Richard Dennis Rusak is a Partner in the firm's Miami office and Board Certified in Marine/Admiralty Law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Education and Specialization since 2010. He is an accomplished trial lawyer with two decades of litigation and appellate experience in federal and state courts and primarily represents major insurance companies, ship owners and marinas in marine/admiralty defense cases. Mr. Rusak also practices in the areas of hospitality defense, trucking accidents, first party insurance litigation, property damage claims, products liability, wrongful death, and personal injury litigation.
Mr. Rusak involves himself in document-intensive investigation and extensive discovery to formulate litigation strategies, while consistently working with claims specialists to develop and implement successful litigation, settlement, and trial strategies. In addition to defense litigation, he handles declaratory relief actions, contract drafting and all aspects of case management from inception through appeal.
In 2016, Mr. Rusak obtained the highest maritime verdict in Florida. He has argued before trial and appellate courts and has received over 85 reported decisions. He has also won multiple dismissals with prejudice, summary judgments, a directed verdict in a personal injury case and defense judgements in product liability trials. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Rusak was a partner with a regional law firm handling crewmember and passenger personal injury claims, maritime lien enforcements, marine property, and other commercial disputes.
Mr. Rusak received his Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 2002 and Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ in 1999, graduating with majors in History and Political Science.
Awards & Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America , Admiralty and Maritime Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, recognized since 2024
Super Lawyers 2016 - 2019
Super Lawyers Rising Stars: 2010 - 2015
Newsroom
News
•Complete Summary Judgment Secured for Dock Builder in $1.8 Million Yacht Fire Case in Lee County, FL
Recent Successful Trial, 1.16.2026
•Fort Lauderdale Tugboat Company Exonerated in $4M Yacht Sinking Case
Recent Successful Trial, 12.9.2025
•Summary Judgment in Rear-End Collision Case in Miami-Dade CO
Recent Successful Trial, 5.22.2025
Publications
•“The Shipowners’ Limitation of Liability Act: Pitfalls of the Unwary,” Co-Author
•“Plowing Your Way into Environmental Liabilities in South Florida,” Co-Autho
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
