Richard T. Cassidy
Vermont Personal Injury and Employment Attorney
- Biography
Our firm represents people, not businesses or institutions. We focus on personal injury litigation and employment law. We represent people who have been injured due to the fault of others and employees in disputes with their employers or former employers.
Why? We want to make our living doing work that is worthwhile. Early in my career, I represented all sides in many kinds of disputes. But I simply didn’t find it satisfying to represent insurance companies and big businesses. It is true that businesses must pay attention to the bottom line. But many companies don’t seem to care about anything else. They just want to resolve claims as cheaply as they can. For them, people’s troubles are just balance sheet issues. Serving that narrow way of seeing the world is not how I want to spend my life.
Injured people really need help. You have medical bills to pay. You have lost wages and earnings. You have been in pain and may still be in pain. You may have disabilities. You may have suffered the loss of a loved one.
Some employers treat their employees well. But many do not. Some employers seem to ignore the fact that hard working, loyal employees depend on their salaries and benefits to provide for their families and themselves.
Justice is not given; it is achieved. Without help from a competent, experienced lawyer, you may get nothing, or whatever pittance the insurance companies or employers choose to give you
- Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Employment Law
- Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business – Arbitration/Mediation, Consumer – Arbitration/Mediation, Family – Arbitration/Mediation
- Video Conferencing
- Fees
- Free Consultation
-
Credit Cards Accepted
Visa & Mastercard only -
Contingent Fees
Depends on the circumstances. -
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
ich Cassidy Law represents employees in employment law matters. Its lawyers have counseled more than a thousand employees. Our employment law and litigation attorneys understand the legal complexities involved in such cases. If you are having employment trouble, we understand that your circumstances are likely very difficult and that you need competent legal help. Sadly, in the United States, the law is not very favorable to employees, and as a result relatively few lawyers are available to help employees. We live in an employment-at-will nation, where unless the employee has an explicit contract (few do), an employer can fire an employee at any time and for any reason. There are many exceptions to this rule and representing employees in employment cases means finding the applicable exceptions and using them. The laws that prohibit discrimination, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Vermont Fair Employment Practices Act, require that workplace be free of discrimination
- Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- New York
- Since 1979
-
- Languages
- English:
Spoken, Written
- Professional Experience
- Co-founder, President
- Rich Cassidy Law
-
2016 –
Current
- Co-founder, President and Director
- Hoff Curtis
-
1989 –
2016
- Mr. Cassidy’s practice focuses on civil litigation, and in particular on labor and employment, personal injury, and commercial cases. Many of his cases have related to higher education, health care, and manufacturing. He often represents professionals in litigation and licensing matter. He also serves as a mediator and arbitrator.
- Associate, Shareholder
- Hoff, Wislon, 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.
- Law Clerk, Chief Law Clerk
- Vermont Supreme Court
-
1978 –
1980
- 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.
Law Clerk to Associate Justice Robert W. Larrow.
Traditional appellate law clerk responsibilities, including intensive research and writing on the law of Vermont.
- Education
- Albany Law School
- J.D. (1978)
-
1975
–
1978 -
- University of Vermont
- B.A. (1975) | Political Science
-
1971
–
1975 -
- Awards
- President’s Award
- Vermont Bar Association
- 2015
- Grassroots Advocacy Award
- American Bar Association
- 2009
- Advocate for Protecting the Attorney Client Privilege.
- Jonathan B. Chase Award
- American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont
- 1990
- In recognition of his defense of the principles embodied in the Bill of Rights and the Vermont Constitution.
- Professional Associations
- Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
- Life Fellow
-
2018 –
Current - Activities: Fellow 2003-2018; Vermont State Chair (former)
-
- American Law Institute
- Elected Member
-
2015 –
Current -
- American Counsel Association
- Member circa
-
2009 –
Current - Activities: Director (former); President (former)
-
- National Employment Lawyers Association
- Member
-
1998 –
Current -
- Vermont Association for Justice
- Member
-
1995 –
Current -
- Uniform Law Commission
- Vermont Commissioner
-
1994 –
Current - Activities: President, 2015-2017 Chair, Executive Committee 2013-2015 Chair, Scope and Program Committee, 2011-2013 Secretary, 2009-2010 Member, Vermont delegation the the Uniform Law Commission (formerly known as the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Member, Drafting Committee on the Model Punitive Damages Act. Drafting Committee on the Apportionment of Tort Responsibility Act. Chair, Drafting Committee on the Uniform Collateral Consequences of Conviction Act. Former Member, Committee on Liaison with the American Bar Association.
-
- Uniform Law Commission
- Vermont Commissioner
-
1994 –
Current - Activities: Officer: President, 2015-2017, Chair, Executive Committee 2013-2015 Chair, Scope and Program Committee, 2011-2013 Secretary, 2009-2011.
-
- Vermont Employment Lawyers Association
- Member
-
1992 –
Current - Activities: Co-founder – 1992; President, Circa 1995; Treasurer, 2020 — Current
-
-
New York State Bar
 # 1233543
- Member
-
1979 –
Current -
- Vermont Bar Association
- Member
-
1979 –
Current -
- American Bar Association
- Member
-
1979 –
Current - Activities: Member, ABA Board of Governors, 2005-2008.
Member, ABA House of Delegates, 1999-present.
Chair, Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services, 2009-present.
Member, Sections on Litigation, Labor and Employment Law, Dispute Resolution, Individual Rights and Responsiblities and Law Practice Management. -
- Small Claims Court, Chittenden County
- Acting Judge
-
2007 –
2020 -
- Special Subcommittee of the Vermont Supreme Courts Advisory Committee on the Civil Rules (Ethics 2000)
- Member
-
2003 –
2005 -
- Vermont Board of Bar Examiners
- Associate Examiner, Examiner and Chair
-
1990 –
2004 -
- American Arbitration Association
- Panel of Arbitrators
-
1990 –
1995 -
- Publications
- Civil and Human Rights
- Center For Research on Vermont and the Snelling Center For Government
- January, 1999
- Civil and Human Rights
- Center For Research on Vermont and the Snelling Center For Government
- January 2, 1999
- Websites & Blogs
- Contact & Address
- Rate This Lawyer