Rick was a former partner at a large law firm before opening his own practice in 2015.  He joined Minana & Associates in January of 2024.  He has handled several trials as first-chair and second-chair in state and federal court in Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas.  Rick has handled over 20 appellate matters in every appellate court in Missouri, including the Supreme Court of Missouri.  

Services

Civil Litigation

Appeals

Recognition

• Speaker, “Don’t Be Stupid, Pertinent and Potentially Pertinent Ethics Issues,” Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis 2024 Virtual 15-Hour Annual CLE, St. Louis, Missouri, June 27, 2024.

• Speaker, “Don’t Be Stupid and Other Ethics Issues,” Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Bench & Bar Conference, Camdenton, Missouri, May 30, 2024.  

• “My Kid’s In Trouble!  Now What?  A Primer on the Juvenile Justice System,” The St. Louis Bar Journal, Vol. 70, Fall 2023.

• “Supreme Court Update,” Missouri Bar Solo and Small Firm Conference, Osage Beach, Missouri, June 8, 2023.  

• “What to Do Before Trial,” The St. Louis Bar Journal, Vol. 68, No. 2, Fall 2021, co-authored with James Gottschalk.  

• Contributor, “Construction Checklists, A Guide to Frequently Encountered Construction Issues, 2nd Ed.,” Checklist: Design: Defining Basic and Additional Services, American Bar Association, 2022.  

• Speaker, “Get Your Client’s Medical Records for $6.50?  It’s Possible.”  Missouri Bar Solo and Small Firm Conference, Osage Beach, Missouri, June 8, 2017.  

• Moderator, “Is the Sky Falling? What Do the 2017 Legislative Changes Mean to Your Litigation Practice?” Missouri Bar Solo and Small Firm, Conference, Osage Beach, Missouri, June 8, 2017.

• Contributor, “Tort Law,” The Missouri Bar 4th ed., Chapter titled “Strict Liability,” 2016.

• Contributor, “Tort Law,” The Missouri Bar 4th ed., Chapter titled “Products Liability,” 2016.

• Contributor, “Construction Law,” The Missouri Bar 3rd ed., Supplement for Chapter 4:  “Construction Insurance,” 2016.

• Contributor, “Construction Law,” The Missouri Bar 3rd ed., Supplement for Chapter 13:  “Dispute Avoidance and Alternative Dispute Resolution,” 2016.  

• “Examining the Finer Points of Subcontract Illegality for Federally Funded Projects,” TerraLex Connections Newsletter, September 2015.

• Speaker, “Best Practices for Documenting Construction Claims,” Husch Blackwell LLP, Kansas City, Missouri, September 2015.

• “Missouri Opens the Door for Punitive Damages in Common Law Claims for Noneconomic Damages in Medical Negligence Claims,” TerraLex Connections Newsletter, March 2015.

• "The Supreme Court of Missouri Limits Tax Exemptions for Construction Activities,” TerraLex Connections Newsletter, March 2015.  

• Speaker, “Best Practices for Documenting Construction Claims,” Husch Blackwell LLP, St. Louis, Missouri, September 2014.  

• Contributor, “The Risks of Building Green,” St. Louis Construction News and Review, March 2013.

• Speaker and author, “Construction Law Update,” St. Louis, Missouri, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Topic: “Designers: You Are the Best—Just Don’t Agree to Be: Contracting for the Standard of Care,” May 2012.

• Speaker and author, “AIA Contracts,” St. Louis, Missouri, Lorman Education Services, Topics: “Cost of Work and Design-Build Agreements,” and “Mediation, Arbitration & Litigation,” September 2011.

• Speaker and author, “Managing Risks on Construction Projects,” St. Louis, Missouri, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Topic: “Contribution, Limitation of Liability Clauses, and Indemnity,” May 2010.  

• Contributor, “Tort Law,” The Missouri Bar 3rd ed., Cumulative Supplement for Chapter 14: “Products Liability,” and Cumulative Supplement for Chapter 15, “Strict Liability,” 2010.

• Contributor, “Construction Law,” The Missouri Bar 3rd ed., Chapter 13: “Dispute Avoidance and Alternative Dispute Resolution,” 2009.

• Contributor, “Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet: Full Spectrum of Recent Product Decisions,” Defense Research Institute Product Liability Conference materials, San Diego, California, April 2009.  

• Contributor, “Construction Checklists, A Guide to Frequently Encountered Construction Issues,” Checklist No. 17: Design: Defining Basic and Additional Services, American Bar Association, 2008.

• Speaker and author, “AIA Contracts,” O’Fallon, Illinois, Lorman Education Services, Topic: “Dispute Resolution: Mediation, Arbitration and Litigation,” September 2008.

• Speaker, “Effective Legal Writing: Issues and Challenges for Attorneys,” St. Louis, Missouri, The Missouri Bar, Topic: “Make the Right First Impression With Your Writing,” October 2007.

• Speaker and author, “How Design Documents Can Prevent or Cause Construction Claims in Missouri,” St. Louis, Missouri, Lorman Education Services, Topic: “Legal Considerations in Assessing Design Liability,” January 2007.  

• Speaker and author, “AIA Contracts,” Collinsville, Illinois, Lorman Education Services, Topic: “Dispute Resolution,” August 2005.

• “The Economic Loss Doctrine is Partially Abandoned in Pennsylvania,” Fault Line Newsletter, Fall 2005.

• “Business Policy Does Not Cover Architect’s Negligence,” Fault Line Newsletter, Winter 2005.

• “Sorting Indemnity Issues,” Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Newsletter, Summer 2004. 

• “Another Look at the Pollution Exclusion,” Fault Line Newsletter, Fall/Winter 2003.

• "Workers’ Compensation: A Forgotten Defense When Defending Sexual Harassment and Assault Cases,” Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Newsletter, April 2001.

• “Effect of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-12 Gene Transfer on Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells,” Jueren Lou, Yizheng Tu, Fredrick J. Ludwig, Jinfan Zhang, and Paul R. Manske, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 369:333-339, 1999.

• “Apoptosis as a Mechanism of Neuronal Cell Death Following Acute Experimental Spinal Cord Injury,” Jueren Lou, Lawrence G. Lenke, Fredrick J. Ludwig, and Michael F. O’Brien, Spinal Cord, 36:683-690, 1998.

• “In Vivo Gene Transfer and Overexpression of Focal Adhesion Kinase (pp 125 FAK) Mediated by Recombinant Adenovirus-Induced Tendon Adhesion Formation and Epitenon Cell Change,” Jueren Lou, Hideaki Kubota, Shunsuke Hotokezaka, Fredrick J. Ludwig, and Paul R. Manske, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 15:911-918, 1997.  

Education

• J.D., University of Missouri School of Law

• B.A., Washington University in St. Louis

Admissions

• Missouri

• Illinois

•  Arkansas

• Supreme Court of the United States

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

• U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

• U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Professional Memberships and Certifications

• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; Bench & Bar Committee, 2024, 2025; Chair, Solo and Small Firm Section, 2021

• Supreme Court Disciplinary Committee for Region X (term expires 12/31/2026)

• The Missouri Bar; Committee on Resolution of Fee Disputes (facilitator, mediator, and arbitrator); Civil Practice and Procedure Committee; Complex Litigation Committee

• FINRA roster of arbitrators

Experience

With almost twenty-five years of experience, Rick has handled many professional liability cases in his career, including health care providers, architects, and engineers.  He is proficient in product liability and toxic tort matters.  He has litigated many general liability cases over the years, including automobile, trucking, premises, and wrongful death claims. 

Pro Bono

For many years Rick served as a Special Public Defender, representing indigent clients in criminal proceedings in Missouri.  In 2021, he received an Award of Excellence from the Public Defender’s Office for outstanding service.  Rick also provides stepparent adoptions free of charge or at a reduced rate to financially challenged families.

Outside of the office

Rick spends his free time with his wife and four children, and enjoys watching his children perform at music recitals, dance competitions, mock trial competitions, and sporting events.  He also likes to read on a variety of subjects and to play guitar.  He owns a genuine Hofner 500/1 bass guitar—the same model used by Paul McCartney in the early days of the Beatles.  Much to his wife’s aggravation, he also owns seven other guitars (and keeps looking for more).

Community Leadership

Board Member, Center for Specialized Services, St. Louis, Missouri (March 2022-present)

Finance Committee Member, Fox High School Marching Band, Arnold, Missouri (July 2021-May 2023)