Biography

Paul Petruska has substantial experience as a trial lawyer in many areas of civil litigation. He focuses his practice primarily on toxic torts, products liability, employment litigation, transportation litigation and complex commercial litigation. Paul is experienced in FELA jury trials; employment jury trials; personal injury jury trials; FELA, employment and complex commercial appeals; and mediation. In addition to his trial work, Paul serves as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law while coaching the school's mock trial team.

Education

• Saint Louis University School of Law, J.D., cum laude 1995
• Saint Louis University, B.A., magna cum laude 1992

Civic and Charitable Activities

• Young Leaders Board, Wyman Center
• Participant in Tax Assistance Preparers Charitable Program

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar
• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
  • Member, Electronic Discovery Committee
  • Member, Technology Committee
• Defense Research Institute
  • Member, Electronic Discovery Committee
• The Lawyers Association of St. Louis
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

Representative Cases

• Lead Trial Counsel, Hite v. National Railroad Passenger Corp., 2006
• Second Chair, Johnson v. Union Pacific Railroad Company, 2003
• McNeil v. Franke. 11 S.W.2d 863 (Mo.App. E.D. 2000)
• Whelan v. Allen. 26 S.W.3d 592 (Mo.App. E.D. 2000)
• Knox County Stone v. Bellefontaine Quarry Inc. 985 S.W.2d 356 (Mo.App. E.D. 1998)
• Second Chair, Beeves v. Orkin Exterminating, 1997

Awards and Honors

• Named as an “Up & Coming Lawyer” in 2009 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly
• Who's Who in America^® (2009)
• Who's Who in American Law^® (2009)

Bar Admissions

• United States Court of Appeals
  • Eighth Circuit
• United States District Courts
  • Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
  • Southern, Northern and Central Districts of Illinois
• Missouri
• Illinois

Publications & Lectures

• Speaker, “Asbestos: Past, Present and Future,” National Business Institute seminar, Asbestos: Current Issues and Effective Litigation Tactics (May 2010)
• Speaker, “Corporate Electronic Information Policies: Why You Need One and What You Can Learn From Other’s Mistakes,” American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association’s 2010 Annual Convention (May 2010)
• Co-Author, “Asbestos Take-Home Cases: Liability Depends on State Law,” American Bar Association Journal, Mass Torts (Winter 2010)
• Panelist, “Intellectual Property, Ethics and Privacy Online,” St. Louis Bloggers Guild's 2nd Annual Interactive Festival (October 2009)
• Speaker, “Beware of ERISA Lien and Medicare Lien Issues That May Arise During Settlement,” CLE Presentation for Client (June 2009)
• Speaker, “Beware of ERISA Lien Rights Or Your Settlement May Fail,” Winter Meeting of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (February 2009)
• Speaker, “Ethics: In Re Silica Product Liability Litigation MDL 1553,” National Business Institute seminar, Asbestos: Current Issues and Effective Litigation Tactics (2008) and CLE Presentation for Client (June 2009)
• Speaker, “The Computer Sits Second Chair, How Supportive is Litigation Support Software,” Winter Meeting of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (2006)
• Speaker, “Highlights of Missouri's Tort Reform Law,” the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis' Bench and Bar Conference (2005)
• Speaker, “Courtroom Presentation Strategies: Communicating Your Story to the Jury,” The Missouri Bar (2004)
• Speaker, “The Use and Misuse of Computerized Exhibits,” Special Litigation Conference, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (2004)