Brent C. Taggart
Mr. Taggart is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the litigation group. His diverse and varied litigation practice focuses on complex, high stakes disputes, including business and commercial law, civil rights, employee benefits (ERISA), employment law, indoor air quality, personal injury, products liability, and mass torts. He has been involved in multiple jury trials and appeals in Ohio and numerous other states. Mr. Taggart works closely with recognized medical, scientific and technical experts throughout the United States. These include notable experts in aerospace engineering, aircraft maintenance, business valuation, economic loss, economics, engineering, environmental forensics, epidemiology, indoor air quality, industrial history, industrial hygiene, materials science, medicine, microscopy, military aircraft, mineralogy, naval architecture, naval engineering, and underground mining.
Mr. Taggart also advises clients on workplace and product risk assessment, risk management, and compliance with state, federal and international hazardous material regulations. His work in this area includes U.S. regulations such as TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act), and overseas regulations such as REACH, (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical Substances), RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) and GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals). He has established working relationships with a law firm in the European Union and with environmental health and safety consulting firms with a worldwide footprint who can assist clients with their regulatory needs in the EU.
Mr. Taggart is also a trained mediator who, as a neutral, has helped to resolve disputes ranging from personal injury to business matters. He is the firm’s Practice Contact for Alternative Dispute Resolution, and is available as a neutral for private mediations.
Career highlights include:
- Business/Commercial: Won summary judgment for a manufacturing defendant on all counts in a $25 million lawsuit involving UCC Article 2 and fraud claims, litigated in state and federal trial courts in Ohio and Kentucky, upheld by the 8th District Court of Appeals, and twice appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court
- Civil Rights: As appointed counsel, prosecuted a prison conditions class action on behalf of over 3000 plaintiffs, resulting in a consent decree administered over a period of ten years in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- Employment Intentional Tort: Secured summary judgment for defendant employers in more alleged chemical exposure cases than any other attorney in the state of Ohio
- ERISA/Employee Benefits: Designed and implemented a comprehensive subrogation and reimbursement program for a self-insured, union sponsored, multi-employer health and welfare benefits Plan, resulting in Plan recoveries of over $3 million. To date, scored a 100% defense win record in both federal and state court cases asserting claims against union and employer sponsored plans
- Indoor Air Quality: Counseled owners, lessors, lessees, sellers, buyers, and realtors with respect to water intrusion, mold and other indoor air quality issues for both commercial and residential real estate
- Mass Tort: Defended manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, employers, property owners and other defendants in systemic mass tort litigation in state and federal court throughout the United States, with claims including exposure to agent orange, asbestos, benzene, mixed solvents and silica. Designed and implemented a comprehensive national discovery and defense program for a Fortune 500 client in mass tort litigation.
- 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
- 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
- Personal Injury: Defended multiple serious injury cases in state and federal court involving automobile accidents, premises liability, "insufficient security" claims, injuries to contractors, bystander gunshot injuries, and other claims
- Tenants’ Rights: Represented defendant tenants in landlord tenant disputes in Columbus, including matters that resulted in a significant monetary settlements for tenants on counterclaims for health problems and property damage attributable to mold
Professional and Community Activities
- Presiding Judge, Franklin County Board of Elections (Precincts UA 4C & 5A), 2007-present
- Partners Council, Habitat for Humanity, 2004-present
- Leadership Council, Southern Poverty Law Center, 1994-present
- Board of Trustees, Cornell Alumni Association of Central Ohio, 1991-2004
- North Central Region Director, Cornell Alumni Federation, 2001-2003
- President, Cornell Alumni Association of Central Ohio, 1994-2000
- Judicial Panelist and Case Committee Member, Ohio Mock Trial, Ohio Center for Law Related Education, 1994-1999
- Democracy in Action Committee, League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, 1997-1998
- Member at Large, Franklin County Smoking Variance and Advisory Board, 1994
- Member, Columbus Bar Association
- Member, Ohio State Bar Association
Honors & Awards
- AV® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 1999 - present (highest ratings for professional ability and ethical conduct)
- "Top Lawyers," Columbus CEO, 2009-present
- Recognized as "Center of Influence" by 1-137th Assault Helicopter Battalion, Ohio National Guard, 2010
- Certificate of Appreciation, United States Army, Freedom Team Salute, 2009
- Member of the Year, League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, 2008
- Columbus Bar Fellow, 2007-2008
News
Publications
- “Ohio Employees May Use ‘Intentional Tort’ Law to Address Chemical Exposure,” Fine Print, Ohio State Bar Association, Issue 43, Spring, 2010
- "What Business Owners Should Know About Mold and Indoor Air Quality Issues," Legal Basics for Small Business, Ch. 11, pg. 228, Ohio State Bar Association, 2009
- “Advocating, Negotiating and Counseling,” Inside the Minds, Alternative Dispute Resolution Client Strategies, Aspatore Books, 2007
- “Mold: An Old Contaminant Creates New Concerns for Homeowners,” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, April, 2007