Richard D. Schuster

Rick is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and the leader 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

Rick 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.

Rick is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association.

Rick received his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law with honors and his B.A. from Miami University.

Rick served as a law clerk for The Honorable John D. Holschuh of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2011-2025; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, 2023-2025; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, 2014-2025; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2023-2025; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, 2023-2025

Columbus CEO, Best Lawyers, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions, 2023-2024

Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2021

Ohio Super Lawyers, Class Action/Mass Torts, 2007-2009, 2013-2019

Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated