The case they review involves the B 22 Osprey aircraft, a tilt-rotor aircraft developed by the military to do heavy lifting previously handled by helicopters, or too large for standard helicopters. This particular case involved the crash of an Osprey aircraft in which a Marine was killed. Mike explains the wide variety of factors that are investigated in aviation litigation, including aircraft design, operation, outside conditions like weather, pilot error, and other considerations.

Beasley Allen Law Firm held its fifth annual Beasley Allen Legal Strategies Conference in Montgomery Nov. 17-18, 2011. The event, which is the largest of its kind for Alabama attorneys in private practice, drew nearly 1,300 lawyers for two days of continuing legal education (CLE), a legal services Expo, networking and socializing. Special guest speakers included Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, Judge Charles Price, Morris Dees, Founder and Chief Trial Counsel of the Southern Poverty Law Center; Mary Bauer, Legal Director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, John Croyle, founder and director of the Big Oak Ranch children’s homes, Alabama State Bar President Jim Pratt, and Alabama State Bar General Counsel Tony McLain.

First-year law student Sebrina Martin was presented with the first Monica Jordan Public Interest Law Scholarship at Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. The scholarship is named for Monica Jordan, a Montgomery native, who demonstrated heroic persistence and resolve in the wake of losing her daughter to a domestic violence incident and her son in an automobile accident. The scholarship was established during the filming of the nationally televised program “Extreme Home Makeover,” during which the Jordan family was featured. Beasley Allen Law Firm was a sponsor of the event, and after learning Monica Jordan had always dreamed of attending law school, worked with Faulkner University Jones School of Law to help establish the scholarship.

Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, located at Faulkner University, has selected the first recipient for its Monica Jordan Public Interest Law Scholarship. The scholarship is named for Monica Jordan, a Montgomery native, who demonstrated heroic persistence and resolve in the wake of losing her daughter to a domestic violence incident and her son in an automobile accident. The scholarship was established through a partnership between Jones School of Law and the law firm of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. The inaugural scholarship was presented to current first-year law student Sebrina Martin on Wednesday, November 30.

WSFA TV-12 News was on hand Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new Allen Law Center building at Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. The new facility is named for Jones School of Law alumnus and Beasley Allen Shareholder Greg Allen. Since earning his J.D. from the law school, Greg has been an active supporter, serving as chairman of the steering committee in the school’s efforts to obtain full accreditation from the American Bar Association, accomplished in December 2009, as well as a member of the advisory board, and as an instructor in products liability seminars. Greg was joined by his wife, Jane, and family members to cut the ribbon. The new facility will include a law library, classrooms and space for the school’s three law clinics.

CBS8 News reporter George McDonald spoke with several people who attended the Seat Check Saturday event in Selma, Alabama, on Sept. 24. The event, sponsored by Beasley Allen Law Firm, provided professional assistance to help parents and caregivers make sure their child safety seats were properly installed. The event also provided free car seats to people who needed them, thanks to the Alabama Head Injury Foundation and the Alabama Department of Public Health. The event was part of National Child Passenger Safety Week. Each year, thousands of children are killed in vehicle accidents because they are not properly restrained in a child safety seat.

Local CBS affiliate WAKA-TV8 helped promote Seat Check Saturday, a special event sponsored by Beasley Allen Law Firm on Saturday, Sept. 24, in Selma, Ala. Reporter Jeff Sanders sat down with Beasley Allen attorney Kendall Dunson to talk about the event, which provides free inspections of child safety seats to make sure they are properly installed in vehicles. Dunson pointed out that vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages 3-14. He said often parents and caregivers try to do the right thing by placing children in vehicle safety seats, but they may not be using them correctly. In fact, he said, 85 percent of car seats are NOT installed correctly. Proper installation can protect lives and prevent serious injury and death. The Seat Check Saturday event will be held at the Walmart Super Center in Selma from 9 a.m.-Noon.

WSFA mentioned the Beasley Allen Law Firm in a recent report for their donation to a local school. Beasley Allen presented the teachers of Martin Luther King Elementary School with classroom supplies including card stock, crayons, pencils, markers, hand sanitizer and more. The supplies provided will be used by teachers and will help subsidize items typically brought by students.

WSFA-TV 12 reporter Sally Pitts recently talked with Beasley Allen attorney Clay Barnett and Emerge Montgomery president Kindall Anderson about the United Way campaign kickoff. Beasley Allen sponsored the event, Rally in the Alley, and is a strong supporter of the River Region United Way. Clay Barnett talked about the event, which gives people the opportunity to meet representatives from the agencies that benefit from the United Way. Clay said, “when you contribute to the River Region United Way, the money stays in the community.” Rally in the Alley was held Thursday, Aug. 11 from 5-7 p.m. in Montgomery’s downtown Entertainment District.

WSFA-TV 12 reporter Bryan Henry recently shared information with viewers about the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even mild TBI’s, like concussions, can have lasting long-term effects, and all brain injuries affect victims physically, mentally and emotionally. For the news story, Henry spoke with Beasley Allen employee Carol Stanley, whose son, Jason, suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of an assault. In helping Jason deal with the lasting effects of his injury, Carol has become an advocate for awareness about brain injury, and also works to strengthen laws to prosecute those who commit violent crimes like the one in which Jason was injured.