Practice Areas

We are proud and honored by the compliments that we receive from our clients. Here are a few of them... Please contact us for answers to more complex questions or questions specific to your case. The initial consultation is free.

Jeff Slaton:

The tow line of the tugboat on which Jeff was working was hit by a cargo ship, jack-knifing the tug like the cracking of a whip and partially capsizing it. He was hit by flying cargo, (including a refrigerator!), knocked out and trapped under seven feet of water.

"I honestly didn’t think I would make it out alive. I was out of work for two years – I couldn’t support my family. My wife was working two jobs to try and make ends meet. I was too weak to even pick up my infant son. Rutter Mills made the difference – their support gave me back my life and my family. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have made it."

Nelson Smallwood:

Nelson was a welder at the shipyard and he sustained two separate injuries involving damaged nerves and torn ligaments. He had several surgeries as well as a regimen of physical therapy.

"I wanted the best care for my injuries, so the people at the Union Hall suggested Rutter Mills. They knew what they were talking about! They took my phone calls right away, explained everything, took care of absolutely anything and everything I needed. They made me feel welcome and like they really cared about how I was doing. But it's not just that they're nice guys, even though that's a comfort when you're sick or hurt. They are also really experienced and really competent. They fought hard for me and got me a settlement that will take care of me for the rest of my life. That's important because I was real let down when the doctor told me I couldn't go back to work as a welder. That was my life's work; it's what I knew how to do. But Rutter Mills told me that they'd make everything OK, and they sure did. I have referred at least eight people to them… maybe more. And they have all come back real pleased and thanked me for it. Just like I'd like to thank Rutter Mills."

JOANN MATRUSKI:

Joann hurt her foot and ankle at work when a coworker accidentally ran into her. She developed back and hip problems as a consquence of the accident. Several years after her injuries, Joann still has pain in her foot and back that require ongoing care.

"I needed someone to help me get the kind of treatment that I needed, and when I went to Rutter Mills, they were able to do so. Don't feel like you are by yourself or you're alone. Go to Rutter Mills. They treat you like a person."

Columbus Kellam:

Columbus was doing some paperwork in his van in Portsmouth when another car backed up into him. He sustained upper back and neck injuries. Columbus was unable to go to work for many months. He worried how he was going to care for his family.

"The investigator came out. He talked with me. He was sensitive to my problem. He said 'You just sit back and let Rutter Mills do what they do.' Rutter Mills will always be a part of my family."

Gary Rodgers:

Pastor Gary Rodgers and his wife were on their way home from a funeral when they were rear-ended. The impact compressed his lumbar discs against the nerves in his spine, causing intense pain up and down his legs and back.

"We had never faced anything quite like this – never been in a significant accident before -- and we didn’t know where to begin. Fortunately, someone suggested we call Rutter Mills, and from that moment on, we felt completely confident. Every question was answered, every aspect of our case was handled fully. We were cared for – and cared about –throughout the whole process. It’s definitely representation we could count on."

Amy Reiss:

While at work, Amy herniated her disc which later ruptured and required several extensive surgeries. Her doctors told her that she would never work again. No longer able to effectively support herself or her family, she turned to Rutter Mills. Amy now considers us "her attorneys for life".

"I was devastated when my doctor told me I would never work again. I was young. I want to work; I'd give anything if I could go back to it! How was I going to support myself and help support my family from now on? There was so much coming at me from every direction… I was overwhelmed! Then I further complicated my life by trying to do everything myself — I tried to get my social security benefits twice by myself and was denied both times. That changed the minute I called Rutter Mills. They won all my hearings, got me a very fair compensation package and basically gave me back my life. They've walked this scary road with me all the way over many years and many surgeries. They will be my attorneys for life."

Paul McKinley:

Paul was riding his motorcycle down Shore Drive with his fiancée, Meghan, on the back, when a drunk driver hit them head-on. They were thrown to opposite sides of the road. Paul suffered an aortic tear, bruised lungs, and two broken bones in his left forearm. He initially had no idea what had happened to Meghan.

"I couldn’t see her, I had no idea where she was. It was awful. I remember being on the ground and in extreme pain. I hurt everywhere, but the best medicine came to me in the ambulance when the paramedics told me she was alive – and not nearly as injured as I was. Rutter Mills found a way to help when another firm said there was nothing they could do for us since the other driver was uninsured. They took everything off my plate, so I could focus on my recovery, and got me a settlement that definitely put our minds at ease about how we were ever going to be able to make a life together and start a family. They really work for you – and I guess you could say they specialize in happy endings."

Mary Crear:

While parked at an intersection, Mary could see the vehicle coming up from behind her. Having no way to effectively avoid the pending collision, she braced for impact.

"They were so good to me; they explained everything, they took care of everything so that literally all I had to do was what they told me ‘Go home, take care of yourself; concentrate only on getting better and we will take care of all the rest.‘ And that's what I did. God sent me to Rutter Mills."