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Meet Paul Whelan
Paul Whelan successfully blends his knowledge of engineering and medicine with compassion for clients. The result is a long list of victories for people who have experienced life-changing events.

In his decades of handling complex cases, Paul also has established relationships with experts in many areas. These deep resources help Paul build thorough, convincing arguments on behalf of his clients.

Paul is a frequent speaker to legal and medical groups on product liability, toxic torts, structured settlements, occupational and environmental disease, patient rights and physician responsibilities.

Practice Areas
Product liability, emphasizing catastrophic loss associated with product defect, vehicle crashworthiness and medical negligence

Examples from Paul’s Case File
Negligence – Failure to Supervise

Schultz and Underdahl v. State of Washington

$8.8 million settlement

Level 3 sex offender Gary Wayne Puckett murdered a woman on a jogging trail and attacked another woman halfway across the country – all while violating his parole conditions. Representing the plaintiffs, Paul showed that the Department of Corrections was negligent in supervising this dangerous parolee.

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Medical Negligence

Marvin v. Hospital

$8.5 million settlement

When a skilled carpenter went to the hospital for shoulder surgery, his anesthesia was mishandled. He experienced serious brain injury and had difficulty getting around when he finally went home after a 20-day hospital stay. Paul was lead counsel in the settlement against the doctor and hospital.

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Product Liability

Doe’s Estate v. XYZ Tire Company

$1.7 million settlement

A manufacturing defect in a tire caused a vehicle crash that ended the life of a passenger, a 20-year-old promising professional baseball player. Paul reached a settlement for the man’s family in September 2003.

Case Archive

Published Articles
"Active Father Paralyzed by Faulty Seatback," by Peter O'Neil and Paul Whelan
"Defective Tire Causes Young Baseball Player's Death," by Paul Whelan and Peter O'Neil

Memberships
• Washington State Bar Association
• Washington State Trial Lawyers Association
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Attorneys Information Exchange Group
• Federal Bar Association
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice

Awards & Achievements
• Trial Lawyer of the Year, American Board of Trial Advocates, Washington Chapter, 2004
• Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” 2001-2004
• Law Clerk to Chief Justice Robert C. Finley, Washington State Supreme Court, 1967-68
• Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell

Education
University of Washington, J.D., 1967
University of Washington, B.A., 1962

Outside the Office
Paul is a boater who also spends time on land watching his children play sports.