LSUS Graduate Finds Success Litigating Landmark Cases 10/30/01

Mark Blane, an LSUS graduate and attorney with Hiden, Rott & Oertle, has made a name for himself handling high profile cases only three years out of law school.

Blane has recently settled two cases against American Home Products, maker of Phen-Fen, and Ford/Firestone. The American Home Products case was the first case he filed out of law school.

“One of my friends in law school, Chad McGuire, had an aunt who was suffering serious heart problems associated with taking Phen-Fen,” said Blane. “I filed suit on her behalf just after passing the California Bar Exam. In February 2000 Chad and I went to work for Hiden, Rott & Oertle and began handling the case with the firm.”

Because of the severity of her problems, they decided not to be included in the $5 billion nationwide settlement, instead taking on the corporate giant.

“It was very challenging and exciting” said Blane. “At one time I was sitting across the table negotiating with a founding partner of one the largest law firms in California.”

The case was settled and from that success quickly came many more cases. This summer, Blane settled one of the first suits against Ford/Firestone.

Blane graduated from LSUS in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and received a Bachelor of Criminal Justice from LSUS in 1995.

He received his law degree in 1998 from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in California and is now pursuing an MBA at San Diego State University.
Blane credits part of his success to his time at LSUS.

“LSUS did a wonderful job preparing me for law school, especially the research and writing background,” he said.