From the 2006 News Archive

Valerie Albrecht Named Winner of Inaugural Paul Cordish Memorial Writing Competition

Third-year student Valerie Albrecht was named the inaugural winner of the Paul Cordish Memorial Writing Competition at a May 11 luncheon for her paper "A Survey of Gulf Coast Legal Authorities Addressing the Extent to Which Public Insurance Adjusting Constitutes the Unauthorized Practice of Law."

Supported by the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) and the Paul Cordish Memorial Fund, the competition is intended to spur legal research in the field of insurance adjusting by awarding $10,000 to the student who writes the best paper on an issue related to insurance law, ethical issues and/or legal issues related to the public adjusting profession. In addition to the prize, Albrecht will be asked to participate in a panel discussion at the next NAPIA convention.

"Valerie's paper is an outstanding contribution to the scholarship surrounding insurance adjusting. She has created a very high standard for future participants in this competition," said Brian Goodman '82, of Hodes, Ulman, Pessin & Katz and counsel to NAPIA, who helped organize the competition.

The Paul Cordish Memorial Fund was established in memory of the late Paul Cordish, who served as executive director and counsel to NAPIA for more than 50 years. The purpose of the fund is to ensure the future of the organization and he profession that Cordish nurtured and served.

"This competition and the outstanding scholarship it will engender are truly a fitting legacy for my grandfather," said Jonathan Cordish, who presented the award.

Albrecht's essay was selected by a committee that included School of Law faculty Donald Gifford, Oscar Gray, and David Super. Professor Robin Wilson served as faculty advisor to the Competition’s Advisory Board which included:

William Baldwin
The Baldwin Company

David Barrack
NAPIA

Kathleen Birrane
Maryland Insurance Commission

Amy Glaser Cohen
Maryland State Bar Association

David Cordish
The Cordish Company

Jonathan Cordish
Cordish Media

Brian Goodman
Hodes, Ulman, Pessin & Katz

Randolph Goodman
Goodman-Gable-Gould/Adjusters International

Marvin Milton
Swerling, Milton, Winnick Public Insurance Adjusters

The Hon. W. Michel Pierson
Circuit Court for Baltimore City

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