In Memoriam: Eric (“Rick”) M. Blumberg, FDA’s Deputy Chief Counsel for Litigation

Many of us at Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. will miss a cherished former colleague and worthy opponent: Rick Blumberg, the Deputy Chief Counsel for Litigation at FDA, who died Thursday, March 7th, of complications from a stroke.  He handled litigation for FDA for more than 40 years, and directed it for more than 20 years.  He was plain-spoken and aggressive, but always courteous, usually funny, and quick to respond.

Rick, a relentless and brilliant advocate for FDA, taught us, and many other attorneys in the food and drug bar, as a colleague, a boss, or as an attorney on the other side of negotiations or litigation.  For some of us, as our careers evolved, he was first a colleague, then an opponent, then a fellow speaker at industry panels.  Throughout, with fierce loyalty to the agency he represented, he was deliberate in choosing the words he spoke, articulate in describing his position, and perceptive about – if not always sympathetic to –the needs of regulated industry.  And while we did not always agree with him, there are few who tried to protect the public interest and welfare more than Rick.

He will be missed.