Baltimore & Washington DC’s Best Lawyers: Paul D. Bekman 2011 Baltimore Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation on How Preparation Helps Win Cases

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An “Introduction to Law” college course sparked Paul D. Bekman’s interest in a legal career. After his first year of law school at the University of Maryland, he started working as a law clerk.

“The firm did a lot of trial work, and that’s exactly where I gravitated right away,” Bekman says. “As soon as I entered the courtroom, I knew that it was for me.”

For more than 40 years, Bekman has obtained multiple millions of dollars in favorable verdicts and settlements for his clients in product liability, personal injury and medical malpractice cases.

Bekman has always enjoyed tackling difficult legal issues and helping people.

“I tend to be somewhat analytical and I like to be able to solve the puzzle,” Bekman says.

One of Bekman’s most difficult cases involved a safety manager who was killed while inspecting and testing lifting equipment. The horrific incident was caught on tape.

“When I first saw the video, I thought there was no way that the case would go to trial because there was obviously something wrong with this lift,” Bekman says. “It was unstable and it was not designed appropriately.”

The case did end up going to trial. Bekman tried the case with partner, Daniel M. Clements. Together they achieved a $2.3 million verdict, which was later appealed.

“When you lose a loved one, there’s really no amount of money that can adequately compensate you for their loss,” Bekman says. “Still, I have had clients who try to make something positive of tragic situations. I’ve had clients who have recovered substantial sums that not only help their family, but also try to prevent the same thing from reccurring.”

One of Bekman’s clients established a safety program at the very institution where the client was a victim of medical negligence. Other clients have established programs in honor of their loved one. The key to winning difficult cases like these is preparation, Bekman says.

“When you go to trial, you’ve got to make sure that all of the bases are covered,” Bekman says. “You can’t lose sight of the fact that it’s preparation that wins cases. “

Back when Bekman was in seventh grade, his teacher wrote on his report card that he worked hard and played hard. He manages his time with the same skill today.

“I really attribute my success to hard work, dedication and caring about what I do,” Bekman says. “If you work hard and you care, it will make all the difference in the world. If you go the extra mile, it can make the difference in a case.”

When he’s not working Bekman enjoys playing golf, a sport he learned while still a teenager in Korea. Bekman has won his club’s championship five times.

Bekman has done work for the Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and for associated Jewish charities. Every two years, he leads a mission to Israel for individuals to learn about the political, geographic, religious aspects of the state.

As president of the Maryland Bar Foundation, Bekman was involved in providing grants to needy organizations in legal-related matters. For 27 years, Bekman has served as a member of the Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission.

Beckman has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® since 1989. In 2009 Bekman was named as a ‘Baltimore Lawyer of the Year’ in the personal injury category. In 2010, he earned the same honors for the medical malpractice category. In 2011, he was named ‘Baltimore Lawyer of the Year’ for the product liability litigation category.

A fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, Bekman served as president of the Maryland State Bar Association in 1997-98 as the only plaintiff’s attorney ever to hold that position for the 19,000-member organization. Bekman also served as chair of the University of Maryland School of Law Board of Visitors.

But Bekman’s greatest accomplishments are not on his resume.

“I’m proud to be a good father and husband,” he says.

For more info go to www.law.com/washingtonbest

–Ashley Cisneros
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Ashley Cisneros is a co-founder of Chatter Buzz Media, an Orlando Internet marketing firm that helps companies and organizations engage with their target markets through inbound marketing via the Internet. Chatter Buzz Media, which won the Social Madness competition for the Orlando small business market, is a full-service digital marketing firm specializing in website design, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing and content creation. Prior to founding Chatter Buzz, Ashley worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, technical writer, marketing manager, public relations practitioner and freelance journalist. To see Ashley’s content writing, visit www.ashleycisneros.com. You can also reach Ashley on her Google profile.

By | 2017-04-28T07:32:29+00:00 November 11th, 2011|Categories: Blog, Samples|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

About the Author:

Ashley Cisneros Mejia is a journalist, entrepreneur and marketer. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later as an editor at Florida Trend business magazine. Ashley has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2009, as a technical writer, marketing manager, and public relations practitioner. She also founded two digital marketing agencies in Orlando. Named one of Orlando’s 40 Under 40 and honored by the Women’s Executive Council of Orlando for achievements in media and communications, Ashley earned a B.S. in Journalism and an M.S. in Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida.

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