Joe Rice, tort lawyer and Motley Rice co-founder, dies at 72
Joseph F. “Joe” Rice, the Motley Rice LLC co-founder whose tort practice took on tobacco, asbestos, and oil defendants, has died unexpectedly at 72. The Mount Pleasant plaintiffs’ firm announced his sudden Sept. 3 passing, mourning a pioneer whose courtroom wins and USC philanthropy reshaped South Carolina legal wealth and justice.
Key Takeaways
- Rice, 72, died suddenly on Sept. 3; Motley Rice called the loss unexpected and heartbreaking.
- He co-founded the national plaintiffs’ firm Motley Rice LLC with Ron Motley in 2003.
- His tort career targeted tobacco companies, asbestos manufacturers, and oil giants.
- A $30 million gift helped rename USC’s law school the Joseph F. Rice School of Law in 2023.
- South Carolina will honor him with a pregame tribute before the Kent State opener.
What happened to Joe Rice?
Joseph F. “Joe” Rice, a recognized Lowcountry attorney and powerhouse negotiator, died at 72. Motley Rice LLC, based in Mount Pleasant, S.C., said his death was sudden and unexpected.
“His death today was sudden and unexpected, and we are all heartbroken by this tremendous loss,” the firm said. Leaders called him a pioneer, innovator, fierce advocate for justice, and loyal friend. Arrangements had not yet been announced when the firm spoke.
The Live 5 News report confirmed the firm’s Thursday announcement of his passing.
Why does his tort career matter for wealth and justice?
Rice co-founded Motley Rice with the late Ron Motley in 2003, building a national plaintiffs’ practice. His tort work put him opposite some of the world’s deepest-pocketed defendants.
The Post and Courier noted a legal career that took on tobacco companies, asbestos manufacturers, and oil giants. That courtroom record sits at the center of why his death resonates in coverage of net worth and wealth: high-stakes civil litigation that moved money, settlements, and corporate accountability.
University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis said Rice’s intellect, character, wisdom, spirit, and generosity defined a life with an outsized impact, calling him one of the greatest Gamecocks of our time.
How did Rice’s fortune reshape USC?
Rice earned a USC bachelor’s degree in 1976 and a law degree in 1979. In 2023, after a $30 million donation, the university named its law school the Joseph F. Rice School of Law. He also helped pay off the Children’s Law Center to honor his wife, Lisa, and their daughter, and his name is on the Rice Athletic Center.
Dozens of law students each year attend with scholarships funded by his gifts. Dean William Hubbard said the support is having a profound effect on students’ opportunities. Rice’s athletic giving began in 1987 through the Gamecock Club and grew into landmark donor status.
USC planned a moment of silence and scoreboard tribute before the Sept. 5 season opener against Kent State, with more honors expected through the season, officials told The Post and Courier.