Business Litigation

Erich V. Vieth:
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Erich Vieth is a life-long resident of St. Louis who graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1981. Prior to attending law school, he majored in Philosophy and Psychology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Most of Erich’s practice of law has been in the area of civil litigation. Currently, his focus is representing consumers who have suffered damages as a result of unfair acts and practices committed by unscrupulous businesses. Many of these cases have been filed and litigated as class actions. Cases are currently pending against payday lenders, title lenders, debt adjustors and other businesses offering financial services, as well as numerous other types of consumer fraud. On numerous occasions, Erich has argued complex dispositive motions and appeals before federal and state trial and appellate courts.

From 1986 – 1990, Erich served as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri and investigated and litigated civil and criminal consumer and commercial fraud cases. His favorite part of that job was designing and prosecuting sting operations to catch businesses that preyed on consumers. His other areas of concentration as an AAG included prosecuting fraud in the areas of automobile sales and repairs, health care, telemarketing, diploma mills, deceptive pricing, and charity fraud.

Publications:

• Whence Public Policy,” Journal of the Missouri Bar, July-Aug. 1996 (co-authored with James P. Lemonds).

• Establishing Damages in Cases Involving the Death of a Minor,” The Missouri Trial Attorney, Spring 2005 (co-authored with James P. Lemonds).

• “Pharmaceutical Litigation: The Plaintiff’s Overview,” Spring, 2005, St. Louis Bar Journal (co-authored with John Simon).

• “Challenging Arbitration Provisions in Consumer Cases,” The Missouri Trial Attorney, Summer 2007 (co-authored with John Campbell and Alicia Campbell).

Speaking Engagements:

• “The Psychology of Persuasion,” June 20, 2006, 2006 Annual Trial Practice Seminar, St. Louis, Missouri.

• “Drafting the Complaint and Answer,” September 8, 2007, Mortgage Lending Litigation Conference sponsored by the National Association of Consumer Attorneys.

• “Use of Experts to Certify Class Actions,” October 27, 2008, Class Action Symposium, Consumer Rights Litigation Conference, Portland, Oregon. Sponsored by the National Consumer Law Center.

• Served as discussion co-leader for the Ethics and Professionalism Program held at Saint Louis University School of Law on March 18, 2009. 

Associations, Licenses, Miscellaneous:

• Martindale-Hubbell Rating: AV

• Licenses and Admissions: States of Missouri and Illinois; Federal District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri and the Southern District of Illinois; Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; and the United States Supreme Court. Volunteer, Life Crises Services (Suicide Counseling) 1977-1978.

• Resides in the City of St. Louis. Married to Anne Jay; 2 daughters, age 8 and 10.

• Hobbies: Studying and writing in the area of cognitive science, performing and recording digital music, bicycling, drawing, digital photography.