Eric Fleetham

Director and Assistant Professor of Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research

Appellate Advocacy Civil Litigation Commercial Law Environmental Law Insurance Law Legal Analysis Legal Research Litigation Moot Court & Advocacy Oral Advocacy Property Law Sales Law Toxic Torts Trial Advocacy

Professor E.C. Fleetham serves as Director of Legal Analysis, Writing and Research at Ave Maria School of Law, where he teaches legal writing, advocacy, and commercial law. A former litigation partner with extensive experience in environmental, insurance, and commercial disputes, he is widely recognized for his leadership in legal education, advocacy training, and trial competition coaching.

Phone: (239) 687-5363
Office: Administration Building

Education

  • MASTER OF ARTS (Interdisciplinary Studies) ~ Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, 2013 Summa cum laude
  • JURIS DOCTOR ~ The University of Toledo College of Law, 1994 Magna cum laude ~ Order of the Coif ~ Managing Editor, University of Toledo Law Review Phi Kappa Phi ~ American Jurisprudence Class Awards in Civil Procedure; Litigation & Practice; Family Law; Legal Research & Writing; Real Property; and Torts
  • BACHELOR OF ARTS ~ Political Science and History ~ Hillsdale College, 1991 Summa cum laude ~ Debate Team

 

Professional Experience

Ave Maria School of Law Naples, FL Assistant Professor of Legal Analysis, Writing and Research:  2009 – Present

Director of Legal Analysis, Writing and Research: 2018 – Present

Assistant Director of Legal Analysis, Writing and Research: 2015 – 2018

  • Classes Taught: Research, Writing, and Advocacy I-III (2009 – 2019) and Legal Analysis, Writing and Research II-III (2019 – Present); Sales (spring 2013, fall 2013, spring 2014); Commercial Law (spring 2017, spring 2018, spring 2020)
  • Moot Court: Chester Bedell Mock Trial Coach; AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition coach; National Baseball Arbitration Coach; New York City Bar National Moot Court Competition Co-Coach; Judge for several internal trial and appellate competitions
  • Law Review: Faculty adviser to law review students

Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI

  • Adjunct Professor in paralegal program:  2007 – 2009
  • Classes:  Legal Research and Writing; Advanced Litigation

Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP Grand Rapids, MI Associate:  1994 – 2000 Partner: 2001 – 2006

  • Litigated multi-million dollar environmental and insurance cases
  • Responsible for lawsuits (trial and appellate levels) involving commercial disputes, asbestos claims, and insurance coverage claims
  • Trained summer clerks on how to conduct legal research
  • Mentored and trained law students and junior attorneys in multiple areas
  • Member of firm’s library committee

Honors & Professional Affiliations

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • State Bar of Michigan

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Covenant Church of Naples (2015 – Present): Youth Leader and Youth Ministry Team
  • Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs (2013 – 2018): Volunteer for Youth Theater Performances
  • Beacon’s Sports Outreach (2016 – 2019): Flag Football Coach

Courses Taught

Research, Writing, and Advocacy I-III (2009 – 2019)

Legal Analysis, Writing and Research II-III (2019 – Present)

Sales (spring 2013, fall 2013, spring 2014)

Commercial Law (spring 2017, spring 2018, spring 2020)

Publications

  • Another Trip Around Article 2 Remedies: Why The U.C.C. Precludes Sellers from Recovering Market Price Damages in Excess of Resale Damages, 20 Ave Maria Law Review 1966 (Spring 2022).
  • Treat it Like Book Research:  A New Approach to Teaching 1Ls Lexis and Westlaw, 30 The Second Draft 30 (Spring 2017).
  • Asbestos Litigation Cries Out for Legislative Reform, Business Update, July 2006
  • Medical Criteria Has Become the Focus of Asbestos Litigation Reform, West Michigan Environet, May 2006
  • EPA Issues Asbestos Project Plan, West Michigan Environet, January 2006
  • Asbestos Bill Needs to Catch Fire, Business Direct Weekly, June 10, 2004
  • Preserving Our Rights, Business Direct Weekly, June 19, 2003
  • Asbestos Lawsuits Now Target Property Owners, Grand Rapids Business Journal, April 28, 2003
  • Asbestos Litigation Finds a New Target and is Quickly Becoming a Target Itself, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee News, Spring 2003
  • Lee v. Weisman: Psychological Coercion Offends the Traditional Notion of Coercion Under the Establishment Clause, University of Toledo Law Review, Spring 1993

PRESENTATIONS

  • Teaching Legal Research: So Much to Cover, So Little Time, Southeastern Legal Writing Conference, January 23, 2016
  • Teaching Legal Writing: But My Undergraduate Professor Told Me I Was a Great Writer! Helping Students Make the Transition to Legal Writing, 2014 Legal Writing Institute Biennial Conference, June 30, 2014 (Co-Presenter)
  • Teaching Legal Analysis: Warren the Whining 1L: A First-Day CREAC Exercise, 2013 Southeast Regional Legal Writing Conference, April 27, 2013 (Co-Presenter)
  • How to Reap the Benefits of the First Summer Job for the Rest of Your Career, Legal Writing Institute Workshop, December 7, 2012 (Co-Presenter)
  • Asbestos Litigation Just Won’t Go Away, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, April 24, 2006
  • Testimony before Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee on asbestos litigation legislation, March 28, 2006
  • Aggressively Pursuing Fraudulent Conveyances, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, June 16, 2005
  • Legal Issues On Indoor Air Quality, Certified Indoor Environmentalist Course, 2004-2005
  • Silica Litigation: The Next Big Wave of Toxic Tort Suits? Michigan Chamber of Commerce, May 5, 2004
  • Asbestos Litigation Takes An Ominous Turn, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, April 22, 2003
  • Asbestos Litigation Takes An Ominous Turn, ABA Environmental Litigation Committee National Conference, January 18, 2003
  • Y2K: A Bump In The Road, Information Technology Management Association, July 7, 1999