Our Successes

"Wisner Baum gave exceptional attention to all aspects of the case, detailed inquiry, and tenacious overview of all the information submitted. The paralegals are efficient and diligent. I was completely surprised to find an empathic personal message to take care of my own health during the challenging time of being a full-time caretaker.*"

"I thank God that I found Baum Hedlund. Clark Aristei and Nidia are two of the finest legal professionals and Human Beings I have ever met. Even after our case was settled they continued fighting for us to receive every penny we were entitled to. I have worked in law firms myself, including one of the largest in the nation. Quite simply, there is no finer representation available anywhere. I would recommend them to anyone in need of legal assistance wholeheartedly."

"We have never met a more wonderful group of people. It is obvious that the people at Wisner Baum believe in what they do. And that you all really care about your clients."

"I want to thank you and everyone at the firm who worked on the excellent representation of the wrongful death case of my wife. I received the best possible representation and in a manner to respect my feelings. You took over all of the legal matters during a difficult time of my life and allowed me to concentrate on healing. I would recommend your law office without reservation.

Immediately following the accident, I was overwhelmed with contacts from various law firms wishing to represent my case. Many of these firms did so with much pressure which was very displeasing. I appreciated receiving information about your firm, and without pressure, having the ability to make a relaxed decision. I always felt comfortable that you would advise me, but allow me to decide what I wanted to do and respect my decision. I feel this is one of your firm’s major strengths.

The other strength was always being able to talk to you every time I called. You and your colleagues were readily available at all times to answer my questions without delay. This was also true of any correspondence that I received. It was delivered immediately and often with a phone call alerting me to expect a package and an explanation of the contents. I credit your excellent staff and I am thankful to Sheila and Jemma for all of their continuous exceptional help.

Finally, I was very happy with the settlement and final results of my case. Everything was clearly explained to me, which allowed me to make a decision with which I was comfortable.

I wish you continued success and expect that with your professional attitude and willingness to serve your clients, it will be easy. I am very happy with your service and am fortunate to be a client of yours."

"Following the crash of Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight #7529 on August 21, 1995, I had an opportunity to choose from several different law firms to represent me and my family. Your firm was the only one that was willing to make arrangements to meet with me in person to discuss my situation.

From the beginning, you kept us informed of each development in the case. I appreciated the copies of news releases, NTSB findings, tape recordings, and follow-up phone calls that you provided. I realize that I have a greater need to be involved and to be kept informed than your average client and you were flexible to meet this need.

Every individual that I was privileged to work with at your firm was both polite and professional. Beginning with my weekly interactions with Susan and Sheila, and my follow-up phone calls with Michael Baum and you, John, every person that I spoke with had a personal and caring interest in me as a person. I was most impressed with the level of communication between each of you, as you all were aware of the status of my case at any given time.

An additional personal note for you, John. Unfortunately, during my case, a tragic accident personally affected you and your family. During this time, you kept your priorities straight and maintained communication with us through several other people. The resources of your firm were sufficient so that our case continued to proceed right on schedule. I was very pleased to be able to work with real people at Baum Hedlund. I will not think this mf lawyers as I did before my experience with your firm."

"Our family would like to express our sincere thanks for the wonderful job you and your staff did for us. On September 21 we lost our son in a plane crash.

Also, a special thank you to your Spanish-speaking staff for the extra effort put into this case. The language barrier was never a problem, and we are so very thankful to them.

All the money in the world will never bring our son back or take away the pain. Your kind words will always be appreciated along with your hard work. Our families have never met, and in the three years that you handled this case our best interest was always number one on your list. Your name holds much respect in our family.

Once again thank you."

"I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your diligent and professional representation.

Thanks to your efforts I was able to recover from a tragic experience and turn my life around for the best. Not only did your work bring me the financial ability to pay for the remainder of my education and help me achieve an advanced professional degree, but the benefits of your advice helped me recover emotionally and helped me in choosing a career.

There is no better example of this than the assistance you provided me in completing my Senior Undergraduate Thesis on Aviation Disaster Law. The materials and counseling you provided helped me in my effort to petition the Federal Aviation Administration for tougher laws on emergency exit row seating and runway safety.

Do not hesitate to contact me should you require additional references."

"It is with great pleasure that I offer a letter of recommendation for Mr. John Greaves and this law firm. Initially, I had reservations of having representation following the Korean Airlines crash in Guam, which resulted in the death of my 24-year-old son.

It took one phone call to the office to convince me that they could handle the “delicate nature” of this case with their expertise, credentials, and experience with airline disasters. We were fortunate to have chosen this office as they provided a caring atmosphere and a focus to details while compiling thorough research into my son’s life and history. The office staff displayed professionalism and courtesy while dealing with a grieving, angry father.

My wife and I want to express deepest gratitude to John Greaves and his paralegal, Nidia, who spent countless hours on the phone “walking us through” the deposition process, legal details, and giving regular updates informing us of the progress and activities of the case.

To summarize, the office upheld my respect with sincere sensitivity and did not forget my son. I would have no hesitation in recommending Mr. John Greaves and this law firm to others who experience such a horrific tragedy."

"With the crash settlement finalized and the payoff delivered it appears our work together has been completed.

In light of this, I have drafted this letter of appreciation for all the hard work you and your firm did on my behalf. During the course of our association, all matters relating to this case were handled with obvious expertise, professionalism and attention to detail. This extra effort showed off in the settlement amount that was far higher than I believe either one of us was thinking of at the start of this case.

During the start of the process, I personally met with all the major legal firms dealing with this kind of issue. After this I came away with the impression that Baum Hedlund was the best, but they were also the cheapest. This is not a normal combination, best, and cheapest. However, after working with you and your firm I now understand how your firm put this together and made it work for their clients.

A special thank you to Cynthia for all the extra time and effort she put forward on the paperwork side of the case. I saw a mountain of it during this time, but I’m sure it was only the tip of the iceberg. This is not the fun and interesting side of the legal profession (paperwork) but she made it easy.

If anyone were unfortunate enough to go through a plane crash I would not hesitate to highly recommend you and your firm for handling the legal issues and settlement negotiations.

Again thank you for your efforts on my behalf they are much appreciated. Please feel free to call if you need anything else."

"You have been in my life for two or three years and I am most happy about my choice of a sincere, intelligent, capable, and kind human being for our attorney.

My son and five of his friends were tragically killed when their small, chartered plane crashed. Further, we could not locate the plane or our sons for a week. The hardest week and year of my life. I share this experience with my son’s dad and siblings and the families of the “Six Friends.” We explored legal representation and chose your firm. You had good credentials and an excellent reputation.

That you work very hard and keep in contact is very important to me. That you listen to my opinions and hear what I say is very important to me. And most important is your sympathetic and understanding staff who assist you with the case, your diligent preparation of all aspects of our suit, my open access to your firm to get my questions answered, and the prompt responses to my questions. I appreciate that you care about how I feel and that you take time to use your talents to ensure your every contact with me is warmly professional.

I take considerable care to share my experience as often as possible."

"I want to pass on my personal thanks to your staff for the devoted support that you have provided me over the past couple of years. Since that terrible day [the day of the accident] I have experienced a mixed bag of emotions about how everything should fold out as I continue to grasp at how life as a survivor will be.

The task hasn’t been easy as one may expect. From standing in front of a mirror, hours after the crash, to interacting with my co-workers, friends, and family there was a need for support. This support came in many forms: Family, Friends, Medical Treatment, and eventually Legally.

Your firm impressed me from the day your informational pamphlet showed up at my door along with many others. If standing out from the rest, not due to a nice cover however it built my trust through personal recommendations from people just like myself, and the level of expertise within the firm.

One individual, in particular, was John Greaves who was able to apply a personal touch through his experiences as a commercial airline pilot. John once told me that he left commercial aviation due to the problems he encountered regarding safety practices. This comment sparked interest in him personally as a former airline pilot-gone lawyer. He proved to me that there are knights in shining armor in the aviation world, unfortunately, most of those are now lawyers with a mission to make our skies safer.

John of course wasn’t the only person to assist me with my case however; there is a foundation of legal and administrative support staff that has provided me with the support that I was blessed with.

Please feel free to pass on my personal information to those who may require your firm’s services in the future.

Once again thank you from my family and me."

"I would like to express my profound gratitude to those at Wisner Baum that I have had the pleasure to work with since the airline accident in which I was involved. Although I recognize some of you only by phone voice, I’ve gotten to know many of you personally over the past several months.

During this very stressful and difficult time in my life, your firm was there to help give support and guidance in the daily legal decisions, which had to be made. Your expertise in this field gave me the utmost trust and confidence in your abilities.

I appreciate you respecting my private-life needs and concerns in the aftermath of this highly visible accident. I wanted a fair settlement within an appropriate time frame, and without any public scrutiny. With your hard work and dedication, we were able to achieve those goals.

If I can ever be of any assistance to you or your clients, please don’t hesitate to call. I would be most happy to recommend your firm to anyone wishing personal, timely, and fair representation."

"I was involved in the June 1, 1999, American Airlines flight 1420 accident. My injuries included broken bones, a dislocation, loss of sight, and hearing and my employment due to early retirement. My whole family, especially my wife, was affected by the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual “fall-out.”

After much investigation and consideration, my wife and I selected Baum, Hedlund, Aristei et al. Our selection was made based on a complete, informative, and objective package forwarded to us and a very caring and informative conversation with Mr. Paul Hedlund. During this call, Paul explained our options, the company’s extensive experience working with the families involved in disasters, and his firm’s commitment to the whole matter of recovery, personal, family, and financial. We were very impressed and never disappointed by the level of service and compassion promised and delivered.

The staff advised us of important behavior and continued attention to daily needs that furthered the processing of the case. They guided us in preparing information, photographs, and documentation, for the preparation of a comprehensive package detailing the case, my injuries, recovery activities, and costs and future requirements and damages and their estimated costs.

They accomplished the preparation, submission, and remediation of my case with little disruption of our daily lives. This was especially considerate as I was having severe accident recall issues due to PTSD, which were exaggerated by having to recount the details of the accident.

My wife, my family, and I were handled as individuals. No matter was too small or too great or too far removed from the events of that tragic day and its subsequent ramifications for their consideration, advice, and remedy. We were contacted frequently with updates, inquiries, and just plain friendly conversation. Eighteen months into my recovery I was so emotionally unstable that my wife threatened to leave me. Paul and Clark Aristei personally saw us through the crisis.

The staff at Baum, Hedlund managed our case and more importantly, our concerns and expectations, expeditiously but with careful consideration to final results required to remedy any future complication especially considering the demands placed upon my wife to both physically and emotionally support my recovery."

"A big thank you! Your support and representation to our family made a painful situation bearable! Thank you for making us feel like “special clients.” Thank you for dinner, and thank you for bringing Jack to San Fran (his added support was comforting).

Upon reflection, I wish I could have spoken on behalf of [our daughter], but fear and internal anguish welled up inside making it impossible, but Paul stepped in and beautifully filled the gap.

I wish you could have known [our daughter]. I guarantee you would have adored her."

"Our family would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank a great law firm and its entire staff for their wonderful representation, professionalism and compassion shown to our family during this very trying time in our life.

On more of a personal note, we would like to thank Paul, Clark and John for their excellent representation and for always being readily available to us regardless of the time of day. They made us feel like we were their only clients.

We also want to recognize Jack, a great paralegal, who spent countless hours on the phone with us answering all of our questions no matter how silly they may have seemed, and sometimes just being a listening ear when we needed someone to talk to.

The entire law firm of Baum Hedlund, from the receptionists to the attorneys are very thoughtful, compassionate people who were always willing to help us and see that we were treated like a part of their family.

Thanks to all of you for everything you have done. We will remember each and every one of you, and you will always hold a special place in our hearts."

"Our family would like to thank you for all you have done over the last three and a half years in representing us in the loss of our son. Your professionalism has always been at the forefront while continuing to remember our son and the personal side of our loss.

Your firm has gone above and beyond our expectations in a number of ways, such as being the only law firm willing to take on the FAA for their dereliction of duty in monitoring the airline. Your interest in making changes in the system for the better and not just in settlement of the lawsuit. For taking a personal interest and attending the memorial dedication.

On a particularly personal note, stepping in on our behalf with the coroner to get confirmation of the identification of our son’s remains when after eight months of waiting and many calls we were not able to get confirmation. There are no words to fully express what that meant to us.

And last but not least, for all of the letters, e-mails and phone calls and dinner meetings to keep us fully informed of the proceedings while always being responsive to our concerns and questions.

So to simply say thank you seems so inadequate, but know it comes with deep appreciation from our hearts. We have come to view your firm not only as our legal team but as friends.

So as we say goodbye, please know that it is with deepest appreciation and best wishes to all in your firm for continued success and happiness."

"I shall not forget your great attention to detail, John, and your perseverance in this difficult case. Thank you. And, Clark, thank you for coming all the way to Alaska to guide me during the deposition.

Paul, I really appreciated the video of [my relative], particularly because of the tragic end which she suffered just last year.

And, Jack, you kept in touch almost weekly and sometimes daily, to keep me up to date on the actions of the court and of the firm.

I cannot thank all of you enough for the representation which you furnished to me during this long and involved process. As you are well aware I would have been left out of any negotiations or settlement had your firm not been attentive to the families left bereaved by the crash of Alaska Airlines 261. Again, thank you all. I look forward to welcoming you to Alaska!"

"Our family would like to thank you, Paul Hedlund, and all the members at Baum, Hedlund that handled the wrongful death suit of our daughter and sister. Every person we talked to at the firm was knowledgeable about our case and had answers for us. If not, a prompt return call always came from someone. At no time did we ever feel uninformed; your office was always very accessible to us. The experts and outside help you employed were top-notch.

We were especially impressed that you flew up to meet us and saw what kind of a family we were. You made yourself familiar with our area, and most importantly, where the accident occurred. We believe this was very helpful in all our phone calls and correspondence. You learned and respected where our daughter and sister fit in our family and were able to relate to the incredible loss we have.

Again, thank you for your personal interest in our family and your professionalism in settling our case out of court. We were impressed with your honesty and integrity and personally found your work ethics beyond reproach.

If at any time, we can make a recommendation or answer a potential client’s question about you or your firm, we would be happy to do so."

"It is with great pleasure I forward this letter to your office giving thanks to you and all the people at Wisner Baum from our family.

Since my brother’s aircraft accident, the whole family has been traumatized by the ordeal. We had a choice of who to select to represent [my brother] and I’m glad we chose your firm for the following reasons:

• You initially furnished us important information which helped us make a decision and indicated to us that you were professionally prepared, and had the contacts and resources to pursue this case to conclusion;
• You immediately realized that my involvement in the case was important and the fact that I would be by my brother’s side in the hospital for however long it took to resolve the case would facilitate our efforts.

Your staff of real compassionate human beings were very kind to us all. You treated us like brothers and sisters and whenever we ran into a problem, you always resolved it. You, of course, were sensitive enough to know what the emotional impact on the family was like. In addition, I might mention that the accident occurred in August, and we had a settlement by November the following year. We all know why. You prepared such a strong case that the defendants were eager to settle this matter.

In closing, I would like to say that I don’t know everyone at the office personally but if there is anything I can do for anyone, please don’t hesitate to call me. Give all the girls a hug from us and all the guys a pat on the back. We love you all."

"During the last four years, we have been represented by this law firm in our efforts to bring legal resolution against FORD Motor Co. and others, concerning the death of our daughter. She was killed in the 14 May 1988 Kentucky bus wreck as a result of an unsafe product that we believed was constructed without any concern for safety by the builders.

Within four weeks FORD settled on their own terms with 53 of the 55 families involved, leaving only us and one other family to fight the battle. We were told that no law firm would/could fight the FORD giant with only one or two clients. After talking to over 30 law firms we asked this firm to represent us in our legal effort.

During these four years, we have been more than satisfied with our dealings with both our lawyer individually and the law firm generally. In a short letter, it is not possible to condense four years into words; however, the experiences below may communicate our true satisfaction during this very difficult period.

• Our attorney became a friend who on several occasions placed our needs above profit for the law firm.
• He and his firm have become involved and have heavily invested both their time and money in improving school bus safety.
• He has been totally honest and bad news was communicated as quickly as good news.
• He never broke his word and what he said was better than a written contract.
• Communications were excellent using the firm’s toll-free number.
• This firm and our lawyer work super with other individuals, experts, and law firms.
• Without any reservation whatsoever, we most highly recommend this law firm and believe they will serve any client with the same commitment, honesty, dedication, and hard work that we experienced.

This firm’s effort during the past four years deserves and demands the highest recommendation for your consideration."

"I have given a lot of thought to how to say “thank you.” Nothing special enough comes to mind so here I am writing a standard thank-you note. However, this thank-you is anything but standard.

Our 3 ½ years together has been a lifetime to me and a life-line. While pounding away with all the legal issues you never seemed to lose track of the real people in those issues. I know what your jobs were but I feel you went deeper than was required.

Jack’s shoulder’s grew bigger and bigger just to handled people like me who needed to be heard over and over! Thank you, Jack. Paul, I loved being around you. You are so bright but still with a sense of humor. Thank you for your leadership.

Recognizing that the airline’s attention would not happen with my tears and grief—it had to happen within the legal system, was a big step for me. I can only hope and pray that we helped bring notice to a very serious issue!

Clark and John, I want to thank you for being there with answers to so many questions. I never felt put off by any of this team.

Thank you.

My love and gratitude to you."

"When our son was killed there was a deep darkness in our lives. There is a void of loving friendship and compassion of a child that can never be replaced. Our hearts will be forever broken.

When your brochure arrived, a very close attorney friend of ours reviewed the material and he was very impressed by your knowledge of accidents related to trucking, railroad, and airlines. He assured us that your firm was a very excellent choice and he recommended you highly.

Understanding the tragedy of this accident and the gross disregard of human life helped us believe in your ability to deliver a fair settlement.

Within the weeks, months, and years that followed it turned out that we knew our decision was correct. Paul Hedlund visited our home in Iowa and very clearly outlined the legal opinions for us to consider. There were some very difficult problems in our case. Our son was a grad student living in Wisconsin. He was killed in Newton, Iowa. We reside in Iowa. The trailer involved originated its trip near Chicago, and the corporation that owned the trailer headquarters was in Bakersfield, California. Due to all of these circumstances, Wisner Baum urged us to file the lawsuit in Illinois, resulting in the federal court in Chicago . . .

During the course of time, letters, materials, and such about our son were maintained and a very cordial working relationship with everyone involved.

Wisner Baum and staff became part of our family and we still communicate with cards, letters, and phone calls. This relationship will never end. Our settlement by mediation was fair and equitable. Wisner Baum did their best for us.

We have the utmost respect for Wisner Baum’s integrity, legal knowledge, and true caring to bring this tragic event to a closure. We would highly recommend their firm to anyone and would be happy to receive calls on their behalf."

"Wisner Baum has excellent, hard-working lawyers who are dedicated to their clients and the cause of justice.*"

"I have worked with Wisner Baum attorneys for over a dozen years on multiple cases. All attorneys hold a thorough understanding of the law. Their professionalism is beyond expectations…I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with this firm and their attorneys.*"

"The firm of Wisner Baum handled our very difficult personal injury case with the utmost care and professionalism throughout. The lawyers that were assigned did an outstanding job in protecting our interests and bringing the case to a conclusion; we would highly recommend this law firm.*"

"I observe and participate in the efforts of the Wisner Baum firm based on their role as lead counsel in a complex Mass Tort pharmaceutical action involving over 2000 plaintiffs. The skill, expertise, litigation sophistication, and overall effort of their entire team, coupled with an extraordinary depth of analysis and understanding of the applicable medicine and science, supports my opinion they are preeminent in the Mass Tort field.*"

"I strongly recommend this firm based on my experience of working with them during a very difficult time. They genuinely care about their clients and it shows throughout the firm. Each person that I encountered while dealing with this firm, continuously showed their professionalism and caring attitude. When you are grieving the loss of someone you love, it is comforting to know that you have people who understand your pain, help you through a difficult process and keep you informed. They make sure that you understand the process and are always there to answer your questions. Wisner Baum is definitely “The Best”!*"

"The Wisner Baum firm has some of the top legal minds in the country; they are driven, determined, trustworthy, ethical and passionate.*"

"Wisner Baum are not only amazing attorneys but more importantly, they are activists. They are about changing the systems which got us into trouble in the first place. They understand their role in the process of making change. Attorneys have the fortunate ability to go into the company files during the investigative process. They see the companies’ behaviors and work hard at getting confidential documents declassified that have a true public health benefit.*"

"I want to express my sincere thanks to each of you for the part that you played in resolving my case in which my husband and the father of my three children was killed on flight 5481 in Charlotte, NC, January 2003.

During this very stressful and difficult time in my life and my children’s, your firm was there to help give us support and guidance. Paul, Ron, Michael and John, all of you were my unbeatable team. Your expertise in this field gave me the utmost confidence in your abilities to resolve my case.

Thank you again to ALL of you for everything you have done. We will remember each of you and you will always hold a special place in our hearts."

"We could not have asked for a better firm to represent us. Wisner Baum was the peak of professionalism. They were always quick to respond and always proved they were in the corner with us; we were a part of the team. It was obvious from the responses of the defendant’s attorneys and the judges we dealt with that our firm was held in high esteem and was well respected. At all times, the firm was quick to ensure the comfort of my family, whether that was in making sure that depositions were done geographically close to my family or that we got to the airport safely after our meetings. They went above and beyond the lawsuit. They helped navigate through things like car storage and medical bills. They were present at court dates that were not directly involved with the case they were hired to handle. Our firm ensured that we navigated the overwhelming court system with a strong advocate in our corner – during what could have felt insurmountable, they were there! During what was a dark time for our family – they were the light at the end of the tunnel helping us heal and find our way.*"

"Wisner Baum was more than we ever hoped for after previously having a particularly bad attorney. Here we found respect, courtesy, and care. Our views were respected, our wishes were followed and our goals were met. What we wanted had not been done before and our attorneys explained why. We let them know that was still our goal and they said, “OK, we’re up for it. We’ll try hard and see where it goes.” Our only acceptable alternative was to go to court, so they began prepping for that as well. They gave us good advice. They allowed us to speak for ourselves in mediation, always helping us to not jeopardize our case. They did not advise us to settle for less than our goal. In the end, we were successful due to BH’s professional skills and personal service. They were attentive to our emotional needs, our family values, and needs. I cannot write enough praise here for the services Wisner Baum gave and continue to give ten years later. We will always be thankful for our team. Always.*"

"Everyone at Wisner Baum did more than their jobs. They went over and above what was expected. They did and still do make us feel like family instead of clients. They did a fantastic job showing the jury what an amazing young man our son Danny was. We would recommend them to anyone looking for an attorney.*"

"Wisner Baum is an incredible firm. They are so knowledgeable and efficient and yet still have great soft skills. They were there every single step of the way to assist us with any questions we had; you are being led by some of the leading experts in the law field with this firm. I cannot say enough about how much they helped through a very difficult time. If you are not talking to this firm, you are doing yourself a huge disservice.*"

"Multiple lawyers recommended Wisner Baum to me and I have been consistently impressed with the quality of their work, their devotion to their clients, their knowledge of their subject and their unending desire to make a difference. I can’t imagine a better law firm."