By: Elizabeth Galewski
Renowned personal injury law firm Parker & McConkie has filed a civil suit for the wrongful death of Berna Dean Klingenberg against her husband, Keith Klingenberg, on behalf of her surviving children.
“This case has been unsolved for nearly 30 years,” says Judson Burton, an attorney at Parker & McConkie. “For years, investigators identified Berna Dean’s death as a suicide, but her children never accepted that explanation. Now, the recently filed criminal charges have given Berna Dean’s children the information needed to seek justice with a civil lawsuit.”
Recent Charges Reopen 28-Year-Old Cold Case
When Berna Dean Klingenberg died on June 11, 1995, her two children — Erin Hennessy-Rennau and Michael Hennessy — were suddenly left without a mother.
The cause of Berna Dean’s death has long been a mystery. At the time, her children were told she committed suicide, but this did not strike them as likely.
“Our clients have long believed that their mother, Berna Dean Klingenberg, did not kill herself,” Burton says. “However, they did not know precisely what had happened.”
Detectives reopened the case and reexamined the evidence many years later. In particular, according to the criminal charges filed with the Third District Court in Salt Lake County, Utah, analysis of the blood splatters and the pattern of knife wounds revealed the likelihood of homicide. Prosecutors also allege that this evidence is inconsistent with Berna Dean’s husband, Keith Klingenberg’s testimony that he had been trying to help save his wife’s life.
In May 2023, prosecutors arrested Keith Klingenberg, who is not a blood relation to her surviving children, and charged him with first-degree murder in connection with her death. He is currently awaiting a criminal trial scheduled for October in the Salt Lake County Jail and is being held without bond.
According to Burton, these recent events have enabled Berna Dean’s surviving children to seek redress for their mother’s death, as well as dismiss the previous allegations of suicide through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits Explained
Filing a civil suit for wrongful death enables plaintiffs to achieve goals that a criminal case alone wouldn’t achieve.
“A civil lawsuit for wrongful death seeks compensation for the damages caused by the death of a loved one,” Burton explains. “During a wrongful death lawsuit, the plaintiff has the burden of proving both that these damages have been suffered and that the defendant caused them.”
The Parker & McConkie legal team filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Berna Dean’s surviving children in the Third Judicial District Court of Salt Lake County on February 26, 2024.
According to Burton, Berna Dean’s surviving children are pursuing this avenue in hopes of finally obtaining justice. “At the end of the day, they want whoever is responsible for their mother’s death to receive a fair trial and be held accountable,” he says.
Reputable Legal Team to Represent Survivors
Burton, Brian Stewart, and Bronson Bills will represent Berna Dean’s surviving children. “The team has considerable experience handling wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases,” Burton says.
As the owner of Parker & McConkie, Brian Stewart has handled a broad array of similar matters, including the wrongful death case of the University of Utah student Zhifan Dong. From 2012 until 2021, he litigated for the largest personal injury firm in Utah as part of their catastrophic injury team.
“Brian has advanced cases through all phases of litigation, including trial and appeal,” Burton says.
Attorneys Judson Burton and Bronson Bills have also assisted in a large number of wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. Before starting at Parker & McConkie, Burton worked as a litigator at Christensen & Jensen.
“My work has encompassed a variety of practice areas, including personal injury and appellate practice,” Burton says. “Those experiences have helped me refine my abilities as an advocate for my clients.”
Bills has represented clients in personal injury and litigation matters for nearly two decades. Most recently, he worked at the law firm of Eisenberg Lowrance Lundell Lofgren, focusing on medical malpractice cases.
“These matters are among the most difficult of any practice area,” Burton says. “Those difficulties honed Bronson’s abilities, not only as an advocate but also as an attorney with a keen eye for complex medical and evidentiary issues.”
The Legal Team Plaintiffs Can Trust
The stakes can be high for wrongful death lawsuits in general and the Berna Dean Klingenberg case in particular. That’s why Berna Dean’s surviving children chose Parker & McConkie as the law firm most deserving of their trust.
“Parker & McConkie has a history of excellence in representing people whose lives have been devastated and forever changed by medical error, catastrophic automobile and workplace injuries, and the wrongful death of their loved ones,” Burton says. “The staff of Parker & McConkie has the experience and passion to take these cases the distance and secure a just outcome for their clients.”
If you or someone you love has suffered personal injury or worse due to someone else’s negligence or malevolence, contact Parker & McConkie and schedule a free consultation without delay.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is provided for general knowledge. It does not constitute legal advice, and readers should seek advice from qualified legal professionals regarding particular cases or situations.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
