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 Ricardo J. Menchaca, Associate
rmenchaca@smithfreed.com
Professional Experience
Rick specializes in automobile personal injury claims and works on Starla Goff’s team. He has an extensive amount of trial experience and has conducted over 40 jury trials and over 60 bench trials. Before joining Smith, Freed and Eberhard, Rick practiced criminal law for over seven years. He began his law career defending the rights of parents and children in Multnomah County Juvenile Court. He then joined the Metropolitan Public Defender and handled misdemeanors, minor and major felonies in both Multnomah and Washington County and was a Senior Attorney in the Misdemeanor and Minor/Felony Unit. Rick then joined the Oregon Department of Justice and worked in the Criminal and Civil Rights Litigation Unit where he defended the State of Oregon in post-conviction cases and Inmate Civil Rights Claims. Prior to going to college, Rick served in the United States Air Force and is a Gulf War veteran.
Education
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 1999
- Oregon State University, B.A., Political Science, Cum Laude, 1995
Significant Representations
- Successfully defended the State of Oregon by obtaining a jury defense verdict in an Inmate Civil Rights Claim in the U.S. Federal Court for the District of Oregon.
- Handled a wide range of criminal cases including DUII and Measure 11 cases.
- Appeared in court across the state of Oregon including Multnomah, Washington, Marion, Tillamook, Coos, Malheur, and Umatilla Counties.
Professional/Community Involvement- Member, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
- Member, Multnomah County Bar Association
- Member, Oregon Minority Lawyers Association
- Member, Oregon Hispanic Bar Association
- Member, Oregon Criminal Jury Instructions Committee
Rick enjoys spending time with his wife Nicole, and is an avid Blazer basketball and Beaver football fan. He also enjoys playing basketball, running and music.
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