Mock trial season begins with pair of wins

The Perkins County mock trial teams began their 2022 seasons with a pair of wins at the Red Willow County Courthouse on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

the case

This year’s case is Dani Brichacek (plaintiff) v. Lee Sweet (defendant). The plaintiff contends that Lee Sweet obtained or stole several valuable properties from the plaintiff’s father, Sheldon Brichacek. Sheldon suffers from dementia and Sweet had been hired to help out around the house. As Sheldon’s dementia and physical condition worsened, Sweet took on more responsiblities. Sweet contends that the properties were gifts that Sheldon gave her, but the plaintiff contends that Sheldon was either unable to make rational decisions regarding the properties or that Sweet stole them from him.

In the first trial of the day, Perkins County Red defeated McCook. The Red team consisted of attorneys Conner Tyreman, Myles Bishop and Cooper Kroeker and witnesses Mason McGreer portraying Dr. Cameron Niarbson, a neurologist and expert in dementia, Maylynn Walker portraying Sheldon’s neighbor Alfie Kravitz, and Kloie Campbell portraying Dani Brichacek. Conner Tyrman handled pre-trial matters, Myles Bishop gave the opening statement, and Cooper Kroeker made the closing statement. Other members of the Red team are Brock Tines, Colson Uehling and Cecilia Putnam. They will perform when the Red team has the defense side of the case.

“Of the six persons on the Red team who performed on Wednesday, five were in their first competition and they performed very well in defeating McCook, said Don Harris, mock trial coach.

In the second trial, the Black team handled the defense side of the case. They defeated the Southern Valley Purple team. The Black team consisted of attorneys Gavin Smith, Kaitlin Meyer and Ryder Potts. The witnesses were Daniel Hampton, portraying Dani’s brother Parker Brichacek, Selah Richter-Martinez portraying the family phyisician Dr. Logan Anthony, and Emma Klahn as the defendant Lee Sweet. Ryder Potts handled pre-trial matters, Kaitlin Meyer made the opening statement, and Gavin Smith gave the closing arguments. Other members of the Black team who will act as witnesses when they present the plaintiff side are Cait Dolezal and Ella Uehling. Kaitlin becomes a witness and Selah an attorney.

The members of the Black team have been involved in mock trial before and several were part of the 2021 team that finished fifth in state competition.

The Nebraska mock trial competition is sponsored by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation. It is not a NSAA activity and there are no class distinctions. All schools, regardless of size, compete against each other as part of a single statewide competition. Regional winners advance to state competition scheduled for Dec. 5 and 6.

The Perkins County team will return to competition on Oct. 24 when the Black team representing the plaintiff will compete against the Red team on defense. 

Perkins County’s mock trial team is coached by Diana Tate and Don Harris, attorney coach is Tanya McArtor.