Mock Mediation Adds Dimension to Columbia University Graduate Course

On Wednesday, December 4, 2019, graduate students from Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies – Master of Science in Construction Administration program visited Zetlin & De Chiara LLP in Midtown Manhattan to a observe a unique end-of-semester tradition, a mock mediation featuring some of the construction industry’s top engineers
and attorneys.

On the plaintiff’s side, Elise Greenspan, Corporate Vice President at AECOM, played Francine Frugal, the owner of FrugalWear. Michael Zetlin, Senior Partner at Zetlin & De Chiara, played the plaintiff’s counsel. James W. Feuerborn, Jr., P.E., Managing Principal & New York Wall Street Office Director at Thornton Tomasetti, played Mr. Wise, the plaintiff’s expert witness.

On the defendant’s side, Tracy Wells, Principal Law Clerk to Hon. Stephen J. Mignano, Judge of the Court of Claims, played Abby Honest, owner of TopKnotch. James Terry, Partner at Zetlin & De Chiara, played defendant’s counsel, and Marguerite J. Pinto, P.E., Vice President at Thornton Tomasetti, played the defendant’s expert witness, Ms. Noah It-All.

To round out the cast, John Hunt, General Counsel at OC Development Management (OCDM), played James Bond, in-house counsel for S. Cam Surety of the Bahamas, Inc., while Mr. Hegarty took the role of the mediator.

For more information on the facts of the case, please click below.