NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 19, 2009

CONTACT: KATIE GALLAGHER
517/432-6848, galla145@law.msu.edu

MSU Law Commercial Arbitration Team Wins Regional Competition, Advances to Nationals

East Lansing, MI — The Michigan State University College of Law Commercial Arbitration Team won the regional championship of the American Bar Association 2009-10 Arbitration Competition, which was held in Omaha, Nebraska on November 14-15. The team of third-year students Justinian Lane, Jane Moon, and Sarah Stempky, and second-year student Eric Griggs advanced to the national competition, which will take place in California in January 2010.

The competition's problem that students were tasked with was to create persuasive openings, closings, direct and cross-examinations for both Claimant and Respondent on a situation involving the current economic crisis.

"The MSU Law team achieved their win by successfully arguing both sides of the problem and flawlessly executing arbitration proceedings," Professor Mary Bedikian, director of the MSU Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, says. "Justinian, Jane, Sarah, and Eric spent many weeks on top of their normal law school load to create persuasive arguments. The team's win is a validation of their hard work."

MSU Law Professors Dan Barnhizer and Adjunct Professors Nicholas Wittner and Brian Pappas assisted the team in refining their contract arguments and presentation styles.

Michigan State University College of Law is a leading institution of legal education with a long history of creating practice-ready attorneys. As one of a few private law schools affiliated with a major research university, MSU Law offers comprehensive interdisciplinary opportunities combined with a personalized legal education. After a hundred years as a private and independent Law College, the affiliation with MSU has put the Law College on an upward trajectory of national and international reputation and reach. MSU Law professors are gifted teachers and distinguished scholars. Law College curriculum is rigorous and challenging and the facility is equipped with the latest resources-all affirming MSU Law's commitment to educating 21st century lawyers.

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