Rod Sullivan

Professor Rod Sullivan practiced maritime law for 25 years before joining the faculty at Florida Coastal School of Law and is a Board Certified specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law.  During his years of practice he tried over 100 jury and non-jury cases in both federal and state courts in Florida and Georgia.

Professor Sulivan regularly teaches Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Admiralty and Maritime Law, and the global Climate Change Seminar.

Professor Sullivan successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Edgar Townsend in the case of Atlantic Sounding, Inc. v. Townsend, 129 S. Ct. 2561 (2009).  In a 5-4 decision written by Justice Clarence Thomas the Supreme Court decided that a seaman who was wrongfully denied medical care by his employer could seek punitive damages.

Professor Sullivan appeared as counsel for certain voters in Nassau County, Florida in the 2000 Presidential Election recount case in Tallahassee, Florida which came to be known as Bush v. Gore.  He also served in the Merchant Marine Ready Reserve program of the U. S. Naval Reserve, earning the rank of Lieutenant.