Thursday, July 10
8:15 – 8:30 am
Opening Remarks
Kent Barnett, Dean and J. Gilbert Reese Chair in Contract Law, Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University
Jo Ellen Cline, Chief of Staff, Franklin County Auditor’s Office, Columbus, Ohio
Donna Vandervries, AAS, CAE, PPS, Esq., 2025 IAAO President
8:30 – 9:30 am
A Successful Defense Starts Before Litigation
Thomas Jaconetty, Esq., Thomas Jaconetty, Attorney at Law, Chicago, IL
Presentation
9:30 – 10:30 am
Administrative Hearings: The Wild West of the Property Tax World
Damian Lara, Esq., Assessor, Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office, NM
Fabian Montoya, Chief Appraiser, Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office, NM
William Shepherd, Esq., William D. Shepherd, PA, Delray Beach, FL
Session Outline
Presentation
10:30 – 10:45 am
Break
10:45 – 11:45 am
Deciding to Litigate – Legal, Practical, and Political Considerations
Jennifer Lineaweaver, Director of Assessment, Town of Stonington, CT
Damian Lara, Esq., Assessor, Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office, NM
Christina Lynch, Esq., Director of Legal, Cook County Assessor’s Office, Chicago, IL
William Shepherd, Esq., William D. Shepherd, PA, Delray Beach, FL
William Miller, Managing Director & Litigation Practice Group Leader, Integra Realty Resources, Chicago, IL
Session Outline
Presentation
11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Lunch
12:45 – 1:45 pm
Discovery and Depositions
Damian Lara, Esq., Assessor, Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office, NM
William Shepherd, Esq., William D. Shepherd, PA, Delray Beach, FL
Christina Lynch, Esq., Director of Legal, Cook County Assessor’s Office, Chicago, IL
Session Outline
Presentation
1:45 – 2:45 pm
Analyzing the Appraisal Report
William Miller, Managing Director & Litigation Practice Group Leader, Integra Realty Resources, Chicago, IL
William Shepherd, Esq., William D. Shepherd, PA, Delray Beach, FL
D. Mike Daniel, Jr., State Certified General Appraiser, Integra Realty Resources, Orlando, FL
Session Outline
Presentation
2:45 – 3:00 pm
Break
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Three Views of Property Tax Litigation: The Assessor, The Expert Witness, & The Attorney
Donna Vandervries, AAS, CAE, PPS, Esq., 2025 IAAO President
Jennifer Lineaweaver, Director of Assessment, Town of Stonington, CT
William Miller, Managing Director & Litigation Practice Group Leader, Integra Realty Resources, Chicago, IL
Christina Lynch, Esq., Director of Legal, Cook County Assessor’s Office, Chicago, IL
Session Outline
Presentation
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Appraisal Standards & Assignment Conditions
Shawn Wilson, Compass Real Estate Consulting, Inc., Lakeland, FL
Session Outline
Presentation
Friday, July 11
Mock Trial Roles will be played by:
Judge: Donna Vandervries, AAS, CAE, PPS, Esq.
Plaintiff’s Attorney: William Shepherd, Esq.
Hotel Owner: Rex Lawhorn
Plaintiff’s Witness: Shawn Wilson
Defendant’s Attorney: Damian Lara, Esq.
Defendant’s Assessor: Jennifer Lineaweaver
Defendant’s Witness: Fabian Montoya
8:00 – 8:30 am
General Trial Strategies
William Shepherd, Esq., William D. Shepherd, PA, Delray Beach, FL
Session Outline
Presentation
8:30 – 8:45 am
Opening Statements
8:45 – 10:15 am
Plaintiff’s Case
10:15 – 10:30 am
Break
10:30 – 11:45 am
Defendant’s Case
11:45 am – Noon
Closing Statements
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 pm
Post-Trial Considerations
William Shepherd, Esq., William D. Shepherd, PA, Delray Beach, FL
Presentation
1:30 – 2:30 pm
Exemption Litigation – A Different Beast
Damian Lara, Esq., Assessor, Bernalillo County Assessor’s Office, NM
Session Outline
Presentation
2:30 – 2:45 pm
Break
2:45 – 3:45 pm
Hot Topics in Litigation – Panel Discussion
Donna Vandervries, AAS, CAE, PPS, Esq.
2025 IAAO Legal Committee:
William Shepherd, Esq.; Christina Lynch, Esq.; William Miller; Rex Lawhorn; Jennifer Lineaweaver; Damian Lara, Esq.; Irene Sokoloff, CAE, MAI
Presentation