Don C. Keenan
Trial Lawyer
During his forty years specializing in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, Mr. Keenan has secured over 378 verdicts and settlements over $1,000,000 including 14 over $10,000,000 and one over $100,000,000. Mr. Keenan has dedicated his practice to injury and wrongful death cases arising from medical negligence, products liability, and premise liability, with the goal of making our society safer for all of us. He has handled cases in 47 states and on three continents.
Child Advocate
Mr. Keenan strongly believes that our duty does not end when we secure justice for the child and family. Equally important is learning from the prevention lessons of the case and formulating a public awareness campaign to help prevent future injuries and deaths and when necessary, push for legislation and regulations. He calls this unique approach to law the One-Third Solution: one-third litigating the case, one-third public awareness on the prevention and one-third pushing for regulations and legislation. Examples of his One-Third Solution are the Playground Safety Project being featured on the Today Show for the past three years, The Toy Safety Campaign profiled in USA Today and Good Morning America. The Imagine Magazine Summer 2005 issue featured Don Keenan and his One-Third Solution as did Mercedes Momentum Magazine in winter of 2004.
Awards / Distinctions
· Selected by Oprah Winfrey as one of the “People Who Have Courage” noting that Don has been fighting for the rights of
abused children for 25 years
· Emory University bestowed the “Career Achievement Award for Public Policy and Child Advocacy”
· Named by the National Law Journal as one of the top three medical malpractice lawyers in the United States
· Called “The Voice of the Voiceless” by The Atlanta Globe
· “Internationally renowned child advocacy lawyer” by Points North Magazine
· “A famous advocate for children”, Business Chronicle
· Seven-time recipient of “Top 100 Irish Americans” presented by Irish America Magazine
· 2007 Ellis Island Medal of Honor (only 100 awarded each year)
· 2008 Tradition of Excellence Award – State Bar of Georgia
· Pennsylvania Academy of Trial Lawyers bestowed on Keenan the lifetime child advocate award
· Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers call Keenan “Legendary”
Don has appeared on every major national news program including: 60 Minutes, 20/20, Larry King Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Montel, The O’Reilly Factor, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN and National Public Radio (NPR) addressing children’s issues.
Professional Accomplishments
In 1992, he became the youngest National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates and during his tenure, led a delegation of lawyers to Czechoslovakia and later was invited to Russia to produce the first civil trial in the history of those two emerging democracies. In 1997, he became National President of the Inner Circle of Advocates, the most exclusive group of trial lawyers in the country. In 1999, he was given the prestigious Chief Justice Award for Civility and Professionalism, the highest award possible for a lawyer in Georgia. He now serves on the Advisory Committee for the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, which trains the majority of new judges in the United States. In 1990 and again in 1992, he was named Trial Lawyer of the Year.
Significant Cases
Don successfully handled the 1980’s U.S. Supreme Court case of Kathy Jo Taylor which was the first case in United States history to establish due process rights for foster children. Again in late 1999 he handled the nationally publicized case of Terrell Peterson, an abused foster child, who was on the cover of Time Magazine (11/2000) and was the subject of the highest rated 60 Minute story of the year. Both cases resulted in significant changes in the rights of children in state custody. In 2006 he obtained the largest US jury verdict on behalf of an abused child.
Allan L. Galbraith
Allan L. Galbraith, a seasoned lawyer with over 20 years experience directs the complex litigation of The Keenan Law Firm. He handles all pleadings, to include lawsuits, motions, and appeals. He recently concluded the first major case against CryoLife, Inc. Allan Galbraith also speaks to trial lawyers groups around the country.
Mindy Bish
Partner
Mindy Bish is the grandchild of immigrant grandparents who worked in sweatshops and fought for unions and worker’s rights in the 1920’s and 30’s. Inspired by their stories of struggle Mindy, in her 30’s , made the decision to attend law school hoping to work in the public defenders office in Los Angeles. When a budget crisis eliminated her position, Mindy, turned to personal injury. Working for a short time on the defense side, Mindy has fought for the injured since 1995.
In 2012, after yet another devastating loss, Mindy contemplated whether she had the right stuff to be a trial lawyer. Prior to giving up Mindy attended a Trial College regional and then four Reptile seminars. Mindy has not looked back since. In her most recent trial Mindy was able to obtain a verdict of 1.978 million on behalf of a seriously injured client using the Reptile. Mindy is the co-moderator of the Southern California Reptile List Serve.
Gregg Luther
Partner
Gregg W. Luther is an accomplished trial lawyer who has practiced for over two decades. Gregg accepts a limited number of catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases for prosecution, focusing on safety, individual’s rights, and accountability of those who cause harm or death to innocent people. Gregg practices with a nationally recognized, award winning law firm of experienced trial lawyers.
Gregg practices with The Keenan Law Firm - a nationally recognized, award winning law firm of proven trial lawyers. Gregg recently completed a 5 week medical malpractice trial representing a brain damaged child, along with Keenan Law Firm founder, Don Keenan.
Melinda Young
Fellow
Melinda Young is a trial lawyer based out of central Kansas. She began her work in the legal field as a paralegal, but her love of the law and particularly her love of helping injured clients inspired her to pursue a law degree. Following law school, Melinda practiced in Iowa, where she obtained the largest judgment for an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim arising out of a wrongful termination suit.
Melinda currently handles a variety of injury claims, including motor vehicle wrecks, wrongful death, nursing home negligence, product liability, and premises liability. She believes the best-case outcomes not only help her clients to put their lives back together, but also bring about changes to unsafe policies and procedures—making communities safer for everyone. Melinda is a KTI graduate, and a Moderator of the Kansas listserv.