Rich represents national and international companies in high-stakes litigation. He handles complex environmental litigation involving air and water quality, as well as class action, toxic tort, product liability, business and employment matters. He has also served as counsel and close adviser to clients in heavy equipment and machinery, aviation, arms and automotive sectors.
He has defended product liability cases involving industrial chemicals, construction equipment, heavy truck engines, friction products, industrial machinery and power generators. He also has defended toxic tort cases involving asbestos and other industrial products in the automotive, heavy truck and cement products industries.
Rich has done pro bono and community work, including speaking to parents and high school students across Massachusetts about social host laws. For that work, he received the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Excellence in Pro Bono Award.
Before becoming an attorney, Rich worked in management consulting for companies including Accenture and Oracle. He led teams in planning, executing and managing enterprise-wide initiatives. His consulting experience gives him invaluable insight into the business objectives of his clients shapes his representation of them, and helps him counsel them through ongoing challenges and risk management.
Representative Matters
Obtained summary judgment for client against a municipality’s claim that trace amounts of industrial chemicals were volatilizing from building products in a school building constructed in 1970. The judgment was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Represented a retailer in a 15-day wrongful death jury trial to verdict, after the estate of a decedent who was killed by an out-of-control driver sued the company for failure to provide protective barriers between parking spaces and pedestrian walkways. (Mass. Super. Ct., Hampden Cty.)
Won a defense verdict for a heavy equipment manufacturer in a jury trial against allegations that one of the company’s excavators had a blind spot, causing an accident that resulted in the loss of the plaintiff’s leg. (D. Mass.)
Defeated class certification of a potential $4 billion class of Massachusetts school districts claiming that trace amounts of industrial chemicals were volatilizing from building products in school buildings. The case was subsequently dismissed, after three years of extensive litigation. (D. Mass.)
Defeated certification of a putative class of Worcester County, Massachusetts, jail inmates who had been shot with a “less-than-lethal” crowd control weapon manufactured by client. The plaintiffs later dismissed the case on the eve of trial.
Defeated certification of a putative worldwide class of marine engine owners in a $50 million breach of warranty action. A federal court in Michigan later dismissed the case and assessed costs against the named plaintiff.
Secured dismissal of all claims filed against an electric car manufacturer by the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association in a bid to prohibit direct sales of vehicles to consumers in the state. (Mass.)
Publications
SJC Rules ‘But-For’ Causation Applies In Most Negligence Cases, Mass Bar Association, August 2021