Joined Burch & Cracchiolo in 2011

Paul focuses his practice exclusively in the area of Insurance Defense/Personal Injury/ Medical Malpractice Litigation. He is an experienced trial lawyer and has tried many high profile personal injury, wrongful death and product liability cases both representing plaintiffs and defendants.

Prior to joining Burch & Cracchiolo, Paul had tried several high profile criminal cases working for the States Attorneys Office in Chicago, Illinois and tried numerous murder cases as a Maricopa County Attorney. After leaving criminal prosecution, Paul provided outside legal services to Maricopa County and served as lead counsel for Maricopa County, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and Maricopa County Attorney's Office. He was the lead defense counsel in the 1983 claim by the family of Scott Norberg, representing the Maricopa County Sheriff, several Sheriff's Detention Officers and Maricopa County. Paul also served as lead defense counsel for Maricopa County, Maricopa County Attorney's Office and several Maricopa County Attorneys including Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley in conjunction with the Section 1983 Constitutional Law violation claim brought by four suspects in the Buddhist Monks/Temple Murder case.

While Paul has handled many defense cases and will in the future, he concentrates his current practice on representing plaintiffs. Paul represented the family of a young woman who was left to bleed to death in the recovery room after a botched abortion. Criminally, the doctor was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to five years in prison. In the wrongful death civil case where the family was represented by Mr. Lazarus, the family received a significant financial award. He has represented plaintiffs in highway design cases, motor vehicle defect and tire cases, automobile accident cases, construction defect cases, motorcycle and roll over cases and medical malpractice cases. He has received numerous awards in excess of a million dollars.

Paul has a distinguished 37-year career that includes stints as a partner with several small to medium sized law firms in Phoenix. He also practiced as a sole practitioner for 25 years.

Representative Engagements

Represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases

Represents plaintiffs in personal injury claims against government agencies or municipalities arising from road design defects

Represents clients in elder abuse cases

Represents clients in claims for injuries incurred due to faulty products, including tires, automobiles, chemicals, household and consumer products and defective wood products

Represents victims and/or families of victims who have suffered injuries or death in conjunction with automobile or trucking accidents

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

State Bar of Arizona

State Bar of Illinois

Maricopa County Bar Association

Community Involvement

Previous Member, Men's Arts Council, Phoenix Art Museum

Previous Board Member, Kachina Country Day School

Previous Board Member of Rio Salado Rowing Club, Tempe, Arizona

In the News

Many of Paul's high-profile cases have been covered by the media, including several murder cases and wrongful death cases.