Minnesota Certified Trial Specialist | Richard A. LaVerdiere

Richard A. LaVerdiere visit superlawyers.com

Richard A. LaVerdiere is a trial lawyer specializing in personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death. He has been a member of the firm since 1981.

He was certified as a Trial Specialist in 1986 by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and was one of the first to be certified as a Civil Trial Specialist in Minnesota. In his specialized trial practice, he has handled serious injury and death cases arising from automobile collisions, explosions and fires, product defects, and exposure to toxic substances. He has represented clients in complex cases with substantial verdicts and recoveries for his clients. He is a past President of the Minnesota Association for Justice (formerly Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association), which honored him as "Member of the Year" in 1990. He has been selected by his peers as a "Super Lawyer" and a "Leading Minnesota Attorney," consecutively, since 1994. In 2000, he was voted "Attorney of the Year" by Minnesota Lawyer. Minnesota Law & Politics recognized him as a "Top 40" plaintiff personal injury attorney in 2005. He has also been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America Since 2003 and selected as the "Minneapolis Area Best Lawyers Product Liability Litigator of the Year" for 2011 and 2012.

In honoring him as an "Attorney of the Year," Minnesota Lawyer described him as a "snowmobiling, race-car driving, litigator and a staunch advocate" for plaintiffs. As to protecting consumers from dangerous products, he stated, "The civil justice system remains the sole and ultimate check on unconscionable behavior."

The nationally recognized Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory has awarded him its highest "AV" rating. The directory has set the professional standard for rating attorney's abilities for over 100 years. This rating is the highest rating available for legal ability and for faithful adherence to ethical standards, professional reliability and diligence. He is a charter member since 1994, and annually thereafter, recognized by the Minnesota Consumer Guidebook of Law and Leading Attorneys.

Mr. LaVerdiere is licensed to practice in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin and before the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

Areas of Practice

• Products Liability
• Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Cancers
• Wrongful Death
• Automobile Accidents

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law-J.D., 1976
• University of Maine, 1969

Certification

• Civil Trial Advocate-National Board of Trial Advocacy

Professional Association and Memberships

• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Wisconsin State Bar Association
• Dakota County Bar Association
• Washington County Bar Association
• Minnesota Association for Justice
• American Association for Justice
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• The National Trial Lawyers

Honors and Awards

• Member of the Year, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1990-1991
• 'Super Lawyer', Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Business Monthly, and Super Lawyers, 1995 - present
• 'Top 40' Plaintiff Personal Injury Attorney, Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Business Monthly, and Super Lawyers, 2005
• Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2000
• AV rated, Martindale-Hubbell
• Selected as Best Lawyers in America, 2003 - present
• Selected as Best Lawyers 'Lawyer of the Year' for Minneapolis Area Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigator, 2011 and 2012

Teaching

• William Mitchell College of Law (1986-1991 and 1999-2000)
  Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law
  Advanced Trial Advocacy
• Legal Education Lecturer:
  Minnesota State Bar Association
  Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association
  National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA)