Profile

When defending complex injury and business litigation, Richard W. Vanis Jr. successfully manages liability, obligation, causation and contractual issues to achieve favorable results for his clients. He heads our Los Angeles and Newport Beach offices.

Rich provides cost-effective representation to insurance carriers, businesses, employers, and private and high-profile clients across Southern California.

“I will fight a matter tooth and nail, go the distance to trial, if that’s what my client wants.” he explains. 

Construction, Injuries, Commercial and Landslide Litigation 

He counsels on multimillion-dollar disputes and catastrophic injury claims connected to construction, public entities, earth movement, product liability, wrongful death, and business disputes. Rich also has considerable experience representing high-profile individuals in their private disputes such as with domestic staffs and property accidents.   

 His previous experience at construction and medical malpractice defense law firms provides clients with an advantage in cases requiring technical, scientific and medical evidence knowledge.

Landslides are another niche area of his practice. Rich represents property owners in lawsuits brought against them for loss of lateral support, improper diversion of water. 

Whether defending corporate directors in internal disputes or assigning accountability to responsible parties in high-demand matters, Rich uses his connection to clients to power litigation solutions to their legal challenges.

Experience

Rich Vanis’ representative matters include:

Business Litigation

• Business Disputes – Represent companies and businesses of all sizes in disputes involving breach of contract, employment agreements, shareholder issues, intellectual property violations and lease agreements.
• Construction Disputes – Extensive experience representing developers, general contractors, and subcontractors in litigation involving construction defects, delay claims, mechanics liens and other contentious issues.

Catastrophic Injury

• Construction – Represented concrete subcontractor involved in litigation related to a worker impaling his head on rebar at a Los Angles Unified School District site, leaving the plaintiff unable to communicate.
• Collision – Defended wrongful death action involving a collision between an automobile and Amtrak train.
• Education – Represented a major Southern California university in injury claims related to an alleged construction defect in its gymnasium, which caused one of the students to lacerate his arm.  Rich successfully orchestrated a global settlement among defendants where his client was not required to contribute.
• Glass – Defend various transporters of glass in litigation and injury matters.
• Construction Negligence – Successfully defended and reduced risk exposure of a commercial subcontractor in a negligence suit connected to an ironworker’s injuries from a four-story fall down an elevator shaft.

Product Liability

• Pool Heater – Defended a distributor, who was part of a multidefendant defective product action, against claims involving a head injury induced by a pool heater lid. Rich minimized his client’s liability to a fraction of the original claim.
• Chain Saw Scalping – Succesfully represented the manufacturer of a chainsaw in a defective product case involving the scalping of a minor using the machine. Rich achieved a nominal settlement on behalf of his client.
• Punch Press – Defended an employer in a severed fingers case alleging negligence in punch press accident. Case dismissed on first day of trial. 

Earth Movement

• Landslides – Handle multiple cases involving landslides and other earth movement related damage claims. Rich represents clients defending against homeowners in their claims against government authorities.  Issues include maintenance of properties, road cut and vineyard construction in cases across Southern California, including in the Hollywood Hills, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Palos Verdes and throughout the Santa Monica Mountains.

 High Profile Clients

• Represent well-known individuals in Los Angeles and Orange County involving their disputes with property and personal matters.  Discreetly counsel on a range of matters including landslide damage, business matters, domestic staff claims and property damage.

News/Publications

• General Powell's Surprise Visit
• Archer Norris Expands Southern California Presence
• Litigator Michael Gray Expands Archer Norris Litigation Practice

Recent News and Articles

Press Releases

01.28.09 Stable Management Key in Turbulent Times
02.08.08 Archer Norris Partner Rich Vanis Honored with Spirit of Verbum Dei Award