Eric R. Tonnsen

Eric tries cases. He primarily defends high-exposure personal injury, construction defect, and wrongful death lawsuits across South Carolina. The cases he handles are usually the difficult ones involving target defendants, punitive exposure, and suggested verdicts in the seven and eight figures. He and his team are often brought in on the eve of trial to assist and try cases that might warrant a fresh perspective or strategy. He is also on-call for emergency response when a catastrophic loss requires boots-on-the-ground immediately. He has taken cases from the scene of the accident through a jury’s verdict. National firms routinely look to him to serve as local counsel on their more challenging cases.

While trial is sometimes necessary, it usually is not. Eric and his team know each of South Carolina’s 46 counties, their citizens, and most of their local lawyers well. Their early evaluations of a case based on the facts, venue, and relationships and knowledge of counsel are accurate and help drive resolution. A reputation for trying cases helps too. Eric regularly gives continuing education and other presentations relating to the litigation and trial of brain injury cases and the nuances of South Carolina bad faith law. He also serves as statewide counsel on coverage and bad faith issues, including Tyger River and time-limited demands as well as other complex insurance coverage questions. He practices from the firm’s Greenville and Charleston offices.

Client Recommendations

When our case in Greenville headed to trial, we needed an experienced attorney who could step in immediately.  From the onset of his retention, Eric Tonnsen demonstrated exceptional professionalism, preparation, and courtroom skill. Despite joining the case on short notice, Eric quickly mastered the facts, developed a clear trial strategy, and represented our insured with confidence and determination.  His ability to “parachute” into a complex civil case on short notice and become intimately familiar with the defense team and all the shifting theories of the case was truly remarkable. Throughout the trial, we felt supported, and confident that he was the right choice for our case.

We are incredibly grateful for the outstanding result and would not hesitate to recommend Eric Tonnsen and Tonnsen Bach Law Firm to anyone seeking a skilled trial attorney who can deliver under pressure.”

– Head of Casualty Claims, New York

We have worked with Tonnsen Bach on multiple defense matters for many years. We trust Mr. Tonnsen with our most complex liability claims. He communicates clearly at every stage of litigation. He provides realistic case evaluations and practical defense strategies. Eric Tonnsen and Wilson Murff will dig into the cases and defend us vigorously and passionately. They are not afraid to try the hard cases and have gotten excellent jury outcomes that are just and right. I trust them completely and highly recommend Eric Tonnsen and Wilson Murff.”

– Senior Litigation Specialist, Springfield, Missouri

Representative Cases

• Defense Verdict in Greenville County Court of Common Pleas – July 2026. Admitted brain injury case involving a 22-year-old plaintiff celebrating his return home from basic training by attending a concert with friends. Plaintiff was struck by a vehicle driven by another concert patron leaving a concert. Lawsuit against the driver was dismissed on the eve of trial and the matter was tried against the concert venue alleging unsafe conditions and lack of security and controls for exiting patrons. Obtained a directed verdict for concert venue after four days of trial.
• Minimal Verdict in Greenville County Court of Common Pleas – September 2025. Plaintiff claimed a traumatic brain injury in an admitted liability accident and requested verdict of $1.1M including several hundred thousand dollars of future treatment and the need for lifelong care. After a weeklong trial, the jury returned a verdict of $37,000.
• Favorable jury trial outcome in Spartanburg County Court of Common Pleas – December 2024. Admitted liability wrongful death case against local construction business. Plaintiff estate sought an actual damages verdict of up to $9M and punitive damages exceeding $1M. Allegations included negligent hiring, training, and several violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The court directed a verdict in favor of the construction business on plaintiff’s claim for negligent training; and the jury awarded actual damages of an amount in line with prior offers, found the business not liable for negligent hiring, and awarded only $1,760 in punitive damages. Representation began the day after the accident and concluded with the jury’s verdict.
• Minimal verdict in Greenville County Court of Common Pleas – May 2019. Week long trial in admitted liability commercial motor vehicle accident case. The plaintiff claimed a traumatic brain injury and permanent disability and sought a $4.5M verdict. The jury awarded the plaintiff $25,000.
• Coordination of emergency response and defense of commercial carrier regarding catastrophic accident – December 2016. Logging truck accident involved the destruction of a business, five personal injury claims including claims of total disability and brain injury, and three separate lawsuits. Claims were defended from the date of the accident through resolution of two lawsuits and the trial of another.
• Defense verdict in Greenville County Court of Common Pleas – June 2012. Week long trial representing Global 500 company in personal injury case involving alleged permanent disability of a police officer. Plaintiff’s counsel requested a verdict in excess of $3M.
• Defense verdict in Anderson County Court of Common Pleas – December 2011. Week long trial involving tractor-trailer accident in which the plaintiff underwent surgeries to her knee and femur and incurred approximately $160,000 in medical bills. Plaintiff’s counsel suggested the jury return a verdict in excess of $1M.

Education & Experience

Eric grew up in Greer, SC, before receiving undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. He was a member of the South Carolina Law Review where his article, Henson v. International Paper Co., A Step Backwards in South Carolina Attractive Nuisance Jurisprudence, 56 S.C. L. Rev. 835 was published and later cited by the South Carolina Supreme Court in Henson v. International Paper Company, 374 S.C. 375 (2007).  After practicing with a large civil defense law firm after law school, he co-founded Tonnsen Bach Law Firm in 2012.  His wife, Erin, graduated from nursing school at the University of South Carolina and his entire family, including children George and Lillian, are long-suffering Gamecock fans.