Richard Bieder
His wit, his charm, his intelligence, and his legal prowess have endeared this man to his colleagues and rendered him an outstanding ambassador for our civil justice system.
– American Trial Lawyers Association
RICHARD BIEDER was known throughout the country for handling individual and class action cases resulting from mass disasters, consumer rights, personal injuries, unfair trade practices and commercial fraud and misrepresentation. At the firm, Richard was known as our heart and soul.
Richard prevailed over major insurance companies, accounting firms, manufacturers, and other powerful institutions. Richard represented victims in high-profile cases such as: the collapse of the L’Ambiance Plaza building in Bridgeport, the Dupont Hotel fire in San Juan, Puerto Rico; investors bilked by the Colonial Realty Empire; and families of individuals killed in the Oklahoma City bombing.
Richard Bieder has been listed in Connecticut Magazine’s Super Lawyers section and in The Best Lawyers in America since 1987 for Personal Injury Litigation. He served as president of the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. He has also served as a guest commentator on Court TV.
Outside of the United States, Richard was a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, a United Kingdom organization, and the Australian Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Association; he was a member of the International Society of Barristers. He has lectured extensively throughout the world, including talks in Argentina, regarding the training of United States Lawyers, lectured in Australia on the misconduct of insurance companies, guest appearances in the Netherlands on obtaining competent counsel, in Ireland on issues related to public safety, and in South Africa regarding trial techniques and persuasive arguments.
He has published several articles designed to train lawyers on trial preparation and litigation strategy and recorded multiple instruction audio tapes designed to assist lawyers on trial. He has also appeared as a speaker on programs sponsored by the American Association for Justice, the National College of Advocacy, and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, as well as many other state trial lawyer organizations.
Richard was appointed by a Federal Judge to be a Federal Special Master overseeing ongoing litigation between the City of Hartford and its substantial minority population on a vast array of issues.
Richard has been awarded a citation by the Connecticut State Legislature for his legal role in an election case of social significance. He also has been recognized by the Stamford Branch of the NAACP for his legal role in a case of significance to that community and has been officially recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his outstanding legal effort, dedication, and support.
Among other awards, Richard was the first recipient of the Driscoll/Tianti Memorial Award, given by the Connecticut AFL/CIO, UConn Labor Education Center, and Connecticut AFL-CIO Women’s and Civil Rights Committee in recognition of his contributions to workplace safety and health. He also received lifetime achievement awards from the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Pro-Bono Award from the Connecticut Law Tribune.
Of his many accomplishments and accolades, Richard said, “The things I do I don’t do to receive praise. I mainly do it so my children and grandchildren have a model they will take into the future. I don’t revel in it [but] it’s nice to know I’ve been able to do some things.”