Longtime Las Vegas attorney Galane dies

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001 | 9:57 a.m.

Noted Las Vegas attorney Morton Galane at times addressed juries in almost a whisper, yet the jurors would hang on the edge of their seats to absorb every word because he made even the most common evidence seem intriguing.

Galane also was known for his "meticulous" preparation for trials, his concise arguments and a knack for winning high-profile cases that for nearly a half century garnered his clients millions of dollars.

Morton R. Galane, a one-time nominee to the federal bench, whose clients included entertainer Wayne Newton in a libel suit against NBC for a report that alleged mob ties, died Tuesday at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. He was 75.

The cause of death was not immediately known. But Galane had heart problems dating back to his first heart attack in September 1972 in Los Angles, where he was representing Las Vegan Robert Maheu in his libel suit against his former employer, reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 47 years will be 2:30 p.m. Friday at Palm Mortuary Eastern. Visitation will be 2-7 p.m. Burial will be in Palm Valley View Cemetery following a 2:30 p.m. graveside service Friday. Arrangements are being handled by King David Memorial Chapel and Cemetery.

"I think I learned to speak softly by watching Mort Galane work," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., a longtime friend and a fellow attorney. "What made him such a good lawyer was that he would take on an issue and not get off of it until it was over.

"Once, he and Oscar Goodman drove to Salt Lake City for a case, and Mort didn't say a word the whole trip. He was just so absorbed in the case and nothing else."

Goodman, who was a clerk for Galane in 1965, said Galane "was without peer."

"He was ethical, diligent, brilliant and fearless -- and he loved the law," the Las Vegas mayor said. "He was a David who slew giants, and he would never turn down a case just because it meant hard work."

Attorney and friend John Moran Jr. said Galane's No. 1 concern was taking care of his clients.

"He was meticulous in his briefing and presentation. He was very dynamic and a gentleman who had a tremendous grasp on what the law is all about."

In 1982 Galane was recommended by then-Sen. Paul Laxalt as a federal judge in Las Vegas to replace Roger Foley, who was going on senior status. President Ronald Reagan nominated Galane for the job on July 19, 1982.

On March 10, 1983, Galane withdrew his name from nomination in a letter to Reagan, saying he "prized the honor" but said his "main efforts should be directed toward advocacy in court litigation."

Galane is featured in the 1989 John Jenkins book "The Litigators" about attorneys who have won huge judgments.

Some of Galane's biggest court victories:

Born March 15, 1926, in the Bronx, New York, Galane graduated from George Washington University and came to Las Vegas in 1952 to try an anti-trust case before U.S. District Judge Roger Foley, the father of the man he almost replaced as judge.

Two years later, Galane moved to Las Vegas and worked for the firm of Hawkins & Cannon before opening his own office in 1955. Galane served as special counsel to then-Gov. Laxalt 1967-70 and chairman of the Governors Commission on the Future of Nevada 1979-80.

In 1968 Galane was appointed as Nevada campaign manager for Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in Rockefeller's unsuccessful bid for the presidency.

Galane is survived by his second wife, Joyce Galane of Las Vegas; a son, Jon Galane of Las Vegas; two daughters, Suzanne Duvall of Bethesda, Md., and Susan Gold of Boulder, Colo.; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rosalind Galane.