Robert E. Tait
Mr. Tait is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the litigation practice. He has completed over 100 jury trials and served as lead counsel in numerous toxic tort class actions, specifically radiation and chemical exposures. He has also been involved in employer intentional tort and products liability. Mr. Tait has briefed and argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and has argued before the United States Supreme Court.
Career highlights include:
- Obtaining a defense verdict in $62 million products liability case, the longest civil trial in Hamilton County (Cincinnati) Ohio history
- Arguing before the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Miller v. Goodyear Atomic Corp., 48 U.S. 174 (1988)
- Serving as lead counsel and successfully defending $10 billion class action in federal court in Kentucky
- Trying cases in multiple jurisdictions, including 53 counties in Ohio
Mr. Tait is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, and the Department of Energy Contractor Counsel Association.
Mr. Tait is a frequent speaker on workers’ compensation, trial practice and professionalism.
Mr. Tait received his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.A. cum laude from Kenyon College.
Professional and Community Activities
- Defense Research Institute, Board of Directors, 2008-present
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys: President, 2009-2010; President-Elect 2008; Vice-President, Treasurer, 2002-2007; Executive Council, 1991-1994, 2010
- Columbus Country Club, Board of Trustees, 2007-present
- North Hanna Foundation, Trustee, 1996-2005
Honors & Awards
- Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation, 2006-Present
- Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation, 1990-Present
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Civil Litigation Defense, 2004-2010
News
- 54 Vorys Attorneys Recognized as 2010 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys names Tait president
- 70 Vorys Attorneys Recognized as 2009 Ohio Super Lawyers
Publications
- "The Statute of Repose - A 'Two-Edged Sword?'," Declarations (Excess/Surplus Lines Claims Administration Publication), Summer 2008
- “Is It Compensable - An Explanation of the Ohio Worker's Compensation System” (Ohio Manufacturers Association Publication)
- “Scope of Employment after Pillsbury” (Ohio Retail Merchants Publication)
- Client Alert: Vorys Helps Sterling Chemicals, Inc. Win Important Victory in Rail Injury Case