South Haven, MI

Brian J. McKeen

Brian McKeen began practicing law in 1982. During his career, he has become a powerful advocate for his clients and one of the foremost medical malpractice attorneys in Michigan. He has tried cases throughout the United States. He currently sits on the executive boards of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Mr. McKeen formerly served as chair of the AAJ Professional Negligence Section, Medical Negligence Exchange Group and Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG). Since 2001, McKeen & Associates has generated the year's top verdict in Michigan four times, including securing the state's largest medical malpractice verdict on record in 2001, when a jury rendered a verdict award of $55 million in the case of Hall v Henry Ford Health System. McKeen & Associates also topped all Michigan verdict awards in 2002, with an award of $22.5 million in the case of Blazo v McLaren Regional Medical Center, et al; in 2006 with an award of $16 million in the case of Lowe v Henry Ford Health System; and in 2007, with an award of $35 million in the case of Oppenheim v Aeneas C. Guiney. Mr. McKeen was recently inducted to The Inner Circle of Advocates and named Top Attorneys in Michigan as published by The New York Times in September 2012.

Jody L. Aaron

Jody Aaron is an associate with McKeen & Associates. Jody has been practicing law since 1982, and during that time has devoted her career to representing those injured by the negligence of others, particularly in the area of medical malpractice. Jody rejoined the firm in 2019, after practicing with the firm for several years until 2012. During her time with the firm Jody has been involved in several cases resulting in multi-million verdicts and settlements. Her most significant cases involved birth trauma injuries and delays in cancer diagnoses. Jody is an a/v-rated Martindale Hubbell attorney who has been recognized with several distinctions including the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Respected Advocate Award; Michigan Lawyers Weekly Women in the Law Top 20; Detroit Business Top Lawyers; Best Lawyers in Michigan; Best Women Attorneys in Michigan; and is a perennial Super Lawyers awardee. Jody is extremely active in legal professional associations. She is a current executive board member and president of Michigan Association for Justice Women’s Caucus. She also sits on the board The American Association for Justice Women’s Caucus and the American Inn of Court, Oakland County. She is past chair of the Medical/Legal Committee and the Case Evaluation Committee for the Oakland County Bar Association; past vice chair of Medical/Legal Sub-committee and Circuit Court Committee for the Oakland County Bar Association and is an active member in Oakland County Bar Association and Detroit Bar Association. Jody is a mediator in the General Negligence and Medical Malpractice Designation for the Oakland County Circuit Court and a program director for Wayne State University Medical Law and Medicine Program. She is frequent guest speaker and moderator for professional associations and universities. She is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Jody was a special education teacher for developmentally challenged middle school students in the Ann Arbor School District. When she is not practicing law, Jody’s favorite pastime is spending time with her family at their cottage in Lewiston, where she enjoys bird watching, fishing and hiking.

David T. Tirella

"I have always had a strong desire to help others find their voice and justice." David Tirella David Tirella is a senior trial attorney at McKeen & Associates. He has spent the past 30 years practicing law in Michigan and Florida as a trial attorney helping medical malpractice, personal injury and crime victims. David is most proud to have achieved multi-million-dollar jury verdicts in three different areas of law - medical malpractice, automobile accident and premise liability. David joined McKeen & Associate in 2015, and within weeks was presenting medical malpractice cases to juries across Michigan and, in so doing, distinguished himself professionally and received several recognitions including: Super Lawyers-Michigan; The Trial Lawyers Top 100; National Association of Distinguished Counsel; Top Michigan Lawyer; Crain’s Top Lawyers- Michigan and Top Florida Lawyer. Prior to joining McKeen, David practiced law in Florida for twenty-five years, handling varied litigation cases including medical malpractice, personal injury and criminal matters. In his early legal career, David worked as the Assistant State Attorney in Tampa, Florida, and was a Governor-appointed Special Prosecutor as well as a Florida Bar Grievance Attorney. He is board certified as a civil trial lawyer and civil pre-trial practice attorney. David earned his law degree at the Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School where he teaches classes on medical malpractice and expert witnesses. He is licensed to practice law in Michigan and Florida. When not practicing law, David enjoys teaching, travel, golf and spending time with family.

Norman H. Rosen

Norman H. Rosen joined McKeen & Associates as Of Counsel in February 2015. Rosen has specialized in medical malpractice cases for more than 40 years. His expertise also includes birth trauma and wrongful death. During his career, he has obtained recoveries for his clients in excess of $200 million. Prior to joining McKeen & Associates, Rosen was a member of Erlich, Rosen, Bartnick & Cook, P.C. in Southfield. The Birmingham resident is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, indicating he has reached the highest level of excellence, ethics and integrity. Rosen, who sits as a mediator in both Wayne and Oakland Counties, is a former co-chairman for the Medical Malpractice Committee of the Michigan Association for Justice, a position he has held for seven years. He also is a past president of the Metropolitan Detroit Trial Lawyers Association. Rosen received his law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law in 1971. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Wayne State University.

J. Kelly Carley

"I find being a trial attorney both challenging and satisfying. Most individuals feel they have little chance of success in a lawsuit against a large hospital or corporation, but through education, experience, and skill the trial attorney can level that playing field. To me, there is nothing more satisfying than to see the look on a client's face when they realize they have prevailed." J. Kelly Carley J. Kelly Carley is a senior trial attorney at McKeen & Associates. He has over 40 years of experience as a litigator. He started his law career representing physicians and hospitals. This experience has given him invaluable insight for his role representing victims of medical malpractice and the negligence of others for the past 20 years. Mr. Carley joined McKeen & Associates in 2013, and since that time has been involved in numerous highly complex medical malpractice cases resulting in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Notable verdicts include a $3.9 million verdict in St. Clair County for the failure to diagnose and treat a dissecting aorta which resulted in the death of a 47-year-old wife and mother; a $3.5 million verdict in Wayne County for the death of a 15-week old infant for failure to diagnose and treat Hirschsprung’s disease; and a $2.7 verdict in Alpena County for damage done during a hernia surgery. He obtained a verdict in 2016 for $871,500, which is one of the largest podiatry verdicts in state history. He has also obtained verdicts for injured clients in vehicular, construction, employment, products, and admiralty cases. In addition to his trial practice, he has successfully argued in the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Sixth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. Mr. Carley graduated from University of Michigan and the Michigan State University College of Law. He participated in the American Bar Association Moot Court competition; was a Moot Court Scholarship recipient; a coach for the National Moot Court Team and a director of the Moot Court Executive Board. He has also received the American Jurisprudence Award for the study of Equity and was a Michigan Association for Justice Pacesetter. In 2020, he was elected to the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates. When he is not practicing law, Kelly enjoys studying WWII, golf and participating and following sports in general.

Todd C. Schroeder

"I find the practice of law personally fulfilling as it provides opportunities to help others. I wake up every day energized and excited to go to work for my clients." Todd Schroeder. Todd Schroeder is a trial attorney with McKeen & Associates. Growing up with a father, uncle and older brother practicing law, as his work with other lawyers and firms, he witnessed firsthand how attorneys can profoundly impact and improve lives. Todd joined McKeen in 2017, and since that time he has been involved in several complex medical malpractice cases resulting in high settlements for his clients. Prior to joining McKeen, Todd was Chief Felony Prosecutor in Ohio, where he served as first chair in more than 50 jury trials; provided training to law enforcement; and created a sexual assault case law review. Todd also served on the Ohio Family Violence Prevention Advisory Counsel; provided state-wide and regional legal presentations; and provided proponent testimony to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in support of legislation working to create “strangulation” as a stand-alone felony crime. Todd has served as Special Prosecutor in high profile cases involving police misconduct. While practicing in Ohio, Todd received several professional recognitions including: ‘4 under 40’ Award of Professional Excellence and Community Involvement; William F. Schenck Victim Justice Visionary Award of Distinction; and Teri Sowers Memorial Award for Advocacy on Behalf of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims. Todd is an Adjunct Law Professor and has taught more than 50 college law classes. He is the recipient of the Champlain College Award for his exemplary teaching. Todd attended the University of Cambridge, in Cambridge, England where he studied comparative law, legal history and international law. He earned his law degree at the University of Toledo College of Law in Ohio, where he received the highest-ranking honor in legal drafting. When not practicing law, Todd enjoys spending time with his wife and four children and is an avid college basketball and college and professional football fan. A lover of history, Todd studies the American Revolution era. He sits on the board for Habitat for Humanity and was the presiding judge for the Ohio Mock Trial Competition.

John R. LaParl, Jr.

"I followed in my father’s footsteps, who was an accomplished trial lawyer. I think the law is a noble profession with opportunity to help people." John Robert LaParl, Jr. John Robert LaParl, Jr., is an associate at McKeen & Associates. Before joining McKeen & Associates in 2012, John spent 30 years representing doctors, nurses, hospitals and other healthcare professionals in medical negligence actions. This experience has provided him with invaluable insight as a medical malpractice and personal injury attorney. Since joining McKeen & Associates John has been involved in settlements and verdicts totaling in excess of $150 million. Some of his important cases include a Wayne County case resulting in a verdict of $16 million; and a medical malpractice case resulting in the Upper Peninsula’s largest personal injury verdict at $7.5 million. John graduated from Michigan State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree and a varsity letter in tennis, and then went on to University of Detroit Mercy Law School. He is a Fellow of the State Bar of Michigan and a faculty member of Hillman Trial Advocacy Program. He is also a board member of his church. When John is not practicing law, he can be found enjoying time with his family and playing tennis. He is also an avid runner having competed in the Boston Marathon.