Shout-Outs and Thank-You-Fors
L
ast week I was brainstorming ideas as to what to put in this Docket column, and I was wracking my brain for some new statute or anything else riveting in the legal com-
Tara Devine President Katharine Hatch First Vice President Danny Hodgkinson Second Vice President Kevin Berrill Treasurer Jeffrey Berman Secretary Joseph Fusz Immediate Past President Hon. Jacquelyn Melius Craig Mandell Sarah Raisch Jeffrey O’Kelly Jeremy Harter Judy Maldonado
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munity. Then it dawned on me that something I probably haven’t given enough attention to is putting into words the appreciation, shout-outs, and attention that should be given to the Chairs of our Committees. I also happen to have the perfect platform to give it. This column. This inspiration recently came to me after attending the installation of our newest 19th Circuit Court Judges: Judge Ditton, Judge Joanem, and Judge Manak. Their installation was the first time that I had the distinct honor of presenting the robes. During the ceremony, a selected family member or friend gave remarks about each judge, and then, of course, the judges made their own remarks. I know the event was livestreamed and many people were there in person as well, so I won’t repeat what everyone said, but the
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underlying theme among the speeches was “thank you.” They were thanking others for being role models or for pushing them to be better people and lawyers. There were thanks for their loyalty to the practice of law and legal community. Throughout the entirety of the installation I am not sure that there was another word used more than “thank you.” And so that is what I’m going to do right now by giving out thanks and shoutouts to some well-deserved committee chairs. If you’re not part of the Civil Trials and Appeals Committee, then you may not know that Terry Mueller is serving as the chairperson along with co-chair John Steigauf, and this is their first year of serving in these positions. Terry and John have done a fantastic job of securing some amazing speakers that are of interest to the members
BY TARA R. DEVINE PRESIDENT of their committee and beyond. On February 18, Terry was able to secure a presentation by attorney Josh Koskoff. Koskoff represented the Sandy Hook families who were devastatingly impacted by the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He discussed the settlement reached with the gun manufacturers and did a great job explaining the history of gun manufacturing, exceptions to certain immunities, and the evidence he was able to collect and persuasively argue to get a settlement for these family members. Terry and John were also able to secure a very busy Patrick Salvi to speak at their upcoming March committee meeting regarding the very recent record-breaking $363 million dollar Sterigenics trial and subsequent settlement. So, this is a shout-out to Terry and John for doing a fantas-