Erick VanDorn is co-chair of the Tort Practice Group, Managing Partner of the Southern Illinois office, and a member of the Management Committee.
For more than 25 years, Erick has defended clients in toxic tort, product liability, and railroad litigation in some of the most difficult jurisdictions in the country. His clients include agriculture and construction equipment manufacturers, automobile and power sports equipment manufacturers, health care product manufacturers, and railroads.
Erick has served as lead partner in thousands of toxic tort and railroad cases and helped pioneer defense strategies that have empowered companies to break out of a taxing pattern of expensive litigation, including strategies to extricate clients from perceived plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions in Southern Illinois, St. Louis, Chicago, and across the country.
Erick is a member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel’s Executive Committee.
experience
- Representing manufacturers of automobiles, power sports equipment, agricultural equipment, construction equipment, and printing equipment in toxic tort litigation throughout the US
- Representing Class 1 railroads in FELA, crossing accident, and derailment litigation throughout the Midwest
- Obtained favorable appellate court decisions for railroads and other manufacturers on issues of personal jurisdiction, forum non conveniens, and statutory claims, including affirmance by the US Supreme Court on summary judgment for a railroad client
- Illinois Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- St. Clair County Bar Association
- East St. Louis Bar Association
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2025, for Railroad Law, Personal Injury Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation
I am the father of three amazing daughters. I would not describe myself as a runner, yet recently I ran a marathon in Vancouver with one of my daughters. In my spare time, I enjoy reading books and listening to podcasts about physics, philosophy, and meditation. I am a huge University of Illinois athletics and Pittsburgh Steelers fan.