Richard A. Bieder

Richard Bieder is known throughout the country for handling individual and class action cases resulting from mass disasters, consumer rights, personal injuries, unfair trade practices and commercial fraud and misrepresentation.

In these cases Richard took on and prevailed over major insurance companies, accounting firms, manufacturers and other powerful institutions. He also prosecutes and defends actions on behalf of business clients.

Richard has represented victims in high-profile cases as: the collapse of the L'Ambiance Plaza building in Bridgeport, the Dupont Hotel fire in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and investors bilked by the Colonial Realty Empire. He has and continues to advise families of individuals killed in the Oklahoma City bombing and the families of individuals killed in the plane crash that resulted in the death of U.S. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown.

Richard Bieder is listed in Connecticut Magazine's Super Lawyers section and in The Best Lawyers in America. He is a former president of the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Richard is also a past president of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. He has also served as a guest commentator on Court TV.

Outside of the United States, Richard has been a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, a United Kingdom organization, and the Australian Plaintiffs' Lawyers Association; he’s a member of the International Society of Barristers. He has lectured extensively throughout the world, including talks in Argentina, regarding the training of United States Lawyers, lectures in Australia on the misconduct of insurance companies, guest appearances in the Netherlands on obtaining competent counsel, in Ireland on issues related to public safety, and in South Africa regarding trial techniques and persuasive arguments.

He has published several articles designed to train lawyers on trial preparation and litigation strategy and recorded multiple instruction audio tapes designed to assist lawyers on trial. He has also appeared as a speaker on programs sponsored by the American Association for Justice, the National College of Advocacy, and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, as well as many other state trial lawyer organizations.

Richard has been in charge of several committees of the American Association for Justice, including chairing its: Education Department, National, State, Public Affairs Department, and International Practice Section.

Richard was appointed by a Federal Judge to be a Federal Special Master overseeing ongoing litigation between the City of Hartford and its substantial minority population on a vast array of issues.

In addition to the state and federal courts of Connecticut, he is admitted to practice in the U.S Court of Appeals in the 1st and 2nd Circuits, U.S. Court of Military Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Richard Bieder has been awarded a citation by the Connecticut State Legislature for his legal role in an election case of social significance. He also has been recognized by the Stamford Branch of the NAACP for his legal role in a case of significance to that community and has been officially recognized by the Fairfield County Branch of Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his outstanding legal effort, dedication, and support.

Among other awards, Richard was the first recipient of the Driscoll/Tianti Memorial Award, given by the Connecticut AFL/CIO, UConn Labor Education Center, and Connecticut AFL-CIO Women's and Civil Rights Committee in recognition of his contributions to workplace safety and health.

Curriculum Vitae

Bar Admission

• 1965, Connecticut and U.S. Court of Military Appeals
• 1969, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
• 1972, U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
• 1973, U.S. Supreme Court

Memberships

• Board of Representatives, Stamford, Connecticut, 1970-1972
• State Chairman: National Organization for Legal Problems in Education, 1974
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, President, 1993-1995
• Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (Treasurer, 1973-1974 Vice President, 1974-1975 President, 1975-1977)
• American Association for Justice
  • Amicus Curiae Committee, 1987 Chair, 1988-1989
  • Ethics Committee, 1987
  • International Lawyer Relations Committee, 1989-1990 Chairman, 1990
  • International Practice Section, 1991 (co-chair)
  • Product Liability Advisory Committee, 1989-1990
  • Political Insight Conference Committee, 1989-1990
  • Insurance Bad Faith Litigation Group, 1989-1990
  • Constitution Challenge Committee, 1989-1990
  • Organization and Home Office Committee, now known as Organizational Review Committee, 1993-; Chair 1995-1997; 2002-2008
  • Judicial Independence Committee, 1999

Publications

• Primer on Products Liability, Connecticut Law Tribune, 1977
• How to Grab the Jury's Attention in a Medical Case, Trial Diplomacy Journal, 1981-1982
• What It Means to be a Plaintiff's Lawyer, Connecticut Law Tribune, 1988
• The Case for the Plaintiff, Miami Review, 1988

Contributions

• Association of Trial Lawyers of America tape series: Learn from the Masters, 1982 Wrongful Death Litigation, 1983

Certifications

• Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy

Other

• Military experience: LT., Judge Advocate General Corps., U.S. Navy, 1965-1968