“I am a creative, careful, and credible advocate for a range of clients who cannot find simple solutions.”

-Attorney Daniel Rucker

I confront complicated webs of factual circumstances and legal considerations and simplify them in order to derive sound solutions for my clients. I am adept at locating key support for clients’ positions in case law from 100 years ago, client documents from 10 years ago, or changes in law from 10 days ago. I have presented written and/or oral advocacy to adjudicators of all levels, including arbitrators; mediators; supreme, appellate, circuit, probate, family, and district courts of Michigan; and federal district and appellate courts.

As a general practitioner who handles a range of legal matters, I have been successful in crafting solutions in particular areas of law from concepts and methods that were solidified in other areas. Clients in the fair labor arena have benefitted from my work with qui tam whistle blowers, securities clients have benefitted from my work in employment matters, probate clients have benefitted from my work in resolving corporate disputes, and mistreated consumer clients have benefitted from concepts involving personal injury clients. I use open-minded creativity to draw from a wide range of legal disciplines, carefully evaluate clients’ factual circumstances, and present positions in a credible and compelling manner to a variety of decision-makers. The result is that I have helped clients to overcome events they believed had ruined their careers, counteracted misconduct of others that cost clients their inheritances or life savings, and retrieved value from those who wished to empty clients’ bank accounts or wounded clients’ bodies or minds.

My practice has also allowed me to locate, for a wide variety of clients, solutions that could be modified and turned to the advantage of very different clients. I have assisted commercial businesses, non-profit and religious organizations, professionals, blue-collar workers, sole proprietors, employees at the end of their careers and those at the beginning, clients who had never before encountered the criminal justice system and those whose alleged culpable conduct was extensive and complex, clients who were uniquely injured and those whose injuries were shared by a large group, clients who hoped to avoid future litigation of the type other clients had already litigated, individuals too young or disabled to comprehend their plights, and clients of the most sophisticated sort with highly specific objectives. The benefit to clients of this diversity of clients and encounters is that I am not confined to a rote pattern of representation. I can see a way through where others may not.

Practice Areas

Securities
Fair Labor & Employment
Commercial Litigation
Qui Tam (whistleblower)
Personal Injury & Malpractice
Criminal Defense
Appellate Iitigation

Education

Michigan Stated University College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, certificates of merit, 2004

Trevecca Nazarene University, B.A., summa cum laude, double-major with minor, honored as a top graduate, 2001

Bar Admissions

State Bar of Michigan, 2004
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2007
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2007
U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2019

Examples of Excellence

  • Assisted several dozen contract workers to reach a gross recovery of almost $2 million for overtime claims against Chrysler.
  • Represented numerous individuals in recovering retirement savings, pensions, and home equity funds deposited into fraudulent investment schemes.
  • Aided numerous securities brokers and investment advisors to navigate U-4 and U-5 matters during employment or a transition between employers and assisted them with any related FINRA and state regulatory inquiries.
  • Worked with clients and the federal and state governments in qui tam whistleblower matters to recover millions of dollars in assets improperly obtained or retained by private entities, including pharmacy and medical services providers.
  • Represented a daughter in her successful efforts to recover for her disabled mother’s trust substantial assets improperly dissipated by the trustee and to remove the trustee, which involved appellate and supreme court litigation.
  • Assisted consumers in recovering for high value products that either bore hidden damages or did not work in the manner advertised.
  • Prepared a successful response to the United States’ motion to eliminate claims of a 20-year federal employee wrongfully accused of misconduct and deficient performance. Upon receipt of the detailed and comprehensive response briefing, the United States withdrew its defenses and remedied every act of misconduct against the employee-client.
  • Proceeded through successful appeals, with split and unanimous Michigan Supreme Court decisions, on behalf of clients injured by professional malpractice. This included assisting the Court in establishing new law controlling statewide malpractice litigation procedures.

Professional Affiliations & Credentials

  • Nazarene Church and other Nonprofit Board Membership
  • Gideons International Member
  • Youth Sports Coaching

Honors & Awards

  • MSU-DCL King Scholar, 2001 – 2004
  • National Merit Scholar, 1997
  • Super Lawyers recognition as Michigan Rising Star, 2014 – 2018
  • Publication of novel, forthcoming 2019

Testimonials

Finding a good attorney is time consuming and exhausting, so if you are reading this, there is no need to look further. Daniel was able to correlate my circumstances with law that left the defense little ground to stand on. While many attorneys work by intimidation and bullying, Daniel plays a game of methodical chess and knows how to get to the end game after each play. He was informative, projected each outcome, and kept an eye on my budget. Thanks to Daniel and his staff, we were able to settle with a positive outcome. So look no further. Daniel’s initial analysis of your case will convince you that Daniel is straight forward and an expert attorney.

Jerry A.

Daniel Rucker was referred to me from a satisfied client. I, too, found my experience with Mr. Rucker very satisfactory. He was able to recover money, that I thought was gone forever, through perseverance and hard work. He was able to get the judgment I needed and all at a reasonable cost. I also was very impressed with his quick response to all my questions and concerns. I would not hesitate to recommend him to others in need of a good lawyer!

Nancy G.

I worked with Daniel in an arbitration case involving wrongful termination. He knew the facts of the case extremely well and did an excellent job questioning the witnesses. What really impressed me about Daniel is that he went above and beyond to make sure the best interest of his client was met.

Ken M.

Mr. Rucker provided our church with legal advocacy that was both highly skilled and readily accessible. His knowledge of the law and his ability to communicate and negotiate resulted in a very positive outcome in a situation we believed might have been impossible to resolve.

Marlene W.

Awards and Accolades

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