PRESIDENT’S AWARDS PAGE
NATIONAL BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCACY PRESIDENT’S AWARDS CRITERIA
The purpose of the President’s Awards is to recognize members of NBTA for their unique accomplishments and efforts which deserve to be known to our entire membership, the legal profession, and the communities that they work in. Each year multiple awards will be given out in each category. An NBTA member may be nominated in any of the three areas. A separate nomination form is required for each area.
For the Legal Field: An accomplishment or outcome that will affect the legal field. It may be a new strategy, a verdict with an impactful outcome, creating an awareness of an issue, set a standard, right a wrong. etc. It should have an impact that extends beyond a local area or specific case.
For the Community: A project or initiative that makes a positive change in the community where the attorney practices. It can be accomplished through the legal work of the attorney or through a social or legal cause that the lawyer champions. It can be a single event or something ongoing.
For NBTA: A single effort or a body of work that furthers NBTA’s mission to protect those in legal need through specialization accreditation or raises the professional level and quality of attorneys through the promotion of NBTA goals or board certification.
2024 PRESIDENT’S AWARDS RECIPIENTS
A. Bernard Bays – Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, Honolulu, HI
A Bernard Bays has represented well over 10,000 long term residential lessees in Hawaii in their fight to purchase their properties from a handful of very powerful landowners. This was truly a David and Goliath situation. He prevailed in numerous litigation cases that enabled his clients to purchase their homes. One case went to the Hawaii Supreme Court and another to the US Supreme Court in a process that lasted over 10 years. Bernard’s efforts in those cases changed the social fabric of Hawaii. He has never stopped making a big difference in Hawaii by the many litigation cases he has handled. These cases include saving one of the largest cattle ranches in the US, the 225,000-acre Parker Ranch which was established in the early 1800’s. He has over 50 years of experience and has successfully represented clients in numerous landmark cases and over 150 trials or arbitrations. Bernie is one of only three Hawaii lawyers who are certified by the NBTA.
Joseph Camerlengo – The Truck Accident Law Firm, Jacksonville, FL
Joseph Camerlengo is a leader in the trucking legal community both locally and nationally. As a founding partner of the Truck Accident Law Firm, he is passionate about making our roads safer by helping other attorneys pursue bad trucking companies and dangerous truck drivers. Joseph was instrumental in working to acquire board certification in Truck Accident Law with the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a tireless advocate in promoting board certification in this field. Joe is a past President of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, an officer and executive board member for the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group, Past Chair of the American Association for Justice Bus Litigation Group, Co-Chair of the Florida Justice Association’s Trucking and CMV Crash Section. He serves on the board of the National Board of Trucking Trial Advocates and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Famously, Joe came to an NBTA national meeting just to observe, but because of his interest and enthusiasm – was asked to join as a director. As a devoted double graduate of the University of Florida, we recognize his sacrifice to attend today knowing that the Gators are playing right now.
Christy Crowe Childers – Childers & McCain, LLC, Macon, GA
Christy Crow Chilllders has been one of the biggest advocates for people, especially women to get certified by NBTA in Truck Accident Law. Along with David McCain, she co-founded the Childers and McCain Law Firm. She was one of the first five female NBTA board certified truck accident lawyers in the United States and the first in Georgia. Her strong voice for truck accident victims and families has earned her a widespread reputation in this practice area. She is a regularly featured speaker at conferences and on podcasts regarding truck crashes. Serving as the Education Chair for the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, she has taken a significant leadership role for women interested in Truck Accident Law. Starting through the work of the ATAA Women’s Caucus, Christy has taken a leadership position in founding and organizing Mother Trucker Rallies. The photo illustrates some of the work done in Alaska. Others have taken place in Montana and Las Vegas. These conferences support women in seeking to improve their practices through developing the skillsets including learning how to drive tractor trailers to fully understanding truck safety issues. Citing that women have an elevated focus on safety, Christy promotes the benefits of having a Momma Bear on legal teams.
Mark G. Daniel – Daniel, Moore, Evans, Biggs, Decker, and Smid, Fort Worth, TX
Mark G. Daniel is a criminal defense trial specialist with more than forty (40) years of criminal trial experience. In addition, he is now completing his fourth term on the Texas Forensic Science Commission as the criminal defense lawyer representative. His relentless efforts have brought into reality a publicly accessible database whereby counsel can now easily access data regarding crime labs, crime lab personnel and mandated disclosures of laboratory related issues, mistakes, and corrective actions. He was also instrumental in the passage of legislation mandating a crime law portal in Texas allowing ease of access to all forensic analyses notes and supporting data. Chair of TCDLA Legislative Committee 2004-2016, he is also a past president of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA). The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association is recognizing him as 2024 Lawyer of the Year, having d already been inducted into the TCDLA’s Hall of Fame. This year Mark was awarded the Blackstone Award from the Tarrant County Bar Association, its highest award which is given based on consistent ability and integrity.
James D Diamond – Law Offices of James Diamond, Norwalk, CT
James D. Diamond has used trial skills, experience and knowledge gained over his career to advance justice for Native Americans throughout the country. In a law review article, he courageously blew the whistle on the legal profession about how the profession and courts have used law as a weapon of oppression against Native Americans, and he has been an advocate for reform. He has worked to address the crises of domestic and sexual violence in Indian Country by empowering crime victims in these types of criminal cases. By training survivors themselves, non-lawyers, to become victim advocates, teaching them courtroom trial skills in a courtroom workshop setting – he has created change. He authored a juvenile criminal court code for an Indian tribe that creatively integrated tribal customs and traditions into court practices and procedures. Jim’s commitment to this cause runs deep as he has provided pro bono legal representation to Native Americans in tribal criminal court.
Nick Rice – Rice Caperton Rice, Memphis, TN
Nick Rice embodies a legacy of legal excellence. He is a third-generation attorney following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father – 70 years of Family Law knowledge. He started law study in the seventh grade through learning to pull cases for his father’s legal research. In this work, he gained experience of knowing what is possible, the expertise to get the best results for a client, and the need for compassion to understand the importance of the case of each individual client. Nick coauthored The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice, published by the American Bar Association. Because of this, his expertise is sought by attorneys all over the country. Additionally, in October 2022, the Tennessee Court of Appeals issued an opinion in one of Nick’s divorce cases that is already listed as Lexis Note to Decisions on three separate Tennessee statues. This case and Nick’s efforts in defending his client’s interests have set the standard in Tennessee Family Law. Among all the awards and honors Nick has achieved, the National Board of Trial Advocacy Certification was the most important to him. Board Certification is the highest, most stringent, and most reliable qualification an attorney can achieve.
Andrew R. Young – The Law Firm for Truck Safety LLP, North Olmsted, OH
Regarding Truck Accident Law, Andrew R Young is all in! In addition to his truck crash cases, he is frequently a guest faculty member teaching CDL candidates at the Great Lakes Truck Driving School. He holds an active Class A Commercial Driver’s License and owns and drives his own Peterbilt semi-tractor and 45-foot car-hauler trailer. He is an elected officer of both the American Association for Justice’s Trucking Litigation Group and the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. Andy was appointed by the US Secretary of Transportation to serve on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee. He has testified before committees in the US Congress, Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives. He is passionately committed to reducing fatal underride crashes by preventative measures such as side rails match the heights of auto bumpers. Andy was invited by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and two safety advocacy groups to help organize and act as a moderator for two industry related Truck Underride Roundtables.
To see the past President’s Award Winners please click here.
Awards are given out in the Fall of each year. Next award opportunity will be coming by summer 2025.