Attorneys

VIRGINIA A. GIRARD, Managing Partner, received a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from the University of Kansas in 1989 and a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University in 1996. In 2000, she founded ABS Legal Advocates, P.A. to protect the rights of those who had courageously served our country. With over 25 years of experience in veterans’ benefit…

JAVIER A. CENTONZIO, Managing Partner.  Javier Centonzio’s path to becoming an attorney was anything but conventional. After moving from Puerto Rico to Kansas City as a child, he left high school early to attend Job Corps, earned his GED, and enlisted in the Marine Corps as an Infantryman. Later, while serving in the Kansas Army National Guard, he…

BENJAMIN T. MALOTTE, Partner and Manager of Legal Operations, received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December 2014 and his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in May 2018. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Kansas and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims…

JAMIE M. BOLDT, Special Senior Counsel, received a B.S. in Business from K.U. in December 2003, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas in May 2006, and an MBA from the University of Missouri in Kansas City in 2009. She is admitted to practice before the Kansas and Missouri Supreme Courts, United States Court of…

EVA D. ENGELHARDT, Senior Associate Attorney, received a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Washburn University in May 2013 and a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in December 2015. She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Missouri and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). Eva is accredited…

GRACE A. Paul, Senior Associate Attorney, received a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Stetson University College in 2020 and her Juris Doctorate from the Stetson University College of Law in 2023. She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CVAC). Grace is accredited by…

ROGER W. KLAFFKA,  Associate Attorney, is a US Air Force Veteran who retired in September 2009 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He received a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Syracuse University in May 1992, an M.A. in Administrative Sciences from The George Washington University in May 1999, an M.S. in Military Operational Art and Science in June…

JESSICA M. SWARTZ, Associate Attorney,  received a BA from James Madison College at Michigan State University and a Juris Doctorate from American University Washington College of Law. She is admitted to practice in Michigan, the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Michigan, before the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of…

SYDNEY J. MICHELS, Associate Attorney,  received a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Washington State University in 2017 and her Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2021. She is admitted to practice in Washington, Kansas, Missouri, and the Western District of Missouri. Sydney has been advocating for plaintiffs’ rights since 2021 and has…

BEN D. HOBSTETTER,  Associate Attorney, is an Eagle Scout and US Navy Veteran who served as a Surface Warfare Officer. He received his B.S. from Colorado State University, earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 2025, and is licensed to practice law in Colorado. Ben has represented Veterans and…