Professional Resume

Rich Cassidy is a Vermont mediator and arbitrator.

A founder of Rich Cassidy Law, before transitioning to full-time practice as a neutral, Rich practiced for more than 40 years as a litigator and trial lawyer. Over time, his practice changed substantially. As a result, Rich has experience representing all sides in many kinds of disputes: plaintiffs and defendants, employers and employees, injured parties, and insurance companies. He believes that the breadth of his experience benefits his work as a neutral.

He has advocated for individuals, businesses, and governments in a broad range of civil litigation, including construction cases, cases under the Uniform Commercial Code, and contract and business tort claims. He has significant experience with litigation and alternative dispute resolution involving higher education, public education, public safety, health care, municipalities, and manufacturing. His clients have included college students, faculty, and administrators as well as individuals, businesses, governmental agencies, and not-for-profit entities. He represented labor unions, management, and individuals in collective bargaining relationships.

For the last decade of his work as a trial lawyer, Rich’s practice focused on personal injury and labor and employment law.

Since 1994, he has been a member of the Panel of Early Neutral Evaluators for the United States District Court for the District of Vermont. He is also on the early neutral evaluation panels for the Vermont Environmental Court and Vermont Superior Courts.

Rich believes that the legal process can serve the ends of justice and has been active in work to improve the law throughout his career. For details see his curriculum vitae.

When he’s not working or in a committee meeting, Rich enjoys reading, walking his dog, Sophie, skiing, swimming, and rowing his Adirondack Guide Boat on Lake Champlain.

Education:

Albany Law School

J.D. (1978)

1975 – 1978

University of Vermont

B.A. (1975) | Political Science

1971 – 1975

Mount Saint Joseph Academy

College Preparatory Diploma 1967- 1971

Professional Training and Certifications:

National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

Member, Vermont Chapter (as of 2023)

Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School

Certificate of Completion: “Mediating Disputes” (2021)

Early Neutral Training, United States District Court for the District of Vermont,  1994

Diploma, National Institute of Trial Advocacy,  June 9, 1984

Professional Employment

Co-founder, President

Rich Cassidy Law

2016 – Current

Rich Cassidy Law represents individuals, not businesses or institutions. The focus is on personal injury litigation and employment law.

Work as arbitrator and mediator

Adjunct Faculty

Vermont Law School, General Practice Program

Spring, 1991 

Co-founder, President and Director

Hoff Curtis

1989 – 2016

Practice focused on civil litigation, particularly,  labor and employment, personal injury, and commercial cases. Many cases related to higher education, health care, and manufacturing. Represented professionals in litigation and licensing matters. Served as a mediator and arbitrator.

 Associate, Shareholder

Hoff, Wilson, Powell & Lang, P.C.

1982 – 1989

General Civil Practice with emphasis on civil litigation. Insurance defense litigation

 Associate

Law Office of David C. Drew

1980 – 1982

General Practice

Chief Law Clerk, Law Clerk

Vermont Supreme Court

1978 – 1980

Law Clerk to Associate Justice Robert W. Larrow. Traditional appellate law clerk responsibilities, including intensive research and writing on the law of Vermont.

Law Clerk to Chief Justice Albert W. Barney, Jr. Provided counsel to the Office of Court Administrator and coordinate law clerk selection. Drafted pattern jury instructions.

Bar Admissions:

Vermont

1979 – Current

 New York State Bar 

1979 – Current

 United States District Court for the District of Vermont

1979- Current

United States District Court for Northern District of New York

1979- Current

United States Court of Appeals for the 2^nd Circuit

1986- Current

United States Supreme Court

1990 – Current

 Citizen Government Service

 Uniform Law Commission

Vermont Commissioner, The Uniform Law Commission (formerly known as the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws)

1994 – Current[1]

Officer: President, 2015-2017, Chair, Executive Committee 2013-2015 Chair, Scope and Program Committee, 2011-2013 Secretary, 2009-2011.

Former Member, Committee on Liaison with the American Bar Association.

Lead Commissioner, Vermont adoption effort on the Uniform Mediation Act

Lead Commissioner, Vermont adoption effort on the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act

Drafting Committees

Member, Drafting Committee on the Model Punitive Damages Act.

Member, Drafting Committee on the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act

Member, Drafting Committee on the Apportionment of Tort Responsibility Act.

Chair, Drafting Committee on the Uniform Collateral Consequences of Conviction Act.

Current Chair:  Covenants Not to Compete Drafting Committee

United States District Court for the District of Vermont

Early Neutral Evaluator, 1994 – Current

 Acting Judge, Small Claims Court, Chittenden County

Circa 2007 — 2020

South Burlington Board of School Commissioners

Member 2001- 2013

Chair 2007-2013

Special Subcommittee of the Vermont Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Civil Rules (“Ethics 2000”) 

Member 2003 –2005

 Vermont Solid Waste and Air Quality Variance Board[2] 

Chair, 1994-2005

Vermont Board of Bar Examiners

Associate Examiner 1991 –1993

Examiner, 1993 –1996

Chair, 1996-2004

 City of South Burlington

 Justice of the Peace, 1998 – 2004

Vermont Supreme Court’s Committee to Study the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility

Member, June 1995 – May 1997

Tri-State Commission Bar on Examinations (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine)

Member, circa 1996

Vermont Supreme Court’s Special Study Committee on Bar Admissions.

Member, 1987

Vermont Supreme Court Special Study Commission on Bar Admissions and Continuing Legal Education (the “Hoff Commission.”)

Counsel, 1982

Vermont State Higher Education Planning Commission[3]

Member

1974-1975

Vermont Human Rights Commission[4]

Commissioner

1973 –1975

Professional Associations

Vermont Bar Association

Member, 1979 – Current

                    Board of Managers, 2021-Current

VBA Representative to the ABA House of Delegates, 1999-2005, 2009-2015

Civil Practice and Procedure Committee

Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and Section

Member VBA Committee on Professional Responsibility, circa 1982

Committee to Develop a Judicial Evaluation System, circa 1985

Member, VBA Board of Managers, 2021-present

American Bar Association

Member

1979 – Current

Activities:

Member, ABA Board of Governors, 2005-2008.

Member, ABA House of Delegates, 1999- 2015.

Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services, Liaison from the Board of Governors 2005-2008, Member 2008-10, Chair 2009- 10.

Member, Sections on Litigation, Labor and Employment Law, Dispute Resolution, Law Practice Management, Senor Lawyers

 Fellows of the American Bar Foundation

Fellow 2003-2018

Vermont State Chair (former)

Life Fellow, 2018- Current

American Law Institute

Elected Member

2015 – Current

 American Counsel Association

Member circa 2009 – current

Director (former)

President (former)

National Employment Lawyers’ Association

Member 1998 – Current

Vermont Association for Justice

Member, 1995 – Current

 American Arbitration Association

Panel of Arbitrators, 1990-1995

Vermont Employment Lawyers’ Association

Co-founder – 1992

Member, 1992 – Current

President, Circa 1995

Treasurer, 2020 — Current

Publications

            Print

Civil and Human Rights, ‘Vermont State Government Since 1965,” M. Sherman, Ed. (The University of Vermont and The Snelling Center for Government, 1999).

Philip H. Hoff, “ Vermont Encyclopedia,” J. Duffy, S. Hand & R. Orth, Eds. (The University of Vermont Press 2003).

Robert W. Larrow, “Vermont Encyclopedia,” J. Duffy, S. Hand & R. Orth, Eds. (The University of Vermont Press 2003).

Book Review, Jury Trials, Vermont Bar Journal Fall

Book Review: Mediating For Money, Vermont Bar Journal Fall 2007, Vol. 33, No  3

Uniform Law Commission Concludes 116th Annual Meeting, Vermont Bar Journal Fall  2007, Vol 33, No. 3

Book Review, “Just Deceits” Journal of the Vermont Bar Assn.

Blogs

The Insurance Adjuster’s Nightmare

Selected Posts:

Coronavirus and Vermont Law

What Can You Do To Be Prepared

Getting the Medical Treatment That You Need

 On Lawyering.com

Selected Posts:

Happy Thanksgiving!
25 November 2020

Update: How do we Resume Civil Jury Trials in Vermont
8 October 2020

Remembering the Honorable Robert W. Larrow
5 October 2020

 Selected Reported Cases

Kuligoski v. Brattleboro Retreat, 2016 VT 54A (mental health care providers releasing mental patients who are known to be dangerous, must warn caregivers of the risk of violence and provide “reasonable information to enable them to fulfill their role” in maintaining safety.)

Nelson v. Town of St. Johnsbury, 2015 VT 5 (A statutory town manager cannot be discharged without just cause).

Provost v. Fletcher Allen Health Care, Inc., 2005 VT 115.

Brueckner v. Norwich University, 169 Vt. 118; 730 A.2d 1086 (1999).

Ballard v. University of Vermont, 166 Vt. 612, 693 A.2d 713, 118 Ed. Law Rep. 419 (Vt. 1997).

Chabad-Lubavitch of Vermont v. City of Burlington, 936 F.2d 109 (C.A.2 (Vt.) 1991). cert. denied, 505 U.S. 1218 (1992). 

Chabad-Lubavitch of Vermont v. City of Burlington, 754 F.Supp. 372 (D.Vt. 1990).

Kaplan v. City of Burlington, 891 F.2d 1024 (C.A.2 1989), cert. denied, 496 U.S. 926 (1990).

Awards

President’s Award

Vermont Bar Association

2015

Grassroots Advocacy Award

American Bar Association

“Advocate for Protecting the Attorney Client Privilege.”

2009

Jonathan B. Chase Award

American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont

“In recognition of his defense of the principles embodied in the Bill of Rights and the Vermont Constitution.”

1990

 Speaking Engagements

Numerous Continuing Legal Education presentations including presentations on behalf of the Vermont Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Vermont Association for Justice, the Vermont Employment Lawyers’ Association, and American Bar Foundation.

[1] Appointed by Vermont Governor Howard Dean. Reappointed by Governors Douglas, Shumlin, and Scott.

[2] Appointed by Vermont Governor Howard Dean.

[3] Appointed by Vermont Governor, Thomas P. Salmon.

[4] Appointed by Vermont Governor, Thomas P. Salmon.

Rich is a frequent writer and speaker on legal topics. He is the author of “Civil and Human Rights,” (The University of Vermont and The Center for Research on Vermont: Burlington, VT, 1999), and has lectured on trial practice, employment, arbitration, mediation, and construction law and other subjects before the American Bar Association, the American Association of Law Schools, the National Employment Lawyers’ Association, the Vermont Bar Association, the Vermont Trial Lawyers Association, and the Vermont Employment Lawyers’ Association.

He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers® and New England Super Lawyers® by his peers. (Listing in The Best Lawyers in America® or Super Lawyers® does not guarantee the desired result in a legal case or that listed lawyers are necessarily more skilled than lawyers who are not listed in such publications.) He was the 2013 “Best Lawyer of the Year” for Employment Law – Individuals and the 2015 “Best Mediator of the Year.”

His blog, On Lawyering.net is widely read by legal professionals and is syndicated in Lex Blog.