On Saturday, March 4, 2017, the CAL-ABOTA Board of Directors selected Warren R. Paboojian of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter as the 2017 Trial Lawyer of the Year. Recognized as the highest honor a California trial lawyer can receive, the CAL-ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year is awarded annually to a recipient exhibiting the best traits of a trial lawyer - excellence in advocacy, a distinguished career and a reputation for civility, ethics and fair play.

The CAL-ABOTA Board of Directors includes officers of the eight local chapters. Each CAL-ABOTA chapter is entitled to nominate a candidate for Trial Lawyer of the Year. Written and oral presentations are submitted to CAL-ABOTA's board followed by the selection of the award recipient by majority vote.
General Criteria For Selection Of California Trial Lawyer Of The Year

1. THAT THE PERSON BE AN EXCELLENT ADVOCATE
2. THAT THE PERSON HAVE A DISTINGUISHED CAREER
3. THAT THE PERSON HAVE A SUPERB REPUTATION OF CIVILITY, ETHICS AND FAIR PLAY
4. THAT THE PERSON HAVE PARTICIPATED IN AN OUTSTANDING RESULT

Warren R. Paboojian was born and raised in Fresno, California. He earned his bachelor's degree from California State University, Fresno, in 1980. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from San Joaquin College of Law and was admitted to practice law in 1987. In 2011, Mr. Paboojian was inducted into the San Joaquin College of Law Hall of Fame because of his outstanding trial advocacy.

Mr. Paboojian, who is a founding partner of the law firm of Baradat & Paboojian, has been practicing law in the San Joaquin Valley for 30 years. Baradat & Paboojian is a plaintiffs firm that handles a wide range of plaintiffs cases from personal injury, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and wrongful termination. Mr. Paboojian has litigated over 55 jury trials to verdict in Fresno County and throughout the State of California.

In addition to being very active in ABOTA and a Life Fellow of the ABOTA Foundation, Mr. Paboojian is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, and the International Academy of Trial Attorneys. Warren Paboojian also served as President of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of ABOTA in 2008. His honors and achievements include:
• 2008 Trial Lawyer of the Year for the State of California by Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC)
• Super Lawyers' Top 100 Lawyers in Northern California for 5 consecutive years
• Central California Trial Lawyers' President's Award for Outstanding Plaintiffs Verdict in 2004
• Central California Trial Lawyers' President's Award for Outstanding Advocacy for Consumer Rights
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated
Mr. Paboojian is most proud of his foundation called Departed Angels. The organization was founded in 2008. Departed Angels is a non-profit organization that helps parents financially whose children have died untimely.

Warren Paboojian will be honored as the 2017 CAL-ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year during the annual Hawaii Conference on November 6-11, 2017 at the Andaz on Maui; please be sure to attend the Conference to share in the celebration.