Eric D. Pearson

Partner
eric@hop-law.com

Eric D. Pearson is a 1991 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, ranked number seven among all U.S. law schools by U.S. News & World Report.  Eric focuses his practice on commercial disputes and catastrophic personal injury cases.  He has significant trial experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts.  Eric has had a substantial role in obtaining some of the largest verdicts in North Texas, including a $36 million jury verdict on behalf of a teenager who was seriously injured in a bus crash near Terrell, Texas and an $18 million jury verdict against a Fortune 500™ company involving the distribution of computer hardware in Europe.  Eric also successfully defended an international businessman against a $200 million fraud claim in a case arising from the discovery of one of the world’s largest nickel reserves.  Most recently, he obtained a seven figure jury verdict against an apartment owner and a property management company on behalf of the family of a young girl struck and killed by a car in an apartment parking lot.  Eric also has negotiated numerous multi-million dollar settlements, including more than 20 settlements in excess of $1 million in 2010 alone.

In addition to his trial docket, Eric has also handled numerous appellate matters in state and federal courts throughout the United States.  He has authored dozens of appellate briefs and has participated in more than a dozen appellate oral arguments, including arguments before the Dallas Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court and the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  He argued the appeal in Columbia Medical Center of Las Colinas, Inc. v. Hogue, 271 S.W.3d 238 (Tex. 2009), in which the Texas Supreme Court upheld a gross negligence finding against the defendant hospital in a medical malpractice case and affirmed the jury’s $9 million verdict on behalf of his clients.  More recently, Eric successfully argued the appeal in DiCosolo v. Jannsen, following which the Illinois Court of Appeals affirmed in all respects a $16.5 million judgment the firm obtained for the family of a Chicago woman who died while using a defective Duragesic fentanyl pain patch.

Eric is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been named a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine for nine straight years (2004-2012), was previously named by D Magazine as one of the “Best Lawyers Under 40″ in Dallas and was recently named as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine. He is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest legal and ethical rating available.

Eric lives in Dallas with his wife, Kim.  They have two sons, Ryan and Reed, and a dog named Belle.

Education

Experience

  • Baker Botts
  • Sayles Werbner
  • Heygood, Orr & Pearson

Memberships, Community Involvement & Recognition

Voted by his peers, through the Texas Monthly magazine survey, as one of the “Super Lawyers” in the State of Texas for seven straight years (2004-2010). For more information about what qualifies an attorney to be considered a Super Lawyer, download the “Super Lawyers in a Nutshell” PDF. View Eric’s profile.

  • Named as a Texas Monthly “Rising Star” in 2004.
  • Voted by D Magazine as one of the “Best Lawyers Under 40” in Dallas.
  • AV-rated (the highest legal rating available) for excellence by the leading law firm rating service, Martindale Hubbell.

Licenses & Certifications

  • All Texas State Courts
  • United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Areas of Expertise

Recent Firm News

More Firm News