This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University Fowler School of Law and a B.A. in Global Studies & Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy. Widely recognized for his advocacy in personal injury law, he has secured multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlements in motorcycle accidents, hit-and-runs, and red-light collision cases. He maintains a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Cefali actively supports his community through the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributes to housing and meal programs for those in need, and enjoys fishing and spending time with his rescue dogs.
The date below reflects when this page was last reviewed for accuracy. Please see our Editorial Guidelines.
Ortega Highway was named after the Ortega family, who owned most of the land in this area. It is home to a number of beautiful homes and multimillion-dollar estates but also has a few commercial areas. The highway runs from the San Joaquin Hills to the Pacific coast at Dana Point.
Ortega Highway has some of the most beautiful views in a part of San Juan Capistrano. The hillsides are covered with many different kinds of trees, ferns, and flowers. There are many birds that make their homes among the trees and bushes on this scenic highway. A variety of wildlife can be spotted along this stretch of road including deer, coyotes, rabbits and other small creatures that inhabit this area.
Ortega Highway is one of the most interesting and safest routes to take when driving through San Juan Capistrano, California. The highway is a well-kept road that runs through many of the major cities in Orange County and has many useful services scattered along its path.
A lot of people use this highway as a way to get to other areas in California. It's also a nice place to travel across if you want to see something different on your way out of town.
Ortega Highway is an interesting highway because it offers some great scenery while you're driving down it, with interesting places and shops that you can visit. If you've never driven down this highway before, then you should definitely consider doing so. There are multiple adventures waiting for you at every turn!
The Ortega Highway is a north-south scenic highway in Orange County. It connects the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) at Dana Point to the eastern end of Interstate 5 (I-5) in San Juan Capistrano.
The Ortega Highway was named after José Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega, a Californio rancher and politician who owned much of the land that the road traverses. It begins as a continuation of El Camino Real in Rancho Mission Viejo, a few blocks west of El Niguel Country Club. The road travels through San Juan Capistrano, where it intersects with Ortega Ridge Road. The Ortega continues northward to intersect with SR-73 (Cahuilla Road). From here, the road continues northward through the cities of Ladera Ranch and Coto de Caza before terminating at its intersection with Los Alisos Boulevard in Mission Viejo.
Prior to 1980, Ortega Highway ended at its intersection with Alicia Parkway in southern San Clemente but was extended when State Route 73 was realigned to its current northern terminus at Los Alisos Boulevard.
Michael Cefali is a dedicated accident attorney based in San Juan Capistrano, California, committed to securing justice and fair compensation for accident victims.
A graduate of Newport Harbor High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy, followed by his Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law.
Deeply invested in his community, Michael is an active member of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributing to efforts that provide meals, housing, and support to those in need. Outside of his legal work and volunteer service, he enjoys fishing in Dana Point and spending time with his three rescue dogs—a Chihuahua, a Spaniel mix, and a Shepherd mix.
Driven by his strong belief in justice and fairness, Michael remains steadfast in advocating for individuals harmed by the negligence or inaction of others.
