Bruce Anderson

Biography

Since February 2022, Bruce Anderson, J.D., has first chaired 11 medical malpractice trials in Bexar, Nueces, Travis and Val Verde County, Texas. Having been “grounded” during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has enjoyed returning to the courtroom and looks forward to trying many more cases with is partner, Brett Pattillo.

Anderson is a Diplomate with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), having tried over 100 cases to verdict in virtually every part of Texas. His practice focuses predominantly in the area of medical malpractice litigation; however, he has also tried many cases involving personal injury and handles commercial litigation. Since 2003, he has served as an adjunct professor at the St. Mary’s University School of Law, teaching the Medical Malpractice Litigation course. Over the last 30 years, Anderson has practiced primarily in Central and South Texas and has tried a number of dangerous medical malpractice cases in Laredo, winning almost all of them.He also had the unique experience of receiving two unanimous defense verdicts in the same week.

After completing his undergraduate degree in Political Science at the University of Missouri at Columbia, and a brief stint in the United States Navy, Bruce earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri, Columbia School of Law. He served on the school’s Law Review and was awarded the American Jurisprudence Prize in Constitutional Law, the Judge Roy W. Harper Prize for Best Work in Federal Courts, and the Russell Castile Scholarship.

Anderson was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1975 and clerked for a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals from 1975-1976. Thereafter, he served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal, Anti-Trust and Administrative Law Divisions of the Office of the Missouri Attorney General. When his wife, Cheryl, completed her Ph.D. and was offered a position at the University of Texas in Austin, Anderson moved his practice to support her career. She reciprocated in 1990 when he was offered a position in San Antonio to work alongside George Brin. Cheryl Anderson, Ph.D., then joined the University of the Incarnate Word, where she served as a Professor and as Dean of the School of Media and Design and Dean of the UIW Library.  

They met at the University of Missouri and have been married for 56 years. They both enjoy traveling and spending as much time as they can with their grandson. 

Presentations

• Thota v. Young: The Casteel Problem and Contributory Negligence Instructions (2012)
• “Update on ‘Paid or Incurred’ – Haygood v. Escobedo (2011) Texas Medical Liability Trust Biannual Seminar
• Update on Suing Governmental Employees (2011) Advocate MD seminar
• An exception to the Physician – Patient Relationship (2010)
• Winning the Causation Defense with Foreseeability (2009) Texas Medical Liability Trust Seminar
• “Paid or Incurred” Practice and Problems in Limiting Damages for Medical Expenses (2008) Texas Medical Liability Trust Biannual Seminar.
• Analysis of Damage Caps before and After Tort Reform (2006) Medical Malpractice Tort Law Seminar-Sponsored by Brin & Brin for our Insurance Clients, Certified for Continuing Education Credits by the State Board of Insurance.
• Preservation of Harm – A New Approach To An Old Problem (2005) Medical Malpractice Tort Law Seminar-Sponsored by Brin & Brin for our Insurance Clients, Certified for Continuing Education Credits by the State Board of Insurance.
• Recent Significant Cases (2004) Medical Malpractice Tort Law Seminar-Sponsored by Brin & Brin for our Insurance Clients, Certified for Continuing Education Credits by the State Board of Insurance; Certified by the State Bar of Texas for CLE Credits.
• Standards of Care — Issues, Proof (2003) Medical Malpractice Tort Law Seminar-Sponsored by Brin & Brin for our Insurance Clients, Certified for Continuing Education Credits by the State Board of Insurance.
• Voir Dire in Healthcare Liability Cases (2002) Medical Malpractice Tort Law Seminar-Sponsored by Brin & Brin for our Insurance Clients, Certified for Continuing Education Credits by the State Board of Insurance.
• The Physician/Patient Relationship (2000) Medical Malpractice Tort Law Seminar-Sponsored by Brin & Brin for our Insurance Clients, Certified for Continuing Education Credits by the State Board of Insurance.
• Res Ipsa Loquitur (1998) Medical Malpractice Tort Law Seminar-Sponsored by Brin & Brin for our Insurance Clients, Certified for Continuing Education Credits by the State Board of Insurance.
• The Implications of Managed Care in Medical Malpractice Litigation (1997) Medical Malpractice Tort Law Seminar-Sponsored by Brin & Brin for our Insurance Clients, Certified for Continuing Education Credits by the State Board of Insurance.