Photo of George J. Kenny

George J. Kenny

Partner

Overview

George Kenny, is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Mr. Kenny has lectured and written extensively on procedure and substance in numerous fields of law. He is also co-author of New Jersey Insurance Law, the leading text on coverage law in the state. From 1990 to 2017 he served on the Adjunct Faculty at Rutgers University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey.

With a strong commitment to the legal profession, Mr. Kenny has served on the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, which investigates and evaluates the qualifications of all federal judicial nominees. He has served on the ABA Litigation Section’s Council and as a Division Director, and has chaired its Professional Liability Litigation Committee. He is also the founding chair of its Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee. Mr. Kenny served three terms as a trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Association and as president of the Essex County Bar Association.

Experience

Litigation Experience
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

  • Trial practice with Connell Foley LLP and its predecessor firms, having tried to conclusion more than 400 civil jury cases in numerous fields, including professional liability, medical malpractice, insurance coverage, Tort Claims Act, and other areas of litigation.
  • Appellate practice includes brief and argument in 17 New Jersey Supreme Court and more than 60 New Jersey Appellate Division cases.

Supreme Court Decisions
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

  • Van Dunk v. Reckson, 210 N.J. 449 (2012)
  • Piermount Iron Works, Inc. v. Evanston Ins. Co., 197 N.J. 432 (2009)
  • Fertile ex rel. Fertile v. St. Michael’s Medical Center, 169 N.J. 481 (2001)
  • Estate of Chin ex rel. Chin v. St. Barnabas Medical Center, 160 N.J. 454 (1999)
  • Crespo v. Stapf, 128 N.J. 351 (1992)
  • Coleman v. Cycle Transformer Corp., 105 N.J. 285 (1986)
  • Soler v. Castmaster, Div. of H.P.M. Corp., 98 N.J. 137 (1984)
  • Brown v. U.S. Stove Co., 98 N.J. 155 (1984)
  • Perez v. Pantasote, Inc., 95 N.J. 105 (1984)
  • Lewicki v. New Jersey Art Foundry, 88 N.. 75 (1981)
  • Owens v. C&R Waste Material, 76 N.J. 584 (1978)
  • Sabat v. Fedders Corp., 75 N.J. 444 (1978)
  • Salierno v. Micro Stamping Co., 72 N.J. 205 (1977)
  • Barbato v. Alsan Masonry & Concrete, Inc., 64 N.J. 514 (1974)
  • Dawson v. Hatfield Wire & Cable Co., 59 N.J. 190 (1971)
  • Conway v. Mister Softee, Inc., 51 N.J. 254 (1968)
  • Gerhardt v. Continental Ins. Companies, 48 N.J. 291 (1966)

Activities

Professional Organizations

American Bar Association, Section of Litigation:

  • Co-chair, Special Committee on Certification and CLE, 1994-1995
  • Member, Section Council, 1991-1994
  • Chair, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, 1988-1991 [founding chair of committee]
  • Division Director, 1986-1987
  • Co-chair, Professional Liability Litigation Committee, 1983-1986

New Jersey State Bar Association:

  • Member, Editorial Board, New Jersey Lawyer, 1969-1989 (Chair, 1987-1989)
  • Trustee, 1968-1969, 1989-1993
  • Chair, Young Lawyers Section, 1967-1968

Essex County Bar Association:

  • President, 1981-1982
  • Trustee and Officer, 1974-1981

Editor, New Jersey Law Journal [since 1985]

Master, American Inns of Court

Supreme Court Committees

Member, Professional Responsibility Rules Committee, 1997-2016

Chair, Committee on Attorney Advertising, 1991-2006

Member, Committee on Court Reporting, 1990-1991

Member, Ad Hoc Committee On Law Firm Names, 1988-1990

Member, Committee On Relations with the Media, 1986-1990

Member, Special Committee On Minors' Funds, 1986-1988

Member, District Ethics Committee, 1982-1985 (Chair 1984-1985)

Member, Workshops on Civil Case Management Reform, 1983-1984

Member, Civil Practice Subcommittee On Attorney Fees, 1981-1983

Member, Committee on Relations with the Medical Profession, 1977-1979

Service to the Community

Trustee, Newark Essex Legal Services (1989 - 1996)

Member and Chair, Montclair Zoning Board of Adjustment (1978 - 1984)

Member, Board of Directors and Vice President of Mental Health Association of Essex County (1973 - 1976)

Member and Chair, Essex County College Board of Trustees (1971 - 1978)

Teaching Contributions

Adjunct Faculty, Rutgers University School of Law (1990-2017)

Lecturer, Moderator and Panel Participant for:

  • Institute for Continuing Legal Education 
  • Practicing Law Institute programs       
  • American Bar Association, Section of Litigation programs
  • New Jersey Judicial College [programs taught by invitation]
  • Numerous other bar, trial lawyer association and MCLE programs

Publications

Books:             

  • Co-author, Kenny and Lattal, New Jersey Insurance Law, [standard New Jersey text on insurance law; cited by NJ Supreme Court]
  • Co-author, Chapter 29 Damages in Law and Practice of Insurance Coverage Litigation, published by West Group (2000)
  • Chapter XIV, Tort Liability in New Jersey in A Basic Legal Guide for Foreign Businesses, published by New Jersey State Bar Assn. (1991)

Articles:                       

  • The Status Of Sovereign Immunity In New JerseyProposed Legislative Reform (with Sonia Morgan); New Jersey Law Journal, July 4 and 11, 1968
  • The Right To Clients; New Jersey State Bar Journal, Spring 1972
  • How To Achieve A Reputation As A Successful Trial Attorney; New Jersey State Bar Journal, Summer 1976
  • Visual Persuasion In Trial Advocacy; New Jersey State Bar Journal, Spring 1978
  • Kenny's Immutable Laws of Jury Selection;  New Jersey State Bar Journal, Spring 1979
  • How To Become A Partner; The Reporter, July 1981
  • Medicalese Made Medically Easy; New Jersey Lawyer, Spring 1984
  •  Opening To Win; New Jersey Lawyer, Summer 1984
  • Some Hints On Summation By W. Shakespeare; New Jersey Lawyer, Fall 1986
  • Evaluating And Negotiating Structured Settlements; New Jersey Law Journal, March 5 and 12, 1987
  • Making a Difference At Depositions; New Jersey Lawyer, November 1988
  • Informed Consent:  How to Avoid Lawsuits By "Prudent" Patients; Journal of The New Jersey Dental Assn., Summer 1990
  • Let Imagination Guide the Course of Litigation; New Jersey Law Journal, November 6, 1992
  • Effective Deposition:  Tips on Trials' Key Tool; New Jersey Law Journal, November 23, 1992

News & Insights

News

Publications

Honors

Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (since 1982)

Diplomate [highest rank] of the American Board of Trial Advocates

Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Best Lawyers in America (2013-2024)
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Insurance Law
  • "Lawyer of the Year" (Newark): Insurance Law (2022)

New Jersey Super Lawyers (2005-2006, 2008-2020)

Please see Honor and Award Methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Education

Rutgers University (J.D.)

Seton Hall University (B.S., Economics)

Admissions

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