Ethan is a trial attorney in the Financial Services Litigation group at Troutman Sanders. He has an active practice representing defendants in federal and state consumer litigation, including claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, other federal and state statutes, and common law. Ethan also represents companies and individuals in a variety of commercial matters including patent and other intellectual property litigation, shareholders/partner disputes, construction, real estate, and related complex litigation matters.

Representative Experience
Represents banks, mortgage lending institutions, and loan servicers in federal and state court litigation involving claims of violating the FCRA, FDCPA, RESPA, TILA, and other federal and state laws.

Represents national and community banks in various creditor’s rights litigation and provides advice concerning regulatory compliance with federal and state statutory regions.

Represents businesses and individuals in business torts litigation in federal and state courts.

Represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in residential and commercial construction disputes in state and federal court.

Represents owners, landlords and tenants in commercial lease disputes in state court.

Represents vessel owners and charterers in personal injury claims, cargo claims, charter party disputes, wrongful arrest claims, and confirmation of arbitration awards in federal and state courts.

Recent Cases
Schmidt v. Wells Fargo Home Mortg., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45122 (E.D. Va. April 26, 2011), aff’d 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 22547 (4th Cir. Oct. 31, 2012) (dismissing with prejudice FDCPA, TILA, Virginia Consumer Protection Act, estoppel and fraud claims).

Vera et al. v. Olympia West Mortgage Group LLC et al., CL2011-08325 (Fairfax County Circuit Court, Feb. 3, 2012), aff’d Record No. 120731, Supreme Court of Virginia, Oct. 15, 2012 (dismissing quiet title and declaratory relief claims with prejudice).

Blick v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., et al. , 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41266 (W.D. Va. March 27, 2012), aff’d 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 17150 (4th Cir. Aug. 14, 2012) (dismissing with prejudice claims for improper foreclosure and to quiet title, and claims under FDCPA and FCRA).

Lepelletier v. Fair Oaks Motors, Inc., et al. , 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109363 (E.D. Va. Feb. 24, 2012), aff’d 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 16050 (4th Cir. Aug. 1, 2012) (dismissing FCRA claim with prejudice).

Schmidt v. HSBC Bank USA, N.A. , 83 Va. Cir. 306, 2011 Va. Cir. LEXIS 249 (Circuit Court for the City of Richmond, Virginia, September 1, 2011), aff’d Record No. 120377, Supreme Court of Virginia, June 8, 2012 (dismissing claims to stop non-judicial foreclosure).

Taylor v. First Premier Bank, 841 F. Supp. 2d 931; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8970 (E.D. Va. Jan. 11, 2012) (dismissing FCRA, FDCPA, negligence and defamation claims).

Vera, et al. v. Olympia West Mortg. Group, LLC, et al. , 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156505 (E.D. Va. Oct. 29, 2011) (dismissing TILA claims with prejudice).

Sherman v Litton Loan Servicing, L.P., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 143060 (E.D. Va., Dec. 3, 2011 (denying motion to reconsider and holding subject matter jurisdiction exists over claim under the Home Affordable Modification Program).

Bank of the Commonwealth v. Hudspeth , 282 Va. 216, 714 S.E.2d 566, 2011 Va. LEXIS 189, Supreme Court of Virginia, Sept. 16, 2011 (compelling arbitration of employment claim under federal securities laws).

Sherman v Litton Loan Servicing, L.P., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71756 (E.D. Va., July 1, 2011) (dismissing with prejudice claims under the Home Affordable Modification Program).

Secured Sys. Tech., Inc. v. Frank Lill & Son, Inc. , 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45399 (W.D. N.Y. April 27, 2011) (construction).

Watkins v. Wells Fargo Bank, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20295 (S.D. W. Va. Feb. 28, 2011) (consumer law).

Watkins v. Wells Fargo Home Mortg., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59372 (S.D. W. Va. June 15, 2010) (consumer law).

Hill v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56662 (S.D. W. Va. June 9, 2010) (consumer law).

Mullen v. Cornerstone Inv. Funding, LLC , 2010 LEXIS 64 (Circuit Court Of The City Of Norfolk, Virginia, May 20, 2010) (real estate).

Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. v. Razor USA, LLC , 2010 LEXIS 119954 (E.D. Va. Nov. 5, 2010, (patent infringement).

Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co., KG v. Little Tikes Co. , 680 F. Supp. 2d 757, 2010 LEXIS 4507, (E.D. Va. January 14, 2010) (patent infringement).

Wygal v. Litton Loan Servicing LP, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 73183 (S.D. W. Va. Aug. 18, 2009) (consumer law).

Access2go, Inc. v. Hipage Co., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 121693 (C.D. Ill. Aug. 10, 2009) (business torts).

McCormick v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. , 640 F. Supp. 2d 795, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15406 (S.D.W.V. 2009) (dismissing FDCPA class action).

Maxwell v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94476 (S.D. W. Va. Oct. 9, 2009) (consumer law).

Global Ampersand, LLC v. Crown Eng'g & Constr. , 2009 LEXIS 91009 (E.D. Ca. Sep. 14, 2009) (construction).

Watkins v. Wells Home Mortg. , 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47834 (S.D.W.V. 2008) (predatory lending class action).

Humphrey v. Global Equity Lending, Inc. , 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101784 (E.D. Va., Dec. 17, 2008) (consumer law).

Century Realty of Tidewater v. Nasios, Vasilios, et al , Supreme Court of Virginia, record number 072039 (Aug. 1, 2008) (real estate).

Clark v. Nat’l Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia , 2008 LEXIS 38928 (E.D. Va. May 12, 2008 (maritime).

Norfolk Dredging Co. v. City of Chesapeake , 2007 LEXIS 52673 (E.D. Va. July 20, 2007) (maritime).

Public Service
Member, Executive Committee of the Young Lawyers Division of the Virginia Bar Association (2013-present).

Co-chair of the Disaster Legal Assistance Committee of the Young Lawyers Division of the Virginia Bar Association (2007-Present).

Member, CBDX (Central Business District Association) (2010-Present).

Member, Board of Directors, For Art's Sake, (2007-2010).