Joseph M. Bruno graduated from Tulane University in 1977 and in 1978 received his Juris Doctor (accelerated entry) from Tulane School of Law. Joseph joined his father and became a partner at Bruno & Bruno, where he primarily focused on class action and complex liability cases. In 2007, Joseph formed his own firm, the Law Office of Joseph M. Bruno, A PLC.

With over 20 years experience, Joseph is recognized as an authority in class actions, particularly in the management of class actions. His expertise in difficult and complex litigation has led to his representation of numerous claimants in class action and mass joinder proceedings involving racial discrimination, occupational lung disease, product liability, and wage and hour violations.

Joseph is admitted to practice in all courts of Texas, United States District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of the state of Louisiana, United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States Tax Court. Joseph is an active member of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association having served on the Board of Governors for over 10 years. Additionally, Joseph is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Bar Association, Notaries Association of New Orleans, American Association of Trail Lawyers. Joseph currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and the New Orleans Opera Association.

Notable Verdicts

$591 Million - Amount awarded to fund a 10 year, 12 component smoking cessation program to be funded by defendants Philip Morris, USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, the Tobacco Institute and Lorillard Tobacco Company. It is the first time a jury has awarded non monetary relief in the form of a smoking cessation program. The plan outlined by the jury is a comprehensive, fully funded cessation program which will last for ten years.

$435 Million - Joseph, together with Wendell Gauthier, served as co lead Trial Counsel in the New Orleans Train Car Leakage Fire case, in which a $3.5 billion exemplary damage verdict was obtained; the case was later settled for $435,000,000.00.

Scott Joanen, a New Orleans native, is a trial attorney with over 15 years of courtroom experience. Upon graduating from law school, Scott was an assistant district attorney for Orleans Parish where he prosecuted hundreds of felony offenses, including murder, sex offenses, and narcotics. Since that time, he has engaged exclusively in litigation, representing thousands of individuals and businesses in civil litigation matters.

Scott has tried over 100 cases to verdict, including numerous jury trials in both Louisiana and California. In addition, he has settled hundreds more, successfully representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

Scott is admitted to practice in all courts of the states of Louisiana and California; the United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana; the United States District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California; the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits; and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Education

Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge)
Loyola Law School (New Orleans), Admitted to Practice: 1992

Areas of Practice

Litigation of personal injury, toxic tort, and products liability litigation; class action/ mass action litigation; maritime and admiralty litigation; insurance litigation; selected criminal defense.