Brian J. Rife
Bristol, TN – Director, Managing Partner, Bristol Office
For over 20 years, Brian Rife has focused his practice on representing clients in matters of Virginia and Tennessee workers’ compensation defense, federal black lung defense, insurance defense, subrogation, and employment. Brian’s experience in all aspects of both administrative and appellate advocacy includes representation of clients at evidentiary hearings, trials and appeals including defending both workplace accident claims as well as occupational disease claims tied to factories, coal mines, natural resource companies, service industries, and the trucking industry.
Brian came to Midkiff, Muncie & Ross in 2011 to open and manage the firm’s first office in Southwest Virginia, which in 2018 was moved across the state line from Virginia to Tennessee in order to accommodate growth. This location is uniquely placed within a short drive from evidentiary hearings for Virginia workers’ compensation claims, federal black lung claims before the Federal Department of Labor, and workers’ compensation claims before the Tennessee Department of Labor.
Brian has been honored by his peers by being awarded an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell, a recognition of the highest levels of ethics and skill in his practice area. When not working, Brian enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, attorney Anne Rife, and their two children at places such as Steele Creek Park in Bristol or the lake in Abingdon. Brian also attends his son’s middle school and travel ball team games, as well as his daughter’s track and swim meets.
Areas of Practice
- Workers’ Compensation
- Federal Black Lung Defense
- Appellate Practice
- Arbitration and Mediation
- Automobile Accidents
- Federal and State Litigation
- Subrogation
- Insurance Defense
- Personal Injury Defense
- Premises Liability Defense
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 2003
- U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia
- Tennessee, 2004
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee
- Court of Appeals of Virginia
- U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
Education
- The University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- J.D. – 2003
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
- B.A. – 1999
Honors and Awards
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Labor and Employment Law Division
- Virginia Bar Association
- Bristol, Tennessee Bar Association, Past President-2012
- National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals, VBA Community Servant
- Tennessee Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Bristol TN/VA Chamber Commerce, Defense Research Institute
Published Works
- Workers’ Compensation Update, Lorman Education Services, Brian Rife, et al., 2007, 2011, 2012
Classes/Seminars
- Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update, SWVA Compensation Bar Association, October 2021
- Multi-State Workers’ Compensation Defense and Comparison, July 2018
- Marketing in the Post-Jones World, April 2018
- TN/VA Workers’ Compensation Claims: A Comparison, July 2017
- Injury by Accident: TN vs. VA, Bristol Regional Medical Center, October 2017
- Virginia Workers’ Compensation Law…., Workers’ Compensation Institute, Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference & 27th Annual Safety & Health Conference, August 2016
- Tennessee & Virginia Workers’ Compensation: A Comparison, May 2015
- Defending Virginia Workers’ Compensation Claims, March 2014
- Unexplained and Idiopathic Falls in Virginia, May 2012
- Anticipation of Workers’ Compensation Claims: An Employer’s Perspective, May 2012
- Unexplained Falls after Herndon, December 2011
- Workers’ Compensation Update: Preparing for Claims from an Employer’s Perspective, May 2011
- Legislative Updates to Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act, May 2011
- Family and Medical Leave Act 2009 Final Regulations, February 2010
- Settlement of Workers’ Compensation Claims and Special Considerations, May 2009
- Introduction to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, September 2008
- Use of Subpoena Power and the Independent Medical Exam in Litigation of Workers’ Compensation Claims, May 2008
- Workers’ Compensation Update in Virginia: Employment Law Basics and Interactions with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act, November 2007
- Sexual Harassment in the Modern Workplace, January 2007
Litigating and Defending the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Claim, April 2006 - The Litigated Workers’ Compensation Claim: Strategy and Preparation, March 2006
- Arising Out of and in the Course of Employment in Virginia Workers’ Compensation Claims, Bristol Compressors, October 2004