B. Eric Nelson was born in Yonkers, New York, on July 7, 1948. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and, after spending four years in the United States Navy, he attended Southwestern University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in June 1980.

Sworn in to practice in December 1980, Mr. Nelson has worked the defense side of the fence for most of his 27 years of practice. His areas of practice have included legal and medical malpractice; insurance bad faith and coverage; products and premises liability; and most recently, five years defending elder abuse cases throughout California. He has both trial and appellate experience.

In addition to being admitted to California State Courts, Mr. Nelson is admitted to the United States District Courts for the Central, Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. During the mid-1990's, Mr. Nelson took some time off from the practice of law and was a Deputy Sheriff with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office in Columbia County Georgia.

Mr. Nelson's work in the Courts of Appeal has resulted in 10 published opinions, 8 in state courts, and 2 from the Ninth Circuit. Some of his notable cases include Wise v. Superior Court (1990) 222 Cal.App.3d 1008 involving the question of whether a wife was liable for her husband's use of weapons kept in their home; Hollywood Refrigeration Sales Co. v. Superior Court (1985) 164 Cal.App.3d 754 involving the application of the Worker's Compensation "exclusive remedy" rule;" Sababin v. Superior Court, (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 81 involving the distinction between elder abuse and medical negligence; and County of Riverside v. Superior Court (2002) 27 Cal.4th 793 involving a peace officer's right to view confidential information prepared in the course of a background investigation.

Mr. Nelson is an avid SCUBA diver and target shooter. He also enjoys motorcycles, sailing, horseback riding, and staging Medieval Sword fights as part of the group "Have Sword Will Travel."