Rick Stuhlbarg concentrates his practice on defending some of the world's largest automotive and consumer product manufacturers in product liability claims and commercial disputes. He has tried cases in state and federal courts involving high-value product liability and Lemon Law cases. Rick is conversational in Japanese which aids him in navigating complex matters for many of his international clients.
Rick defends some of the most well-known names in the motor vehicle and recreational vehicle industries in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. One of the high-exposure trials he second-chaired in 2010, Lewis v. Yamaha, was named by the Daily Journal as one of the "Top 10 Defense Verdicts" in California that year. In 2017, he second-chaired an automotive seat belt case that resulted in a defense verdict. Rick also has taken large sum warranty matters to trial in California, defending luxury motor vehicle manufacturers in more than 35 Lemon Law trials and arbitrations which have involved the California Song-Beverly Act and the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Acts.
In addition to his robust automotive practice, Rick also serves clients in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries. He currently serves as local counsel for a brand manufacturer in a large pharmaceutical mass tort. He has also handled expert depositions in a radiopharmaceutical case and prepared Japanese witnesses for deposition in a case involving a medical device manufacturer.
Rick also has jury and bifurcated bench trial experience in consumer fraud cases concerning the California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act and the Business and Professions Code §17200 or Unfair Business Practices Act. His practice also includes commercial litigation and arbitrations, and he regularly advises his clients on litigation prevention.
As an active member of numerous legal associations, Rick frequently speaks on product liability and warranty topics. In 2019, he spoke at the annual ABA TIPS Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference in 2019 on Recent California Automotive Warranty Appellate Update.