Stephen P. Ajalat

Stephen P. Ajalat's practice focuses on probate and estate matters.  He has successfully handled a wide range of probate disputes, many of which have been contentious and involved complex issues.  Steve regularly appears in Probate Court, and handles the firm's probate and conservatorship filings and large-estate trust disputes. 

In addition to his probate practice, Steve handles much of the firm's medical malpractice cases.  His malpractice experience includes cases involving everything from the wrongful death of an infant to surgical malpractice, and to the failure to diagnose.  Steve also handles wrongful termination, employment and housing discrimination, personal injury, and general civil litigation matters. 

Recently, Steve has handled several recognized cases involving children's rights with respect to abuse reporting.  As the lead attorney in the nationally-recognized case Alejo v. Alhambra (which imposed liability on a police officer for the failure to report and investigate child abuse), Steve has attracted statewide attention in these types of cases.  Attorneys across California have retained him to handle several trial and appellate level cases involving the child abuse reporting issue as applied to law enforcement officers, social service workers, and medical professionals.

Outside of his law practice, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

Bar Admissions

• California, 1992

Education

• J.D., Western State University College of Law, 1990
• B.A., California State University, Northridge, 1985

Professional Memberships & Affiliations

• State Bar of California
• Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member and Board of Trustees, 2002-2003)
• Lawyers Club of Los Angeles County (President 2000-2002, Board of Governors, 1999-Present)
• San Fernando Valley Bar Association
• Consumer Attorneys Association of California

Reported Cases

• Jacqueline T. v. Alameda Child Protective Services (2007) 155 Cal.App.4th 456 (social services failure to properly investigate reported child abuse)
• Calderon v. Glick (2005) 131 Cal.App.4th 224 (physician's failure to warn of dangerous patient)
• Alejo v. City of Alhambra (1999) 75 CA App.  4th 1180 (law enforcement failure to investigate reported child abuse)
• Cotran v. Rollins Hudig Hall Int'l (1998) 17 Cal.4th 93 (employment sexual harassment)