Reno Attorney Vivian Lynch Dies

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Lynch died Saturday at her home of an apparent heart attack. She was 56.

Lynch represented former Washoe District Judge Jerry Carr Whitehead in his battle against the state Judicial Discipline Commission that erupted into a long, bitter feud that splintered the Nevada Supreme Court.

"I practiced law for 36 years and in that time frame, I think Vivian had one of the keenest legal minds of anyone I ever met," Whitehead said. "She shaped and trained many young lawyers in the analysis of cases and fighting for the right."

Lynch also was part of a team of lawyers who sued the British rock band Judas Priest, claiming satanic subliminal messages in the group's music caused two Sparks youths to shoot themselves in 1985.

A native of Detroit, Lynch was born June 17, 1940 to Edward and Winifred Grant Lynch, and had lived in Reno since 1968.

She practiced law from 1961 until her retirement in 1995.

She is survived by sons, David and Edward A. Rubin and daughter, Tuesday Lynch, all of Reno; sisters, Joanne Reausse of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Shannon Miklofsky of Tucson, Ariz., and seven grandchildren.

The memorial service is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Ross, Burke & Knobel Mortuary.