E. Merritt Lentz

E. Merritt Lentz is a life-long Philadelphia trial lawyer. He pursues only the most serious cases involving catastrophic birth injuries, medical negligence, corporate malfeasance, dram shop liability, dangerous and defective products, hazardous premises, and construction accidents.

Birth Injury Malpractice – Merritt fights for children who have suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a form of brain injury caused by the restricted flow of oxygenated blood to the baby’s brain during labor. He pursues cases involving needless birth trauma caused by improper delivery technique, or by the negligent use of medical devices such as vacuums and forceps. These preventable hypoxic and traumatically caused brain injuries unfortunately progress to cerebral palsy of varying degrees, dooming young victims (and parents) to lifelong pain and suffering, substantial medical care and supervision, and drastic reduction of employment earnings.

Taking on the PERS Industry – The “PERS” Industry (personal emergency response systems) makes bold claims through advertising and marketing that they will monitor elderly loved ones who wish to live independently at home. The PERS Industry promises to provide the “peace of mind” that help and assistance can be summoned immediately in the event of a medical issue, fall, or emergency. However, these PERS providers often fail to deliver on their promises of safety, and are more concerned with collecting periodic subscription fees and generating profits.

Workplace Injuries – Industrial workplace accidents caused by defective equipment, dangerous construction site practices, and malfunctioning tools are devastating blows to the victims and their families. Merritt has substantial experience pursuing accidents involving crush and amputation injuries, heavy equipment back-over incidents, as well as cases involving defective machinery and malfunctioning tools.

Notable case examples include:

• $183,000,000 Medical Malpractice Jury Verdict
  Birth Injuries Resulting in Acute HIE and Cerebral Palsy
  (Largest-Ever Medical Malpractice Verdict in Pennsylvania)
• $13,000,000 Medical Malpractice Jury Verdict
  Birth Injury Resulting in Acute HIE / Trauma
  (8^th Largest Medical Malpractice Verdict in the Northeast in 2022)
• $4,750,000 Dram Shop / Drunk Driving Liability Resulting in Wrongful Death
• $3,750,000 Product Liability Resulting in Eye Injury from Defective Tool (Nailgun)
• $3,500,000 Corporate Negligence Resulting in Wrongful Death
• $2,750,000 Product Liability Resulting in Wrongful Death (PERS Consumer Product)
• $2,000,000 Premises Liability Resulting in Worker Impalement
• $1,800,000 Premises Defect, Fall from Industrial Ladder
• $1,000,000 Medical Malpractice, Failure to Diagnose Heart Attack

AWARDS, HONORS, PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Repeated selection by the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers since 2008
• Member of National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40”
• Member of National Trial Lawyers “Top 100 Attorneys”
• Repeated selection to join Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums
• Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association
• Pennsylvania Association of Justice

EDUCATION

University of Baltimore School of Law, 2002, J.D., magna cum laude
Heuisler Honor Society (Top 7% of Class)
University of Baltimore Law Forum, Associate Editor
Randolph-Macon College, 1999, B.A., Economics & Business

BAR ADMISSIONS

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
State of New Jersey
U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Admitted pro hac vice in state or federal jurisdictions: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Puerto Rico