Kristen has been with the firm since August 2017 and serves as paralegal to partner, Stopher Haug. She has over eight years of experience in personal injury, worker’s compensation, and all facets of family law. She received her associate’s degree in paralegal technology from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2012.
Kristen lives in Ocean Springs with her husband, Michael, and their son, Hawkins. They love live music and traveling and are always busy planning their next adventure!
Melanie has been with the firm since May 2021, where she serves as legal assistant to partner Stopher Haug. She received her bachelor’s degree in history, with a minor in English, from William Carey University in 2017.
Melanie is a native of Gulfport, but currently resides in Ocean Springs with her husband, Josh, their two young children, Ella and Lincoln, and their two dogs and two cats. In her free time, Melanie enjoys DIY projects, spending time with her family, and rehabilitating the occasional animal rescue.
Jenny has been with the firm since July 2020, and serves as a legal administrative assistant to partner Jonathan Franco. Prior to joining the Firm, Jenny worked as an administrative assistant in various industries for over 12 years.
Jenny is a native of San Diego and moved to Ocean Springs in December 2019 with her husband, Leroy, and their dog, Maxy Poo. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and attending music festivals.
Katelyn has been with the firm since September 2020, and serves as paralegal to partner Jonathan Franco. Katelyn completed the Paralegal Technology Program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and obtained her Paralegal Certification in May 2016. She has been a practicing litigation paralegal in various areas of law since June of 2016.
Katelyn is a Hancock County native and just recently relocated to Diamondhead with her husband, Matthew, and their two boys, Owen and Thomas. She loves spending her free time with her family, reading books, being active, cooking, and baking.
Tori serves as the firm’s intake specialist. In that capacity she is the first point of contact for all potential clients. Tori gathers information about the potential case, routes the potential client to the appropriate team member, and follows up with the potential client. Tori lives in Ocean Springs with her fiance, Kobe and their fur children – Tritty, Ru, Garbanzo, Brady and Zero. She enjoys home renovation projects, gardening, and spending time with friends and family.
Jamie has been with the firm since August 2023 and serves as paralegal to partner, Todd M. Farrar. Jamie completed her B.S. degree in Business Administration at Faulkner University. She has been a practicing litigation paralegal for more than 25 years.
Jamie is a native of Pensacola, Florida, and recently relocated to Ocean Springs. She enjoys spending time with her family and doing DIY projects.
Kim has recently joined the firm as a paralegal to Todd M. Farrar, Partner. Kim provides experienced and dedicated paralegal support for personal injury cases and criminal defense. She has over 28 years of experience in the legal profession. She has significant experience dealing with insurance companies, drafting pleadings, gathering, and analyzing evidence and ensuring her team is fully prepared for trial.
Prior to joining Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC Kim assisted attorneys in multiple practice areas, including collection matters, assisted board attorney for public schools and credit unions, personal injury, personal injury defense work, and criminal defense.
She also has multiple years of experience in criminal defense and was paralegal at the District Attorney’s office. She has worked with numerous attorneys who are now Judges in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
In her free time, Kim enjoys spending time with her family and friends, spending time around the water and beach, especially Horn Island. She is married and has two wonderful sons.
Madison has been with the firm since November 2024 and serves as paralegal to partner Jason Ruiz. She has two years of experience in personal injury and attends online college with Oregon State University.
Madison is a native of the Gulf Coast area and lives with her son, Tobias, and their four cats. She loves to spend her free time with her family, reading books, and traveling.
Kate has been with the firm since November 2024 and serves as a paralegal for partner Todd Farrar. In 2018, she received an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and continued her education in legal work at William Carey University. In 2020, Katelyn received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in criminology from William Carey University. Katelyn became a certified paralegal in August 2024 and received her paralegal certificate from Bryant & Stratton College.
Katelyn was born and raised in St. Martin, Mississippi. In 2022, she moved to Long Beach, Mississippi, to her current home with her grandparents, Paulette and Billy, and her boyfriend, John. She currently spends her home life chasing around her three dogs: Sapphire, Daenerys, and Baldur, and her hamster, Trinket. In her free time, Katelyn is a book collector and a writer. She enjoys reading thrillers and mystery novels, playing Dungeon & Dragons with her friends, and watching true crime shows.
