The Law Offices of Alan J. Rich, LLC

We are proud of our history of successfully standing up for the rights of our clients and getting results. We've even successfully fought to strengthen laws to stop large bully firms from "working the system" to wear down the "little guy." Our precedent setting cases have been cited hundreds of times by courts and other lawyers. We bring the same zeal to every case and every assignment. Many of our cases have been featured in national media, law journals and professional journals. Attorney Rich began his career working for, and learning from, a couple the legal giants of their era, Harry Lipsig, who the NY Times referred to as the "King of Torts" and Joe Kelner, known for taking on some of the toughest defendants in the country. Here are just a few samples of successful cases where the Rich Law Firm has represented plaintiffs at trial and on appeal. Hyperlinks are to reported opinions and to media accounts. Also, Rich's language skills in Spanish, French and American Sign Language have enabled him to communicate effectively and directly with clients who used these languages. 

● Rivera v. Lutheran Medical Center

 Article from New York Law Journal – LAW.COM, October 28, 2008, NYLJ, p.1., 

"Morgan Lewis Disqualified From Representing Non-Party Hospital Witnesses in Litigation," 

“PLAINTIFF MOVED to disqualify defendants' law firm, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, from representing defendants and former and current Lutheran Medical Center [LMC] employees who LMC identified as witnesses in plaintiff's suit. He argued the firm violated the Code of Professional Responsibility in offering to represent, free of charge, the employees, who are non-party witnesses in the case. The court found the subject witnesses were not parties to the litigation and there was no chance they would be subject to any liability. It stated they were solicited by Morgan Lewis to gain tactical advantage in the litigation by insulating them from any informal contact with plaintiff's counsel. The Court ruled this conduct was particularly egregious as Morgan Lewis effectively “did an end run around the laudable policy consideration of promoting the importance of informal Discovery practices in litigation,” by violating the Code. Thus, plaintiff's motion to disqualify the firm from representing the subject witnesses was granted.”  Having found defense counsels' actions a violation of the ethical rules that attorneys must follow, the Court found itself obligated to "report Morgan Lewis' misconduct to the Disciplinary Committee." See, Note 6 at Rivera v. Lutheran Medical Center, 22 Misc.3d 178 (Sup. Ct., Kings Cty. 2008) affd. 73 A.D.3d 891 (2d Dept 2010, affirming trial court determination that defense counsels' actions violated the Rules of Professional Responsibiity, the basis for their disqualification). In the underlying action, the Court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss retaliation and disability claims of employee under NYC Human Rights Law. Plaintiff, an employee of defendant hospital, was terminated after a deaf family member settled her discrimination case for $200,000 against his employer, a hospital that failed to provide her a sign language interpreter during her 5 day admission. Rivera's claim settled for a significant undisclosed amount.

● Loeffler v. Staten Island Univ. Hosp., 582 F. 3d 268 (2d Cir. 2009); U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed District Court’s dismissal of negligence and civil rights actions under federal, state and city laws for damages by deaf patient, deaf wife and their minor children with normal hearing where parents were denied rights to sign language interpreters and the hospital compelled minor children to interpret for their deaf parents, even following deaf father’s stroke. Case settled for undisclosed amount that parties agreed could be described as a seven-figure amount. 

● See also, analysis of Loeffler case jurisprudence in Univ. Of Chicago Law Review article, “Revitalizing the Law That Preceded the Movement: Associational Discrimination and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,” Chamusco B., 84 U. Chi. L. Rev. 1285 (2017), SI Advance, Oct. 16, 2009.

●  Delano-Pyle v. Victoria County, Texas, 302 F.3d 567 (5th Cir. 2002) US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld federal jury verdict in US District Court, Southern District of Texas, finding wrongful arrest and imprisonment in violation of plaintiff’s civil rights by Victoria County Sheriff who administered oral field sobriety test to deaf driver suspected of intoxication. Houston Chronicle, July 30, 2000.

●  Morsette v. Final Call, 278 A.D.2d 81 (1st Dep't 2000) denial of defendants’ summary judgment motion in libel action determining that altering plaintiff’s photo to depict her in prison garb by Nation of Islam official newspaper, was question of fact for jury. $1.3 million verdict in Plaintiff’s favor, NY Daily News, June 8, 2001, subsequently modified at 309 A.D.2d 249 (1st Dep't 2003).

●  Owens v. Comcast Corp., (2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23498, E.D.Pa. 2004) denial of summary judgment in employee news reporter’s retaliation claim against employer, a Fortune 50 company.

●  Velez v. QVC, Inc., 227 F.Supp.2d 384 (E.D.Pa. 2002) denial of summary judgment to television shopping network in claim by minority show hosts for discriminatory termination and failure to promote where network had history of refusing to feature minority on-air hosts during daytime and prime-time time slots. NY Times, 1998, 1999.

●  Green v. Tyson, (Sup. Ct., NY Cty., Ind. 16850/1989),  successful assault and battery suit & trial on behalf of world ranked contender Mitch "Blood" Green against former heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson arising in street fight that related back to dispute regarding their prior professional boxing contest, a 12 round decision in Tyson's favor at Madison Square Garden. NY Daily News, Sep. 30, 1997, Boxing Hall of Fame Media Clips-Youtube.