Richard Sarver

Richard E. Sarver has extensive jury trial experience, including trials in thirteen different states. He has served as lead trial attorney in more than 100 jury trials, including complex multidistrict litigation. Many of his trials have been in bet-the-company litigation, where he repeatedly has succeeded before juries. His experience includes federal and state civil and criminal proceedings. His practice is concentrated in complex litigation, particularly including environmental, product liability and toxic tort cases. 

Rick has successfully represented a major oil company in cases arising out of the second largest on-shore oil spill in United States history, including the first-ever Clean Water Act enforcement action under the Oil Pollution Act. Rick is currently serving as national trial counsel for Johnson & Johnson in the DePuy Hip multidistrict litigation.  He won a complete defense verdict in a hip implant suit in state court in Chicago, Cook County, and a complete defense verdict in the first bellwether trial in a second multidistrict litigation, following an eight week jury trial in Dallas. As national lead trial counsel for the welding industry, Rick won all 10 jury trials he has handled in the nationwide product liability litigation. Juries in Cleveland, New Orleans, Madison County, and Akron unanimously rendered verdicts for the defendants in these cases. 

Rick handles a variety of environmental matters, including legacy litigation involving claims of property contamination from historic oil and gas operations.

Notable Represenations

• Defense of five welding rod manufacturers in multidistrict litigation and state court proceedings, resulting in six complete defense verdicts in jury trials.
• Trial counsel for major oil company against United States in first-ever trial for civil penalties under the Oil Pollution Act amendments to the Clean Water Act, where the court awarded the U.S. less than 3% of $247 million in penalties sought.
• Trial counsel for major oil company defending over 1000 personal injury, property damage and business interruption claims arising out of oil spill.
• Representation of multi-national pharmaceutical company in pricing litigation.
• Representing major oil company in oil spill litigation related to homeowner property claims in Utah.
• Defense of medical device manufacturer in multidistrict litigation and in nationwide lawsuits brought by plaintiffs for allegedly defective hip implants.

Professional and Civic Activities

Rick has been Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of the Capital Appeals Project. He also has served actively on the Board of Bounce for Life, a Tulane University Medical Center Cancer Research Program.

For years, Rick has served as a team leader and instructor of the Gulf Coast Regional Program for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He also has taught Trial Advocacy at Tulane University Law School. He lectures frequently on the rules of evidence and the use of expert witnesses.

Past Experiences

• Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C.
• Trial Attorney, United States Department of Justice Environment & Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice
• Chief, Air Force Environmental Litigation, United States Air Force
• Chief, Third Circuit Trial Counsel, United States Air Force
• Defense counsel, United States Air Force
• Pilot, Aircraft Commander, Flight Examiner and Co-Pilot, United States Air Force

Education

• University of Virginia School of Law, Master of Laws, 1990
• University of Michigan School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1982
• Purdue University, Master of Science, 1976
• United States Air Force Academy, B.S., 1975

Bar Admissions

• Louisiana
• Michigan

Practices

• Class Actions and Complex Litigation
• Product Liability and Toxic Tort / Environmental