Paul G. Cereghini
Executive Managing Partner
Phone: 602.643.2400
Fax: 602.248.0947
Our Attorneys

Paul G. Cereghini

Biography

Paul Cereghini is one of Bowman and Brooke’s top trial lawyers and has been widely recognized as one of the foremost automotive product liability trial lawyers in the United States. He defends product manufacturers nationally and has personally defended cases in over 40 states. Among his most visible current assignments, he was recently chosen by Yamaha to try the first cases involving its Rhino side-by-side off-road vehicle which has come under attack in hundreds of cases nationwide, and he is now lead counsel for Riddell in the NFL player concussion litigation.

Describing Paul as “Brilliant…he has tremendous presence, is very loyal and conscientious,” and “an excellent trial attorney who is aggressive and very technologically capable,” The Legal 500 identified him as one of six “Leading Lawyers” in the United States in the field of automotive/transport product liability defense in 2008, one of eight in 2009 and one of seven in 2010. Equally recognized by Chambers USA, he was called out again as one of eight top trial lawyers nationally in automotive product liability in 2008-2011 for his "excellent trial technique and tenacious yet flexible approach.”

As one of the firm’s founding attorneys and a member of its Executive Committee, Paul focuses his practice on defending household-name corporations including manufacturers of automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, helmets, material handling equipment, electrical components and medical devices against product liability, commercial and other major liability claims. In his cases, Paul frequently deals with mechanical engineers, computer scientists, incident reconstructionists, biomechanics and other technical experts. He has defended his clients to verdict in more than three dozen catastrophic injury and wrongful death trials and defends multi-plaintiff consolidated matters and class actions.

Education

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

Bar Admissions

  • Nevada, 2007
  • California, 1990
  • Arizona, 1984

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Federal Courts, 1984
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 2006

Memberships and Affiliations

American Bar Association

Arizona Association of Defense Counsel

Defense Research Institute

State Bar of Arizona

State Bar of California

State Bar of Nevada

International Association of Defense Counsel

Distinctions

Notable Practitioner, 2008 - 2011
    Chambers and Partners for Products Liability

Leading Lawyer, 2008-2011
    The Legal 500 United States

Super Lawyer®, 2010-2012
    Southwest Super Lawyers Magazine

Award for Highest Bar Exam Score in Arizona, October, 1984

Honda Product Liability Trial Attorney of the Year, 2001, 2005
    Honda North America, Inc.

Beta Gamma Sigma

Beta Alpha Psi

Classes and Seminars Taught

"Pattern Product Litigation in the 21st Century: Impact on the Auto Industry," Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Seminar, Torrance, CA, December 9, 2010

"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

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

CASE RESULTS DEPEND UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE.
CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE.


Holt v. Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., et al., Rhino bellwether case; Defense verdict, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange, 2010

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

Published Works

"Defending Your Products in 21st Century Pattern Litigation: Litigation at the Speed of the Internet," PLAC, April 28, 2011 (with Kevin Curry)

"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