C. Richard Newsome is the managing partner of the Newsome Law Firm, a boutique firm specializing in representing consumers who have been catastrophically injured by defective products. Before his consumer practice, he worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida, and then worked for the Cabaniss Firm representing manufacturers including DuPont and Ford Motor Company.

Rich has spent substantial time helping to protect the civil justice system through his work for the Florida Justice Association and the American Association for Justice. He has served on the Board of the FJA since 1998, has served as a F.L.A.G. Trustee, as a member of the Executive Committee, and is currently the organization’s Secretary and Membership Chairman. He has also served as a member of the Board of Governors for the AAJ, and is a Past-President of the Central Florida Trial Lawyer’s Association.

He has published dozens of articles about the law and practice of product liability litigation and is currently chairman of the Florida Justice Association’s initiative to create a trial notebook (which will hopefully be published this coming spring!!). He has received numerous awards and honors including Best Lawyer’s in America, Florida’s Legal Elite, Law Dragon 500, Florida Super Lawyers, Orlando Magazine’s Best Lawyer’s in Orlando, Best Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America, Who’s Who in America, FJA’s “Tiger in the Bush” Award, the FJA President’s “Rough Rider Award,” the FLAG Award, the FJA Shoe Leather Award, and the AAJ Stephen C. Sharpe Award. He has served on the Attorney General’s transition team, was the Chairman of the Fifth District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Committee, is on the Board of the Attorney’s Information Exchange Group, and served on the Parish Counsel of St. James Catholic Church.