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I like being able to lower the stress level and pain in my clients' lives. Before they come to see me, clients are often under a barrrage of phone calls, day and night, from bill collectors. Some are being sued in court for unpaid bills. Almost all wish they could pay the bills but they cannot. The resulting stress often pushes marriages to the breaking point. I believe that kids are sensitive to the stresses their parents are suffering and that means the kids suffer too. The pressure of debts that can't be paid makes everyone unhappy. Bankruptcy, on the other hand, can relieve the stress. My clients often end up owing only the debts they want to keep, typically house mortgages and car payments. I have had couples come up to me long after the bankruptcy has concluded thanking me for the work and telling me how their marriage and lives are better. I try to do first rate legal work, but the credit for the change these folks are enjoying goes to the bankruptcy law itself. We are lucky to have such a law and I like being a bankruptcy lawyer. It is an enjoyable job.
| Eric Steven Ruff: | Member at The Eric S. Ruff |
 |
Ruff & Cohen, P.A. 4010 Newberry Road, Suite G Gainesville, FL 32607 |
| Website: | http://www.bankruptcylawhelp.com/ |
| Offices: |
Eric S. Ruff
Ruff & Cohen
Ruff & Cohen, P.A.
|
I enjoy helping people. Clients that come to me for help are usually under severe stress. They want to pay their debts but simply cannot. Stress is bad for health and relationships. Client couples are often on the edge of divorce from all the stress. For many people in this situation, bankruptcy law can result in cancellation of common debts, such as credit cards, auto repo debts, hospital bills, signature loans, and even judgments. No wonder the nickname for Chapter 7 is "fresh start."
I enjoy helping people. Clients that come to me for help are usually under severe stress. They want to pay their debts but simply cannot. Stress is bad for health and relationships. Client couples are often on the edge of divorce from all the stress. For many people in this situation, bankruptcy law can result in cancellation of common debts, such as credit cards, auto repo debts, hospital bills, signature loans, and even judgments. No wonder the nickname for Chapter 7 is "fresh start."
| Association name | Position name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County Bar Association | Chairman of the East Division | 1981 - 1982 |
| Tampa Bay Osborne Computer Users Group | President | 1983 - 1983 |
| Ruff Software, Inc. | President | 1983 - 1984 |
| Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association | Editor of Newsletter | 1988 - 1989 |
| Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville | Director | 1996 - 1996 |
| Plaza West Condominium Association, Inc. | Director and past Secretary | N/A |
| Plaza West Condominium Association, Inc. | Director and past Secretary | 2000 - 1900 |
| Plaza West Condominium Association, Inc. | Director and past Secretary | N/A |
| Democratic Party | Official Poll Watcher | 2004 - 2004 |
| CLO Alumni Foundation, Inc. | Director | 2006 - 2012 |
| Democratic Party | Official Poll Watcher | 2008 - 2008 |
| Madera Community Association, Inc. | Director | 2009 - 2011 |
| Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar Association | Member | 2011 - 2013 |
| Clay County Bar Association | Member | 2011 - 2013 |
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
|---|---|---|
| AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2016 |
| AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2015 |
| Client Distinction Award | Martindale-Hubbell | 2015 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2014 |
| Client Distinction Award | Martindale-Hubbell | 2013 |
| BV Distinguished Rating | Martindale-Hubbell | 2013 |
| Top Bankruptcy Law Firm | LAWS.com | 2013 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2012 |
| BV Distinguished rating | Martindale-Hubbell | 2011 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2010 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2009 |
| BV Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2008 |
| Paul Harris Fellow | Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville | 1998 |
| Certficate of Recognition of Academic Excellence | Florida Law Review | 1979 |
| Book Award for Contracts ! | University of Florida College of Law | 1976 |
| School name | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law | JD - Juris Doctor with honors | 1979 |
| University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law | JD - Juris Doctor with honors | 1979 |
| Case name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Hall Truck Sales, Inc. v. Wilder Mobile Homes, Inc., 402 So.2d 1299 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981) | On appeal obtained reversal for client at Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal |
| Icard v. Henderson, 455 So.2d 417 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984) | On appeal obtained reversal in part and affirmance in part, both in client's favor |
| Kent v. Connecticut Bank and Trust Co. NA, 386 So.2d 902 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980) | On appeal obtained reversal for client at Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal |
| Meares v. Revels Ford Tractor Co., Inc., 456 So.2d 1339 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984) | On appeal obtained affirmance in client's favor as against individual defendants, reversal as to corporate defendant) |
| Miley v. Miley, 402 So.2d 557 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981) | On appeal obtained reversal for client at Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal |
| Revels Ford Tractor Co., Inc. v. Meares, 419 So.2d 1190 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982) | On appeal obtained reversal for client at Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal |
| Williams v. Feather Sound, Inc., 386 So.2d 1238 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980) | On appeal obtained reversal for client at Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal |
| State | Number | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL | 282944 | Member in Good Standing | 1979 | 04/25/2019 |
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Laws.com | Understanding the Power of Bankruptcy Law: Eric Ruff | 2013 |
| New York Times | Eric S. Ruff was quoted by the New York Times in article entitled "Ex-Lehman chief sold Florida mansion to his wife for $10" | 2009 |
| Bulletin of the Jacksonville Bar Association | Drunk Drivers Collide With Punitive Damages | 1977 |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Florida Bar Convention | Florida Homestead Exemption Law (Eric Ruff wrote the speech; it was delivered by Atty. Lisa Cohen) | 2007 |
| Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar Association Annual Meeting | Florida Exemption Law (Eric Ruff wrote the speech; it was delivered by Atty. Lisa Cohen) | 2006 |
| Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar Association Annual Meeting | Means Testing Under BAPCPA (Eric Ruff wrote the speech; it was delivered by Atty. Lisa Cohen) | 2005 |
| Florida Northern District Bankruptcy Bar Assn. Annual Meeting | Dischargeability of Tax Debts in Bankruptcy (Eric Ruff wrote the speech; it was delivered by Atty. Lisa Cohen) | 1994 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | Law Office of William Randolph Klein | 1979 - 1980 |
| Associate | Law Office of William Randolph Klein | 1979 - 1980 |
| Associate | Trinkle, Redman, Alley & Moody, P.A. | 1980 - 1985 |
| Associate | Trinkle, Redman, Alley & Moody, P.A. | 1980 - 1985 |
| President | Ruff & Cohen, P.A. | N/A |
| President | Ruff & Cohen, P.A. | 1986 - 1900 |
| President | Ruff & Cohen, P.A. | N/A |
