Mica Nguyen Worthy was recently awarded the George W. Yancey Memorial Award from the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) in recognition of her article, “A Defense Attorney’s Guide to the Galaxy – Space Debris Claims in the United States,” from the Defense Counsel Journal.
The award was presented during the IADC 2026 Annual Meeting in Prague.
The Yancey Award is presented annually to an individual who authors an outstanding, exemplary article in the IADC’s Defense Counsel Journal. It honors George W. Yancey, founder of the Defense Counsel Journal and past president of IADC.
Published in Nov. 2025, Mica’s article explored the intricate and complex process of submitting space debris claims to NASA using her own experience in representing and securing a settlement for a family whose home was damaged by falling space debris. In May 2024, Mica filed the first-ever space debris claim with NASA on behalf of a Florida family whose home was struck by hardware from the International Space Station. The object tore through the roof though no one was injured. The family claimed approximately $80,000 in damages. NASA ultimately settled the claim before a lawsuit was filed.
Mica is a Partner in the Charlotte office of Cranfill Sumner LLP and serves as Chair of the Aviation and Aerospace and International Business Law Practice Groups.
