Decades of experience, over 100 cases tried to a jury with monumental failures and success. Landmark case include historic $91,000,000 verdict, the largest compensatory damages verdict for one person in Washington State.
Protecting citizens' rights of tenant housing against oppressive landlord control measures, Eric is responsible for the creation of the constitutional right to Intimate Association.
As George Clinton's lawyer, the iconic funk musician/artist, Eric's unique view into the entertainment industry crafted a result that allowed him to maintain his collection of music and is the lead attorney on the definitive copyright case in American jurisprudence.
Recognized in the industry as an innovator in trial work, Eric is the only Washington lawyer to be recognized by both the plaintiffs trial bar/WSAJ and the defense trial bar/WDTLA for their prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award.
A teacher of over 17 years at the Trial Lawyers College and a student there for 23, Eric is committed to the grace of continued learning.
Trial Lawyer. Educator. Advocate. NATIONAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS STATES LITIGATED IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS EDUCATION LICENSES HONORS & RECOGNITION PUBLICATIONS TEACHING BIOGRAPHY Empathy and compassion are the cornerstones of my philosophy in the practice of law. Justice demands truth in thought, truth in speech, and truth in action. Anything less is unworthy. My ability to inspire justice and shine a light on untruths sets me apart. In a world bewildered by untruth, I expose those who run from responsibility, and effectuate change through accountability. HONORS & RECOGNITION NATIONAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Trial Lawyer of the Year , WA State WSAJ 2022 Super Lawyer (top 5% of all lawyers) 2011 – Present Top 100 Trial Lawyer in America 2009 – Present Trial Lawyer of the Year , WA State WDTL 2013 Instructor Trial Lawyers College 2006 – Present AVVO , Perfect 10 rating Martindale-Hubbell , Distinguished Ability & Ethics Seattle Clemency Project , 2018 – Present Trial Lawyer of the Year , Trial Lawyers College 2003 Rising Star, Law & Politics, 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009 Indiana Trial Lawyers Assoc, Presenting your case 2022 Montana TLA, Billings, Trial - A Living Organism 2022 AAJ, Atlanta, Cost of care for the severely brain-damaged 2022 Advocacy 360, Las Vegas, A Continuum For Change 2022 Chicago Federal Defenders, Story Telling 2022 ​ AAJ, Seattle New Trial Techniques 2022 Trial Guides, Zoom, Voir Dire and Opening Statements 2022 WSAJ, Seattle, Arc of Triumph 2021 Trial Lawyers University, Las Vegas, Opening & Closing 2021 Trail Guides, Podcast, 2021 Great Trials Podcast, 2021 ​ NJ Assoc. of Justice, Atlantic City, Truck Driver Deposition 2020 AAJ, New Orleans, LA, Soulfulness in the Jury Trial , 2020 Bob Chaloupka’s "Kick Ass Trial Seminar," NE, Closing Argument 2019 WSBA Small Practice Forum, Trial Tips From Trial Pros 2019 Western Trial Lawyers Assoc., Hawaii, Jury Selection 2019 WSAJ, Seattle, WA, Closing Argument 2019 Alaska Criminal Defense Lawyers, Discovering the Story 2018 WSAJ Winter Convention, Seattle, WA, Voir Dire 2018 Western Trial Lawyers Assoc., Hawaii, Working With Experts 2018 WSAJ, Tacoma, WA, General Damages , 2015 Justice Advocacy Africa, Ugandan Law Society, Trial Skills 2015 ​ WSBA, Seattle, WA, Trial Advocacy 2013 ​ WSTLA, Seattle, WA, All The Right Moves in Tort Litigation 2012 WSTLA , Seattle, WA, Motion and Trial Practice 2010 Justice Advocacy Africa, Ugandan Law Society, Trial Skills 2010 WSBA, Seattle, Solutions for the Criminal Law Practioner 2009 ​ WSTLA, Voir Dire with Paul Luvera 2007 ​ WSBA, Seattle, Managing and Running a Law Firm 2004 WA State US Supreme Court US District Court, Western WA US District Court, Eastern WA US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit US Tax Court US District Court, District of CO LICENSES VERDICTS & SETTLEMENTS Traumatic Brain Injury $91,000,000 Medical Malpractice $5,600,000 Trip & Fall $2,750,000 Car crash $2,600,000 Sex Abuse $2,500,000 Civil Rights $2,150,000 Loss of Consortium $2,100,000 RICO $1,100,000 STATES LITIGATED IN WA Truck accident, Med mal, Products liability, Murder, White collar crime CA Copyright infringement, US Olympic sex abuse, Personal injury FL RICO IA Nursing home abuse CO Traumatic brain injury, Civil rights, Med Mal NV Personal injury ID Sexual assault, Personal injury OR Personal injury HI Business law AK Insurance bad faith UT Civil rights TEACHING ​ Trial Magazine, I Am Just Your Reflection 2020 The Warrior Magazine , The Mind Is Not a Brain, It Is Your Soul 2019 The Trial News , The Problem With Today 2018 The Warrior Magazine , GUILTY 2017 Trial Magazine , Trial Tips For The Trial Lawyer 2014 Trial News , I almost Puked 2012 The Warrior Magazine , Presidents Report 2008 The Warrior , What The Trial Lawyers College Means To Me 2006 PUBLICATIONS Board Member, Western Trial Lawyers Assoc. 2021 - present Chair, Criminal Law Section, AAJ 2020 - present President, Kitsap County Bar Assoc. 2011–12 President , F-Warriors Club 2008–09 Board of Directors , Trial Lawyers College 2008–2009 Board of Directors , WSAJ 2007–2012 Board of Leg. Affairs , Chamber of Commerce 2004 –08 Treasurer , Port Orchard Rotary 2001-2003 LEADERSHIP POSITIONS EDUCATION Trial Lawyers College, Dubois, WY 2001 Seattle University School of Law 1996 Indiana University 1993 TLC Teacher from 2006 - Present Trial Lawyers College, New Port Beach, Opening Statement 2022 ​ Trial Lawyers College, WA, Opening Statement 2021 Trial Lawyers College, CO, Trial Skills 2021 ​ Trial Lawyers College, WY, Voir Dire 2019 WA Regional, Trial Lawyers College, Closing argument 2019 University of Washington, Trial Skills , 2018 CA Regional Seminar, TLC, Los Angeles, Cross Examination 2018 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Voir Dire 2018 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Cross Examination 2017 WA Regional, TLC, Direct Examination 2017 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Grad Course I 2016 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Trial Skills, July & September 2016 WA Regional, Direct Examination 2016 Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College, WY 2015 CA Regional Seminar, New Port Beach, TLC, Voir Dire 2015 WA Regional Seminal, Leavenworth, Direct Examination 2015 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Graduate Course I 2015 Trial Lawyers College, Dubois, WY, Trial Skills 2014 CA Regional Seminar, TLC, Opening Statements 2014 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Graduate Course I 2014 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Prejudice in the Courtroom 2013 CA Regional Seminar, Opening Statement 2013 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Trial Skills 2012 WA Regional, Discovering the Story 2012 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Trial Skills 2011 Trial Lawyers College, WY, Graduate Course I 2011 WA Regional Seminal, Cross Examination 2011
