Based in the firm’s Minneapolis office, Eric is a shareholder and member of the Business Litigation Section. He is the chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee and practices principally in the areas of:
- Banking and mortgage lending litigation
- Real estate foreclosure
- Consumer financial services litigation
- Government enforcement action defense
- Product liability and construction litigation
- Complex commercial litigation
- Shareholder and partnership litigation
- Employment litigation
Eric has nearly 18 years of experience representing a variety of clients in banking, foreclosure and consumer financial services litigation, government enforcement actions, product liability and construction defect cases. He has litigated and tried cases in federal and state courts, arbitrations and administrative hearings.
Banking, Foreclosure and Consumer Financial Services
Eric represents banks, mortgage lenders and financial services companies in litigation involving claims by individuals and governmental bodies under various federal and state laws such as the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act (RESPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), federal and state consumer privacy laws and consumer protection/deceptive practices statutes. Eric’s experience includes representing:
- a national mortgage lender in cases challenging the origination and/or foreclosure of loans under TILA, RESPA and consumer protection laws;
- a national bank in actions challenging the fraudulent filing of UCC financing statements;
- a national bank in lawsuits contesting the reporting of consumer credit information under the FCRA and state consumer protection laws;
- a bank in a multimillion dollar construction financing and mechanic’s lien lawsuit.
Government Enforcement Actions
Eric has recently represented companies in matters brought by state attorneys general and state commerce departments. These cases often involve alleged violations of state consumer protection laws and licensing issues. Eric has handled government enforcement action cases including representing an insurance company in defense of a lawsuit by the Minnesota Attorney General’s office concerning the alleged improper sale of deferred annuities and a telecommunications company in a government investigation of cellular telephone billing and fee practices.
Product Liability and Construction Litigation
Eric’s product liability work includes litigation of commercial product damage, breach of warranty, personal injury and wrongful death claims. His construction litigation work includes representing product manufacturers, contractors and professional services firms in construction defect cases. He has represented a wide variety of clients in his construction litigation practice including a global manufacturer of an exterior building material in more than 100 product liability, breach of warranty and personal injury lawsuits throughout the country. He also represented a company in a multi-district litigation case involving personal injury claims by individuals allegedly exposed to toxic welding fumes.
Eric is admitted to practice in all Minnesota state and federal courts and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Minnesota state and American bar associations. Eric serves on the board of the Minnesota Federal Bar Association and is a member of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. He also is an active member of Twin Cities Diversity in Practice.
Eric’s community work includes serving on the board of the Minneapolis Legal Aid Society and serving as the former chair of the Hamline University CLA Alumni Board.
Eric received his B.A. cum laude from Hamline University and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his law degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota and was on the Minnesota Law Review. Eric joined Briggs in 1993.