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Biography

Rich defends clients in federal and state court litigation arising from claims of wrongful termination and allegations of various forms of protected class discrimination, violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other statutory and common law claims. Rich also defends employers in workers’ compensation court appeals.

He also both prosecutes and defends claims involving enforcement of non-compete agreements and allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets in state and federal court.

While litigation is the focus of his practice, in advising clients, Rich leverages his experience in court to provide clients with practical advice and guidance with the aim of keeping them out of it.

In addition, Rich’s practice includes conducting workplace investigations, providing entertaining and informative anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training for both companies and industry groups.

Rich's Relevant Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Successfully defended employers in actions brought pursuant to a variety of statutory and common law claims in both federal and state courts at both trial and appellate court levels and in arbitrations;

Assisted numerous clients in reaching beneficial resolution of claims through settlement and various forms of alternative dispute resolution;

First chair jury trial experience in both federal and state courts in a variety of litigation matters.

Representative Decisions

Harrison v. Proctor & Gamble Distributing, LLC, Case No. 1:15-cv-00514, S.D. Ohio (Black, J.) (Nov. 17, 2017) (summary judgment entered against plaintiff alleging FMLA interference and retaliation and disability discrimination)

Morton v. United Parcel Service, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 16-CI-2059, Commonwealth of Kentucky Fayette Circuit Court (Bunnell, J.) (Oct. 4, 2017) (summary judgment entered against plaintiff alleging, inter alia, race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation)

Bonds v. University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Case No. 1:15-cv-641, S.D. Ohio (Litkovitz, M.J.) (Nov. 23, 2016) (motion to dismiss granted against plaintiff alleging, inter alia, retaliation)

English v. AK Steel Corp., 2016-Ohio-5287, 2016 WL 4179787, 12th App. Dist. (August 8, 2016) (summary judgment affirmed against plaintiff alleging racial discrimination and hostile work environment)

Pastroumas v. UCL, Inc., 2016 WL 3569875, Case No. C-150352, 1st App. Dist. (Feb. 26, 2016) (summary judgment affirmed against plaintiff asserting employer intentional tort claim)

Botschner v. CarePoint Management Company, Inc., et al., Case No. A1406064, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas (Martin, J.) (Feb. 4, 2016) (obtained defense verdict in breach of employment contract claim)

Salyers v. Cinergy Corp., Case No. C-140756, 1st App. Dist. (Oct. 30, 2015) (obtained reversal of trial court decision allowing additional condition in workers’ compensation case)

Brubaker v. Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., 2015 WL 4743046, Case No. 1:13-cv-866, S.D. Ohio (Dlott, J.) (Aug. 10, 2015) (obtained summary judgment in age and disability discrimination claim)

Duvall v. Foster Transformer Co., Case No. A1501668, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas (Winkler, J.) (July 13, 2015) (motion to dismiss granted in breach of contract claim)

Selkirk v. Duke Energy, Case No. A1108860, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas (July 9, 2013) (obtained jury verdict in favor of defendant against plaintiff alleging race discrimination and retaliation)

Other Info About Rich

Education

Law School

University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D., 1993

Undergraduate School

Bowling Green State University, B.S., 1987

Bar Memberships

Rich is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Ohio

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Cincy Magazine Leading Lawyers, 2021

The Best Lawyers in America®, 2021-2022

Selected for inclusion in Ohio Super Lawyers®, Employment Litigation 2018-2020

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow, Class of 2012

Ohio State Bar Foundation Fellow, Class of 2011

Selected for inclusion in Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars®, General Litigation, 2005-2006

Cincinnati Business Courier Forty Under 40, 2002

Cincinnati Academy of Law and Leadership, Class VI, 2002

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Cincinnati Bar Foundation, Trustee, 2020 – present

Taft Museum of Art, Board of Directors, 2020 – present

University of Cincinnati College of Law, Adjunct Professor, 2019 – present

Federal Bar Association, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Chapter, Executive Committee, 2018 – present

Greater Cincinnati Minority Counsel Program, Board of Directors, 2000-present, Co-Chair 2011-2018

Cincinnati Bar Association, Board of Trustees, 2009-2013

Cancer Support Community of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, Board Member, 2007-2018; Board Chair, 2013-2016

Mercantile Library Association, Board of Trustees, 2007-2019; President, 2017-2019

Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, Board of Trustees, 1997-2008, Board Chair, 2003-2005

Ohio State Bar Association, Member, 1994-present

Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati, Member, 1993-present, Vice-President, 1998-2000

Firm Committees

Rich serves or has served in the following leadership role(s) at Frost Brown Todd:

Technology Committee

Presentations

Rich was invited to speak at the following events:

Handling Discrimination Claims, NBI Employment Discrimination Law Seminar, December 8, 2014, Cincinnati, Ohio

Volunteers and Employment Law, Cincinnati Bar Association Non-Profit Governance Seminar, October 7, 2014, Cincinnati, Ohio

Practicum: Cross-Examination, 49th Annual Midwest Labor and Employment Law Seminar, October 11, 2012, Columbus, Ohio

Deposition Practicum – Tips, Tricks, and Tactics, 48th Annual Midwest Labor and Employment Law Seminar, October 13, 2011, Columbus, Ohio

Advanced Discovery and Evidence Seminar, National Business Institute, November 2007; 2008

Major Publications

Rich is an author or contributor to the following publications:

The Tale of the Tardy Technician, Employee Benefit Plan Review, June 2020 (Vol.75, No. 4).

#SilentNoMore: Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Provisions in Settlement Agreements: Tax and Other Implications, Ohio State Bar Association Advanced Employment Law Seminar, Columbus, Ohio, April 16, 2018

Maintaining the Secrets of the Trade: An Overview of Trade Secrets Law, Allied Construction Industries, March 14, 2012, Cincinnati, Ohio

Federal and Ohio Employment Law Update, Joint Meeting of the Labor & Employment and Small and Solo Practice Committees of the Cincinnati Bar Association, April 2011

“Barbarians at the Gate – The End of Employment at Will (and Civilization as We Know It),” Lawyers Club of Cincinnati, December 2010

“The Four Hard Drives of the Apocalypse: Staring into the Abyss,” August 2009, Cincinnati Bar Association Report

“The Inevitable, Inadvertent Disclosure of Confidential ESI,” May 2009, Cincinnati Bar Association Report

“Electronic Info New Challenge for Courts,” Business Courier, January 2007 (Vol. 23, Pg. 17)

“In Absentia: Deciphering a Profound Change in Ohio Workers’ Compensation Law,” SmartBusiness Cleveland, January 2004

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