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L. Richard Stumbar
- Education:
- Cornell University, B.S. (with distinction), 1969
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Master of Science, 1971
- Cornell University, Doctor of Jurisprudence (Order of the Coif), 1974
- Admitted to Practice:
- New York State, 1975
- U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of New York
- United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals
- Pennsylvania, 1993
- U,S, District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Prior to joining Schlather, Geldenhuys, Stumbar & Salk, Rich was a partner for 28 years in the law firm of Bixler and Stumbar. Before that, he was a partner with Betty Friedlander until 1977, when she was appointed by Governor Carey as a Tompkins County Court Judge. Rich’s practice primarily involves the following areas:
Matrimonial and Family Court cases, both litigated and Collaborative
Clients in these areas have included a University President, two Supreme Court Justices and a County Court Judge as well as many professionals, business owners, and other people covering a wide range of occupations and issues.
Civil Litigation
Cases in this area have covered a broad scope of claims, including malpractice, construction accidents, construction disputes and claims, premise liability, and products liability. Rich successfully defended a local oil industry service company in a patent infringement suit brought by Tenneco Oil. Other cases of interest include a case against a manufacturer of birth control devices, heart valves, breast implants, gas pressure control valves, heavy equipment and several different drugs.
Municipal
Rich was the Ithaca City attorney in 1984 and 1985, Town Attorney for the Town of Danby from 2001 to 2006, and special counsel to the Tompkins County Assessment Office litigating commercial tax certiorari cases.
Labor Issues and Civil Rights Cases
Major cases include the “Cornell Seven”, a lawsuit brought by the Cornell women’s coaches to obtain equal pay for equal work, lead counsel to the former Ithaca Building Commissioner, successfully representing him in his claim of wrongful termination against the City of Ithaca.
Rich, with co-counsel Mariette Geldenhuys and Diane Bruns of this firm and Elizabeth Bixler (from his former firm) recently argued the case for marriage of same sex couples in the New York Court of Appeals.
Rich has lectured on legal issues in classes at Cornell University and has taught a class on the law at Elmira College. He is a former member of the Science Center Advisory Board and a former Board member of Planned Parenthood, Tompkins County E.O.C. and the Community School of Music and Arts.
To make an appointment with Richard, please contact Sharon Drader.