Richard A. Mueller

Rick Mueller wins defense verdicts for products manufacturers in courts across the country.  He has taken more than 100 jury trials to verdict in venues ranging from Guam to New York City and from Seattle to Miami, Florida. His considerable experience, determination and straight-forward approach are recognized by clients and opposing attorneys, alike.

Serving as national litigation counsel for major international manufacturers, Rick’s 40 years of litigation practice focuses on product liability matters (including, inter alia, personal injury claims involving off-road vehicles, personal watercraft, motor cycles and automotive products), but he has also represented clients facing fraud claims, patent claims, class action matters and commercial contract disputes, as well.

Rick has cross examined experts in a variety of fields including engineering, epidemiology, human factors, warnings, naval architecture, validation, computer simulations, management policies, a variety of fields of medicine, aerodynamics, and patent law, to name a few.

Rick is experienced in front of a jury, but he also achieves defense verdicts before the case goes to a jury. Recently, he has obtained summary judgments on design defect and warnings issues in federal district courts in Utah (Wells v. Kawasaki Motors Corporation, U.S.A.) South Carolina (Hickerson v. Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A), and Missouri (Hartley v. Kawasaki Motors Corporation, U.S.A.) and obtained directed verdicts in federal district courts in New Jersey (Ruggerio v. Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.) and Miami (Mizrahi v. Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.). 

Rick represents clients in dealings with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.  In the CPSC context, he has guided clients through product recalls and obtained successful results in investigations.

Rick’s experience extends to appellate briefing and argument. Rick has successfully argued appeals before the United States Courts of Appeal for the Second, Third, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits, as well as state appellate courts in Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas, Alabama and Arizona.

Rick is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and a sustaining member of the Products Liability Advisory Council (PLAC). At his previous firm, Mr. Mueller served for many years on the management committee and as chair of the Products Liability Department.

    • The Best Lawyers in America® (Product Liability, Defense, 2009-2022)

    • Lawyer of the Year, St. Louis Region, Product Liability - Defense, 2022

    • Super Lawyers®

      • Civil Litigation, Products Liability, and Business Litigation, 2005, 2007-2018

    • The Legal 500, Litigation-Product Liability

    • "St. Louis Top Attorneys"

      • St. Louis Magazine (February 2012)

  • Washington University in St. Louis School of Law

    • J.D. (1976)

    • Order of the Coif

    • Washington University Law Quarterly

    Washington University in St. Louis

    • B.A. (1973)

  • Missouri (1976)

    Illinois (1977)

    United States Supreme Court

    U.S. Court of Appeals:

    • 2nd Circuit

    • 3rd Circuit

    • 4th Circuit

    • 7th Circuit

    • 8th Circuit

    • 10th Circuit

    • 11th Circuit

    • Federal Circuit

    U.S. District Courts:

    • Eastern District of Texas

    • Southern District of Illinois

    • Eastern District of Missouri

    • Eastern District of Wisconsin

    • American Association for the Advancement of Science

    • American Journal on Science and Health

    • Association of Trial Lawyers of America

    • Defense Research Institute

      • Recreational Boat Subcommittee

    • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers

    • New York Academy of Sciences

    • The Maritime Law Association

    • Practicing Law Institute

  • Litigation: Products Liability, Intellectual Property, General Commercial, Real Estate, Dealership Law

    • “Defense of Marine Products Litigation,” Defense Research Institute Monograph, June 1990

    • “The Use of Standardized Materials,” Practicing Law Institute, 1988

    • “Protecting Experts Consulting Teams From Discovery,” For The Defense, 1987

    • “Subsequent Remedial Measures,” A Products Liability Commentary and Cases, 1987

    • “The Investigation and Use of Experts,” Product Liability of Manufacturers, Practicing Law Institute, 1979

    • “Defending the Products Liability, Prevention and Defense of Manufacturers’ Products Liability,” Practicing Law Institute, 1978

    • “A Dilemma for the Legal and Medical Profession: Euthanasia and the Defective Newborn,” 22 Saint Louis University Law Journal 501, 1978

    • “The Defense of a Products Liability Lawsuit, Products Liability Manufacturers,” Practicing Law Institute, 1977

    • “Case Update: Products Liability,” Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, 1995

    • “Coordinating Products Liability Litigation,” The University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1990

    • “Effective Coordination of Multiple Products Liability Litigation,” Practicing Law Institute, 1988

    • “Trail Practice,” The Missouri Bar, 1987

    • “Insurance Practice,” The Missouri Bar, 1986

    • “Defending the Lawsuit: Products Liability of Manufacturers,” Practicing Law Institute, St. Louis, 1981

    • “Missouri Practice and Update on Law,” Special Problems in Products Liability Litigation, Practicing Law Institute, St. Louis, 1978

    • Trial Practice, Washington University School of Law (1979-1981)

(314) 557-2826

(314) 602-6084 (mobile)

rmueller@muellercounts.com