Richard Cohn is a persistent, aggressive trial attorney who takes a "turn every stone" approach toward the legal matters he handles. He was recognized as one of the "Top 500 Litigators in the Nation" in the inaugural issue of Law Dragon Magazine, and was one of only three lawyers in Orange County, California to receive that distinction. The magazine again recognized him as one of the Nation's Top 3000 Plaintiff's Lawyers in America in 2007. He has been repeatedly designated a Southern California "Super Lawyer" by Los Angeles Magazine and Law and Politics. He is also listed in U.S. News and World Report's as a "Best Lawyer" in the category of Personal Injury Litigation.
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. In 2008, he received the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association's prestigious "Top Gun" award, for his work in the field of Medical Malpractice.
Mr. Cohn received his Bachelor's 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 Palsy Association of Orange County (President) 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 television and print news media regarding a variety of high profile cases.
