A Tribute to Jerry Tarnoff from Partner & General Counsel David Piedra

Yesterday, February 27, 2022, marked the seventh anniversary of the passing of our dear friend, mentor, and partner, the late great Jerry Tarnoff.  I would like to take a moment to share a remembrance of him. 

Jerry was a gifted litigator, political mover and shaker, sometimes-indelicate raconteur, and masterful solver-of-problems of all kinds. But to me, one of Jerry’s best attributes was his eagerness to parachute into cases when things were going sideways and help to right the ship.  Jerry was absolutely unflappable in the face of adversity and always willing to argue the unwinnable motion before a skeptical judge. And he came out on top almost every time. Jerry had no need to learn the details of a case to be successful – he was a big picture guy – and the niceties of civil procedure sometimes eluded him. But he had the preternatural ability to achieve great results with limited preparation.

Many of you have probably heard my story about a trial I handled with Jerry years ago. He was trying to exclude something from evidence, and was sparring with the adversary who kept trying to admit the evidence. When the judge peered over his glasses for the umpteenth time and asked Jerry to specify the grounds for his latest objection, Jerry replied, “I feel it in my kishkes.” The objection was sustained, and only Jerry could have pulled that off. And while I am not certain that objection would have held up on appeal, Jerry still achieved the result he sought. 

Jerry was truly one of a kind. For over 20 years, I had the honor and the privilege of working on dozens of motions, trials, and appeals with Jerry, and I am much richer for the experience. He was a great mentor to me, and was one of the firm’s great cheerleaders. I know that he is proud to see how the firm has flourished. I miss Jerry all the time. 

David A. Piedra
Partner & General Counsel
Morrison Cohen LLP