Ms. Rich effectively defends clients seeking to discharge residents from nursing homes by presenting evidence at discharge hearings thereby mitigating litigation risks to her clients. She routinely assists in the risk management process by providing legal counsel at the onset of an adverse incident. Ms. Rich further supports her clients with risk management through frequent speaking engagements regarding current trends in litigation and best documentation practices.

Ms. Rich provides legal counsel to Long Term Care facilities and Assisted Living Facilities in regulatory compliance and licensure matter. She also defends nurses and nursing home administrators in professional license revocation matters.

In the area of employment law, Ms. Rich routinely defends claims discrimination (based on race, national origin, gender, disability, and age), retaliation, sexual harassment, and unpaid overtime charges before the Florida Department of Human Relations, EEOC, Department of Labor and in various State and Federal Courts. Her detailed and persuasive Position Statements have resulted in the dismissal of dozens of Charges of Discrimination and Ms. Rich has achieved successful results in numerous arbitration proceedings as well as defense verdict issued by a jury in a Whistle Blower lawsuit. She also represents employers in union grievances through mediation and arbitration.

Through the Insurance practice, Ms. Rich defends claims of professional negligence, legal malpractice as well as personal injury in slip and fall and negligent security/supervision matters.

As a former prosecutor for the Office of the State Attorney in both the 13th Judicial Circuit and the 10th Judicial Circuit, Ms. Rich has extensive trial and courtroom experience in juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony divisions.

Ms. Rich graduated from Suffolk University Law School in Boston. While attending law school, Ms. Rich clerked at Swartz & Swartz, a products liability firm nationally known for dangerous toy litigation. Ms. Rich is licensed to practice in the states of Florida and Massachusetts and in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Through her membership in the Hillsborough County Bar Association, Ms. Rich is a member of the Elder Law Division, Health Law Division, and the Hillsborough Association of Woman Lawyers. Ms. Rich is also a member of the St. Petersburg Bar Association and DRI.

Ms. Rich spends her free time with her children and enjoys volunteering at their school as an active member of the Parents Club at Berkeley Preparatory School.  Ms. Rich is also passionate about helping families battling pediatric cancer and serves on the Board of Directors for the Ali Spears Foundation.

Representative Matters Include:

• Successfully defended a complex Whistleblower lawsuit at jury trial resulting in a defense verdict.
• Successfully defended several Nursing Home Violation of Resident Rights claims through binding arbitration.
• Successfully defended several individually named corporate officials raising Personal Jurisdiction defenses.
• Zealously defended scores of Motions for Leave to Amend to Add a Claim for Punitive Damages.