October 31, 2024

SIU Health Law Moot Court examines state products liability statute, federal False Claims Act

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Law school students from around the country will compete this weekend as the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School hosts the National Health Law Moot Court competition, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2, to argue a fictitious case before the U.S. Supreme Court on two distinct and complex issues related to a state law products liability statute and the federal False Claims Act.

Twenty-three teams from law schools across the country will participate in the 33rd Health Law Moot Court competition — the only mock U.S. Supreme Court competition dedicated to the always evolving and expanding topic of health law.

This year’s problem involves a veteran suing a medical device company for causing chronic health issues by switching the materials it uses to make its new CPAP machines without providing advanced warning. Competitors will argue the case in front of practicing attorneys and professors, sharpening their appellate advocacy skills and demonstrating their ability to answer difficult questions.

The competition is run by the Simmons Law students who serve on the Moot Court Board, with supervision from competition directors and 2019 SIU Law graduates Michael Lennix and Chris Sielaff. Lennix is a staff attorney with the Illinois Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor. Sielaff is an assistant appellate defender with the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender.

Teams will compete in the law school’s Hiram H. Lesar Law Building with preliminary rounds on Friday. The final round will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Rhode Covington Moot Court Room.

Sponsors are the SIU Simmons Law School, the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Health Law Association.

For more information on the event and to arrange the best times for interviews on Saturday, contact Chris Sielaff at csielaff1@gmail.com.