News
November 19, 2007
Closing the Justice Gap: AB 2301
By Joseph L. Chairez OCBA President The need for legal representation for the poor exceeds current pro bono and charitable fundraising efforts. A recent study shows that there are over 8,000 low-income persons per legal aid lawyer in the state. Volunteer attorneys and the California Legislature seek to close this gap with the implementation of AB… read more
November 2, 2007
Taking The Lead On Railroad Passenger Safety
As discussed in a previous newsletter, Aitken * Aitken * Cohn was appointed by the Orange County Superior Court to serve as Liaison Counsel on behalf of all plaintiffs who were involved in the April 23, 2002, head-on train collision in Placentia, California. This collision was the worse collision in Metrolink’s 10 year history and… read more
October 12, 2007
Fall 2007 Newsletter
You can read our Newsletter Here. (pdf link)
September 12, 2007
Client Profile – Jim MacLaren
Our former client, Jim MacLaren, is a motivational speaker and author, noted for his record-breaking performances in the marathon and ironman triathlon after having his left leg amputated below the knee. Jim was a successful scholar-athlete at Yale where he not only excelled in his course studies, but also lacrosse and football. He majored in… read more
June 28, 2007
Wylie Aitken Receives Lifetime Legal Achievement Award
Wylie, Elizabeth Edwards and Mike Farrell were recently honored in Beverly Hills by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR). Wylie was presented the Lifetime Legal Achievement Award by Chris and Ashleigh Aitken; Elizabeth Edwards was presented the Phillip Burton Public Service Award by Warren Beatty; and, Mike Farrell was presented the Citizen Activist… read more
June 22, 2007
Products Liability in “Plain English” – The New CACI Jury Instructions
Introduction In 2003 the Judicial Council of California set forth the new California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI, pronounced “Casey”) which affect virtually all areas of civil practice — including products liability. The “Preface” to the new instructions indicates that the intent was “to write instructions that are legally accurate and understandable to the average juror.” … read more
June 22, 2007
Jury Vior Dire Hypothetical Fact Pattern
This is a wrongful death case where Plaintiff Mary P’s 38 year old son, John P., was killed on a construction site (when he came into contact with a live electrical wire that had been unearthed during excavation work). The incident occurred at the University of Orange County, during the construction of this new University…. read more
June 21, 2007
Major Settlement Reached with Disney in the Sailing Ship “Columbia” Incident
The Law Offices of Wylie Aitken and Disney reached an agreement for settlement in a wrongful death matter of a 34 year old Microsoft Computer Programmer who was struck by a metal cleat which detached from a signature Disney ride “the Sailing Ship Columbia”. His wife was also struck by the metal cleat and she… read more
June 21, 2007
Deadly Train Collision
The Orange County based Law Firm of Aitken * Aitken * Cohn has filed complaints to commence formal litigation on behalf of 19 individuals who were significantly injured in the deadly train collision between a Metrolink Commuter Train and a Burlington Northern freight train which occurred on April 23, 2002, in Placentia, California. The lawsuits… read more
June 21, 2007
Group Requests Ban On Darvon And Other Propoxyphene Based Drugs
MSNBC.com released an article on February 28, 2006 entitled “Group petitions FDA to ban pain drug.” In the petition, the group claims that Darvon and related painkillers containing the ingredient propoxyphene are linked to over 2,110 deaths between 1981 and 1999. Already the United Kingdom has instituted a phase-out of the drug and will eventually… read more