Kenna reflects on his practice: "Throughout my career, I've enjoyed trying cases, and I very much enjoy arguing cases on appeal. Over the years, however, I've come to appreciate the art of resolving cases through negotiation, which is usually the resolution clients most desire. I've been able to negotiate compromise resolutions that were highly favorable to my clients. The keys to achieving this are viewing the cases objectively, maintaining a professional and mutually respectful working relationship with the opposing counsel, and, of course, being prepared to take the case to trial if necessary.”

Current Employment Position:

 

Member

Areas of Practice:

 

Bad Faith

Commercial Environmental Litigation

Commercial Insurance

Complex Litigation

Insurance Subrogation

Life & Health

Multidistrict Litigation

Pharmaceutical Products

Premises Liability

Products Liability

Property & Casualty

Wrongful Death

Litigation Percentage:

 

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:

 

Mississippi

U.S. District Court - Northern District of Mississippi

U.S. District Court - Southern District of Mississippi

U.S. District Court - Western District of Tennessee

U.S. District Court - Middle District of Florida

U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

Education:

 

University of Mississippi School of Law

  Oxford, Mississippi, 1982, J.D.

   Honors: cum laude
   Honors: Moot Court Board

 

Delta State University

  Cleveland, Mississippi, 1979, B.A.
  Major: Political Science

Representative Cases:

 

Allgood v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 543 F. Supp. 2d 591 (S.D. Miss. 2008)

 

Washington v. Am. Heritage Life Ins. Co., 500 F. Supp. 2d 610 (N.D. Miss. 2007)

 

Allstate Life Ins. Co. v. Estate of Reed, 619 F. Supp. 2d 262 (S.D. Miss. 2007)

 

McCrory v. Ryobi Techs., Inc., No. 3:05CV218TSL-JCS, 2007 WL 1140663 (S.D. Miss. Apr. 13, 2007)

 

First Colony Life Ins. Co. v. Sanford , 480 F. Supp. 2d 870 (S.D. Miss. 2007) 

 

Williams v. Smith, 350 F. Supp. 2d 739 (S.D. Miss. 2004) 

 

Ross v. Citifinancial, Inc., 344 F.3d 458 (5^th Cir. 2003)

 

Guice v. Miss. Life Ins. Co., 836 So. 2d 756 (Miss. 2003)

 

Ellis v. Wash. Mut. Fin. Group, LLC, No. Civ.A.01-CV-144, 2002 WL 32163527 (S.D. Miss. May 8, 2002) 

 

McCurtis v. Dolgencorp, Inc., 968 F. Supp. 1158 (S.D. Miss. 1997) 

 

McArthur v. Time Ins. Co., 889 F. Supp. 938 (S.D. Miss. 1995)

 

U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co. v. B & B Oil Well Serv., Inc., 910 F. Supp. 1172 (S.D. Miss. 1995)

 

King v. Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co., 908 F. Supp. 1395 (S.D. Miss. 1995)

 

Williams ex rel. Williams v. Jackson Stone Co., 867 F. Supp. 454 (S.D. Miss. 1994)

 

King v. Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co., 23 F.3d 926 (5^th Cir. 1994)

 

Mass. Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Nicholson, 775 F. Supp. 954 (N.D. Miss. 1991)

 

Carroll v. Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 789 F. Supp. 217 (S.D. Miss. 1991)

 

Chambers v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 776 F. Supp. 1166 (S.D. Miss. 1991)

 

Washington v. McComb Motel Co., 759 F. Supp. 329 (S.D. Miss. 1990)

 

Bradshaw v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 558 So. 2d 1391 (Miss. 1990)

 

McDaniel v. Ritter, 556 So. 2d 303 (Miss. 1989)

 

Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 725 F. Supp. 317 (S.D. Miss. 1989)

 

Cabell Elec. Co. v. Pac. Ins. Co., 655 F. Supp. 625 (S.D. Miss. 1987)

 

Butler v. Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co., 617 F. Supp. 724 (S.D. Miss. 1985)   

 

Classes/Seminars Taught:

 

Bad Faith Litigation in Mississippi, National Business Institute, 2000

Honors and Awards:

 

Mid-South Super Lawyer - 2008 and 2009

 

Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, 2010 and 2011

International Association of Defense Counsel

  1991 - Present

   Member

 

Defense Research Institute

  1991 - Present

   Member

American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practices   Sections

   Member, Life and Health Insurance Committees

Mississippi State Bar

   Member

Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association

   Member

Hinds County Bar Association

   Member

Christ United Methodist Church, Jackson, Mississippi

   Past Chairman of Administrative Board

Fraternities/Sororities:

 

Omicron Delta Kappa

Kappa Alpha Order

 

Birth Information:

 

1957, El Paso, Texas