In Memoriam

The attorneys and staff at Wilson Kehoe & Winingham sadly announce the passing of our friend and colleague of 20 years, Gerald L. “Jerry” Lawlis.  Jerry was an intelligent and valued attorney whose contributions were vital not only to successfully securing clients’ futures, but also making substantial impact on issues of public safety.

It was Jerry who conducted all of the mountains of research necessary to prove the unreasonableness of non child resistant multipurpose lighters.  These efforts played a role in the Consumer Product Safety Commission recognizing the hundreds of preventable catastrophic burn injuries and deaths.  We continue to call the push button safety feature the “Billy” button in memory of our client whose cause Jerry helped champion.            

In similar fashion it was Jerry’s research and discovery that contributed to semi flatbed trailers being required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be marked by retro reflecting red and silver tape.  In marshaling proof of its protective effect in night recognition of flat bed trailers, Jerry worked all night with a California film crew to replicate with scientific accuracy a highway collision, capturing the events on 16 mm film.

In his later years Jerry was admired for his knowledge and skill of photography which he utilized both forensically and artistically.  He was instrumental in the establishment of the Indiana Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Committee to assist lawyers in reaching a healthier lifestyle.  Jerry was also a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

Most of all we will miss the ever present smile of a kind and gentle man.  His life was one of dignity and accomplishment.