Paul R. Baleria is a partner in the Sacramento office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the Medical Malpractice Practice Group. Paul’s legal practice focuses on the defense of physicians, dentists, nurses, and hospitals in civil litigation. He has successfully tried and arbitrated several cases and is also experienced in representing healthcare providers before their respective licensing boards.

Paul has received an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.

Professional Presentations

• "Walking the Legal Tightrope in Occupational Medicine," Speaker, Western Occupational Health Conference, October 8, 2022.
• “Interacting with the Legal System,” Speaker, Western Occupational Health Conference, September 26, 2020.

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • California
  • Hawaii
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States District Court for the District of Hawaii

Admissions

CA

HW

Associations

• Sacramento County Bar Association
• Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada

Awards & Honors

• AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell 
• Super Lawyers, Medical Malpractice, 2019 – 2021, 2023 – 2025
• Sacramento Magazine Top Lawyers, Civil Litigation and Medical Malpractice, 2016, 2020 – 2022
• Certificate of Achievement, ABA TIPS/ABOTA National Trial Academy, 2018

Education

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

• Moot Court Honors Board
• Juris Doctor, 1994

California State University, Sacramento

Bachelor of Arts, 1991

Representative Matters

• Obtained a jury verdict for the defense in a medical malpractice case on behalf of an emergency medicine physician during a two-week trial. Plaintiff claimed that the defendant physician negligently misdiagnosed her with an incomplete miscarriage, after she had presented to the hospital with heavy vaginal bleeding/cramping and had an ultrasound that was interpreted as not showing a viable pregnancy. Subsequent workup on an outpatient basis showed that the plaintiff was actually still pregnant, and she later gave birth to a healthy baby. She alleged injuries in the form of emotional distress with resulting physical manifestations.
• Secured a jury verdict for the defense in a medical malpractice case on behalf of The Regents of the University of California during a two-week trial. Plaintiff alleged inappropriate follow-up by physicians at UC Davis Medical Center following a breast cancer diagnosis and surgery without complication, even though she did not return for additional recommended chemotherapy. Plaintiff claimed seven figures in past medical expenses, and a similar amount in future special damages, plus pain and suffering.
• Obtained a jury verdict for the defense in a medical malpractice case on behalf two physicians, a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist during a one-week trial. The Plaintiff alleged she was unnecessarily treated with chemo-radiation therapy for non-invasive rectal cancer, resulting in rectal incontinence. The Defendant physicians denied the Plaintiff’s claims and tried the case with a separate jury on their statute of limitations defense, which was successful.