A Detroit Catholic Central High School graduate, Mr. Joppich obtained a Bachelor of Arts in both Political Science and Communications from Bowling Green State University in Ohio in 1982. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law) in 1988. He is a Principal Attorney and Marketing Director with Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti and Sherbrook P.C., headquartered in Detroit Michigan.
For nearly thirty years, he has been a trial attorney representing hospitals and individual healthcare providers in major complex malpractice and general personal injury suits throughout the State and Federal Courts in Michigan, and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. . Stemming from his extensive professional liability practice, he has also been called upon to provide advisory services in legal malpractice matters.
Through the past decade, Mr. Joppich has developed an unparalleled knowledge base relating to Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance law, liens, audits, and claim reporting compliance, for which he has assisted many insurers, healthcare providers, courts and attorneys in policy generation, negotiations, lien resolution, and settlement services.
Mr. Joppich is a frequent invited speaker throughout Michigan, regionally in the Midwest, and nationally, having presented for the Physician’s Insurers Association of America, The Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society, the Michigan Public Risk Managers Association, the Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, the Wisconsin Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, the Risk Management & Patient Safety Institute, and the Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), among others. He has also been published in several journals on Medicare, the ACA, damages, and evidentiary and trial preparation issues
He is a recognized leader in the healthcare and legal industries having twice served on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC the statewide association of defense trial attorneys), and on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Management (MSHRM), where he heads the sponsorship task force, and also serves on the Government Issues, Communications, and Education committees. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan Client Protection Fund Committee. He has also volunteered his time for numerous programs, local associations, and groups advancing the causes of both his communities and professional colleagues.
He is an “AV” Preeminent rated attorney through Martindale Hubbell. He has also been selected as a Distinguished Attorney by the Expert Network, as a Michigan Top Lawyer in Litigation, and as a Top Rated Attorney in Healthcare. He received the Distinguished Service Award and also the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. He also received the Detroit Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer Program/Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services Distinguished Service Award and Pro Bono Service Commendation.
10 Most Recent Presentations:
1. “ The School of Hard Knocks ” Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Managers Spring Educational Conference, Traverse City, Michigan May 2017
2. “ Medicare Requirements and the No-Fault Claim ” The University of Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education 4th Annual No-Fault Summit, Plymouth, Michigan April 2017
3. “ Telemedicine Risk Management Panel ” Moderator Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Managers Spring Educational Conference, E. Lansing, Michigan March 2017
4. “ The Affordable Care Act: A Surprising Way to Reduce Future Medical Expense Damage Claims ” Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Managers Annual Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan May 2016
5. “ The ACA and Medicare Reimbursement and Reporting in Claims Management ” Coverys National Claims Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, October 2015
6. “ Impact of Medicare on Risk Management Claims: A Proactive Approach 2015 ” Wisconsin Society of Healthcare Risk Managers Annual Conference, The Dells, Wisconsin September, 2015
7. “ To MSA, or not to MSA? that is not the Only Question! ” Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, Teleconference, Lansing, Michigan April 2015
8. “ Impact of Medicare on Risk Management Claims: A Proactive Approach 2014 ” Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Managers Annual Conference, Bay Harbor, Michigan May 2014
9. “ Medicare Issues in Risk Management ” Coverys Regional Networking Meeting April 2014
10. “ Michigan Legislative Update: Mental Health Practice and Patients ” Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Managers Spring Conference, Lansing, Michigan March 2014
10 Most Recent Publications:
1. “ ’Greer’ revisited...by the Michigan Legislature ” Michigan Lawyers Weekly, April 20, 2017, re-published with permission of MLW in Michigan Defenses Quarterly, Volume 33, No. 4 - 2017
2. “ Affordable Care Act (ACA): Future Care Cost Control in Claims ” Michigan Defense Quarterly, Vol. 33, No. 3 2017
3. “ Valuing Past-Medical-Expense Damages after Greer v Advantage Health ” Michigan Defense Quarterly, Vol. 33, No. 2 2017
4. “ ’Marketing’ - I just scared myself ” Michigan Lawyers Weekly, August 29, 2016,
5. “ Michigan Legislative Session Update September 2013 ” MSHRM Bits & Pieces Newsletter October 2013
6. “ Medicare Reimbursement Rights Update ” Michigan Legal Update: Healthcare 2012-2013 Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti & Sherbrook, P.C., August, 2013
7. “ Kitch Medicare Insights ” Newsletter Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti & Sherbrook, P.C.,
8. “ Medicare Reimbursement Rights Update ” Michigan Legal Update: Healthcare 2011-2016 Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti & Sherbrook, P.C.,
9. “ Medicare Claim Reporting Under the MMSEA 2nd Ed. The Non-Group Health Plan User Guide Application and Impact on the Medicare Right of Reimbursement ” Monograph Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti & Sherbrook, P.C., November, 2009
10. “ Get Ready for the New Medicare Reporting Requirements ” Michigan Medical Law Report, Vol. 5, No. 2, Summer 2009
Insights & News
June, 2019 - Recent Highlights, Legal Updates, Wins
No-Fault Carrier Actions Saved it from Medicare Double Damages
March, 2019 - Recent Highlights
Richard Joppich Helping Protect the Bar and Public
July, 2018 - Recent Highlights
Joppich and Wittmann Obtain and Uphold Open and Obvious Doctrine Dismissal in Premises Liability Claim
