Name David Kenyon | ||
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Education University of California, Berkeley | ||
David Vreeland Kenyon (September 10, 1930 – March 31, 2015) was an American lawyer and Federal judge in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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Early life
On September 10, 1930, Kenyon was born in San Marino, California.
Education
Kenyon received a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1952 and a J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School in 1957.
Career
Kenyon was a U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Officer from 1953 to 1954. Kenyon started his law career as a law clerk, Hon. Ernest A. Tolin, U.S. District Court, Central District of California from 1957 to 1958. Kenyon practiced law in Los Angeles, California from 1958 to 1959. Kenyon was a House counsel at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1959 to 1960. He was a House counsel, National Theatres and Television, Inc. from 1960 to 1961. Kenyon returned to private practice in Los Angeles, California from 1961 to 1971.
Kenyon was a judge on the Municipal Court of Los Angeles, California from 1971 to 1972. He was a judge on the Superior Court of Los Angeles, California from 1972 to 1980.
Kenyon was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Kenyon was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on June 20, 1980, to a seat vacated by Albert Lee Stephens, Jr.. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 29, 1980, and received his commission on September 30, 1980.
One of the first cases over which Kenyon presided was a dispute over ownership of the Marvel Comics character, Howard the Duck. On August 29, 1980, after learning of Marvel's efforts to license Howard for use in film and broadcast media, creator Steve Gerber filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Marvel corporate parent Cadence Industries and other parties, alleging that he was the sole owner of the character. This was one of the first highly publicized creator's rights cases in American comics, and attracted support from major industry figures. The lawsuit was settled on September 24, 1982, with Gerber acknowledging that his work on the character was done as work-for-hire and that Marvel parent Cadence Industries owned “all right, title and interest” to Howard the Duck and the Howard material he had produced. On November 5, 1982, Judge Kenyon approved the motion and dismissed the case.
Kenyon assumed senior status on October 27, 1995. Kenyon served in that capacity until July 31, 1997, due to retirement.
Personal
Kenyon died on March 31, 2015.