Aitken Aitken Cohn

10/05/2026

Wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters can leave homeowners facing enormous losses and a complicated insurance process at the worst possible time. Know your policy before disaster strikes, document everything after a loss, save receipts and records, and don’t assume the insurance company’s first answer is final.

One of your policy’s biggest vulnerabilities may be in your dwelling coverage limit.

10/01/2026

Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by the tragic medical helicopter crash off Catalina Island. Rescue teams are continuing to search, and investigators are working to determine what happened. Aviation crash investigations are complex and require careful examination of the aircraft, flight operations, maintenance records, and other contributing factors.

Rescue teams on Thursday continued to search for a missing person after a medical helicopter crashed into the waters near Avalon on Catalina Island.

09/30/2026

Congratulations to AAC Partner Chris Aitken on being named to the Los Angeles / San Francisco Daily Journal's 2026 Top 100 Lawyers in California! Chris is recognized for his thoughtful, client-centered approach to complex catastrophic injury cases. From securing a $5.5 million settlement for a couple who suffered traumatic brain injuries to achieving a $38.5 million settlement in the 91 Freeway bridge collapse case, Chris is dedicated to understanding how an injury changes a person’s life and pursuing the results they deserve.

09/29/2026

Congratulations to AAC Partner and Immediate Past President Megan Demshki on completing her year as President of the Riverside County Bar Association (RCBA)! At the RCBA’s Annual Installation Dinner, Megan delivered her outgoing address and passed the torch to incoming President Elisabeth A. Lord, as the association welcomed its officers and Barristers for 2026–2027. We are proud of Megan for her leadership, dedication, and many years of service to the RCBA and the broader legal community.

09/28/2026

The tragic hit-and-run death of a grandmother who was struck while walking in a marked crosswalk in Long Beach is a heartbreaking reminder of how vulnerable pedestrians are on our streets. Pedestrian deaths remain a serious and growing safety concern. Every person should be able to walk through their neighborhood without fearing for their life. Drivers have a responsibility to watch for pedestrians, yield at crosswalks, and stay alert, especially when turning.

A family is seeking justice as they mourn the loss of their grandmother who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Long Beach.

09/25/2026

Lithium-ion batteries power so many of the products we use every day, from cell phones and laptops to e-bikes, scooters, power tools, toys, and portable chargers. But when these batteries are damaged, defective, overheated, or improperly charged, they can enter thermal runaway, creating intense fires that can be extremely difficult to extinguish and may reignite.

Experts explain how damaged battery systems can remain dangerous even after visible flames are extinguished.

09/23/2026

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash, and they have not yet determined the cause. When an aviation accident occurs, investigators must carefully examine the aircraft, flight operations, maintenance records, pilot qualifications, weather, and other factors to determine what happened. For families, understanding the circumstances and their legal rights can be an important part of moving forward.

Two helicopter pilots were killed when their aircraft crashed Sunday afternoon while conducting water drops on a wildfire at Yosemite National Park, officials say.

09/21/2026

Thirty years later, and the USC legal community is still going strong! AAC partner Chris Aitken recently reunited with fellow USC Gould School of Law Alumni (official) Class of 1996 alumni for a pre-reunion happy hour in downtown Los Angeles. It was a great evening catching up with old friends, sharing memories, and celebrating three decades since law school.

09/18/2026

The tragic death of an 18-year-old Cal State Fullerton student raises difficult questions about hazing, alcohol, and the responsibility organizations have to protect young people in their care. Our hearts go out to the young man's family, friends, and everyone who knew him. The family deserves a thorough, transparent investigation into what happened in the hours before his death.

The Delta Chi Fraternity’s national office said Wednesday, Sept. 16, that it doesn’t recognize the CSUF chapter.

09/16/2026

Two separate crashes, just hours apart, left multiple families grieving and a community shaken. A collision between an SUV and a Metro bus killed at least two people and injured six others. Later that evening, a KNBC helicopter covering the crash went down nearby, killing a reporter and the pilot. Investigators are still looking into both incidents, and they will answer those questions over time. For now, our thoughts are with the victims, their families, the injured, the first responders, and everyone in the Chatsworth community affected by these heartbreaking tragedies.

A helicopter crashed into flames Tuesday night in Chatsworth, not far from a serious accident involving a Metro bus that left three people dead.