Madison Elementary Jury to Decide Fate of Big Bad Wolf

LOS ANGELES — May 12, 2014 — After years of delay, the notorious Big Bad Wolf is scheduled to stand trial on May 15, 2014 on charges of destroying three Los Angeles-area homes. The Los Angeles office of international law firm Hunton & Williams LLP will host the proceedings, while Madison Elementary School students will serve as jurors, determining the guilt or innocence of the well-known figure who has thrilled, delighted, and haunted children everywhere.

“We are pleased to hold the trial in our office, and are confident that justice will be served,” said Ann Marie Mortimer, managing partner of Hunton & Williams’ Los Angeles office, who will preside as trial judge.

Earlier this year, authorities learned that the Big Bad Wolf is an alias of Hunton & Williams associate Paul Moura. Security for the trial is expected to be tight. Paralegal Bill Powell, who will serve as bailiff, assures the courtroom can withstand gusts of up to 100 mph. “I guarantee that order in the court will be maintained at all times,” he added.

Other Hunton & Williams lawyers involved in the trial are: partner Roland Juarez as plaintiff’s attorney, associate Robert Nazarian as defense attorney, associate Andrew Peterson as Curly Pig, and associate Stephanie Chen as expert witness.

The case, Big Bad Wolf v. Curly Pig, is part of a pen pal program between the law firm and the Los Angeles Unified School District elementary school that culminates with a mock trial held at the firm’s offices. This is the seventh year the firm has participated in the program and the fifth year the program has included students from Madison Elementary.

Since the start of the school year, Hunton & Williams lawyers and staff have interacted as pen pals with Kimberly Klopfer’s class. The program teams up lawyers with local students who have had little exposure to the legal profession. Madison Elementary’s student population is 99 percent Latino, and 49 percent of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch.

“There is no substitute for hands-on learning,” said Ms. Klopfer. “The kids are being exposed to the legal system in a captivating and fun way, and it is a perfect complement to our curriculum where we have been studying persuasive writing skills.”

The highlight of the year long program is a field trip to Hunton & Williams, where students will meet with their pen pals from the firm, participate in a pizza party, and serve as jurors for the Big Bad Wolf’s mock trial. The students have been enthusiastic participants, enclosing pictures in their letters and inviting their pen pals to visit their classroom, where they participated in several wide-ranging question-and-answer sessions.