Biography

Richard S. Sigurdson, II, joined the law firm of Burns White in 2002, and is a Member of the firm. Mr. Sigurdson’s practice focuses on primarily on transportation cases involving the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (“FELA”) 45 U.S.C. §51, et seq. He defends Class I railroads in complex litigation matters involving occupationally related claims throughout the Northeast as well as the Midwest. Mr. Sigurdson has also represented short line and terminal railroads in FELA matters.

Further, Mr. Sigurdson has experience successfully defending local and national industrial clients in high value and complex “Tooey” cases here in Pennsylvania, wherein employees have sued their employers at common law outside of the workers’ compensation statute for alleged asbestos related cancers, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. See Tooey v. AK Steel Corp., 81 A.3d 851 (Pa. 2013).

Several of these cases have involved one off fact patterns and in some instances was the respective entity’s only asbestos case.

Mr. Sigurdson, has also successfully challenged allegations of successor liability on behalf of several clients in high value asbestos cases, wherein plaintiffs had sued the wrong corporate entity for injuries allegedly attributable to employment and alleged asbestos exposure that occurred decades prior.

Moreover, Mr. Sigurdson has experience defending breach of contract, premises liability, product liability and general liability claims.

Mr. Sigurdson obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Bowling Green State University in 1997 and his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in 2001. Professionally, Mr. Sigurdson completed the Pennsylvania Bankers Association School of Commercial lending in June 2015.

Prior to joining Burns White, Mr. Sigurdson served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Patrick R. Tamilia of The Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Mr. Sigurdson is admitted to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Ohio Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Sigurdson is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Allegheny County Bar Association, the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel and the Pennsylvania Bankers Association.