Current Employment Position(s)

Managing Partner

Lawyer Overview

An experienced trial attorney, Paul Cereghini has defended hundreds of personal injury actions in more than 25 states. As one of the founding attorneys and current managing partner of the Phoenix office, Paul focuses his practice on defending household-name corporations including manufacturers of automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, helmets and material handling equipment against products liability, commercial and other major liability claims. Paul has defended his clients to verdict in more than two dozen catastrophic injury and wrongful death trials.

In his cases, Paul frequently deals with mechanical engineers, computer scientists, accident re-constructionists, biomechanics and other technical experts. Paul's experience with the technical side of defending his clients has made him a sought-after trial attorney in products liability defense.

Paul's trial success has been recognized numerous times by both clients and national publications, including the National Law Journal. He is also a frequent and requested speaker at legal and industry conferences all over the Southwest and nationwide.

Areas of Practice

• Automotive
• Business, Commercial and Financial Litigation
• Class Action Defense
• Construction and Industrial Equipment
• Construction and Power Tools Litigation
• Dealer and Franchise Litigation
• Fire Litigation
• Motorcycles, ATVs and Other Wheeled Vehicles
• Product Liability
• Recreational Sports Equipment Litigation

Representative Clients

• Bell Sports Inc.
• The Black & Decker Corporation
• Crown Equipment Corporation
• Ford Motor Company
• General Motors Corporation
• Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
• Isuzu Motors, Ltd.
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries
• Kia Motors Corp.
• Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Volkswagen of America
• Yamaha Motor Corporation

Representative Cases

• Beck-Ruiz v. Kia, Wrongful death and SUV rollover; Defense verdict (Sonoma County, California 2003)
• Greenwood v. Honda, Wrongful death and side impact; Defense verdict (Maricopa County, Arizona 2003)
• Camp v. Honda, Wrongful death and frontal impact; Defense verdict (Clark County, Nevada 2001)
• McLemore v. Honda, Brain injury and 3-wheel ATV; Defense verdict (Broward County, Florida 2000)
• Osborn v. Honda, Paraplegia and 4-wheel ATV; Defense verdict (Jasper County, Texas 2000)

Bar Admissions

• Arizona, 1984
• Nevada, 2007
• California, 1990
• U.S. Federal Courts, 1984
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 2006

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
• Defense Research Institute, 2008
• State Bar of Arizona
• State Bar of California
• State Bar of Nevada, 2008
• International Association of Defense Counsel

Honors and Awards

• Named a "Notable Practitioner" by Chambers and Partners for Products Liability, 2008 - 2009
• Named a "Leading Lawyer" in the Legal 500 United States, 2008 - 2009
• ABA Award for Highest Bar Exam Score in Arizona, October, 1984
• Honda Product Liability Trial Attorney of the Year, Honda North America, Inc., 2001, 2005
• Beta Gamma Sigma
• Beta Alpha Psi

Classes and Seminars

• Understanding the New Federal Roof Crush Standard (FMVSS 216) and Other NHTSA Regulatory Updates, American Bar Association TIPS, 2009 Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation, April 2, 2009

Education

• Arizona State University, College of Law, Tempe, Arizona, 1984
  J.D.
  Honors: magna cum laude
  Honors: Order of the Coif
  
  Law Journal: Senior Note and Comment Editor, Arizona State University Law Journal, 1983 - 1984
• University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 1981
  B.S./B.A.

Published Works

• Huddled Masses Yearning to Strike It Rich: Foreign Plaintiffs Shopping for Gold in American Courts, Law.com, July 17, 2009 (Co-Author)
• Federal Tort Claims Act: Administrative Claim Prerequisite, Arizona State Law Journal, 1983

Address

2901 North Central Avenue
Suite 1600
Phoenix, AZ 85012

Phones

602.643.2400

Faxes

602.248.0947

Emails

paul.cereghini@phx.bowmanandbrooke.com

Websites

http://www.bowmanandbrooke.com