truge@lewis-kappes.com

317.639.1210

Practice Areas

Immigration and international law; civil litigation including commercial disputes condemnation and personal injury; non-profit organizations; community based health care and public interest advocacy.

Tom Ruge focuses his practice in three different areas. He represents many employers seeking to hire foreign nationals with obtaining appropriate immigration visas. He has handled virtually every other type of immigration matter as well as representation of foreign nationals in business transactions and civil and criminal litigation. Mr. Ruge's second area of practice is general civil litigation, and he has represented people with catastrophic injuries in obtaining adequate compensation for their losses, represented land owners in condemnation proceedings and represented business people in a variety of commercial disputes. His third area of practice is representation of community based health care providers and advising other non-profit organizations. Mr. Ruge has engaged in public interest work, including past service as a public defender in Marion County, representation of migrant farm workers, pro bono representation for child advocates and service on boards of non-profit philanthropic organizations. He also has assisted with various projects of the Mexican Consulate for the benefit of Mexican nationals living in Indiana.

In October, 2005, Mr. Ruge was appointed by the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations to represent the Consulate of Mexico in Indianapolis.

Education

Indiana University, B.A., Philosophy, 1971; Valparaiso University, J.D., 1976

Bar Admissions

Admitted to Indiana State Bar, 1976; U.S. Supreme Court, 1980; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1980; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, 1976.

Publications and Presentations

Author: "Higher Education for Undocumented Students: The Case for Open Admission and In-State Tuition Rates for Students Without Lawful Immigration Status", 15 Ind. Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 257 (2005).

Author: "The New Immigration Law Requires Employer Verification of Employee Authorization to Work," The Indiana International Forum, August 1987; "Screening and Evaluating the Medical Malpractice and Other Personal Injury Cases;" "Evaluation of Structured Settlement Proposals;" "Proving Causation in Medical Malpractice and Other Personal Injury Cases;" Personal Injury Litigation Practice in Indiana, National Business Institute, Inc., 1988; "Recent Developments in Medical Malpractice Law," 22 Indiana Law Review 1, 1989; "The Ins and Outs of Obtaining Visas for Foreign-Born Employees," Indianapolis Business Journal, p. 41(a), March 1990; "Immigration Law and Criminal Defense," Indiana Defender, May 2002; "International Child Custody Disputes And The Hague Convention", Res Gestae, November, 2002; Co-Author: "What to Expect as a Medical Witness in a Legal Proceeding," The Marion County Medical Society Bulletin, August 1987.

Lecturer: "The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1976," Mini-Seminar Series, Indianapolis Bar Association, July 1987; "Immigration Law," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, March 1988; "Personal Injury Litigation Practice in Indiana," National Business Institute, Inc., December 1988; "Immigration and the International Trader," World Trade Club of Indiana, March 1989; "What Every Attorney Needs to Know About Representing Foreign Clients," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, November 1999; "Visa Options For Foreign Employees;" "Representing Foreign Nationals And Their Employers, Practical And Ethical Considerations," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, November 2000; "Who Is Authorized To Work In The United States?" Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, October 2001; Discrimination and Immigration Law Issues, Community and Family Resource Center Seminar for Latino Service Providers, April 2002.

Trainer: Training for non-profit board of directors for such not-for-profit health care providers as Citizens Health Center, the seven ambulatory health care facilities comprising the Central Indiana Neighborhood Health Centers, Indiana Health Centers, Indiana Primary Health Care Association, and Shalom Health Care Center, 1995-present.

Experience

Project Supervisor, Legal Services Organization of Indiana, Inc., 1977-82; Litigation Associate, Vernon J. Petri, P.C., 1982-86; Partner, Ruge & Rupert, 1986-91; Director, Lewis & Kappes, P.C., 1991-Present; Adjunct Professor, Immigration Law, Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis, 1992-97

Affiliations

Member, The Association of Immigration Attorneys; Member, The American Immigration Lawyers Association (Chairman, Indiana Chapter, 1988-89); Lawyers Fund Campaign Committee, 1989; Board of Directors, Forum for International Professional Services, 1989 (President, 1990); Board of Directors, Alzheimer's Association, 1990; World Trade Club; Member, Indianapolis Bar Association (Settlement Mediator, 1987-90); Member and Master Fellow, Indiana State Bar Association; Member, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association; Member, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Honors and Awards

Indiana Super Lawyer (Immigration, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Martindale-Hubbell Rating AV