Thomas J. “Jerry” Greenan (1933-2013)

A skilled trial lawyer, consummate professional, good friend and one of the original members of this Roundtable, we shall miss Jerry. Born in Great Falls MT, Jerry spent his entire legal career trying cases in many courtrooms in Washington and neighboring states. He began his practice with the Washington State Attorney General’s office (1957-1963), moving then to Ferguson & Burdell (1963-1995) and later to Gordon Thomas Honeywell, where he tried increasingly complex business cases, including representing both plaintiffs and defendants in antitrust litigation. Jerry was listed in the Litigation section of “The Best Lawyers in America” for 22 years. Jerry’s trial talents were also well recognized when in 1979, he was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, where he later served as State Chair and Regent, and was an active member of the National Trial Competition. Another ACTL Fellow, commenting on Jerry’s passing, put it aptly: “Jerry was a great lawyer, very perceptive, and best of all a great guy. I had cases with him and against him. His dry sense of humor surfaced frequently. Jerry was a class act which set a high bar for all of us. I am a better person and lawyer for having known and worked with Jerry.” There are some whose light continues to shine even after they are gone; Jerry was one of those.