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About Richard
Biography
Board certified in the area of Admiralty & Maritime law and with a history of excellence in Maritime and Admiralty law studies, Richard delivers highly-focused insight into the matters surrounding each and every case. He brings tireless dedication to uncovering opportunities for clients through intense research and thorough analysis.
Richard's trial experiences ranges from crewmember and passenger personal injuries to enforcement of maritime liens and other commercial disputes. In addition to his trial talents, Richard heads the firm's appellate section wherein he authored several appellate briefs and argued at both the state and federal levels.
Always aware of the current issues facing today's maritime litigants, Richard’s counsel is both precise and well-informed. In addition to his professional experience, Richard boasts several impressive academic achievements. Most notably, he was awarded the Dean's Academic Achievement Award for the courses of Maritime Personal Injury and Death as well as Insurance Law at the University of Miami School of Law. Richard served as the Admiral of the law school's Maritime Law Society, and later, that organization's Alumni Advisor.
AWARDS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Board Certified Admiralty & Maritime Lawyer
Named a Rising Star in the Florida Super Lawyers publication for 2010
Florida Bar Admiralty Law Committee
PRACTICE AREAS
Maritime Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Claims
Cruise Ship and Excursion Injuries
Yachting, Boating & Marina Accidents
Oil Rig and Industrial Accidents
Defective Yachts & Marine Products
Maritime Liens and Vessel Arrests
Marine Insurance Disputes
Ship Groundings, Collisions & Allisions
Hurricane Damage Claims
Marine Environmental & Pollution Claims
Damaged Cargo
Salvage and Towing Claims
Contract and Charter Party Preparation & Disputes
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
Admiralty and Maritime
90%
24 years
Commercial Real Estate
10%
24 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Florida for 23 years
State: Florida
Acquired: 2002
No misconduct found
Location
Brais & Brais
100 N. Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 800, Miami, FL, 33132-2310
Brais & Brais
8 Faneuil Hall Marketblace, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02109
Brais & Brais
Two Allen Center, 1200 Smith Street, 16th Floor, Houston, TX, 77002
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Richard Dennis Rusak's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
3 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | General Knowledge
Posted by anonymous | April 20, 2012 | Lawsuits & Disputes
not the best choice for a tough claim
Mr. Rusak handled a claim for me against a major cruise line. In the beginning he seemed to have care and have a genuine interest in helping. As time progressed, he was not keeping me as informed of things as he was in the beginning. I had to contact him on multiple occasions to find out what was goi...
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Experience
Honors
2012
Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers
2011
Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers
2010
Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers
2010
Board Certified Admiralty & Maritime Lawyer, The Florida Bar
Work Experience
2007 - Present
Partner, Brais & Brais
2002 - 2006
Associate, McAlpin & Brais, P.A.
Associations
2010 - Present
Florida Bar, Admiralty Law CommitteeMember
2004 - Present
Southeast Admiralty Law InstituteMember
2004 - Present
Fort Lauderdale Mariner's ClubMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Pavon v. Carnival Corp.
Case Remanded to State Court for Jury Trial
Delta November LLC v. Baker
Motion to Dismiss Denied
Schulte v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd.
Florian v. Carnival Corp. U.S. Dist. Ct., Southern Dist. of Fla. (Miami)
United States District Judge James Lawrence King Entered an Order In Favor of Brais & Brais' Client Denying Carnival's Motion to Dismiss and Granting Florian's Motion to Remand Cause Back to State Court
Allen v. Celebrity Cruises Inc. Fla. 11th Judicial Circuit (Miami)
Directed Verdict on Liablity
Dockeray v. Carnival Corp. U.S. Dist. Ct. Southern Dist. of Fla. (Miami)
Court Determined the Panamanian Choice-of-Law Clause Found in the Employment Contract Unenforceable thereby Preserving the Client’s U.S. Seaman’s Causes of Action
Windward Associates v. M/Y Esterel, U.S. Dist. Ct., Middle Dist. of Fla. (Ft. Myers)
$75,000 Judgment in Favor of Client
Upmal v. Paradise Divers, Fla. Ct. Appeals, 3rd Dist. (Miami)
Petition for Writ of Certiorari Granted and Lower Court’s Order Compelling Production of an Investigator’s File Quashed
In re: Arden Johnson, U.S. Dist. Ct., Southern Dist. of Ala. (Mobile)
Won summary judgment finding that a provision in a marina storage contract exculpating the marina from its own negligence
In re: Waterfront License Corp., U.S Dist. Ct., Southern Dist. of Fla. (Ft. Lauderdale)
Court Dismissed the Shipowner's Petition for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liablity as Untimly
Markowski v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Fla. 11th Judicial Cir. (Miami)
Won Summary Judgment in Favor of Client on Seaman Status
In re: Kampgrounds of America, U.S. Dist. Ct., Southern Dist. of Fla. (Key West)
Won Judgement in Favor of Client
McRoberts Protective Agency, Inc. v. M/V San Tropez, U.S. Dist. Ct., Southern Dist. of Fla. (Miami)
Settled Case for Full Claim Including Attorney's Fees
Education
2002
University of Miami School of Law
law
1999
Monmouth University
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Publications
2006
Fort Lauderdale Mariner's Club Marine Insurance Seminar
Plowing Your Way Into Environmental Liabilities in South Florida
2006
Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (SEALI)
The Shipowner’s Limitation of Liability Act; Pitfalls for the Unwary
Languages
English