E. Merritt Lentz

Merritt is a Philadelphia trial lawyer devoted to litigating only the most serious personal injury cases. These cases involve catastrophic injury or death caused by medical negligence, corporate malfeasance, dram shop (bar/tavern) liability, dangerous and defective products, hazardous premises, and construction accidents. As an experienced birth injury litigator, 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, as well as cases involving needless birth trauma caused by vacuums and forceps. The hypoxic or traumatic brain injuries suffered by these children unfortunately progress to Cerebral Palsy of varying degrees, requiring lifelong medical care and supervision, and reduction of employment capacity and earnings. Merritt also has substantial experience litigating industrial accidents resulting in crush and amputation injuries, as well as cases involving workers injured by defective tools and equipment. Notable case examples include:

$13,000,000 Medical Malpractice, Birth Injury due to HIE / Trauma

$4,750,000 Dram Shop / Drunk Driving Liability Resulting in Wrongful Death

$3,750,000 Product Liability Resulting in Eye Injury from Defective Tool

$3,500,000 Corporate Negligence Resulting in Wrongful Death

$2,750,000 Product Liability Resulting in Wrongful Death (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

Merritt has received repeated selection by the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers since 2008, and was a member of the National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40”, and later the “Top 100 Attorneys.” Given his track record, Merritt has received invitations to join the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums. He maintains membership in the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Justice.

EDUCATION

Merritt obtained his law degree magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He is a member of The Heuisler Honor Society, having graduated in the Top 7% of his class. While in law school, Merritt served as an associate editor for the University of Baltimore Law Forum, a legal journal dedicated to developments in Maryland law. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in business and economics from Randolph-Macon College in 1999.

BAR ADMISSIONS

Merritt is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, and the District of New Jersey. He has been admitted pro hac vice in the state or federal courts of the following jurisdictions: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Puerto Rico.