William D. Kloss Jr.

Bill is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office where he has a broad national litigation practice and leads litigation for Vorys eControl.  Bill’s eControl practice focuses on escalated enforcement tactics and litigation designed to remove the most challenging unauthorized sellers that are hurting brands’ online sales.  He has a history of handling complex litigation cases involving unauthorized online sales, Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) violators, counterfeit sales, products liability, fiduciary disputes and consumer protection.

Bill has more than 30 years of experience litigating complex commercial cases, products liability, franchise litigation, fiduciary disputes, consumer protection and catastrophic personal injury, both defense and plaintiff.  Bill defends numerous drug and medical device manufacturers in litigation involving prescription drugs and medical devices and alleged injuries related to them.  Bill also has an active fiduciary practice involving trust and estate disputes.  Bill has briefed and argued numerous cases in Ohio Appellate Courts and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Career highlights include:

• Participation in a significant number of jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations around the country and throughout Ohio, including several that exceeded 20 trial days
• Successfully defended a consumer class action arising from alleged predatory lending practices
• Successfully represented a Fortune 500 company in class action and shareholder derivative suits arising from a significant stock price drop.
• Currently serving as Liaison counsel in multidistrict litigation (MDL) relating to hernia mesh
• Successfully represented a Trustee in litigation involving significant family disputes over a large family trust with substantial real and personal assets
• Successfully represented several oil and gas producers on energy disputes, including those involving leases
• Successfully defended a consumer action alleging fraud and violation of various consumer protection statutes arising from the sale of several automobiles.  A defense verdict was rendered and significant sanctions were imposed against plaintiffs and their counsel
• Successfully represented a franchisee in a dispute arising from a violation of the Ohio Business Opportunity Act.  A summary judgment was entered in favor of the franchisee
• Filed numerous successful motions to dismiss on behalf of various product manufacturers on claims abrogated by the Ohio Product Liability Act
• Successfully represented a shareholder in a business divorce that resulted in a mandate from the Court of Appeals ordering that the business be dissolved

Bill has spoken on general trial practice matters, including effective trial techniques, cross-examination of medical experts and the use of electronic demonstrative evidence in the courtroom.

Bill is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association.

Bill received his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati, where he was a member of the University of Cincinnati Law Review and the Order of the Coif.  He received his B.S. from Miami University.

Honors & Recognitions

Columbus CEO, Best Lawyers, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions, 2022

Columbus CEO, Best Lawyers, Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2022

Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2013, 2015-2016

Ohio Super Lawyers, General Litigation, 2004-2019

The Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2003-2025

Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated

Professional & Community Activities

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2017 to present