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Michael Connett

Partner

Michael Connett is a partner at Waters Kraus & Paul in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Michael represents plaintiffs involved in toxic tort and complex civil matters. He focuses on helping victims catastrophically injured by toxic substances and dangerous products, including families dealing with birth defects resulting from chemical exposures in the semiconductor and aerospace industries. In addition to his toxic tort practice, Michael represents environmental and public health groups in federal administrative proceedings, including the first ever Citizen Petition under the Toxic Substances Control Act to make it to trial.

Michael earned his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from St. Lawrence University, and his Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from Temple University Beasley School of Law. While in law school, Michael served as Editor in Chief of the Temple Law Review. After graduating from law school, Michael served as a law clerk to the Honorable Franklin Van Antwerpen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Easton, PA, and the Honorable Michael M. Baylson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. Michael was recognized on the 2019 list of Top 20 Wrongful Death Verdicts in California for his work in obtaining a verdict on behalf of his client, the plaintiff in Vanni, et al. v. AMF Bowling Centers, Inc., et al. The list is compiled and published by TopVerdicts.com. Michael is a member of the American Association for Justice, Public Justice, and he is licensed to practice law by the State Bars of California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

Areas of Practice

  • Asbestos Litigation
  • Civil Law
  • Federal Administrative Law
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Toxic Tort

Pro Bono & Community Service

  • Project Director, Temple School of Law, National Lawyers Guild Death Penalty Project, 2009-2010

Bar Admissions

  • Oregon, 2022
  • California, 2014
  • Pennsylvania, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 2017
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2015

Education

  • Temple University Beasley School of Law, Philadelphia, PA, J.D., magna cum laude, 2011
  • St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, B.A., magna cum laude, 1999

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • American Association for Justice
  • Public Justice

Honors & Awards

  • Recognized on list of 2019 Top 20 Wrongful Death Verdicts in California in Vanni, et al. v. AMF Bowling Centers, Inc., et al., published by TopVerdicts.com, 6/2/20
  • Beasley Scholar, Temple Law School, 2008-2011
  • Faculty Award for Academic Achievement, Temple Law School, 2011
  • Kranzel Award, Temple Law School, 2011
  • Jerry Zaslow Memorial Award, Temple Law School, 2011
  • Outstanding Oral Argument, Trial Advocacy, Temple Law School, 2011
  • Editor in Chief, Temple Law Review, 2010-201
  • Phi Beta Kappa, St. Lawrence University, 1999

Other Appointments

  • Law Clerk, Hon. Michael. M. Baylson, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2012-2013
  • Law Clerk, Hon. Franklin Van Antwerpen, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, Easton, PA, 2011-2012

Publications & Speeches

  • Co-Author, Dental Fluorosis Trends in US Oral Health Surveys: 1986 to 2012. Journal of Dental Research: Clinical and Translational Research (2019)
  • Co-Author, Limitations of Fluoridation Effectiveness Studies: Lessons from Alberta, Canada. Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology Vol. 45, Pages 496-502 (2017).
  • Author, Employer Discrimination Against Ex-Offenders: Reviving the Disparate Impact Remedy Through Engagement of State Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPAs), 83 TEMP. L. REV. 1007 (2011)
  • Co-Presenter, Fluoride and Its Effect on Human Intelligence. A Systematic Review. Poster Presentation at International Association for Dental Research (IADR), 83rd General Session and Exhibition, Toronto, Canada, July 4, 2008
  • Author, Blood Fluoride Levels as a Tool for Assessing Risk of Fluoride Toxicity. Presentation at the XXVIth Conference of the International Society for Fluoride Research, September 26-29, 2005

What are my chances?

That’s the first question everyone asks. The truth is it’s impossible to know. But we can tell you this. Waters Kraus & Paul has what it takes to fight against big corporate interests and win. That’s why we’ve taken more mesothelioma trials to verdict than any other firm. And that’s why we’ve recovered more than $1.3 billion for clients like you. Do you think you have a case? Contact us now to speak with an attorney.

Call 800.226.9880