Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / July 14, 1988, edition 1 / Page 3
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tsl(ennedy brothers named Lawyers of the Year Thursday, July 14, 1988 Winston-Salem Cbronide Page A3 direc, fc, robin BARKSDALE I iide staff Write, ^ Hours in front of the television as youngsters, watching "Perry Liason" and "Judd for the Defense," s paid off for Harold and Mar ie, Kennedy. The twins got an extra surprise on their birthday then they were named the Lawyers r p,e year by the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers. Harold L. Kennedy III and sey L. Kennedy II! were recog- £d June 25 during the organiza- L„'s annual convention. The Iward, the highest honor given by ; association, recognizes lawyers lo have made outstanding coniri- most Americans would probably be very appalled at the racial harass ment that Is practiced on some jobs." The Kennedys report also that instances of racial harassment occur more frequently than the public is made aware of, but that several fac tors often prevent them from com- ing to light. A lot of cases get lost in the system," Harold said. "If the court rules in favor of Brenda Patterson, you 11 see more types of these cases tried in the courts." The case already has attracted the attention and support of civil rights advocates across the nation. The Kennedys said that 119 mem- «areas! edovetl iibs[aD.f a?o,[ a cornel •ard ofj policy I i many I oardofl interonl Hwis- devel-1 1 rede-1 Win-1 'drying lo run blacks ojj oj their jobs is one of the ■ Lorsf forms of discrimination. I think most Americans JLould probably be very appalled at the racial harassment that is practiced on some jobs." — Harold L. Kennedy III ilions in their field for the year. "It was a tremendous feeling," raid said of the brothers' award, 'll is a great honor to be honored by le North Carolina Association of Hack Lawyers." The award comes on the heels f a year during which the lennedys were involved in several Lminent cases. Throughout their careers, they also have argued cases which have resulted in landmark decisions in North Carolina. Cur rently, the pair has a case pending Ibefore the U.S. Supreme Court. 'One of the reasons we :eived the award was because of |tlie cases we have been working said Harvey, who is two min- jutes younger than his brother. "A [loi of those cases have resulted in Inew laws in North Carolina." The Supreme Court case, Bren- [da Patterson vs. McLean Credit lunion, will be re-argued before the wurt in the fall. The Kennedys said itie case is significant because it linvolves racial harassment and, more importantly, because it could IWplo preserve privileges awarded mier the Runyon vs. McCrory iteon. That decision, the Jfofiedys said, "opened things up" f/or Afro-Americans. Harold said that the facts of llhai case represent one of the major llhreats to equality in the country's Jworkplaces. "Trying to run blacks off of ilheir jobs is one of the worst forms ■of discrimination," he said. "I think bers of the House of Representa tives have come out in support of upholding the Runyon-McCrory decision in the case. The attorney generals in all of the southern states also have supported the Kennedys' position in the Patterson case. The Kennedys also tried a case of sexual harassment in 1986 which resulted in the highest jury award ever given in the state at the time. The jury, in the case of Comatzer vs. Forsyth Counuy Club, awarded $900,000 to the plaintiff. One of the Kennedys’ other landmark cases involved a decision handed down against the Housing Authority of High Point, a case which resulted in the establishment of several new laws in the state. The case became the first case in North Carolina where the state's Supreme Court said that persons could receive punitive damages against a municipal company for wrongful death. The ruling also made it easier for tenants to sue landlords. But, Harold said, for Afro-Americans, the decision in the case had even more important results. "It was a civil case, but it affected the lower court because it was decided that lawyers could not use pre-emptory challenges to take blacks off juries," he said. "That practice violated the North Carolina Constitution. It is so important that blacks feel that they're going to get a fair trial." Harold said that the decision in [Loans available for E. Winston businesses jByVALERIE ROBACK GREGG I Chronicle Staff Writer _ The city loan program for Ismail businesses located in the ■city’s downtown area now includes ■businesses in parts of East Winston, ■city Economic Development Coor- ■ (linator Frieda Williams said Mon- |day. Small businesses located - or ■ who wish to locate - in East Win- ■ ston districts labelled "pockets of ■ poverty" can apply for a loan ■ between $1,500 and $30,000. The I can be used to buy property ■ for economic development purpos- |cs, to use as working capital or I operating funds, or to buy, construct I or renovate commercial buildings ■ and equipment. The maximum ■ •cmi for the loan is five years at a 7 I percent yearly interest rate. Qualifying small businesses ■ ^ust have a maximum net worth of I ^ '’billion and a net profit, after ■ jaxes, averaging less than $2 mil- 1 on during the two previous years. I ®^crence will be given to busi- I a good credit rating, but I 0 city will consider applicants Ia history of accounts up to 30 I ys past due. Applicants with School board From Page A1 I '^‘’’^can woman who is assistant I‘^“>0 superintendent. I,. ’ officials said, however, I not want to name an I ‘ag superintendent who might fposS'^ ^PPly for the permanent the case, with regard to pre-emptory challenges, meant that lawyers no longer could arbitrarily remove Afro-Americans from the jury because of their race. The Kennedys, who both received their undergraduate degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said that while their firm handles "a wide variety of law," they special ize in trying civil litigation cases. That category, they said, includes medical malpractice, sexual harass ment, insurance "bad faith" cases, negligence cases, wrongful death and workers' compensation cases. "We enjoy practicing law and helping people who have been wronged by other people or large corporations," Harold said. Harvey, who received his law degree from Harvard University, joined his parents' law firm in 1977; Harold, who received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, joined the firm in 1978, after spending a year with the NFL Players' Association. Both said that there was never any doubt about the careers they would pursue. "We grew up in a home where law was very much a pan of our lives," Harold said. "We used to watch all kinds of those lawyer shows, like Perry Mason and Judd for the Defense. We always knew that that's what we wanted to do." "When we were growing up we also used to go down to the court house and watch the lawyers try bankruptcy or repossessions on their credit report will, in most cases, be ineligible. To apply for an economic development loan, borrowers must submit an application specifying the loan amount, purpose, collateral, and source of loan repayment lo the city Economic Development office. Areas designated as pockets of poverty must house at least 10,000 people or 10 percent of the city's population. At least 70 percent of the residents must have an average income below 80 percent of the city's median income, and at least 30 percent of the residents must have incomes below the national poverty line, according to Joseph J, Sauser, city housing planning coor dinator. Other factors include the age of the area's housing, a high vacan cy rate, the low-income level of res idents, the condition of available housing, and the presence of low- and moderate-income households living in substandard housing units. The requirements were defined by the federal Deparuneni of Housing and Urban Development, the Trea sury Department and the North Car olina Department of Housing Financing. A cases," Harvey said. "It was the most exciting thing for us at that time." The twins said also that being able to come into their parents' law firm has been an additional bonus in their careers. Their parents, Harold Kennedy Jr. and Annie Brown Kennedy, they said, provide them the opportunity to practice with attorneys who have had years of experience in practicing law. "It's very beneficial when you can work with your parents - people who have had a lot of experience,” Harold said. "It’s the ideal law prac tice when young lawyers can work with experienced lawyers." When not in the courtroom, the brothers spend time participating in several activities and organizations within the community. They also have a passion for uavelling, which has taken them across the country and lo vacation spots outside of the country. Harvey said that their mother worked closely with them on many of their major cases. He said also that the credit for their selection as lawyers of the year must be shared by several people. "We’ve had tremendous support from people in other areas, like black doctors, psychologists, psychi atrists and other professionals. They've all been very helpful to us in trying cases," Harvey said. "This award also is really more of a firm award because of the support we've had from our parents." 1 * m photo by MiKC Cunnirgham Top Honors Lawyers Harold, sitting, and Harvey Kennedy recently were named Lawyers of the Year during the N.C. Black Lawyers Association convention. The recoanition is the association's highest honor. CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS! CALL 722-8624 TODAY AND SEE FOR YOURSELF! 1 /i!L [x[zl~[\lzS — About 30 Afro-American com- munily leaders turned oul for a spe cial school board meeting a few weeks ago, during which lime the j board discussed the process for selecting a new superintendent. Public inpul was not allowed at that time. iMI SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Oisease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy.
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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July 14, 1988, edition 1
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