Rashanda Bruce

A fierce advocate for individuals and families who have suffered life-changing injuries or loss, Rashanda Bruce represents clients in medical malpractice, serious injury, and wrongful death cases. She knows that for most people, needing a lawyer follows something they never expected to happen. Rashanda helps her clients understand what happened, navigate what comes next, and pursue accountability from those responsible.

Rashanda brings a unique perspective to her work, having experienced litigation from several different roles. She began her career at Robins Kaplan more than a decade ago as a case assistant and later became a paralegal before pursuing her law degree. After law school, she practiced at a national law firm in Minneapolis, representing clients in a wide range of litigation and labor and employment matters, before returning to Robins Kaplan as an associate. Her prior experience as a paralegal enables her to build strong client relationships through clear communication and a deep understanding of the legal process, while her legal expertise ensures she navigates the courtroom with confidence and skill, advocating effectively for her clients.

Rashanda’s experience also includes litigation involving complex medical and scientific evidence. In the Depo-Provera Liability Litigation MDL, involving claims that women developed meningiomas after using the injectable birth control drug, Rashanda worked closely with the Plaintiffs’ Science and Expert Committee on issues involving medical and scientific evidence and causation.

Rashanda is an active leader in Minnesota’s legal community. She serves on the Boards of Directors of the Hennepin County Bar Association, Prodeo Academy, and the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, where she chairs the Membership Committee, and is President-Elect of the Warren E. Burger Inn of Court. She has been recognized by Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation for three consecutive years and The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for four consecutive years. Her other honors include the Hennepin County Bar Association’s Advancing Diversity & Inclusion Award, Minnesota Lawyer’s Attorney of the Year, and Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s Recent Alumni Award.

Outside of her practice, Rashanda is committed to mentorship and community involvement. She co-founded LOCUS, which provides a space for community building and connection among BIPOC professionals in Minnesota, and mentors law students and young lawyers. Rashanda has also coached competitive cheerleading for 19 years, working with girls from elementary through high school. Coaching has remained an important part of her life throughout her legal career and is one of the ways she continues to mentor and support young people.

Education

• Mitchell Hamline School of Law, J.D. (2018)
• University of St. Thomas, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Minors in Philosophy and Legal Studies (2009)

Representative Matters

$7.75 Million Aerosol Dust Remover Abuse Verdict - McDougall v. CRC Industries, Inc. et al. (2024)
Part of the trial team that helped secure a landmark $7.75 million verdict against CRC Industries for its failure to prevent the foreseeable misuse of its aerosol dust remover products. The total judgment increased to almost $10.5 million after the court granted a post-trial motion for pre- and post-verdict prejudgment interest and costs. The verdict follows the 2019 death of Cynthia McDougall, who was killed in a vehicle crash after an individual who huffed CRC Duster struck her car head-on. This was the first dust remover case of its kind to go to trial. Unfortunately in 2026, the verdict was reversed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

$7.5 Million Wrongful Death Verdict - Lewis, Valerie o/b/o Lewis, Douglas v. Trifiletti (2023)
Represented the family of Doug Lewis in a wrongful death lawsuit following his fatal shooting by Anthony Trifiletti in St. Paul, MN. Trifiletti shot and killed Mr. Lewis after a minor car accident, claiming self-defense during criminal proceedings, despite no weapons being found on Lewis. Trifiletti was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder and a civil lawsuit was filed on behalf of Lewis' family, resulting in a bench trial verdict awarding over $7.5 million in damages, including $2.5 million in punitive damages.

$650,000 Wrongful Death Settlement (2024)
Obtained a wrongful death settlement with multiple defendants totaling $650,000, where the plaintiffs alleged the health care and service providers failed to provide appropriate mental health care and treatment.

$210,000 Defamation Verdict – Sellers v. Powell (2019)
Represented Minneapolis choreographer April Sellers who was targeted in a series of defamatory “Open Letters” and other communications attacking her reputation.  Serving as an associate on the case, Rashanda assisted with all aspects of trial preparation prior to the case’s favorable verdict totaling $210,000, which included $75,000 in punitive damages. This result was prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP.

Press Releases

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2024-2027 Editions)
• Named to the Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation (2024-2026)
• Named a "Minnesota Rising Star," Super Lawyers (2023-2026)
• Named a "Rising Young Professional," Finance & Commerce (2025)
• Recipient of the "Advancing Diversity & Inclusion Award," Hennepin County Bar Association (2025)
• Recipient of the "Recent Alumni Award," Mitchell Hamline School of Law (2025)
• Named an "Attorney of the Year," Minnesota Lawyer (2024)
• Recognized as a "Diverse Lawyer Making a Difference," Profiles in Diversity Journal (2024)
• Named to "Top Lawyers List," Minnesota Monthly (2023-2024)
• American Association for Justice's Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Academy (2023-2024)
• Named a "North Star Lawyer" by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2024-2025)
• Named an “Up & Coming Attorney,“ Minnesota Lawyer (2023)
• Nominated for “Outstanding Young Lawyer Award,” National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division (2023)

Civic

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities Area (2009-2011)
• Child Protection Clinic (2017-2018)
• Everybody Wins, Reading Volunteer (2011-2014)
• Innocence Clinic (2017-2018)
• Independent School District 191, Cheerleading Coach (2006-2010)
• Independent School District 196, Apple Valley Elementary & Middle School Program Director, Cheerleading Coach (2011-2022)
• Leaders of Today and Tomorrow, Board Member (2010-2014), Advisory Board Co-Chair (2011-2013), Secretary (2013)
• League of Women Voters of Minnesota, Board of Directors (2011-2013)
• LOCUS, Co-Founder, Leadership Team Member (2014-Present)
• Minneapolis Public Schools Community Education, Youth Cheerleading Instructor (2016)
• Somerset School District, Cheerleading Coach (2022-Present)
• Volunteer Lawyers Network, Conciliation Court Volunteer (2019)
• Volunteer Lawyers Network, Housing Court Volunteer (2018-2019, 2021-Present)

Professional

• American Association for Justice, Leadership Academy (2024) 
• Books for Africa, Advisory Board (2024-Present)
• Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program, Associate Board (2020-2022)
• Federal Bar Association
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Finance & Planning Committee (2020-2021), Board of Directors (2022-Present)
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Pathfinder (2022)
• Minnesota Association for Justice 
• Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Board of Directors (2023-Present), Membership Committee Chair (2023-Present)
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Minnesota Women Lawyers
• National Bar Association
• Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Emerging Leaders Group (2018-2020), Outreach Committee (2020-Present)
• Warren E. Burger Inn of Court (2019-Present), President-Elect (2027-2028 Term), Executive Committee (2020-Present), Program Chair (2021-Present), Ad Hoc Committee (2022-Present), Co-Treasurer (2023-Present), Administrator (2016-2018), Student Member (2019-2020)

Speeches

• Boundaries & Balance: Reclaiming Your Time & Attention in a Demanding Profession
  Minnesota Women Lawyers Member Monday CLE, Virtual (February 9, 2026)
• Mass Tort Updates
  HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference, San Diego, California (January 28, 2026)
• Trial Team MVP: How to Make Yourself Indispensable
  Minnesota Association for Justice's New Lawyer Bootcamp, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 2, 2025)
  
• Financial Literacy for Associates
  Minnesota Association for Justice’s Women Trial Lawyers Conference, Nisswa, Minnesota (November 7, 2024)
• A Conversation on the Multicultural Attorney Experience
  Hennepin County Bar Association 2023 Race & Equity CLE, Webinar (May 22, 2023)
• Salary Survey 
  Minnesota Association for Justice’s Women Trial Lawyers Conference, Nisswa, Minnesota (November 3, 2023)
• Defamation on Social Media - April Sellers v. Kevin Powell and Jinah Parker
  Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota (March 22, 2019)

Articles

• “Coaching Cheerleading Makes Me A Better Lawyer,” Law360 (August 28, 2025)

Media Mentions

• "Minnesota Man Dies After Routine Dental Cleaning in Hopkins, Police Investigating,” CBS News (October 15, 2026)
• "KARE 11 Investigates: Criminal Investigation into death of dental patient," KARE 11 (October 12, 2026)
• "Rising Young Professionals 2025: Rashanda Bruce," Finance & Commerce (December 12, 2025)
• "Mitchell Hamline Alumni Association Honors Alumni Excellence," Bench and Bar of Minnesota (November 3, 2025)
• “Building Minnesota’s ‘Pro Bono Mindset’," Minnesota Lawyer (October 20, 2025)
• "Rising Young Professionals honorees announced," Finance & Commerce (October 14, 2025)
• "Breaking the Ice: Attorney contributes in courtroom, community," Minnesota Lawyer (July 3, 2025)
• "Lawsuit links Depo-Provera contraceptive to brain tumor," Minnesota Lawyer (February 19, 2025)
• "2024 Attorneys of the Year: McDougall v. CRC Industries, Inc. et al.," Minnesota Lawyer (February 7, 2025)
• "Over two dozen alumni honored as Attorneys of the Year," Mitchell Hamline School of Law (January 17, 2025)
• “Lawsuit Against Sartell Mobile Home Park Alleges Sewer Backups, Deceptive Practices,” MPR News (October 24, 2024)
• “Sartell Mobile Home Park Residents File complaint Against Owners,” St. Cloud Live (October 24, 2024)
• "Lawsuit Settled After Murder Victim’s Parents Say Ramsey County, Others Didn’t Properly Supervise Boyfriend," Pioneer Press (September 17, 2024)
• "Up & Coming Attorneys, Unsung Legal Heroes Announced," Minnesota Lawyer (July 24, 2023)
• "The Recent Recruits of Robins Kaplan LLP: The Future (of Law) is Female," Attorney at Law Magazine (May 8, 2023)
• "Hennepin Lawyer: 10 Questions with Rashanda Bruce," Minnesota State Bar Association (April 11, 2023)