In the News
Because our lawyers are industry leaders, there are always exciting and important things happening at CKT&F. Check out what’s new below.
2020
August 2020: Goethals, Hammer and Sequoia Make Partner
Carroll, Kelly, Trotter & Franzen is very pleased to announce that the following attorneys have become partners of the firm in the Long Beach office.
Patrick J. Goethals
Heather L. Hammer
Mercedes C. Sequoia
Congratulations!
2019
2019: Richard D. Carroll Lands Prestigious ABOTA CA Trial Attorney of the Year
CKT&F Law is thrilled to congratulate Richard D. Carroll on being awarded California Trial Lawyer of the Year.
Annually, the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) presents one California trial lawyer with this incredible honor.
ABOTA was first created in 1958 with the goal of defending and preserving the rights granted to all American citizens by the 7th Amendment to the Constitution (particularly the right to a trial by jury).
This organization remains “invitation only”, and is comprised of the finest lawyers and judges in America. The recipient of this specific award is chosen through the majority vote of the CAL-ABOTA board of directors (originally formed in 1977), which is comprised of officers from each of the eight local chapters.
These officers represent more than 1,500 California ABOTA members. Because this is the highest honor a California Trial Honor can receive, the recipient must meet several criteria and exhibit several distinguishing traits.
He or she must prove excellence in advocacy, have a reputation for civility, ethics, and fair play, and have obtained a distinguished career. The general criteria for selection of California Trial Lawyer of the Year requires that the selected individual also have participated in an outstanding result.
Before being considered, Richard Carroll had to submit a written and oral presentation to the board. Based on his acclaimed career and extensive accomplishments, he was ultimately presented with this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime achievement award.
Congratulations, Richard!
2019: Michael J. Trotter Receives ABOTA Lee B. Wenzel ABOTA Civility Award
We are pleased to announce that Michael J. Trotter is this year’s (2020) recipient of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Los Angeles Chapter Lee B. Wenzel ABOTA Civility Award.
The award honors attorneys for civility and professionalism in the courtroom and the practice of law who “elevate the standards of integrity, honor, and courtesy in the legal profession”.
2019: New Partners in San Diego & Long Beach Welcomed
Carroll, Kelly, Trotter & Franzen is pleased to announce the following partners of the firm in 2019:
N. Ben Cramer (San Diego)
Callan W. Franklin (Long Beach)
Michael T. Mertens (San Diego)
2017
July 2017: Heather Hall Made Partner
2013
October 2013: Firm Name Change
He has successfully represented clients against claims of professional/medical negligence, elder abuse, general liability, products liability , and sexual misconduct. Mr. Peabody practices out of the San Diego and Long Beach offices. He has had several prominent verdicts featured in both legal and new publications. He is a three time recipient of the “Super Lawyers” award and maintains an active role in the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel. In his spare time, Mr. Peabody enjoys mountain biking and coaching youth basketball, baseball, and soccer.
"Friend of the Court" Efforts to Protect MICRA [Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act]
In Flores, the Court of Appeal refused to apply the MICRA one-year statute of limitations to the circumstance of a hospital patient falling when the rail of a hospital bed collapsed. Instead, the Court of Appeal applied the two-year statute generally applicable to other types of personal injury actions. That decision would have necessarily also deprived the hospital of other MICRA protections, including the $250,000 limit on noneconomic damages.
On May 21, 2013, all seven justices of the California Supreme Court voted to grant review (four votes needed).
Among the arguments asserted in support of the request for review was that a hospital is a health care provider and part of its professional obligation is to provide patients with beds and to provide for patients’ safety. Because the injury alleged in Flores arose from the alleged failure of the hospital to comply with its duties of its license as a health care provider, it was asserted to the Supreme Court that MICRA should apply.
The immediate effect of the grant of review is that the decision of the Court of Appeal is no longer citable authority. No litigant or court in California can now point to the Court of Appeal’s decision in Flores to support any argument or ruling.
Hopefully, the Supreme Court granted review because it disagreed with the reasoning of the Court of Appeal and will render a decision instructing that MICRA is to be applied to all cases alleging acts or omissions connected with the duties of a health care provider’s license.
2012
December 2012: Mark Franzen Presentation
August 2012: Mark Franzen and Jennifer Sturges Presentation
August 2012: Mark Franzen Presents "Shoulder Dystocia Seminar"
July 2012: Mark Franzen Presentation
2011
CKTF Adopts Several Salvation Army Families for the Holidays
December 2011: Brenda Ligorsky Conducts Webinar Regarding Pressure Ulcers
October 2011: Mark Franzen Speaks at California Emergency Physicians of America
Summer 2011: Brenda Ligorsky on Documentation in Wound Cases
August 2011: Matthew Trotter and Brenda Ligorsky at Centinela Hospital and West Anaheim Medical Center
This presentation attempted to highlight the pitfalls commonly faced in depositions involving wound care. Matthew Trotter also presented “Charting 101″ on September 26, 2011 to the nurses and staff at West Anaheim Medical Center. These presentations focused on the issues commonly addressed in nursing depositions.
January 2011: Brenda Ligorsky and Nora J. Hite at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center
2010
November 2010: Red Cross Thanks CKTF Employees for Their Donations
November 2010: Jennifer Sturges to Speak at 5th Annual Congress on Aesthetic Vaginal Surgery
This year’s conference, entitled “Education Without Barriers” is being held at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain in Tucson, Arizona from November 14-15, 2010. Ms. Sturges will speak about medical/legal issuesand how to take a pro-active approach in management.
October 2010: Dmitriy Cherepinskiy is named CKTF’s Newest Partner
2009
July 2009: San Diego Office to Open on July 1st
2008
November 2008: Richard Carroll at Loyola Law School
August 2008: Richard Carroll at CAALA’s Annual Convention
July 2008: CKT&F’s Newest Partners
May 2008: CKT&F and SCAHRM
April 2008: CKT&F’s Las Vegas Office Relocates
April 2008: CKT&F’s Website
2007
July 2007: Forbes Magazine
2005
September 2005: Metropolitan News-Enterprise Article
March 2005: Los Angeles Business Journal Article
2004
January 2004: Law.com Article
1999
February 1999: Money and Medicine
February 1999: Verdicts & Settlements
February 19, 1999 – Richard Carroll is featured in the Litigator Q&A column of the special medical malpractice issue of the Verdicts & Settlements Supplement to the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals
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