Aitken
April 30, 2007
Secrecy in the Courts
Currently, there is an effort by pro-consumer interests in California to push for new legislation that would prohibit (or at least limit) “secret” or “confidential” settlements of certain types of legal cases. Those supporting such legislation believe that secrecy in the courts permits wrong-doers to quietly resolve meritorious cases, with no fear of negative publicity;… read more
April 30, 2007
Chapman Law Dedicates Wylie A. Aitken Courtroom
A supporter of Chapman University’s School of Law from its inception, Wylie Aitken and his wife Bette have given the school a financial endowment to establish what will be called the Center for Lawyering and Advocacy Skills. The new center enables students to build skills in negotiation, mediation, client counseling and trial and appellate advocacy,… read more
April 30, 2007
‘Playing With Fire’ Case Resolved, $2 Million Paid Under $100,000 Policy
In a unique settlement, heretofore unprecedented under California law, a young Riverside boy, severely injured in an automobile accident is to receive over two (2) million dollars pursuant to a policy issued by Amex Assurance Company, a subsidiary of American Express. The policy provided only $100,000 in coverage. This result was obtained when the carrier… read more
April 30, 2007
Truck Safety Update
The driver who lost control of an overloaded dump truck when its brakes malfunctioned on steep Nohl Ranch Road — resulting in the death of a Los Alamitos man and injuries to six other people — was recently told that he should be tried for gross vehicular manslaughter. Deputy District Attorney Michael Pear argued that… read more
April 27, 2007
Congratulations
Chris Aitken, Casey Johnson and Michael Penn were selected as “2007 Southern California Rising Stars” and will be featured in Los Angeles Magazine and Southern California Super Lawyers–Rising Stars Edition Magazine. Only the top 2.5 percent of Southern California lawyers received this distinction.
April 25, 2007
Pocialik v. Southern California Grading Co., et al.
On February 5, 2001, the firm achieved a substantial verdict in a wrongful death jury trial in Orange County Superior Court. The case, entitled Pocialik v. Southern California Grading Co., et al., was tried by the firm’s Senior Associate, Richard A. Cohn, over the course of an approximate two week time period. The case involved… read more
April 25, 2007
The True Story of the McDonald’s Coffee Case
How twelve everyday Americans decided Stella Liebeck’s case was not a joke. 79 year old Stella Liebeck of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was in the passenger seat of her grandson’s stopped car when she was severely burned by spilled McDonald’s coffee. Stella suffered 3rd-degree burns over 6% of her body, including her inner thighs, genitals, and… read more
April 25, 2007
Number of Trials Continue to Decline
Nationwide, the number of matters taken through to trial has been declining steadily. The American Bar Association recently reported that the number of federal cases resolved by trial plunged from 11 percent in 1962 to 1.8 percent in 2002. The number of trials per year also dropped by more than 20 percent over the same… read more
December 17, 2006
Winter 2006 Newsletter
Aitken * Aitken * Cohn OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: FORMER CLIENTS LIKE JOHN CHAVEZ CONSTANTLY REMIND US WHY WE REMAIN DEDICATED TO PERSEVERING ON THEIR BEHALF Our former client, John Chavez, was recently honored by the Golden West College Foundation at the school’s “Courtyard of Honor” ceremony. At the ceremony, a bronzed plaque with John’s picture was… read more
November 7, 2006
Aitken, Aitken & Cohn Salutes Clients
AITKEN * AITKEN * COHN PROUDLY SALUTES CLIENTS WHO LEAD THE WAY IN CHARGE FOR CONSUMER ACCESS TO PHYSICIAN DISCIPLINARY RECORDS It was with great pride and a sense of frank responsibility and purpose that our law firm commenced representation of Scott and Kathi Broussard in their medical malpractice lawsuit after the tragic death of… read more