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OUR VISION
OUR MISSION
At Khawam Ripka, LLP, our mission is to help active-duty, and recently active-duty military, win compensation for military medical malpractice that happened when seen by a military physician or military medical personnel.
A recent change in the law means it is now possible to file a claim with the federal government for medical military malpractice.
Please read below to discover more about our team:
Overview And Experience
Commitment
At Khawam Ripka, LLP, we are committed to helping active-duty and recent active duty military personnel get the compensation they deserve for military medical malpractice.
Experience
Collectively, the attorneys at Khawam Ripka, LLP have decades of experience in medical malpractice and related legal cases. We bring our experience to your case to help you secure justice.
Focus
When we work with you, we pursue your case aggressively with total focus. Our goal is justice for you and your family.
Practicing law is not about winning.
It's About Justice.
It's About Finding The Truth
Natalie Khawam
Esq, MBA, MS
Natalie Khawam is an experienced attorney, entrepreneur, and volunteer. She founded the highly-regarded Whistleblower Law Firm in Tampa, Florida, after working in both the Federal government and private sector for over 15 years.
Ms. Khawam graduated from Georgetown Law School and has an M.B.A. from the Fox School of Management at Temple University.
She has also been a volunteer with the Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay and has won the Pro Bono Honorary Award from Georgetown University. She also holds an MS degree.
She is passionate about serving our Veterans, fighting for justice, and seeking the truth in all matters. Ms. Khawam practices Federal law, with a focus on whistleblower laws.
Ms. Khawam brings her passion for helping military personnel plus her extensive experience to the firm.
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It is not what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I ought to do.
Alan Ripka
Esq, Senior Partner
Mr. Ripka, a renowned trial attorney, is senior partner to the firm. He is admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of New York and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He holds various pro hac vice appointments, including in New Jersey, California and Florida. He began his legal career as a criminal prosecutor at the District Attorney’s office for Kings County. In 1992, he began in civil litigation, where he continues today, and has had New York State’s highest verdicts for the past five years.
Mr. Ripka currently practices in the areas of Medical Malpractice, Mass Tort, Products Liability, Consumer Fraud and General Negligence. He has tried countless cases to verdict and has recovered numerous awards over one million dollars. He is a member of the Medical Malpractice Hall of Fame, the American Bar Association and a former member of the Board of Directors for the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.
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Jack Kelly
Partner
Jack Kelly is a Partner in the McPherson Group‚ LLP and a highly regarded adviser on the management of public policy risk to national and multinational corporations.
Previously‚ he has served as a political aide to two U.S. Presidents‚ served in staff positions with Congress and in the New York and Federal courts. For 28 years until his retirement‚ Mr. Kelly served in active and reserve components of the United States Army and he was the commander of a Special Forces unit. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit. From 2004 until 2018 he served as a member and Chairman of the U.S. Advisory Committee on National Cemeteries and Memorials.
Presently, he serves as member of the U.S. Advisory Committee for Arlington National Cemetery, the Army Distaff Foundation, the Advisory Council on Graduate Studies and Research for the University of Notre Dame, and the Fordham Law School Advisory Board on Corporate Compliance and Ethics. An avid runner he has successfully completed a number of marathons including the New York‚ Marine Corps and Boston marathons.
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Megan Stayskal
Office Manager
Megan Stayskal is an experienced professional who applies her natural business sense in her role as office manager of Khawam Ripka LLP. Megan overseers all day-to-day administrative functions and operations of the firm, and is completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies and Support with a concentration in Paralegal Studies from Purdue University.
Megan was born and raised in San Jose, California, is a proud mom of two little girls, and spouse to Sgt. Richard Stayskal whom the military medical malpractice bill is named after. Prior to joining the firm Megan attended nursing school until Richard was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer.
When she is not supporting the firm and her family, she is zealously advocating for the rights of our nation’s military service members.
Nardin Nashed
Legal Assistant
Nardin Nashed is dedicated to getting her clients the fair and just compensation they deserve. She is an active and compassionate listener, and prides herself on being organized.
She is originally from Cairo, Egypt. She migrated to the USA in 2007 with her family. She earned her Bachelors in Health Science in University of Central Florida in 2016. Nardin earned her Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law in 2019. While she was in law school, she was the Vice president of the Immigration Law Society. She was also a volunteer in the VAC (Volunteer Advocate for Children) program where she served for 2 years.
Nardin is a proud mother of an 8 years old soccer player and a 6 years old gymnast. She enjoys horseback riding and is a huge fan of soccer.
Carissa Kohne
Law Clerk,
Carissa Kohne is passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of current and former service members. As a law clerk at Khawam Ripka LLP, Carissa is committed to continuously learning how to effectively advocate for service members and their families to receive just compensation. Upon BAR passage, Carissa hopes to dedicate her career to serving those who have served.
Carissa graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2019 with a bachelors of arts in English. Following graduation, she interned for Congressman Phil Roe, former Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, in Washington, DC. While in Law School, Carissa was a member of the Health Law Journal, received a CALI award in Health Law, and successfully completed her Health Law certificate. In May of 2022, Carissa earned her Juris Doctor from Belmont College of Law. She plans to write the BAR in July.
In her free time, Carissa volunteers as an assistant boxing coach at International Boxing Academy of Nashville. She is also training for her first amature fight and in the process of having her first album produced.
Babu Uthaman
CFO
Babu Uthaman is the Chief Financial Officer of Khawam Ripka, LLP and has been with the firm since the very beginning. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the States of New York and California.
Mr. Uthaman is also an Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Uthaman has a Master’s Degree in Accounting from India and has several years of financial reporting and tax accounting experience.
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Darik Knutsen
IT director
An Important Change
A recent change in federal law means that active-duty military personnel can now file a claim with the federal government for military medical malpractice that occured after 2017.
Why It’s Important
You should not have to suffer due to mistakes made by military doctors when you were on active duty. Now you can get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Your Next Steps
If you believe you’re the victim of military medical malpractice, it’s important you contact us by calling 855-484-3645 or filling out the form here.