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, 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 the…

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…

SARA WELLS, Chief Paralegal, earned a B.S. in Community, Corporate, and Hospital Wellness in 2009 and a B.S. in Education in 2011, both from Pittsburg State University. Sara became the Chief Paralegal at ABS in August of 2023 and is responsible for communicating with new and existing clients and V.A. personnel and supervising our paralegal team.

LYDIA DRISKILL-AHRENS, Senior Paralegal, earned a B.A. in English in 2019 and an M.A. in English in 2021, both from Emporia State University. Lydia has been a paralegal with the firm since October 2023 and is responsible for communicating with existing clients and V.A. personnel and providing valuable support for our attorneys.