Mr. Taggart is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, where he practices in litigation and alternative dispute resolution.  He handles matters involving business and commercial law, civil rights, employee benefits/ERISA, employment law, indoor air quality, intellectual property, products liability, toxic tort and other complex disputes in state and federal court.

In addition to being a seasoned trial and appellate lawyer, Mr. Taggart is a trained mediator, who has assisted parties in resolving disputes involving a variety of issues, from personal injury to business matters.

Career highlights include:

• ERISA/Employee Benefits: Designed and implemented a comprehensive subrogation and reimbursement program for a self-insured, multi-employer, union sponsored benefits Plan, resulting in recoveries of over $3 million
• Civil Rights: Prosecuted a prison conditions class action involving over 3000 plaintiffs, resulting in a consent decree administered over a period of ten years in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
• Pro Bono/Tenants’ Rights: Represented tenants in landlord tenant disputes in Columbus, including a matter that resulted in a significant monetary settlement for the tenant for exposure to toxic mold
• Pro Bono/Non-Profit Organizations: Served as legal counsel to the League of Women Voters of Ohio and The League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund on employment and organizational issues
• Commercial Litigation: Won summary judgment on all counts in a $25 million lawsuit involving UCC Article 2 and fraud claims, in state and federal trial and appellate courts in Ohio and Kentucky
• Toxic Tort: Defended manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, employers, property owners and other defendants in all phases of federal and state court complex toxic tort litigation of asbestos, silica, and agent orange claims in state and federal court in Ohio, including multiple jury trials
• Medical Devices: Served on the National Trial Teams for two Fortune 100 defendants in federal and state court silicone implant litigation throughout the United States

Mr. Taggart received his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School,  his M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, and his A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy and with Distinction in All Subjects from Cornell University.

Publications

• “Advocating, Negotiating and Counseling,” Inside the Minds, Alternative Dispute Resolution Client Strategies, 2007 (Aspatore Books)
  
  
•  “Mold: An Old Contaminant Creates New Concerns for Homeowners,” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, April, 2007

Professional and Community Activities

• League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, Member of the Year, 2008
• Columbus Bar Fellow, 2007-present
• Habitat for Humanity, Partners Council, 2004-present
• Southern Poverty Law Center, Leadership Council, 1994-present
• Ohio Attorney General’s Transition Team, 2006-2007
• Cornell Alumni Association of Central Ohio, Board of Trustees, 1991-2004
• Cornell Alumni Federation, North Central Region Director, 2001-2003
• Cornell Alumni Association of Central Ohio, President, 1994-2000
• Judicial Panelist and Case Committee member, Ohio Mock Trial program, Ohio Center for Law Related Education, 1994-1999
• League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, Democracy in Action Committee, 1997-1998
• Franklin County Smoking Variance and Advisory Board, 1994