A Partner in Hahn Loeser’s Litigation Area, Eric B. Levasseur is a commercial litigator and trial attorney who represents clients in business disputes around the country.  A trusted advisor and creative advocate, Eric designs strategies that guide his clients from the pre-litigation planning stage through trial and the highest levels of appeal.  In twenty years in practice, Eric has earned a reputation for cutting to the core of disputes to deliver a successful result, whether inside or outside the courtroom.

In addition to his client representation, Eric serves as the Firm’s General Counsel, entrusted to advise management and lawyers on loss prevention and claims-related matters.

In the Litigation Area, Eric represents companies and individuals in state and federal trial and appellate courts, with extensive mediation and arbitration experience. He represents clients across various industries facing time-sensitive injunctive relief disputes to multiple-week trials. He is experienced in pre-litigation claim strategy and avoidance, complex contract and business disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, business tort and negligence claims, fraud, conspiracy and defamation claims and non-compete and employment agreements. Eric also handles trade secrets, product liability actions, fiduciary and estate litigation, real estate litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, and judgment execution and recovery. His breadth of experience has contributed to an in-depth knowledge of insurance coverage and recovery disputes.

As a member of the firm’s Construction Team, Eric represents industry clients in construction disputes and AAA arbitrations. Eric has worked with clients at every stage of the construction process, helping them to avoid litigation, minimize and allocate risk and resolve disputes as early as possible.  He has handled defective design, installation and material claims, delay claims, payment/change order disputes and public bid disputes. Well-versed in all aspects of construction litigation and insurance matters, Eric has extensive experience with mechanic’s liens, payment and performance bond claims, and insurance recovery for both public and private projects.

In addition to business disputes, Eric has also represented clients in significant wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury actions.

Eric has also counseled franchisors in more than 40 disputes involving franchise termination, trademark infringement, enforcement of non-competition covenants and defense of vicarious liability claims.

Since starting his practice at Hahn Loeser in 2001, Eric has served  in a variety of leadership roles in the Firm, including as Deputy General Counsel, Chair of the Recruiting Committee and as the Firm’s Director of Legal Personnel Relations.

Eric has received numerous accolades through his career. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and maintains an AV-Preeminent rating through Martindale-Hubbell. He has also been recognized by Chambers USA and Ohio Super Lawyers as a Rising Star. He is actively engaged in the community, serves on the board of numerous non-profit institutions, and volunteers his time as a youth sports coach.

Accolades

Lead defense trial counsel in state court jury trial defending entertainment industry client against civil theft and related claims. Following multiple-week trial, matter successfully settled during jury deliberations

Lead trial counsel in multiple-day federal court bench trial in dispute alleging fraudulent transfer of assets and related claims. Successfully obtained judgment on complex fraudulent transfer claims

Longstanding representation of premier Cleveland non-profit institution in high-profile land use dispute involving numerous stakeholders. Successfully obtained summary judgment in trial court. Lead counsel responsible for subsequent briefing and oral argument before both intermediate appellate court and Supreme Court of Ohio

Defended a national franchisor of children’s entertainment facilities in high-stakes, catastrophic personal injury action alleging damages in excess of $30 million and involving over 50 defendants. Matter successfully resolved prior to trial

Lead trial counsel in federal action on behalf of a client alleging claims against competitor and former employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other business torts. Achieved favorable verdict and damage award, which was subsequently affirmed on appeal

Defended national title and escrow company in a series of related actions stemming from the provision of escrow services for a $650 million condominium project in Maui, Hawaii, and seeking damages in excess of $23 million. Obtained dismissal of certain actions and resolved others prior to trial

Defended national title and escrow company in a series of complex, consolidated actions related to a $30 million condominium infrastructure project, and seeking damages in excess of $6 million. Matter successfully resolved prior to trial

Defended national title and escrow company against escrow liability claims. Achieved favorable early dismissal and briefed/argued subsequent related appellate proceedings in Ninth Circuit and Hawaii Supreme Court, affirming dismissal

Represented former director and chief executive officer of publicly traded corporation in action alleging claims by and against former employer, including shareholder derivative claims. Matter resolved prior to trial including complete resolution of executive compensation matters

Represented an estate and related investment entities in multi-forum litigation alleging securities fraud and non-registration claims in connection with investments in certain oil and gas securities. Following nearly two-week federal jury trial, achieved multi-million judgment, and successfully defended on appeal to 6th Circuit

Defended global agribusiness in defense of trade secret misappropriation and related tort claims.  Matter successfully resolved prior to trial

Represented trustees and estate beneficiaries in wide range of trust, estate and will contest actions

Represented group of private investors in dispute related to oil and gas securities. Achieved complete return of equity investment on behalf of investors

Represented a Fortune 100 company in a number of jurisdictions across the Midwest and East Coast in numerous construction-related disputes in both litigation and arbitration

Served as counsel to design-build contractor in dispute relating to state-of-the-art cellulosic ethanol pretreatment facility. Following two-and-a-half week arbitration hearing, obtained award in excess of $7.5 Million

Served as counsel to nation’s largest producer of ethanol and other biorefined products in multimillion-dollar dispute relating to a $60 million contract for the design and construction of a material-handling system for a solid waste fuel boiler

Represented a leading Northeast Ohio manufacturing company in a dispute regarding installation and warranty of a synthetic roofing system for a large portion of its Texas distribution facility. Claims successfully resolved prior to commencement of litigation

Served as trial counsel to a national residential developer in a dispute concerning concrete placement in a series of driveways in high-end development. Successfully defended contractor’s claims and obtained verdict for full amount of counterclaim

Represented a national design/build contractor in a dispute relating to design and installation of terrazzo flooring for 60,000-square-foot federal government medical facility. Matter successfully resolved prior to trial

Lead arbitration counsel on behalf of national design/build contractor in significant change order dispute

Longstanding representation of national material supplier enforcing payment rights and resolving disputes related to dozens of private and commercial projects

• Eric Levasseur Speaks at CWRU School of Law Commencement
  May 17, 2022
• Eric B. Levasseur Elected President of the Case Western Reserve School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors
  October 17, 2019
• Eric Levasseur Nominated to Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation Board of Directors
  June 06, 2019
• 5 Hahn Loeser Practice Areas and 12 Attorneys Ranked in 2013 Edition of Chambers USA
  June 19, 2013
• 4 Hahn Loeser Practice Areas and 10 Attorneys Ranked in 2012 Edition of Chambers USA
  March 07, 2012
• Fifteen Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP Attorneys Named Ohio Rising Stars in 2011
  January 25, 2011
• Juan D. Bendeck and Eric B. Levasseur Join Partnership at Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP
  January 25, 2011

• Author

  Managing Project Risk in Uncertain Times (Properties Magazine)

  December 16, 2022
• Speaker

  Recent Industry Trends and Subcontractor Risk Management from Contract to Completion

  March 27, 2022
• Speaker

  Inside the Minds of General Counsel

  February 03, 2020
• Speaker

  Anatomy of a Jury Trial: Witness Examinations

  May 01, 2019
• Author

  Smooth Subpoenaing: Ohio Joins the Majority of States by Adopting the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act

  November 18, 2016
• Author

  Looking Ahead: Significant Changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

  November 01, 2015
• Speaker

  Recent Decision Highlights Competing Approaches to Social Media Discovery

  March 05, 2015
• Author

  Ohio Supreme Court Holds That Defective Workmanship Claims Do Not Trigger Coverage Under a Contractor’s Commercial General Liability Policy

  December 14, 2012