Rick W. Orr

Rick has handled a wide variety of civil litigation, as reflected by his membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates. In recent years, though, his practice has focused more and more on workers’ compensation. There, too, he is recognized both within the firm and by his peers as one of the leaders. In addition to numerous reported appellate decisions that determine rights and obligations in that field, Rick has served on and headed the State Bar’s workers’ compensation committee and was selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America in workers’ compensation law.

Professional Experience

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP
Partner: 1989 – present
Associate: 1985 – 1988
Law Clerk to the Honorable J. Smith Henley, U.S. Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Harrison, Arkansas

Admitted to Practice (State):

South Dakota, 1983

Admitted to Practice (Federal):

United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1983
United States District Court, District of South Dakota, 1985

Professional Memberships

State Bar of South Dakota
Minnehaha County and American Bar Associations
South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute
American Board of Trial Advocates

Education

University of South Dakota (B.S., cum laude, 1980; J.D., Sterling Honor Graduate, 1983)
Phi Beta Kappa; Delta Theta Phi

Other

Joseph N. Spencer III Award
Editor-in-Chief, South Dakota Law Review, 1982-1983
Author: Note: Dietz v. Solem: An Affirmance of the Sandstrom Mandate, 27 South Dakota Law Review 65 (1981); State v. Neville: The Giving of a Meaningful Choice to the Accused, 27 South Dakota Law Review 300 (1982)