Eric J. Purchase

Eric John Purchase visit superlawyers.com Attorney Eric J. Purchase represents people and families suffering from injury or the death of a loved one. He was born and raised in Erie County, Pennsylvania. He is a 1988 graduate of Gannon University. In 1991, he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating with honors. While at the University of Pittsburgh, Mr. Purchase served as a member and editor of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. In recognition of his class standing upon graduation, Mr. Purchase was inducted into the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Order of the Coif. Before opening his Pennsylvania personal injury practice, Mr. Purchase was a trial lawyer with one of Erie's largest law firms where he was both an equity partner and practice group chairman. His practice then consisted primarily of representing the region's largest insurance companies and employers in trials and arbitrations. His cases included personal injury and wrongful death claims, contract disputes, insurance coverage disputes, insurance bad faith claims, medical malpractice claims and shareholder rights disputes. Mr. Purchase has represented clients all over Pennsylvania, the United States and overseas, including cases and clients in Singapore, Denmark, the Netherlands, Brazil and Canada. In 2006, Mr. Purchase founded his own law practice and has devoted himself to representing people and families, primarily in their cases against the larger insurance companies and corporations in the region. Today, that practice is successfully representing clients in auto accident, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases.* Mr. Purchase has taught and lectured to other lawyers and insurance adjustors on subjects including trial tactics, Pennsylvania auto insurance, car accident law and other injury law subjects. His lectures include Supreme Court approved Continuing Legal Education seminars as well as private seminars for claims professionals. Mr. Purchase and his team have the knowledge, experience and resources to handle nearly all types of trials, from the most basic to the most complex. If you've been injured as a result of someone else's carelessness call today at (814) 580-5017. * Mr. Purchase also represents local businesses and business people in commercial litigation cases, including contract litigation, shareholder/partner disputes and other business disputes. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Eric J. Purchase included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Business of the Year Award, Kearsarge Volunteer Fire Department, 2001 - Present Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2013 Other Sources of Feedback About Eric J. Purchase Included on the 2026Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2017 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2016 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2015 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2014 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list 2013 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list

• MacDonald Illig Jones & Britton, LLP, Partner and Practice Group Chairman, 1991 - 2006
• Eric J. Purchase, Attorney at Law, Sole Practitioner, 2006 - 2010
• References
• W. Patrick Delaney, Esq.
• Michael Bishop, C.F.A.
• Daniel Sloppy, C.P.A.
• Thomas Spagel

• Auto Law Update, Erie County Bar Association, 2009 - Present
• Joint and Several Liability, Erie County Bar Association, 2011 - Present
• Guest Lecturer, Medical Malpractice Litigation and Health Care Quality, Mercyhurst University, 2013 - Present
• Guest Lecturer: Lawyers, Litigation and Settlement, Mercyhurst University, 2013 - Present
• Apologies in the Medical Malpractice Context, Erie County Bar Association, 2012 - Present
• Guest Lecturer: Medical Malpractice and the Adversarial System, Mercyhurst University, 2012 - Present
• Civil Litigation for First Year Lawyers, Erie County Bar Association, 2011 - Present
• Pennsylvania Tort Reform: Joint and Several Liability, Erie County Bar Association, 2011 - Present
• Inside Secrets of ERISA: A Third Party Administrator Pulls Back the Curtain, Erie County Bar Association, 2011 - Present
• Effective Use of Depositions at Trial, Erie County Bar Association, 2008 - Present
• Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Claims Practice, Erie County Bar Association, 2007 - Present
• Bad Faith Insurance Claims and Trial Tactics
• Emotional Distress Claims
• Premises Liability, Slip and Fall Update
• First Party Benefits Update

• In Re: Estate of Miller
• Citation: 18 A.3d 1163
• Court: Superior Court
• Year: 2011
• Fedorko Properties v. Millcreek, et al.
• Citation: 755 A.2d 118
• Court: Commonwealth Court
• Year: 1999
• Kerth v. Hamot Health Foundation, et al.
• Citation: 989 F. Supp. 691
• Court: U.S. District Court
• Year: 1997
• Ancillary Businesses
• Judge of Elections, Erie County, 5th Ward, 20th District

• Volunteer Lawyer, Northwestern Legal Services
• Representative Clients
• General McLane School District

• Pennsylvania, 1991
• U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 1991
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1997
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1998

• Pennsylvania Association for Justice, 1992 - Present (Board of Governors - President's Club)
• Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2011 - Present (House of Delegates Political Action Committee Member)
• Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, 2012 - Present (Life Fellow)
• Erie County Bar Association, 2012 - Present (Board of Trustees)
• Erie County Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, 2007 - 2008 (Chairman)
• Erie County Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, 2012 - 2013 (Chairman)
• Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, 2012 - Present (Board of Governors)
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Tau Kappa Epsilon