Top best Civil Lawyers Near me in ZIP 92612

Richard Cohn is a persistent, aggressive trial attorney who takes a "turn every stone" approach toward the legal matters he handles. He has been repeatedly designated a Southern California "Super Lawyer" by Los Angeles Magazine and Law and Politics. He was also one of only three lawyers in Orange County, California to achieve the distinction of being listed as a "Law Dragon" in the inaugural issue of Law Dragon Magazine, which designated him as one of the "Top 500 Litigators in the Nation.”  Mr. Cohn received the prestigious “Top Gun” Trial Lawyers of the Year Award in 2008 for his work on medical malpractice cases in Orange County.  Mr. Cohn is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubble’s Law Directory — which issues such ratings only to those attorneys who have demonstrated preeminent legal ability and the highest professional and ethical standards.. Mr. Cohn received his Bachelors Degree, Cum Laude, from University of California at San Diego (UCSD) in 1985 with a double major in Political Science and Communications. He obtained his juris doctorate degree from U.S.C. Law School in 1989, graduating among the top quarter of his class. He began his legal career at the law firm of McGinnis, Fitzgerald, Reese, Sharkey & McIntyre in San Diego, California, specializing in the field of medical malpractice defense.. Mr. Cohn joined Wylie Aitken in practice in July of 1990 and became a named Partner in January 2001. Mr. Cohn handles a wide variety of cases in major tort litigation including wrongful death and serious personal injury, medical malpractice, aviation tort law, insurance bad faith, products liability, construction site accidents, automobile and trucking accidents, premises liability, and governmental tort liability. (The subspecialty of medical malpractice has always constituted over 50% of his caseload.). Mr. Cohn is a past President of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, having assumed the Presidency of that organization in January 2001. Mr. Cohn has also served on the Board of Directors of a variety of other legal and charitable organizations, including the Orange County Bar Association and the United Cerebral Palsey Association of Orange County among others. He is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars including for California Continuing Education for The Bar (CEB) as well as for the State and Local Trial and Bar Association. He is also a frequent author of articles in legal publications. He has also been interviewed on multiple occasions by both televison and print news media regarding a variety of high profile cases.. Exemplary Results. Mr. Cohn has been trial counsel in a variety of lengthy, complex and high profile trials which have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts. Examples include: Small v. County of Orange (involving the attack of a mountain lion on a young child in a public park -- Verdict: $2,100,000); Chavez v. Altig (a complex medical malpractice case wherein a 25 year old man was blinded as a result of anesthesia during ankle surgery -- Verdict: $3,800,000); Scott v. Burges Transportation, et al (wherein a Journeyman immigrant plumbing contractor was seriously injured when he was run over by a dump truck on a construction site -- Verdict: $1,900,000); (Redacted) v. Wings Express Aviation, et al. (an aviation case wherein a Piper Cherokee VI aircraft crashed at Fullerton Airport due to a combination of contaminated fuel and poor maintenance -- Verdict $2,760,535).. Mr. Cohn also has achieved numerous multimillion dollar settlements on behalf of his clients. Most recent highlights include: A $4.5 million dollar settlement on behalf of a man who suffered a quadriplegic injury when diving into a pool at a luxury resort (2010); A $3 million settlement for the wrongful death of a construction site worker struck by a dump truck (Bodine v. Western Trucking) (2006); A $7.25 million dollar settlement for a new mother who received a morphine overdose in the hospital after a C-Section, (Case I.D. confidential) (2007); a settlement for over $3 Million for the wrongful death of an elderly woman struck by a bus in a crosswalk (Case I.D. confidential) (2006); a $1.8 Million settlement for the wrongful death of a husband/father electrocuted when he contacted power lines (Case I.D. confidential) (2006); and a $2.4 million settlement in a medical malpractice matter involving the wrongful death of an executive/father of three due to anesthesiology error (Brown v. Neff, M.D., et al.). He also obtained a record $2.1 million dollar settlement for an 80 year old auto v. pedestrian victim (believed to be the highest personal injury award in California history for a victim over the age of 80). (Rubio v. Allstate Ins.) (2003). In other recent medical malpractice results, Mr. Cohn recently obtained a $4.0 million dollar settlement in a hard fought, complex birth injury case. (Doe v. Roe Hospital) (2007), and a 2.4 million settlement on the eve of trial in another Orange County birth injury matter, (2008.). Mr. Cohn has also briefed and argued a variety of appellate matters, and argued before the California Supreme Court in an insurance coverage dispute which resulted in over 140 pages of majority and dissenting opinion.. Personal. Mr. Cohn was married in 1993 and has two children. They live in Newport Beach, California.

Peter Bauman is a senior, AV Preeminent rated, commercial litigation attorney, with extensive experience in complex business, construction, and real estate litigation. Mr. Bauman has been a civil litigator since passing the California bar exam in 2003, having received his J.D. degree from Pepperdine University and his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California. Mr. Bauman has successfully litigated and resolved a number of high profile cases through the courts, arbitration, and mediation. Mr. Bauman provides an aggressive, strategic, and creative litigation solution.. Some of Mr. Bauman's more notable cases include:. Callan vs. Marlborough Seaview Estates HOA: Mr. Bauman was instrumental in defending his client and designing a deal that resolved a 30 year old blight and $30 million litigation, with minimal contribution from his client. Case involved a complex landslide that affected numerous homes above the Shorecliffs Golf Course in San Clemente, California.. Private Company vs. Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc.: Mr. Bauman arbitrated this case on behalf of the building owner against a multinational solar energy firm and obtained an exceptional recovery for his client, and enforced the arbitration award in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Case involved a commercial dispute over the sale, design and installation of a 42 kilowatt photovoltaic solar energy system.. County of San Luis Obispo vs. Kajima Construction Services: Mr. Bauman defended the structural steel subcontractor and resolved the case for a de minimis amount. Case involved a San Luis Obispo public works construction lawsuit for several million dollars brought by the County against general contractor Kajima Construction Services and several subcontractors.. City & County of San Francisco vs. Competent Builders: Mr. Bauman successfully represented the general contractor in two lawsuits brought by the City and County of San Francisco and bonding companies over public work construction projects involving the historic Japantown Peace Plaza and Portsmouth Square Plaza. Claims totaled more than $5 million and were resolved for substantially less.. Additionally, Mr. Bauman has represented individuals, families, partnerships, corporations, homeowners associations, and design professionals in a wide variety of real estate, business, insurance, and construction related matters; resolving contentious claims against his clients for minimal payments, shifting liability to others through indemnity mechanisms, and recovering millions of dollars in plaintiff claims.

I am the managing Attorney in a Civil litigation practice since 1992.  Our practice emphasizes Real Estate, Business, General Civil and Business Litigation, Estate Planning and Trust Litigation. I am the currrent President of the William P. Gray-Legion Lex Inn of Court, a group composed of 140 Lawyers and Judges devoted to promoting civility in the practice of law. I am a past Adjunct Professor of Law in Real Property and was formerly a Judicial extern to the Honorable Warren J. Ferguson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

From 1992 to 1997, while in law school, I was doing project work for 10-12 other attorneys, which allowed me to gain experience in many areas.  When I became an attorney in 1999, I had obtained a breadth of experience in civil, family, criminal, personal injury, probate litigation, immigration, contracts, construction defect, landlord tenant, and bankruptcy.. Ultimately, I have pruned my practice down to estate planning, conservatorships, guardianships, elder abuse, and associated litigation.. I am aggressive and passionate, and I work very hard to obtain the results that my clients seek.

Erik E. Woodbury is an Associate in the firm’s Orange County office and has extensive experience in the areas of Business & Commercial Litigation, Real Estate, Corporate Law, Construction Litigation, Complex Civil Litigation, Products & Premises Liability, and Additional Civil & Commercial Disputes, including Catastrophic Injury & Wrongful Death Litigation.. During the course of his legal career, Mr. Woodbury has had the opportunity to represent a broad spectrum of corporations and individuals in highly complex litigation and representational matters, and has achieved great success on behalf of his clients in State and Federal Courts across the country. In addition to obtaining beneficial results through trial, Mr. Woodbury has worked to negotiate favorable settlements for clients in more than 75 mediations, and has assisted corporate clients in the structure and completion of numerous commercial transactions.. Since graduating from Tulane Law School in 1997, Mr. Woodbury has worked with some of the top litigation firms in the country and also has served as general counsel to a wide array of companies – from start-ups to established, multi-national businesses. In that capacity, he has provided guidance on a variety of legal matters, including but not limited to, litigation, compliance, regulatory, intellectual property, real estate, risk management, corporate governance, and dispute resolution issues.. Some of his representative cases include:. Mr. Woodbury is admitted to practice in California, Florida, Georgia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and is active in the legal community as a member of the California and Orange County Bar Associations; Florida Bar Association; Virgin Islands Bar Association; Georgia Bar Association; American Bar Association; Association of Trial Lawyers of America; and the Litigation Section of the ABA.. While at Boston College, Mr. Woodbury was a member of the varsity soccer (1990 - 1992) and football teams (1992 - 1994), and was a finalist for the Chevrolet Scholar Athlete Award.

Edward Susolik specializes in complex insurance litigation and catastrophic personal injury, as well as a broad spectrum of commercial and business litigation from both plaintiff and defense perspectives, including professional liability, intellectual property, construction law, employment law, real estate, securities law, directors and officers liability, governmental liability and numerous other areas of commercial litigation.. Mr. Susolik is chair of the Insurance Department at Callahan & Blaine. He has been responsible for many multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements over the years, including settlements in the amount of $28 Million, $15.5 Million and $8.1 Million.. In the insurance area, Mr. Susolik has wide expertise in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation covering the full spectrum of insurance law. First, Mr. Susolik has extensive experience in representing policyholders who have been denied insurance benefits. For example, he has successfully represented many professionals in insurance disputes, including doctors, lawyers, accountants, brokers, directors, architects and consultants. Likewise, Mr. Susolik has represented many corporations, homeowners’ associations, municipalities, charitable organizations, contractors and other business organizations in complex insurance disputes. Mr. Susolik also has broad experience in the representation of insurance industry professionals, including agents, brokers and insurance companies in disputes within the insurance industry, including litigation with reinsurers, excess and umbrella insurers and the Department of Insurance.. Mr. Susolik has broad expertise in resolving both first party and third party insurance disputes. In the first party context, Mr. Susolik has tried, litigated and handled hundreds of first party insurance claims, including major claims arising out of the Northridge earthquake, landslides and mudslides, toxic mold contamination, fire claims, water damage, pollution, life insurance, disability insurance, health insurance and numerous other contexts. Likewise, in the third party context, Mr. Susolik has litigated hundreds of liability insurance disputes, including advertising injury claims, Cumis counsel, duty to defend and recovery of attorneys’ fees, wrongful failure to settle, reimbursement, rescission, and other third party insurance disputes.. Mr. Susolik is a frequent speaker on insurance and litigation issues to lawyers, business groups and others. Mr. Susolik is currently a member of the adjunct faculty at USC Law School, where he teaches Insurance Law. He was also Chair of the Insurance Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association for 12 years. Mr. Susolik has been retained on many occasions as an expert witness on insurance law issues by both insurance companies and policyholders. He is also frequently retained by attorneys to provide expert insurance advice and consultation.. Mr. Susolik is the author of many articles on litigation and insurance issues and is a frequent contributor to periodicals, treatises and other legal publications. Mr. Susolik was an editor for the Rutter Group California Practice Guide on Insurance Litigation for over 15 years, where he updated chapters on Insurance Bad Faith and the Duty to Defend.. Mr. Susolik's many awards and accolades speak to his reputation in the legal community. For example, Mr. Susolik has been recognized by his peers as one of the "Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California" for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 , 2017, 2018, and 2019 -- one of only a handful of Orange County attorneys given that distinguished honor by Super Lawyer Magazine.. On the personal side, Mr. Susolik was born in Trnava, Czechoslovakia. He graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in Philosophy, English and History. He also received his law degree from the University of Southern California Law School, where he graduated Order of the Coif and was an Articles Editor on the Law Review.

Christopher R. Aitken,  who received his B.A. from the University of California (Los Angeles) in 1992 and his J.D. from the University of Southern California School of Law in 1996, is a partner in the Santa Ana firm of Aitken, Aitken, & Cohn. Mr. Aitken represents plaintiffs in major civil jury trial litigation involving personal injury, insurance bad faith, wrongful death, and general business litigation. He also is the creator and lead contributor of the Consumer Personal Injury Lawyer Blog.  He has also been a frequent continuing education speaker for the various California bar associations, and is a contributing member of the Consumer Attorney of California and the Orange County Bar Association.  For a complete biography, you can find me at: .

Brian J. McCormack is a Principal Attorney with the law firm of Callahan & Blaine, in Santa Ana, California, where his practice focuses on high-stakes, complex litigation, including business and contract disputes, business fraud, serious personal injury, wrongful death and product liability cases.. In October, 2002, Mr. McCormack and Daniel J. Callahan negotiated a settlement on behalf of the plaintiffs in a traumatic brain injury case which resulted in payments to the plaintiffs in excess of $28 million dollars.. In November, 2003, Mr. McCormack and Mr. Callahan obtained a jury verdict of $934,419,108 in Beckman Coulter, Inc. v. Dovatron International, Inc., Flextronics International, Inc. et. al. The verdict was the largest in Orange County, California history and was the largest verdict in the State of California in 2003.. Mr. McCormack was born in Salem, Massachusetts on August 23, 1959. He attended the Pennsylvania State University, receiving his B.A. in 1983. He received a J.D. from Western State University, College of Law, in 1993. Mr. McCormack is admitted to practice in California and in the United States District Court, Central District of California.. Mr. McCormack is a member of the American Trial Lawyer’s Association, The Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association.

As a full time neutral since 2011, Ed has focused his practice on mediation and is now available in all our offices statewide. He has over 30 years of combined legal experience. As an attorney, Ed was involved in many mediations, and recognized the benefits that private dispute resolution offered. Years later, while serving on the Riverside and San Bernardino County Court Panels, he discovered his passion for being a mediator. Ed was recognized by the Riverside Superior Court as being one of its top mediators for several years and now serves as a full-time private mediator.. An attorney had this to say about Ed, “My clients and I are highly impressed by Mr. Fernandez’s professionalism, skill and, most importantly, his mannerism. He is straight to the point and has the ability of putting people at ease. He is never pushy but is quite persuasive. He successfully helped us resolve a matter of which we were not very optimistic about at the beginning of the mediation. I will definitely put him on the “toppick” list of my future mediator selection.”. One of Ed’s perspective on mediation is that “the same, ‘cookie cutter’ approach just does not work anymore. Listen to the parties, be patient and build trust and confidence.”

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Santa Ana and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Santa Ana and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Santa Ana and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Santa Ana and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Santa Ana and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Santa Ana and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Santa Ana and surrounding areas.