Partner
P: 312-578-7814 | rburgland@pretzel-stouffer.com
Rich Burgland is an experienced and confident advocate with a practical perspective.
Rich Burgland is an experienced and confident advocate with a practical perspective. While representing individuals, businesses and insurance companies involved in first- and third-party insurance disputes, Rich knows that teamwork, collaboration, and communication are essential elements for success. He partners closely with his insurer and insured clients to maximize efficiency and deliver client-driven outcomes. With a degree in Economics, Rich understands and regularly employs a cost-benefit analysis when counseling clients involved in or considering litigation.
Rich focuses his practice on insurance coverage disputes arising out of general liability, commercial general liability, directors and officers, professional liability, life, health, homeowners and related policies of insurance. He defends insurers accused of bad faith and advises insurance carriers on risk management and proper claims handling practices. Rich also assists insurers and corporate insured clients in insurance recovery and claim resolution.
Rich has a strong background and practice in appellate advocacy. As a former Clerk in the Illinois Appellate Court, Rich understands the appeal process and has an inside perspective when defending and prosecuting appeals. This appellate experience allows Rich to effectively represent his clients from the onset of litigation through its conclusion on appeal.
In his practice, Rich adheres strictly to principles of economy. Rich allocates his time to critical tasks and works intently to avoid or put a stop to needless litigation. While equipped with the experience and skills to successfully take a case to trial or up on appeal, Rich realizes that these measures are not always in a client’s best interests. Rich’s precise work and efficient case management often lead to swifter and more cost-effective results.
Pretzel & Stouffer attorneys, Michael Barry, Rich Burgland, Tom Draths, and Matthew Reddy, were named emerging lawyers by Leading Lawyers Magazine. Click here to learn more about their practices that span insurance coverage, professional liability defense, commercial litigation, medical malpractice and general tort defense
January 2020 | Firm News
The following Pretzel & Stouffer lawyers were selected as Rising Stars for 2019
July 2019 | Firm News
Pretzel & Stouffer is proud to announce the following lawyers from our firm have been selected by the Leading Lawyers Advisory Board as Emerging Lawyers for 2019:
July 2019 | Firm News
Pretzel & Stouffer partner, Rich Burgland, has been appointed by Illinois State Bar Association President-Elect David Sosin, to be a member of the ISBA Insurance Law Section Council. Rich concentrates his practice in insurance coverage and appellate litigation.
July 2019 | Firm News
Pretzel & Stouffer partners, Rich Burgland and Donald Eckler, filed an amicus brief in the Illinois Supreme Court in support of the petitioner in Crim v. Dietrich on behalf of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel. This case deals with whether a party is required to file a post-trial motion to preserve issues decided ...
July 2019 | Firm News
After winning at the trial court level through a Motion to Dismiss, Tom and Rich were able to preserve that victory at the appellate level by persuading the Court that their client – a non-profit charitable institution – was entitled to the protections of sovereign immunity. Even though their client was a private entity, the ...
September 2023
Robert Chemers and Rich Burgland won a summary judgment for a professional liability insurer that it had no duty to defend its insured personal injury attorney who along with his employee, who had been an officer of an existing business, allegedly surreptitiously obtained confidential information and trade secrets from the existing business which they used ...
March 2023
Robert Chemers and Rich Burgland obtained summary judgment in the Circuit Court of Cook County for a professional liability insurer that it had no duty to defend its lawyer insured in connection with a Hollywood movie production deal involving multiple complex issues deftly handled by Rich, who took the lead on the dispositive motion.
October 2022
Pretzel & Stouffer teammates John Scheid, Tom Draths, and Rich Burgland recently defeated an effort to enjoin their client’s $70 million public works project. In response to their opponent’s request for temporary restraining orders and injunctive relief, John, Tom, and Rich acted quickly and efficiently to gather evidence to support their arguments that the project’s ...
July 2021
Pretzel & Stouffer attorneys, Rich Burgland, Robert Chemers, and Paula Villela, obtained a summary judgment for their insurer client that it had no duty to defend or indemnify the insured for various motions for sanctions and attorneys’ fees and the resultant judgment against the insured for more than $1.1 million in fees, costs and ...
January 2020