James A. Ruggieri

James A. Ruggieri is a partner at Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney LLP in Providence, RI, with a practice focused on commercial litigation, products liability, and insurance defense. Ruggieri handles employment defense, asbestos matters, mass torts, and coverage-related disputes. The issues often call for close evaluation of the governing rules, the relevant records, and the positions of those involved.

Ruggieri earned a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a B.A. from Brown University. The education provides a foundation for legal research, evaluation of evidence, and work involving commercial litigation, products liability, and insurance defense. These are areas in which precise language and an understanding of applicable law can make a material difference. Legal training also supports the assessment of competing interpretations, procedural requirements, and the steps involved in preparing a matter for resolution.

The matters handled by Ruggieri include product-related claims, insurance disputes, bad-faith allegations, and mediation. These assignments show the range of issues that can arise within the practice and the need to consider each client’s position carefully. Work in this area can include document review, legal research, negotiations, and preparation for proceedings when a dispute cannot be resolved informally. The relevant facts and legal standards guide how each matter is approached.

James A. Ruggieri brings particular experience through his experience across complex civil defense matters and alternative dispute resolution. The work calls for close attention to legal obligations and a practical understanding of the outcomes clients are seeking. Ruggieri considers how the applicable law, supporting records, and timing of decisions affect the options available. By concentrating on the specific legal task and its surrounding circumstances, the practice helps clients approach important decisions with a clearer account of the issues involved.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney, LLP
• Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Board Member, Roger Williams University School of Law (2012-2024)
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Diversity Law Institute
• Member, Trial Law Institute
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Past President, Brown Club of Rhode Island
• Board Member, Care New England Health System (2025)
• Sustaining Member, Product Liability Advisory Council
• Member, The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
• Member, ALFA International
• Member, Defense Research Institute
• Member, Defense Counsel of Rhode Island
• Member, Order of Justitia

Licensed State

• Rhode Island
• Massachusetts

Education

• Case Western Reserve University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Brown University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges