Quick Facts About Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C.
- Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C. is a premier Connecticut law firm specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice. With a reputation for excellence, the firm has secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for clients across the state.
- The attorneys at Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge (KJSR) are consistently recognized among the top legal professionals in Connecticut. The firm holds prestigious rankings from Forbes America’s Best In State, Super Lawyers, and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Furthermore, Best Lawyers recognizes KJSR as a “Best Law Firm” in New Haven, CT, for excellence in Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, and Product Liability litigation.
- Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C. leverages over 30 years of experience to provide elite personal injury representation in Connecticut, combining proven legal strategies that secure multi-million dollar results with a distinguished track record of long-term client trust and retention.
- Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C. offers free initial consultations and contingency-based representation (no upfront costs) for Connecticut personal injury, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases, utilizing a team of attorneys who specialize in distinct practice areas to ensure expert, focused legal advocacy.
What Is a Personal Injury Settlement Mill?
A personal injury settlement mill is built around case volume. While attorneys oversee large caseloads, nonlawyer staff tend to handle most client communication and routine filings. Cases are pushed toward predictable settlements because this model depends on resolving claims quickly and keeping costs low.
Insurance companies track which firms regularly file lawsuits and take cases to trial. An adjuster has less reason to increase an offer when past experience suggests the opposing firm is unlikely to challenge it in court. Claims from settlement mills are often priced according to familiar formulas instead of the injured person’s full losses and likely trial value.
What Is a Personal Injury Trial Law Firm?
A personal injury trial law firm develops each case with the possibility of court in mind. At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C., our attorneys concentrate on specific practice areas and consult one another when a claim presents difficult questions. The attorney directs the case strategy and can bring in an investigator or expert when the evidence calls for one. As a trial firm, our objective is to establish the claim’s full value and pursue it through negotiations or trial.
A low offer carries more risk when the insurer knows we’re prepared to file suit and present the case to a jury. When you choose KJSR for your personal injury claim, the carrier can see that our lawyers have taken serious injury cases to court and secured substantial verdicts. Our record gives weight to our demands because filing suit isn’t a bluff. If an offer fails to reflect the evidence, we’re prepared to let a jury decide.
Settlement Mill vs. Trial Law Firm: What’s the Difference?
A settlement mill needs to move its case files toward a quick resolution. A trial firm can keep gathering evidence, file a lawsuit, and prepare to present the case to a jury.
Settlement Mill
Trial Law Firm
Primary goal
Resolve a large number of claims quickly, usually without filing suit.
Establish what the claim is worth and pursue that value through settlement or trial.
Case volume
High caseloads keep the business model profitable.
More selective intake leaves time and resources for each accepted case.
Who handles your file?
Case managers or paralegals often direct daily communications and draft routine legal documents for an attorney’s signature.
An attorney directs the strategy and works with the firm’s legal team to develop the case.
Access to your attorney
Clients often communicate primarily with support staff.
Clients generally have more direct involvement with their attorney, especially when major decisions arise.
Fee structure
Usually, a contingency fee structure that is designed with the firm’s profitability tied to resolving many cases efficiently.
Often a contingency fee as well, but the firm expects to invest more time and resources in accepted cases. Exact percentages and costs depend on the agreement.
Case preparation
Standardized procedures and demand packages are designed to move claims toward an early settlement.
Evidence is developed with litigation in mind, including what would be needed to prove the case to a jury.
Response to a low offer
Filing a lawsuit can conflict with a model built around quick case turnover.
The firm can continue through litigation when the offer doesn’t reflect the evidence.
Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer Before Hiring Them
A polished website can make a settlement mill and a trial firm look much the same. Before signing an agreement, review the firm’s personal injury attorneys and ask questions that reveal how your case would actually be handled:
- When did you last take a personal injury case to verdict?
- Which lawyer will be responsible for my case?
- How often will I speak directly with that lawyer?
- Will a case manager or paralegal handle negotiations with the insurer?
- Does your contingency fee increase if a lawsuit is filed or the case goes to trial?
- What will you do if the insurer’s offer doesn’t account for the full extent of my injuries?
- Can you show me case results that include jury verdicts, not only settlements?
- What do your past clients say about your work?
Listen for concrete answers. The lawyer should identify who will be responsible for your file and explain when you’ll hear directly from them. Ask for a recent example of how the firm responded when an insurer refused to make a fair offer. If the answers remain vague, you still don’t know how your case would actually be handled.
I had the privilege of being represented by Mr. John Kennedy. He was someone I could trust to be honest and walk me through a difficult time. Taylor, his paralegal, took the time to explain each circumstance that came about. I appreciate the work that was done by Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Nelligan. I would recommend Attorney John Kennedy because of his integrity and genuine concern he showed to me. My experience with them was something I will never forget and will always be thankful for.
Shannon E.
Remarkable law firm! Attorney John Kennedy and his staff were professional and welcoming. If you need a lawyer, stop looking, you’ve found one of the best! He never stopped fighting for me as if though it was personal to him too! He’s straight forward with everything and definitely didn’t disappoint me with an outcome greater than I expected! If I were an attorney in need of a lawyer, this is the man I’d want in my corner time and time again, without a doubt!
Sophie A.
Handled my case with amazing expertise from start to finish. I took their advice at every turn and the end result was nothing less of exceptional. Very professional, nice office space and their Long Wharf location validates parking.
Nate H.
Speak With a Connecticut Trial Law Firm Today
For more than 35 years, Kennedy Johsnon has represented injured people throughout Connecticut. We don’t build our practice around closing the highest possible number of files. Our attorneys handle client cases and prepare every claim for trial. If an insurer refuses to offer fair compensation, we’re ready to file suit and take the case to a jury.
KJSR works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing up front and won’t receive hourly legal bills. Our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover, so if you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid. Call 203-865-8430 or fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation.