Pinocchio’s Law Day tale

Thomas G. Smith and his client Brad Salai, as Pinocchio, and Mike Didas, as Gepetto.

Students at three Rochester elementary schools on April 30 were asked to decide whether Pinocchio should recover damages from the Blue Fairy for emotional distress caused by his ever growing nose.

The lawyers and staff of Harter Secrest & Emery’s Litigation Unit presented their 10th original Law Day courtroom play for a student jury of 300 at the Memorial Art Gallery Auditorium. Partner Tom Smith transformed the children’s story into the courtroom drama, complete with costumed characters. 

In this year’s production, Pinocchio, a youngster whom the Blue Fairy has magically changed from a wooden puppet boy into a real boy, is unhappy with the outcome as his nose continues to grow whenever he strays from the truth. Pinocchio claimed the Fairy promised to change him “into a real boy through and through” but that she failed to cure his “nose problem.”

He sought damages for alleged magical malpractice. Intellectual property lawyer Brad Salai portrayed Pinocchio, with immigration paralegal Jen Frohman as the Blue Fairy and lawyers Mike Didas as Gepetto, David Archer as Dr. Jim N.E. Cricket, Langston McFadden as Judge Douglas Fir, and Meghan Lynch and Tom Smith as the trial attorneys.

Later in the day, the Monroe County Bar Association celebrated its annual Law Day luncheon at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, at which several area attorneys were honored with legal service and other achievement awards.

John Crowe was presented with the Adolph J. Rodenbeck Award. Monroe County Bar Association Executive Director Mary Corbitt was presented with the Foundation of the Monroe County Bar’s Humanitarian Award.
Robert Turner received The Legal Aid Society’s James R. Boyle Award. Shaleeya B. McFadden, Phillip R. Hurwitz, Lucien A. Morin II and Kareen V. Zeitounzian received William E. McKnight Volunteer Service Awards from Volunteer Legal Services Project Inc.

— Law Day play photos by Vasiliy Baziuk; Law Day luncheon photos by Emily Angell.

Tamaia Glasgow, 11, and LaDonna Dey, both from John Walton Spencer School No. 16, discuss whether Pinocchio was a was a victim of magical malpractice.

Defense attorney Meghan Lynch argues on behalf of her client, the Blue Fairy. David Archer is shown portraying Jim N.E. Cricket.

Brad Salai, as Pinocchio, holds up a wooden boy caricature before Jeremey Jackson, 10, from Adlai E. Stevenson School No. 29.

Smith builds a case versus the Blue Fairy (Jen Frohman).

Guests at the Law Day 2010 luncheon, Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

Harold Kurland, MCBA president, addresses the crowd.

Thomas Richards, Amy Schwartz, Karen Baily Turner, Timothy Donaher all find some humor in the proceedings.

Rick Dollinger and Bob Croog enjoy some moments behind the curtian before they hit the stage at the Law Day luncheon.

Jim Koughlin, Mary Ellen Suete and Jessica Kilmade

Tom Smith, Bob Croog (pointing), Rick Dollinger (at podium) perform as the Not Ready for Calendar Call Players.

Vivek Thiagarajan, Sue Gillette, Kareen Zeitourzain, all of Harris Beach PLLC.

Irv Kessler speaks with Cathy D’Amico.

Rick Dollinger and Gary Muldoon