Over 300 people came to celebrate the College of Law’s 100th anniversary on Sept. 16, first by enjoying The Capitol Steps, a nationally-known comedy troupe out of Washington, D.C.. The group entertained alumni and members of the University community with parodies of both left and right wing politicians. Airport security, presidential debates and potential presidential candidates were all fair game.
Alumni and others then joined College of Law Dean Douglas E. Ray and University of Toledo President Lloyd A. Jacobs for a gala reception in the College of Law building. A short program highlighted the latest happenings at the College of Law, including examples of the continuation of UT Law’s rich heritage of public service by students, faculty and alumni. Displays throughout the building showed off faculty leadership positions and listed the titles of the more than 30 books authored by faculty.
Classes from years ending in ‘1 and ‘6 celebrated class reunions, taking class pictures. Even college football fans enjoyed the evening – the Michigan v. Notre Dame game was shown on a large screen in the auditorium. Michigan fans, especially, enjoyed the game.
The alumni coming the furthest to attend was Olatunji Abayomi ’79, a civil rights attorney in Nigeria, and the judge coming the furthest was U.S. District Judge Joseph Farnan, Jr., of Delaware.
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UT Law alumnus scheduled to be featured on Dateline NBC on Saturday at 8
The facts of the case weren’t pleasant, but Michael Collesano, a 1995 UT Law graduate, got to be “on the side of the angels” in a high-profile case that will be featured on Dateline NBC Saturday, Sept. 30, at 8 p.m.
Collesano, a New York attorney, was instrumental in helping to get three young children into a home that would provide a safe environment. What brought the case to the international and national media spotlight were the extraordinary circumstances that led to the children becoming displaced.
The mother, Nancy Kissel, has been convicted of killing the father, Robert Kissel, an international investment banker, while they lived in Hong Kong. Known as the “Milkshake Murder,” the trial in Hong Kong received intense media scrutiny and has been called “the OJ trial of Hong Kong.” Nancy Kissel is now in a Hong Kong jail.
Collesano was going about his normal course of business in New York City, where his practice focuses on estate work and some personal injury, when he was appointed by Judge Eve Preminger of the New York County Surrogate Court to act as guardian ad litem for the children – ages 12, 10 and 6. He believes that one factor leading to his appointment may have been the court’s knowledge that Collesano had spent summers during his law school career in Hong Kong working on the Stock Exchange.
Collesano’s role was to talk to the children and talk to Kissel family members in determining where the children – who stood to inherit millions under their father’s will – should live. The Kissel family recommended Andrew Kissel, who lived in Greenwich, Conn., with his wife and two children.
“Everyone agreed that Andrew Kissel was this great guy, worth lots of money,” Collesano recalled. From all appearances, it seemed Kissel, the children’s uncle, would be a good provider.
Then came a call from a New York Times reporter and revelations that Andrew Kissel was facing indictment for embezzling millions. Collesano petitioned Judge Preminger, asking that she re-open the case to determine whether the children should live somewhere else. With each hearing, 15 to 20 news outlets from all over the world showed up. Major New York law firms and high-profile attorneys got involved.
But ultimately, it was Collesano’s report to the judge that formed the basis of the judge’s ruling, that the Kissel children should live with Jane Kissel Clayton of Mercer Island, Wash.
“I’ve met them, spent some time with them, and they’re wonderful kids,” Collesano said. “It was tough that they had to go through all of this.”
By Christmas of 2005, the children were out of Andrew Kissel’s home. Andrew Kissel was subsequently brutally murdered in his home, further validating the decision to remove the children from the home.
Although Collesano recognizes the tragedy at the heart of the case, he says it was extremely professionally rewarding to see the children through. “When you’re a lawyer, it’s not always as black and white as this. No one could complain that I wasn’t doing the right thing. On a personal level, it was very rewarding to be on the side of the angels.”
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Thirteenth Amendment scholars to participate in Symposium at UT Law on Oct. 13
Some of the premier thirteenth amendment scholars in the country will be convening in Toledo for an all-day conference to explore the history of the amendment that abolished slavery in the U.S., its applicability today, as well as to honor the memory of Congressman James Ashley, who first drafted the Thirteenth Amendment while representing Toledo, Ohio, in Congress. The Thirteenth Amendment not only ended slavery, it also represents a promise of freedom and justice for workers and racial minorities in this country.
The conference boasts a full day of speakers on various topics and is open to the public and free to those who aren't seeking CLE credit. Those seeking up to 6 hours of CLE can register for only $10. Register by calling 419.530.2628.
As part of the conference, a luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m. in Libbey Hall during which Professor Abdul Alkalimat of the UT Department of Africana Studies will present a portrait of the late Congressman James M. Ashley to be displayed in the College of Law. The Ashley project was initiated by UT student Matthew Person, who learned about Congressman Ashley in an Intro to African American Studies class and wanted to find a way to honor the late congressman's contribution to history. The portrait is the culmination of a campus-wide effort to raise funds and is part of the Diversity Portrait Initiative overseen by Carol Bresnahan of the UT Commission on Diversity.
To attend the luncheon in which the portrait will be unveiled, RSVP to Ann Elick at 419.530.2628 by Oct. 6. The cost is $25/person and $15/student. In addition, there are still opportunities to contribute to the portrait fund and to be a part of honoring a Toledoan who contributed to the free society we enjoy today. For more information on contribution opportunities, contact Sheila Doles at 419.381.3280.
Rebecca Zietlow, Charles W. Fornoff Professor of Law and Values, and author of the forthcoming book Enforcing Equality: Congress, the Constitution, and the Protection of Individual Rights, organized the conference, which is also co-sponsored by The University of Toledo Law Review.
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UT Law hosting ABA arbitration competition for first time ever – A Call for Volunteers
A letter from Professor Ben Davis:
For the first time ever, The University of Toledo College of Law will host the American Bar Association Law Student Division Region 4 Arbitration Competition the weekend of October 21-22, 2006. Law students from around the region will compete in preliminary rounds on the morning and afternoon of Saturday and the semifinal and final rounds on Sunday.
The competition is sponsored by the American Bar Association and the National Arbitration Forum. More information on the competition is available at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/competitions/arbitration/home.html .
The ABA Law Student Division and the National Arbitration Forum developed this competition in 2005 to provide law students with arbitration education and training and to promote excellence in arbitration advocacy. Participating students prepare and present an arbitration case and are involved in opening statements, witness examinations, exhibit introductions, evidentiary presentations, and summations.
Last year’s arbitration judges told the competition organizers that they really enjoyed working with the students. They appreciated the opportunity to give back to the profession. One of the most invaluable components of this great learning opportunity for students is receiving feedback from practicing bar members and arbitrators. This year, the case involves an insurance claim.
We took on the task of organizing this Regional Competition as it is an opportunity for all the students to learn more about arbitration, an increasingly important part of many diverse practices. Students have been given a fact pattern and the competition consists of a hearing in which two students act as advocates and two act as witnesses. The four person teams open, have direct and cross-examination, and close in the context of an arbitration hearing.
I write to ask each of you to consider acting for a morning and/or afternoon as an arbitrator-judge. Panels of three arbitrator-judges will hear the students and then evaluate them during the rounds. I believe this first of its kind regional competition will be an important learning experience for all the students and the two UTLaw teams
We are scheduling the preliminary rounds in the morning and the afternoon of Saturday, October 21, 2006, the semi-final the morning of Sunday, October 22, 2006 and the final in the afternoon of Sunday, October 22, 2006.
Anybody interested in volunteering can contact me at ben.davis@utoledo.edu or at 419.530.5117. I would be grateful if interested parties would indicate in a return e-mail their availability for any of the sessions as follows:
Round 1 – Saturday, October 21, 2006 ___ (8h30 am to 12:00 pm)
Round 2 – Saturday, October 21, 2006 ___ (1h30 pm to 5h00 pm)
Semifinal Round – Sunday, October 22, 2006 ____ (8h30 am to 12h00 pm)
Final Round – Sunday, October 22, 2006 _____ (1h30 pm to 5h00 pm)
We need approximately 30 judges for the regional competition. If you have any colleagues who may be interested in participating as volunteer judges, please forward this message to them and ask them to indicate their preferences on the times above.
We will provide the case file and competition rules in the week of October 9, 2006. Reviewing these materials is the only preparation required.
Please consider contributing your time to an important educational experience for students.
Professor Ben Davis
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