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State Bar & Bar Associations

Feb. 26, 2026

State Bar charges prominent trial lawyer Paul Kiesel in water billing scandal fallout

Kiesel responded that the charges against him risk "undermin[ing] a long-standing practice in complex litigation: responsible cooperation among counsel," warning that punishing such coordination could chill efficient settlements that benefit injured consumers.

State Bar charges prominent trial lawyer Paul Kiesel in water billing scandal fallout
Paul Kiesel

Veteran Beverly Hills trial lawyer Paul Kiesel is facing disciplinary charges from the State Bar of California stemming from his role in the sprawling litigation surrounding the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's billing system debacle -- a controversy that has already resulted in criminal convictions, judicial findings of collusion and the recommended suspension of a former top city attorney.

The charges, filed Wednesday by the bar's Office of Chief Trial Counsel...

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