Lucas Schenk, Benjamin Files win Spring 2019 Flory Trial Competition

Spring 2019 Flory Trial Competition winners Lucas Schenk and Benjamin Files

LSU Law students Lucas Schenk and Benjamin Files won the Spring 2019 Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition on Feb. 25 at LSU Law.

Schenk and Files successfully defended their client in the case judged by the Honorable Richard Bourgeois, United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

Schenk and Files represented New Age Auto Company, Inc., which denied that its voice-to-text system caused a driver to lose focus of his vehicle and strike a pedestrian. John Griffin and Richard Norem represented Jamie Walker, the plaintiff who was struck by the vehicle, and finished runners-up in the competition.

The teams of Kyle Kaufman/Allyssa Rodriquez and Christian Klima/John Walsh were semifinalists in the Flory Trial Competition. Schenk received first place Outstanding Oral Advocate, with Kia Jackson placing second, Charles McMichael taking third place, and Matthew Allen, Jesse Elliot, and Griffin tied for fourth place.

Named in honor of the late professor of the Law Center, the Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition is open to all second- and third-year law students and is sponsored by the Board of Advocates. Flory was a professor at LSU Law for 36 years, and taught many courses during his tenure, including Federal Procedure, Evidence, Bankruptcy and Negotiable Instruments. He was also instrumental in raising funds to increase the school library to the minimum requirements for accreditation and admission into the Association of the American Law Schools.