Eric Weslander represents clients both in and out of the courtroom, helping them grow their businesses, handle lawsuits, resolve disputes when possible, and mitigate risk.
A former newspaper/TV/online reporter, Eric enjoys digging through records and looking for significant facts, then using those to build a case and tell his client's story in writing and in the courtroom.
He is a go-to resource for media entities with experience regarding reputational/privacy tort claims, and handles a variety of property damage/personal injury claims with specialized expertise relating to utilities.
In addition, Eric has both defended and prosecuted numerous cases related to employment law, restrictive covenants, non-solicit agreements, and loan agreements. He has represented both lenders and creditors in lender-liability claims, and has helped clients recover investments after being victimized by fraudulent business schemes.
Eric works to foster mutual understanding between journalists and courts/attorneys as the chair of the Kansas Bar Association's Media/Bar Committee, and is co-author of an annual survey on Kansas privacy law.
He is a past co-chair and program planning chair for the annual Kansas City "Media and the Law" seminar, and is a member of the Executive Committee for the Judge Hugh Means American Inn of Court.
When he is not practicing law, Eric often can be found swimming, watching basketball, playing piano and stringed instruments, and spending time with his family (wife and two grown children plus pets).
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Kansas Bar, 2010
- United States District Court for the District of Kansas, 2010
- Missouri Bar, 2011
- United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 2013
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, 2018
EDUCATION
Washburn University School of Law, J.D. 2010, Magna Cum Laude
- Comments Editor, Washburn Law Journal
University of Kansas, B.S., 1999, Journalism
- Graduated with Highest Distinction
- Reporter, Campus Editor and Sports Editor for The University Daily Kansan, 1996-1999
- Intramural swimming team championship, 1999
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
Co-author, "Kansas Anti-SLAPP Cases," September 2024, (presented at Kansas Bar Association Media-Bar Committee "lunch & learn" for members of KS judiciary).
"Bloodstains on White Marble Steps: Media Coverage of the Brown v. Board Decision" (moderator), Kansas Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 2024.
Moderator, Free-Speech/Free-Press CLE, Hon. David J. Waxse Memorial Lecture Series, June 2024, presented by KS First Amendment Foundation and Federal Bar Association for District of Kansas and Western District of Missouri.
Kansas Media-Privacy Survey and Employment-Privacy Survey, published by Media Law Resource Center ("MLRC"), co-author, 2018-present
"Discovery Order Leads to 8,000 New Pages of Documents in FOIA Lawsuit," MLRC MediaLaw Letter, November 2023. Note: this article summarizes a ruling in a FOIA lawsuit that allowed our clients (the plaintiffs in a wrongful death action) to find and obtain copies of 8,000-plus pages of hospital survey materials that, for several years, we had been told did not exist.
"Recognizing and Understanding Logical Fallacies is a Vital Skill for Lawyers," Journal of the KS Bar Association, November/December 2023 issue.
Co-author, "Anatomy of a Kansas Criminal Case" journalists' resource slideshow, published through KS Bar Association Media-Bar Committee, July 2023.
"If you Can't Say Something Nice, Say it on the Internet," Presentation to Judge Hugh Means American Inn of Court, February 2023.
"The First Amendment and the Banning of Books" (moderator), presented in connection with Federal Bar Association chapter for District of Kansas and Western District of Missouri and Kansas First Amendment Foundation, July 2022.
Remembering the "Annie on my Mind' Litigation, video, July 2022, published by Federal Bar Association chapter for District of Kansas and Western District of Missouri, July 2022
"The First Amendment and Federal Courts," Webinar (moderator), July 2021, Federal Bar Association.
"Student Protests and Social Media," Law Day Presentation, May 2019, Washburn University School of Law program on "Free Speech Free Press Free Society."
"The First Amendment SLAPPS Back: An Overview of the Free-Speech Protections of Kansas' New Anti-SLAPP Statute," Journal of the KS Bar Association, January 2018
“Safe(r) Communications in the Age of Transparency,” Power Engineering Magazine, August 2016
"Expert Discovery in CERCLA Cases: What You Need to Know about the Effect of the 2020 Amendments to Rule 26," Superfund & Natural Resources Damages Litigation Committee of the ABA, November 2014
"The Path to Success-- Successor Liability, That Is," ABA TIPS Section newsletter, 2012.
AFFILIATIONS, ACTIVITIES AND HONORS
- President, Judge Hugh Means Inn of Court (2023-2025)
- Media Law Resource Center
- “Media and the Law” Seminar Planning Committee Past Co-chair
- Kansas Press Association Award of Excellence, 2005
- First place, Hearst Foundation national spot-news writing competition, and second place, National Print Championship, 1997-1998