Richard N. Shapiro
Virginia
Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, P.C.
4705 Columbus Street #304
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
United States
Tel: (833) 997-1774
Email:
rshapiro@hsinjurylaw.com
Web:
www.hsinjurylaw.com
Rick has practiced products liability and personal injury law for over two decades in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the eastern United States.
He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including faulty products, wrongful death, trucking, railroad and medical negligence claims.
Mr. Shapiro is one of a tiny number and possibly the only plaintiff’s product liability/personal injury lawyer in the US who is an inventor and designer of consumer products, holding 19 US patents, and several international patents. Radio Flyer wagons licensed one of his patents and he co-designed a folding baby stroller offered for sale in Europe. Since the early 1990s, he has designed and analyzed product design on several consumer projects involving his own patents, including finite element analysis and structural analysis of products. He has brought this unique design background together with over 25 years of personal injury trial attorney experience on several major product defect cases he and his partners have handled. Virginia Lawyers Weekly named Shapiro a highly select honoree in 2022 as a Virginia “Leader in the Law.”
In one Norfolk, VA product defect case an 88-year-old man was operating a Ryobi ride-on lawnmower when it burst into flames engulfing him, and he died as a result. Several product liability attorneys in Virginia turned the case down, unable to determine a product defect. Mr. Shapiro investigated the Virginia wrongful death case, found a defect existed in the fuel line connection to the gas tank, and ultimately brought it to jury trial in a Norfolk federal court, where the jury returned a $2.5 million verdict against Ryobi, later affirmed on appeal. Details of the product liability verdict against Ryobi were contained in a PR web news release about the product defect verdict at the time.
In another Virginia product defect case, a hotel guest was handling a glass coffee carafe in a chain hotel when the glass carafe shattered causing serious tendon damage personal injuries to his hand. That Northern Virginia product defect case was later settled against both the hotel chain and the manufacturer of the glass coffee carafe.
Product defect cases in Virginia can be tricky because Virginia does not accept the theory called “strict liability law” applicable in many states, in Virginia product liability cases attorneys must usually prove either negligent design or a breach of warranty pertaining to the defect in the product.
Richard N. Shapiro received his college degree from the University of Maryland, served as staff assistant to U.S. Congressman Whitehurst, and graduated from George Mason Law School With Distinction. Rick also served as a member of the George Mason University Law Review, 1982-1984, and had an article published in the Law Review’s 1984 publication. He obtained a clerkship with federal district Judge Robert Doumar from 1984-85 before entering private practice in civil litigation, and soon restricted his practice to personal injury law exclusively.
- Ratliff v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., 2009 WL 649268 (March 12, 2009) (Link to WV Supreme Court Opinion)
- Payne v. CSX Transportation, Inc., No. 2-231-07, (Dec. 27, 2013) (Link to June 2015 TN Supreme Court Opinion)
- Bilenky v. Ryobi Technologies, Inc., et.al, No. 2:13-cv-00345 (E.D. Va. June 26, 2015) (Link to Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion upholding $2.5 million jury verdict)
- Muhammad v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., No. 18-1695 (4th Cir. June 4, 2019) (Link to Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion reinstating a FELA lawsuit in favor of Rick’s client.)
- Was named peer reviewed 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law by Best Lawyers (Norfolk, VA area).
- Recognized “Best Lawyer” by U.S. News & World Report (since ’10)
- 10.0 perfect rating on Avvo, a lawyer rating service
- Board Certified by the National Board of Legal Specialty (ABA Accredited)
- Selected to the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” of Virginia, by the National Trial Lawyers
- Recognized as a Top 10 Trial Lawyer for truck accident litigation by the National Trial Lawyers’ Trucking Association
- “AV” Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, one of the most prominent and respected lawyer rating organizations in the world.
- Recognized as a “Client Champion” by Martindale-Hubbell (since 2018)
- Recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics Magazine (since ’10)
- Chairman of the American Association of Justice Railroad Section (two terms)
- Executive Committee Member for the Railroad Trial Lawyers Association
- Selected to Who’s Who in American Law (2009)
- American Inventor, granted more than 18 U.S. Patents, with several licenses granted.
- Author of Amazon #1 Best Selling Suspense Thriller, “Taming the Telomeres.”
In addition to dangerous prescription drug issues, our faulty product lawyers help people who were the victims of defective consumer products like faulty car brakes and steering columns (that could lead to serious car accidents), children’s strollers and toys, and so forth. Thousands of consumers are seriously injured every year by products that have not been properly manufactured, inspected or tested to insure that they will not cause serious injuries or even loss of life or death.
When you are looking for an attorney to represent you or a loved one in a personal injury or wrongful death case involving a defective product, faulty product, defective medical device, prescription drug side effect, or any other defect or recall, look for an actual track record of success. Our team of experienced Virginia and North Carolina defective product injury attorneys are proud of the results we have obtained on behalf of seriously injured clients and on behalf of families who lost a loved one from a faulty defective product or device.
The firm, which was founded in 1985, focuses exclusively on plaintiff’s side personal injury litigation. All of the attorneys at the firm are active, practicing trial attorneys. The breadth of experience at the firm is extensive. In fact, we have a combined 70 years of legal experience.
Our firm is known for personal service. When you hire us, you will have a lawyer fighting for you and someone who you can contact when you have questions or concerns. Our firm does not operate like most firms. With us, you will be treated with the respect you deserve and given the time and attention you need throughout your case. We will continuously keep you updated in your case.
The firm’s primary place of business is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The firm has offices in Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Hampton, and in Kill Devil Hills, NC.