Paul Dix, General Attorney in Alton, Illinois

As a shareholder in the Asbestos Department, Paul supervises a team of attorneys and legal staff who handle mesothelioma cases filed throughout the United States. Paul and his team have represented hundreds of mesothelioma victims, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on their behalf.

Managing the trial team is only part of Paul’s responsibilities. As an asbestos attorney, he personally handles all aspects of his clients’ cases, which can include investigation, evaluating potential liable parties, filing claims, deposition and expert practice, discovery and trial. He works tirelessly to represent his clients and is dedicated to helping them navigate this complex legal process.

“I am devoted to helping victims of mesothelioma and their families,” Paul said. “A tragic similarity in these cases is that the companies who sold asbestos products or used asbestos in their facilities often did so at a time when it was known to be a deadly carcinogen to which there is no safe exposure.”

Results That Speak for Themselves

As a multifaceted leader, Paul and his team have achieved exceptional results in cases that often settle for seven figures.

One such case included an $8.26 million verdict in Louisiana for Steven “Joe” Aaron, a former gas station and school bus mechanic who was diagnosed with mesothelioma decades later. Joe suffered repeated exposure to toxic asbestos dust on the job. During his career, he serviced thousands of asbestos-containing brakes and clutches — but he was never warned about the dangers of asbestos exposure.

The following are just a few other notable results:

$3 million for a Missouri widow who was exposed to asbestos secondhand as a child through her father’s work as a laborer at multiple industrial facilities$2.5 million for a U.S. Navy veteran in Illinois who spent his private career working as a union tradesman in manufacturing facilities, where he was exposed to asbestos on pumps, valves, boilers and other equipment$2 million for a southern Illinois automotive mechanic who worked at a service station and was exposed to asbestos while changing brakes and clutches$1.6 million on behalf of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran in Missouri who was exposed to asbestos while working as a welder in the brewery and oil industries

These results speak to his exceptional lawyering skills at holding companies accountable for exposing workers to asbestos.

Skills That Go Above & Beyond

Asbestos exposure cases are extremely complex and often involve a variety of exposures that occurred decades ago. Determining the origin of these exposures, including who is responsible for them, and mastering the individualized scientific and medical workup required can make or break a case.

Through his asbestos case work, Paul has developed a practical mastery when it comes to analyzing medical causation, which involves challenging questions related to industrial hygiene, microscopy, epidemiology, pathology, microbiology, and more.

At the end of the day, though, Paul doesn’t lose sight of the fact that he represents individuals and families in crisis. He has the utmost compassion for his clients and, if nothing else, hopes to bring clients and their families some measure of financial relief while they face otherwise insurmountable odds.

“In addition to facing extraordinary medical challenges, clients suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases have cases involving extremely complex factual and legal issues,” Paul said. “We can’t change what has happened, but we can hopefully alleviate financial stress going forward and provide some measure of peace of mind.”

His Legal Background

In 2004, Paul started at Simmons Hanly Conroy as a law clerk. He has also clerked for the Illinois Supreme Court and Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. He attended Saint Louis University and graduated magna cum laude with his degree in economics and political science. He then went on to earn his law degree and became an attorney in 2006.

Paul has been admitted to the bar in Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York and Arkansas. He is a member of the American Association for Justice, American Bar Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

Beyond the Courtroom

In addition to the demands of his job as a team leader and shareholder at the firm, Paul supports his local community through various pro bono activities and volunteer work, something that has always been important to him. Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked at a nonprofit legal clinic that represented individuals in various civil matters.

Over the last 10 years, Paul has provided free legal advice to residents of Madison County, Il, through the Madison County Expungement Day, Second Chance Saturday and Right to Work events. He has offered pro bono representation in various family cases, Guardian ad Litem (GAL) matters and on behalf of veterans in Madison County, IL and surrounding areas.

Additionally, Paul participates in mentoring activities and gives career advice at both the high school and college levels at his alma maters. He also serves as an officer in a local charity organization, on an advisory board for a Catholic order based in Boston, MA, and as a board member for Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, IL.