More detail on this person: I'm deeply sorry to
share the news that one of our former partners,
Eugene F. Bannigan, passed away on Tuesday
after a brief illness. He was 70. Gene came to
Morgan Lewis in 1994 and retired in 2006, serving
part of that time as leader of our New York
Litigation group and as a member of our New York
Office Management Committee. Our thoughts are
with Gene's wife, Kathe, and the rest of his
family.
A U.S. Army veteran who flew a combat helicopter
in Vietnam, Gene began his legal career as a
prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the
Southern District of New York, where he was an
Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Narcotics
Unit. He then practiced with Lord Day & Lord,
Barrett Smith before joining us. As his
background might imply, Gene was practical,
shrewd, and tough, and a gifted trial lawyer. Yet
he also was a patient and encouraging mentor,
generous in providing praise, opportunity, and a
sly smile, and showing genuine pride and pleasure
in the development and success of many
associates who are now partners. He was a loyal
partner _ a strong and decent human being who
always aimed to do the right thing.
Gene's practice at Morgan Lewis focused on
business and corporate litigation, and he
successfully tried dozens of cases and
arbitrations, many of them high profile. But
perhaps one of the best illustrations of Gene's
talent and integrity was his handling, while he
was a prosecutor, of a matter stemming from a
narcotics bust that went awry, resulting in the
killing of an undercover agent. Authorities were
embarrassed by the case, but Gene was
determined to secure justice, and he worked with
the FBI in the field to identify and arrest the
only surviving suspect in the incident, Ismael
Rivera. Two others had died at the scene.
Gene won an indictment against Rivera, but,
ultimately, jurors deadlocked after struggling
with a confusing aiding and abetting charge. Gene
was relentless. He retried the case, won a
conviction, and argued the appeal, eliciting an
admiring opinion by Judge Henry Friendly of the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The
opinion (United States v. Ismael Rivera, 513 F.
2d. 519 (2d Cir. 1975)) is online at
http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-cour
ts/F2/513/519/81325/. Rivera died in prison.
Outside of work, Gene remained passionate about
flying, and about his family. He was a loving
husband to Kathe and father to Elizabeth and Gene
Jr., and a doting grandfather to Charlotte, Niall
and Addison Quinn. After retiring, Gene also
continued to devote himself to the law, working as
a volunteer with the Office of the Palm Beach
County State Attorney.
A graveside service was scheduled for this morning
at the South Florida VA National Cemetery in Lake
Worth, Florida. The family suggests contributions
to Hospice of Palm Beach County, Inc., 5300 East
Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33407. You
may also express condolences or make donations
online at www.taylorandmodeen.com
Please join me in remembering Gene and all he
brought to Morgan Lewis.
From: Francis M. Milone, Morgan, Lewis &
Bockius LLP at fmilone@morganlewis.com
age 70, of Jupiter, FL passed away Tuesday,
November 15, 2011. Gene was a veteran of the US
Army and served as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.
After attending law school, he became an Assistant
United States Attorney for the Southern District
of New York and then practiced as a trial attorney
in New York City. He was recently a volunteer with
the Office of the Palm Beach County State
Attorney. Gene was also a member and president
of the 1st Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
the Palm Beaches. Survivors include his wife,
Kathe Bannigan; one daughter, Elizabeth Bannigan
and her husband Dennis Quinn, one son, Gene
Bannigan, three grandchildren, Charlotte, Niall
and Addison Quinn, one brother, Peter Bannigan
and one sister, Fran Cox.
A Graveside Service will be held at 11:15 AM,
Friday, November 18, 2011 at the South Florida VA
National Cemetery, Lake Worth, FL. The family
suggests contributions to Hospice of Palm Beach
County, Inc., 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach,
FL. 33407. For online condolences, please visit
www.taylorandmodeen.com
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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