CLE Seminar Speaker

Paul Stritmatter

Paul L. Stritmatter is a partner in the Hoquiam and Seattle, Washington firm of Stritmatter Kessler Whelan Withey Coluccio. His practice is devoted to plaintiffs' personal injury work.

Mr. Stritmatter is a past President of Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, past President of the Washington State Bar Association and past President of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. He is a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Society of Barristers.

He is listed in Best Lawyers in America. He was a finalist in 1991 as the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice National Trial Lawyer of the Year.

Mr. Stritmatter successfully argued the appeal in Sofie v. Fibreboard in the Washington State Supreme Court which resulted in the decision finding the 1986 legislative cap on damages unconstitutional. He was the chair of the Access to Justice Board created by the Washington State Supreme Court to facilitate and foster access to our civil justice system for its first four years.

Mr. Stritmatter started his legal career as a clerk for Justice Charles Stafford and Justice Matthew Hill of the Washington State Supreme Court. He entered private practice in 1970, joining his father, the late Lester O. Stritmatter of Hoquiam. Since 1971, he has also served as Ocean Shores' Municipal Court Judge.

Mr. Stritmatter has also been the recipient of numerous awards in the legal field including the Washington State Trial Lawyers' Justice Brandeis Award (1982), Trial Lawyer of the Year (1987) and Alvin Anderson Award (2000). Mr. Stritmatter was also the recipient of the Award of Merit (1995) from the Washington State Bar Association, its highest award.

A graduate of the University of Washington, Mr. Stritmatter earned his J.D. from Willamette University, graduating magna cum laude in 1969.

Learn more about Paul Stritmatter and Stritmatter Keslan Whelan Withey & Collucio at: www.skwwc.com