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News and Events 2004 - 2005

Law School Mourns Loss of Professor Adam Milani

Professor Adam Milani, who had taught at the Mercer University Law School since 1997, died unexpectedly Wednesday, May 11, following complications from surgery. Professor Milani was one of the leading experts in the country on disability law and legal writing.

A Rosary will be said at 7 p.m., Friday at Snow's Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street and a Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Tim Donahue officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Disability Connections, 170 College Street, Macon, GA 31201 or to Goodwill Industries, 5171 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, GA 31206.

Mr. Milani was born in Peoria, IL and had lived in Macon since 1997. He was a 1988 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Notre Dame earning a BA Degree in English and a 1991 graduate of Duke University earning a Degree in Law. Mr. Milani was Associate Professor of Law at Mercer University where he taught Disability Law and Legal Writing. Before joining the Mercer faculty, Mr. Milani practiced law in Indiana, clerked for the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, and was a member of the faculty at the University of Illinois College of Law. A quadriplegic and a renowned scholar on disability law, Mr. Milani wrote four books and numerous articles on the law of disability discrimination and served as a consultant to many attorneys around the country on such issues. Mr. Milani was honored for his legal publications in 2003 by being elected to the American Law Institute. He was also honored in 2004 by the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association for his public service on behalf of the disabled. Mr. Milani was a devoted Notre Dame football and Duke University basketball fan. All who came into contact with Adam thought of him as a person who was caring, committed, compassionate, and competent.

Daisy Hurst Floyd, Dean of the Walter F. George School of Law, said Milani's death was a tragic loss to the Law School. "Adam will be sorely missed. He brought great wisdom and compassion to his roles of teacher and colleague. His contributions to the fields of disability law and legal writing were nationally recognized, and he will be remembered for those. But, we will also remember Adam for his quiet strength and courage and the fact that he made the Law School community a better place."

Survivors include his parents Joan and Ken Milani of South Bend, IN; his brother, Michael Milani of Hinsdale, IL; his sister, Maria Moon of Leesburg, SC; three nephews, David Rogers, Michael Rogers and Jim Milani; two nieces, Hannah Dokey and Katie Milani.

Visit http://www.mem.com to express tributes.

Snow's Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street has charge of arrangements.
(Posted: 05/12/05)

Professor Longan is the Winner of the ABA's National Award for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching Professionalism

On April 15, Professor Longan received the National Award for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching Professionalism. This award is given annually by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Professionalism and the National Conference of Chief Justices. Professor Longan received the award for Mercer's first-year "Legal Profession" course. The award was presented at Fordham University School of Law by Michael Greco, President-Elect of the ABA, and by Norman Fletcher, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia.
(Posted: 04/15/05)

U.S. News Ranks Mercer's Legal Writing Program as Best in the Nation

It is no secret that one of the cornerstones of the Mercer Law School's award-winning curriculum is its nationally-recognized Legal Writing Program. With the release Friday (April 1) of law school rankings by U.S. News & World Report, those who know legal writing programs best - other faculty in the field - ranked Mercer number one in the country. Mercer and the Seattle University Law School tied for the top spot for legal writing among the nation's 179 accredited law schools. In addition, in the rankings released Friday, the Mercer Law School is once again ranked among the nation's top 100 accredited law schools. The Mercer Law School has received several noteworthy accomplishments this academic year. In the fall, Mercer learned it led all of the state's law schools among graduates passing the July 2004 Bar Exam on their first attempt. The Mercer Law faculty was ranked seventh in the nation by The Princeton Review on its top 10 list titled, "Faculty Rocks (Legally Speaking)." And, in its January edition, the National Jurist magazine ranked the Mercer Law School 11th on its Technology Honor Roll for its use of technology.
(Posted: 04/05/05)

Moot Court Successes

At the annual Vale Corporation Law Moot Court Competition in Wilmington, Delaware, Mercer Law students (Yoon Hwang, Bret Thompson, and Chesley McLeod) received an award for the Best Brief in the competition and advanced to the Semifinals. Thirty teams participated in the competition. Mercer also enjoyed success at the annual Georgia Intra-State Moot Court competition. One of the schools teams advanced to the finals, and three of the top five oralists in the competition were Mercer students (Rebecca McKelvey - 2d best oralist; Zach McEntyre - 3d best oralist; Ann Patton Nelson - 5th best oralist). Finally, on April 9-10, Mercer students competed against 24 teams in the Annual Gibbons Criminal Law competition in Newark, New Jersey. The team of Caitlin Bannigan, Alan Fowler, and Cristina Harrison won the Best Brief Award for Petitioner and advanced to the semi-final round of the oral arguments. Alan Fowler was named third best oralist in the preliminary rounds. Congratulations to our advocates.
(Posted: 03/24/05)

Mercer's Moot Court Teams Win Semi-Finalist Honors at National Gabrielli Competition

Second year students Jed Manton, Mandy Roberts, Randy Bates, Jason Allen, Carol Underwood, and Kristen Starnes were semi-finalists in the 17th annual Gabreilli Moot Court Competition. The competition started with twenty-two teams from law schools around the country. These two Mercer teams, consisting of three students each, made it to the Final Four. Congratulations to them and to their outstanding third year student coaches, Leigh Hutchinson and Theresa Light, for a job well done.
(Posted: 03/16/05)

Magazine Lists Mercer Law at the Top of the Technology Honor Roll among Law Schools in Georgia, with a #11 Ranking Nationally

Mercer Law is at the top of the Technology Honor Roll in Georgia, with a #11 ranking nationally for its use of technology in teaching law students, according to the January, 2005 issue of National Jurist magazine. The publication annually rates more than 100 American Bar Association accredited law schools for their use of technology, including factors such as whether students are required to own laptops, have a computer exam option, have access to a wireless network, and have access to a technological courtroom.
(Posted: 03/16/05)

Georgia Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments in the Courtroom March 22, 2005

The Georgia Supreme Court will be hearing arguments in our Courtroom on Tuesday, March 22 at 9:50. A schedule of the proceedings and briefs for the cases that will be argued are available online at http://www.law.mercer.edu/elaw/georgiasupremecourt.html.
(Posted: 03/14/05)

ABA Editor to Speak at Law Day Luncheon March 11, 2005

Steven Keeva, an editor with the ABA Journal and the author of the book, Tranforming Practices: Finding Joy and Satisfaction in the Legal Life, will be the keynote speaker for the Law Day 2005 Luncheon on March 11 at 12:30 p.m. Keeva, assistant managing editor of the ABA Journal: The Lawyer's Magazine, also writes the Journal's monthly column, "Keeva on Life and Practice." For more information about Law Day and Alumni weekend, click here.

Article by Professors Salzmann and Hricik to be Published

The article, "Why There Should be Fewer Articles Like This One: Law Professors Should Write More for Legal Decision-Makers, and Less for Themselves," written by Professor Victoria Salzmann and Professor David Hricik will appear in the Suffolk University Law Review in May, 2005.

Statutory Interpretation Text Written by Professors Jellum and Hricik Accepted for Publication

The Carolina Academic Press is publishing Statutory Interpretation: Problems, Theories, and Lawyering Strategies, written by Professors Linda Jellum and David Hricik.

Professor Edwards' Recent Scholarly Activities

Professor Linda Edwards' article, "Scholarship By Legal Writing Professors: New Voices In the Legal Academy," was recently accepted as the lead article for the Journal of the Legal Writing Institute. Additionally, Professor Edwards recently completed the second edition of her book, Estates and Future Interests: A Step-By-Step Guide, 2d. ed. She was also appointed to chair the Legal Writing Institute's 2006 Conference Site Committee, which is responsible for hosting a conference of approximately 500 lawyers and law school faculty members, and the ABA Committee on Communication Skills.

Faculty to Present Paper at Southeastern Association of Law School's Annual Meeting

Each year, the Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS) issues a Call for Papers for presentation at the Annual Meeting. This year, the association chose the article by Professors Hricik and Salzmann, entitled "Why There Should be Fewer Articles Like This One: Law Professors Should Write More for Legal Decision Makers, and Less for Themselves" for presentation at the the July 2005 Annual Meeting in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The article is also slated to be published this spring.

Judge Bootle Dies at 102

Judge William Augustus Bootle -- Mercer alumnus, former Law School interim dean and professor, and a Lifetime Trustee -- died at his home in Macon January 25, 2005. "Gus" Bootle was appointed U.S. Attorney in 1928. He was later appointed U.S. District judge by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. During his distinguished legal career, he ordered the admission of African-American students to the University of Georgia, desegregation of the Bibb County Schools and access of African-Americans to the polls. To read President Godsey's eulogy for Judge Bootle, click here.

Professor Brennen's Service on Association of American Law Schools' Committees

At the January 2005 meeting of the Association of American Law Schools in San Francisco, Professor David A. Brennen was elected Chair-elect of the Minority Groups Section of the Association and appointed to the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section of the Association.

Giliel Nellis (3L) Admitted to University of Miami's Premier Estate Planning LLM Program

Congratulations to Giliel Asher Nellis (3L) on being admitted into the University of Miami's premier Estate Planning LLM program. The program only accepts 20 students per year and Mr. Nellis is one of the 20. Not only is Miami #5 on the list of top tax LLM programs, but its estate planning program is widely viewed as the #1 program in the country.

Virtual Environmental Law Guest Speakers

Once again this spring, Professor Stephen Johnson will host an annual Virtual Environmental Law Guest Speaker program. More than thirty law schools from four continents have participated in the program since its inception in 1998. Lectures presented at Mercer, other participating schools, or in cyberspace are posted on a website for the program and students from participating schools join the speakers on a discussion list for the program for a week following the virtual presentations. This year's speakers include Professor Peter Appel (Georgia), Professor Dennis Hirsch (Capital), Professor Hari Ososfky (Whittier), and William C.G. Burns (American Society of International Law). Once again this spring, the program will also include panelists from a symposium presented by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). This year's ELI presentation focuses on mercury pollution. Topics covered by other speakers in the program include climate change, natural resource protection, second generation environmental policy and environmental justice. More information about the program, including a schedule of speakers, can be found on the program's website at http://www.law.mercer.edu/elaw/speaker.htm.

Mercer Alum Kelly Wallace ('03) Wins Billion Dollar Verdict

A federal judge ordered three companies to pay a total of $1 billion to a small Iowa Internet service provider, represented by Kelly Wallace, whose servers were jammed by unsolicited e-mails. It's believed to be the largest judgment ever against spammers. More information is available at http://www.npr.org/rundowns/segment.php?wfId=4238391.

Professor Hricik's Recent Ethics Scholarship

Professor David Hricik's article, "Ethics in the Digital Age," was published in the January 2005 issue of Law Office Computing. Additionally, Professor Hricik gave a live, web-based presentation on Ethical Issues for Intellectual Property Practitioners on December 17, 2004 for the American Intellectual Property Law Association to approximately 300 IP practitioners from around the country. Additionally, Professor Hricik's article, "Infinite Combinations: Whether The Duty of Competency Requires Lawyers to Include Choice of Law Clauses in Contracts They Draft for Their Clients," was published at 12 Willamette J. of Int'l L. & Disp. Res. 241 (Winter 2004).

David Cook (3L) Wins National Student Writing Competition

Congratulations to third-year student, David Cook, who recently won the student writing competition sponsored by the American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants. As the winner, Mr. Cook is entitled to a substantial cash prize and publication of his winning paper in a journal.

Webster Counseling Award Recipients

Congratulations to the 2004-5 winners of the Webster Counseling Award as champions of the ABA's intramural Client Counseling Competition at Mercer, Susan Davis and Jack Long.

Mercer is Semi-Finalist in National Moot Court, Region 5, Competition

The Mercer team of Heather Calhoun, Felicia LeRay, and Jeremy McKenzie finished as a semi-finalist in the National Moot Court, Region 5, competition in Atlanta on November 12 and 13. Law schools from Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina participated in the competition. The competition tests oral advocacy and brief writing skills. The Mercer brief received the third highest score.

Professor Longan Speaks to Professionalism Convocation

On November 10, Professor Longan spoke at the New York Court of Appeals in Albany, New York to the Convocation on Developing Professional Values in Law School. The Convocation was sponsored by the New York State Judicial Institute on Professionalism in the Law. Professor Longan spoke to the Convocation about Mercer's Professionalism Orientation and its first-year Legal Profession course.

Congratulations to Mercer's Negotiation Teams

Congratulations to Lisa Palmer, Stephanie Steward, Jill Edmondson, and Sarah Upshaw, who represented Mercer at the ABA Regional Negotiation Competition in Birmingham, AL November 5-7. The team of Lisa Palmer and Stephanie Stewart earned the Fourth Place award at the competition.

Mercer Bar Pass Rate Best in the State

94.2% of Mercer Law School graduates passed the July 2004 bar exam on the first attempt. This outstanding performance was the best among all the Georgia law schools. Results on the July 2004 Georgia Bar exam were recently released by the Office of Bar Admissions and demonstrate the outstanding performance of Mercer's graduates. Mercer's pass rate of 94.2% was the best among all the Georgia law schools, and it was significantly better than the overall pass rate of 87.4%. More information is at http://www.gabaradmissions.com.

Mercer Law Faculty Rock

The Mercer Law Faculty was ranked seventh in the nation by The Princeton Review on its top ten list entitled "Faculty Rocks (Legally Speaking)." The ranking, contained in the on-line version of The Best 117 Law Schools, 2005 Edition, is based on responses from student surveys on two ratings: the quality of teaching and the accessibility of faculty. On a scale of 60-99, Mercer students rated the quality of teaching by law faculty at 92. On the same scale, Mercer students rank the accessibility of their faculty at 97. More information is at www.princetonreview.com.

Center for Ethics and Professionalism Receives Grant

The Mercer Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism has received a second grant from the Foundation of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The first grant supported the production of a videotape and supporting materials related to ethical issues that arise in the use of expert witnesses. This grant will make it possible to complete a similar project on ethical issues that arise in the investigation of civil cases.

Professor Hal Lewis Joins with University of Georgia Law Professor Thomas Eaton to Research Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 68

Professor Hal Lewis is currently conducting interviews with experienced employment
discrimination and civil rights lawyers in 16 cities throughout the United
States. The goal of this project, which is supported by the Walter F. George
Foundation and the Law School, is to improve the federal court "offer of
judgment rule," Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 68, so that federal
fee-shifting cases may be settled earlier and more economically. Professor Thomas
A. Eaton of the University of Georgia Law School has joined Professor Lewis in
this research. When the interviews are completed late next Spring and the data
evaluated, Professors Lewis and Eaton will summarize the results in one or more
law review articles. Their ultimate objective is to propose amendments to Rule
68 to the Federal Rules Advisory Committee on Civil Rules.

Professor Lewis Prepares New Editions of Employment Discrimination and Civil Rights Texts

Prof. Hal Lewis prepared new editions of three books: his
two-volume practitioner handbook, Litigating Employment Discrimination and
Civil Rights Cases (West 2004); the hornbook Civil Rights Law and Practice
(West 2004); and the hornbook Employment Discrimination Law and Practice (West
2004). He also wrote the 2004-05 update to the second edition of a jury
instruction book, Police Misconduct and Civil Rights (West 2005)(with Stephen
Yagman) and the employment discrimination chapters for the 4th edition of
Workers Compensation and Employee Protection Laws (West 2005)(with Hood and
Hardy).

Professor Brennen's Scholarly Activities

Professor David Brennen was appointed to the Board of Governors for the Society of American Law Teachers in January 2004, and became the Ellison C. Palmer Professor of Tax Law at Mercer University School of Law beginning in July 2004. Professor Brennen's article, Race and Equality Across the Law School Curriculum: The Law of TaxExemption (54 J. Leg. Educ. 336 (2004)) was recently published. He has also recently participated in several panels and presentations, including one on Tax Exemption Based on Race, Religion and Class, at the Second National People of Color Legal Scholarship Conference in Washington, DC, on October8. Professor Brennen also particpated in colloquy presentations at the University of Georgia and Florida State University College of Law on Charitable Tax Exemptions in September 2004. Additionally, Professor Brennen also gave presentations on the intersection of race and tax at the American Bar Association Section of Taxation Meeting in May, and the intersection of race and equality across the curriculum at the Association of American Law Schools Racial Justice Workshop in June.

Professor Baker Has Employment Law Article Published

Professor Alice Baker's article, Agricultural Guestworker Programs in the United States, was recently published in the Texas Hispanic Journal of Law and Policy.

Professor Claxton Elected as Officer for Georgia Legal Foundation

Professor Joseph E. Claxton has been elected to serve as the Treasurer of the Georgia Legal History Foundation. He has served as a member of the Board of the Foundation since 1994.

Symposium on Judicial Professionalism in a New Era of Judicial Selection

On October 22, 2004, the Mercer Law Review and the Mercer Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism are hosting a symposium on changes in judicial selection. The symposium will feature the work of the Court Futures Committee of the State Bar of Georgia, which is currently studying judicial selection. The symposium will address recent changes for judicial elections that have resulted from the cases of Republican Party v. White in the Supreme Court of the United States and Weaver v. Bonner in the Eleventh Circuit. Among the questions to be addressed will be: (1) how have these cases changed judicial elections? (2) are there ways to improve judicial elections, such as through voter guides or monitoring by "blue-ribbon" commissions? (3) are there ways to reform judicial elections more substantially, such as through the use of retention elections or public financing? (4) should judicial elections be replaced by another system of selection? Anyone with any comments or suggestions should contact Professor Longan at longan_p@mercer.edu.

Professor Blumoff's Recent Activities

Professor Blumoff's articles, Some Thoughts on the Aesthetics of Retribution, 17 Can. J. L. & Juris. 233 (2004) and A Jurisprudence for Punishing Attempts Asymmetrically, 6 Buff. Crim. L. Rev. 951 (Fall/Winter 2003) were recently published. Professor Blumoff will also be moderating a discussion at the Journal of Law and Religion's annual Symposium in October.

Many faculty members participated in the SEALLs annual meeting this summer. Professor David Hricik gave a presentatin entitled The Same Thing Twice? The Economic Loss Doctrine and Section 552 of the Restatement of Torts. Additionally, Professor Linda Jellum moderated a panel entitled Sarbanes-Oxley: Two Years Later.

In June, Professor David Hricik moderated a panel on behalf of the Center for Advanced Legal Studies at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, MA on the ethical risks arising from the use of technology. He also gave a presention entitled Online Contracting/Contracting with Third Parties - ISPs and Others and made a presentation about the Ethical Issues in Patent Prosecution and Litigation on behalf of the Boston Patent Law Association and Suffolk Law School. Professor Hricik also spoke at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting about Inequitable Conduct and Malpractice: The Duties to Investigate Your Clients' Stories and Tell Them All They Need to Know About Patent Law. In July, Professor Hricik gave a presentation at the Third Annual Symposium on Hot Topics in Patent Law at George Mason University School of Law entitled Conflicts of Interest Problems for Patent Attorneys.

Darcy Jones, Director of Information Technology, made a presentation entitled Managing Student Organization Web Sites at the June 2004 Conference on Law School Computing in Seattle, WA. In July, at the annual meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries in Boston, MA, Jones chaired the meeting of the OCLC Committee of the Online Bibliographic Services Section of AALL.