Waters, Kraus & Paul Partner Wins Harry Philo Award

American Association for Justice honors Gary Paul with prestigious award for dedication to the civil justice system. End Quote

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (1888PressRelease) August 21, 2014 - Gary Paul, name partner in the law firm of Waters, Kraus & Paul, was awarded the prestigious Harry M. Philo Award from the American Association for Justice (AAJ). The award was presented by AAJ President Burton LeBlanc in recognition of Mr. Paul's leadership in protecting the rights of individuals through the civil justice system during a legal career that spans four decades. Mr. Paul received the award on July 29, 2014 at the organization's annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Harry M. Philo Award is presented annually to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the safety and protection of American consumers and our civil justice system. Harry Philo was one of the true heroes of the legal profession. In his words, the award is designated for a "lawyer on the side of the people."

"I am honored and deeply grateful to receive this prestigious award from AAJ for protecting the rights of consumers and working men and women. I am simply doing what I love to do. I am proud to be 'on the side of the people" said Mr. Paul.

Gary Paul Fights To Increase Public Awareness Of Workplace Toxins And Role Of Jury System In Keeping American Families Safe.

Mr. Paul recently took time away from his law practice to serve in Washington D.C. as president of AAJ from 2011 to 2012. There, Mr. Paul led efforts to educate political leaders, the press and the public about the importance of civil jury trials and equal access to justice. He also galvanized members' commitment to effective representation of their individual clients and to the resulting public safety benefits for everyone.

Upon his return to Southern California, Mr. Paul achieved in December 2013 the largest jury award of its kind in Ohio on behalf of a 40-year-old English professor dying from mesothelioma caused by his exposure as a child to asbestos brought home on his father's work clothing.

"This is why I am proud to call Gary my partner," said Peter Kraus, one of the law firm's founding partners. "The immediate past president of AAJ comes home to California in 2012, and with more than 100 jury trials already to his credit, he rolls up his sleeves and fights to obtain a record-breaking verdict in Ohio that not only helps our client's family, but increases public awareness of mesothelioma, workplace toxins and the role of the jury system in keeping American families safe."

Co-author of the five-volume California Tort Practice Guide, Mr. Paul has long encouraged trial lawyers to hone their advocacy skills through continuing legal education. In 2006, Mr. Paul served as president of the Pound Civil Justice Institute, a think tank of accomplished trial attorneys working to strengthen the practice of trial law through educational programs, publications and research grants.

Mr. Paul has also served as president of the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), which elected Mr. Paul to the CAALA Hall of Fame and twice named him Trial Lawyer of the Year.

In 2012, Mr. Paul was honored with The Loyola Law School Champion of Justice Award. He has also been recognized on the Thomson Reuters Southern California Super Lawyers® list for ten consecutive years, from 2005 to 2014.

About Waters, Kraus & Paul
Waters, Kraus & Paul is a nationally recognized plaintiffs' law firm concentrating on complex product liability and personal injury/wrongful death cases. The firm's diverse practice includes toxic tort litigation such as asbestos and mesothelioma, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, as well as birth defects and other injuries caused by toxic chemical exposure and semiconductor chip manufacturing. The firm also represents plaintiffs in qui tam whistleblower matters. Based in Dallas, Texas, with offices in California and the Washington, D.C. area, Waters, Kraus & Paul has participated in the representation of families from all fifty states and many foreign countries, as well as foreign governments.

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