EDUCATION
- St. Cecilia Grade School- Independence, KY
- Worked on family farm from age 8
- Covington Latin High School- Covington, KY
- Graduated Age 15 (1979)
- Played basketball, baseball and soccer
- Sophomore Speech Award
- Spent the summer of 1977 on school bike and train trip through Germany, France,
Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland and Italy - Worked on family farm
- Thomas More University- Crestview Hills, KY
- Graduated Age 19 (1983)
- History, BA
- Business Administration, AA
- Alpha Delta Gamma Fraternity- Social Director
- Law Clerk Co-Op Dinsmore & Shohl
- Worked on family farm
- Salmon P. Chase Law School- Northern Kentucky University
- Graduated Age 21 (1986)
- Juris Doctorate
- Law Clerked at Deters Benzinger & LaVelle, P.S.C. during law school
- Worked at Covington Trust Bank
- Worked on family farm
- Northern Kentucky University
- After law school, took accounting classes
PRIOR LEGAL CAREER
- Eric’s legal profile on the national law website martindale.com was once the #1 viewed law profile in the country at times out of 1.4 million lawyers.
- Cincinnati’s City Beat magazine traditionally ranks everything in the city. 25,000 voters chose Eric as the #1 lawyer in the city. He also was proudly voted the biggest “troublemaker.”
- Given the nickname “Courtroom Bulldog” by Chuck Martin, Cincinnati Enquirer January 2, 2008
- In 1993, finished second to Ben Chandler as Outstanding Kentucky Young Lawyer by the KBA (Ben was elected to Attorney General)
- Eric estimates he has tried over 200 jury trials and prepared 50 more for others. He’s handled nearly every type of legal matter.
- A Kentucky jury tracking service reported Eric tried more cases in Northern Kentucky than any lawyer.
- Eric handled cases in over half the states in the country.
- Eric may have been the only lawyer in the tristate area who tried criminal, civil, civil rights, medical malpractice and personal injury cases in state and federal court in Kentucky and Ohio.
- Client Distinction Award Martindale-Hubbell
- 2013 Largest Plaintiffs-Based Law Firm in the Tri-State (21 Lawyers)
- 1987 Licensed Kentucky/Lawyer Age 22 (Seeking Reinstatement)
- 1988 Licensed Ohio (Retired)
- 1989 Licensed Florida (Retired)
- Eastern District of Kentucky
- Western District of Kentucky
- Southern District of Ohio
- Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Equity Partner- Deters, Benzinger & LaVelle, P.S.C.
- Founded Eric C. Deters & Associates, P.S.C. (1998)
- National Exposure
- Teacher, Nicole Howell, falsely accused of sex with a student appeared with Eric on Bill O’Reilly. She was found not guilty by a jury.
- Ben-Gal Cheerleader, Sarah Jones, sued thedirty.com appeared on Dr. Phil, Anderson Cooper, and 20/20. Eric appeared on Geraldo. Nancy Grace refused to debate Eric Deters regarding this case.
- Sarah Brady, an attempted murder victim with her unborn baby, appeared on Oprah, Snapped, and countless other shows.
- Advocates Club- Kentucky League of Justice
- Former Attorney – Independence Fire District (1987)
- Former Attorney – Piner Fire Department (1993)
- Former Attorney- City of Fairview (Since 1987)
- Former Member – Kentucky Bar Association (1987)
- Former Member – Ohio Bar Association (1988)
- Former Member – Florida Bar Association (1989)
- Former Member – Northern Kentucky Bar Association (1987)
- Salmon P. Chase Law School – Alumni Club
- Thomas More College Mock Trial Coach (1988-1989)
- Simon Kenton High School Mock Trial Coach (1990)
- Northern Kentucky Bar Association – Pro Bono (1987-1988)
- Simon Kenton High School Law Day Speaker (1989-1991)
- Law Day Speaker- Calvary Christian
- Law Day Speaker- Kenton Elementary
- Law Day Speaker- St. Henry’s
- Law Day Speaker- Dixie Heights
- Guest Speaker on Negotiations- Northern Kentucky University
- Past member- Kentucky Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Past member- American Bar Association
- Moot Court Judge – Salmon P. Chase College of Law (1992)
- Northern Kentucky Bar Association Past Membership
- Cincinnati Bar Association Past Membership
- Ohio Justice Association Past Membership
- Performed countless hours and handled countless legal matters for free, including free immediate advice by phone, text and email
CURRENT LAW CAREER DETERS LAW
Retired Ohio- 2013
Retired Kentucky- 2021
- Office Manager
- Litigation Consultant
- Spokesperson
- Victims’ Advocate
- Marketing Manager
- Eric has gone to jail for the Durrani case clients for contempt by protesting the failure of the Ohio Justice System to provide trials and speaks out against injustice when and where no one else can or will.
- Finances the Dr. Durrani case litigation
- Prepares the Dr. Durrani cases for trial
- Financially assists clients and friends facing eviction, foreclosure, utility interruption and debt collection
AUTHORED BOOKS
- “Butcher of Pakistan”- a true story about a medical terrorist, corporate healthcare greed and a corrupt legal system. Released June 14, 2022.
- “Saving Grace”- a story about the attempted murder and extraction of a baby from a pregnant woman. Eric’s client appeared on Oprah. (Pat Crowley- Co-Author)
- “Pioneer Spirit”- the incredible true story of a Kentucky high school in Independence dealing with a natural gas explosion which destroyed their school and killed a student and despite this, won a boy’s state high school basketball championship 1980-1981.
- “Willie: Radio’s Great American”
- “Seth” (in final edit)- a true story of Eric’s brother who lives with cerebral palsy
- “Armed with a Righteous Cause”(still in draft)- Eric’s story intertwined with legal matters he’s handled and how they relate to injustice in the United States.
TV/RADIO/PODCAST
- Bulldog Show
- Host and Producer
- Bulldog Reports
- Bulldog Media
- 700 WLW- 4 years as evening/weekend host and back up to two times Marconi Award winner Bill Cunningham
- Realtalk 1160- doubled ratings twice as morning drive host
- ClassX Radio- morning drive rock talk
- Selected for Host “Bad Blood” a CMT Production, which did not make it to production
- Combine his legal career with Eric’s education, life, business, and political experience and no one in the country can match Eric behind the microphone.
- The listeners receive original and insightful commentary.
- Eric appeals to an audience of blue-collar conservatives, while also appealing to the white collar conservatives. He also appeals to libertarians, independents and “outlaws.”
- He incorporates the following into his podcast:
- The Bulldog Nation- his fans
- Bulldog Mafia- his closest fans
- The American Jury- his audience
- Radio Superbity- his show.
- Witty & Wise- what he expects from Bulldog Nation
- Oracle Status- bestowed upon “doers of good”
- Jackwagon- someone who deserves scorn
- Three Pillars of America- God, Constitution, Capitalism.
** All of the above have been trademarked.
PAST POLITICAL CAREER
- Current Republican Candidate for Governor of Kentucky
- Chairman, Northern Kentucky for Trump for 2016 Primary
- Cincinnati Area Spokesperson for Trump in General Election 2016
- 1988 Northern Kentucky Chairman George Herbert Walker Bush
- 1988-1992 Kenton County Republican Party Chairman (Age 24)
- 1990-1992 Fourth Congressional District Chairman (Age 26)
- 1990-1992 State Republican Executive Committee
- October 6, 2000- Pete Rose Rally for Deters for County Attorney
- Stand Up for America Rally October 13, 2008 Fountain Square
- Chairman – Clyde Middleton, Republican for Kenton County Judge Executive – 1989
- Chairman – Dick Roeding, Republican for Kentucky State Senate (24th District)
- Fourth District Chairman – Larry Forgy, Republican for Kentucky Governor – 1991
- State Chairman – Gene Goss, Republican for Kentucky Lt. Governor – 1991
- Manager – Jed Deters for Kenton District Judge – 1991
- Manager – Floyd Poore, Democratic Candidate, 4th Congressional District of Kentucky, 1992
- Eric maintained very active roles in countless political campaigns past and present, Democrat, Republican and non-partisan.)
- Chairman Don Bell, Congressional Candidate
- Campaign Manager, Bob Rademacher, Kenton County Judge Executive
- Candidate for Kenton County Attorney
- Spoke at Northern Kentucky Tea Party Event April 16, 2010
- Spoke at Highland County, Ohio Political Event
- 1988-1991 State Republican Central Committee
- Began a campaign for the southern part of Kenton County to secede from the northern part in the famous Kenton County jail battle
- Member of Transition Team for Clyde Middleton – Judge Executive, Administration (Analysis of Kenton County Police Department)
- Guest Appearance on Sue Wylie Show – WLEX/Lexington – “Your Government”- March 1992
- Led the charge against the corrupt Linda Tally Smith, Boone County Commonwealth Attorney
- Supported Fanon Rucker against Joe “Otis” Deters
- Eric has met the following:
- Donald J. Trump
- Ronald Reagan
- George H.W. Bush
- Barbara Bush
- George W. Bush
- Laura Bush
- Senator Mitch McConnell
- Senator Rand Paul
- Elaine Chow
- Congressman Thomas Massie
- Former South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell
- Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole
- Former U.S. Senator Wendell Ford
- Former U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy
- Former Kentucky Governor Louie Nunn
- Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin
- Former Kentucky Governor Happy Chandler
- Former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones
- Former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown
- Former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins
- Former Kentucky Governor Bert Combs
- Former Kentucky Governor Wallace Wilkinson
- Former Kentucky Governor Paul Patton
- Hillary Clinton
- Lee Atwater
- Former New Hampshire Governor Sununu
- Ryan Zinke, Montana
- Herschel Walker, Georgia
- Ted Cruz, Texas
- Kelly Tshibaka, Alaska
- Mike Gibbons, Ohio
- Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
- Ronny Jackson, Texas
- John McLaughlin, Pollster
- Roger Stone
- Pam Bondi, Florida
- Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
- Rick Grenell, NSA
- Kim Guilfoyle
- Corey Lewandowski
- Many other national and state public office holders and candidates
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
- 15% Shareholder The Deters Company
- Wendy’s Franchises
- Convenience Stores
- Snappy Tomato Pizza Company
- Real Estate/Other Business
- The Independence Towne Center was Eric’s vision and plan. He led its development including the zone change and the gifting of acreage to the City of Independence for their new city building, fire house, senior center and park.
- Secretary, Treasurer and General Counsel until 1998. He owned 15% of Deters Company and 2% of Snappy from the outset. Until 2013, he served on both Boards, listening, participating and contributing.
- Handling legal work for decades, including acquisition and successful zoning and site approvals of Wendy’s and convenience store locations.
- The acquisition idea and execution of acquiring of Snappy Tomato Pizza and constant involvement in the early growth of the company.
- The acquisition idea, the concept and execution of acquiring of Independence Towne Center. Eric C. Deters also handled the zoning and site approval and the gifting to Independence land for a city hall, police station, fire station, senior center and public park.
- Up until 1998, handling Snappy corporate and franchise work.
- Up until 1998, Eric C. Deters handled contracts and litigation of Deters Company, Snappy and Independence Towne Center.
- (In 2021, this was resolved in litigation and Eric left Deters Company and Snappy Tomato Pizza.)
- Owner Bulldog Media
- Bulldogs Grease Away
- Active Public Stock Investor
- Owner/Operator- Bulldog Roadhouse (closed)
- 1988 – Founder/Owner/Director – Corporate Record Center, Inc. (This was the first business record storage company in Northern Kentucky
- Business and Real Estate Investor
- Former licensed realtor and owner/operator of C.B. Deters Reality
- Certification H&R Block Tax Preparer
- Crimson Ground Services
- Crimson Builders
- Crimson Ironworks
- 911 Restoration
COMMUNITY
- Fought an official MMA cage fight against a police officer 12 years his junior to benefit Disabled Veterans. Over 5,000 attended at the Dearborn County Fairgrounds.
- 2010 Voted one of the Most Interesting People in Cincinnati By Cincy Magazine
- Represented for free, the Independence community in a battle for the location of the Kenton County Jail
- Donated legal services to The Boone County PeeWee Football League and the Southern Kenton County Lions
- Taught CCD St. Cecilia Church- 2 Years
- Attempted to Organize Million Energy User March on Washington 2008
- Protect the Flag Organization- Organized largest 1990 Flag Day event in the country. Lee Greenwood Concert receiving USA Today national press. To raise funds to support the constitutional amendment to protect the American Flag from burning.
- Organizer – TRUST – Tri-State Rally for U.S. Troops (February 4, 1991)
- Organizer – Barbara Bush – “Meals on Wheels” – event to benefit Northern Kentucky Senior Citizens – 1988
- From 1990 – 1993, Eric spearheaded or assisted the following projects for the Southern Kenton County Business Association:
- Fought to keep the Kenton County School Board Central office in the Independence community.
- Fought to keep the Kenton County Agriculture Extension Service in the Independence Community.
- Helped save a $450,000 water grant for the community
- Helped protect the right of property owners to build a single-family home on one acre as opposed to five acres as proposed by the Kenton County Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Helped change the law requiring representation of rural communities to local zoning boards.
- Helped draw attention to the need for more sewer lines to Southern Kenton County.
- Fought for the improvement of rural road system
- Northern Kentucky Community Center Board:
- Generally active and supportive of all Board projects
- Co-Chairman 1992 Jazz Concert at Drawbridge Motor Inn (Fundraiser)
- Independence Fire District- Handled Annexation of City and Merger of Fire Department and District (1991)
- Kenton County YMCA
- 1988 Sustaining Drive Chairman
- 1993 Major Gifts Chairman
- 4-H Member as Child
- Past supporter of 4-H Sale of Champions at Kenton County Fair
- Former Class Agent – Class of 1983 – Thomas More College
- Former Class Agent – Class of 1979 – Covington Latin High School
- Past Sponsor of the BenGals
- Donation Simon Kenton Mascot
- Donation Simon Kenton Scorers Table
- Donation St. Cecilia Basketball Uniforms
- Altar Boy
- Church Lecturer
- Worked for years at the St. Cecilia Church Festival
- Sponsor of School Games and Recreational Teams
- Public Address Announcer
- Past Member – Independence Business Association (1988)
- Past Member – Walton Business Association (1992)
- Founder – Southern Kenton County Business Association (Founded 1990)
- Past Member – Boone County Business Association (1992)
- Past Member – Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (1986)
- Past President – Northern Kentucky Goodwill Board (1992-1993. Board Member in 1990). The Northern Kentucky Goodwill Board operated low income apartments for the handicapped, trained disabled workers and provided retail sales of clothing and general department items for low income people.
- Past Member – Northern Kentucky Community Center Board (1990). The Northern Kentucky Community Center Board provided day care, emergency housing, and numerous other programs for the disadvantaged, particularly the inner-city poor of Kenton County.
- Past Member – Northern Kentucky Community Center Ways & Means Committee (1991)
- Past Member – Friends of Covington (1992)
- Past Member – Commercial Bar Association (1992)
- Past Member – Transportation Attorneys (1991)
- Past Member – Kentucky League of Sportsmen (1992)
- Past Member – National Rifle Association (1992)
- Past Member – Northern Kentucky Right-to-Life (1991)
- Past Member – National Arbor Day Association (1991)
- Past Member – National Taxpayers Union (1992)
- Past Member – Kentucky Farm Bureau (1990)
- Past Member – Kentucky Collectors Association (1991)
- Past Member – American Collectors Association (1991)
- Past Member – Municipal Attorneys Association (1991)
- Past Member – Common Cause
- Past Member – National Wildlife Federation
- Annual Speaker- Simon Kenton High School – Political Science Class (1988)
- Annual Speaker- Dixie Heights High School – Political Science Class (1988)
- Annual Speaker – Piner Elementary Career Day (1990)
- Annual Speaker – Visalia Elementary Career Day (1990)
- Host/Producer – Focus on Southern Kenton County (Boone/Kenton Cable Television)
- Adult Continuing Education Kenton County Schools – Moderator of People Law Class and Lecture – “Politics and the American Electoral Process”
- Past Member – Local Governmental Affairs Existing Business and Membership Committees of Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (1987 & 1989)
- Past Board Member/Treasurer – Kenton County YMCA Board (1988-1990)
- National Conference of Christians & Jews – 1990 – Co-Chairman – Annual Event
- Founder- Vice-President, Southern Kenton County Jaycees (1990)
- Past Member – Kenton County/Covington Jaycees (1987)
- Past Member – St. Cecilia Holy Name (1987-1989)
- Past Member – Erlanger Rotary (1987-1988)
- 1992 – Outstanding Young Men of America
- Guest Editorial Writer – Recorder Newspaper
- Sponsor NAACP Annual Event Northern Kentucky
- Kentucky Justice League Past Membership
- National Rifle Association Current Membership
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Past Membership
- Producer/Co-Host Cable Access Show: “The Lawyer & The Preacher”
- Producer/Host Cable Access Show: “Focus on Southern Kenton County”
COMEDY
- Eric sold out the Funny Bone Comedy Club for a stand-up show.
HE BRINGS IT ALL TO THE TABLE
- Farm boy background
- Raised on tobacco/horse/cattle farm – worked on farm until 20 years old. Raised own tobacco crop with his brother, Jed.
- Middle child of eleven children
- Incredible Education
- Vast knowledge of history and politics- constant reading, watching and listening of history
- Vast Media experience
- Vast Political experience
- Vast Legal experience
- Vast Business experience
- Study and practice of martial arts
- Libertarian and conservative views
- Husband, father and grandfather
- Lover of music, movies and books
- Eric has read his massive biography collection
- Student of current events.
- Published a newspaper
- Coached his children’s youth sports for nearly a decade
- Played competitive full contact flag football until he was 44 as a quarterback. (Finished 2nd in Ohio and in Country)
- Played recreational basketball and softball for decades
- Health Nut- lifts weights, runs, walks, swims and bikes. Practices martial arts, eats well and takes more vitamins than most.
- Well-balanced workaholic who lives on naps
- New Hobby- guns and target shooting
- He has had significant life experiences such as a wife dying of cancer, a stepson killed in a car accident and a ten-year battle with the KBA, which have all molded his humanity.
- Eric believes he can relate and connect to people from all walks of life. He likes to point out he’s a “sinner, not a saint.” He’s real. He’s not self-righteous. He abhors snobs and mean people.
DAILY READING AND WATCHING FOR PREPARATION FOR DAILY LIFE
- Wallstreet Journal
- All Major Network News Sites
- All Local Network News Sites
- Fox News
- Fox Business