TRACHTMAN & TRACHTMAN - Key Persons
Adam C. Young is a Senior Associate practicing within the firm's construction, tort, and civil litigation practice areas.
Adam graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Dayton in 2009, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. He went on to attend the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he graduated Order of the Coif by merit of ranking in the top 10% of his graduating class. During law school, Adam served as an Associate Editor on the Ohio State Law Journal and also served as an extern to the Hon. R. Guy Cole of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He moved to California in July 2012 and was admitted to practice by the California Bar in December 2012.
Following admission to the Bar, Adam first served as a Law Clerk at the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. He then honed his trial skills as a Deputy Public Defender in Tulare County, California. He then transitioned into civil practice, working for approximately six years at the Bay Area law firm of McNamara, Ney, Beatty, Slattery, Borges & Ambacher LLP. He achieved Partner status in that firm.
Adam joined Trachtman & Trachtman, LLP in May 2021 as a Senior Associate in the firm's construction, tort, and civil litigation practice areas. His practice area is varied, but focuses on high-exposure premises liability and general negligence matters, as well as construction-related litigation.
Craig A. French is an attorney practicing within the firm's tort and civil litigation unit.
Craig received his BA degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University in 1982 (cum laude) and then received his JD degree from Pepperdine University in 1985. Craig was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1987 and the California State Bar in 1988.
Craig's experience includes over 25 years working for Zurich Insurance and CNA Insurance where he defended clients in a variety of general liability lawsuits including motor vehicle accidents, premise liability claims, product liability claims, and property damage claims.
Craig's litigation experience is extensive, as he has tried 28 jury trials to verdict. He has independently handled over a thousand lawsuits from inception through conclusion during his career.
Craig is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates ("ABOTA"). ABOTA is an invitation only membership. Selected members must meet a number of qualifications, including demonstration of vast lead counsel jury trial experience and possession of the highest ethical attributes.
Practice Areas
Tort Law
Don is a Senior Associate in the tort, business and civil litigation practice areas. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with departmental honors from the University of California, Berkeley. Don received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. He is a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and Orange County Bar Association.
Don has spent his legal career representing companies and individuals in many different legal matters with a client based approach to find the best resolution. He has defended general liability lawsuits since 1988 in California federal and state courts.
Don has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict and prevailed on appeals. He has significant experience in personal injury litigation in both single plaintiff and complex cases. Don has represented agents and brokers in defense of claims of negligence, fraud, and breach of fiduciary. He also has defended class action lawsuits involving various consumer protection statutes. In construction matters, he has represented contractors in construction defect, contract disputes, and California False Claims Act matters. Don has completed jury trials to verdict in the areas of insurance professional's liability, premises liability, automobile negligence, express contractual indemnity and consumer warranty.
Practice Areas
Tort Law
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Eric S. Eliot is an Associate practicing within the firm's tort and civil litigation practice areas.
Eric has spent his legal career largely devoted to matters of insurance defense, representing individuals, business entities, and public entities in personal injury matters ranging from minor soft tissue claims and property damage matters to complex catastrophic injury cases, including wrongful death.
Eric graduated from California State University, Long Beach, earning a Bachelor's degree in Political Science/Criminal Justice. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from Whittier College. He is licensed to practice in the State of California, and the United States District Court in the Central District. He is a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and the Orange County Bar Association.
Practice Areas
Tort Law
John W. Roddy is a Partner within the firm's construction, tort, business and civil litigation practice areas.
John has over ten years of defense experience in general civil litigation, along with a background in insurance coverage and representation of clients in response to citations issued by OSHA. He has also served in the capacity as general counsel for construction contractors and pharmaceutical distribution companies.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Julie A. Luetkenhaus is an Associate practicing within the firm's tort and business practices.
In 2010, Julie graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business. Julie earned her Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School in 2014, graduating Magna Cum Laude. While at Whittier Law School, Julie was an active member of the Trial Advocacy Honors Board, as well as Secretary for the Intramural Sports Club on campus. Julie's initial exposure to the law came in the form of an internship with a consumer protection law firm where she gained extensive experience in motion writing and litigation involving class actions, false advertising, and unfair business practices. Julie was admitted to the California Bar in 2014.
Practice Areas
Tort Law
For over 20 years, Kelli A. Trachtman worked as a Senior Associate litigator with the firm mainly practicing within the firm's tort defense practice. In 2021, Kelli scaled back her practice in order to focus her attention on some significant personal projects but remains an available asset to the firm as the need for her elevated talent may arise for special projects.
Kelli has extensive experience in premises liability, auto, trucking and bus accident litigation and has developed quite an impressive record of "wins" on her summary judgment motions.
In 1985, Kelli graduated from University of Southern California with both a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science. While at USC, Kelli served as the Vice President of the Alpha Phi Sorority. Kelli was a member of the Blackstonian Pre-law Honor Society and Alpha Lamba Delta Honor Society. Kelli also served as a Contributing Reporter for the USC Daily Trojan newspaper.
In 1988, Kelli received her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Kelli was a semi-finalist in Scott Moot Court Competition. In 1988, Kelli was admitted to the California Bar.
Kevin L. Henderson is a Senior Associate practicing within the firm's tort, business and construction practices. Kevin has substantial experience in handling cases involving construction defects, construction site injuries, product liability, "toxic mold" and general liability matters.
In 1983, Kevin graduated from Belmont College in Nashville, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis in Music Business. In 1990, Kevin received his Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California and in 1991, an LLM. in Litigation from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. He is admitted to practice in all California state courts, the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Kevin regularly represents general contractors, design professionals and subcontractors in the prosecution and defense of construction defect and construction site personal injury claims. His construction defect cases have ranged from a single multi-million dollar home to large condominium projects to commercial buildings. He has also represented a wide variety of product manufacturers in litigation involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims. His clients include entities involved in the manufacture of mobile homes, conveyor belts, electrical discharge machines, unit dosing machines, oxygen delivery systems, and storage tanks for Hydrofluoric Acid, among others.
Additionally, Kevin has represented landlords, property managers, homeowners associations, non-profit housing corporations and municipalities in cases involving claims of personal injuries related to exposure to "toxic mold" caused by water intrusion into residential structures.
Kevin's litigation experience includes depositions, law and motion, discovery and a full range of trial preparation activities including the use of experts, interviewing witnesses, document management as well as jury and bench trials. Kevin is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution including arbitrations, mediations and settlement negotiations.
Practice Areas
Tort Law
Founding Partner. Marc joined the Firm, with his brother Ben, in 1997. In addition to being an extremely skilled civil litigator, Marc successfully handles an exceptionally wide array of civil litigation and complex matters, including construction litigation, construction defects, construction accidents, commercial general liability defense, including premises liability and automobile accidents, business litigation, professional negligence, including medical malpractice, and personal injury.
Marc experiences success in the Courtroom. His trial achievements were well chronicled in the Los Angeles Daily Journal publication, Verdicts & Settlements. Marc's photograph graced the cover of this renowned publication, which featured an article on Marc's trial techniques and skills relative to his attainment of a notable trial verdict. Marc also has been invited by, and lectured to, the local bar associations for State Approved Continuing Legal Education Credit on developing trial strategy. Marc frequently presents to insurance companies, third-party administrators, and large self-insureds on techniques to expeditiously flush reasonable settlement options at the outset of litigation in order to eliminate or substantially mitigate defense expense. Marc was also named a "Southern California Super Lawyer" by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine as selected by his peers, of which only 5% of the total lawyers in Southern California are listed as "Super Lawyers."
Marc has been selected by, and has served, the Orange County Superior Court for many years as a Presiding Officer for Mandatory Settlement Conferences and is an appointee on the Los Angeles Superior Court's Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel. He is also a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, Orange Country Trial Lawyers Association, Orange County Bar Association, and Orange County Barristers.
In 1993, Marc received his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law and was admitted to the California State Bar. In 1990, Marc graduated from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. While at UC Davis, Marc was elected President of the Interfraternity Council and was nominated by the Assistant Vice Chancellor to participate in UC Davis' prestigious Leadership Institute.
Mathew J. Vande Wydeven ("Matt") is a Senior Associate practicing within the firm's civil litigation, business and employment practices. Matt is a former partner of Wise Pearce Yocis & Smith, a civil litigation firm in Long Beach, California.
In 1985, Matt graduated as an Alumni Scholar from U.C.L.A. with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. In 1988, Matt received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. He is admitted to practice in all courts of the State of California; the United States District Court for the Central, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of California; and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2005, Matt was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Mitch Motu is an Associate practicing within the firm's tort and business practices.
Richard Canada is an Associate practicing within the firm's tort and business sections.
Job Titles:
- Administrator for Trachtman & Trachtman LLP
- Firm Administrator
Stephanie Straka has been the Firm Administrator for Trachtman & Trachtman LLP since 2008. Ms. Straka is responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of the office, including accounts payable/receivable, non-legal staff hiring and management, vendor procurement and relations and communication with firm management. Ms. Straka provides administrative leadership for the office and acts as the liaison between our talented Team and firm management.
Ms. Straka has more than 30 years of law firm experience, both as a Legal Assistant and in Office Administration.