Subject:  Fieger law partner died |
Author:
Chris
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Date Posted: 04/14/05 12:35pm
Jeremiah J. Kenney, Grosse Pointe Shores: Law partner of Geoffrey Fieger
By Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News
Jeremiah J. Kenney loved the action of the courtroom so much that he left his job as a managing partner in a Detroit law firm, where he oversaw seven offices and supervised 125 attorneys, to work for the law firm of Geoffrey Fieger.
"He loved being in the courtroom. That was his favorite place," his son, Matthew Kenney, said.
"A factor for going to the Fieger firm was that he would be in court more.
"I got to see him in court and one thing I found fascinating was that he never used notes. He could give a three-hour-long closing statement without notes."
Mr. Kenney of Grosse Pointe Shores died from melanoma Sunday, April 10, 2005, in the Karmanos Center in Detroit's Harper Hospital. He was 55.
Mr. Kenney earned his bachelor's degree in 1971 from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., and his law degree from the University of Detroit law school in 1974. For 23 years, Mr. Kenney worked for the Kitch, Drutchas law firm in Detroit as a defense attorney representing doctors and hospitals in medical malpractice lawsuits.
He joined the Fieger law firm in 1999, where he worked as a plaintiff attorney on medical malpractice and civil rights lawsuits.
"Jerry successfully argued and obtained multimillion dollar settlements," said Ven Johnson, a partner in Fieger, Fieger, Kenney & Johnson in Southfield.
"He was in the top 1 percent of the lawyers in the country."
Johnson added that "Jerry Kenney was not only one of the best lawyers in the country but he was by far one of the nicest persons I've had the pleasure of working with. His loss to our firm is absolutely indescribable."
Geoffrey Fieger said Mr. Kenney was "my partner and my friend" and was a mentor to the attorneys at the firm.
"Jerry was always the consummate gentleman and professional," Fieger said. "He made me aspire to be a better person and be more like him."
Fieger said Mr. Kenney made the difficult transition from defending clients in medical malpractice cases to representing the plaintiffs.
"Jerry did it so seamlessly," Fieger noted.
Mr. Kenney loved hockey and was a fan of the Red Wings and a supporter of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School's Cubs hockey team.
Survivors include his wife, Susan; a daughter, Erin; and two sons, Matthew and Christopher.
Visitation will be from 1-9 p.m. today in the Charles Verheyden Funeral Home, 16300 Mack, Grosse Pointe Park.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 467 Fairford, Grosse Pointe Woods, with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.
You can reach Oralandar Brand-Williams at (313) 222-2027 or bwilliams@detnews.com.
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