Eric J. Hertz is a double Board-Certified Trial Attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the American Board of Trial Advocates. A member of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators and Top 10 Nursing Home Trial Lawyers, Mr. Hertz has tried over 100 jury trials as Lead Attorney and handled hundreds of wrongful death cases, resulting in multi-millions of dollars collected for his clients, including several record high verdicts.
Mr. Hertz is the author of Nursing Home Abuse and Your Loved Ones (2016) and co-author of Thomson Reuters: Punitive Damages in Georgia (1997-present); Georgia Law of Damages (1998-present); and Georgia Law of Torts (2002). He is a regular speaker and author for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education of Georgia.
Mr. Hertz earned his J.D. in 1991 from the University of Georgia School of Law and his B.B.A. from Hofstra University. He is licensed to practice in the State of Georgia and is admitted to the bars of the Federal Districts of Georgia and the United States Supreme Court.
Education
B.B.A, Hofstra University (1987)
J.D., University of Georgia School of law (1991)
Memberships, Leaderships, & Accolades
Admitted to the bar of the Federal Districts of Georgia
Appointed to Judicial Qualifications Commission Nominating Committee of the State Bar of Georgia (July 2018)
Admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States of America (June 2018)
Licensed to practice in State of Georgia
Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Regional Vice President (2010-2011)
Chairman Gwinnett Trial Lawyers Association (2010-2011)
National Board of Trial Advocacy
American Board of Trial Advocates
American Association of Justice (Past-Leader’s Forum)
National Trial Lawyers
American Association for Justice, Nursing Home Litigation Group
Melvin Belli Society
Nursing Home Trial Lawyers – Top 10
The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Atlanta Superlawyer, Rising Stars
Atlanta Superlawyer
Georgia Trend 2005 Top Attorney
The Legal Elite
GTLA – Community Service Award, 2011
Jezebel Magazine, The Distinction Series, 9th Anniversary Edition
Tuxedo Road Aug/Sept 2009
“Super Trial Lawyers,” Dade County Bar
“Record Verdicts,” Dade County Bar
Speaking Engagements
2024
Nursing Home Litigation Seminar – ICLE of Georgia
3rd Annual Brain Injury and Pain/Suffering/Anguish Causation and Damages Institute – Connectionology
Elder Law Guest Speaker – University of Georgia School of Law
If Water is Free, Why Are Our Elderly Dying from Dehydration? A Look Into The Unique Challenges of Meeting The Nutritional Needs of Older Adults in Nursing – Connectionology
2023
How to Use the Watermelon Book in Litigation – Connectionology
Punitive Damage Themes in Everyday Cases – ICLE of Georgia
Nursing Home Litigation Seminar – ICLE of Georgia
Making Sense of New CMS Regulations in Senior Living – Connectionology
Your Angle of Success – How to Start a Law Firm from Scratch and Turn it into a Successful Company! – Connectionology
The Use of Physical Restraints in Acute Care and Long-Term Care Settings and The Controversial use of Chemical Restraints – Connectionology
Punitive Damages Themes in Everyday Cases – Connectionology
2022
The Silent Start of Sepsis – Connectionology
Soup to Nuts on Handling a Nursing Home Abuse Case – Connectionology
Traumatic Brain Injury Seminar – Connectionology Nashville
How to Win Dram Shop Cases – Connectionology
TBI Litigation and The Basics – Connectionology
Soup to Nuts on Handling a Nursing Home Abuse Case. Nursing Home 101: A Refresher Course – Connectionology
Sepsis with UTI and Pressure Injury Wounds – Connectionology
End Game: How to Successfully Prepare and Try a Case with Very Limited Notice – Connectionology
The 3 Essential Skills for Winning Medical Malpractice Cases – Connectionology
Part 2: The 2 Essential Skills for Winning Medical Malpractice Cases – Connectionology
Thinking Outside the Box – Connectionology
How to Handle a Difficult Soft Tissue Injury Case and Ways to Win It – Connectionology
The Secret of Cross Examination at Trial – Connectionology
John Marshall Law School Symposium on March 11, 2022
Traumatic Brain Injury Seminar – Connectionology
2021
Key Business Tips for Opening, Running, and Expanding Your Plaintiff’s Law Firm – TBI Med Legal
How to Identify Nursing Home Cases – TBI Med Legal
Punitive Damages Seminar – ICLE
How to Successfully Mediate and Arbitrate a Personal Injury Case – Connectionology
The Anatomy of a Soft Tissue Case and Ways to Win it – Connectionology
Nursing Homes Aren’t The Only Places Where Our Elderly Ones are at Risk for Injuries – Connectionology
Nursing Home Records: The WHAT, WHY, WHERE, and HOW to use them to make the most of your case – Connectionology
Everything you Need to Know About the Watermelon Book from Cover to Cover – Connectionology
Mini Mock Trial: A Cross Examination of Plaintiff and Defense Experts in a Nursing Home Case with Brief Closing Arguments from Both Sides – Connectionology
The Million Dollar Witness – Connectionology
The Best Cases are Already in Your Filing Cabinet: Open Panel to Discuss Issues in Your Nursing Home and Medical Malpractice Cases – Connectionology
Case Selection in Nursing Home Cases: Know Where you are Before you Jump in – Connectionology
Key Depositions in Nursing-Home Cases: Part 2 – Connectionology
Key Depositions in Nursing-Home Cases – Connectionology
Pain & Suffering: Arguments that Work from Opening to Closing – Connectionology
How to Conduct Discovery to Successfully Present a Nursing Home Abuse Case to a Jury – Connectionology
2020
Deposing Defendants in Medical Malpractice Cases – Connectionology
Nursing Home Abuse Series- Part 3- Session 3 – Connectionology
Nursing Home Abuse Series- Part 3- Session 2 – Connectionology
Nursing Home Abuse Series- Part 3- Session 1 – Connectionology
Punitive Damages Seminar – ICLE
Suing Celebrities and Dealing with the Paparazzi – Connectionology
Nursing Home Litigation Seminar – ICLE
Handling Nursing Home Abuse Cases 101- Part 2 – Connectionology
Much More Dating Back to 1993
Mr. Hertz has been speaking publicly for over 30 years.
Notable Verdicts & Settlements
Cobb Jury Returns $40 Million in Total Verdicts
A Cobb County jury returned a large verdict for Mr. Hertz’s clients in a dram shop and wrongful death case.
August 9, 2003
Fulton Daily Report
Jury Awards $11 Million for Brain Injuries
Mr. Hertz’s client was awarded $11 million for injuries he suffered when he was hit by a tractor-trailer owned by a national trucking company. Before trial, the defense only offered $150,000 because of disputed liability.
June 21, 2007
Fulton Daily Report
Da Brat Bludgeoned with $6.4 Million Verdict
Mr. Hertz’s client was awarded a large verdict in Cobb County after being assaulted by famed rapper, Da Brat.
February 28, 2014
TMZ.com
Driver Moved Into Truck’s Path; Jurors Award his Family $2.75M
Another case where the jury returned a large verdict for Mr. Hertz’s client, even though the defense only offered $100,000 prior to trial because of disputed liability.
April 30, 2004
Fulton County Daily Report
Fayette Jury Awards $2.15 Million Record Verdict in State Court
The client received a large verdict for a severe leg injury he suffered during a motorcycle accident.
October 25, 2007
Fayette Daily News
Parties Settle for $1.6 Million After Jury Selection
This was a case Mr. Hertz handled in South Carolina. Eric J. Hertz, P.C. handles cases throughout the southeast.
February 2, 2003
Law Reporter
Jury Awards $800K to Injured Driver
Mr. Hertz’s client was awarded $800K for a back injury in a case in which causation was hotly disputed. The award is thought to be the largest back-injury verdict ever recorded in Walton County, Georgia.
Georgia Trial Reporter, Volume 21, Issue 9
$300,000 DUI Award Called Historic
Another example of a record verdict.
April 15, 2000
Coastal Courier
Jury Awards Record $220,000 for Broken Finger
This is believed to be a record-high verdict for a broken finger case.
January 28, 2000
Fulton Daily Report
Jury Awards $100,000 to DUI Victim
Many of our cases involve suing drunk drivers.
August 13, 1995
Clayton News/Daily
Tim McGraw’s Bitch Slap Victim Lawyers up…. – [with Eric J. Hertz as her lawyer]
Inmate Found Hanged in Cell
This was one of the largest jail suicide settlements for this county.
January 10, 2001
Gwinnett Daily Post
It’s Just Inexcusable to Me
This was a case against a daycare in which multiple clients were burned at a daycare.
July 3, 1998
Atlanta Journal/Constitution
Punitives Award Sets Gwinnett Record
A Gwinnett County jury returned a record-high punitive damages award.
August 10, 2002
Fulton Daily Report
Sailors’ Kin Sue Israelis Over Deadly Ferry Accident
This international lawsuit involved 19 soldiers who were killed overseas. After years of litigation, Mr. Hertz was able to help all of his clients by means of a confidential settlement.
Atlanta Journal/Constitution
Suit Filed in Cobb Crash That Killed Teens
This case received national publicity.
December 18, 1996
Atlanta Journal/Constitution
Wreck Takes Life of Student leader
A products liability case that resolved in a confidential settlement.
December 2, 1996
Atlanta Journal/Constitution
YDC Teen Left Paralyzed
Mr. Hertz has sued numerous governmental entities throughout his career.
April 1, 1995
Athens Daily News
School Bus Driver Charged in Boys Death
A case where we represented the family of a five-year-old tragically run over by his school bus.
September 17, 2009
AJC.com
Worker Disputes Builder’s Account of Fatal Shooting
A case where we represented the family of a man that was shot and killed at a construction site.
July 4, 2008
Times-Herald.com
Mediation Ends Lawsuit Filed in Inmates Death
October 12, 2000
The Barrow County News
