MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (March 13, 2006) - Motley Rice LLC, one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms, today announced the promotion of three of its associate attorneys, Kevin R. Dean, Michael E. Elsner and Fidelma L. Fitzpatrick, to members of the firm. The newly appointed members have extensive experience in the areas of product liability, medical malpractice, anti-terrorism and environmental litigation.
With more than 13 years of litigation experience, attorney Kevin Dean joined Motley Rice in 2004. At the firm, he is actively involved in the fight against vehicle defects and medical malpractice. Working primarily in the transportation and medical practice groups, his litigation experience includes several trials against Ford Motor Company, for which he was instrumental in uncovering hidden door latch defects in the Ford Explorer and F-150. He is currently working in the highly publicized area of litigation involving transplant patients who have been infected with tainted tissue or bones. Prior to joining Motley Rice, Dean was with the law firm of J. Edward Bell, III, of Georgetown, S.C., with whom he continues to work closely as co-counsel on several cases. Dean is a graduate of the Cumberland School of Law. He is a frequent industry speaker, has had multiple articles published in industry publications, and is actively involved with the Georgia and South Carolina Trial Lawyers Associations. Dean is also an active member of the AIEG (Attorney Information Exchange Group), for whom he was recently named as its Door Latch Sub-Group Co-Chair.
Michael Elsner has been an associate at Motley Rice since 2003 and is a key member of the 9/11 and anti-terrorism practice group. Elsner leads the investigatory team that is traveling the globe gathering liability evidence for the 9/11 families civil action against al Qaeda's financiers and for 9/11 aviation litigation. Elsner also plays a leading role in several of the firm's terrorism cases including Almog v. Arab Bank, a suit brought on behalf of thousands of Israeli and US citizens who were injured or killed in terrorism attacks in Israel. Prior to joining Motley Rice, Elsner was employed with Weitz & Luxenberg in New York and the Manville Trust where he worked closely with Motley Rice attorneys on asbestos and tobacco related cases. He earned his law degree from the University of Memphis and frequently lectures on terrorism cases.
Working out of the Providence, R.I, office, Fidelma Fitzpatrick has been with the firm for nine years. Since 1999, she has spearheaded the firm's involvement in litigation against the lead pigment industry, representing state and local government entities, including the City of New York, the City and County of San Francisco and numerous New Jersey municipalities. Most recently, she was trial counsel in the landmark litigation against the lead pigment industry on behalf of the State of Rhode Island, which ended last month with an unprecedented jury verdict for the plaintiff. Fitzpatrick also represents hundreds of lead poisoned children in Wisconsin, which, as a result of her legal work, became the first state whose supreme court recognized the legal rights of lead poisoned children in suing the lead pigment manufacturers. Prior to her involvement in lead litigation, she played an active role in the tobacco litigation in New York and Rhode Island. She earned a law degree from The American University and is a frequent speaker on issues of environmental law.
"All three of these talented trial attorneys have significantly contributed to the growth of Motley Rice with their legal skills, commitment to our clients and team work," stated Motley Rice co-founder and member, Joseph F. Rice. "On behalf of all the Motley Rice Members, we welcome them to membership and look forward to their future contributions."
