Joe Rice bestowed 2012 Leadership in Law award
Joe Rice Honored by SC Lawyers Weekly
MT. PLEASANT, SC - Motley Rice is proud to announce that South Carolina Lawyers Weekly has honored the firm's co-founder, Joseph F. Rice, with its Leadership in Law Award.
This 4th annual award celebrates select members of the South Carolina legal community who, through their leadership, local involvement and professional accomplishments, have made noteworthy contributions to South Carolina's justice system, the legal profession and their communities. The 2012 Leadership in Law Award will be presented at an awards dinner in Charleston, S.C., on Thursday, March 15, 2012.
"I have had the good fortune to work with Joe for more than 30 years, during which time I have watched him commit as passionately to his clients and their fights for justice as he has to causes that work towards bettering the lives of our country's less fortunate," said Motley Rice co-founder and 2011 Leadership in Law Award recipient Ronald L. Motley. "A trailblazer and a leader, he will continue to serve those in need, in whatever capacity, with integrity and strength for years to come. I'm so pleased that my dear friend's accomplishments have been recognized with this award."
A 1979 graduate of the USC School of Law, Rice first achieved national recognition for his work taking on the asbestos industry. He litigated one of the first mass personal injury class action cases to be tried and won by asbestos plaintiffs early in his career and has since remained at the forefront of asbestos litigation. Recognized by the plaintiffs' and defense bar as a skillful and innovative negotiator of complex litigation settlements, Rice also served as the lead negotiator of the historic tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, which remains the largest civil settlement in U.S. history. He has continued to advocate for the rights of workers and other victims of negligence and wrongdoing, founding with Ron Motley one the country's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms and taking on complex civil litigation in an effort to right wrongs through the U.S. civil justice system.
Rice has been honored with numerous awards for his leadership and contributions to the legal profession and community, including the South Carolina School of Law Alumni Association's 2011 platinum Compleat Lawyer Award and the National Association of Attorneys General President's Award. He serves as a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences across the country and has lectured on the art of negotiating at the Duke University, USC and Charleston Schools of Law. A founding member of the International Mesothelioma Program Leadership Council at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Rice also supports several local charities such as MUSC Children's Hospital, the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center, the Center for Birds of Prey and First Tee of Charleston.
About Motley Rice LLC
Motley Rice is one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms. Motley Rice attorneys have experience taking on large corporate wrongdoers in complex civil cases, including mesothelioma lawsuits, the historic tobacco litigation and the lawsuit against terrorist financiers on behalf of 9/11 families and survivors. The firm litigates cases in numerous other areas, including prescription drugs such as Topamax® and Actos®, and defective medical devices, including pelvic mesh. Motley Rice is headquartered in the Charleston, S.C., area and has additional offices in Los Angeles, California; Hartford, Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; New York, New York; Providence, Rhode Island; and Morgantown, West Virginia. For more information about Motley Rice LLC, contact Joe Rice (DC, SC)at 1.800.768.4026. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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