Richard M. Ruggiero graduated from De Paul University in Chicago, Illinois with a bachelor's degree in Communications (Print/Broadcast Journalism). He attended the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois, during which he participated in moot court. Mr. Ruggiero worked in private practice, concentrating on all aspects of civil litigation including insurance defense, before joining American States Insurance (now Safeco Insurance) in June, 1997. He worked as corporate counsel in the litigation department until June, 2001, concentrating his practice in the area of workers' compensation, subrogation and civil insurance defense. Mr. Ruggiero joined our firm on July 16, 2001, and concentrates his practice in the same areas of insurance defense. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois and the Federal Bar and is a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honors Fraternity of Lawyers, the Illinois Chapter of the Justinian (Italian) Society of Lawyers, the National Italian-American Bar Association, and the Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations.