Paul R. Kiesel - Partner

Paul Kiesel received his Juris Doctor from the Whittier College School of Law in Los Angeles in 1985. In 2005, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law from Whittier Law School. His practice is devoted to representing consumers in personal injury, class action, environmental, and toxic tort litigation.

Mr. Kiesel has repeatedly been selected as one of the top plaintiff attorneys in the State of California and the country. The Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Mr. Kiesel as one of the Top 50 Trial Lawyers. The Daily Journal named Mr. Kiesel one of the 100 most influential attorneys in the State of California. He was also selected as one of the top 500 attorneys in the United States by Law Dragon. In addition, Mr. Kiesel is rated A.V. (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Kiesel is very active in the legal community. He is a current officer of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and was the past Chair of the Litigation Section. He was appointed by former Chief Justice Ronald George to the State of California Judicial Council Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee. He served on the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys of California and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles for over 10 years. In recognition of his service, Mr. Kiesel was elected an emeritus (lifetime) board member of both organizations. From 2001-2005, Mr. Kiesel sat on the Board of Governors of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Mr. Kiesel is currently the Co-Chair of the Open Courts Coalition, a bipartisan committee of attorneys from throughout California advocating full-funding of the civil justice system. Members of the Open Courts Coalition include Niall McCarthy, president of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Honorable Carlos Moreno, former Governors Gray Davis and George Deukmejian, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragosa, and former California Attorney General John VanDekamp.

Mr. Kiesel has extensive experience in complex litigation, including environmental, construction defect, product defect, and pharmaceutical actions. Mr. Kiesel currently serves as national Lead Counsel in the federal Multi-District Litigation against Glaxo Smith Kline for injuries caused by its pharmaceutical drug, Avandia. There are over 20,000 personal injury cases, a half-dozen consumer class cases, and several state actions pending in the Avandia MDL. Mr. Kiesel served as Liaison Counsel in the litigation arising out of the 2008 Chatsworth Metrolink crash that killed 24 individuals and injured over 100 people. As Liaison Counsel, Mr. Kiesel coordinated the successful resolution of the cases for $200 Million, the maximum recovery allowed by law.

Currently, Mr. Kiesel represents many individuals and their families in significant personal injury and wrongful death cases. Among his many clients, Mr. Kiesel represented former Governor Gray Davis in a challenge to the qualification of the 2003 recall election. Mr. Kiesel currently represents numerous municipalities, including the City of Los Angeles, in a class action on behalf of all cities in the State of California for payment of occupancy taxes owed by the online travel industry.

Mr. Kiesel is also a frequent presenter for continuing legal education programs. As an early-adopter of technology in the practice of law, Mr. Kiesel has frequently written and spoken on technology-related subjects. In addition, he co-authored two legal treatises for Lexis Nexis, "California Pretrial Civil Procedure" and "California Civil Discovery."

EDUCATION

Whittier College School of Law, Los Angeles, California

Honorary Doctor of Law (2005), Alumnus of the Year (1994),

Juris Doctorate with Distinction (1985) (Dean's List 1982-85, Law Review)

Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut

Bachelor of Arts (1982, Political Science / United States Government)

ADMISSIONS

State Courts of California; Courts of the District of Columbia; United States District Courts for the Central, Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Kiesel, Boucher & Larson LLP, Beverly Hills, California, Partner (1999 to present)

Kiesel & Larson, Beverly Hills, California, Principal (1993 to 1999)

Slatter, Slatter & Kiesel, Beverly Hills, California, Partner (1989 to 1993)

Slatter & Slatter, Beverly Hills, California, Associate Attorney (1985 to 1989)

AFFILIATIONS

California State Bar Association (1985 to present)

Association of Business Trial Lawyers

Board of Governors (2001 to 2005)

California Open Courts Coalition, Co-Chair (2011 to present)

Bipartisan committee which advocates fully funding the California civil justice system; members include former California Governors Gray Davis and George Deukmejian, former California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former California Attorney General John Van de Kamp, and Consumer Attorneys of California President Niall McCarthy.

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles

Formerly the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association

Board of Governors, Emeritus Member (2003 to present)

Board of Governors, Member (1991 to 2003)

Consumer Attorneys of California

Formerly the California Trial Lawyers Association

Board of Governors, Emeritus Member (2003 to present)

Board of Governors, Member (1988 to 2003)

Automobile Committee, Member (1995 to 1996)

Legislative Committee, Deputy Chair (1995)

Automotive Legislation Committee, Chair (1994)

Parliamentarian (1993 to 1994)

Political Action Committee, Co-Chair (1988 to 1994)

District of Columbia Bar (2002 to present)

Lexis-Nexis California Advisory Board (currently)

Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA)

LACBA Executive Committee, Associate Vice President (currently)

Litigation Section

Chair (2008 to 2009)

Executive Committee (2001 to present)

Secretary (2005 to 2006)

Treasurer (2006 to 2007)

Los Angeles Superior Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel (1991 to present)

Los Angeles Superior Court Bench and Bar Committee (2000 to present)

Los Angeles Superior Court Complex Litigation Court Bench & Bar Committee

Chair (2005 to 2007)

Member (2001 to present)

Pacific Hills High School, West Hollywood, California

Board of Trustees (2008 to 2011)

Whittier College

Board of Trustees (1997 to 2000)

Alumnus Trustee (1995 to 1997)

Whittier College of Law

Board of Visitors, Vice Chair (1993 to 1995)

Board of Visitors, Member (1992 to 1999)

CLASS ACTIONS AND COMPLEX LITIGATION

Abrica v. Tosco et al., L.A.S.C. Case No. BC239882

Appointed Lead Counsel (2002). Mass tort toxic refinery fire, resolved.

Algario et al. v. Eli Lilly and Company et al., L.A.S.C. Lead Case No. BC347855

Appointed Lead Counsel (2006). Class action to recover for injuries resulting from ingestion of the medication Zyprexa. Resolved.

Anderson v. Toshiba America Incorporated, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC299977

Counsel for the plaintiffs (2003) in class action alleging product defects. Resolved.

Avandia Cases

Serving currently as National Lead Counsel in federal multi-district litigation involving over 40,000 personal injury cases, a half dozen consumer class cases, and several state actions against pharmaceutical corporation GlaxoSmithKline for injuries caused by use of its product Avandia.

Black v. Blue Cross, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC 250339

Appointed Lead Counsel (2001) in certified class action against health insurer for improper mid-year contract modifications. Resolved.

California Gubernatorial Recall Election Litigation

Represented former Governor Gray Davis in a challenge to the qualification of the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election.

Chatsworth Metrolink Collision Cases, L.A.S.C. Lead Case No. PC043703

Appointed Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel (2008) in coordinated cases brought to recover for twenty-four deaths and over 100 injuries resulting from a massive train collision. Coordinated the resolution of the cases for the maximum recovery amount permitted by law.

The Clergy Cases I, II, & III, California JCCPs 4286, 4297, 4359

KBL served as Lead Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel beginning in 2002, representing numerous individuals and their families in significant personal injury claims involving molestation at the hands of Catholic priests. Settlements totaled approximately $1 billion.

In Re Diet Drug Litigation, California JCCP 4032

Appointed Co-Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel (2003). Claims arose from injuries resulting from the use of the diet drug Phen-Fen. Resolved.

Draucker Development and True Communication, Inc. v. Yahoo!, Inc., Case No.

CV06-2737 JFW (Rcx) (C.D. Cal.)

Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, Member (2006) representing advertisers who sought to recover from an online search engine for breach of contract and unfair business practices.

In Re Galvanized Steel Pipe Litigation, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC 174649

Appointed Lead Counsel (2001). Class action involving construction defects. Resolved.

In re Hilton Hotels Corporation Shareholder Litigation, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC373765

Appointed Co-Lead Counsel (2007). Class action on behalf of Hilton shareholders who sought to block a proposed merger with the Blackstone Group.

Kan v. Toshiba America, Inc., L.A.S.C. Case No. BC327273

Lead Counsel (2004) in class action brought to recover for distribution of faulty computers. Resolved.

Mikhail v. Toshiba America Incorporated, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC278163

Appointed Lead Counsel (2002). Class action brought to recover for the distribution of faulty computers. Resolved.

In Re Northridge Earthquake Litigation

Appointed Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel (2002). Numerous coverage lawsuits against State Farm Insurance, 21st Century Insurance, Farmers Insurance, and USAA Insurance Company. Resolved.

In Re Packard Bell Consumer Certified Class Action Litigation, L.A.S.C. Case No.

BC 125671

Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, Member (1995). Product defect case. Resolved.

In re: Pellicano Cases, L.A.S.C. Lead Case No. BC316318

Appointed (2008) and currently serving as Co-Lead Counsel. Cases involve wiretapping in violation of the California Penal Code.

Pilkington v. U.S. Search.com, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC234858

Appointed Lead Counsel (2000). Involved a technically flawed online search facility that purported to provide adoptees and their biological parents with information about one another upon demand.

Privacy Class Actions

A set of privacy class actions involving the recording of telephone conversations without consent in violation of the California Penal Code: Coleman v. First American Home Buyers Protection Corp, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC420436 (currently Lead Counsel); Greenberg v. E-Trade Financial Corporation, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC360152 (appointed Lead Counsel 2006) (settled); Mount v. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc., L.A.S.C. Case No. BC 395959 (currently Lead Counsel); Raymond v. Carsdirect.com, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC256282 (appointed Lead Counsel 2005, settled).

In Re Rio Hair Naturalizer Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1055 (E.D. MI)

Appointed Co-Lead Counsel (1995). Product liability matter involving a hair straightening product which injured over 50,000 plaintiffs. Matter resolved as a limited fund, non-opt-out class action.

In re The Securitas Security Services, JCCP 4460

Represented the plaintiffs (2006) in a class action to recover for violations of California labor laws. Resolved.

Serrano v. City of Los Angeles, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC 144230

Appointed Lead Counsel (1999). Multi-fatality products liability litigation. Resolved.

Silver v. Del Webb, Nevada Case. No. A437325

Appointed Lead Counsel (2001). Certified class construction defect suit involving installation of faulty plumbing systems in new homes. Resolved.

In re Transient Occupancy Tax Cases, JCCP 4472

Ongoing class action on behalf of California's cities to recover unremitted occupancy taxes from certain online travel companies.

In Re Unocal Refinery Litigation, Case No. C94-0414

Toxic contamination of several communities. Resolved.

Allocation Committee, Chair (1996). Responsible for development of

methodology and plan of allocation for $80 million settlement on behalf of

approximately 1,500 plaintiffs.

Direct Action Steering Committee, Member (1996).

In Re Vioxx Cases, California JCCP 4247

Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, Member (2007), seeking to recover for deaths and injuries resulting from use of the drug Vioxx. Resolved.

Warren v. Toshiba America Incorporated, L.A.S.C. Case No. BC278163

Appointed Lead Counsel in class action brought to recover for distribution of faulty computers. Resolved.

In re Wholesale Electricity Antitrust Cases I & II, JCCP 4204-00005 and 4204-00006

Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, Member (2000). Suit to recover damages from energy traders for unfair business practices.

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella Contraceptive Cases, JCCP 4608

Appointed and currently serving as Co-Liaison Counsel. Cases arise from deaths and injuries which occurred after ingestion of certain oral contraceptives.

Zachary et al. v. ARCO et al., L.A.S.C. Case No. BC 209944

Appointed Lead Counsel (1999). Mass tort toxic refinery fire. Resolved.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles

Formerly the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association

Presidential Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Trial Bar (1991)

Nominee, Trial Lawyer of the Year

Consumer Attorneys of California

Formerly the California Trial Lawyers Association

Presidential Award of Merit (1993)

Lawdragon

Named one of 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2009-2011)

Los Angeles Business Journal

Included in list of Top Fifty Trial Lawyers

Los Angeles Daily Journal Law Business

Named several times as one of the 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California

Los Angeles Magazine

Super Lawyer (2001 to present); named one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Southern California (2010 to present)

Martindale-Hubbell, Peer Reviewed AV (highest rating)

APPOINTMENTS

Judicial Council of the State of California

Alternative Dispute Resolution Subcommittee (2003)

Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee (appointed in 2007 by former Chief

Justice of the California Supreme Court Ronald George; rulemaking body for

California courts. Current member.)

Complex Litigation Subcommittee (2003)

Legislative Subcommittee (2003)

Minimum Mediator Qualifications Subcommittee (Chair, 2007 to 2011)

California Employment Training Panel

Appointed by California Governor Gray Davis (2003) to three-year term on six-member panel responsible for distributing approximately $100 million annually for employee training

PUBLICATIONS

P. Kiesel & S. Williams, California's 2009 E-Discovery Laws: Text and Analysis (2009) (LexisNexis / Matthew Bender)

P. Lichtman, E. Matthai, R. Seabolt, California Pretrial Civil

Procedure (2003) (three volume LexisNexis / Matthew Bender practice guide)

P. Kiesel, P. Lichtman, E. Matthai, R. Seabolt, E. Grillo, California Civil

Discovery (2003) (LexisNexis / Matthew Bender Practice Guide)

Los Angeles Daily Journal - Quarterly technology column

Frequent publications on technology and the law

PRESENTATIONS

Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Guest lecturer (November 2011)

The USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles, California

Guest lecturer (2005 to present)

Continuing Legal Education

Delivered more than 200 continuing legal education presentations to organizations including the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, the American
Association for Justice, the Orange County Bar Association, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, the California League of Cities, Pepperdine Law School, Mealey's, the Los Angeles Daily Journal, and Glasser Legal Works.