Wylie A. Aitken

Aitken is proud that his greatest achievement is practicing law with his two sons and daughter. The firm represents clients who are severely damaged or killed by various forms of individual and corporate neglect.

At 35, Aitken was elected as the youngest president of the California Bar Association. One of his biggest trial victories was winning a $54 million verdict on behalf of a 9-year-old girl, rendered a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic, when a federal employee ran a red light and broadsided the car in which she was riding. The verdict, in 2007, was recognized as the highest individual injury award against the federal government at the time. Guitierrez v. United States, CV 04-1045 (C.D. Cal., filed Sept. 15, 2004).

He also settled a case against Hyundai involving a 23-year-old man killed by a drunk driver in a hit-and-run in Santa Ana in 2005. Hyundai quickly whisked the driver back to Korea. But Aitken was able to have him extradited to face charges, and he was eventually convicted and sent to prison. Aitken secured a confidential settlement for the young man's family. Cook v. Hyundai Motor America, 07CC06177 (Orange County Supr Ct., filed May 23, 2007)

"All of my cases have contributed in some ways to safer parks, safer products, better corporate and insurance practices and lasting legislation," he said.

- DEIRDRE NEWMAN