Ralph J. Mellusi

Practice areas

Transportation/Maritime

Focus areas

Admiralty & Maritime Law

Ralph J. Mellusi, a seasoned maritime personal injury attorney, holds the esteemed title of “Proctor in Admiralty” as certified by the Maritime Law Association of the United States. He graduated from NYS Maritime College in 1967 and New York Law School in 1974. During the Vietnam War, Mr. Mellusi served as a U.S. Naval Reserve Officer, notably as an engineering officer on the SS TRANSGLOBE, a vessel honored in the Maritime Hall of Fame in 2009 as the most decorated merchant vessel of the conflict.

As the senior partner at Tabak, Mellusi & Shisha, LLP, Mr. Mellusi represents plaintiffs in admiralty and maritime personal injury cases across New York and the entire United States. Maritime personal injury law is a intricate fusion of legal expertise and maritime operations, a realm in which Mr. Mellusi excels due to his marine engineering degree, hands-on experience as a ship’s engineering officer, and research conducted at the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. Furthermore, he previously served as an adjunct professor of maritime law at the New York State Maritime College and taught “Safety and the Law” at NYU Graduate School of Continuing Education. His combined practical knowledge of maritime affairs and legal acumen has made him a driving force in the industry, facilitating successful recoveries for clients, often comprising ship passengers, crew members, dockworkers, or harbor workers. Additionally, Mr. Mellusi has shared his expertise by contributing to and lecturing at seminars on admiralty and maritime law.

Recognized for his exceptional contributions by both peers and clients in the legal field, Mr. Mellusi has maintained the prestigious Martindale Hubbell rating of AV Preeminent* since 1991—a recognition reserved for attorneys exhibiting the highest ethical and professional standards in their practice. He is licensed to practice law in New York, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the Southern, Eastern, and Northern U.S. District Courts of New York. Moreover, he has been granted “pro hac vice” admission in various federal courts throughout the United States. He holds memberships in organizations such as the Maritime Law Association of the United States, the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers, the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.