Mark Decof Photo

Mark B. Decof

Principal Shareholder

Mark B. Decof is the senior trial lawyer at Decof, Barry, Mega & Quinn, P.C., where he serves as lead trial counsel in state and federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He specializes in complex medical malpractice, product liability, and general negligence cases, representing individuals who have suffered serious personal injury or wrongful death.

Mark has been actively involved in litigation and trial practice for more than 42 years. He joined his father and former partner Leonard Decof in 1980 and has since won more multimillion-dollar jury verdicts than any other trial lawyer in Rhode Island. His courtroom successes, combined with the legacy of Leonard Decof, have established Decof, Barry, Mega & Quinn as the first and most accomplished Rhode Island law firm devoted exclusively to seriously injured individuals.

Born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, Mark literally has trial lawyering in his DNA. His father was one of the most distinguished trial lawyers in the United States, and his mother possessed qualities that enabled him to achieve that level of recognition. Mark learned the most important lessons from his father, including how to practice law and win in a dignified and gentlemanly way, and the importance of winning a case for the seriously injured people and people who have lost loved ones.

Mark's approach to each case and trial is guided by principles that come naturally to him. He believes in being prepared, thorough, respectful, honest, and himself in front of a jury. This winning formula has stood the test of time, and he instills these values in every lawyer in his firm. Mark understands that winning clients’ cases goes beyond giving advice in the office and presenting cases in a courtroom. It enables clients to regain their independence and the ability to live the rest of their lives on their own terms. Mark maintains lasting relationships with his clients, offering them advice and assistance whenever they need it

Mark's passion for trial law began at a young age. He started watching his Dad's trials when he was just six years old and began working in the Decof law firm in 1976. Mark attended law school in Boston, allowing him to work for the firm throughout his law school years. After graduating and passing the Bar in 1979, Mark hit the ground running, feeling lightyears ahead of a first-year lawyer.

Mark's first assignment as a lawyer was to manage and be responsible for a highly complex product liability lawsuit involving the drug DES, which was given to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage but injured the female children of those women in the womb. He represented approximately 100 women in that case over five years, learning not only from his Dad but from the legendary defense lawyers in Rhode Island who represented the pharmaceutical company defendants.

Mark's first trial before a judge and jury, which he won, was only the beginning of his successful career. He has continued to handle and win numerous trials over the last 40 years, each one becoming career defining. Mark's dedication and commitment to his clients have earned him a reputation as one of the most accomplished trial lawyers in Rhode Island.

Education

  • Georgetown University (1976)

  • Suffolk University School of Law (J.D. 1979)

Admissions

  • State of Rhode Island

  • United States District Court for the State of Rhode Island

Honors and Recognitions

  • Named “Lawyer of the Year in Rhode Island” Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, December 2004

  • Personal Injury Plaintiff “Lawyer of the Year” in Providence, RI by Best Lawyers, 2017, 2022

  • Appointed in 2013 by the Rhode Island Supreme Court as a member of the Board of Bar Examiners

  • Recognized annually by Best Lawyers since 2003

  • Among Top 10 “Super Lawyers” in the state, across all practice areas, 2017 – 2018, 2020

  • Listed as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in New England, annually since 2007

  • Selected to Super Lawyers 2007 – 2022

  • Included in “Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer” 2019

  • RI Monthly, Professional Excellence Law Award 2019-2023

Memberships and Affiliations

  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Associate, 1996 - present

  • American Association for Justice, Member 1981 - present

  • Rhode Island Association for Justice, Member and Board of Governors 1996 - present

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow 2002 - present

  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 1994 – present

  • Rhode Island Bar Association, Member 1980 - present

  • State of Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners 2013 - present

Awards
  • Best Lawyers
  • Lawyer of the Year
  • AV Rated
  • Rhode Island Monthly Color
  • Super Lawyers - Mark D.
  • Client Reviewed - Mark D.

Mark's Notable Victories

  • $30,000,000

    Catastrophic Injury

    $30 Million settlement for the family of a 12-year-old child who suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver.

  • $28,000,000

    Wrongful Death

    This result, Rhode Island's largest jury verdict at the time, was obtained on behalf of the family of a 32-year-old wife and mother who died as a result of the negligence of an emergency room physician.

  • $18,000,000

    Car Accident

    A woman was left paralyzed when she was rear-ended in a motor vehicle collision. This case was Rhode Island's largest trial verdict at the time.

  • $13,200,000

    Product Liability

    $13.2 million judgment against the manufacturer of an all-terrain vehicle on behalf of a young man who was paralyzed….Arthur LaPlante vs. Honda Motor Company

  • $12,000,000

    Wrongful Death

    $12 million settlement for the family of a man who was electrocuted and killed as a result of a utility company’s negligent maintenance of high-voltage wires.

  • $7,200,000

    Airplane Accident

    On behalf of an elderly man and his wife against a commercial airline for injuries sustained as a result of a fall from the stairway of the plane.

A Legacy of Success

Helping Injured Victims Obtain Justice Since 1975

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