April 2024 Pacesetter Ariel Kellersohn
McKeen & Associates, PC, Detroit, and MAJ Leadership Academy Member

What motivated you to become a trial lawyer? From a young age I knew I wanted to become a lawyer. I have always had the desire to help advocate for those who were unable to advocate for themselves. I joined a program in middle school called “Teen Court,” which allowed me the opportunity to advocate on behalf of my peers as their attorney if they agreed to go through the program. From the very first session I knew that this was what I wanted to do. I became a trial lawyer so that I could help people and give them a voice, and I strive to do that in every case that is assigned to me to this day.

When did you become a member of MAJ? I became a member of MAJ as soon as I became a licensed attorney in November of 2023. I decided to join MAJ because I learned about the work they do for plaintiff’s attorneys, and I wanted to be part of an organization that worked hard to help make it so that we have the resources to help our clients.

Why do you feel it is important for trial lawyers to be a part of MAJ? I feel that it is important for trial lawyers to be a part of MAJ because they are the reason that we can help our clients in the best possible way, and we need to support them in their endeavors. I also think the leadership and members of the organization are such great resources and being a member allows us to interact and gain advice and wisdom from each of them. The seminars and events sponsored by MAJ are great learning opportunities, and each trial lawyer should attend to learn from the variety of speakers that they have at each event.

Why do you feel supporting the Justice PAC is important? Through Justice PAC, MAJ is able to help support candidates that support our cause and want to help make an impact in ways that will help us be able to help our clients. In order for MAJ to be able to make the impact they do and provide resources for us, we need to help support Justice PAC so they can better support the best candidates.

What is distinctive about your practice? And your firm? I practice in the field of Medical Malpractice – an area of the law that has multiple requirements to be able to bring a suit against a healthcare facility or provider. Instead of making it accessible for those who have been wronged by the healthcare system, there are multiple obstacles that make it very difficult for these individuals to do so. My firm, McKeen & Associates, is distinctive because we are one of the few firms that almost exclusively practices medical malpractice. Our firm devotes the vast majority of our time and resources to helping individuals who were impacted by this type of professional negligence. We are all passionate about putting our efforts into advocating for these individuals. We do not let obstacles get in the way of getting justice for our clients.

What is your most memorable case? My most memorable case was the first case that I ever litigated as an attorney. It involved an elderly patient who was placed in a nursing home for respite care while his wife was recovering in the hospital from an illness. He was to be at the facility for two weeks, and then his wife would pick him up and continue caring for him at their home. When she dropped him off, all his skin was intact, and he was doing well. However, when she went to pick him up, she was told she could not take him home because he had a severe pressure wound that would require him to go to the hospital. Unfortunately, he never got to go home to his wife because he died an untimely death due to the bedsore. I will always remember this case because it reminded me of why I wanted to become a lawyer in the first place. I wanted to help individuals who were unable to advocate for themselves, and I was able to give my client the voice needed to get justice for her husband.

Please provide a brief description of your interests outside the practice of law. When I am not practicing law, I love spending time with my friends and family, reading, running, baking, and traveling.