Richard J. Murphey, B.A., J.D.

Of Counsel

Richard J. Murphey, Esq. has practiced law since 1982, and is a veteran personal injury attorney.  He also has extensive experience in collections and government tort claims. He graduated from the Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California in 1980.  He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1976.

From 1982 to 1983, he was an associate with the firm of Dummit and Agajanian in Los Angeles, where his practice focused on medical malpractice defense.  From 1983 to 1990, he was an associate with the firm of Morgan, Wenzel & McNicholas, LLP in Irvine, California, where his practice emphasized personal injury and insurance defense.  He later became a partner with the firm of Burlison, Luostari & Murphey, LLP in Newport Beach, California, where he continued his insurance defense work and also worked extensively on government tort claims actions.

Mr. Murphey brings a broad array of experience to the firm, including construction defect litigation, business litigation, collections and indoor environmental law.  His practice has emphasized personal injury litigation (both plaintiff and defense).  He represents Brink’s Armored Car and has represented such formidable clients as the Marriott Corporation, Lucky Stores, Sparklett’s Drinking Water Corp., and public entities such as the City of Irvine, California, and the City of Newport Beach, California.  His collections experience has been for clients such as Wells Fargo Financial Acceptance, Chase Manhattan Bank, Fireside Thrift Company, Balboa Thrift and Loan, Americredit and Transouth.

Mr. Murphey was an instrumental strategist in the firm’s 1999 settlement of Lange v. Southwest Water Conditioning, Inc., which was an indoor environmental case in Phoenix, Arizona.  The Plaintiffs alleged that toxic molds in their home grew as a result of a leak from a defective water conditioning system.  They further alleged that this condition caused them a variety of health problems, as well as increased living expenses and emotional distress.  Through various recoveries, the family ultimately received a total of $978,000 in insurance benefits and settlements with the Defendants.  He is licensed to practice in all State and Federal Courts in California.

Richard J. Murphey is licensed to practice law in California.