As a member of the Tort, Transportation & Specialized Litigation Group, Richard focuses his practice on premises liability, insurance defense, catastrophic events and major claims (hurricane and flood) professional liability and trucking litigation. His hurricane and flood practice includes Hurricane Katrina (MS), Superstorm Sandy (NY and NJ), 2016 Louisiana Floods, Hurricane Irma (FL), Hurricane Harvey (TX), Hurricane Michael (FL), Hurricane Sally (FL), Edenville Dam Failure (MI) and Platt River Flood (NE).
Overview
As a member of the Tort, Transportation & Specialized Litigation Group, Richard focuses his practice on premises liability, insurance defense, catastrophic events and major claims (hurricane and flood) professional liability and trucking litigation. His hurricane and flood practice includes Hurricane Katrina (MS), Superstorm Sandy (NY and NJ), 2016 Louisiana Floods, Hurricane Irma (FL), Hurricane Harvey (TX), Hurricane Michael (FL), Hurricane Sally (FL), Edenville Dam Failure (MI) and Platt River Flood (NE).
Practice Areas
Experience
- Ardean E. Evilsizer v. Beau Rivage Resorts, LLC, No. 2021-CA-01222 (MS App., Jan. 10, 2023) (affirmed MSJ in favor of defendant in alleged negligence case).
- Sharon Spangler v. Beau Rivage Resorts, Inc., No. 16-60849 (5th Circuit, May 26, 2017) (affirmed MSJ in favor of premises owner in a slip and fall case).
- Ruby Hartford v. Beau Rivage Resorts, Inc., 2015 Miss. App. LEXIS 603 (affirmed MSJ in favor of premises owner in trip and fall case).
- Dorothy Browning v. Beau Rivage Resorts, Inc., MSJ granted in favor of premises owner in trip and fall case (2014).
- Betty Octave v. Beau Rivage Resorts, Inc. and ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company, 2011 WL 1099866, USDC granted summary judgment to defendant in case wherein plaintiff claimed to have been struck by elevator door when closing.
- Kelly v. Beau Rivage Resorts Inc., 184 Fed. Appx. 364 (5th Cir. 2006) (affirmed MSJ in favor of premises owner in alleged malicious prosecution claim).
- Nuwer v. Mariner Post Acute Network, 332 F. 3d 310 (5th Cir. 2003) (affirmed MSJ in favor of employer in alleged wrongful termination claim).
- Vu v. Clayton, 765 So. 2d 1253 (Miss. 2000) (landmark case clarifying premises owners duty to independent contractors).
- Rush v. Casino Magic Corp., 744 So. 2d 761 (Miss. 1999) (affirmed MSJ finding casino barge employee not Jones Act seaman).
- Saucier v. Biloxi Regional Medical Center, 708 So. 2d 1351 (Miss. 1998) (affirmed MSJ in favor of premises owner in claim of alleged injury to trespasser).
- Thompson v. Casino Magic Corp., 708 So. 2d 878 (Miss. 1998) (affirmed MSJ finding casino barge employee not Jones Act seaman).
- Cook v. Mardi Gras Casino Corp., 697 So. 2d 378 (Miss. 1997) (affirmed periodic payment method for slots jack pot).
- Kidd v. Mardi Gras Casino, 77, F. 3d 474 (5th Cir. 1995) (affirmed MSJ finding casino barge employee not Jones Act seaman).
- Hydrick v. Harrison County Sheriff's Dept., 675 So. 2d 1257 (Miss. App. 1995) (affirmed workers' compensation appeal).
Distinctions
- Martindale-Hubbell®
- AV®-Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2011-2024
- BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®
- Insurance Law, 2012-2025
- Fellow, American Inns of Court
- Mississippi Commission for Continuing Legal Education
- Commissioner, 1996-Present
- Chairman, 2007-2008, 2013-2014, 2018-2019, 2023-2024
- Vice-Chairman, 2005-2006, 2012-2013, 2017-2018, 2022-2023
- Mississippi Supreme Court, Complaints Tribunal, Southern District, 2002-2007
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1992
- Alabama, 1995
- U.S. District Courts
- Alabama: Southern
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
- 11th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- University of Mississippi, J.D., 1991
- Moot Court Board
- Louisiana State University, B.S., Finance, 1986
- Clerkship, Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman, Mississippi Supreme Court
- Clerkship, Chief Justice Roy Noble Lee, Mississippi Supreme Court
Associations
- American Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Alabama Bar Association
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
- Harrison County Bar Association
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
Civic Involvement
- Sponsor, Gulf Coast Carnival Association
- Member, Order of Mithras Men's Organization
- Fundraiser for St. James Catholic Church and St. Patrick Catholic High School