre,
Pennsylvania. In fact, it is the 16<sup>th</sup> of November, 1940,
and Mr. Fred Eration emerges froma local watering hole in a most
celebratory mood because a brand new organization has just been formed,
the National Federation of the Blind. He is walking down a city
sidewalk and falls in a deep construction ditch where a sign warned of
the drop off but no barrier had been erected. He, of course,
injures himself seriously and can no longer travel around
independently.<br>
<br>
The Township of Wilks-Barre will say that they are not liable because any
reasonable person, one who is sighted, would have seen the warning
sign. If that defense won’t work, the City argues that Fred Eration
is automatically negligent because he was wandering around without a
sighted helper, and even if that argument doesn’t work, blind individuals
who are afflicted with a loss of vision must exercise extraordinary care
while walking alone without sighted help.<br>
<br>
On Mr. Eration’s side, his expert witness, Dr. Jacobus tenBroek will
argue that the blind have a right to live in the world and society must
practice a policy of integrationism. Society should expect that the
blind will be about in the land using a dog, cane, or nothing at all to
aid travel. A reasonable city would take reasonable precautions to
prevent injuries to its blind citizens and visitors.<br>
<br>
There will be three witnesses for each side and two lawyers representing
each party. The audience will serve as our jury. Attendees of
previous Mock Trials will tell you that they are both entertaining
and raise important issues. This year’s trial travels back to
the 1940’s and the legal climate that blind people faced at that
time. Join us next Monday. Your jury fee is $5 and such funds
will help the NABL carry on its good work.<br>
<br>
You now may be seated. <br>
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