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Overview

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.

Education

  • The John Marshall Law School, J.D. 2006
  • DePauw University, B.A. 2002

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Related Practices

Professional Experience

Awards

  • Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star 2012—2019
  • Illinois Leading Lawyer Emerging Lawyer 2014—2019

Affiliations

  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel—Member

 

Publications and Speeches

News

Pretzel & Stouffer Attorneys Submit Amicus Brief for Illinois Defense Counsel

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

Results

Robert Chemers and Rich Burgland win a summary judgment for a professional liability insurer

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

$70 Million Project Carries on with P&S Help

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

Court Grants Summary Judgment for Pretzel Client Over No Duty to Defend or Indemnify

  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