Practice  Areas

• Admiralty and Maritime

• Marine Insurance Coverage

• Charter/ Contract Review

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Education

• Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Juris Doctor - 1974

• Mercer University, Macon, Georgia

  • Bachelor of Arts - 1972

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Bar Associations

• Louisiana

• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana

• U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana

• U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana

 

Professional Associations​​​​

• Louisiana State Bar Association

• Maritime Law Association of the United States

Rufus C, Harris III received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercer University in 1972 and thereafter received his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University in 1974 when he was admitted to the Louisiana Bar. After graduation, he joined the admiralty law firm, Terriberry, Carroll, & Yancey, and was a partner there for 15 years, handling cargo, collision, and personal injury claims. In 1996, he became a partner with O'Neil, Eichin, Miller, Saporito, & Harris. When that firm later dissolved, he founded Harris& Rufty, LLC, specializing in defending oil field, river, and fishing vessel owners.

 

He is currently “Of Counsel” with Staines, Eppling and Kenney where he continues to be actively engaged in maritime charter and contract review, along with mediation involving maritime collision, cargo, and personal casualty claims. 

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He is admitted to practice in all federal and state courts in Louisiana and is a member of the Louisiana Bar, Federal Bar and Maritime Law Association. He was a past president of the Mariners Club for the Port of New Orleans and currently serves as chairman of the Jefferson Parish Personnel Board.

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