October 06, 2026
Feldman Shepherd is pleased to announce that co-managing partner Mark W. Tanner has been selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy’s 2026 President’s Award. The award, bestowed upon eight recipients this year, recognizes NBTA members for their exceptional and noteworthy work that represents the “gold standard” of what a Board-Certified Legal Specialist should be. Tanner, who has been certified by this organization in Civil Trial Advocacy since 2002, will be recognized during a special virtual meeting celebrating the award winners on October 24, 2026.
Tanner is honored for making a positive change in his community through his “Raising Awareness for Isaiah” campaign which he launched in December 2023 after securing a $12 million settlement for the family of a high school football player who died on the field after his school failed to respond to the known risks of sickle cell trait (SCT).
SCT is an inherited blood disorder, most common in people of color, that can become deadly during intense heat and exertion. With proper awareness, precautions, and emergency response, SCT-related deaths are preventable. Although Isaiah’s mother dutifully filled out health history forms for his school's athletic department for three consecutive years, fully advising as to Isaiah's SCT status, the athletic and medical staff failed to understand the danger, recognize his symptoms, or provide an appropriate emergency response.
Determined that Isaiah’s death would not be repeated, Tanner, a 24-year NBTA member, launched the campaign which sends, each summer, nearly 600 Pennsylvania high school coaches and athletic directors lifesaving guidance on SCT, including how to identify warning signs and respond to a crisis. The campaign also provides public education through its website.
For 36 years, Tanner has devoted his practice to helping victims of motor vehicle and trucking accidents, construction and workplace accidents, insurance company bad faith, medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injuries, dangerous premises, defective products and civil rights abuses.
Tanner is the second Feldman Shepherd attorney honored with the President’s Award. Co-founding partner Alan M. Feldman was recognized in 2021 for his litigation of multiple IKEA dresser tip-over cases that have helped to keep children safe in their bedrooms.
“I am grateful for the work that the National Board of Trial Advocacy performs in setting standards for our profession, and am even more appreciative of the attention this award will focus on the need to educate athletic departments on the simple precautions that should be taken to reduce the risks of unnecessary deaths due to the Sickle Cell Trait in our student-athletes,” Tanner said.
“We are delighted that the NBTA has recognized Mark’s extraordinary work in creating the ‘Raising Awareness for Isaiah’ campaign. In cases like this one, trial lawyers have an opportunity to not only secure justice for their client, but to also play an important role in preventing future tragedies,” Feldman said.
