joshua.praw@wilsonelser.com

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Joshua Praw is an experienced civil litigator specializing in toxic tort, product liability and commercial general liability matters. Joshua represents a broad range of clients, from multinational corporations to local businesses, in complex legal challenges. He brings a strategic, nuanced approach to each case he handles through his dedication to thorough research, meticulous preparation and effective advocacy. Joshua’s clients appreciate his organizational skills and his unique ability to explain complicated legal issues in a way that they can understand, which enables him to provide comprehensive legal representation aimed at achieving favorable and cost-effective outcomes.

Areas of Focus

Toxic Tort
Joshua defends manufacturers, distributors, brokers and retailers of hazardous materials, including respirable crystalline silica, asbestos, benzene, talc, diacetyl, perchloroethylene and dichloromethane. In addition to his active litigation, Joshua serves as National Coordinating Counsel for numerous international businesses.

Product Liability
Joshua has successfully defended manufacturers, distributors and retailers across a diverse spectrum of products, from consumer electronics to commercial products to industrial equipment.

    Education

    • University of San Diego (J.D., 2013)
    • University of Wisconsin–Madison (B.A. History, 2010)

    Bar Admissions

    • California

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
    • U.S. District Court, Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation

    Awards & Honors

    • Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™, 2022–2026
    • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch™, 2021-2025

Events

Joshua Praw is an experienced civil litigator specializing in toxic tort, product liability and commercial general liability matters. Joshua represents a broad range of clients, from multinational corporations to local businesses, in complex legal challenges. He brings a strategic, nuanced approach to each case he handles through his dedication to thorough research, meticulous preparation and effective advocacy. Joshua’s clients appreciate his organizational skills and his unique ability to explain complicated legal issues in a way that they can understand, which enables him to provide comprehensive legal representation aimed at achieving favorable and cost-effective outcomes.

Joshua W. Praw

Praw and Natividad Prevail in Toxic Tort Action

Joshua Praw (Partner-San Francisco, CA) and Vanessa Natividad (Of Counsel-San Francisco, CA) secured summary judgment for Wilson Elser's client, a stone retailer, in a toxic tort action filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. All claims against the client were dismissed just one month before trial.
 
The plaintiff, a stone fabricator, sued dozens of defendants, including Wilson Elser's client, alleging that they manufactured, distributed, or otherwise sold stone countertops that the plaintiff ultimately fabricated. During the fabrication process, respirable crystalline silica was released, and the plaintiff was diagnosed with silicosis, an incurable and life-threatening lung disease. In moving for summary judgment, Joshua and Vanessa demonstrated that the plaintiff could not accurately or specifically identify the client's involvement in his alleged exposure. The motion further established that, even crediting all the plaintiff's claims, the client's products accounted for less than 1% of the plaintiff's overall exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Joshua and Vanessa argued that, on this record, no reasonable jury could find that the client's involvement was a substantial factor in causing or contributing to the plaintiff's silicosis diagnosis.
 
The court agreed, granting summary judgment and dismissing the complaint against Wilson Elser's client, thus eliminating the need for a trial.

Joshua W. Praw and Vanessa P. Natividad

Praw and Natividad Secure Summary Judgment Adjudication for Engineered Stone Distributor Facing Toxic Tort Claims

Joshua Praw (Of Counsel-Los Angeles/San Francisco) and Vanessa Natividad (Of Counsel-Los Angeles/San Francisco) prevailed on a motion for summary adjudication in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles, on behalf of a stone countertop distributor in Orange County. The plaintiff, a career stone cutter, was diagnosed with silicosis. He sued our client, among dozens of defendants, alleging the client supplied him with natural and engineered stone slabs that he subsequently worked on or around. He further alleged that the slabs released respirable crystalline silica that he inhaled, causing him to develop silicosis. Of the causes of action against our client, the plaintiff alleged that the client fraudulently concealed the dangers of the products. Joshua and Vanessa successfully brought a motion for summary adjudication on the cause of action for fraudulent concealment, resolving that claim in our client’s favor.

Joshua W. Praw and Vanessa P. Natividad

Praw and Natividad Prevail on Motion for Summary Adjudication for Stone Countertop Retailer

Joshua Praw (Of Counsel-Los Angeles/San Francisco) and Vanessa Natividad (Of Counsel-Los Angeles/San Francisco) secured summary adjudication in Los Angeles Superior Court for Wilson Elser’s client, a stone countertop retailer in Los Angeles County. The plaintiff, a career stone cutter, was diagnosed with silicosis. He sued our client, among dozens of defendants, alleging that the client supplied him with natural and engineered stone slabs that he subsequently worked on or around, and that these slabs released respirable crystalline silica, which he inhaled, causing his silicosis. As to the causes of action specifically brought against our client, the plaintiff alleged that the client failed to warn him of the danger, fraudulently concealed the dangers of the products, and sought punitive damages against the client. Joshua and Vanessa brought a motion for summary adjudication regarding the allegations of failure to warn, fraudulent concealment, and the prayer for punitive damages. Wilson Elser’s motion for summary adjudication on all three issues was granted.

Joshua W. Praw and Vanessa P. Natividad

Praw and Longerbeam Prevail on Summary Judgment Against Silica Toxic Tort Claim

Joshua Praw (Of Counsel-San Francisco) and Kelsie Longerbeam (Associate-San Francisco) prevailed on their motion for summary judgment in Los Angeles Superior Court for Wilson Elser’s client, a natural and artificial stone product retailer. In this toxic tort claim, the plaintiff sued our client, among dozens of other defendants, alleging they each manufactured, distributed, or otherwise supplied products containing respirable crystalline silica, which the plaintiff inhaled while working on or around their products throughout his career as a stone fabricator, sustaining serious injury. In their motion for summary judgment, Joshua and Kelsie argued that the plaintiff failed to meet his burden of proving that our client supplied any products to him or any of his worksites throughout his 20-year career. The court agreed, granting the motion and ruling that the plaintiff “fails to meet his burden of proving a triable issue of material fact remains” regarding whether Wilson Elser’s client caused his injuries, thwarting a last multi million dollar demand.

Joshua W. Praw and Kelsie K. Longerbeam

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