Attorneys

Rick is a partner and chair of the Civil Litigation practice group in Wiedner & McAuliffe’s Chicago office. He is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

A seasoned litigator, Rick has a successful history defending clients in high-stakes, high-profile litigation. He has played a key role in a new trend of lawsuits seeking to impose industry-wide liability on companies, specifically in the handgun industry, the welding industry and pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. He also has deep experience with medical malpractice, long term care liability and transportation litigation including trucking and aviation.

Rick is rated as an AV Preeminent lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer since 2013. He has also been recognized as a Leading Lawyer.  He speaks frequently at professional and business associations about industry-wide and business litigation.

Rick is a member of the St. Jude League and recipient of Certificate of Appreciation from the United Negro College Fund for contributions to that organization. He is proud of the time he dedicated to coaching young men in little league baseball, basketball and football. Active with Metropolitan Family Services, Rick served on the host committee for the 2018 Legal Aid luncheon.

Education

• J.D., DePaul University College of Law, 1977
• B.A., Western Michigan University, 1974

Admissions

• Illinois
• Michigan
• Missouri
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (including Trial Bar) Education

• American Bar Association (Member of Litigation, Insurance, Negligence, and Compensation Law sections)
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel

• Rick prevailed in a multi-million dollar class action suit in Federal Court entitled Walsh Chiropractic, Ltd., Individually and on Behalf of Others Similarly Situated vs. Stratacare, Inc., Case no. 09-CV-1061-MJR, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 103998. 
• City of Chicago and County of Cook vs. Beretta U.S.A., Corp., et al., 213 Ill.2d 351, 821 N.E.2d 1099 (2004): Rick secured a significant legal victory for firearms manufacturer when the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the Circuit Court’s dismissal of claims brought by the City and County against firearms manufacturers, distributors, and dealers. The City and County were seeking compensation for law enforcement and medical expenditures allegedly incurred as the result of gun violence.
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People vs. Acusport Corporation, et al., 271 F.Supp.2d 435 (E.D.N.Y. 2003): Rick prevailed in a two-month jury trial conducted in Federal District Court in New York, absolving his clients of liability for gun violence.
• Brown v. Lincoln Electric, et al., 2004 WL 1179454: Plaintiff claimed neurological injuries resulting from exposure to welding fumes. Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed suit after discovery.