Phone:
516.487.5800
E-mail:
rmontes@mlnappeals.com

Since joining MLN in 2003, Richard has litigated numerous cases in state and federal appeals courts.   His expansive practice includes medical and other professional malpractice; construction; products liability; toxic tort; commercial law; and employment law. 

Richard, along with Caryn Lilling, co-chairs the firm’s national damages mitigation program.  In that role Richard has become a leading voice on the topic, including obtaining a landmark decision as lead counsel in Cuevas v. Contra Costa County, 2017 WL 1507913 (Cal. App. 1st Dist. 2017).  Numerous companies, insurance carriers and hospitals now turn to Richard to develop pre-trial, trial and mediation strategies to mitigate damages in catastrophic injury cases.

During his career, Richard has been dedicated to advancing and protecting the legal rights of the Hispanic community on Long Island.  In 2010, Richard was elected as the President of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association (LIHBA).  During his tenure as President, Richard oversaw the creation of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association Community Service Fund (LIHBACSF), a non-profit created to help foster and promote the Long Island Hispanic community’s legal, educational and charitable missions.  From 2011 to 2014, Richard served as President of the LIHBACSF.  During his tenure as President, the LIHBACSF raised tens of thousands of dollars to assist groups that advocate on behalf of struggling Hispanic communities, children, low income families and victims of natural disasters.  The LIHBACSF also developed six summer fellowships for local law students at the Suffolk County and Nassau County District Attorneys’ offices.  In 2013 the LIHBACSF participated with their partner Bethpage Federal Credit Union in the creation and implementation of a ground-breaking full three-year scholarship for a diverse Hofstra Law School student that has shown a commitment to community service.  This unique scholarship included a summer fellowship at a major Long Island law firm and a paid fellowship at the conclusion of the second year of law school.  Based on the success of that scholarship, in 2014 the LIHBACSF created the Luis Pagan Leadership Scholarship to be awarded to a diverse Touro Law School Student that also included a summer fellowship at another major Long Island law firm.    

Richard graduated from Georgetown University, cum laude, with a B.A. in government and psychology.  Thereafter, he graduated cum laude from Boston University School of Law as an Edward F. Hennessey Scholar.  

He is admitted to practice law in New York, as well as the United States District Court in the Eastern and Southern districts of New York, the First and Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.