Keeton & Tait

Attorneys

History

Paul Keeton was one of the most senior active lawyers in Idaho. Mr. Keeton earned both his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Michigan. He opened his law office in Lewiston in 1945 after having practiced law with his uncle, William Keeton, later a Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court. Mr. Keeton passed away March 24, 2005.

In 1941 he argued the first of over 80 cases he has litigated before the Idaho Supreme Court. Mr. Keeton was legislative counsel for the Idaho legislature and Deputy Attorney General for the State Insurance Fund handling worker's compensation cases throughout Idaho before settling in Lewiston.

Paul liked to describe his practice as "diverse" and he litigated many different kinds of cases in the courts of the region. In 1960 he argued four cases in one day before the Idaho Supreme Court. Many of his cases broke new ground for injured workers and established new rights for the working people of the region against their employers and insurance companies. Among these are cases that broadened the concept of "manifest injustice" to compensate an injured worker despite preexisting disease. He broadened medical coverage for all injured workers in Clevenger v. Potlatch. In Burch v. Potlatch he established the right to medical care even if not essential to return to work, in this case for damage to teeth. Paul litigated one case five times, including three times to the industrial commission and twice to the Supreme Court to establish the evidence standard for medical testimony in Idaho. In one of the most often cited recent worker's compensation cases, Maleug, he established the right of a worker to be fully paid until he was actually able to return to work.

Mr. Keeton's trial and appellate work included many other areas including estates, contracts and property law. He litigated most of the key condemnation cases involving the Port of Lewiston and highways throughout the region.

Mr. Keeton was active in leadership in the state and the region through his service for six years as a Fish and Game Commissioner and being elected to four terms to the Idaho House of Representatives.

In 1998 Mr. Keeton was honored as a Distinguished Lawyer by the Idaho State Bar and the firm continue providing advice to his clients.