Michael Rust graduated from Emory University in 1980 and Emory University School of Law in 1983 where he was Notes and Comments editor of the Emory Law Journal (Law Review). Since that time, he has maintained an active trial practice in the state of Georgia both in State and Federal Courts. Mr. Rust teaches litigation as part of Emory University School of Law's annual Trial Practice Program. He has received AV rating from Martindale Hubble, the highest rating afforded to lawyers by their peers.
Michael Rust's areas of practice are wrongful death and catastrophic injury litigation, construction litigation, employment litigation, insurance coverage litigation, and products liability litigation. Since 1983 Mr. Rust has tried numerous cases in each of these areas and obtained favorable verdicts for his clients. For example, in the last four years Mr. Rust has represented the owners of a chip mill in Eastman, Georgia against suits brought by numerous adjacent land owners alleging environmental claims and nuisance. Mr. Rust has defended a Jesup, Georgia mortgage broker against claims of allowing a well to become contaminated with e-coli bacteria. Mr. Rust has defended an insurance client against claims of bad faith and breach of the duty to defend arising out of copyright infringement claims. At least half of Mr. Rust's practice presently involves injuries and disputes arising out of construction projects. In the area of products liability, Mr. Rust is representing several manufacturers of products containing asbestos in over 300 lawsuits. Mr. Rust also has represented employers in lawsuits in EEOC complaints alleging age, sex and race discrimination as well as sexual harassment and hostile environment claims. Mr. Rust writes and lectures on the topics of insurance coverage litigation and litigation and, along with his partner Matt Moffett, Mr. Rust has authored the Agency Section of West Publishing's Georgia Employment Law Treatise.
Michael Rust has lived in Atlanta, Georgia since coming here to attend Emory University in 1976. Mr. Rust and his wife, Lora, have two daughters, Allie and Hunter, and make their home in the Morningside area of Atlanta and are active in their local schools and community.