Mock trial puts hockey players in the ‘penalty booth’ By Megan Rush Special to The Mountain Times
On the night of April 27, there was a trial going on at the Watauga
County Courthouse. But this wasn’t just any trial, this one
was conducted by the students of Watauga High School’s Mock
Trial Club.
Now in its fourth year, the club provides students who have an
interest in the legal system an opportunity to learn about the
inner workings of a court case.
Aided by faculty advisor Randy Combs, the club also receives help
preparing their cases for the mock trial from local attorneys,
who generously donate the time necessary to make the trial a success.
This year, the plaintiff’s side received assistance from
Ham Wilson of di Santi, Watson, Capua, & Wilson, while the
defense was helped by Shaun Lundy of Vetro and Lundy P.C.
Judge Phil Ginn volunteered his time to preside over the case.
This year’s mock trial was the civil case of Dunn v. LePuck.
Lifelong hockey player Pat Dunn, portrayed by Andrew Barbour,
was suing Olympic hockey player Chris LePuck, portrayed by Jordan
Williamson, for the damages incurred when LePuck hit Dunn in the
head with his hockey stick during an exhibition game between Dunn’s
team, the Concord Chuggers, and the Olympic team.
It was a noted fact that prior to LePuck’s alleged attack
on Dunn, Dunn himself had punched LePuck for causing him to fall.
The attorneys for the defendant, Ian Turnbow and Daniel Villanova,
argued that their client was acting in self-defense, as Pat Dunn
had punched LePuck hard enough to knock his helmet off after the
two became entangled on the ice.
They had expert witness Dr. Toni MacDonald, played by Fiona Shine,
testify. The defense also called Olympic coach Terry Sawchuck,
portrayed by Amaal Dass, to the stand.
The plaintiff’s attorneys, Alexandra Bauer, Devon Haas and
Jack Villanova, maintained that LePuck’s reaction was unnecessary
and resulted in $80,000 of medical bills. They called referee
Lee Plante, played by Tyler Colbert, to give a review of his perception
of the game. The expert witness for the prosecution was Dr. L.O.
Worsley, played by Nick Gentile.
The jury, made up of Watauga High faculty and staff, then spent
approximately 45 minutes deliberating, before finding for the
plaintiff and awarding damages in the amount of $60,000.
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