Thomas P. Bruetsch, Partner
DETROIT OFFICE
313-393-7541
313-393-7579 FAX
TBRUETSCH@BODMANLLP.COM
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Expertise
Bar Admissions
Education
- B.A., University of Michigan, 1991
- J.D., Wayne State University Law School, summa cum laude, 2000
Professional Affiliations
- State Bar of Michigan (Commercial Litigation Committee; Arts, Communications, Entertainment and Sports Section)
- Administrator, Business Law Section’s Business Court Ad Hoc Committee, State Bar of Michigan
- Member, Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
- Admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
Honors
- Order of the Coif, Wayne State University Law School
Representative Reported Cases
Biography
Mr. Bruetsch’s practice is focused on complex commercial matters. He has represented clients in such areas as domestic and international banking and finance, professional sports stadium leases and construction, trust and estate contests, governmental and commercial contract litigation, and related matters.
Mr. Bruetsch’s litigation experience includes the following:
- Representation of The Detroit Lions in a breach of contract suit filed by the City of Pontiac over the Lions’ move to Ford Field in downtown Detroit. Pontiac claimed damages in excess of $100 million. The case ultimately settled on terms satisfactory to the Lions.
- Successfully defended a major league sports franchise as developer of a 65,000 seat stadium against claims from a suppler of structural steel to the stadium in excess of $150 million. Following a 42-day arbitration proceeding, the arbitrators ruled in favor of Mr. Bruetsch’s client on all counts and awarded his client more than $11 million in costs and attorney fees.
- Representation of major banks in suits involving claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, discrimination, and fraud. One of these matters involved a suit brought by a Brazilian bank alleging that our client agreed to purchase the Brazilian bank which sought over $70 million in damages. We were successful in having all of plaintiff’s principal claims dismissed, and in achieving summary judgment in our favor on our client’s counterclaim.
- Representation of major automotive clients, including OEM’s and Tier One Suppliers, in multi-million dollar contract and dealer litigation.
- Representation of a trust beneficiary in a trust contest in which we achieved a settlement valued in excess of $1 million.
While in law school, Mr. Bruetsch received numerous academic honors and interned with Justice Marilyn Kelly of the Michigan Supreme Court. He was a member of the executive editorial board of the Wayne Law Review and was captain of the Student Trial Advocacy Program National Team, a group he continues to mentor. Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. Bruetsch worked in radio and television as a broadcast journalist, producer, and executive. He was nominated for three local Emmy awards for his work as a television producer. Mr. Bruetsch is an active volunteer with several charitable and civic organizations.
