Eric John Purchase Attorney

First Admitted: 1991, Pennsylvania

Professional Webpage: https://www.yourerielawyers.com/our-team/eric-j-purchase/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Vice President, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, 2025
Treasurer, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, 2024
President, Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, 2020
Secretary, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, 2024
Parliamentarian, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, 2023
Immediate Past President, Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, 2021
Pennsylvania Bar Association, House of Delegates Political Action Committee Member, 2011 – Present
U.S. Supreme Court, 1998
U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1997
U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 1991
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association - President Elect, 2019
Pennsylvania, 1991
Pennsylvania Association for Justice - Western Caucus Whip (2016 - 2019), 2019
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers - Vice President, 2019
Erie County Bar Association - Immediate Past President, 2019
Erie County Bar Association - Chair - Civil Litigation Section, 2007- 2008
President, Erie County Bar Association, 2018
Chairman, Erie County Bar Association Civil Litigation Section, 2012 - 2013
Board of Governors, Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers, 2012 – Present
Erie County Bar Association, Second Vice-President, 2016
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers - Treasurer, 2016
Pennsylvania Bar Association House of Delegates
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Secretary, 2017
Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Board of Governors – President’s Club, 1992 – Present
Pennsylvania Bar Association, Political Action Committee, Zone 7 Representative
Erie County Bar Association, Board of Trustees
Erie County Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section Chairman, 2016
Vice-President, Erie County Bar Association Board of Trustees, 2017
Pennsylvania Bar Association, Judicial Evaluation Commission, Investigative Panel Member, 2007
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Vice-President, 2018
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Governor's Club Member
Erie County Bar Association, Board of Trustees, 2012 – Present
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers, Treasurer, 2016

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

Provident v. Smith - FINRA Arbitration. Defense of a breach of fiduciary duty claim, inter alia, brought by a disgruntled former employer. The case was arbitrated over a period of several months, including over 4 weeks of live testimony. A defense award, including an award of attorney fees, was obtained for the client., 2023
T.J. v. Goodwill - $12,187,359 Erie County verdict following trial on claims arising from abuse and molestation of a minor., 2024
Proper v. Gregor, Erie County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 2001
Akers v. City of Erie. A motor vehicle accident claim against a local municipality arising from an intersection collision involving a police cruiser which went thru a STOP sign and collided with the plaintiff. The officer operating the cruiser claimed he first stopped at the STOP sign, then activated lights and then proceeded into the intersection, where he struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The officer operating the cruiser also claimed that he was responding to a call. The investigating officer claimed that plaintiff had violated the Pa Vehicle Code and, relying upon photos of vehicular damage, reached an opinion that the plaintiff must have been exceeding the speed limit. The police accident reconstructionist then assigned 50% of the responsibility for the accident to the plaintiff. Witnesses contradicted the police narrative, denying that the cruiser stopped or activated its lights and further denied that plaintiff was speeding. Plaintiff suffered a closed head injury and soft tissue spinal injuries. Damages were capped by the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act. Settled - $390,000.00, 2021
Kerth v. Hamot Health Foundation, et al. , 989 F. Supp. 691 (U.S. District Court 1997)
Fedorko Properties v. Millcreek, et al., 755 A.2d 118 (Commonwealth Court 1999)
In Re: Estate of Miller, 18 A.3d 1163 (Superior Court 2011)
Township of Millcreek v. Angela Cres Trust, Bench Trial Seeking Fees Incurred Seeking Fees in Eminent Domain Proceeding, $285,000 Award, 2017
Kaiser v. Faulhaber, Erie County, Jury (Hung), 2002
Carter v. Caruana, Erie County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 2003
Pollock v. Quality Markets, Warren County, Jury (Favorable Verdict)
Chautauqua County, NY, Jury (Adverse Verdict)
Cook, et al. v. Erie County Sportsmen's League, Erie County, Non-Jury (Adverse Verdict), 1998
Township of Millcreek v. Angela Cres Trust Estate. Bench trial on client's petition for recovery of attorney fees. Favorable verdict in the amount of $517,868., 2014
Weller v. Hollabaugh, Crawford County, Non-Jury (Favorable Verdict)
Hodgins v. Taylor, et al. Jury Verdict following trial on injuries suffered in motor vehicle accident: $1,250,000.00. Pre-trial offer was $55,000., 2015
Hofmann v. Miseyka, Erie County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 2001
Akerly v. Williams, Erie County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 2003
Burleigh v. Savitz, Warren County, Jury (Favorable Verdict)
Erie County Licensed Beverage Association v. Erie County (Equitable Relief, Favorable), 2007
Kremm v. D & D Landscaping, Mercer County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 1997
Girard Township vs. Lake Erie Community Park: Lake Erie Community Park (LECP) was a non-profit corporation that had managed a local park since the 1940s when they'd deeded the park to a local municipality. The municipality sued LECP to take possession of the park. LECP defended on the notion that the deed was ambiguous and that extraneous evidence demonstrated an intent between LECP the the municipality that LECP would operate the park in perpetuity. The verdict of the jury was that the deed was not ambiguous. , 2013
Widomski v. Gehrlein, Erie County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 1999
Millville Mutual Insurance v. Hodgins, et al. - Bench Trial in declaratory judgment action to determine scope of coverage owed pursuant to a homeowner's policy with incidental business endorsement. , 2015
Litowkin, et al. v. Robie, Erie County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 2001
Griffith v. Millcreek Township, Bench Trial, Eminent Domain De Facto Taking, 2018
Leopold v. Lanager, Erie County, Jury (Adverse Verdict), 2002
Sturgis v. May, Erie County, Non-Jury (Favorable Verdict)
Askins v. Adams, Erie County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 2007
Albaugh v. Northwest Medical Center, Venango County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 1997
Engel v. Palmer, Erie County, PA: An auto accident case in which our client suffered an aggravation of a pre-existing pars defect. Pre-trial offer was $18,000. Verdict was $375,968.32 , 2014
Westcott v. Levesque, Erie County, Jury (Favorable Verdict), 1998
Angela Cres Trust v. Millcreek Township - Bench Trial to recover expert witness costs in eminent domain contest., 2015

Pro bono/Community Service:

New Blossoms New Life Foundation, Board of Directors, 2021
Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, Life Fellow, 2012 – Present, 2021
Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Attorney - Wills for Heroes, 2020
Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Judge/Juror - Mock Jury Trial Challenge, 2021
Boys & Girls Club of Erie, Board of Directors
Volunteer Attorney, Northwestern Legal Services (1991 - 2021), 2021

Honors/Awards:

Top 100, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2024
Top 100, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2023
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Law Review, Notes & Comments Editor
Top 100, Pa Super Lawyers, 2020
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2013 – Present, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2021
Erie County Bar Association President's Award for Exemplary Service to the ECBA, President's Award, Erie County Bar Association, 2015
The Order of the Coif - Pittsburgh Chapter, The Order of the Coif - Pittsburgh Chapter, The Order of the Coif
Presented for hard work and dedication to the Kearsarge Fire Department, 2001 – Present, Businessman of the Year, Kearsarge Fire Department

Educational Background:

Gannon University, B.A., Major: Political Science, 1984-1988

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Inside Secrets of ERISA: A Third Party Administrator Pulls Back the Curtain, Erie County Bar Association, 2011 – Present
First Party Benefits Update
Premises Liability, Slip and Fall Update
Emotional Distress Claims
Bad Faith Insurance Claims and Trial Tactics
Effective Use of Depositions at Trial, Erie County Bar Association, 2008 – Present
2013 - Public Health Law, Guest Lecturer, Medical Malpractice and the Health Care System, Mercyhurst University, 2013
Civil Litigation for First Year Lawyers, Erie County Bar Association, 2011 – Present
Guest Lecturer: Medical Malpractice and the Adversarial System, Mercyhurst University, 2012 – Present
Apologies in the Medical Malpractice Context, Erie County Bar Association, 2012 – Present
Guest Lecturer: Lawyers, Litigation and Settlement, Mercyhurst University, 2013 – Present
Guest Lecturer, Medical Malpractice Litigation and Health Care Quality, Mercyhurst University, 2013 – Present
A primer for young lawyers on the fundamentals of Civil Litigation practice in Pennsylvania, Speaker/Presenter, Civil Litigation 101, Erie County Bar Association, Erie County Bar Association, 2015
A consumer's guide to car insurance and personal injury claims., Co-Author, The Ultimate Guide to Car Accident Cases in Pennsylvania: A Roadmap to Justice, 2010
A discussion of the downward adjustment in value of shares in a closely held corporation reflecting the risks associated with a minority position., Author, The Problem of the Minority Discount, Business Magazine, 2002
A CLE approved seminar sponsored by the Erie County Bar Association on the subject of Underinsured and Uninsured Claims Practice, Speaker/Moderator, Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Claims Practice Seminar, Erie County Bar Association, 2007
A CLE approved seminar sponsored by the Erie County Bar Association on the subject of trial skills and tactics., Speaker, Trial Tactics: Making the Most of What 'Ya Got, Erie County Bar Association, 2008
A CLE approved seminar sponsored by the Erie County Bar Association on the subject of Automobile Law., Speaker, Auto Law Update, Erie County Bar Association, 2009
Mercyhurst University, Public Health Law and Policy Class, "Medical Malpractice and the Adversarial System", Guest Lecturer, 2012
CLE Approved Seminar on Pennsylvania Tort Reform Legislation, Moderator, Joint and Several Liability in Pennsylvania, 2011
A CLE approved course for newly admitted Erie County Bar Association Members, Speaker, Civil Litigation 101, 2012
A CLE approved seminar for attorneys and physicians offering a critical analysis of Pennsylvania's proposed apology law which would change the rules of evidence in medical malpractice and nursing home negligence cases. , Speaker, Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word, 2012
A CLE approved seminar for first year members of the Erie County Bar Association, Speaker, Civil Litigation 101, 2011

Other Outstanding Achievements:

Judge of Elections, Erie County, 5th Ward, 20th District
Tau Kappa Epsilon

Industry Groups:

2020 - 2021
President
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers

Contact Eric

All the below fields are required