54 No. 72 JUSTICE he late Lee S. Kreindler (1924-2003) was a pioneer in the field of aviation accident law and authored an authoritative book on the subject, the first edition of which was published in 1963. He and his father, Harry, who established the firm Kreindler and Kreindler in Manhattan, represented passengers in nearly every major airline disaster in North America, and many further afield – and continues to do so. To that end, Lee was an outspoken and unrelenting opponent of the 1929 Warsaw Convention (and subsequent protocols signed in The Hague and Montreal), which severely capped liability in commercial airplane accidents. In the early 1960s, Kreindler had publicly warned of the dangers of establishing a heliport atop New York’s iconic Pan Am Building, insisting that a fatal accident in crowded mid-Manhattan was inevitable. In 1977, that warning was disregarded. Within months of reestablishing the service that had been cancelled in 1968, five people were killed and eight wounded when the landing gear of a chopper collapsed, and its rotor blade slammed into the tarmac sending a hail of shrapnel into those standing nearby and pedestrians on the street below. Appropriately entitled The Fight for Justice: Lee Kreindler and Lockerbie, this work on Lee Kreindler, which is authored by his widow, Ruth Kreindler (nee Bilgrei), and Chris Angermann, is a compelling and wellcrafted story that will certainly interest many readers outside our profession and those intrigued by airplane accidents. Although their story revolves around Kreindler’s quest for justice for the families aboard the ill-fated Pan Am Fight 103 blown up by Libya just before Christmas 1988, it also highlights an aspect of the practice of law that often goes unrecognized. Trial lawyers who deal with personal injury law focus almost entirely on litigation. In some ways, civil litigation mirrors criminal prosecution, as extensive investigation and discovery is involved. However, as is explained in this riveting narrative, the standards of proof are different, requiring “preponderance” rather than “reasonable doubt.” I am a commercial lawyer, and therefore my livelihood is not dependent on the outcome of verdicts in jury trials in which I have invested my own capital. Kreindler’s story, on the other hand, highlights the fact that personal injury lawyers in high stakes law suits face real challenges, both financially and emotionally. They are true attorneys, stepping into the shoes of their clients and acting on their behalf. Their duty to those they represent is a heavy burden. They must be zealous in their pursuit of justice. And in their business, “justice” is measured by the payment of monetary compensation, which, of course, can never really “compensate” anyone for the loss of a loved one – though it can ensure a family’s material wellbeing. As is well illustrated in this work, when litigating highstakes cases – law firms put their financial security on the line and at times, even the financial survival of their partners and staff. At times, like the one that is the subject of this book, they even skirt the edge of insolvency, going so far as to put their own homes up for collateral to secure a loan to pay their employees. It is a risky business, which may or may not succeed and yield the rewards for which they hope. When successful, they are richly rewarded for their efforts, but when they aren’t, the losses can be staggering. Although this volume is nearly 400 pages, it is a very quick and easy read. I devoured it cover to cover over the course of a single Shabbat afternoon – my favorite time for reading. Chris Angermann, the writer retained by Lee’s widow to assist her in telling this story, has a talent for writing history as though it were a Netflix drama. The fact that the story is not weighed down with footnotes and contextual or historical background can be a benefit or a drawback depending on the consumer. The authors take pains to explain that this book is not, Reviewed by Michael H. Traison T BOOK REVIEWS The Fight for Justice: Lee Kreindler and Lockerbie By Ruth Kreindler and Chris Angermann Sarasota, Florida: Bardolf & Company (2024, 394 pp.)
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