In This Issue A Message from Ben Sassé, 2022 OACTA President Mark Your Calendars! Mentorship Program Welcome New Members! Award Nominations Personal Injury Defense Seminar Coffee Chat OACTA Foundation 13th Annual Golf Outing OACTA 2022 Annual Meeting OACTA / S-E-A Happy Hours Women in the Law After Work Wind-Down Member News OACTA Board of Trustees President's Message By: Benjamin C. Sassé 2022 OACTA President Summer brings lots of sunshine (or so we hope) and with it barbecues, vacations, and many other ways to spend time with friends and family. These events allow us to maintain or rekindle old relationships, but summer is a great time for forming new relationships too.   At OACTA, one way to make new relationships is through the OACTA Mentorship Program launched in June. Spearheaded by the Young Lawyers and Inclusion & Equity Committees, this program focuses on creating a space where new members and lawyers can seek advice and form lasting professional relationships. We are accepting applications through July 22. If you have practiced law for less than five years and would like an OACTA mentor, please apply. The same goes for OACTA members who have practiced for more than five years and would like to serve as a mentor. But even if you lack the time to serve as a mentor, think about junior lawyers you know who would benefit from the opportunities OACTA offers and encourage them to join OACTA and participate in this new program. It is a great way for new members to find a friendly face at OACTA events—one who will help them become a future leader.   Speaking of OACTA events, if you have not already done so, please register for the Personal Injury Defense Seminar on July 29 at the Quest Conference Center in Westerville. The seminar features presentations on a variety of timely and interesting topics, including: polarizing politics and contentious claims; emergency response investigations; defending traumatic brain injury claims; whether your case is a candidate for a “nuclear verdict”; jury-tested solutions to common defense vulnerabilities; and using Ohio’s non-economic damages cap. I hope to see you there.   OACTA has a busy social calendar this summer too. Our Happy Hour Series is back and in full swing, with gatherings on July 28 (Columbus at The Royce), August 25 (Cleveland—location TBD), and September 29 (Cincinnati—location TBD). Thank you to the Young Lawyers Committee for coordinating these events, and many thanks to S-E-A for sponsoring them. Also, OACTA’s Women in the Law After Work Wind-Down is taking place in two cities on the same night, Thursday, August 11. You can join OACTA colleagues at the Columbus Museum of Art’s BAM Thursday, or visit colleagues at Ghost Baby in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Please mark your calendars for the events in your area!   For those who love golf or want to contribute to a great cause, the OACTA Foundation Golf Outing will be held on September 6 at the Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio. As always, net proceeds benefit the OACTA Foundation—a consistent donor to the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, and the source of funding for the Hilary S. Taylor Inclusion and Equity Scholarships given annually to law students. Please consider a sponsorship and get your clients, colleagues, and friends to join a foursome and compete.   Meanwhile, we continue to offer online opportunities to engage with colleagues and obtain CLE credits. We will hold another Coffee Chat via Zoom on August 5. The topic is Expert Witnesses—ways to find them and get them involved in litigation. Coffee Chats are a great way to start a Friday morning and see faces from around the state—and hopefully learn something too. Of course, we also have an on-demand library of CLE webinars for those needing CLE credits.   Finally, please mark your calendar for our Annual Meeting later on November 10-11 at the newly-renovated The Ritz Carlton Cleveland. There will be great CLE programming, networking, and fun social events to bring our calendar year to a close—along with a mentor/mentee breakfast.   Enjoy the rest of the summer. Stay well and I hope to see you soon.

Mark Your Calendars!

July 28, 2022 OACTA / S-E-A Happy Hour The Royce Columbus, OH RSVP July 29, 2022 Personal Injury Defense Seminar Quest Conference Center Columbus, OH Learn More and Register! August 5, 2022 OACTA Zoom Coffee Chat Sign up to attend! 

August 11, 2022 Women in the Law Wind-Down Columbus - RSVP Cincinnati - RSVP September 6, 2022 OACTA Foundation Golf Outing Pinnacle Golf Club Grove City, OH Learn More and Register! November 10-11, 2022 OACTA Annual Meeting The Ritz Carlton Cleveland, OH Save the Date!

OACTA Mentorship Program - Last Chance to Apply!

We are proud to officially launch The Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys Mentorship Program! This program is focused on creating a space where new members and lawyers can seek advice freely and without fear of rebuke, develop lasting professional relationships, and directly benefit from the guidance of attorneys with experience.  Applications for mentors and mentees will be accepted until July 22, 2022, so don't wait, apply today!

Learn More and Apply Now!

Welcome New OACTA Members Since April!

Joshua Brown, Cassone Law Offices LLC David Culley, Nationwide Trial Defense Carrie Thiem, Tucker Ellis LLP Jennifer Kirby, AmeriTrust Gretchen Lipari, Nationwide Trial Defense Rebecca Lookabaugh, Branch Insurance Mergan Mersch, Rendigs, Fry, Kiely & Dennis, LLP Les Chambers, Celina Insurance Group

OACTA Award Nominations

Consider nominating a colleague for an OACTA Award!   OACTA welcomes members to submit nominations for any of the following OACTA awards: Excellence in Advocacy Award Respected Advocate Award Outstanding Advocacy Award Outstanding Young Lawyer Award Distinguished Contributions to the Community Award  Lifetime Achievement Award Nominations are to include a completed Nomination Form and written description of why you believe this candidate should be considered for the award. View the award descriptions and list of past recipients or visit www.oacta.org for more information.   Nominations are due to the OACTA office by August 1, 2022.    Awards are presented at the OACTA Annual Meeting in November at the Ritz Carlton Cleveland.

OACTA Personal Injury Defense Seminar | Friday, July 29, 2022

There's still time to register for the 2022 OACTA Personal Injury Defense Seminar. We are excited to be in-person at Quest Conference Center in Westerville, Ohio! We have a fantastic line-up of speakers, hot topics, and opportunities for networking! This one-day seminar offers up to 5.5 CLE credits. Date & Location Friday, July 29, 2022 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Quest Conference Center 9200 Worthington Rd Ste 400, Westerville, OH 43082 Continuing Legal Education This course is approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 5.5 total CLE hours instruction. This program is approved by the Kentucky Bar Association for 5.5 total CLE hours instruction.

View the Program

Register Today!

Thank you to our Sponsors!

OACTA Coffee Chat

OACTA hosted another successful coffee chat on Friday, June 3. Attendees discussed the launch of the OACTA mentoring program! The next networking event coffee chat will be August 5, at 8:30 AM. The discussion topic for this Coffee Chat will be Expert Witnesses. Join us to discuss ways to find expert witnesses and encourage more medical professionals to get involved in litigation. Bring your ideas and questions! Leading the discussion will be Dave Orlandini, OACTA Vice President, and Elizabeth Smith, OACTA Secretary, Co-Chairs of the OACTA Litigation & Trial Skills Committee. Sign up for a casual Zoom Meeting format that will provide members an opportunity for informal discussions with their colleagues. Sign up today to receive your Zoom link and add it to your calendar.

Sign Up Now!

OACTA Foundation 13th Annual Golf Outing | September 6, 2022

September 6, 2022 OACTA Foundation Annual Golf Outing Pinnacle Golf Club Grove City, OH Net proceeds from the Golf Outing benefit the OACTA Foundation. The OACTA Foundation funds projects consistent with the mission of OACTA, such as the annual Hilary S. Taylor Inclusion and Equity Scholarship Program and the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence (NFJE).  We are asking law firms to please consider supporting the OACTA Foundation by sponsoring the Golf Outing. There are many opportunities to offer your support. Prize donations are also appreciated! The OACTA Foundation is incorporated in Ohio as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Service. Contributions made to The OACTA Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We hope your firm will consider becoming a sponsor, contributing prizes, and sending golfers! CLICK HERE to submit your sponsorship commitment or please forward this request to the appropriate person in your firm. Please let us know if we can count on your firm to support the 2022 OACTA Golf Outing.

Register to Golf or Sponsor Here

Thank you to our Golf Outing Sponsors!  Weston Hurd LLP Lexitas Legal Eastman & Smith Ltd. Young & Alexander Co. LPA Technology Concepts & Design, Inc. (TCDI) Cavitch Familo & Durkin Co., LPA Explico Engineering Grange Insurance S-E-A The Law Firm of Fitzgerald, Reese & Elliott Co. Veritext Legal Solutions Young & Alexander Co. LPA

Annual Meeting Save the Date

November 10-10, 2022 OACTA 2022 Annual Meeting The Ritz Carlton Cleveland, OH More information coming soon!

OACTA / S-E-A Happy Hours are Back

Join OACTA and S-E-A for upcoming networking events! A new city every month from now until September. These events are complimentary and open to OACTA members and prospective members. Your RSVP does not obligate you to attend. Thank you to S-E-A for sponsoring these events! Columbus Thursday, July 28, 5:00-7:00pm The Royce RSVP Now! Cleveland Thursday, August 25, 5:00-7:00pm Save the Date! Details coming soon Cincinnati Thursday, September 29, 5:00-7:00pm Save the Date! Details coming soon

Wind-Down with the Women in the Law Committee

Join your OACTA colleagues and bring a friend beginning at 5:00PM on Thursday, August 11 to wind-down after your workday with conversation, food & fun! We’re trying something new, with events in two cities on the same night! Choose your location and RSVP!

Columbus | Columbus Museum of Art for BAM Thursdays Free admission. Cash bar and food. RSVP

Cincinnati | Ghost Baby in Over the Rhine Pay-your-own. Limited snack menu - charcuterie, handmade chocolates, and cannoli's. RSVP

OACTA Leadership Opportunities Available

OACTA is seeking a Vice Chair for the Product Liability and Toxic Tort Committee and for the Governmental Liability Committee. If you are interested, please reach out to OACTA Vice President, David Orlandini at dorlandini@cruglaw.com

Articles Needed for the Upcoming OACTA Quarterly Review The next issue of the OACTA Quarterly Review series will feature articles from the Medical Negligence and Professional Liability committees. The committee chairs are seeking assistance with articles. If you would like to contribute an article, please email the article to OACTA.

OACTA Can Help You...

Stay connected... Join OACTA on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and OACTA’s LinkedIn Private Group Page where you can share information and resources among your colleagues. Earn CLE credits... OACTA’s Online CLE Library allows OACTA members the opportunity to earn continuing legal education credit from the comfort and safety of your home. Visit the Online CLE Library today to view our on-demand programs and the OACTA Website for a listing of our Live Webinars!

Member Resource - Member Request Network

The OACTA Member Request Network is a service OACTA provides to its members to facilitate quick and helpful communication and interaction between members on legal issues, research matters, expert witnesses, practice tips, and other matters of member interest. For example, if you need to identify an expert witness in a particular field or if you need information about a particular expert witness, you can use this service to seek input from your fellow OACTA members.  When a member submits a Member Request, an email is generated by the OACTA staff and is sent to the entire OACTA membership. Members with helpful information are asked to respond directly to the member who made the request. To submit a Member Request, simply fill out the form at the link below and click "Submit."

Submit an OACTA Member Request

OACTA requests that authors who republish articles that were originally published in an OACTA publication, reflect that the article first appeared in the OACTA publication.

OACTA | www.oacta.org

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