Qualifications

The combination of Richard Silber’s intense trial experience and medical background greatly enhances his ability to successfully litigate negligence cases.

Mr. Silber received an undergraduate degree in Biology from Beliot College and began his career performing biological research at Children’s Hospital in Boston. He then attended the Franklin Pierce Law Center where he completed a program in health law, a discipline exclusive to the Franklin Pierce Law Center that uniquely qualifies Mr. Silber to litigate medical and accidental malpractice cases.

After obtaining his law degree, Mr. Silber was accepted into a highly selective and competitive Honors program at the U.S. Department of Justice. Here he gained immediate experience as a trial attorney, defending the U.S. Government against fraud. A similar position at McDonall Douglas in St. Louis saw Mr. Silber litigating fraud and contract irregularity cases for a government contractor.

A private practice representing plaintiffs in medical, professional, and accidental negligence cases was a natural extension of Mr. Silber’s background in health and experience at trial—and a boon to clients. Mr. Silber has yet to lose a trial, including two high-profile cases against the District of Columbia.

The Tyra Hunter case and its $2.9 million jury award against the D.C. Fire Department and D.C. General Hospital for withholding treatment and for medical malpractice generated national coverage. As did the settlement of the discrimination case against the D.C.’s paramedics after they allegedly used racist language and stopped for a soda pop while transporting an asthmatic child to the hospital.

Awards:

• Distinguished Service Award, Department of Justice, 1999.
• Outstanding Services as Trial Attorney, Civil Division, 1981–1985.
• Distinguished Service Award for efforts in the Tyra Hunter case, Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, 1999.

Bars passed:

• Admitted to the Massachusetts and U.S. Claims Court Bar (1981), the District of Columbia Bar (1985), and the Missouri Bar (1987).

Education:

• Beloit College (B.S., 1975).
• Franklin Pierce Law Center (J.D., 1981).

Experience:

• Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1981–1985.
• Trial Attorney, McDonall Douglas, 1985–1989.
• Private Practice, 1991–present.

Membership:

• The Association of Trial Lawyers, Washington, D.C., Board of Governors.