Our Founders
Motley Rice's founding members Ron Motley (1944-2013) and Joe Rice began working together in the 1970s to use the civil justice system as both a consumer and business ethics watchdog.
Ron Motley
Ron Motley fought for greater justice, accountability and recourse, and has been widely recognized as one of America’s most accomplished and skilled trial lawyers. During a career that spanned more than four decades, his persuasiveness before a jury and ability to break new legal and evidentiary ground brought to justice two once-invincible giant industries whose malfeasance took the lives of millions of Americans—asbestos and tobacco.
Joe Rice
Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice is recognized as a skillful and innovative negotiator of complex litigation settlements, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest civil actions our courts have seen in the last 30 years.
Our history
Motley Rice's founding members Ron Motley (1944-2013) and Joe Rice began working together in the 1970s to use the civil justice system as both a consumer and business ethics watchdog. Motley Rice attorneys have played significant leadership roles in large and impactful settlements, decisions, and cases.
Asbestos & Mesothelioma
Revealed the most substantial business cover-up in U.S. history of a devastating disease caused by a product. Represented thousands of workers, veterans and families. Negotiated and shaped some of the largest U.S. bankruptcy trusts. Litigated cases in 57 U.S. jurisdictions and counting.
Tobacco
Negotiated the $246 billion Master Settlement Agreement with dozens of State Attorneys General, the largest civil settlement in U.S. history.
9/11 & Terrorism Financing
Led extensive discovery and settlements for more than 50 cases in 9/11 aviation litigation. Represent more than 6,600 family members, survivors and first responders in ongoing litigation. Conducted global investigation into terrorism financing in Linde vs. Arab Bank and brought a financial institution to trial for the first time under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Co-lead negotiator for largest civil class action settlement in U.S. history.
Securities Fraud & Antitrust
Led litigation for U.S. and foreign plaintiffs against corporations including: Twitter, Barrick Gold, Pharmacia Corp., Sprint, Nextel, State Street, Avon, Visa/Mastercard, and pay-for-delay medical drug manufacturers.
Medical Drugs & Devices
Held leadership roles in more than 30 medical drug and device cases and represented more than 41,000 clients, including recovering millions of dollars for tens-of-thousands of women injured by TVM products.
Vehicle Defects
VW Emissions Fraud: One of the lead settlement negotiators. Largest auto-related consumer class action in U.S. history.
Takata’s Airbags: Negotiated a rare personal injury trust and vehicle manufacturer settlement amid bankruptcy.
Worker Safety
Consulted on first class action in South Africa’s history for injured workers and negotiated the historic settlement that resolved the case, achieving an unprecedented means of recovery for gold miners exposed to toxic silica dust.
Lead Contamination
Co-lead trial counsel in the historic public nuisance lead paint pigment verdict, The People of California v. Conagra Grocery Products Company. Achieved a $305 million settlement for 10 California jurisdictions to fund removal of toxic lead paint in homes, protecting thousands of families and children.
Opioid Crisis
Co-lead counsel for 2,700+ communities nationwide in the National Prescription Opiate MDL, including trial counsel and negotiators for settlement that resolved the MDL’s first bellwether trial in Ohio. Counsel for 40+ state and local governments, including several of the hardest hit areas.
Youth Social Media Harm
Co-lead counsel in Adolescent Social Media Addiction MDL representing 1,246 plaintiffs harmed by the alleged addictive nature of social media platforms, including school districts and Public Client cases filed by state Attorneys General.
Diabetes Lawsuits
Involved in a range of diabetes drug and device litigation. Co-lead counsel in National GLP-1 MDL, representing 1,443 claims of harm due to alleged unexpected severe side effects from the use of GLP-1 agonists.
Comprehensive Litigation
- Anti-Terrorism
- Antitrust
- Asbestos Exposure
- Aviation Lawsuit
- Consumer Fraud Protection
- Diabetes Lawsuit
- Human Rights
- Medical Devices
- Medical Drugs
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
- Personal Injury Lawsuits
- Public Client
- Securities Class Actions
- Technology and Media
- Toxic Exposure
- Transportation
- Whistleblower Claims
- Women’s Health Lawsuits
Nationally Recognized Law Firm
Since 1979, our attorneys have had a strong record of taking landmark actions for consumers and workers, we began with asbestos and tobacco cases and today represent hurt people and entities in a wide variety of cases. We're honored to be recognized.
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