Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Custody and Visitation
  A graduate of the University of South Dakota Law School, prior to joining RENSCH LAW in Rapid City, Mr. Rusch tried over one hundred criminal cases while practicing law in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then Sioux City, Iowa. Mr. Rusch handles very serious felony cases, including homicide, rape, drug charges, financial crimes, and felony drunk driving offenses. He also handles cases involving family law, divorce, and child custody. A licensed commercial pilot, Mr. Rusch also represents clients in Federal Aviation Agency review and licensing matters.
• Child Abuse

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Timothy is a fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, which is a group of approximately 225 elite lawyers throughout the United States and England. Mr. Rensch is one of two lawyers in the state of South Dakota who is a member of this elite group, the other being a retired judge. Mr. Rensch is also a lifetime member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers – South Dakota’s only lifetime member. Timothy Rensch is a two-time past president of the Black Hills Criminal Defense Bar. He is also a member of the American Association of Trial Lawyers and past President of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association. Specializing in
• DUI/DWI
  Hi, I’m Tim Rensch with Rensch law. We handle DWI cases DUI cases every single day, we can help you get through them.
• Wrongful Death
• Traffic Violations
  When driving down Interstate 90 it is not unusual to see an out-of-state vehicle pulled over, trunk open, and occupants sitting handcuffed in the ditch, as troopers dig through the vehicle in an apparent search for drugs. South Dakota has drug interdiction officers who pull vehicles over for speeding, following too closely, or some other minor traffic infraction. Sometimes the trooper follows an out-of-state vehicle for miles, usually, a rented car pulls next to it in the passing lane, and studies the driver and occupants. Sometimes the trooper claims the driver looked over and such is “unusual”, other times claiming the driver did not look over and such is “unusual” and then pulls the car over. The driver is brought back to the patrol vehicle to be given a “warning” and when questioned about the destination, origin, plans, and length of the trip. Passengers are also questioned.
• Sex Crimes
  Maybe the hardest charge to win at trial is Child Molestation (Rape). The allegation itself prompts prospective jurors to visualize a person charged with committing the act. RENSCH LAW has tried many of these types of cases. While admittedly there have been convictions, there have been many acquittals. There have also been convictions which were reversed on appeal after RENSCH LAW prepared the appellate briefs and made the appellate arguments.
• Burglary
• White Collar Crimes
  At RENSCH LAW, we understand the gravity of the situation you are facing and the profound impact it can have on your future. Our dedicated team of criminal defense lawyers is committed to providing personalized and aggressive legal representation tailored to your specific needs. With decades of combined experience, we have successfully defended clients in a wide range of criminal law cases, from DUI and drug offenses to assault, kidnapping, murder, rape, white-collar crimes, theft and more. Additionally, we also specialize in personal injury cases, helping victims seek the compensation they deserve for their pain and suffering. When you work with the defense attorneys at RENSCH LAW, you can rest assured that you have a trusted advocate fighting for your rights and striving for the best possible outcome in your case.
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  Most often the male gets arrested, but sometimes females do too. Rarely do both people get arrested. Whoever gets arrested is taken to jail and placed on a NO BOND status and must make a court appearance to have a bond set by a sitting magistrate. In most cases, an immediate NO CONTACT ORDER is filed and contact between the person charged and the person alleging the assault can be charged as a separate crime, which is an additional Class 1 Misdemeanor. This can further result in a cascade of additional charges. SADV charges can also arise from physical altercations between parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, or live-in spouses and other relatives in the home.
• Embezzlement
  Conduct constituting theft pursuant to this chapter constitutes a single offense including any separate offenses committed or charged before the effective date of this chapter and known as larceny, embezzlement, extortion, fraudulent conversion, false pretense, and receiving stolen property. An accusation of theft may be supported by evidence that the theft was committed in any manner that would be theft under this chapter, notwithstanding the specification of a different manner in the indictment or information, subject only to the power of a court to ensure a fair trial by granting a continuance or other appropriate relief if the conduct of the defense would be prejudiced by lack of fair notice or by surprise.
• Drug Crimes
  Possession of drugs in their many and various forms often result in criminal charges against the person found in possession of those drugs. Whether it be marijuana or other substances, the gravamen, burden, is knowledge. One must be in “knowing” possession or possess a drug “knowingly.”
• Assault
  Aggravated assault is a Class 3 Felony, with a maximum possible penalty of 15 years in the penitentiary, a $15,000 fine, or both. Aggravated Assault can be anything from a Simple Assault gone bad with serious bodily injury, to a choking, the brandishing of a weapon, among other things. RENSCH LAW has handled more Aggravated Assaults than it can remember. This serious charge has several possible defenses. RENSCH LAW has used these defenses in both state and federal court before juries and judges over the last 25 years.
• Murder
  In Alan Blinder’s article, “Michael Slager, Officer in Walter Scott Shooting, Gets 20-Year Sentence”, a police officer was charged with murder after a video recorded Read More »
• Homicide
  When you think out homicide cases or murder case. If you or a relative or a son or a daughter get charged with the most serious type of offense of all, which is murder, I’ve tried those cases and won them.
• Kidnapping
  The lawyers at RENSCH LAW, under the tutelage of Timothy J. Rensch, have learned how to gather the records necessary to properly evaluate the contentions of the alleged victim. While such is unusual, in one recent case RENSCH LAW successfully pushed a serious case to a dismissal by the prosecution after discovering exculpatory information in an extended records search. As a result, Aggravated Kidnapping, Kidnapping, and repeated child rape charges were dismissed.
• Manslaughter
  The most serious charge one can face is First Degree Murder. This is a Class A Felony, which carries a maximum penalty of Death. Second Degree Murder, also known as depraved mind killing, is a Class B Felony, which carries a mandatory Life sentence. First Degree Manslaughter is a Class C Felony, which carries a sentence of up to Life. Different homicide charges go down from there, and include Second Degree Manslaughter, and Vehicular Homicide.
• Extortion

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation

Property Law

• Premises Liability

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s improper or wrong acts or omissions (failure to act) please call for a free consultation. We have been handling personal injury cases since 1992.
• Medical Malpractice
  RENSCH LAW has handled medical malpractice claims, federal tort claims, worker's compensation cases, and wrongful death cases, to name a few.