Richard “Rich” Hitz was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. He joined the Navy in 1985. As a U.S. Navy Corpsman (medic), he received the Combat Action Ribbon for his service with a United States Marine Corps Light Armored Infantry Reconnaissance platoon during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. After his time in the military and before attending law school, Rich worked as a certified nursing assistant in a nursing home before becoming a corrections officer while putting himself through college and law school.
In 1999 Rich received his J.D. from the University of Nebraska’s College of Law. While attending law school, he received the CALI Award for Excellence in American Legal History, was Chairman of the Client Counseling Board, and received the Litigation Skills Track certification.
Rich knows the heartbreak of having loved ones suffering unnecessarily. Working as a certified nursing assistant in a nursing home is where he first began to appreciate the vulnerability of our nation’s elderly. Rich understands human frailty and the difficult struggle victims of serious injury and illness face. Rich uses this background to help families through difficult times.
When individuals and families come to Rich, they are in pain from loss or injury. They feel unprotected and vulnerable. Rich will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, get to the truth, and hold the responsible party accountable. In more than 25 years of representing and trying cases for the seriously injured, Rich has handled nursing home negligence cases, wrongful death cases, assisted living and memory care unit cases, interstate trucking cases, and life changing car accident cases in courtrooms all over Nebraska.
Rich is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and resides in Omaha with his Navy veteran wife Sandi and stepson Anderson. Rich is also the proud parent of his three adult children: Derek, a lawyer in New York City; Helen, a lawyer in Phoenix, AZ; Rebekah, a special education teacher in Boston, MA; and stepchildren Madison, a librarian in Wichita, KS; and Sophie, a government analyst in Washington, D.C.
Rich has regularly published and presented legal education seminars and programs in Nebraska and nationally. Rich’s presentations and publications include:
- WRONGFUL DEATH SETTLEMENTS “A Nuts-and-Bolts Approach to Appointing a Special Administrator and obtaining Court Approval.” April 23, 2004 – Nebraska Association of Trial Attorney Seminar, Omaha, Nebraska
- 12 TIPS FOR NURSING HOME CASES IN 12 MINUTES– October 22, 2004 – Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys Seminar, Omaha, Nebraska
- NEBRASKA LAWYER MAGIZINE – “Nursing Home Negligence - How to Protect Your Clients and their Family Members” - December 2004 issue
- NEBRASKA ALZHEIMER’S CARE ACT AND NEGLIGENCE CLAIMS - October 5, 2007 - Nebraska Association of Trial Attorney Seminar, Omaha, Nebraska
- AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF JUSTICE - "Looking at the Case from the Other Side: How Caregivers turned Lawyers see the Nursing Home Case" – October 12, 2008 - Austin, Texas
- NATIONAL BUSINESS INSTITUTE – July 29, 2010 - “Building Your Civil Trial Skills - How to Handle Post-Trial Issues” - Omaha, Nebraska
- NATA CIVIL LITIGATION PRACTICE MANUAL– October 4, 2012 - “Proof of Facts and Evidentiary Issues” – Chapter Author and Presenter – University of Nebraska College of Law.
- MEDICINE FOR LAWYERS- May 2, 2014 – Program Chair and Presenter – “Nursing Home Neglect – Case Selection: What Should I Look For?” – Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys – Omaha, Nebraska
- DAMAGES IN NURSING HOME CASES – February 28, 2020 – “Damages: Evaluating, Proving, & Presenting” - Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys – Omaha, Nebraska
- PROPER DESIGNATION OF MEDICAL EXPERTS – April 14, 2023 – “Medicine for Lawyers” - Nebraska Association of Trial Attorney - Omaha, Nebraska.
Bar Admission:
- State of Nebraska, 1999
- United States District Court, District of Nebraska, 1999
- United States Court of Veterans Appeals, 2002
Education:
- University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Juris Doctorate, 1999
- University of Nebraska, Lincoln & Omaha, Nebraska
- Bachelor of Science, 1996
- Major: Criminal Justice
