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Background
Bruce Dean was raised in Amherst, New York (a suburb of Buffalo), and received a B.A. in English from St. Lawrence University. He worked as a roofer, cook, and drilling rig roughneck for a year before moving to New Orleans to attend Tulane Law School. After law school, Bruce served as a judicial law clerk for a Louisiana state district court judge in Thibodaux and then for a Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal judge in Houma. He then worked as a trial and appellate attorney for a New Orleans insurance defense firm for six years, where he was the lead attorney in 37 trials on the merits. In 1993, Bruce joined the law firm of Gauthier & Murphy, P.L.C. in Metairie, where he worked closely with, and eventually became a law partner of, the nationally-known personal injury and class action trial attorney Wendell Gauthier. In 2002, following Mr. Gauthier's death, Bruce formed his own law firm, primarily focusing on research and brief-writing for other attorneys. Bruce is the proud father of Julia Baldassari, who lives in Denver with her husband Anthony. Bruce lives in Chalmette with his life partner, Tassie Weaver, and her sons, Stephen and Tristan. Bruce enjoys sports, travel, music, reading, swimming, New Orleans restaurants, and cheering for the Saints and Bills. He is an Appellate Practice Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, and accepts referrals from other attorneys for brief-writing, legal research, writs and appeals in all Louisiana state and federal courts.
Mr. Dean's ISLN is 907965761.
Bar Admissions
• Louisiana, 1984 to present.• New York, 1985 to present.• United States Supreme Court.• United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.• United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.• United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, & Western District of Louisiana.
Bar Association Memberships
- • American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America) (1985 to present).
- • American Bar Association (1984 to present).
- • Louisiana Association for Justice (formerly the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association) (1993 to present):
- * Chair, Amicus Curiae Committee (2007 to 2012).
- * Chair, Insurance Law Section (2017 to 2019)
- * Member, Amicus Curiae Committee (2004 to present).
- * Member, Legislative Committee (2004 to 2006).
- • Louisiana State Bar Association (1984 to present).
- * Appellate Practice Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (2024). * Member, Appellate Section (2023).
- * Member, Appellate Practice and Rules Advisory Subcommittee (2023). * Delegate, 24th Judicial District, to the House of Delegates (2010 to 2011).
- • New York State Bar Association (1985 to present).
- • New Orleans Bar Association (1988 to 2007, 2014 to 2015). * Chair, Appellate Practice Committee (2014 to 2015).
Education
J.D., Tulane Law School, New Orleans, LA, 1984. Winner, Tulane Moot Court Client Counseling Competition (1983 to 1984).
B.A. (English), St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, 1980. Recipient, New York State Regents’ Scholarship (1976 to 1980).
National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), Boulder, Colorado. Completed intensive three-week professional training program in trial advocacy (1986).
National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), Boulder, Colorado. Completed intensive three-week professional training program in trial advocacy (1986).
Special Master Appointments
Court Appointed Special Master, Janice Claborne et al. v. The Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO Mold Litigation Class Action), No. 2001-20605, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Louisiana (2019 to present).
Plaintiff's Steering Committee Appointments
Davis v. American Home Products Corp. (In re Norplant Contraceptive Device Litigation), No. 94-11684 c/w 94-12699 c/w 95-3139, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Louisiana (2001-2019).
In re Gramercy Plant Explosion at Kaiser, No. 25,975, 23rd Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. James, Louisiana (2002-2005).
In re New Orleans Train Car Leakage Fire Litigation, No. 87-16374, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Louisiana (2002-2010).
Honors
• Martindale-Hubbell and Lawyers.com "AV Preeminent®" 5.0 out of 5.0 Rating-- highest attorney rating for legal ability and adherence to the professional standards of ethics, based on the votes of other Louisiana lawyers and judges (2004 to present).
• The American Lawyer magazine and Corporate Counsel magazine "Top Rated Lawyer in Appellate Law," selected as one of the nation's top appellate attorneys (2013 to present).
• Litigation Counsel of America™, Invited by the Advisory Board of the Litigation Counsel of America™ to become a Fellow in The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, March 2015. (The Litigation Counsel of America™ is the trial lawyer honorary society, composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellows are selected based upon effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation. Membership is by invitation only.)
• Louisiana Life magazine, "Top Attorneys in Louisiana" in appellate law, based on peer recognition and professional achievement (2011 to 2018, 2022, 2023).
• Louisiana Super Lawyers, named as one of the top appellate attorneys in Louisiana, based on recommendations of other attorneys, for the top 5% of attorneys in the state (2008 to 2016 and 2022 to present).
• Marquis Who's Who In American Law, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in the World, reserved for less than 3% of professionals world-wide (1990 to 2022).
• National Law Journal, "Legal Leaders: Elite Lawyers of the South," based on recommendations of other attorneys for the top 5% of attorneys in each practice area (2017 to present).
• New Orleans Magazine, "Top Lawyer," based on an independent peer review survey (2017-2019).
• New Orleans Times-Picayune, "Top Lawyers of Louisiana" (2019).
• St. Charles Avenue magazine, "Top Attorneys in New Orleans" in appellate law, based on peer recognition and professional achievement (2013, 2014, 2022, 2023).
• Thomas Reuters' Super Lawyers Business Edition, named as one of the nation's top business and appellate attorneys (2011 to present).
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice (TLPJ) "Trial Lawyer of the Year" finalist, nominated for outstanding contribution to the public interest through work in Scott v. American Tobacco Co. (2005).
• The American Lawyer magazine and Corporate Counsel magazine "Top Rated Lawyer in Appellate Law," selected as one of the nation's top appellate attorneys (2013 to present).
• Litigation Counsel of America™, Invited by the Advisory Board of the Litigation Counsel of America™ to become a Fellow in The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, March 2015. (The Litigation Counsel of America™ is the trial lawyer honorary society, composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellows are selected based upon effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation. Membership is by invitation only.)
• Louisiana Life magazine, "Top Attorneys in Louisiana" in appellate law, based on peer recognition and professional achievement (2011 to 2018, 2022, 2023).
• Louisiana Super Lawyers, named as one of the top appellate attorneys in Louisiana, based on recommendations of other attorneys, for the top 5% of attorneys in the state (2008 to 2016 and 2022 to present).
• Marquis Who's Who In American Law, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in the World, reserved for less than 3% of professionals world-wide (1990 to 2022).
• National Law Journal, "Legal Leaders: Elite Lawyers of the South," based on recommendations of other attorneys for the top 5% of attorneys in each practice area (2017 to present).
• New Orleans Magazine, "Top Lawyer," based on an independent peer review survey (2017-2019).
• New Orleans Times-Picayune, "Top Lawyers of Louisiana" (2019).
• St. Charles Avenue magazine, "Top Attorneys in New Orleans" in appellate law, based on peer recognition and professional achievement (2013, 2014, 2022, 2023).
• Thomas Reuters' Super Lawyers Business Edition, named as one of the nation's top business and appellate attorneys (2011 to present).
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice (TLPJ) "Trial Lawyer of the Year" finalist, nominated for outstanding contribution to the public interest through work in Scott v. American Tobacco Co. (2005).
Lectures and Publications
• Author, "Martin v. Thomas: Employers are liable for their own fault, even after stipulating to vicarious liability," Louisiana Advocates, Vol. 37 No. 9 at 10-16 (Sept. 2022).
• Author, "Case Law in Louisiana?" New Orleans Bar Association Newsletter (Apr. 21, 2015),
• Contributing researcher, Solving Statute of Limitations Problems, by A.J. Levy (Matthew Bender).
• Contributing researcher, "What kind of lawyer are you?" by Glenn C. McGovern, Louisiana Advocates 12-15 (Jan. 2017).
• Contributing researcher, "Conscience-of-the-community closing arguments: federal cases," by Glenn C. McGovern, Louisiana Advocates 18-19 (Dec. 2016).
• Contributing researcher, "Juries are the conscience of the community," by Glenn C. McGovern, Louisiana Advocates 18-19 (Nov. 2016). • Speaker, "Recent Developments: Collecting Punitive Damages from Intoxicated Drivers (and Insurers), under La. Civ. Code art. 2315," Presented at the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association's Updates for Louisiana Lawyers Seminar, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. • Speaker, "The Road Ahead: Recent Law on Trucking Cases -- Updates from the Court," Presented at the Louisiana Association for Justice Fall Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana (2022).
• Contributing researcher, Solving Statute of Limitations Problems, by A.J. Levy (Matthew Bender).
• Contributing researcher, "What kind of lawyer are you?" by Glenn C. McGovern, Louisiana Advocates 12-15 (Jan. 2017).
• Contributing researcher, "Conscience-of-the-community closing arguments: federal cases," by Glenn C. McGovern, Louisiana Advocates 18-19 (Dec. 2016).
• Contributing researcher, "Juries are the conscience of the community," by Glenn C. McGovern, Louisiana Advocates 18-19 (Nov. 2016). • Speaker, "Recent Developments: Collecting Punitive Damages from Intoxicated Drivers (and Insurers), under La. Civ. Code art. 2315," Presented at the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association's Updates for Louisiana Lawyers Seminar, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. • Speaker, "The Road Ahead: Recent Law on Trucking Cases -- Updates from the Court," Presented at the Louisiana Association for Justice Fall Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana (2022).