Picture of Louis J. Rizzo Jr.

Louis J. Rizzo, Jr.

Managing Partner

Louis J. Rizzo, Jr., Reger Rizzo & Darnall’s Managing Partner, is an experienced litigator, successfully representing clients in commercial disputes, bringing matters to efficient and effective conclusions. By taking the time at the commencement of a matter to understand his clients’ business model and goals for each particular dispute, Mr. Rizzo is able to help the client navigate the process to resolution; through negotiated settlement, or trial when necessary. These skills have allowed clients to entrust complex commercial litigation matters to Mr. Rizzo, including his designation as National Coordinating Counsel for a Fortune 500 Company’s products liability litigation program.

Litigation Experience. Mr. Rizzo’s trial experience includes complex commercial litigation, insurance coverage and bad faith disputes, premises and automobile liability including trucking liability, franchise litigation, professional liability, subrogation, and representation of creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, as well as construction site claims and construction defect claims. Mr. Rizzo has a passion for U.S. history and has frequently drawn on that passion by incorporating lessons from history into his trial presentations, to great effect.

Commercial Litigation. In addition to handling more than 60 jury trials, Mr. Rizzo has extensive experience in all aspects of civil litigation. He has litigated civil disputes in the Delaware Superior Court, Chancery Court, and the U.S. District Courts, including handling appeals to the Delaware Supreme Court and the Third and Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeals. Mr. Rizzo has represented multiple clients in bankruptcy proceedings including trade creditors, equipment lessors, insurance companies, service providers and contractors. He frequently represents clients in preference actions, receiverships, dissolutions and fraudulent conveyance matters. He is frequently asked to serve as local counsel in Delaware state and federal courts and Bankruptcy Court.

Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith. Mr. Rizzo represents and counsels insurance companies at the trial level and on appeal in connection with complex insurance coverage and bad faith matters. His experience includes general liability, first party property, personal lines and specialty coverages. He has represented insurers in mass tort and environmental coverage actions in state and federal courts, involving such areas as polybutylene pipe fittings, opioid drug sales, environmental contamination, and mass tort sex abuse.

Crisis Management. Mr. Rizzo has extensive experience counseling a wide range of clients with regard to corporate crises and matters involving significant legal, financial, and media exposure.

Some of Mr. Rizzo’s more notable, high-profile crisis management experiences, include:

•  Defended the owners of a day care in the infamous “day care fight club” case, in which the day care was sued after film surfaced of toddlers being allowed/encouraged by teachers to fight each other.

•  Represented the owners of a national competition event facility in the “Punkin Chunkin” case, after suit was brought by a volunteer who was injured and rendered paraplegic at this seasonal event involving pumpkin catapulting.

•  Defended the owners of the Miss Delaware pageant in the famous “Miss Delaware” case, in which a scandal arose after an eligibility dispute.

•  Represented a road construction contractor in a road construction fatality case in which a teenager died while traversing through a construction zone. The opinion from this case established the legal standard for contractor duty on DOT projects.

Franchise Experience. Mr. Rizzo also has extensive experience in the franchise industry, specifically with regards to franchise litigation including disputes over franchise agreements and terminations and insurance coverage issues for both franchisees and franchisors. He has litigated tort liability issues for franchisees and franchisors, and of specific note, litigated the leading Delaware case on franchisor vicarious liability.

Education

J.D., Villanova University School of Law (1993)

B.A. English, Fordham University (1989)

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice Pennsylvania
Delaware
New Jersey
Maryland
Professional & Bar Association Memberships

Delaware Bar Association

Maryland Bar Association

American Bar Association

Positions Held

Board of Directors, Defense Counsel of Delaware (Past President)
Designated Instructor, Delaware Department of Insurance
Member, Defense Research Institute (former State Representative)
Member, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
Honors & Awards

2011 Distinguished Service Award from the Defense Counsel of Delaware
2006 Distinguished Service Award from the Defense Research Institute (DRI)

Publications & Press Mentions
Mentioned, Insured Call Boy Scouts Del. Ch. 11 Schedules Unworkable. Law360. (August 17, 2021)
Co-Author, Hertz Bankruptcy: How Will the Filing Affect Creditors Nationwide? Reger Rizzo & Darnall Client Alert. (May 29, 2020)
Author, Update on Court Closures and Delays in Our Region. Reger Rizzo & Darnall Client Alert. (March 20, 2020)
Author, Insurance Coverage for Business Interruption – COVID-19 Claims. Reger Rizzo & Darnall Client Alert. (March 17, 2020)
Quoted, Reger Rizzo Adds Retired Delaware Superior Court Judge to ADR Group. The Legal Intelligencer. (August 21, 2017)
Author, Litigation Trends or “What Was Your Favorite Superbowl Commercial?” Reger Rizzo & Darnall Client Alert. (March 2017)
Featured, Reger Rizzo Partners Help Raise Money for Autism Delaware. The Delaware Law Weekly. (June 28, 2016)
Quoted, Workers' Compensation Dismissal Bars Negligence Lawsuit. Delaware Law Weekly. (July 29, 2015)
Quoted, Small, Midsize Firms Adapt to Increased Scrutiny. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. (May 26, 2015)
Quoted, Small, Midsize Firms Adapt to Increased Scrutiny. The Legal Intelligencer. (May 19, 2015) 
Mentioned, People in the News. The Legal Intelligencer. (November 21, 2014)
Contributing Editor, Insurance Bad Faith: A Compendium of State Law. DRI, The Voice of the Defense Bar. (Fall 2006)
Presentations & Speaking Engagements
Guest Lecturer, Insurance Law. The American University’s Washington College of Law. (October 21, 2021)
Guest Lecturer, Entrepreneurial Aspects of the Law. The American University’s Washington College of Law. (October 12, 2021)
Guest Lecturer, Construction Law Course. The American University’s Washington College of Law. (March 18, 2021) 
Presenter, Seminar on Delaware Law and Procedure, Delaware Department of Insurance Seminar. (January 20, 2021)
Presenter, Hotel Owners & Conquering COVID-19: Health and Safety Precautions to Protect Your Guests & Your Business. Asian American Hotel Owners Association. (June 3, 2020)
Guest Lecturer, Construction Law Issues in the Insurance Arena. The American University’s Washington College of Law. (March 12, 2020)
Guest Lecturer, How to Become a Trusted Advisor to Your Clients. The American University’s Washington College of Law. (October 15, 2019)
Guest Lecturer, Insurance Issues in the Hotel Industry. The American University’s Washington College of Law. (June 11, 2019)
Guest Lecturer, Construction Law Issues. The American University Washington College of Law. (March 21, 2019)
Guest Lecturer, Economics & Operations of a Law Firm. The American University’s Washington College of Law. (October 25, 2018)
Co-Presenter, Hotel Related Insurance Issues. The American University Washington College of Law's Tourism & Hospitality Law School. (June 12, 2018)
Panelist, The Business of Law Firm Operations. Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. (February 19, 2018)
Presenter, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Law. Esurance Insurance Services, Inc. (March 31, 2016)
Presenter, Strategic Business Planning Workshop. The Wharton Small Business Development Center. (November 17, 2015)
Presenter, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices of America, Inc. Legal Conference. (September 30, 2015)
Presenter, Use of Technology at Trial. Reger Rizzo & Darnall Seminar. (April 26, 2013)
Presenter, Bad Faith Insurance Litigation in Delaware. National Business Institute. (December 2007) 
Presenter, Winning Your First Civil Trial in Delaware: What They Didn't Teach You in Law School. National Business Institute. (December 2005)