Lawyer Murdaugh Madden defended
clients in Red Scare cases.
( Family)
clients in Red Scare cases.
( Family)
| Murdaugh S. Madden |
Monday, February 4, 2008
Murdaugh S. Madden, 85, general counsel of the Humane Society of the United States from
1971 to 1990 who earlier had represented clients accused of disloyalty during the
anti-communist witch hunt, died Jan. 13 at George Washington University Hospital. He had
pneumonia. Mr. Madden spent more than two decades in private practice before joining the
Humane Society, where he remained senior counsel until his death.
1971 to 1990 who earlier had represented clients accused of disloyalty during the
anti-communist witch hunt, died Jan. 13 at George Washington University Hospital. He had
pneumonia. Mr. Madden spent more than two decades in private practice before joining the
Humane Society, where he remained senior counsel until his death.
As a young lawyer in the 1950s, he handled nearly 100 cases involving charges of disloyalty or
removal from government service for alleged communist sympathies.
removal from government service for alleged communist sympathies.
His clients included actor Marc Lawrence, who implicated other performers as communist
sympathizers before the House Un-American Activities Committee, and a Coast Guard seaman
who had initially been denied a commission because his mother had been a communist.
sympathizers before the House Un-American Activities Committee, and a Coast Guard seaman
who had initially been denied a commission because his mother had been a communist.
In another case, Mr. Madden was one of the lawyers who helped prove willful misconduct by
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in the aftermath of a 1954 crash in an estuary near Shannon Airport in
Ireland.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in the aftermath of a 1954 crash in an estuary near Shannon Airport in
Ireland.
The lawyers won a $350,000 wrongful-death verdict for the family of a Fairfax County
businessman, William Tuller, who survived the crash but drowned while waiting for help.
businessman, William Tuller, who survived the crash but drowned while waiting for help.
In 1961, Mr. Madden became a partner at the large Washington law firm started by Ramsay D.
Potts. Among the firm's clients was the Humane Society of the United States.
Potts. Among the firm's clients was the Humane Society of the United States.
As the society's general counsel, Mr. Madden played a role in the society's investigation into the bleaching of birds on the film set of
"Jonathan Livingston Seagull" (1973).
"Jonathan Livingston Seagull" (1973).
He also sued the Defense Department over its plan to kill millions of blackbirds near military facilities. The plan to kill them with a
chemical spray was stopped, but only temporarily, through the efforts of environmental and wildlife groups.
chemical spray was stopped, but only temporarily, through the efforts of environmental and wildlife groups.
Later, Mr. Madden's work concentrated on bequests to the Humane Society through estates and trusts, especially those that were
contested or required litigation. He also helped frame the original constitution of the World Society for the Protection of Animals.
contested or required litigation. He also helped frame the original constitution of the World Society for the Protection of Animals.
Murdaugh Stuart Madden was born Feb. 26, 1922, in Morgantown, W.Va. His family moved to Washington in 1935, when his father, J.
Warren Madden, became the first chairman of the National Labor Relations Board.
Warren Madden, became the first chairman of the National Labor Relations Board.
Mr. Madden was a graduate of the old Western High School, George Washington University (1942) and Harvard Law School (1948). He
served with the Army Air Forces in Europe during World War II.
served with the Army Air Forces in Europe during World War II.
He was an officer of many legal and animal protection associations and was a member of the Metropolitan and Chevy Chase clubs. His
avocations included playing the violin, tennis (he was team captain at GWU), squash, boating, skiing, ice skating and singing in
barbershop groups.
avocations included playing the violin, tennis (he was team captain at GWU), squash, boating, skiing, ice skating and singing in
barbershop groups.
In the mid-1960s, he led a partnership that won the rights to bring a professional soccer franchise to Washington, but the effort failed
when he was outbid for use of D.C. Stadium. The Madden group sold the franchise to a subsidiary of the Baltimore Orioles.
when he was outbid for use of D.C. Stadium. The Madden group sold the franchise to a subsidiary of the Baltimore Orioles.
His marriage to Louise Mann Madden ended in divorce. His second wife, Eileen Dillon Madden, died in 1996. A son from the first
marriage, Michael M. Madden, died in 1996.
marriage, Michael M. Madden, died in 1996.
Survivors include his wife of eight years, Constance McKenna Madden of Washington; two children from his first marriage, Liddell L.
Madden of Salisbury, Md., and M. Stuart Madden Jr. of Mount Vernon, N.Y.; four stepsons, Kevin McKenna of Alexandria, Brendan McKenna
of Ballina, Ireland, Damian McKenna of Binghamton, N.Y., and Kieran McKenna of Burke; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Madden of Salisbury, Md., and M. Stuart Madden Jr. of Mount Vernon, N.Y.; four stepsons, Kevin McKenna of Alexandria, Brendan McKenna
of Ballina, Ireland, Damian McKenna of Binghamton, N.Y., and Kieran McKenna of Burke; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
-- Adam Bernstein