Paul J. Estuar specializes in litigating civil rights class actions in areas such as housing, employment discrimination, jail conditions and privacy rights. Much of his recent work involves class actions under the Fourth Amendment and other constitutional claims arising in the administration of jails and prisons.  He and his firm have developed a national reputation for litigating cases which have resulted in multi-million dollar settlements including, Williams v. Block, Case No. CV-97-03826-CW (C.D. Cal.) and related cases (a series of cases county jail overdetention and strip search cases, settled for $27 Million and a complete revamp of jail procedures); Bynum v. District of Columbia, Case No. 02-956 (RCL) (D.D.C.) (certified class action against the District of Columbia for over detentions and strip searches of persons ordered released from custody, settled for $12,000.000); Craft v. County of San Bernardino, EDCV05-0359 SGL (C.D. Cal.) (certified class action against the Sheriff of San Bernardino County for blanket strip searches of detainees, arrestees, and persons ordered released from custody; settled for $25.5 Million); and Lopez v. Kern County, CV-F-07-0474 DLB (E.D. Cal.) (settled for $7 Million).  Beyond trial, Paul’s practice also consists of extensive appellate work.  He has argued before the California Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit.

He is a 1993 graduate of Loyola Law School, where he received the Dean’s Service Award for his outstanding service to the law school community immediately after the civil unrest of 1992. He is a 1990 graduate of Columbia University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Apart from his legal work, Paul has a long and distinguished history of community and public service.  He was recognized by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, for his community service and dedication to the legal needs of indigent clients.  He is a past president of both the Philippine American Bar Association and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles.  He has served on a number of community boards, including the Filipino American Library.