Geoffrey Fieger

Geoffrey Fieger is an American attorney. Based in Southfield, Michigan [ [http://www.fiegerlaw.com/ "Law practice homepage" - fiegerlaw.com] , retrieved 9/08/07] , he represented Dr. Jack Kevorkian in his doctor-assisted suicide trial, and later ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic nominee for governor of Michigan in 1998. According to his law firm's own website, he has won more multi-million dollar awards than any other attorney in the country. [ [http://www.fiegerlaw.com/about_geoffrey_fieger.html "Who Is Geoffrey Fieger?" - fiegerlaw.com] , 9/08/07]

Fieger is also known for his highly abrasive nature, which included public accusations against current Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, who was involved in an extramarital affair. During the 1998 Michigan governor's race, he insinuated that his Republican opponent was the product of a human/animal mating. He also was reported to have said, "rabbis are closer to Nazis than they think." [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/keyraces98/stories/mi092498.htm "Brash Candidate a Problem in Michigan" - WashingtonPost.com] , 9/24/98]

Fieger appeared as one of the attorneys on the reality TV show "Power of Attorney", and was opposing counsel in an episode of NBC's "The Law Firm". He is developing another reality show, "Fieger and Associates".

Fieger was involved with other high profile cases:
*He represented the family of Scott Amedure, in a 1999 wrongful death negligent suit against "The Jenny Jones Show".
*He represented the family of Isaiah Shoels, who was killed in the Columbine High School massacre.
*He defended Ralf Panitz, a guest who appeared on a segment of "The Jerry Springer Show" that aired called "Secret Mistresses Confronted" with his new wife Eleanor Panitz and ex-wife Nancy Campbell-Panitz, convicted of murdering his ex-wife Nancy Campbell-Panitz in July 2000. He was considering representing Nancy Campbell-Panitz's sons, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jerry Springer, his producers, and his distributors, Universal TV in July 2002. Both Gary and Jeffrey Campbell claim that Springer created "a mood that led to murder".
*On April 10 2006, Fieger announced that he plans to file suit against the City of Detroit for not taking seriously a 911 call by Robert Turner, a 6 year old boy, resulting in the death of his mother, Sherrill. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/10/911.lawsuit/index.html "Suit filed over boy's ignored 911 call" - CNN.com] , 4/10/06]
* One day following the announcement of the Turner case, he announced that he is also representing Lorraine Hayes, who called 911 on January 12 2005, because her boyfriend shot her in the head and chest. Her call was ignored, and as a result she became paralyzed from the waist down [ [http://www.wxyz.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15924_4612957,00.html "Second 911 Lawsuit" - WXYZ News] , 4/11/06] .

Fieger is the older brother of Doug Fieger, lead vocalist of the late-70s/early-80s rock group The Knack, best known for their hit song, "My Sharona".

Fieger graduated from the Detroit College of Law, now the Michigan State University College of Law, where he donated four million dollars to start the nation's first trial practice institute for law students, which was named the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute in his honor. [ [http://newsroom.msu.edu/site/indexer/861/content.htm "Gift Establishes First Institute For Law Students" - newsroom.msu.com] , 9/08/07]

In 2005 a federal grand jury began investigating Fieger regarding allegations that he, his employees, their families, and law firm vendors donated more than $100,000 to the 2004 Democratic presidential campaign of John Edwards in violation of federal election laws. On August 21, 2007 the grand jury returned a 30-page, 10-count indictment against Fieger and his law partner Ven Johnson, charging Fieger with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, making illegal campaign contributions and causing false statements. On June 2nd, 2008 he was acquitted of all charges. Fieger has described the case as an example of political prosecution [http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080602/NEWS06/80602036/1003/news01] when interviewed on the radio show Ring of Fire [http://www.ringoffireradio.com/show.asp?jid=223] .

References

External links

* [http://www.fansoffieger.com/ Fans of Fieger homepage]
* Six-part special in the Detroit Free Press on Fieger (articles archived by the Internet Archive):
** Part 1, [http://web.archive.org/web/20050209154251/www.freep.com/news/extra2/15005.htm Behind the mouth]
** Part 2, [http://web.archive.org/web/20041216134200/www.freep.com/news/extra2/15005a.htm His father's son]
** Part 3, [http://web.archive.org/web/20050118092012/www.freep.com/news/extra2/15005b.htm Kevorkian's choice]
** Part 4, [http://web.archive.org/web/20041216134132/www.freep.com/news/extra2/15005c.htm Trickery and bluster]
** Part 5, [http://web.archive.org/web/20050116094735/www.freep.com/news/extra2/15005d.htm 'The play is the thing']
** Part 6, [http://web.archive.org/web/20041216134245/www.freep.com/news/extra2/15005e.htm Price of fame]