Mr. Porritt was born in Pontiac, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University (B.A. in Business Pre-law, with honor, 1976) and was an Evans Scholar. He attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School (J.D., 1981)
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He was first admitted to the bar in 1982. Mr. Porritt is a member of The State Bars of Ohio, Michigan and Texas. He is also admitted to the U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio and the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.
Mr. Porritt's concentration has been in transportation with an emphasis on trucking claims, product liability, auto liability, cargo claims, dram shop, premises liability, general liability and insurance coverage litigation. He has tried over 50 cases in both Ohio and Michigan to jury verdict, including numerous wrongful death and catastophic injury claims of high potential exposure.
He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, Toledo Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, State Bar of Michigan Negligence Section, Oakland County Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, The Transportation Lawyer's Association and The Defense Research Institute-Trucking Section.
Mr. Porritt has successfully tried over 50 jury trials to verdict on third party cases, including four wrongful death cases, primarily in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb counties and in Toledo, Ohio. He has consistently obtained verdicts less than case evaluation and mediation proposals, including the last offer of settlement, even in matters with clear, admitted liability. His jury verdicts include defending numerous catastrophic trucking and shuttle bus injury claims, both first and third party cases on behalf of Penske Logistics, Penske Truck Leasing, L.P., SYGMA-Network, Inc., Sysco Corporation, Budget Rent A Car Systems, Inc., and others.
In addition to trials, Mr. Porritt has defended and settled literally thousands of cases which required the analysis and evaluation of numerous liability issues and damage claims.
Mr. Porritt has served as the Statutory Registered Agent for Empire Fire and Marine Insurance Company (owned by Zurich Insurance Company) for the State of Ohio.
Mr. Porritt also has experience in bad faith litigation in Ohio, professional malpractice, common law and contractual indemnity, municipal law, governmental immunity and FOIA.