Richard has successfully prosecuted products liability cases against major corporations involving permanent crippling injuries experienced by his clients. He has handled personal injury actions based upon the negligence of businesses or individuals that resulted in substantial recoveries in cases involving seriously injured persons or in cases involving injuries resulting in death. During his extensive career in trial litigation, Richard obtained a jury verdict in excess of $2.8 million for a woman who was injured in a fall at a shopping center. Richard has also settled a significant number of cases for figures in the millions of dollars.

Beyond his current practice representing plaintiffs in bodily injury matters, Richard maintains an active civil litigation practice involving municipal and corporate contract disputes, employment discrimination, construction/developer lawsuits and municipal issues. He has represented clients in approximately 50 appeals to the Appellate and Supreme Courts of Illinois, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Richard is active in Immanuel Baptist Church, serving on the Deacon and other Boards and Committees. He loves spending a week each spring fishing the Canadian Wilderness or chasing bass in local ponds. He plays golf badly, and is Interested in Civil War history.

  E-mail: rsmith@npplaw.com