In Memoriam: Jeremiah J. Kenney

The firm of Fieger, Fieger, Kenney and Johnson mourns the loss of partner and friend Jerry Kenney, a true inspiration both in his field, and in life.

Kenney died from melanoma on Sunday, April 10, 2005 in the Karmanos Center in Detroit's Harper Hospital. He was 55.

Kenney had a long and distinguished career in law, and earned the deepest respect from his peers in the field.

After obtaining his law degree from the University of Detroit in 1974, Kenney spent most of his career — more than 23 years — working as a defense attorney with the Kitch, Drutchas law firm in Detroit representing doctors and hospitals in medical malpractice lawsuits. When he left in April, 1999, he supervised seven offices and 125 attorneys for the firm.

In addition to being a premier leader and organizer within the firm, his work in the courtroom attracted the attention of attorneys throughout the state — including Geoffrey Fieger who began to recruit him.

Eager to spend more time in the courtroom, Kenney signed on as partner with the Fieger Firm, working as a plaintiff's attorney on medical malpractice and civil rights lawsuits. Kenney loved working at the firm, and won several multimillion dollar verdicts during his tenure.

While his quiet, humble approach was often overshadowed by Geoffrey Fieger's more outspoken style, Kenney's ethics and integrity made him just as high-profile as Fieger in legal circles. Partner Ven Johnson said Kenney ranked in the top one percent of all lawyers in the country.

"Jerry was not only one of the best attorneys that I have ever seen, but he was a wonderful, honorable man who kept true to his word every single day," Johnson said. "When he would walk into any room full of attorneys, it was like he was a rock star."

Not only did the who's who of attorneys know Jerry, but they held him in the highest regard.

"He was a saint next to me," Fieger said.

"Jerry was always the consummate gentleman and professional," Fieger told the Detroit News. "He made me aspire to be a better person and be more like him."

Kenney shared his knowledge with other attorneys in the office, many of whom considered him a mentor.

"All the other attorneys would go to him for advice," said longtime law firm employee Anna Huhta. "It was hard for him to get his own work done because he was always helping everyone else."

Kenney was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a distinction bestowed among the top 5 percent of lawyers in each state.

As hard as Kenney worked, he always took time for his personal life. He was a family man, and enjoyed sharing time with his wife of 26 years, Susan, and children Erin, Matthew and Christopher both at home in Grosse Pointe Shores and their cabin up north.

He also was involved in his church, Our Lady Star of the Sea in Grosse Pointe Park.

During Kenney’s funeral Mass on April 15, Father Ron Browne, who left the priesthood for a stint as an attorney, said his meetings with Kenney reminded him of the higher purposes in life, and eventually convinced him to return to the cloth.

"Some people have Tuesdays with Morrie, I had lunches with Jerry," he said.

Kenney was also known as a sports fan, who enjoyed Red Wings hockey and college football, and who supported the University of Detroit Jesuit High School Cub’s hockey team.

One of his hobbies was to ride his Harley Sportster to work on nice days, and Geoff Fieger would always tease him about reverting to his adolescence. Fieger said Kenney will be sorely missed.

"Jerrey Kenney was my partner and my friend. He had qualities as a human being which I admired as much as his legal acumen," Fieger said. “I walk the halls of this building and pass by his office and I can still hear his laugh. He’ll remain a part of me forever.”

Remembering Jerry...

Jerry was one of the only attorneys who beat me in a medical malpractice case. It’s very hard to beat me, but he did it. It was in the early 1990s and despite my usual emnity towards anybody who gets the upper hand, Jerry had a disarming quality about him that made me like him even though I had lost. Jerry was a mentor to all the attorneys in this office. He earned respect because of his intelligence, integrity and patience. I once said he had almost saint-like qualities, which I’m sure serve him well where he is. Geoffrey Fieger Everybody has a Jerry Kenney story. My fondest memories are the fact that Jerry and I achieved our first million dollar verdict together in a tragic case where a woman underwent an unnecessary partial mastectomy due to the pathologist's misinterpretation of a biopsy — calling it cancer when it wasn't. I also will never forget last year's July 4th weekend when my son and I spent the weekend with Jerry and his wonderful family at their place up north. Since his death, it feels funny to be at the firm without him here too. I know Jerry is our legal guardian angel looking down on all of us, bringing us luck. He is and will be sorely missed. Ven Johnson One thing I will always remember about Jerry Kenney is college football season. Every Saturday in the fall, because of his‘undying love for UofM,’ Jerr would wear the hat of whichever team UofM happened to be playing. Of course there would be times he had a problem finding a particular hat, but it didn't matter, we all knew he was rooting for whoever the Wolverines were playing. On Saturday, Sept. 3rd, I will be thinking of Jerry with his Northern Illinois hat on. I'm sure where he is now he can find any hat he wants. Tom Baulch Jerry Kenney was an inspiration to us all. The kindest and most caring, loving, compassionate, selfless, giving and forgiving man in the world. Sherry Johnson In the three years that I was privileged to work with Jerry, beyond his keen intelligence and common sense, I was most impressed by the steadying influence that he had on us all at the firm. For me, his son Matthew best described Jerry when he said,‘His word was golden.’ Jerry is already sorely missed. Vic Valenti Jerry Kenney was the epitome of a God loving man; always humble never arrogant, always giving … at Christmas he would give every employee a gift catalog from which we could pick a gift of our choice. Those gifts will be forever treasured. At the end of the day he would leave by saying ‘Good-bye, I've had enough fun for the day … can't wait to return tomorrow.’ Sometimes he would abbreviate his good-bye by saying GBTT (good-bye till tomorrow). Well I say to you, Jerry Kenney, GB for now. Anna Huhta

In Memoriam: Jeremiah J. Kenney

Call Fieger Law. 248.355.5555. We Can Help.