ATLA Docket - Summer 2026

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DOCKET A publication of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association

INSIDE

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

SUMMER 2026

WHAT’S + NEW IN THIS ISSUE

ATLA AWARDS

CONVENTION RECAP 2025-2026 YEAR IN REVIEW

THE WRITER'S BLOCK

BY BRIAN BROOKS

PAGE

30

TABLE of DOCKET CONTENTS

SUMMER 2026

A publication of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association

Publisher Stephanie Malone McLean Editor Katie Clifford Graphic Designer Dave Lewis Advertising Manager Jennifer Irwin Publications Committee (2025-2026) Co-chairs: Taylor Chaney Alan LeVar George Wise Chris Heil Carter Stein Sarah Jewell Geoff Hamby Corey McGaha Jim Lyons Brian Brooks Brett McDaniel Tim Watson Lyndsey Dilks Geoffrey Kearney Whitney Cossio

ATLA Docket is published quarterly by the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, PO Box 3486, Little Rock, AR 72203. Telephone (501) 376-ATLA. All rights reserved.

Statements or expressions of opinions are those of contributors and are not necessarily those of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association or the editor of ATLA Docket. The editor of ATLA Docket reserves the right to edit and condense all materials herein. All advertising copy is the sole responsibility of the advertisers.

WHAT’S NEW PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

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12 2026 ATLA AWARDS

4 PRESIDENT ELECT’S COLUMN

BOARD 16 ATLA OF GOVERNORS

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30

Ryan Scott, Esquire, ATLA President

Justin Zachary, Esquire, ATLA President-Elect

YEAR IN REVIEW 2025-2026

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THE WRITER'S BLOCK

By Brian Brooks

2026 ATLA

CONVENTION RECAP SUMMER 2026 | ATLA DOCKET

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

TOGETHER WE RIDE!!

“That Trial by Jury is the inherent and invaluable Right of every British Subject in these colonies.”

-- “Declaration” VII, Proceedings of the Congress at New York, American Antiquarian Society (Annapolis, 1766), p. 16.

When good people come together, united, to do good things – good things happen. That is who we are. Our organization is the David that fights the Goliaths for justice, fairness, and the preservation of God given rights inherent in any moral society. Rights recognized by our ancestors in this country even before it was a country, and before they were enshrined in our constitution. We will do it again – TOGETHER. If you were able to attend the convention this year, I hope you too felt the camaraderie that comes only from true friendship and trust. If you could not attend, know that you were missed. For the better part of a week, people of different backgrounds, age, gender, faith, and political persuasion, came together. We learned together, we laughed together, and, from time to time, we lamented together.

This year’s convention exemplified the truly special group we have. When talking with our wonderful guest speakers from around the country, each one of them, to a person, made a point to let me know that our organization is unique.

They talked about the collegiality and genuine friendships that were evident at first glance. They talked about how rare such a zeitgeist is in their own organizations and those they visit. And they are right, we have something special.

As we start the new ATLA season, I am thankful for that. I am thankful for all of you. I am thankful for the great stewardship of our previous leaders that has consistently strengthened and improved our organization. We owe them a debt of gratitude. A special thank you and congratulations goes out to our award recipients this year: 2

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By Ryan Scott, Esquire, ATLA President

Trial Lawyer of the Year Joey McCutchen & Stephen Napurano Outstanding Young Lawyer Ross King Outstanding Trial Judge Judge Shawn Johnson Outstanding Paralegal Liz Davis Consumer Advocate Award Senator Greg Leding & Representative Dolly Henley Roxanne Wilson Advocacy Award Jason Hatfield And now, we must resolve to continue the good fight. It is no secret that attempts to diminish (or worse) the right to a trial by jury are on the horizon. But, thanks to work of those in our organization, past and present, we are ready. Our organization will ride once again against injustice. Together.

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PRESIDENT-ELECT’S COLUMN

Avengers Assemble Last legislative session reminded us of something we never enjoy learning: even when we're fighting for the right cause, victory is never guaranteed.

For years, Arkansas trial lawyers have worked together to protect the constitutional rights of our clients and preserve a civil justice system that keeps families safe. Yet last session, despite tremendous effort from countless members, Act 28 became law. The result was a meaningful limitation on the damages available to injured Arkansans and another reminder that those seeking to weaken our civil justice system never stop organizing, never stop fundraising, and never stop preparing.

Neither can we.

There's a scene near the end of Avengers: Endgame that has become iconic. Captain America stands alone, battered and exhausted, facing an army that no one person could defeat. His shield is broken. His body is beaten. The odds are overwhelming. Yet he reaches down, tightens the strap on his shield, and prepares to fight anyway.

Then the impossible happens.

One by one, portals begin to open. Friends. Allies.

Teammates. People who have fought beside him before 4

ATLA DOCKET | arktla.org

By Justin Zachary, Esquire, ATLA President-Elect

arrive from every direction. Suddenly the battle is no longer his alone.

Captain America simply says: "Avengers... Assemble."

That moment has endured because it captures a truth much larger than superheroes: courage is essential, but unity changes outcomes.

Justice PAC exists for that very reason.

The interests working against Arkansas families are organized, well-funded, and relentless. Many are backed by national organizations with resources far exceeding our own. They don't wait until January to prepare for the legislative session. They recruit candidates, build relationships, and invest in elections months—sometimes years—before a single bill is ever filed.

If we learned anything from last session, it's that preparation cannot begin when the legislature gavels into session. It begins now.

Every contribution to Justice PAC helps us identify and support candidates who believe in protecting Arkansas families and preserving the constitutional right to a fair civil justice system. It allows us to build relationships

before votes are cast, not after. It ensures that when legislation affecting our clients is introduced, we are not scrambling to catch up—we are already engaged.

As trial lawyers, we know what it means to stand alone. We've all walked into court carrying the hopes of a client who had nowhere else to turn. We don't back down from difficult fights.

Now is the time to stand together.

Because the strength of Arkansas's civil justice system has never depended on one lawyer.

It has always depended on trial lawyers assembling for something bigger than themselves.

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But we also know that the greatest victories are rarely accomplished alone.

The strength of Arkansas's civil justice system has never depended on one lawyer, one case, or one legislative session. It has always depended on trial lawyers who were willing to stand together in defense of the Constitution and the families we represent.

The next legislative session is already taking shape.

The work begins long before the first committee meeting and long before the first vote is cast.

Now is the time to prepare.

Now is the time to invest.

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SUMMER 2026 | ATLA DOCKET

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CONVENTION RECAP

CONVENTION RECAP

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CONVENTION RECAP

T

The 2026 ATLA Convention is officially in the books, and it will be remembered as one of the best! We had an incredible week in Eureka Springs and it was the perfect way to launch the next year.

We kicked off Convention on Wednesday, April 22 with morning meeting of the Board of Governors. That afternoon, we covered several CLE topics.

Jim Jackson kicked off the Sessions by giving a brief presentation on “The Importance of Giving to Justice PAC” before we heard from Randy Hood about “Creating Maximum Exposure Through the Use of AI.” Daniel Hinkle from AAJ provided an incredibly valuable national update before an Ice Cream Social sponsored by Forvis Mazars. Judge Brent Eubanks presented “Now you See It, Now You Don’t: The Disappearing Survival Claim in Arkansas Probate Proceedings” and we learned about “Haphazard Hazards: Winning Strategies for Litigating Common Premises Defects” from Justin Shapiro. We wrapped up the evening with our Opening Night Reception sponsored by Forge Consulting. ATLA Justice Partners took various groups out to dinner that evening and of course, everyone ended the day at the Denton, Zachary, Norwood Hospitality Suite.

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On Thursday, April 23, Greg Thurman opened the day of CLE with “Top 5 Questions Potential Disability Clients Ask.” That morning we also heard about “Standing on Principle: Hatfield v. Pirani” from Mark Henry. After that, it was a packed room for the ATLA Awards Brunch sponsored by Milner Settlements. And a huge thank you goes to Physician Life Care Planning for sponsoring the Brunch Beverage Bar! That afternoon, we heard from Chrissy Hagen and Julie Siegel about “The Anatomy of a Brain Injury Case: From Intake to Trial Strategy” and Karesa Rovnan and Marlo Arnold taught us about “Trauma-Informed Advocacy in Witness Prep.”

The last CLE that afternoon was ATLA’s own Andrea McCurdy along with Danny Vincent presenting on “A Day in the Life of a Jury Instruction.”

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The ATLA Business Meeting, PAC Meeting and NLN Meeting were held on Thursday afternoon. Then, we all headed out to Basecamp for the Incoming President’s Party! We know the party was a highlight of Convention!

Thank you to Oliver Law Firm for sponsoring and putting on such a great event. Plus, we wrapped up the auction with a record-breaking night! (THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this year’s auction a success!) The afterparty at the DZN Hospitality Suite was another highlight.

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CONVENTION RECAP

We kicked off the last day of Convention on Friday, Apri 24 with Ed Ciarimboli and Joe Camerlengo presenting on “Taking Your Cases from the Boardroom to the Courtroom.” This two-part session was jam-packed with great information!

We want to say a huge thank you to each of this year’s sponsors who made the 2026 ATLA Convention a success! And thank you to each of the vendors that attended and spent time visiting with our members.

We’ll see you next year!

Note: All Convention CLE will be available as an on-demand course later this year.

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SUMMER 2026 | ATLA DOCKET

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AWARDS BY ATLA STAFF

The 2026 ATLA Awards

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were presented during the Awards Brunch at ATLA’s 63rd Annual Convention on Thursday, April 23.

Recipients included Attorneys, a Judge, two Legislators, and a paralegal. These recipients were selected and honored for their contributions in protecting the rights and liberties of all Arkansas citizens and the American justice system.

“It was an absolute honor to present these awards. Each person recognized has worked hard to protect the rights of Arkansans, not only in their own community but across the state” said outgoing ATLA President Jessica Virden Mallett. “This year’s award winners are impressive and our entire state benefits from their dedication and commitment to justice.”

SUMMER 2026 | ATLA DOCKET

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AWARDS BY ATLA STAFF

The 2026 ATLA Award Recipients

2026 Outstanding Trial Lawyers

Joey McCutchen & Stephen Napurano of McCutchen Napurano: The Law Firm, Fort Smith

Liz Davis of Odom Law Firm, Rogers

2026 Roxanne Wilson Advocate Award

2025-2026 Outstanding Young Lawyer

Jason Hatfield of The Law Office of Jason Hatfield, Springdale

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2025-2026 Outstanding Paralegal

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Ross King of Taylor King Law, Little Rock

2026 Outstanding Trial Judge

ATLA President's Award

The Honorable Shawn Johnson, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Little Rock

Chad Gallagher, Bob Edwards, and Milton Ezell

2025 Consumer Advocate

ATLA President's Award

Senator Greg Leding, District 30, Fayetteville; and Representative Dolly Henley, District 88, Washington (Hempstead County) ATLA President's Award (Not Pictured)

Posthumous: Don Chaney and Don Campbell

ATLA Staff (Stephanie Malone McLean, Jennifer Irwin and Katie Clifford) Capitol Consulting Firm (Rett Hatcher, Ann Clemmer, Lance Eads and Caleb Osborne) SUMMER 2026 | ATLA DOCKET

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BOARD

2026

OF GOVERNORS

Alan L. Lane was raised in San Diego, California and graduated from Coronado

High School in 1987. In 1993, he received his bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from Arkansas Tech University and then attended the University of Arkansas to receive his MBA in 1996. From there, Alan worked in the transportation industry for J.B. Hunt Transport and Trism, Inc. specializing in sales and management of private fleets for customers in the hazardous materials and explosive industries. Alan earned his J.D. in 2003 from the University Of Arkansas School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Arkansas, the U.S. District Courts in Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas, and the U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit. Alan is a partner in the Odom Law Firm, P.A. where he focuses his practice primarily in the areas of commercial litigation, personal injury, construction site injury, and hospital negligence.

Alan LeVar grew up in and graduated from Arkadelphia High. He then attended

Brigham Young University, graduating in 1993. He returned to Arkansas for law school and graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1996. In his career, Alan has worked as a deputy prosecutor, public defender, guardian ad litem and municipal judge.

In 2013, Alan started his own firm, LeVar Law. He is licensed to practice in Arkansas and Texas, and his practice is focused on plaintiff personal injury cases including motor vehicle collisions, tractor-trailer collisions, premises liability and dog bite cases. He is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, American Association of Justice and the National Civil Justice Institute. Alan has served as a CASA Board Member and Chair, Arkadelphia Housing Authority Board Member and volunteers at his church. He lives in Arkadelphia with his wife, Erika. They have 4 sons.

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ATLA BOARD 2026

Andrew Norwood is an Arkansas native, who can trace his Arkansas

roots back to 1870. Before graduating law school in 2017, from the William H. Bowen School of Law, Andrew received a Major in Biology with Minors in Chemistry and Psychology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2009 - where he was a member of the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Championship football team - and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences with doctoral dissertation research areas in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience and Behavioral Pharmacology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2014. Andrew is married to his longtime college sweetheart, Ashley, and they have two sons Henry and Oliver. Andrew’s passion is helping individuals through some of life’s most difficult situations. For that reason, personal injury cases hold a special place in Andrew’s heart, as it gives him the honor and the privilege of fighting for his injured client’s rights against large insurance companies. Andrew is a partner at Denton, Zachary & Norwood, PLLC, where he works in #PolicyLimitsDepartment.

Austin Easley has made it his life›s work to stand up for injured people and

victims. His practice is focused on being in the courtroom. He has enjoyed particular success in cases tried to a jury, winning substantial verdicts and obtaining substantial settlements for clients that have been wronged by big truck drivers, insurance companies, reckless motor vehicle operators, drunk drivers, construction companies, and other corporations that have harmed people. Austin served as a part-time deputy prosecuting attorney for 8 years, where he tried many jury trials for cases involving capital murder (death penalty), first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, rape, theft, battery, and other felony offenses. Austin was a member of the trial team recognized as “Trial Lawyer of the Year”

by ATLA in 2021-2022, has been rated as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, and has also been recognized for his pro bono service to the community. He has been appointed by the Arkansas Supreme Court to serve on the Civil Practice Committee and has argued to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Austin formerly served as President of the East-Central Arkansas Razorback Club, is a Past-President of the Rotary Club of Forrest City and has served on the board of Legal Aid of Arkansas. Austin is perhaps most proud of his young children, Mike and Magnolia, and his wife Caitlin. When not with his family, Austin enjoys time in the woods, on the water, or in his wood shop.

Blake Montgomery is the founder of Montgomery Law Firm, PLLC, with

offices in Texarkana and Hope, Arkansas. A native of Hope, he comes from a family of farmers that raised poultry and cattle. He attended the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts and received both his undergraduate degree and his J.D. from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where the faculty named him Most Promising Trial Lawyer. In February 2015, Blake earned the top score on the Arkansas Bar Examination, licensed at 22 years old, and immediately opened his own firm in Hope. After several years in general practice, he narrowed his focus solely to personal injury work in 2023, representing clients in 18-wheeler wrecks, automobile accidents, and premises liability cases. He is currently serving his second term as a Commissioner on the Arkansas Public Defender Commission, serves on the Amicus Committee of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, and is a former trustee of the Arkansas Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in both Arkansas and Texas. In 2024, he relocated to Texarkana and opened a second office. Blake holds a graduate degree in theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and teaches Sunday school at Northern Hills Baptist Church. He and his wife, Hannah, are raising their two children in Texarkana.

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Bob Edwards is the founder of Bob Edwards Law and has built a reputation

as a leading advocate in nursing home negligence and tractor-trailer litigation. Licensed in Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, Bob represents individuals and families in complex, high-stakes litigation across the region.

Raised in the farming community of Tomberlin in south Lonoke County, Bob graduated from England Public High School before attending Hendrix College in Conway, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 1991. He later received his Juris Doctor from the William H. Bowen School of Law in Little Rock in 1998. Following law school, Bob joined the office of Arkansas Attorney General Mark Pryor, where he eventually served as Chief of Staff. He later practiced with Wilkes & McHugh, P.A. in Little Rock from 2003 until founding his own firm in 2013. Bob has long been active in the legal profession and trial-lawyer organizations. He is a past president of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and continues to serve on its Executive Committee. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Board Association and is a member of both the American Bar Association and the American Association for Justice. At the national level, Bob serves on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice and remains active in its Nursing Home Litigation Group. In addition to his legal practice, Bob has served on the Board of Directors of the England Public School District and is a past president of the Bowen School of Law Alumni Board. He currently serves as Secretary of the Little Rock Airport Commission. Bob and his wife, Tiffany Fitch of Hindsville, live in Little Rock and attend Trinity Episcopal Church.

Their daughter, Katharine Grace, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and currently attends law school in Fayetteville.

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ATLA BOARD 2026

Bob Sexton is a founding partner of Rainwater, Holt & Sexton. A lifelong Arkan-

san, he grew up in Lone, earned his undergraduate degree from Ouachita Baptist University, and received his Juris Doctor from the William H. Bowen School of Law. Over decades of practice, Bob has helped grow the firm from a small team into a statewide practice of over 40 attorneys while earning an AV Preeminent peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and regular recognition in The Best Lawyers in America, Mid-South Super Lawyers, and the Arkansas Business Arkansas 250. Beyond the courtroom, he is deeply invested in the legal profession and his community, holding leadership roles on the ATLA Board of Governors, the Ouachita Baptist University Board of Trustees, and the Higginbotham School of Business Advisory Board. He and his wife Jennie live in Little Rock and have 3 children.

Brandon Lacy is licensed to practice in Arkansas, the United States Dis-

trict Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, as well as the United States Courts of Appeal for the 6th and 8th Circuits. Brandon received a J.D. with honors from the William H. Bowen School of Law., University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2003, where he was Survey and Comments Editor on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review. Brandon received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with high honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is the author of “Employment Discrimination Survey,” 24 U. Ark. Law Review No. 4, 2003. Brandon is currently a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, American Association of Justice, the American Bar Association, and the Craighead and Washington County Bar Associations. In 2022, Brandon became a formal business partner when his wife, attorney Megan Henry and her firm, Henry Law Firm, with over forty years of history and experience in personal injury law in the state of Arkansas, merged with Lacy Law Firm. In his free time, Brandon enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, attending his children’s sporting events, and attending Razorback athletic events.

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Brett A. McDaniel attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville for un-

dergraduate and law school. He joined the McDaniel Law Firm in 2011 and focuses exclusively on representing injured persons and their families. He is licensed to practice in Arkansas and Colorado, United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of ATLA, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, and Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Brett was appointed by Speaker of the House Davy Carter to Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission and serves on the Board of Directors - Northeast Arkansas Children›s Advocacy Center. He and his wife live in Jonesboro with their two children.

Brinkley Cook-Campbell is a native Arkansan who grew up in the small

town of Mount Judea, located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. In 2015, Brinkley graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas School of Law where he was the Executive Editor of the Arkansas Law Review. While in law school, Brinkley won the 2014 William H. Sutton Barrister›s Union Trial Competition. Brinkley was also awarded the Basset Law Firm Trial Advocacy Prize and was voted by his classmates to be the recipient of the Bogle-Sharp Award, given to the student «most likely to succeed in the practice of law.» Prior to attending law school, Brinkley graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas where he was awarded the Outstanding B.S.B.A Graduating Senior in Economics Award and was the student commencement speaker for the graduating class of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Brinkley was licensed to practice law in Arkansas in 2015 and in Oklahoma in 2016. He is also licensed to practice in Cherokee Nation District Court. The primary focus of Brinkley’s practice is personal injury, particularly 18-wheeler wrecks, automobile collisions, premises liability cases, and medical malpractice. He currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and on the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Bar Association. Brinkley lives in Fayetteville and attends Mount Comfort Church of Christ. Outside the courtroom, Brinkley spends his free time playing basketball, skiing, feeding cattle, hiking and wakesurfing.

Chad Trammell is the founder of Trammell-Piazza Law Firm, PLLC, with offices in

Texarkana and Little Rock. He is a 1991 graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law and received his B.A. from the University of Arkansas, cum laude in 1988. Chad received an L.L.M., Insurance Law, from the University of Connecticut in 2025. He is licensed to practice law in Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia and is admitted to multiple federal courts. Chad received an honorable discharge as a Captain from the United States Air Force in 1996 after spending four years as Judge Advocate in Hawaii and Shreveport, Louisiana. His service honors include the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. Before concentrating his practice on plaintiff’s contingency fee litigation in November 1999, Chad practiced in a number of areas including commercial litigation, nursing home defense, commercial transactions and insurance defense. Chad served as Chair of the American Association for Justice Nursing Home Litigation Group in 2008-2009 and as the 20122013 President of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. Chad lives in Texarkana with his wife, Virginia. Their son, Charlie, is a recent graduate of Tulane Law School and practices in Memphis.

Craig Friedman graduated from Jacksonville High School and went on to

earn a BBA in finance at the University of Central Arkansas. He is a graduate of the William H. Bowen School of Law and was admitted to Arkansas Bar in 2010. In law school, Mr. Friedman had abstracts published in both the Arkansas Real Estate Review and the Arkansas Probate and Trust Law Review. Craig has experience in case work on FELA, personal injury law, criminal defense, real estate, and general civil litigation. His primary practice areas now focus primarily on personal injury, insurance litigation, and landlord/tenant disputes.

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ATLA BOARD 2026

Fredrick S. “Rick” Spencer received his J.D. from the University

of Arkansas Law School in 1975 and graduated top of his class from the Hastings College of Trial Advocacy in 1982. He is a past president of the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives, past chair of ATLA’s Administrative Law Division, twice the recipient of ATLA’s President’s Award and a recipient of the Roxanne Wilson Advocacy Award. He has served on ATLA’s Board of Governors since 1989, is an ATLA Elite Member at the Champion Benefactor Level, and has been a speaker at many state and national CLE seminars. Rick and his wife, Brenda, have two daughters, Sarah and Heather Grace, and live in Mountain Home.

Geoff Hamby is a born and bred Arkansan who grew up in Van Buren. He has

been calling the Hogs from Northwest Arkansas since he moved to attend the University of Arkansas in 2008. Geoff is a partner with the Oliver Law Firm in Rogers where he leads one of the firm›s trial teams. Geoff and his team represent a small number of clients in various jurisdictions from coast to coast. Geoff is also a well-respected teacher and speaker who travels the country presenting to attorneys and attorney organizations helping to improve the entire industry. When Geoff isn›t working, he and his wife Moriah stay busy chasing their twin toddler girls, Genevieve and Willow. Geoff enjoys playing golf, traveling, collecting watches, and working with his church.

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Heather Zachary, a native of Paragould, attended Hendrix College as a

Distinguished Governor’s Scholar, and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2001. Ms. Zachary then attended law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She was a member of the Georgetown Journal of Law and Policy and was recognized for academic excellence in Evidence before earning her J.D. in 2004. Prior to returning to Arkansas, Ms. Zachary worked in the Washington, D.C. office of McDermott Will & Emery, a premier international law firm. Ms. Zachary then served two years working at the Arkansas Supreme Court as a law clerk for the Honorable Justice Annabelle Imber Tuck.

Ms. Zachary then accepted a position at Chisenhall, Nestrud & Julian, where she focused her practice on environmental, employment law and appeals. In 2014, Ms. Zachary returned to the Arkansas Supreme Court clerking for the Honorable Justice Courtney Hudson until 2016, at which point Ms. Zachary joined Williams & Anderson where she handled appeals and class action litigation. She then joined Reddick Law, and focuses on appeals, nursing home abuse, and other complex personal injury litigation.

Jason Hatfield graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1991 with a B.S.

in Microbiology. In 1994, he completed a Master’s Degree and began law school at the University of Arkansas Law School. In 2013, Jason opened his own law firm, Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. Jason continues to focus his law practice in the areas of personal injury, tractor-trailer wrecks, car accidents, wrongful death cases, workers compensation, and social security disability. Jason is a serving a fourth term as one of ATLA’s Board of Governors. He currently serves on the Legislative Committee and is a member of the Golden Gavel Club. He is currently a Champion Benefactor and was a Champion of Justice for nine consecutive years.

He also received the President’s Award in 2008 in recognition of his outstanding service and dedication to the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. Jason served as President of the Washington County Bar Association in 2012.

Jeff Priebe grew up in Mountain Home, Arkansas, and graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1994. Jeff received a B.S. in Agriculture Business in 1998 and a J.D. in 2001, both from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He is an attorney with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton Law Firm in Little Rock, Arkansas and has a general personal injury litigation practice with emphasis in nursing home and assisted living litigation. He is licensed to practice law in Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and before the United States Supreme Court. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and is also a member of the American Association for Justice, the Oklahoma Association for Justice, the Arkansas Bar Association, and the Pulaski County Bar Association. He and his wife live in Little Rock and have two sons, Thomas and Phillip.

Jessica Virden Mallett grew up in Morrilton, AR. She graduated from

the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She then attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law where she graduated early with Highest Honors in December 2010. While in law school, Ms. Virden Mallett clerked for Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza, the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, and the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Ms. Virden Mallett is a member of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Arkansas and Pulaski County Bar Associations. She is licensed to practice before all the Arkansas State Courts and the federal district courts of the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas as well as the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

She has received awards for Top Ten Attorneys in Client Satisfaction and is recognized as a National Lawyer of Distinction. She is the managing partner of The Law Offices of Miller and Mallett.

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Dean, Keenan Dean, Keenan Trial Dean, Institute Trial Keenan Institute Trial Institute Associate Associate DeanAssociate & Dean Faculty & Faculty Dean Member & Member Faculty Member 2022 KTI 2022 Faculty KTI2022 Faculty Member KTI Member Faculty of the Year Member of the Year of the Keenan Year Keenan Trial Institute Trial Keenan Institute Trial Institute

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Jim Jackson is a trial attorney with the Jackson Law Firm in North Little Rock.

He graduated from Hendrix College with a B.A. in History and attended the UALR Bowen School of Law. Jim’s peers recognized his leadership abilities early in his professional career.

He was elected President of the Student Bar Association by his peers in law school. Not only has Mr. Jackson been a tireless advocate for his clients in the courtroom, but he has also fought for Arkansas consumers by ensuring the passage of consumer and safety legislation in the Arkansas Legislature. Jim and his wife, Lisa Ferrell, have three children; Adam, Luke and Olivia Nan.

John Houseal is a partner at Easley & Houseal, PLLC in Forrest City. His

practice is focused on personal injury, trucking accidents, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death and dangerous road litigation.

John Rainwater is a personal injury lawyer based in Little Rock, Arkansas,

where he has practiced since 2009. He focuses on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, with broader litigation experience spanning bankruptcy, disability claims, class actions, and civil rights defense under Section 1983 in state and federal courts. John earned his J.D. from the UA Little Rock Bowen School of Law and holds a B.S. in Accountancy from the Sam Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas. He is admitted to the Arkansas Bar and the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. His accounting background informs a practical, analytical approach to litigation. In addition to his current service on ATLA’s Board of Governors, John has served as Chair of VOCALS (2023-2025), on the Board of Trustees for Little Rock Christian Academy and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and in various leadership roles within the Arkansas Bar Association and the Debtor-Creditor Bar of Central Arkansas. John has been selected for The Best Lawyers in America ® since 2020, named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers, and received multiple Awards of Excellence from the Arkansas Bar Association, including the Judith Ryan Gray Outstanding Young Lawyer Service Award. A lifelong Arkansan, John lives in Little Rock with his wife, Sarah, and their three children. He is a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, coaches’ youth sports, and enjoys the outdoors.

Joseph Gates takes great pride in being a trial lawyer because the civil justice

system is the one arena where the meek and powerful can play on a level playing field.

The richest and most dominant must adhere to the same rules as the weakest and the poorest. Joseph is married to Edith Gates, and they have three beautiful daughters, Sofia Marie, Violet Esmeralda, and Emilia Rose. They all live in Little Rock. While growing up in El Dorado, AR, he attended West Side Christian School until he graduated in 2003 second in his class. After high school, he attended college at Louisiana Tech University.

He also attended Ouachita Baptist University for a short while to play college football.

After college, Joseph received his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2010. Joseph passed the Arkansas Bar in summer 2010. For the first ten years of his career, Joseph practiced law at Taylor King & Associates, PA, and Paul Byrd Law Firm, PLLC. In fall 2020, Joseph founded Gates Law Firm, PLLC, with an emphasis on Personal Injury, Car Wreck, Trucking/18 Wheeler Collisions, Products Liability, and Traumatic Brain Injury cases.

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ATLA BOARD 2026

Joseph Patrick Jaynes practiced in the areas of general personal injury,

medical negligence and products liability for twenty (20) years prior to his focusing full-time as a neutral. Beginning his legal career with the Haskins Law Firm in 1990, he left Haskins in 1993 with Brad Hendricks to open the Law Offices of Brad Hendricks. In 2003 he joined the firm of Dabbs & Pomtree. In addition to the foregoing areas of practice, J.P. also handled criminal, employment discrimination and contract cases. He has acted as special judge in several Courts. He is a member of the Association of Attorney Mediators in addition to being a fellow of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, both as a mediator and arbitrator.

JP has practiced as a full-time, multi-state neutral for almost twenty years.

Joshua Gillispie founded Gillispie Law Firm that focuses on representing victims

of sexual abuse and other crimes. Raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas, he graduated from Hendrix College in 2003. He holds a Master’s in English Literature and briefly worked as a college English teacher prior to attending law school at the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law, where he graduated with honors in 2010. He is licensed to practice in Arkansas, as well as U.S. Federal Courts. In 2017, he was named the Outstanding Young Trial Lawyer by the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. Josh lives in Little Rock with his wife, Liz, and their two little boys, Grant & Oliver.

Justin Zachary has been a trial lawyer since the first day he received his law license

- and he has never wanted to be anything else. Originally from Memphis, Justin graduated from the University of Memphis before attending the UALR Bowen School of Law. While in law school, he met the love of his life, Heather, who is also a lawyer. Together, they are raising three children - Grace, Shepard, and Cecilia - who keep life busy, loud and fun. Justin is a partner at Denton, Zachary & Norwood, PLLC, where his practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, trucking litigation, nursing home negligence, and complex civil litigation. He has built his career around representing ordinary people during some of the hardest moments of their lives and believes deeply in the role trial lawyers play in protecting families and communities. Justin currently serves as President-Elect of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and was honored as the organization›s 2020 Outstanding Trial Lawyer. He is also a member of the American Association for Justice and the Arkansas Bar Association and is licensed to practice in both Arkansas and Tennessee. Outside the courtroom, Justin is probably unlike the lawyer you picture in your head.

He is an avid scuba diver, youth volleyball coach, and lifelong Star Wars trading card collector who still enjoys the thrill of finding a rare card of talking hobby strategy at card shows. Whether he is preparing for trial, coaching a volleyball team or exploring underwater reefs, Justin loves competition, preparation, teamwork, and storytelling - all things that also make great trial lawyers.

At the core of everything Justin does is a simple belief: one of the best things we can do in this life is letting people know that they are never standing alone.

Martha-Kay “Gus” Crowder is an attorney at Odom Law Firm in

Fayetteville, where she represents clients in personal injury matters, including trucking and automobile collisions. She earned her J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she served as an Associate Member of the Board of Advocates. Gus is deeply committed to advocacy and professional service. She is a member of the Washington and Benton County Bar Associations and the American Association for Justice. She currently serves as Chair of the ATLA New Lawyer Network and represents District A in the Young Lawyers Section of the Arkansas Bar Association. She is licensed to practice in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. Gus›s passion of personal injury is rooted in personal experience. When she was in second grade, her father was seriously injured in a car wreck, forcing her stay-at-home-mother to return to work while her father recovered over the next year and a half. That experience drives her commitment to being the advocate she wishes her family had during that difficult time. Originally from a small town in the Arkansas Delta, Gus moved to Northwest Arkansas for law school and now lives in Madison County with her husband and their two dogs on his family›s cattle farm. In her free time, she enjoys painting, antiquing, hosting friends and family, and spending time with her six nieces and nephews.

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Matthew L. Lindsay was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and was raised in

Crossett, Arkansas, graduating from Crossett High School in 1995. In 2000, he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas while also serving as student body vice president.

He earned his J.D. from the University of Arkansas in 2003. Upon graduation from law school, Matt joined the Odom Law Firm where he is now a partner. He focuses his practice primarily on personal injury, medical negligence, and Breach of Contract and Commercial Litigation. He is a member of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association of Justice, the Arkansas Bar Association, and the Washington County Bar Association. He and his wife Courtney have one daughter, Elliot, and reside in Fayetteville.

Paige Edgin is an Arkansas native. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University

of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2009 and her J.D. in 2012 from the William H. Bowen School of Law. Before joining The Law Offices of Miller & Mallett as an associate attorney in 2013, Paige clerked for Judge Rita Gruber at the Arkansas Appellate Court, clerked with law firm Provost Umphrey, and worked as an attorney for John Holleman and Associates. She is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts of Arkansas. In addition to her involvement with ATLA, Paige is an active member of the American Association for Justice; Arkansas Bar Association, serving on the House of Delegates; and Pulaski County Bar Association. Paige practices personal injury law and medical negligence, including those involving jail medical negligence. Paige is married to her husband Greg and can often be found at local running or biking events.

Paul Byrd has been representing deserving injured victims for 25 years. After graduat-

ing from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1985, he clerked for the Honorable Tom F. Digby, and then went into private practice in 1988. Paul’s practice has focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on representing consumers in product liability actions. He has tried tire failures and vehicle safety litigation in many states including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. In November 2000, he was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal due to his work in the case of Brownlee/Whitaker vs. Cooper Tire and Rubber Company. He appeared in a Dateline NBC documentary regarding the same case in January 2001. His work has been mentioned in USA Today, Chicago Sun-Times, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and the Arkansas Times. Paul has represented rice farmers in agricultural litigation regarding genetically modified crop contamination that had global as well as state and local implications. Paul is a past President of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. His message to his fellow members was “You went to law school to make a difference!” He is currently a Board of Governor member of the American Association for Justice. In 2010, Paul was the recipient of the Roxanne Wilson Award. In 2012, Paul was a co-recipient of the Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. In 2015, he received the Henry Woods Lifetime Achievement Award from ATLA. He is the managing member of the Little Rock office of Paul Byrd Law Firm, PLLC. Paul has served as a Special Justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court by request of the Governor of Arkansas. He has served as Special Judge in many Circuit Court Trials.

Ryan Scott grew up in Northeast Arkansas in the small town of Pocahontas. He was

the quarterback of the football team and president of his senior class. He graduated from the University of Arkansas, cum laude, with a double major in political science and communication.

He was awarded the Athens Award in Communication, given to the top 5 graduating seniors in the department. Ryan also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Sam Walton College of Business, where he was a finalist in the graduate division of the Arkansas Business Plan Competition. While in law school, Ryan represented the University of Arkansas, School of Law as a traveling negotiations team member, and was named to Dean’s List in the spring of 2007. Ryan currently serves on the Arkansas Bar Association Board of Delegates. Ryan is an avid sports fan (Go Hogs!) and loves competition. He brings this passion to his work every day. As the chief litigation officer for Oliver Law Firm, Ryan specializes in legal research and writing, pleadings, motions, and discovery. He is diligently involved in the development, initial evaluation and litigating of catastrophic cases on the Oliver trial team.

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ATLA BOARD 2026

Sarah Jewell graduated from University of Arkansas with a B.A. in English in 2008, and

she earned her master’s degree in English from TCU in 2010. Sarah taught college writing courses and high school AP English before beginning law school. In 2015, Sarah graduated from University of Arkansas School of Law. In 2019, Sarah joined McMath Woods P.A. and opened the firm’s Fayetteville office. In 2023, Sarah became a Partner at McMath Woods P.A. Sarah serves on ATLA’s Board of Governors and the Publications Committee. Sarah was named the 2019 ATLA Outstanding Young Lawyer, and she is former chair of the ATLA New Lawyers Network. Through 2026, Sarah served on the Board of Trustees for the Arkansas Bar Association. In 2026, Sarah became Revitalization Governor for Arkansas on the American Association of Justice’s Board of Governors.

Outside the practice of law, Sarah and her husband Ryan enjoy Razorback sports, exploring hiking trails across the Natural State, and boating on Beaver Lake.

Seth A. White is a sixth-generation native of Arkansas. He completed his under-

graduate degree at Indiana Wesleyan University, where he was a Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athlete and Crossroads League All-Conference performer for the Wildcats baseball team. After hanging up his batting gloves, he knew the best avenue for his love of competition was to become a trial lawyer. Upon graduation, Seth began his career working for large insurance companies in Little Rock, Arkansas. During that time, he tried 3 jury trials in 21 days, obtaining favorable verdicts for his clients in each case. With those experiences, Seth developed a desire to help people that may have been hurt or taken advantage of by those same types of insurance companies. For the next 8 years, Seth obtained more than $15 million in verdicts and settlements while concluding over 1,000 personal injury cases. He was continually named a Super Lawyers Rising Star and Top 40 Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers Association during that time. In 2024, he served as the Director of Litigation for a large Fortune 500 company. During that time, he led a team of attorneys and staff across the entire country. Handing large, catastrophic personal injury cases from Los Angeles to New York City. Under his supervision, his team won two high stakes jury trials during his time with the company. In 2025, Seth was given an opportunity to return to private practice and his true passion: trial work. He jumped at this opportunity and has continued to obtain victories for his clients. When he’s not fighting for people, you’re most likely to see Seth with his family at a Razorbacks game, on the Greenway Trail, or at a heavy metal concert.

Steve Harrelson is licensed to practice law in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, and his practice areas include personal injury, wrongful death, and litigation involving oil and gas issues. Steve practices throughout the three-state region in state and federal courts. In addition to litigating complex issues inside the courtroom, Steve is also experienced in private negotiations, mediations, and seeking remedies at the administrative level. While Steve enjoys many areas of the legal arena, his passion is preparing for and engaging in the trial by jury. Steve believes in the constitutional right to trial by jury and is willing to protect and preserve this concept on which the American tort system is founded. In addition to his law practice, Steve served a stint in the state legislature in Arkansas from 2005 through 2012. He served as House Majority Leader and chaired the House Judiciary Committee before serving in the Arkansas Senate. Steve is very familiar with the inner workings of state government and earned a certificate from Harvard University›s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2008 for Executives in State and Local Government.

Taylor Chaney graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2005 with a B.A. in

psychology. He graduated from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2009. In January of 2010, Taylor joined his father, brother, and sister-in-law in practicing law at the Chaney Law Firm, P.A. in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Taylor has been a member of ATLA since birth, and a member of AAJ since 2011. HE has served in the Arkansas Bar Association›s governing body since June 2014. Taylor is also active in his community, serving as a board member of the Clark County Community Foundation from 2011-2017, as a board member of Downtown Arkadelphia, and as a City Director of Ward 1 in Arkadelphia from July of 2016 to March of 2025. Taylor took over ownership of the Chaney Law Firm, P.A. in April of 2026, and continues to represent injured people, hurt through no fault of their own, against large insurance companies with unlimited resources.

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Taylor King has been serving injury victims in Arkansas for more than 30 years. He earned a bachelor›s degree in political science and history from Ouachita Baptist University and went on to graduate from the University of Arkansas School of Law with a Juris Doctorate in 1986. In 1994, Taylor began Taylor King Law in Arkadelphia. Taylor King Law now comprises eight offices across Arkansas. His firm represents personal injury victims, including auto accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and mass torts.

Taylor is licensed to practice in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. He is a member of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, the Arkansas Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Pound Civil Justice Institute. In addition to his professional memberships, Taylor is an active member of his church, his community, and his alma mater. He remains committed to advocating for the rights of ordinary citizens – a commitment reflected in his promise to be “On Your Side – By Your Side.” Taylor, his wife, Terri, and their dogs reside in Arkadelphia. They have two adult children, Austin and Maggie, who are both attorneys at Taylor King Law.

Tim Watson, Jr. grew up in Newport, Arkansas, and attended Rhodes College

before earning his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Early in his career, Tim had the opportunity to practice alongside his father, Tim Watson Sr., in Newport, where they established Watson & Watson, PLLC. He later returned to Fayetteville and became a founding partner of MGW Law Partners. From his first day of law school, Tim knew he wanted to be a trial attorney. He has built a successful litigation practice representing clients in a wide range of civil matters, with a particular passion for advocating on behalf of individuals harmed by medical negligence. Tim lives in Northwest Arkansas with his wife, Britney, and his step-teens, Finley and Zoey. Outside the courtroom, he enjoys golf, tennis, racquetball, and traveling whenever possible.

William Buckley grew up in Athens, Tennessee, where his dad was a lawyer

and his mom was a teacher. From an early age, he knew that he wanted to be a lawyer just like his dad. He flourished at Xavier where he was active in the campus community and met many life-long friends. While at Xavier, his classmates elected him to serve as Student Government Association President. William pursued his goal of becoming a lawyer by attending law school at the University of Arkansas where he as a member of the law review and voted President of the Board of Advocates. He was a member of the National Trial Competition Team for two years, and he was elected to receive the Bogle-Sharp Award given to the student most likely to succeed in the practice of law. William has dedicated his career as a lawyer to advocating for injured clients in car wreck and personal injury cases. In January of 2016, he started The Buckley Firm by himself in a one-room office with only a couple of clients. Soon, though, word spread about his dedication to his clients and the results he was getting in court and the Buckley Firm grew. He is licensed in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee & Choctaw Nation. William is married to his wife Ashleigh, who joined The Buckley Firm in 2017.

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THE WRITER’S BLOCK

The

WRITER’S

BLOCK Dare to be Interesting

J

Judges read a lot. We give them a lot to read.

I chose a random day on the Arkansas Court of Appeals and counted 24 opinions issued.

Assuming at least two briefs in each case, that’s 48 briefs to read. Add to that the possibility of a reply brief in every case together with the review of the record and the reading list grows. Briefs can be short and to the point, long, rambling diatribes or anything in between. You get my point; judges read a lot!

Part of our task is to make our brief stand out in the judges’ minds in that morass of good and not-so-good legal 30

ATLA DOCKET | arktla.org

By Brian Brooks writing judges grapple with every day.

In the main, we do that by good, clear, concise writing, telling the story of the case with an interesting narrative, tying in the applicable law with analogies to the precedents and so on. We’ve talked about those things here. They are the primary tools we use to be on point and at the same time interesting.

But the daring writer can be interesting in ways that one might not readily imagine would be acceptable in formal legal writing. Tie a pithy quote, a point of history, or even a scene from a movie into the legal writing. It makes the brief stand out and captures the attention of the reader, rather like taking hold of the reader and saying “pay attention now.”

And once you have the reader’s attention, your sound legal writing will not be ignored.

In a reply brief rebutting an argument that focused on how counsel allegedly did certain dastardly things when in reality it was the lawyer who made the accusations who was remiss, the brief began with these two sentences: Chaucer warned “Who that hath an hed of verre, Fro cast of stones war hym in the werre!” Geoffrey Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde (1385). The contemporary version of this warning is ‘People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.’” A footnote added “Welsh poet, orator, and priest George Herbert recorded a more modern version

THE WRITER’S BLOCK in 1651, ‘Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another.’ Benjamin Franklin wrote it this way in 1736: ‘Don’t throw stones at your neighbors, if your windows are glass.’” After this, the tone was set for the argument that followed, but it was set in an interesting way that told the reader to sit up, pay attention, and enjoy what you are about to read. Is it the legal writing we were taught in first-year legal research and writing? No, but it works!

In another case, the other side skipped over some preliminary, but necessary, reasoning and opened the door to point out that steps were skipped, steps that defeated the other side’s argument.

The rebuttal led off with “We must begin, as Hannibal Lecter suggested, with first principles. To certify a class action, a ‘class’ of individuals suffering some common harm must exist. Asbury Auto.

Grp., Inc. v. Palasack, 366 Ark. 601, 237 S.W.3d 462 (2006) (“It is axiomatic that in order for a class action to be certified, a class must exist.”) None does here. Thus ends this motion.” A footnote was in-

serted after “Hannibal Lecter suggested” reading, “See Silence of the Lambs and Lecter’s admonition to Starling to think of ‘First principles, Clarice. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature?’”

This one grabs the reader by the scruff of the neck and says pay attention.

Every appellate brief is required to begin with a discussion of the standard of review. It is perhaps the most important part of the brief but gets the least attention. Making it interesting is not easy. In fact, writers tend to make it a cut-andpaste afterthought. Don’t be so ready to toss it aside. But can it be made interesting? Yes, with a little digging.

Take for instance the clear error standard of review. The typical statement of it is duller than dirt and not very informative: “Clear error exists as to a finding when, although evidence exists to support it, the court is left with a firm conviction that a mistake has been made.” Yawn. But what about this as an alternative: “To be clearly erroneous,

a decision must strike us as more than just maybe or probably wrong; it must … strike us as wrong with the force of a five-week-old, unrefridgerated dead fish. Papio Keno Club v. City of Papillion (In re Papio Keno Club), 262 F.3d 725, 729 (8th Cir. 2001); Parts & Elec. Motors, Inc. v.

Sterling Elec., Inc., 866 F.2d 228, 233 (7th Cir. 1988).”

Now that is an interesting and informative standard of review! It is easily followed with “No such olfactory offense is committed by the trial court’s finding.” Now you have the reader’s attention and can make whatever points you want to make.

Be daring enough to be interesting. Your briefs will be better and more effective, not to mention more fun to write.

I’ll see you next time from The Writer’s Block. █

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ELITE MEMBERS

ELITE

MEMBERS

ATLA’s Elite Members are the members who have gone the extra mile to help preserve the jury system, promote individuals’ rights, and educate the public by supporting ATLA, Justice PAC, and AAJPAC, the political action arm of the American Association for Justice. Thanks to them, ATLA makes a difference!

PLATINUM FOUNDER — $50,000+ Rainwater Holt & Sexton

Gary Holt

GOLD LEADER — $25,000+ Taylor King AAJ

BRONZE BARRISTER — $6,000+ Paul Byrd AAJ Jason Hatfield AAJ George Niblock

Carter Stein AAJ

CHAMPION BENEFACTOR — $3,000+ Rob Beard AAJ Thomas Buchanan Taylor Chaney AAJ Brinkley Cook-Campbell Joe Denton Austin Easley AAJ Paige Edgin AAJ Bob Edwards AAJ Craig Friedman AAJ Joseph Gates AAJ

Josh Gillispie AAJ Geoff Hamby AAJ John Houseal Q. Byrum Hurst AAJ Jim Jackson Joseph P. Jaynes Sarah Jewell AAJ Sean Keith AAJ Brandon Lacy AAJ Alan Lane AAJ

CHAMPION PATRON — $1,200+ Hank Bates AAJ Will Bond AAJ Neil Chamberlin AAJ Shawn Daniels AAJ Steven Davis Terry Dugger AAJ Bob Estes Bruce Flint

Greg Giles Keith Grayson AAJ Melanie Grayson Todd Griffin Denise Hoggard AAJ Bill Horton Kenneth Kieklak Conrad Odom AAJ

Alan LeVar AAJ Matthew Lindsay AAJ Bobby McDaniel AAJ Brett McDaniel AAJ Blake Montgomery Timothy J. Myers AAJ Andrew Norwood AAJ Jeff Priebe AAJ John Rainwater Ryan Scott AAJ

Rick Spencer Chad Trammell AAJ Jess Virden Mallett AAJ Tim Watson AAJ Les Weisbrod AAJ Phillip Wells AAJ George Wise AAJ Heather Zachary Justin Zachary AAJ

Cary Patterson Mark Rees AAJ Marc Stewart AAJ Tom Thrash Marcus Vaden Stevan Vowell Lorie Whitby Russell Winburn AAJ

GUARDIAN OF JUSTICE — BASED ON YEARS OF PRACTICE James Bargar AAJ Robert Cortinez Wesley Cottrell Hani Hashem AAJ

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ATLA DOCKET | arktla.org

Thomas Jones AAJ Darren O’Quinn AAJ Michael Ray Clay Sexton

J.T. Skinner Tim Smith AAJ Bill Stanley AAJ

ADVERTISER’S INDEX

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NEW

MEMBERS Liz Davis Micahel Graugnard Matthew Hill Anna Hopper John McGinnes Robyn Nance Alexandra Villines Aleayah Walker

JOIN US!

arktla.org

Published quarterly, The Docket is distributed to more than 1,000 attorneys and law professionals throughout Arkansas.

These attorneys and professionals, in turn, contribute articles to the publication in the spirit of advancing legal knowledge and strengthening the bonds of the legal community. Members of the ATLA Communications/Publications Committee approve editorial content for The Docket. Each quarterly issue typically includes thematic articles, ATLA news, lifestyle feature, practice management information, and more.

Subscriptions to The Docket are free of charge to association members. Additional subscriptions are available for purchase by calling (501) 376-2852. For more information, or to purchase ad space, contact Jennifer Irwin at jirwin@arktla.org or by calling the number above.

Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association PO Box 3486 Little Rock, Arkansas 72203

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DOCKET

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