Richard D. Schuster
Mr. Schuster is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and the chairperson of the toxic tort practice group. His practice includes serving as National Coordinating Counsel to several Fortune 500 companies, representing numerous clients state-wide in Ohio in toxic tort actions, advocating for tort reform and significant appellate work.
Career highlights include:
- Arguing before the Ohio Supreme Court on procedural and constitutional issues involved with Ohio’s asbestos reform
- Testifying before the Ohio General Assembly on various occasions regarding legislation on tort reform, asbestos reform, silica reform and public nuisance reform
- Defending government contractors in several class action lawsuits alleging Price-Anderson Act claims
- Representing a governmental entity in a mandamus action before the Ohio Supreme Court
Mr. Schuster has participated in a variety of seminars and made presentations on topics related to the expansion of litigation in the lead industry, federal and state toxic tort legislation, medical criteria in Ohio’s asbestos legislation, preparing a winning silica case in Ohio and updates in silica litigation.
Mr. Schuster is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Columbus Bar Association.
Mr. Schuster received his J.D. from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law with honors and his B.A. from Miami University.
Mr. Schuster served as a law clerk for The Honorable John D. Holschuh of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
Honors & Awards
- Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2012
- The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2011-2012
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Class Action/Mass Torts, 2007-2009
- AV Peer Review Rated in Martindale Hubbell
News
- More than 100 Vorys Attorneys named on 2012 The Best Lawyers in America® List
- Vorys Ranked #1 Law Firm in Ohio on 2011 Best Lawyers in America® list
- Richard Schuster quoted in Inside Counsel article "Ohio Ruling Leads to Dismissal of Asbestos Suits"
- 70 Vorys Attorneys Recognized as 2009 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Schuster quoted in Business First article "Thousands of asbestos cases tossed following Supreme Court ruling"
- Schuster quoted in Products Liability Law360 article "Ohio Tackling Asbestos Case Backlog: Experts"
- Schuster quoted in Products Liability Law360 article "Ohio High Court Finds Asbestos Law Retroactive"
- Schuster featured in Today's Facility Manager blog "Ohio Supreme Court Reviewing Landmark Asbestos Decision"
Events
Publications
- "What Ohio's Retroactive Application Of Its Asbestos Legislation Means For The Litigation, Both Statewide And Nationwide," Mealey's Litigation Report, November 12, 2008
- “Ohio Tort Reform. A Roadmap for Success?,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, February 2005
- “Ohio First to Put Reins on Out-of-Control Asbestos Litigation,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, July 2004
- "Landmark Asbestos Law Aids Sick, Protects Jobs," Business Courier, Spring 2004
- “Ohio Enacts Landmark Silica and Mixed Dust Legislation,” Mealey’s Litigation Report: Silica, August 2004
- “Silica: The Next Asbestos?” The Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s 2004 Environmental and Safety Directory, 2004
- “Punitive Damages Awards in Strict Product Liability Litigation: The Doctrine, The Debate, The Defenses,” Ohio State Law Journal, 1981 (42 Ohio St. L.J. 771)
- Client Alert: Cuyahoga Court of Appeals Applies Asbestos-Reform Law
- Client Alert: EPA Announces Carbon Nanotubes to be Treated as New Chemical Under TSCA
- Client Alert: Nanotechnology Excluded from Insurance by Continental Western Insurance Group