Sandy Hook

On Saturday, I wrote about surprises.
 
Then, another happened: I learned that I am mentioned, in passing, in a new book about Sandy Hook.
 
My connection to Sandy Hook is limited.
 
At my first firm, a partner, Emily Feinstein, offered to her services, pro bono, on a defamation case filed in Dane County, Wisconsin (Madison).
 
An individual—a conspiracy theorist—had written and published a book (from Dane County). In it, he made false statements about our client, the father of the youngest victim of Sandy Hook.
 
Another associate assisted through summary judgment, which we won.
 
The Court determined that, as a matter of law, certain statements about our client were indeed defamatory. 
 
When that associate left to pursue a clerkship, I offered to fill the associate role.
 
We were headed to trial on one issue: what damages did those four defamatory statements cause our client?
 
Once I joined the team, I got to:
 
Take our expert’s trial deposition;
Take the defendant’s deposition; and
Prepare for trial.
 
Then, we actually went to trial.
 
I fourth chaired it, but it was my first jury trial.
 
When the jury pool came in, tears came to my eyes and chills ran down my arms.
 
This was the moment I was waiting for.
 
During trial, I cross-examined the defendant in open court.
 
It was exhilarating.
 
I knew in my heart, mind, and soul: this is what I’m meant to do.
 
[Quick note to say this: I could not have done this without Emily Feinstein's support and encouragement. She spent time with me, coaching and mentoring me through the deposition and the cross examination. Her efforts remain a foundation for all of my subsequent trial work. And, afterwards, she went out of her way to tell others how well I had done. I will never forget that.]
 
In the end, we won.
 
Of course, an appeal followed and I’ve since left that firm. But, I’m proud to report that every appellate court has upheld the verdict to date.
 
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals even quoted my cross-examination in their opinion upholding the outcome.
 
And now, apparently, Elizabeth Williamson has written a book about Sandy Hook that includes a chapter on our client’s efforts to defend himself and his son.
 
That book talks about our case and mentions the team, including me.
 
Many attorneys give their time to pro bono efforts—a variety of legal services nationwide. That's how it should be, as we have an ethical obligation to give back, especially in a time when access to legal services is dwindling and dwindling fast.
 
I am proud to have had this opportunity.

I am grateful to my former firm for supporting that work.
 
It is a privilege to have had a small role in the efforts to keep these types of things from happening again (or to find justice for the victims when they do).   

#law #opportunity #probono