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Practice Areas

  • Civil Litigation
  • Labor & Employment
  • Litigation
  • Premises Liability
  • Real Estate
  • Retail, Restaurants & Hospitality

Admissions

  • Arizona
  • Oregon
  • Washington

Erica M. Deatherage

Partner

Phone: 602.635.6133
Email: emdeatherage@messner.com
Office: Phoenix

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Ms. Erica Deatherage is a Partner in the litigation practice group based out of the firm’s Phoenix office. Erica is an experienced litigator and tenacious advocate specializing in employment, personal injury, premises liability, and general liability defense in Arizona, Oregon and Washington. Erica boasts significant experience in representing clients in a variety of disputes, including personal injury, premises liability, employment, landlord-tenant, dram shop liability, construction defect, homeowners association defense, product liability, medical malpractice, and professional liability claims. She is a trial lawyer and has successfully conducted numerous trials and arbitrations in Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

During law school, Erica was a Student Prosecutor for the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s office where she gained valuable bench and jury trial experience. Prior to attending law school, Erica worked in the financial industry for a Fortune 500 company. Her diverse background has helped her develop the ability to quickly identify the key issues in a case and develop an effective and efficient legal strategy that generates the most optimal outcomes for her clients.

In her free time, Erica enjoys lifting weights, running, and spending time with her family and friends.

  • Arizona Summit Law School, J.D. 2012
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Finance, Certificate of German Language, 2006
  • Arizona State Bar
  • Washington State Bar
  • Oregon State Bar
  • Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
  • Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
  • Obtained arbitration defense verdict in discrimination case brought under Arizona Civil Rights Act where plaintiffs alleged that they were refused service based on their race and gender. The arbitrator agreed that defendant lawfully refused service under the Arizona Civil Rights Act. Maricopa County Superior Court, Arizona, 2021.
  • Obtained partial summary judgment for client resulting in dismissal of plaintiff’s breach of contract claim for failure to pay under the underinsured motorist provision of the policy. The court agreed that the claim was premature and not viable. Lane County Circuit Court, Oregon, 2019.
  • Obtained arbitration defense verdict in slip-and-fall case. The arbitrator agreed that defendant did not have notice of an unreasonably dangerous condition and therefore could not be liable. King County Superior Court, Washington, 2019.
  • Obtained arbitration defense verdict in landlord-tenant mold exposure case where plaintiffs alleged personal injuries from mold exposure in rental. The arbitrator agreed that plaintiffs failed to prove causation of their injuries and returned a defense verdict. Multnomah County Circuit Court, Oregon, 2019.
  • Obtained an arbitration defense verdict on behalf of a client in a car accident involving hotly contested liability. Snohomish County Superior Court, Washington, 2020.
  • Obtained defense verdict in civil bench trial in highly contentious neighbor dispute that resulted in significant attorney award in favor of defendants. King County Superior Court, Washington 2022.
Professional Experience
  • Prior to coming to Messner, Erica worked for a national law firm and multiple well regarded insurance defense law firms in the Portland, Oregon area.

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Messner Reeves LLP
1550 Wewatta St. Suite 710
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 623-1800.