About

What to Expect with Motley Rice

We approach each case with care and compassion as litigation is often connected to life-altering events. We know how challenging pursuing litigation can be for our clients and their families, especially when they’re fighting a battle they never asked to be a part of. Our attorneys and staff are here to guide clients through the process and ease their burdens.

Litigating Today for a Better Tomorrow®

While litigation can take years to complete from start to finish, our attorneys are always working for our clients, no matter how long it takes or how hard it gets. We will stand beside our clients, every step of the way.

Our Founders

Motley Rice's founding members Ron Motley (1944-2013) and Joe Rice began working together in the 1970s to use the civil justice system as both a consumer and business ethics watchdog.

Ron Motley

Ron Motley fought for greater justice, accountability and recourse, and has been widely recognized as one of America’s most accomplished and skilled trial lawyers. During a career that spanned more than four decades, his persuasiveness before a jury and ability to break new legal and evidentiary ground brought to justice two once-invincible giant industries whose malfeasance took the lives of millions of Americans—asbestos and tobacco.

Joe Rice

Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice is recognized as a skillful and innovative negotiator of complex litigation settlements, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest civil actions our courts have seen in the last 30 years.

Our history

Motley Rice's founding members Ron Motley (1944-2013) and Joe Rice began working together in the 1970s to use the civil justice system as both a consumer and business ethics watchdog. Motley Rice attorneys have played significant leadership roles in large and impactful settlements, decisions, and cases.

An image of a set of human lungs with a silhouetted image of workers in the background.

1976

Asbestos & Mesothelioma

Revealed the most substantial business cover-up in U.S. history of a devastating disease caused by a product. Represented thousands of workers, veterans and families. Negotiated and shaped some of the largest U.S. bankruptcy trusts. Litigated cases in 57 U.S. jurisdictions and counting.

1998

Tobacco

Negotiated the $246 billion Master Settlement Agreement with dozens of State Attorneys General, the largest civil settlement in U.S. history.

A map of Iraq and the surrounding areas overlayed with part of a bank sign.

2001

9/11 & Terrorism Financing

Led extensive discovery and settlements for more than 50 cases in 9/11 aviation litigation. Represent more than 6,600 family members, survivors and first responders in ongoing litigation. Conducted global investigation into terrorism financing in Linde vs. Arab Bank and brought a financial institution to trial for the first time under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

A blended image of a map and buildings along a beach that is polluted from an oil spill.

2010

BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Co-lead negotiator for largest civil class action settlement in U.S. history.

A Wall St. sign against a white collumed building. The sign has the number 55 and an arrow point to the left.

2011

Securities Fraud & Antitrust

Led litigation for U.S. and foreign plaintiffs against corporations including: Twitter, Barrick Gold, Pharmacia Corp., Sprint, Nextel, State Street, Avon, Visa/Mastercard, and pay-for-delay medical drug manufacturers.

A partial picture of a prescription bottle and a few loose pills.

2012

Medical Drugs & Devices

Held leadership roles in more than 30 medical drug and device cases and represented more than 41,000 clients, including recovering millions of dollars for tens-of-thousands of women injured by TVM products.

A side view of black truck driving down the street.

2015

Vehicle Defects

VW Emissions Fraud: One of the lead settlement negotiators. Largest auto-related consumer class action in U.S. history.

Takata’s Airbags: Negotiated a rare personal injury trust and vehicle manufacturer settlement amid bankruptcy.

A landscape image of workers safety works walking in silhouette against a sepia toned background.

2018

Worker Safety

Consulted on first class action in South Africa’s history for injured workers and negotiated the historic settlement that resolved the case, achieving an unprecedented means of recovery for gold miners exposed to toxic silica dust.

2019

Lead Contamination

Co-lead trial counsel in the historic public nuisance lead paint pigment verdict, The People of California v. Conagra Grocery Products Company. Achieved a $305 million settlement for 10 California jurisdictions to fund removal of toxic lead paint in homes, protecting thousands of families and children.

2019

Opioid Crisis

Co-lead counsel for 2,700+ communities nationwide in the National Prescription Opiate MDL, including trial counsel and negotiators for settlement that resolved the MDL’s first bellwether trial in Ohio. Counsel for 40+ state and local governments, including several of the hardest hit areas.

2023

Youth Social Media Harm

Co-lead counsel in Adolescent Social Media Addiction MDL representing 1,246 plaintiffs harmed by the alleged addictive nature of social media platforms, including school districts and Public Client cases filed by state Attorneys General.

2024

Diabetes Lawsuits

Involved in a range of diabetes drug and device litigation. Co-lead counsel in National GLP-1 MDL, representing 1,443 claims of harm due to alleged unexpected severe side effects from the use of GLP-1 agonists.