Mr. Rutz is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the litigation practice group.  He specializes in commercial litigation, construction litigation, products liability, architect/engineer professional liability, and intellectual property litigation.  Mr. Rutz is a former engineer and research project manager and draws upon that training and experience in litigating disputes involving scientific and technical subject matters.

Career highlights include:

• Operating as national coordinating counsel of construction claims for firm clients, including manufacturers and a major retail chain
• Defending and prosecuting many disputes involving Architect/Engineer Professional Liability
• Inventing U.S. Patent Nos. 5,941,230 (principal) and 6,112,741
• Serving as lead counsel in a contract dispute over the specifications for thousands of printed circuit boards and obtaining directed verdict

Mr. Rutz is a frequent lecturer on construction litigation and architect/engineer liability, including presentations to the Ohio State Bar Association on cumulative impact claims and the Spearin Doctrine.

Mr. Rutz received his J.D. summa cum laude from Capital University Law School where he was a member of the Order of the Curia, the Order of the Barrister, and the National Moot Court team.  Mr. Rutz was also a member of the Capital University Law Review.  He received his M.S from The Ohio State University, publishing his thesis on applying artificial intelligence methods to energy conservation. He received his B.S. magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati where he was Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma.

Publications

• "After the Meter: Energy Producers' Liability in a Deregulated Environment," Capital University Law Review, 1997 (Vol. 26 No. 2) (Noted as "worth reading" by The National Law Journal, June 15, 1998)

Honors and Awards

• American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Advocacy, 1997