W. Douglas Easton

Doug Easton has practiced law since 1971. After 20 years of practicing with various large litigation firms, he founded the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton in 1991 as a solo practitioner. In the years that followed, Doug's sons Brian and Matt joined him in the practice and helped build the firm into a powerful force to help right the wrongs done to their clients. Much of their success over the years has stemmed from the dynamic created by the familial nature of the firm and how harmoniously they all work together, each of their individual strengths complementing and fortifying the group as a whole. Accordingly, the firm changed its name to Easton & Easton, LLP in 2014 to better reflect the true dynamic of the firm and Doug now serves as Managing Partner of Easton & Easton.

In his many years of experience, Doug has often been recognized by his colleagues and peers for his service and the skillful advocacy that he provides on behalf of his clients. Each year from 2007 through the present, Doug has been chosen anew as one of the Best Lawyers in America. The Best Lawyers in America is a preeminent referral guide for the legal profession in the United States. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have been nominated and voted on by their peers. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list. They must earn a spot through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. To remain on the list, they must remain at the top of their game, year after year.

In addition to Doug's selection as a Best Lawyer in America, the firm Easton & Easton, LLP has been selected for the U.S. News "Best Law Firms in Southern California" List each year since 2014, thereby recognizing the impressive combined results of Doug and his sons, Brian and Matt.

Doug has also been featured in the Los Angeles Times Magazine from 2007 through the present as one of Southern California's "Best Lawyers." In 2009, Doug was proudly named as a Southern California Super Lawyer. Since then, Doug has been chosen as a Super Lawyer every year through the present. The only way a lawyer can be recognized in as a Super Lawyer is through a selection process involving a multi-step evaluation that incorporates peer recognition and professional achievement.

In 2015, Doug was selected as a Top 100 Litigation Lawyer in California by The American Society of Legal Advocates. In addition, Doug is listed in Strathmore's Who's Who, and in 2008 was named its "Professional of the Year" in Medical Malpractice.

For over 25 years, Doug has had an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the nation's oldest and most prestigious peer rating service. These ratings are the result of confidential questionnaires sent to other practicing attorneys and members of the judiciary. The "A" rating is "the highest legal ability rating," while the "V" signifies "very high adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, and diligence." Only about 5% of the attorneys in America have an "AV" rating.

Doug and the firm are also proudly listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers, a listing of the legal community's most highly regarded professionals.

Over his career, Doug has represented thousands of people in personal injury claims who have sustained all manner of injuries in all types of accidents through the negligence or wrongdoing by other individuals, businesses, or governmental entities. During that time, Doug has obtained vast experience, wisdom, and judgment in settling and trying personal injury matters. Doug particularly enjoys handling and trying medical malpractice cases due to the increased difficulty and challenges these cases present.

Doug spent the first 6 years of his practice as an attorney working for insurance companies defending negligent persons and companies and learning how insurance companies defend, diminish, and defeat valid personal injury claims. If you know their tricks, stratagems, and defenses, you can usually defeat them with proper preparation. In over 42 years of experience on both sides of the personal injury practice, Doug has learned their tricks, stratagems, and defenses. For the past 32 years Doug has battled against the insurance industry to obtain fair and adequate compensation for people who have been injured through the negligence or fault of individuals, businesses, or governmental entities.

Doug received his B.A. degree cum laude from Brigham Young University in 1967 and his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall) in 1970, which at the time was one of the top five rated law schools in the Nation. Doug has been admitted to practice law in California since January 1971.

In addition, Doug is admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals and the United States Federal District Courts for the Central, Northern, and the Southern districts of California. He has argued cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court, and various Appellate Courts of the state of California. Doug has tried cases in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, and Alameda counties in California. He has also represented clients in most other California counties.

Doug has served as an Orange County Superior Court Temporary Judge and as an arbitrator and settlement judge for the Orange County Superior Courts. Doug is a member of the California Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association, and the J. Ruben Clark Law Society.

Doug belongs to numerous trial advocacy organizations including the Consumer Attorneys of California, the American Association for Justice, the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, and the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. Doug has served as a lecturer on trial advocacy skills on several occasions for California Continuing Education of the Bar.

Doug and his wife Rae have seven children. His sons Brian and Matt are both partners in the firm, and his youngest son Travis recently joined the firm as its newest attorney in 2014. In addition, Doug's daughters, Dee and Kristy, each currently work for the firm and his wife Rae is currently the Office Manager. This familial nature within the firm gives common purpose and success to the firm. Doug is especially proud that all five of his sons are Eagle Scouts.