Hector R. Rivera

Hector R. Rivera is a partner in the Miami office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. Mr. Rivera is an experienced civil litigator. His practice focuses in the areas of complex personal injury and commercial litigation with an emphasis on toxic torts, premises liability, contract law, landlord/tenant disputes product liability, legal malpractice defense, and general negligence matters in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Rivera successfully defends cases for clients through resourcefulness and creativity.

Mr. Rivera has successfully litigated and secured dismissal for over 384 out of 393 silica toxic tort cases in Florida on behalf of five clients by taking a leadership role in drafting and negotiating favorable case management orders, which eventually led to the dismissals.

Mr. Rivera has significant experience in other toxic tort litigation, favorably resolving them for clients. For example, he represented automotive, boiler, and pump manufacturers in over 80 asbestos toxic tort cases, and negotiated settlements of such cases at levels below national averages.

Mr. Rivera is also a resourceful advocate for his clients. He successfully defended a $3.4 million dollar premises liability case through a nuisance-value settlement by uncovering insurance fraud by the plaintiff. Through personal investigation, Mr. Rivera discovered that the plaintiff had filed a suit 15 years earlier in another state for the same exact injuries sustained in a Caribbean island.

Mr. Rivera also played a key role in the successful defense of one of the five biggest cable companies in the nation to eight simultaneously prosecuted multi-million dollar lawsuits initiated by attorneys general for alleged negative option marketing. All of the cases settled for non-cash consideration before motions to dismiss were resolved.

Mr. Rivera also successfully defended a $1 million wrongful death product liability case for nuisance value after exposing the liability of a co-defendant. The co-defendant, a motorcycle retailer, knowingly sold a moped and motorcycle helmet to a middle-aged lady who did not have a motorcycle license when the salesperson gave her a lesson in the store parking lot on how to operate the vehicle. The lady drove off and died in an accident hours later. On behalf of the helmet manufacturer, Mr. Rivera hired a former instructor from the Department of Motor Vehicles, who taught the State motorcycle licensing course, to act as an expert witness and explain the co-defendant's negligence.

In addition, Mr. Rivera advantageously defended a $6 million breach of contract case for a Caribbean country at an early mediation for $1.3 million by uncovering the fact that the plaintiff had never paid any taxes to the client.

Prior to joining Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, Mr. Rivera was a shareholder at Fowler White Burnett, P.A., in Miami where he focused primarily on civil and commercial litigation.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Rivera received his Bachelor of Arts in 1983, and earned his Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law in 1989. He was an active member of the Moot Court Honor Society throughout his legal education.

Mr. Rivera is admitted to practice law in Florida. He is licensed to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Rivera is a board member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, as well as immediate former president, a founding member, and former director and treasurer. Mr. Rivera is also a board member of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of South Florida and a member of the Puerto Rican Professional Association (PROFESA). He serves as a board member of his church, All Souls Miami. Mr. Rivera is a member of The Florida Bar and serves on its Civil Procedure Rules Committee; he is also a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and its 2009 Diversity for Success Seminar Advisory Committee, Hispanic National Bar Association, and Dade County Bar Association.