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Meet Paul Stritmatter
Few attorneys can engage an audience of 12 with the energy and compassion of Paul Stritmatter. He enjoys presenting to juries and winning justice for his plaintiff clients against major auto makers, state and local governments, product manufacturers, contractors and parties in auto collisions.

Paul takes a personal interest in each client’s situation. He builds a relationship of trust and understanding, supporting clients through the entire litigation process. Fervently working on behalf of his clients, Paul has successfully achieved dozens of verdicts and settlements of more than several million dollars each.

Paul has been a leader in the legal community for decades. He is a founding member and was 2003 president of the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice. He also was president of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association and the Washington State Bar Association. The American Bar Association awarded Paul its Pursuit of Justice Award in 2003 for his lifelong devotion to the profession and for significant contributions to the pursuit of justice.

While his cases and legal association duties take him across the country, Paul is happy to work from the firm’s office in Hoquiam, Wash., where he was born and raised.

Practice Areas
Plaintiff's personal injury, automobile collision, workplace injuries, premises liability, wrongful death

Examples from Paul’s Case File
Product Liability

Smith, et. al. v. Behr Process Corporation

$67.5 million class action verdict

Paul learned that several Western Washington homeowners and business people had mildew on their exterior wood walls after using a Behr clear coating, a product the manufacturer claimed would prevent mildew growth. Paul pulled together the class-action case on behalf of nine plaintiffs, and Behr was charged with breach of warranty and Consumer Protection Act violations. The initial case grew to national status, and in an October 2002 settlement, Behr agreed to compensate consumers more than $107 million. In addition, some 5,000 Western Washington homeowners shared an additional $55 million to repair their mildew-damaged homes.

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Highway Design/Negligence

Julie Ann Greene v. Pierce County

$5.47 million verdict

Pierce County failed to have a stop sign at a railroad crossing, and drivers’ visibility was obstructed by shrubs and buildings. The result: a collision between an oncoming train and a car crossing the tracks. The car’s driver was killed and the passenger suffered a head injury and was blinded. The 1994 decision was the second-largest personal injury jury verdict in Pierce County history.

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Product Liability

Brown v. Yamaha

$10 million verdict

Teenager Shawn Hejna wasn’t able to stop the motorcycle he was riding because of a stuck throttle. He crashed and suffered damages rendering him a spastic quadriplegic. The 1983 jury award stood for 11 years as the largest personal injury verdict in Washington state.

Case Archive

Memberships
• Washington State Bar Association (president, 1993-94)
• Washington State Head Injury Foundation (1990-93)
• Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (president, 1984-85)
• Washington State Trial Lawyers Association Foundation Board of Directors, 2000-
• American Bar Association
• American Judicature Society
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Board of Governors, 1990-93)
• LAW Fund Board of Directors 1990-
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice (founding member, 1982; president, 2002-03)

Invitational Legal Memberships
• American Bar Foundation
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• American College of Trial Lawyers
• Damage Attorneys Round Table (president, 1989-92)
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Board of Directors, 1998- )
• International Society of Barristers
• The College of Master Advocates & Barristers

Awards & Achievements
• Pursuit of Justice Award, American Bar Association, 2003
• Award of Merit, Washington State Bar Association, 1995
• Distinguished Alumni Award in Law, Willamette University, 1994
• Poulsbo Bar Association “Small Town Lawyer Made Good” Award, 1990
• Trial Lawyer of the Year, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, 1987
• Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” since 1989
• Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell since 1975

Education
Willamette University College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1969
University of Washington, B.A., Economics, 1966

Outside the Office
As much as Paul and his wife Mary Elizabeth enjoy traveling to points around the world, they reserve plenty of “home” time with their two granddaughters.