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Richard T. Cassidy

Richard T. Cassidy

Vermont Personal Injury and Employment Attorney
  • Personal Injury, Employment Law, Arbitration & Mediation
  • New York, Vermont
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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
Additional Practice Areas
  • Car Accidents
  • Personal Injury Litigation
  • Trial Practice
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
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Vermont
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2nd Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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U.S. Supreme Court
ID Number: United States District Court for Northern District of New York
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United States District Court for the District of Vermont
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Co-founder, President
Rich Cassidy Law
- Current
Co-founder, President and Director
Hoff Curtis
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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.
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General Civil Practice with emphasis on civil litigation. Insurance defense litigation.
Associate
Law Office of David C. Drew
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General Practice.
Law Clerk, Chief Law Clerk
Vermont Supreme Court
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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)
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University of Vermont
B.A. (1975) | Political Science
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Awards
President's Award
Vermont Bar Association
Grassroots Advocacy Award
American Bar Association
Advocate for Protecting the Attorney Client Privilege.
Jonathan B. Chase Award
American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont
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
- Current
Activities: Fellow 2003-2018; Vermont State Chair (former)
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American Law Institute
Elected Member
- Current
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American Counsel Association
Member circa
- Current
Activities: Director (former); President (former)
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National Employment Lawyers Association
Member
- Current
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Vermont Association for Justice
Member
- Current
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Uniform Law Commission
Vermont Commissioner
- 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.
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Uniform Law Commission
Vermont Commissioner
- Current
Activities: Officer: President, 2015-2017, Chair, Executive Committee 2013-2015 Chair, Scope and Program Committee, 2011-2013 Secretary, 2009-2011.
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Vermont Employment Lawyers Association
Member
- Current
Activities: Co-founder – 1992; President, Circa 1995; Treasurer, 2020 — Current
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New York State Bar  # 1233543
Member
- Current
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Vermont Bar Association
Member
- Current
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American Bar Association
Member
- 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.
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Small Claims Court, Chittenden County
Acting Judge
-
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Special Subcommittee of the Vermont Supreme Courts Advisory Committee on the Civil Rules (Ethics 2000)
Member
-
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Vermont Board of Bar Examiners
Associate Examiner, Examiner and Chair
-
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American Arbitration Association
Panel of Arbitrators
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Civil and Human Rights
Center For Research on Vermont and the Snelling Center For Government
Civil and Human Rights
Center For Research on Vermont and the Snelling Center For Government
Speaking Engagements
Professional Courtesy in 21st Century VT, Mid Year Meeting, Zoom
Vermont Bar Association
Certifications
Mediating Disputes
Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School
The Art and Skills of Trial Advocacy
National Institute of Trial Advocacy
Websites & Blogs
Website
First Things First
Website
What Can You Do To Be Prepared
Blog
On Lawyering
Legal Answers
1 Questions Answered
Q. Fell through makeshift floor vent injuring my knee. Was working at a residence. Unsure who's responsible or what to do.
A: Your question doesn't tell us enough to answer it.

First, we need to know who owned and/or controlled the place where you were injured.

Second, we need to know why you were on the premises and what your status on there was.

Where you a tenant of the premises?

Where you there to transact business?

Had you been invited there?

Were you a trespasser?

Under current Vermont law your rights would differ in each situation.

Third, once we understand your status, we would need to evaluate whether the person who owned or controlled premises failed to take reasonable care to protect you, or people like you, from harm and/or showed willful and wanton disregard for your safety.

Fourth and finally, we would need to evaluate whether you took, or failed to take, reasonable steps to protect yourself.

With this information, we could evaluate whether you have a claim.

It sounds like you could use a consultation with an experienced Vermont personal injury lawyer.
... Read More
View More Answers
Contact & Map
Rich Cassidy Law
1233 Shelburne Road
Ste. D5
South Burlington, VT 05403
Telephone: (802) 864-8144
Fax: (802) 778-0510
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Notice: Appointments can be scheduled outside of regular business hours if necessary.