Weitz & Luxenberg is pleased to welcome EricaRae Garcia to our Drug and Medical Device Litigation practice group. Since graduating from law school, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Dayton Law Review, she has dedicated herself to helping people harmed by defective devices and products, including JUUL e-cigarettes.
“œI'm thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work for Weitz & Luxenberg,” Ms. Garcia says. “œI've known about the firm's reputation for years. Most importantly, their values align with mine.”
“œThey are absolutely passionate about helping people. That's what drives them every day, and I feel the same way,” Ms. Garcia adds.
Give Underrepresented People a Voice
“œMy work in Ohio was rewarding, but I knew I wanted to return to New York, since I grew up in this area,” Ms. Garcia explains. “œI was also drawn to Weitz & Luxenberg's diversity and the diverse clients we help.”
“œI speak both English and Spanish,” she points out. “œI really hope I can help people who might have a hard time understanding or being understood because of a language barrier. I want to make sure everyone who needs help can be given a voice. I particularly feel for underrepresented groups of people who may not be able to communicate their stories well or understand the legal process.”
Gaining Client Trust Is Key
“œWhen reaching out to a client for the first time, I want to establish trust. I want them to know I'm completely on their side and assure them we have their best interests in mind,” Ms. Garcia discloses. “œOur clients may initially not have a lot of trust in the legal system because of the systems or people they have dealt with before and we will always do our very best to help them through the legal process,” she adds.
Help Our Clients from Beginning to End
“œIn the work I have done before, I helped our clients from start to finish and everything in between. Weitz & Luxenberg is the same way. We are there for our clients from the beginning. Litigations generally take time to reach a settlement or go to trial, but I will be with our clients every step of the way,” Ms. Garcia emphasizes. “œAnd I will do everything in my power to maximize their recovery.”
Prior Legal Experience
Before joining W&L, Ms. Garcia served as an associate attorney at a civil litigation law firm in Ohio working on defective drug and device cases such as hernia mesh and JUUL e-cigarettes. She worked on various multidistrict litigations (MDLs) throughout all phases of the litigation process ““ from intake to settlement. Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Garcia served as a law clerk at the same firm where she handled legal research assignments, managed and responded to discovery requests, and helped prepare for depositions of clients and expert witnesses.
Ms. Garcia also held an earlier position as an extern at an immigration law firm in Ohio working on visa petitions and naturalization applications, meeting with clients and assisting with language barriers, researching complex immigration issues, and drafting legal documents for appeals and removal proceedings.
Outside the Office
Outside the office, you can find Ms. Garcia spending time with her dog, running, or cooking. She also enjoys yoga and following college basketball.