On Tuesday, November 14, Harvard Law School hosted the 95th Annual Moot Court Final Competition. In front of a standing room only crowd in Ames Courtroom, two teams of six HLS students each argued the case of Adam’s Apple Markets v. Aphrodite Cosmetics.
Plaintiff Adam’s Apple Markets sued on the basis that the company lost profits due to the false advertising of competitor Aphrodite Cosmetics. Presiding over the case was Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy ’61, Fourth Circuit Appeals Court Judge Diana Gribbon Motz, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Judge Merrick B. Garland ’74.
After 90 minutes of tough questioning from the judges and extensive oral arguments from both sides, the court concluded that it was not up to them to determine why a company loses business, and that the inherent nature of media today makes ads difficult to define.
Winning for best overall case was Aphrodite Cosmetics, while best written legal briefs went to Adam’s Apple Markets. Tian Tian Mayimin, who argued on behalf of the defendant, Aphrodite Cosmetics, won for best oral presentation.