Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Civil Trial Law, Rick Alvarez is a trial lawyer with versatility and decades of experience in cases involving unique issues, troublesome facts, or both, such as catastrophic torts, corporate liability and risk management, complex commercial disputes, computer spying, unfair competition and trade practices, and the First Amendment. He practices in both state and federal courts throughout Florida and has been admitted pro hac vice in cases throughout the United States.
People
Richard C. Alvarez
Partner, Litigation
Notable Work
State Jury Trial on Defamation of Social Media Influencer:
Successfully tried case of online defamation concerning social media influencer, resulting in jury verdict of $1.6 million.
Exception from Mandatory Closure During Covid-19 Quarantine:
Effectively obtained injunctive relief for a corporation misclassified as an inessential business and forced to close its operations under local Covid-19 ordinances contrary to the “State Emergency Management Act” at Florida Statutes, §§ 252.31-252.60.
Federal Jury Trial on Email Spying:
Successfully tried a corporation's claims of unauthorized access to its electronic mail under the “Stored Communications Act” at 18 U.S.C. § 2701, resulting in a finding of hundreds of statutory violations and a jury verdict of liability.
Final Summary Judgment on Claims Against Religious Organization:
Secured final summary judgment, after extensive litigation and discovery, on controversial claims of wrongful death and other torts against a religious organization and its members.
Federal Jury Trial on Defective Industrial Vehicle:
Successfully tried a complex products-liability claim regarding the design of an industrial forklift, resulting in a finding of defectiveness and a jury verdict of liability.
Dismissal of Federal Claims Against Corporate Corrections Agency:
Secured the dismissal of all claims against a corporate corrections agency and its employee under the “Prison Litigation Reform Act” at 42 U.S.C. § 1997e.
Special Counsel to Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit:
Appointed as special counsel to the Office of the Chief Judge for Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit on novel questions regarding public access to official and unofficial records, resulting in formative rulings by the Second District Court of Appeal and Florida Supreme Court.
Affiliations
- Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay, Board Member
- Metropolitan Ministries, Former Board Member
Honors and Distinctions
- Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Civil Trial Law
- Best Lawyers in America, 2021-2024, Listed in Florida for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- The National Trial Lawyers, Top 100
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Rated
Published Work and Lectures
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Florida Bar CLE, Speaker, "Identifying Viable Cases of Personal Injury,” 2015
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Lorman Education CLE, Speaker, “Premises Liability Cases from Plaintiff’s Perspective,” 2011
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Hillsborough County Bar Association CLE, Speaker, “Essentials of Personal Injury Litigation,” 2008
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81 The Florida Bar Journal, No. 1, 53, Author, “Mislabeling the Pharmacist Who Does More Than Just Mislabel the Prescription - A Study of Pharmaceutical Liability Under Florida Law”
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Hillsborough County Bar Association CLE, Speaker, “Preparing for a Trial by Experts,” 2007
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Hillsborough County Bar Association CLE, Speaker, “A Study of Pharmaceutical Liability Under Florida Law," 2006
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Hillsborough County Bar Association CLE, Speaker, “Workers’ Compensation Immunity in the Aftermath of Tort Reform," 2004
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Hillsborough County Bar Association CLE, Speaker, “Pretrial Preparation, Jury Selection and Trial of Products Liability Suits for Plaintiffs,” 2004
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Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers CLE, Speaker, “Maximizing Damages from Beginning to End,” 2003
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Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers CLE, Speaker, “The Discriminatory Exercise of Peremptory Challenges,” 2002
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Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers CLE, Speaker, “Effective Approaches to Jury Selection in Cases of Products Liability," 2001
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74 The Florida Bar Journal, No. 9, 72, Author, “Parental Consortium: Have You Checked the Children's Claims?”
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Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers CLE, Speaker, “Rebuttal Summation for the Plaintiff,” 2000