Areas
of Practice
Admiralty/Maritime, Automobile/Trucking, Construction Litigation, Federal/State Workers’ Compensation, Insurance Law - Fraud and Arson Investigation and Litigation, Personal/Commercial Property and Casualty Litigation, Products Liability.
Education
Rick Vale attended Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana where he earned a Bachelor Degree in Political Science in 1970 and a Juris Doctorate degree in 1973. While in Law School, Mr. Vale was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Corporations.
Narrative
Rick Vale joined Blue Williams, L.L.P. in 1983, becoming a partner in the firm in 1985. For over thirty-five years, Mr. Vale has represented insurance companies and self-insureds. Mr. Vale has served as lead trial counsel in numerous venues and holds an impeccable trial record in these cases. Rick’s litigation experience spans numerous areas of insurance defense, including personal injury claims arising on vessels, platforms, rigs and other environments. Rick has litigated numerous claims relating to construction activities on roads, bridges and other construction sites. In addition, Rick has represented numerous insurance companies and self-insureds in the defense of construction defect claims, including structural defect claims, moisture intrusion claims and roof claims. In addition, Rick has handled numerous mold related claims. Rick has also handled numerous products liability claims involving a myriad of products. Rick has also defended employers regarding claims brought by employees, either for State or Federal workers’ compensation benefits, as well as tort claims, including claims for racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, etc. Rick has also represented insurance carriers with respect to coverage issues relating to coverage under CGL policies, builder’s risk policies, business owner’s policies, automobile policies, etc. Rick has also worked with several insurance companies and their SIU sections in the defense of fraud claims.
Bars,
Courts and Professional Affiliations
Rick Vale is admitted to practice before all courts in the State of Louisiana, the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, the U. S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the United States Supreme Court. He has also received the AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans Bar Association, Jefferson Bar Association, Federal Bar Associations for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, and the Federal Fifth Circuit Bar Association. Mr. Vale holds an A/V® Peer Review Rated certification mark from Martindale-Hubbell.
