Erik P. Raines

Education

State University of New York at Binghamton, B.A., 2001

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D., 2004: Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law, Managing Editor

Bar Admissions

American Bar Association

The Florida Bar

Hillsborough County Bar Association

New York State Bar Association

Court Admissions

All Florida State Courts

United States District Court, Middle District of Florida

All New York State Courts

United States District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York

Experience

• Served as lead trial counsel on a trial team that prevailed in securing a complete defense verdict on behalf of a utility company owner client following a one week bench trial in the face of a total claim in excess of $8,000,000.00, exclusive of claimed attorneys' fees. 
• Defending a national homebuilder in a multi-party construction defect litigation against a homeowner’s association involving over $13million in claimed damages across 34 townhome buildings containing over 200 units.
• Prosecuting multi-story apartment building owner's design and defect claims against project's designer and contractor regarding wide-scale defects in the construction of a 400+ unit project. 
• Defending a general contractor against a beachfront hotel owner's $10M dollar claims regarding alleged defects in the project's electrical, HVAC, roof, interior buildout, and building envelope systems, and pursuing the general contractor's opposing seven-figure nonpayment breach of contract and lien foreclosure claims. 
• Representing utilities contractor in bid protest matter resulting in public entity's rejection of low bidder and rebidding of $19.5 million project. 
• Defending a national homebuilder in a construction defect litigation against a condominium association involving over 35 multi-family condominium buildings.
• Defending developer-related entities and individuals in a multi-million dollar condominium conversion construction defect case involving over 240 condominium units.
• Representing owner-developer of 225+ unit luxury apartment high-rise project in multiple claims against the project's designer involving structural engineering defects and delay claims. 
• Defending a publicly traded supplier on a multi-million dollar defect and delay claim relating to the expansion of a County's water treatment facilities. 
• Defending the owner of a multi-million dollar 266 unit luxury hotel in a construction defect lawsuit brought by a condominium association. 
• Representing the country’s 7th largest school district in construction disputes and transactional matters.
• Representing multiple general contractor clients in contract drafting and negotiations, and in construction litigation matters involving nonpayment, defects, and delays on both commercial and residential projects. 
• Representing wide range of subcontractor clients including electrical, mechanical, painting, concrete, glass/glazing, steel fabrication, architectural pre-cast, framing, and drywall trades, in all type of transactional matters and litigation involving lien and bond claims, construction defects, and delays.  
• Representing several sureties on various bond litigation matters including payment and performance bond claims.

Community & Professional

• Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator
• Leadership Tampa, Class of 2019
• Palma Ceia Little League: Board Member
• First Tee of Tampa Bay - Advisory Board
  • Governance Board
  • Chair – 2021-2022
  • Vice Chair – 2020-2021
  • Chair, Annual Giving Campaign – 2019-2020

• American Bar Association
  • Forum on the Construction Industry
    • Membership Committee 
      • Social Media Subcommittee
    • Special Programs and Education Committee
      • Distance Learning Subcommittee
      • Liaison to Division 12
    • Division 12 (Owners & Project Finance) Steering Committee (2015-present)
• Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • Construction Law Section
    • Co-Chair (2014-2016)
    • Membership Co-Chair (2012-2014)
• Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. - Florida Gulf Coast Chapter
  • NexGen Leadership Class of 2016
  • NexGen Leadership - Selection Committee for Class of 2017 

• Hakes v. Orlando’s Auto Specialists, Inc.
  77 So.3d 196 (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition 2011 WL 6793974 5D10-2375
  District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District. December 20, 2011
• Layne Heavy Civil, Inc. v. Carter & Verplanck, Inc.
  Case Nol 16-80609-CIV-ZLOCH, 2018 WL 6303691 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 31, 2018) (obtaining ruling granting client’s motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s
  claims)
• Developers Surety and Indemnity Co. v. Italian Cast Stone, Inc.,
  No. 8:16-cv-3491T-24-TGW, 2017 WL 3113469 (M.D. Fla. May 5, 2017) (granting client’s motion to quash service of process).
• SRE Culinary Equipment and Supplies, LLC v. School District of Hillsborough County
  Case No. 8:17-cv-2819-T-24JSS, 2018 WL 3068069 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 9, 2018) (obtaining ruling in client’s favor on contested motion for
  attorney’s fees after prevailing on client’s motion to dismiss)