UTAH - Key Persons
In 1995, Justin received his Associates degree from Dixie College in St. George, Utah. While at Dixie, Justin competed on the National Debate and Forensics circuit. Justin placed in the top three nationally in multiple events and was the recipient of the Bowler award granted annually to the top orator at the School. Following his success at Dixie College Justin went to Southern Utah University and received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science.
In 2000, Justin received his Juris Doctorate from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. His extensive training in the area of public speaking has assisted him as he heads the litigation section of the law firm. Justin's litigation experience has been acquired through his representation of clients in front of numerous tribunals, administrative bodies, and courts. Several such forums of note are the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, the New Mexico and Utah Appellate and Supreme Courts, the 10th Circuit Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Claims in Washington D.C, differing state and federal district courts ranging from Oklahoma, New Jersey, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Alaska, and California. Additionally, Justin has extensive training in estate planning matters which extends his responsibilities to our firm's estate planning division. Justin also has enjoyed substantial success in Securities Litigation and Business Formation.
Justin was born and raised in Utah. He is the proud father of 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls, and has been happily married for nearly 20 years. Justin enjoys many sports including basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, soccer, and football. He is an avid off-roader that loves to hunt and fish. Almost yearly Justin takes a client appreciation trip to Alaska. On those trips, he has been successful in taking an Alaskan caribou, which scored 380+ on the Boone and Crocket. He has also caught multiple 150+ pound halibut. Of note, however, was this year's 20+ pound yellow eye, a China, and a nearly 40-pound king salmon.
Justin has enjoyed tremendous success in the course of his career. A few highlights of interest include being the lead member of the group that formed Town and Country Bank (TCB). TCB opened in February of 2008 in St. George, Utah and is currently the only community-owned bank in Washington County. Additionally, Justin has extensive appellate practice. His most recent success was a reversal obtained in the case of Pierruci v. Pierruci. Justin enjoys trial work and completed a three-week jury trial in February of 2013. Justin also conducts arbitrations, including securities arbitration work. Of note in this arena was a judgment exceeding eight million dollars ($8,000,000.00) awarded by a securities arbitration panel in favor of the client. At the time this was the largest settlement ever awarded in securities arbitration. Justin also deals with municipal and governmental litigation and was the lead attorney in the case against Provo city regarding a 911 call where EMS personnel were improperly dispatched. The clients received a settlement of $220,000. Justin has assisted in teaching numerous CLE courses in computerized legal research.
Justin is also highly active in the legal community as well as the local community. Justin has served on the Board of Directors for the Federal Bar Association (2009-2012) and the Utah County Chamber of Commerce (2009-2011). Justin currently is the Director's Loan Committee Chairman for Town and Country Bank (entering his 6th year in this capacity), as well as a Find Your Focus Foundation, Inc. a charity dedicated to improving vision screen and treatment for school-age children. Justin is an Eagle Scout and served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to Washington D.C.
Born and raised in Salt Lake County, Norman spent his earlier life in the military, serving four years in the Navy. After receiving an Honorable Discharge, Norman came back to Utah to continue serving the public. Norman received his B.A. degree from the University of Utah in 2015, and his Juris Doctor degree from the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington in 2019.
During law school Norman clerked for the Honorable Julie McKay at the Spokane Superior Court, gaining an in-depth view of the judicial processes through the judge's chambers. During Norman's second year in law school, he worked as a law clerk in the Elder Law Clinic focusing on providing legal service to indigent senior citizens. Norman spent the last year of his law school career interning for The Whipple Law Group where he assisted clients with drafting Estate Planning documents, end of life planning, and family law matters.
As a law clerk for Heideman & Associates, Norman has assisted the firm's attorneys providing direct assistance to the attorneys in making legal determinations, research case law in preparation for assisting the attorneys in developing solid legal arguments, communicate with clients and their families when necessary to facilitate a positive working relationship, review and interpret legal documents, including affidavits and sworn testimony, assist the attorneys in preparing and writing briefs and opinions, in addition to many other responsibilities.
Norman is planning to take the bar exam in February 2021, and being admitted to the Utah State Bar shortly thereafter where he plans on transitioning into an associate with the firm.
Education:
Gonzaga University School of Law
• Juris Doctorate Candidate, 2019
In 2011, Thomas graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sound Design. Thomas has a strong background in both technical and creative matters. This education prepared him for public speaking and critical analysis. Later, Thomas obtained a law degree from the S.J. Quinney College of Law, as an early graduate in 2014. Thomas was admitted to the practice of Law in the first half of 2015.
While in Law School, Thomas was the Vice President of Finance for the Art & Media Law Alliance student group. In that role, he organized panels with trademark specialists from California and Utah, and worked closely with the IP section of the Utah State Bar to fund the University of Utah College of Law's debut entry into the Saul R. Lefkowitz National Moot Court Competition. Thomas has experience working with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Thomas has been published in Utah's Bar Journal, where he wrote an article on the stature of Utah's mediation laws, and the importance of attempting to reduce any mediation agreements to clear, robust, written memoranda of understanding.