Paul Caruso

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the defense attorney. For The Atlantics' drummer, see Paul Caruso (Drummer).

Paul Caruso (1920-2001) was a well-known criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, California. Caruso served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II.

[edit] Law career

Paul Caruso was admitted to practice in August 1953 following graduation from Washington, D.C.’s Columbus University School of Law, now the Columbus School of Law of Catholic University of America. He obtained a veteran's waiver for admission to the California Bar.

Caruso later represented war hero and actor Audie Murphy on a charge of trying to kill a Burbank dog trainer who Murphy claimed brutalized the dog and made advances towards Murphy’s girlfriend.

Caruso also represented Charles Manson follower Susan Atkins, Eddie Nash, who was accused of four Laurel Canyon slayings; and TV sports reporter Stan Duke in the gunshot slaying of radio commentator Averill Berman.

Caruso was the founding president of the Italian American Lawyers Assn. in Los Angeles.

Caruso had five children, and his eldest son, Carey Caruso, still runs his father's practice today.

Caruso's granddaughter is actress Nora Jobling.