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1971
Last year, Thomas Boyd’s op-ed on Gibson’s Bakery v. Oberlin College was published in The Wall Street Journal. The Ohio Court of Appeals dismissed Oberlin’s appellate claims and “confirmed the jury’s finding that the college … was liable for libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and intentional interference with a business relationship.” While Oberlin officials argued the jury “had inappropriately held the college responsible for the exercise by its students of their First Amendment right to protest,” the court upheld the award of $25 million plus $6 million in legal fees to be paid by the college to Gibson’s Bakery. In his op-ed sympathetic to the bakery’s position, Boyd wrote, “Thirty-one million dollars is a stiff price to pay for promoting what a jury and four judges found were false and defamatory accusations against a neighbor.”
1972
Howard E. Gordon was recognized in Virginia Business magazine as a “legal elite” in real estate land use law. Gordon practices with Williams Mullen in Norfolk, Va.
John Samuel “Sam” Johnston Jr. of Lynchburg, Va., died Dec. 10 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. A native of Anniston, Ala., he earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama before earning his law degree from UVA. Johnston worked as a judicial clerk for a year in Birmingham with then-U.S. Chief Judge Frank McFadden. He later moved to Lynchburg and practiced law with Kizer, Phillips & Petty. He was a general district court judge for 3½ years before becoming a circuit court judge for the next 27 years.
Johnston authored “Why Judges Wear Robes” and co-authored “The Art and Science of Mastering the Jury Trial” with Irv Cantor ’75. He enjoyed speaking to various legal groups and was a founding member of Juridical Solutions. He also taught various classes at different educational levels. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Liz; a son; three daughters; and seven grandchildren.
1974
Claire Guthrie Gastañaga joined Dunlap Law in Richmond, Va., as a partner in 2022. Gastañaga served as the executive director of the ACLU of Virginia and the ACLU Foundation of Virginia from 2012-2021. Earlier career highlights include serving as the first female chief deputy attorney general for the commonwealth of Virginia and serving as chief of staff and special counsel for the speaker of the house of the Virginia House of Delegates. In 2019, Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly named her a leader in the law, and in 2016, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Office of the President of the United States.
Kevin L. Mannix was elected to return to the Oregon House of Representatives after a 22-year absence. Mannix previously served 10 years in the house and a partial term in the state Senate. His law firm, which he opened in 1986, celebrated its 37th anniversary in January. Mannix’s wife, Susanna, received her B.S. in nursing from UVA in 1974 and works as a registered nurse at Salem Hospital.
1975
Christine Swent Byrd wrote that she is enjoying reading the memoirs of John Charles Thomas. “It was a privilege to share our law school years.”
John Charles Thomas’ memoir, “The Poetic Justice,” was published by the University of Virginia Press in October. Thomas was the youngest and the first Black justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, but he began life in a home broken by poverty, alcoholism, and violence in the segregated schools and neighborhoods of postwar Norfolk, Va. Thomas is an accomplished poet and has reflected on his “twin loves of poetry and the law” at speaking engagements throughout the state (see story on p. 61).
1976
Brian Ball, former secretary of commerce and trade for Virginia, was named of counsel to Williams Mullen. He rejoined the corporate section and supports and serves the firm’s economic development team in Richmond, Va.
Ball was appointed secretary by then-Gov. Ralph Northam in 2018 and played an instrumental role in the administration’s economic development success, which included $81 billion in investments, 103,000 jobs and the state’s successful bid for Amazon’s second headquarters in Arlington. Before serving as secretary, Ball was with Williams Mullen for almost 30 years, where he was a partner, served as general counsel and was a member of the firm’s board of directors.
Peter E. Broadbent Jr. was appointed by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to a fourth term on the Library of Virginia Board, making him the first person in more than 70 years to receive appointments to the board from four governors. During his three prior terms, Broadbent served as chair twice. He is also a former member of the Library of Virginia Foundation Board. Broadbent is a partner at Christian & Barton in Richmond, where his legal practice focuses on telecommunications, intellectual property, business and governmental relations.
Joseph A. Rideout was recognized in Best Lawyers as Toledo’s Real Estate Lawyer of the Year. Rideout is a partner in the Toledo, Ohio, office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick.
1977
Volumes six and seven in the “Ross’s Discoveries” quote-book series by Michael Ross were published in 2022. “Ross’s Life Discoveries” contains quotes about life’s trials, tribulations and satisfactions. “Ross’s Key Discoveries” contains quotes about money, wisdom and happiness. Ross has collected and curated quotes since 1970. More information can be found at michaelrossauthor.com.
In Memoriam: Jimmy Len Flegle Jr.’77, Law School Benefactor, Debate Promoter
Jimmy Len Flegle Jr. ’77, a longtime class man-ager and Law School philanthropist, died Nov. 21 of complications from cancer. He was 70.
At UVA, Flegle won the William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition with his future law partner, Tommy Melo ’77. He was also a member of the Raven Society and a recipient of the Stephen P. Traynor Prize for student scholarship.
After law school, Flegle moved to Houston to join Bracewell and Patterson, where he was a partner in the litigation section and a member of the firm-wide management committee. In 1994, he moved to Dallas to serve as managing partner of Bracewell’s new office.
In 2002, Flegle left Bracewell to form Loewinsohn Flegle (today Deary Ray), where he continued his practice as a commercial litigator until he retired from practice in 2021. Flegle was also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and served as president of the Dallas American Board of Trial Advocates in 2009.
Flegle and his wife, Ophelia Camiña, were associate members of the Dean’s Council and funded the Jim L. Flegle ’77 and Ophelia F. Camiña Unrestricted Endowment during the Honor the Future campaign.
In 2012, Flegle established the J.W. Patterson Foundation for Academic Excellence in Speech and Debate, a nonprofit named in honor of his undergraduate debate coach to promote students’ speech, debate and communication skills.
“Losing Jim is a blow to all of us who were inspired by his friendship. He connected us to each other and to the Law School,” said Law School Foundation President and CEO Luis Alvarez Jr. ’88. “If he touched you—and he seemingly touched everyone—you were better for it.”
—Mike Fox
1979
David J. Llewellyn co-sponsored with charity Intact America the event “Intact 2022 — The 16th International Symposium on Genital Autonomy, Circumcision, and Children’s Rights” at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta in August. Llewellyn gave a presentation, “Common Circumcision Injuries and Their Causes.” Peter Adler ’83 spoke on his book, “Circumcision is a Fraud.” Llewellyn maintains a personal injury practice in Atlanta and specializes in botched circumcision cases.
Alan Loewinsohn joined McKool Smith as a principal in Dallas. Loewinsohn focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including construction and real estate, securities, sports litigation, oil and gas, contracts, partnerships, intellectual property and product liability matters. He represents clients on both sides of the docket. On the plaintiff side, Loewinsohn obtained the largest verdict in Texas probate court history — more than $2 billion. In 2022, Best Lawyers in America named him Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.