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Lawyer Profile

Image of David K. Cohn

David K. Cohn

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Chain Cohn Stiles
  • Recognized Since:
    2018
  • Recognized in:
    Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Law School:
    Southwestern University School of Law
  • Lawyer Page:
    http://www.chainlaw.com
  • Website:
    http://www.chainlaw.com
  • Firm's Phone Number:
    (661) 323.4000
  • Languages:
    English
  • Location:
    1731 Chester Avenue, Suite 100
    Bakersfield, CA 93301-5220
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David K. Cohn is the managing partner for Chain | Cohn | Stiles, and one of the most highly regarded trial lawyers in California's Central Valley.

Year after year, he is named one of the top attorneys in the “Best Lawyer” category by the Bakersfield Californian Reader’s Choice Poll. He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV preeminent-rated trial attorney, and has also been named a Super Lawyer in Southern California, an honor bestowed upon only the top 5% of lawyers in the region. He has been selected as a "Top Attorney," as reviewed be peers, in Bakersfield Life Magazine. 

David grew up in Bakersfield, graduating from West High School, before going on to receive his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. Shortly thereafter, he obtained his law degree from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. While in law school, he clerked for then Federal Public Defender, John Van de Kamp. Following graduation, David returned to Bakersfield, joined the firm and eventually became its managing partner in 2000.

David is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, where he holds the rank of Associate, and also serves as the President for the San Joaquin Valley Chapter. He has also previously served on the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys of California and as past President of the Kern County Trial Lawyers Association. He was selected to join the International Society of Barristers, a widely-respected invitation-only group whose aim it is to preserve trial by jury, the adversary system and an independent judiciary. Most recently, he was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America program, which is the oldest and among the most respected attorney ranking services in the world.

Over the course of his career, David has obtained numerous multi-million dollar results on behalf of his clients.

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  • Lawyer Bio
  • Q&A
  • Client Comments
  • Lawyer Practice Areas
  • Firm Details
  • News & Media
  • Case History

Lawyer Bio

David K. Cohn is the managing partner for Chain | Cohn | Stiles, and one of the most highly regarded trial lawyers in California's Central Valley.

Year after year, he is named one of the top attorneys in the “Best Lawyer” category by the Bakersfield Californian Reader’s Choice Poll. He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV preeminent-rated trial attorney, and has also been named a Super Lawyer in Southern California, an honor bestowed upon only the top 5% of lawyers in the region. He has been selected as a "Top Attorney," as reviewed be peers, in Bakersfield Life Magazine. 

David grew up in Bakersfield, graduating from West High School, before going on to receive his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. Shortly thereafter, he obtained his law degree from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. While in law school, he clerked for then Federal Public Defender, John Van de Kamp. Following graduation, David returned to Bakersfield, joined the firm and eventually became its managing partner in 2000.

David is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, where he holds the rank of Associate, and also serves as the President for the San Joaquin Valley Chapter. He has also previously served on the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys of California and as past President of the Kern County Trial Lawyers Association. He was selected to join the International Society of Barristers, a widely-respected invitation-only group whose aim it is to preserve trial by jury, the adversary system and an independent judiciary. Most recently, he was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America program, which is the oldest and among the most respected attorney ranking services in the world.

Over the course of his career, David has obtained numerous multi-million dollar results on behalf of his clients.

Read more on firm website
  • Education
  • Bar & Court Admissions
  • Affiliations
  • Award List

Education:

  • Southwestern University School of Law, J.D., graduated 1975
  • University of Southern California, Bachelors , graduated 1972

Bar Admissions:

  • California, California
 

Court Admissions:

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

Affiliations:

  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) - Associate
  • Consumer Attorneys of California - Member
  • International Society of Barristers - Member
  • Kern County Bar Association - Member
  • Southern California Super Lawyers - Member

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
 

Awards:

  • Best Lawyer, The Bakersfield Californian Reader’s Choice Poll
  • Best Law Firm, The Bakersfield Californian Reader’s Choice Poll
  • Super Lawyer, Southern California Super Lawyers
  • AV Preeminent-Rated Trial Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell
  • National Trial Lawyers Top 100
  • Top Lawyers, Bakersfield Life Magazine
  • Top 100 Verdicts in California, Daily Journal
  • Inductee, West High School Hall of Fame
 

Q&A

Tell us a little bit about your practice and what makes it unique.

  • Our law firm, Chain | Cohn | Stiles, has represented clients from all over the San Joaquin Valley and throughout California for more than 80 years. We concentrate our efforts on protecting the rights of individuals who have been seriously injured due to the negligent, reckless or intentional conduct of another. At Chain | Cohn | Stiles, we pride ourselves on having the reputation and resources necessary to overcome the most difficult challenges while achieving the best possible results for our clients.

    I myself handle a caseload of wrongful death, civil rights, motor vehicle accident and other personal injury cases, while also managing four associate attorneys with my three legal partners, and more than 20 paralegals, legal assistants, and other staff. I’ve been practicing law as an attorney for nearly 45 years, all in Bakersfield.
 

What common questions are you asked by clients, and what are your answers?

  • Why choose Chain | Cohn | Stiles over other in-town, or out-of-town attorneys?

    We hear many times from clients who have hired lawyers who they believed were based locally, but were not. Later, they contact our office because they never got to talk to that lawyer, never met them, or were dragging the case along, and they want to hire us to take over their case. Many instances we’ll get involved and end up fixing and resolving their case. But there are other instances where the out-of-town lawyer has done things incorrectly on the case, made the case more difficult, or made mistakes where we cannot get involved because those mistakes cannot be corrected.

    There is this misconception that if you have a case in Bakersfield, you need an out-of-town lawyer because:

    1) Lawyers are in the pockets of in-town legal officials and will not fairly represent you and your case, or;

    2) Out-of-town lawyers are better because they are in a bigger city and are better equipment to handle the case.

    It’s important for you to know neither is true. Our firm has handled many cases against local agencies and entities time and time again, including police departments and corporations. Because we are here in Kern County, and have been for nearly 85 years, we actually have the upper hand over out-of-town law firms because we are familiar with the people involved in our local systems. We’ve had cases against them before, tried cases against them, taken depositions with them before, and that gives us an advantage.

    The other thing we hear is that someone goes out and hires a lawyer, and they never get to hear from them. In our opinion, that’s a terrible way to practice law, which is why we make it a point at Chain | Cohn | Stiles to have our lawyers meet with, and speak to, our clients in person. In fact, on the first occasion you meet with us, you will be meeting with your lawyer. If later you have questions of concerns, or want updates on your case, you get to speak with your lawyer. We’ll be by your side every step of the way.
 

Were there any particular inspirations (people or events) that spurred your interest in your practice area(s)?

  • My late uncle, Milt Younger, a prominent attorney in Bakersfield, showed me the importance of always out-working the other guy, never giving up, and being a strong advocate for those who aren’t able to defend themselves. Helping a client get his or her justice is the most rewarding part of my job. It’s an amazing feeling to see a client or family compensated for their losses as a result of someone else’s negligence, and through that compensation, help them restore their dignity, and in some way, make up for their harms or losses.
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Lawyer Practice Areas

Key: Awarded in Best Lawyers Not Currently Awarded for this Area in Best Lawyers

Firm Details

Image for Chain Cohn Stiles View Firm Profile
Chain Cohn Stiles
http://www.chainlaw.com
 
Headquarters
1731 Chester Avenue, Suite 100
Bakersfield, CA 93301-5220
(661) 616.9829

News & Media

Featured Publications

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Lawyer Case History

$10 Million Settlement: Confidential (Motorcycle Accident)

Defendant entered the roadway and did not allow enough room for the plaintiff on a motorcycle to enter with traffic approaching, causing him to be hit by crane. Plaintiff lost his right leg.

$10 Million Settlement: Confidential (Oilfield Accident)

Plaintiff was burned over 80 percent of his body in an oilfield accident. 

$8.8 Million Settlement: Hiler, et la v. Kern County Sheriff's Department (Wrongful Death)

Plaintiffs were pushing the motorcycle to a relative’s house crossing Norris Road in Oildale when they were struck and killed by a Kern County Sheriff’s deputy patrol car, speeding with lights and sirens off. 

$8 Million Settlement: Rios v. West Coast Casing, LLC (Pedestrian Accident)

The driver left the roadway onto the sidewalk, where he struck and killed the decedent as he was out for a morning jog. 

$6 Million Settlement: Moore v. County of Kern (Civil Rights)

Plaintiff was beaten to death by more than a dozen Kern County Sheriff’s Department detention deputies. 
 
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