EMILY DOUGLAS BREEDEN works for Gary W. Kendall as a senior paralegal in processing asbestos personal injury cases. This work includes assisting with litigation, managing bankruptcy trust claims, processing settlement distributions, as well as interacting with clients to help them work through the complex issues of their case. She helps with product identification and cross referencing, as well as payout of settlements. In 1998, Emily earned a B.A.in political science from Mary Washington College. After graduating, she worked as a legal assistant for a year in Atlanta, Ga., focusing on social security law. In 1999, she returned to her hometown of Charlottesville to work with MichieHamlett.

Under Gary’s supervision, Emily assists in many aspects of representation, from conducting intake calls and conferences, to interviewing witnesses, to preparing court filings and discovery papers, to working with court clerks, and to researching and organizing evidence.

SANDI BROWN is a paralegal and handles cases for Bryan Slaughter, who specializes in personal injury and child safety. She started with MichieHamlett in 1998.

Under Bryan’s supervision, Sandi assists in many aspects of representation, from conducting intake calls and conferences, to interviewing witnesses, to preparing court filings and discovery papers, to working with court clerks, and to researching and organizing evidence.

As a paralegal, Sandi researches information that is pertinent to the case, such as identifying precedent, examining prior judicial decision, and reading articles that reference the laws pertaining to a case. She helps Bryan by tracking and organizing critical documents.

Sandi has assisted Bryan for many years on his cases. She has served as the lead paralegal for numerous cases, including premises liability cases and many motor vehicle accident cases, including a $900,000 confidential settlement of a tractor trailer case. She was lead paralegal in a products liability case that resulted in a confidential settlement for $3 million.

JULIE LYNN DANE joined the asbestos team as a paralegal in March of 2007 after working for 2 ½ years at a law firm in Palmyra, Va., assisting with closings and other real estate matters. She works for Gary W. Kendall doing litigation and claim submissions for clients who suffer from asbestos related lung disease.

Under Gary’s supervision, Julie assists in many aspects of representation, from conducting intake calls and conferences, to interviewing witnesses, to preparing court filings and discovery papers, to working with court clerks, and to researching and organizing evidence.

KELLY GARRISON DONATO joined the personal injury group as a paralegal in 1994 after graduating from James Madison University with a B.A. in English and a minor in Environmental Studies. She is senior paralegal of the asbestos department, working for Gary Kendall.

Kelly focuses on many of the administrative aspects of the bankruptcy trusts, in addition to case management, claim submissions and maintaining a close working relationship with a wide client base. Kelly developed a master database program focusing on critical elements of mass-tort litigation case information to include discovery materials, settlement information, and development of report formats for implementation throughout the firm. She attended multiple document productions and site inspections and documented research results of both for use in client cases.

Under Gary’s supervision, Kelly assists in many aspects of representation, from conducting intake calls and conferences, to interviewing witnesses, to preparing court filings and discovery papers, to working with court clerks, and to researching and organizing evidence.

Apart from her work at MichieHamlett, Kelly enjoys time with her family and playing violin as a member of the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra.

BETH FLORENCE started working at MichieHamlett in 1987. She had previously worked as a bookstore manager at Piedmont Virginia Community College. She is a secretary for Gary Kendall in the asbestos personal injury group. Beth handles all of Gary’s travel arrangements. He travels all over the country handling asbestos and mesothelioma cases.

Beth is an experienced member of our legal team. Under Gary’s supervision, Beth has assisted in many aspects of representation, from conducting intake calls and conferences, to preparing court filings and discovery papers, working with court clerks, and researching and organizing evidence. Beth has assisted with workers compensation claims over the years. One non-asbestos Federal court case she worked on included more than 300 plaintiffs. Our legal assistants are integral to our legal team and extend the capacity of the attorney handling your case.

SUE GASS is a paralegal in the personal injury group. She started working for the firm in January 2002. She works primarily with Christine Thomson, who handles medical malpractice cases. She helps Christine by tracking and organizing critical documents. She keeps track of medical records. Sue graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Administration of Justice Studies and graduated from the Institute for Paralegal Training in Philadelphia, PA in 1981.

Under Christine’s supervision, Sue assists in many aspects of representation, from conducting intake calls and conferences, to interviewing witnesses, to preparing court filings and discovery papers, to working with court clerks, and to researching and organizing evidence.

She has worked on numerous cases over the years, including a $8.3 million personal injury settlement, (Grigg settlement), and two medical malpractice claims that settled after the same neurosurgeon operated on the wrong level in two spine surgeries. She is experienced in managing a case from the early discovery stages through the trial of the matter.

AMANDA L. LEAKE joined MichieHamlett in 2007 as a paralegal after graduating from Old Dominion University magna cum laude (in three years) with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. She works for Gary Kendall handling asbestos cases. This includes working with clients, claims processing, litigation matters and settlement distribution.

Under Gary’s supervision, Amanda assists in many aspects of representation, from conducting intake calls and conferences, to interviewing witnesses, to preparing court filings and discovery papers, to working with court clerks, and to researching and organizing evidence.

MOLLY LOWRY is secretary to Greg Webb, Kevin Ryan and Kyle McNew in the personal injury group. She started with MichieHamlett in 2011. Molly is a native of Charlottesville and studied business administration at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Among other things, Molly handles all administrative tasks, as well as legal work which includes organizing and supplementing medical records and bills, scheduling depositions, hearings and trials, working with clients to respond to discovery requests, preparing discovery responses, summarizing deposition transcripts and conducting research.

HOPE MAZUROWSKI is a paralegal for the personal injury group. She joined the firm in 1997. She has a background in office administration. She currently works for Attorneys Greg Webb and Kevin Ryan on auto and truck accident, personal injury, unsafe product, wrongful death, and asbestos litigation cases. She is experienced in managing a case from the early discovery stages through the trial of the matter. She also worked for Bruce Rasmussen on personal injury cases.

Under Greg’s and Kevin’s supervision, Hope assists in many aspects of representation, from conducting intake calls and conferences, to interviewing witnesses, to preparing court filings and discovery papers, to working with court clerks, and researching and organizing evidence.

She has worked on numerous cases over the years, including a confidential $10 million product liability settlement, a product liability automobile defect case against Hyundai, a personal injury case involving an injury to the plaintiff’s right hand (Pershing settlement), and a tractor-trailer crash causing the wrongful death of a 16-year-old girl, resulting in a $5.265 million verdict.

LINDA PREDDY started working for MichieHamlett in 1995. As a file clerk, she helps with filing in the asbestos area, as well as assisting Attorney Ron Tweel with other administrative duties, including scanning documents.

SOPHIE SCHORLING has been with MichieHamlett since 1993. She graduated in 1978 with a BSN degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and received her masters of nursing from the University of Virginia in 1999. Prior to receiving her master’s degree, Sophie’s nursing career consisted of working in the intensive care unit and emergency room for 20 years. There she cared for critically ill patients spanning all different types of adult diseases. She worked one on one with physicians and families collaborating patient care.

Through this experience she has established multiple expert connections in the medical field. In addition to working at the firm, Sophie teaches part time at the UVA School of Nursing. There her role consists of teaching 3rd and 4th year nursing students the clinical aspect of caring for patients. She teaches on a medical-surgical unit and is constantly reviewing updated literature for teaching, which also keeps her knowledgeable about appropriate care and treatment to personal injury patients.

In her role as a nurse at MichieHamlett, she assists the attorneys by reviewing personal injury cases for accuracy and appropriateness. When an accident occurs, she helps to organize the records in a chronological fashion, establishing whether a pre-existing condition exists, translates medical and surgical treatments, and locates medical experts. She also works with an illustrator to create medical illustrations, which are used in the courtroom to help explain complicated injuries. In medical malpractice cases, Sophie performs the initial telephone interview, reviews all the medical records surrounding the incident in question, and finally reviews medical literature to determine if malpractice did occur. MichieHamlett is the only law firm in Charlottesville that has a nurse on staff.

JEREMY SHARP is a paralegal working with Bryan Slaughter. He started with MichieHamlett in 2011. Prior to MichieHamlett he has worked as a paralegal at two other law firms, and has 12 years experience working in the legal field. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A. ‘93) and the University of Richmond (J.D. ‘96). At the University of Virginia he was a member of Phi Alpha Theta, a history honor society.

Under Bryan’s supervision, Jeremy assists in many aspects of representation, from conducting intake calls and conferences, to interviewing witnesses, to preparing court filings and discovery papers, to working with court clerks, and to researching and organizing evidence.

As a paralegal, he researches information that is pertinent to the case, such as identifying precedent, examining prior judicial decision, and reading articles that reference the laws pertaining to a case. He assists the personal injury group by tracking and organizing critical documents.

SAM C. TOWLER started working for MichieHamlett in 1995. He is a legal assistant supporting the personal injury group. He is responsible for tracking and organizing documents relating to personal injury cases. He has organized his files and documents with meticulous attention to detail, as a librarian might organize information. Sam is quite knowledgeable on history and genealogy. He published a book in 2009, entitled “The Court Doth Order,” which traces court documents on individuals in the Charlottesville/Albemarle community from 1800 to 1900.