“Eric is an exceptional litigator, and his ability to wade through the “noise” associated with litigation to identify the key aspects of the matter at issue and then develop an effective and cost-effective defense strategy and related tactics separates him from 95% of the litigators we engage in other jurisdictions.” – Benesch client
“It’s not easy joining all the dots back to actual law, but of all the people I am lucky enough to work with I know if there is a way, Eric will find it.” – Benesch client
“We appreciate your work on this case and the terrific result you obtained for the company.” – Benesch client
"Eric is a foundational presence in the transportation arena. He is a seasoned litigator who has a deep understanding of businesses and the law." – Benesch client
Eric is Co-Chair of the firm’s Transportation & Logistics Practice Group and a Vice Chair of the Litigation Group.
Under Eric’s leadership, Benesch was named Law Firm of the Year for 2023, 2022, 2020, 2017, 2016 and 2014 in the area of Transportation Law by Best Lawyers®/U.S. News & World Report “Best Law Firms”. Only one law firm per practice area in the U.S. receives this recognition each year, making this award a particularly significant achievement. For the tenth consecutive year (2014-2023), Benesch also received a national first-tier ranking in Transportation Law also by U.S. News & World Report/Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.”
Eric has litigated or arbitrated matters in 31 states, before state and federal trial and appellate courts in various jurisdictions, and before the Surface Transportation Board, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Olympic Committee, the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Maritime Commission and the Court of International Trade.
Over the past 18 years, Eric has taken 36 cases to trial. His record in these cases is 33-3.
Eric focuses his practice primarily upon commercial litigation, transportation, logistics and e-commerce law consult and litigation, insurance, coverage and bad faith matters, and product liability matters, including medical device defense, consumer product defense and industrial product defense.
Representative Experience
- Achieved resounding pretrial victory for Ohio University in a case stemming from the death of a student at an off-campus property. The family sued the University for negligence, wrongful death, pain and suffering, and damages for allegedly violating an anti-hazing statute. In granting the University's summary judgment motion to dismiss all claims, the Ohio Court of Claims noted the school's efforts to combat hazing and protect students.
- Won at jury trial in high-dollar international freight claim trial involving alleged damage to geodesic dome.
- Won at jury trial in multimillion dollar toxic tort exposure case.
- Won at jury trial in international freight charge dispute involving global transport of tunnel boring equipment.
- Successfully defended a nationwide putative class action seeking to hold ADT vicariously liable for approximately 5 million phone calls made by an independent third-party in alleged violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
- Successfully defended a nationwide putative class action seeking to hold DISH vicariously liable for 1+ million phone calls made by over a dozen third-parties in alleged violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
- The New Hampshire Insurance Co. v. Marinemax of Ohio, Inc., 408 F.Supp. 2d, 526, 63 Fed.R. Serv. 3d 976, (N.D. Ohio) Summary judgment regarding marine policy coverage issues.
- Tucker v. Interarms, 186 F.R.D. 450 (N.D. Ohio) Successfully handled international financial trust dispute resulting in dismissal of claims based on Inter-American Convention of Letters Rogatory.
- Participated in evaluation of options and actions for recalls or voluntary corrective actions for consumer and other products.
- Successfully litigated a case in which the plaintiff's estate alleged that she had been entrapped and essentially suffocated by her nursing home bed rail.
