Bruce focuses his practice on product liability defense, litigation and trial. He has extensive experience in complex mass tort litigation. As national counsel for Philip Morris USA, along with pharmaceutical and insurance companies, Bruce has successfully handled cases across the country, with extensive experience in the states of Florida, Mississippi, California, Illinois, Oklahoma and Indiana. On behalf of the tobacco industry, he has also defended cost recovery class actions, and claims brought by individual smokers, attorneys general of various states, union health and benefit trusts, and asbestos companies. Bruce has also been involved extensively in tort reform initiatives in Mississippi. Bruce has also represented Miller Brewing Company in litigation and regulatory matters. Bruce has spent a considerable amount of time working with jury consultants and communications experts to develop more proficient ways of presenting comprehensive theories and strategies to juries.
Before joining Shook, Bruce was employed by the Southland Corporation, where he gained a great deal of experience in franchising, marketing and advertising, and business management. Earlier in his career, Bruce was a staff attorney with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Bruce makes time for his community through pro bono work. A notable pro bono project was his work with co-counsel handling the retrial of a death penalty case. Bruce received Shook’s William G. Zimmerman Pro Bono Award in recognition of his community service.