Overview

PRACTICE AREAS:
Commercial Litigation
Class Actions
Tort Litigation

Bruce Iwasaki is a senior partner in the litigation group, where he specializes in commercial and tort litigation. Prior to joining Lim Ruger, Mr. Iwasaki handled complex business litigation at a major Los Angeles firm for nine years. Mr. Iwasaki has successfully litigated in the state and federal courts on a wide range of matters, including trade secrets, insurance coverage, and commercial disputes. Mr. Iwasaki’s recent cases at Lim Ruger include:

• Winning a $45 million jury verdict against a real estate promoter for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.

• Representing a global mobile phone manufacturer in a multimillion dollar contract dispute resulting in a favorable settlement.

• On behalf of a local hospital, winning dismissal of a class action based on unfair competition and consumer remedies statutes.

• Successfully defending a major food distributor in trial against a multimillion dollar claim of property damage, and collaborating on a successful appeal of various tort claims.

• Obtaining a $3 million settlement on behalf of hundreds of tenants against their landlord for numerous health and safety violations.

In addition to Mr. Iwasaki's work on behalf of business clients, his public service has been widely noted. Mr. Iwasaki served as Executive Director of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles for nine years, supervising sixty lawyers.

Education

• U.C.L.A. School of Law (J.D., 1976)
• U.C.L.A. (B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1972)

Admissions

• California
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

Awards

• Public Interest Clearinghouse Opening Doors to Justice Award, 2008
• Judge John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award American Bar Association Section of Litigation, 2006
• Inner City Law Center Humanitarian Award, 2005
• Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness Honoree, 2005
• State Bar of California Loren Miller Legal Services Award, 2004
• UCLA School of Law Antonia Hernandez Public Interest Award, 1999
• National Coalition for Redress and Reparations Fighting Spirit Award, 1997
• ACLU Foundation of Southern California Pro Bono Civil Rights Award, 1996
• Most Influential Lawyers in California, Los Angeles Daily Journal, 1998

Memberships

• American Bar Association
  Commission on Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts
• City of Los Angeles
  Board of Taxi Cab Commissioners, President
• California Bar Foundation
  Board of Directors
• The Advancement Project
  Board of Directors
• American Bar Association
  Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants
  2003 to 2006
• Los Angeles County Bar Association
  Board of Trustees 2003 to 2005