Long Beach has changed a fair bit since the founders of Kelly, Trotter & Franzen first hung a shingle there in late August 1994.
"When we came down here, Long Beach was more Navy bars and tattoo parlors, and it was inexpensive," recalled founding partner John C. Kelly. "It has grown tremendously. There are fabulous restaurants. Freeway access is very good. And while it's not cheap, it's a lot less expensive than say Century City."
Kelly teamed up with close friends and colleagues Michael J. Trotter and Richard D. Carroll to launch the medical malpractice defense firm 30 years ago, hoping that a homebase in Long Beach would help them better serve clients in both Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Although Carroll left the firm a little over a year ago to tackle plaintiffs' work, the three attorneys remain good friends, according to Trotter.
"He's gone on to a new chapter with his professional career," Trotter said. "But he's our buddy ... and we wish him well."
Home these days to 40 attorneys, with an additional office in San Diego, Kelly, Trotter & Franzen has stayed true to its medical malpractice defense roots over the past three decades.
"We do some pharmaceutical work, and we'll do some medical device work," Trotter said. "But we're primarily representing doctors and hospitals."
Neither Trotter nor Kelly anticipated the firm would grow to its current size.
"We thought we'd just be a small mom-and-pop operation," Trotter said. "But 30 years later, this is where we are. It's been a great ride, and I wouldn't change a thing."
Kelly said he is especially proud of the very low turnover rate at his firm.
"For example, we have 10 people that have been working here for more than 15 years," he explained. "We have 14 people that have worked here for more than 25 years. ... At a time where people are jumping firms all the time for a lot of reasons, we seem to be able to attract really good lawyers, and then they don't leave."
Kelly and Trotter worked together at a previous firm on medical malpractice defense in the early 1990s before striking out together, and both said part of the practice area's appeal was the opportunity to try cases.
"When you represent physicians, because they have the ability to consent or not consent to a settlement, you end up trying more cases because they have their reputations at stake," Trotter explained. "They oftentimes aren't looking just to make financial settlements. They are going to fight for what's right and for their reputation. So early on, I realized that if you want to be a trial attorney, representing physicians is a great way to go."
"Most of these people are good people, and most of these people are really doing it for the right reasons, and they take it personally when they get sued," Kelly said.
"They may have a bad result, but it may not be the result of medical malpractice," Kelly continued. "So, to stand up in front of a jury, explain the medicine, explain what they did and why they did it, and to get a defense verdict on their behalf - I'm not sure there are many people that are more appreciative of that than health care providers. And it's very rewarding. I really feel like I'm helping these people in a very difficult situation."
Irvine plaintiffs' attorney Daniel M. Hodes said he's opposed Kelly, Trotter & Franzen on several cases over the past 30 years, and he described the firm as a stand-up bunch of hardworking lawyers.
"They work with integrity," Hodes said. "They're straightforward, they are refreshingly candid to deal with and very professional. ... When they show up on a file, I know the file will be very well worked up, very well defended. They try cases when they should try cases, and they settle cases when they should settle cases."
Hodes noted he's been opposing Kelly on one medical malpractice matter for seven years.
"John is a consummate professional. He's honest and trustworthy and is a very formidable adversary," said Hodes, who offered similar praise for Trotter.
"I can take Mike's handshake to any bank in the country," Hodes said. "I like being against them because I know it's going to be a well-fought fight, and nobody's going to try and pull a fast one. Everything's going to be above board. ... They really are consummate professionals in what they do."