The Veterans Legal Clinic recently helped a 91-year-old veteran receive disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs after many years of denials. The veteran served for over 24 years, in both the Vietnam and Korean wars. He survived the 1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir, an important battle of the latter conflict. For over one decade, he had received only minimal payments from the VA. After learning of his leukemia, the clinic successfully argued for service-connection due to exposure to Agent Orange. The increase of $3,146 per month more than doubled his combined compensation and retirement pay. This outcome reflects the efforts of several Veterans Legal Clinic teams under the direction of Associate Professor Alexander W. Scherr, including current third-year students Taylor E. Pernini and Patrick D. Testa along with 2020 graduates Anne M. Reynolds, L. Andrew "Andy" Bastone and Tyler C. Mathis.
Congratulations to third-year students Tyler D. Fabbri, Mollie M. Fiero and Devin Mashman for finishing as national semifinalists in the National Moot Court Competition. This trio won the Region 5 round of the National Moot Court Competition in November to advance to the national tier of the tournament. The National Moot Court Competition is the oldest and most prestigious moot court competition in the country. Each year, teams from more than 120 law schools across the nation compete in this contest, which is sponsored by the New York City Bar Association and the American College of Trial Lawyers.
On Feb. 15, William Elliott Stiles Jr. - an accomplished artist, Atlanta attorney and University of Georgia School of Law alumnus - will unveil a new work of art that was commissioned by the law school to commemorate the 60th anniversary of desegregation at UGA. The new creation will be displayed alongside other pieces of Stiles' "Concept Collection" that were donated to the school in 2018. Stiles said in his new piece, titled "1961," he tried to depict the historic events of the desegregation of the University of Georgia and the Georgia public school system. The artwork will be unveiled during Black History Month on Feb. 15 at 12 p.m. Those wishing to virtually participate need to register by Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. to lawalum@uga.edu or 706-542-7959.
The Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic presented oral argument before the Supreme Court of Georgia representing a woman who was abused by her parents throughout the entirety of her childhood. The case involves the choice of law and the constitutionality of the Hidden Predator Act. Third-year student Devin Mashman argued the case.
Congratulations to third-year students Jared R. Allen, Ian L. Kecskes and Sarah A. Nelson who finished as national finalists in the prestigious Hunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship. This invitation-only tournament is for the top 16 moot court programs from law schools across the country based on performances from the previous academic year. In the tournament, they defeated teams from New York University and St Mary's University. UGA continued its strong performance at this "best of the best" tournament and now boasts two championships, two finalist and two semifinalist performances since 2014.