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Chris Cotter

Shareholder, Practice Group Manager, Product Liability & Transportation

Akron
222 South Main Street
Suite 400
Akron, OH 44308
P: 330.819.1127 330.819.1127
F: 330.376.4577
E: [email protected] | vCard

Cleveland, Lexington, Columbus, Cincinnati

Overview Education Credentials Recognitions Affiliations Insights
Services

Chris helps his clients navigate and solve legal problems. He primarily defends injury and business claims and advises on regulatory and compliance issues.

Chris has the capability to address a wide array of claims and legal issues, including complex commercial motor vehicle accidents, products liability claims, professional liability claims, issues involving unmanned aircraft systems (drones), autonomous vehicles, transportation contract drafting and review, insurance coverage disputes, employer intentional tort claims, regulatory compliance under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, specialty insurance defense, premises liability, passenger claims against airlines, products liability, legal malpractice, claims against real estate agents, claims against insurance agents, Carmack Amendment claims, appeals, Federal Aviation Act compliance, maritime law, construction defects, oil and gas disputes, and real property tax valuation.

His clients are primarily in the following industries: transportation, retail, aviation, oil & gas, energy, manufacturing and distribution, real estate, and emerging technologies.

In addition, Chris serves on Roetzel's Emergency Response Team to immediately address issues that may arise as a result of catastrophic injury events, industrial accidents, fires, and other catastrophes.

Experience

Trial

  • Obtained a jury verdict in favor of the motor carrier and insurance company for the full amount they were seeking in a case arising out of a head-on collision between a sedan and a commercial truck
  • Obtained defense verdict at trial for manufacturing client in an employer intentional tort case
  • Obtained a defense verdict at trial on behalf of a roof shingle manufacturer in defense of product liability claims

 
Arbitration

  • Obtained a decision in favor of my client on a breach of warranty claim arising out of the sale of a commercial motor vehicle
  • Obtained a decision in favor of my client, the seller of a commercial vehicle, in defense of breach of warranty and related claims

 
Dismissal

  • Obtained dismissal of transportation client based on FAAAA preemption and insufficient allegations in the Complaint
  • Obtained dismissal of dating website in a case with CDA Section 230 defense
  • Obtained dismissal of a state entity client based on immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

 
Summary Judgment

  • Obtained summary judgment for a shipper in a case in which its independent motor carrier caused a catastrophic motor vehicle accident
  • Obtained summary judgment for retail client in a case involving a third-party assault on the premises and succeeded on appeal
  • Relying on the Montreal Convention, obtained partial summary judgment for a commercial airline in baggage damage claim
  • Obtained summary judgment for premises owners in many cases over the years using defenses including the open and obvious defense, the no-duty winter rule, self-defense, no actual or constructive notice, and other defenses

 
Rapid Response and Motion Practice

  • Succeeded in protecting a motor carrier's accident investigation materials from disclosure during the discovery phase of a lawsuit by implementing rapid response protocols immediately after the accident

Damages

  • Successfully prevented plaintiffs from obtaining damages for "preimpact fear" in multiple lawsuits

Declaratory Judgment

  • Obtained a declaratory judgment from the court limiting a $250,000 claim to $31,250 based on the correct application of the appropriate insurance policy