Rutter & Russin Joins Forces with Merlin Law Group

By uniting their complementary experience, the firms strengthen their ability to evaluate, litigate, and successfully resolve complex insurance disputes across Ohio.

Rutter & Russin has advocated for individuals and businesses across Ohio for over three decades, concentrating on insurance coverage disputes and wrongful claim denials. From its Cleveland office, the firm has developed a statewide practice representing policyholders in a wide range of industries and claim matters.

Merlin Law Group was established in 1985 and represents insurance policyholders nationwide in disputes with insurance carriers. The firm maintains a strong presence in Ohio, including an office in Cincinnati, and frequently handles complex first-party property and insurance coverage litigation matters.

Advocating for Policyholders Throughout Ohio

This partnership demonstrates a unified dedication to policyholder advocacy, offering seasoned representation for Ohio clients navigating complex insurance disputes.

For policyholders in Ohio, it provides access to an expanded legal team that combines local expertise with national resources, ensuring robust support in disputes involving substantial financial stakes.

• Northern Ohio – Including the Cleveland and Lake Erie region
• Central Ohio – Including Columbus and statewide regulatory and appellate matters
• Southwest Ohio – Including Cincinnati and the surrounding tri-state area
• Eastern and Southern Ohio – Where access to experienced policyholder counsel can be limited

Why This Is Important for Ohio Policyholders

In Ohio, insurance disputes often stem not from widespread disasters, but from individual, high-value losses affecting businesses, homeowners, and property owners. These claimants frequently face coverage denials, delays, or underpayments from insurers.

Successfully navigating these disputes typically requires:

• Thorough analysis of complex insurance policies
• Knowledge of Ohio’s trial and appellate courts
• Experience litigating against national insurance carriers
• Preparedness for trial if coverage disputes intensify

Ohio Insurance Attorneys on Your Side

Battling with a giant insurance company is hard work. Insurance companies have unlimited resources, they have all the time in the world, and they hire the best and toughest lawyers they can find.

You need to level the playing field. Rutter & Russin doesn't do probate work, handle divorces, represent criminal defendants, incorporate businesses, or prepare tax returns. We only do one thing — we fight insurance companies.

We only represent you, the policyholder, never the insurance industry.

Where do you turn when you've suffered a loss?

Feeling overwhelmed? You've suffered a devastating loss, the kind of loss that you bought insurance to cover. But now the insurance company is acting like you're the enemy. They are besieging you with document requests, ignoring your questions, and asking for an examination under oath. Maybe they've even hired a lawyer to represent them.

Who is watching out for your interests? Where can you turn for help?

Fighting for people just like you for over 30 years

For over 30 years, Rutter & Russin has represented people like you — insureds who have suffered a significant loss, but find themselves battling with an insurance company they thought was their "good neighbor."

We handle all types of major insurance claims (generally those over $100,000), including:

• Fire
• Water & Freeze
• Theft
• Vandalism
• Life
• Bad faith
• Insurance agent negligence
• Duty to defend
• Uninsured motorist
• Business income loss
• Windstorm or tornado
• Hail
• Examinations Under Oath

The lawyers you need for the insurance recovery you deserve^®

Most lawyers have never appeared at an examination under oath or represented a client in a complex insurance claim. Rutter & Russin has helped hundreds of policyholders obtain the insurance benefits they paid for. We have worked against all the major carriers, from Allstate to Zurich. They know us, and we know them.

Our lawyers have national reputations and have spoken at national and local meetings and conferences for diverse groups of legal and claim professionals including:

• American Bar Association
• First Party Claims Conference
• National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters
• Ohio Association for Justice
• Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association
• National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators
• Ohio State Bar Association

Let us put our experience to work for you.