Murder on Birchleaf Drive

We are pleased to present our November program: “Murder on Birchleaf Drive.” The program will be presented by Attorney Steve Epstein of Poyner Spruill, LLP located in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Steve Epstein will read from and discuss his book, MURDER ON BIRCHLEAF DRIVE:  The True Story of the Michelle Young Murder Case.  This fascinating case involved the murder of a 29-year-old pregnant mother in an upscale Raleigh neighborhood in November 2006.  She had been married to Jason Young just three years.  When her sister discovered Michelle’s savagely beaten body on the floor of their master bedroom, the couple’s 2 ½-year-old daughter suddenly appeared from under the covers, unharmed.  It would be over three years before Jason was arrested, and another 18 months until he was brought to trial for first-degree murder.  After the first trial ended in a hung jury, the DA’s office tried Jason a second time, this time obtaining a conviction and life sentence.  Through Steve’s reading and an interactive discussion, you will find yourself transplanted into a Wake County courtroom as the prosecutors and defense attorneys engage in fierce combat.  He will also answer questions about the case and how, as a lawyer, he entered the world of writing and publishing.

Steve has been a civil litigator for nearly 30 years, primarily as a defense lawyer for companies sued for allegedly defective products or damages arising from allegedly improperly performed services. He has sub-specialized in fire loss claims, having been involved of hundreds of matters in which the cause of a fire was the central issue. In 2014, after nearly 25 years in practice, Steve also migrated into the area of family law, where he now advises clients and represents them in litigation regarding separation and divorce, child custody and support, alimony, and equitable distribution.  He began practicing family law following his own lengthy odyssey through the family court justice system. Steve is a frequent CLE presenter on a wide range of litigation topics and is a certified mediator, arbitrator, and parent coordinator.