Paul D. Copenbarger

Capt. Paul David Copenbarger ’66 USN (Ret.), a native of Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2023, with family at his side. Paul fought glioblastoma, a brain tumor, for two years. He is survived by his loving wife Jaime (Banfield), two daughters, Dana and Erin, son David (Cindy), stepdaughter Danielle (Bruce), Ginger Copenbarger, the mother of his three children, and 10 grandchildren.

Having graduated from high school at age 16, Paul attended the University Oklahoma for one year, then received an ROTC appointment to the Naval Academy. Even after one year at Oklahoma, Paul was still the youngest in his class at Annapolis.

Upon graduation from the Academy, Paul moved to a submarine assignment. First was Nuclear Power School, then nuclear reactor prototype training, then on to Sub School in New London, Conn..

By early 1968, Paul was trained and ready to move west. Destination, San Diego, homeport of USS Scamp SSN-588, duty station for the duration. Paul’s path continued in the Reserve with interesting assignments both in the States and abroad, leading to his promotion to Captain, USNR.

Paul also had a love for flying, and was a licensed pilot.

After a brief career as a Navy submariner, Paul attended law school and earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard University in 1974.

Paul moved to California where he founded a boutique litigation firm. In his eyes, a litigator was not just a trial attorney, but a relentless warrior for justice. Paul won many more cases than he lost, many before the trials even began.

Paul’s small firm with him at the helm took on attorneys from many large prestigious firms and defeated them. With four fledgling lawyers, he represented women in a malpractice case against two lawyers who were represented by the largest law firm in San Diego. After winning the case, he learned that the firm had devoted 104 time-billers to try to defeat him.

More than once, Paul found his way to the Court of Appeal. While less than 20% of civil appellants succeed in the Court of Appeal, Paul won over 60% of his appeals. There are several published opinions arising out of the cases he brought to the Court of Appeal, including a case arising out of a shareholder’s derivative action where Paul and his wife, Jaime, prepared the briefing.