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Christopher Walton, Esq.

HELPING THE LIT TLE GUY

By Judith A. Habert
Photos by Dawn Nicoli/Nicoli Productions

11, the future lawyer actually won his law school, he planned to be a Sports
first case. It was over a dining room Agent, but soon realized that there was
table, not in a courtroom but it was a another area of law that was more in
well-fought victory none the less. "I line with the very reason he wanted to
was about 11 when my friend Jeremy be a lawyer.
got into a little trouble at home, and Upon graduation, Chris was
after discussing it, we both felt that recruited for a position as a defense
his punishment was harsher than it attorney protecting the interests of in-
should have been. So, I offered to rep- surance companies and professionals,
resent him, since he was too afraid to primarily doctors. "Although I enjoyed
speak up to his parents. I interviewed it, there was something in me that
his siblings to find out if they had re- wanted to have that feeling again of
HEN WE ARE YOUNG AND ceived similar punishment when they standing up for the little guy and being
Wthink about what we want to had committed the same, or a similar on the side of the plaintiff and not the
be when we grow up our reasons are infraction. I then put together a chart large corporation."
honest and true to our hearts. It's only showing how they had been punished In 2010, Chris took a major leap
when we get older that we think about for similar crimes. Then we found a and decided to become the type of
things like the salary or the amount way that I would be invited to dinner lawyer he wanted to be. “ I opened
of schooling involved in our decision. so I could present my case. I'm sure my own firm, Walton Law, and began
That is why it is easy to spot those in Jeremy's parents thought it was pretty working as a plaintiff’s attorney. In-
just about every profession who felt it funny at the time, but they ended up stead of representing big corporations,
in their hearts before they contemplat- lessening his punishment, as a result of I could now get back to standing up
ed the choice in the minds. Chris Wal- my presentation. Word got out quickly, for the little guy." The decision to go
ton knew from a very early age that he and I was called upon to share dinners out on his own was not an easy one. "I
wanted to be a lawyer, not for the pres- at other friend's homes, when they was married, had a wife, we just had
tige or the standard of living it would needed similar help. I became known our first child, we had bought a home,
allow, but for one very simple reason, as the neighborhood attorney." For the economy was tanking, I had school
he wanted to speak up for the little guy Chris, this was just the beginning of loans to pay back, but I knew it was
who wasn't being heard. He wanted to defending the little guy. time for me to venture out on my own.
right the wrongs that were taking place When the time came for Chris to My wife was extremely supportive as
around him. Today Chris does exactly attend college he knew that he wanted she always is, so that helped with my
what he dreamed of doing, and as a to be as far away from the desert as decision."
result, has helped right many wrongs possible, so he chose to attend Wash- Chris today can tell you that this
often for those who have too soft a ington State. Chris worked through was the best decision he ever made.
voice to speak for themselves. He is a college, and it was his job at Olive “One of my major concerns was being
personal injury attorney who special- Garden that would affect his life more there to be an active participant in
izes in elder abuse and neglect issues than he thought a part time job would. my daughter’s life. I did not want to
and often finds himself facing large "It was at this job that I met my wife, look back years from now and wonder
nursing home corporations in a battle Shauna. She actually trained me, and a where the time went.”
to bring justice for his clients. few years later we began dating," Chris, now the father of two,
Chris was born in Boston and It was a joint decision for Shauna Kayla, nine and Caden, six, has found
moved to New Mexico as a young and Chris to move to San Diego, be- a way to be a very involved Dad. “With
child. He wasn't the son of a lawyer, cause they felt it would be the perfect today's technology, I can work from
nor did he have any immediate family place to raise a family. Chris applied home. I can move my schedule around
members in the field, but he knew it and was accepted at California West- to be there for dinner. I can attend
was his calling. At the young age of ern School of Law. When he headed to their practices and games. When I

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