W. Bourne Ruthrauff
Member
Mail ruthrauff@bbs-law.com
Phone|Fax|Text: 215.567.2883
Office: Philadelphia, PA
Education
University of Pennsylvania, B.A.
University of Pennsylvania Law School, LLB
Admissions
Bar Admissions
Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals Third Circuit
United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania
Hobbies/Interests
Hiking
Kayaking
Bourne Ruthrauff is Of Counsel to Bennett, Bricklin & Saltzburg LLC. He presently limits his practice to the areas of professional responsibility and legal ethics.
LAW PRACTICE
In 1967 Bourne began his career as a trial lawyer in Philadelphia. He tried jury trials and bench trials in federal and state courts in Philadelphia and throughout the Commonwealth. He frequently defended product manufacturers from claims of product defect. He defended such claims brought against manufacturers of forklifts and other material handling equipment, trucks, motorhomes, automobiles, electronic industrial control systems and components, OTC personal care products, children’s toys and clothing.
He also defended a municipal transit system from personal injury claims, on its subway, bus and trolley lines. Bourne also represented organizations in commercial disputes, including contract and fraud claims. He assisted in the successful trial defense of a nationwide class action anti-trust claim.
LEGAL ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Early in his career, Bourne began serving on the Professional Guidance Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association. This committee provides advice to lawyers on legal Ethics/Professional Responsibility questions. He served as Chair of the committee in 2003 and has served actively on the committee ever since. In that role, he has written numerous opinions for the committee as well as provided telephone advice for lawyers who enquire. He also serves on the Pennsylvania Bar Association committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility. He has taught ethics in CLE seminars for both the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.
In his private ethics practice, Bourne has litigated a number of disputes in state and federal court regarding the ethical duties of lawyers. He has also served as an expert witness in such matters. He continues to advise individual lawyers, organizations and Bennett, Bricklin & Saltzburg.
PUBLIC SERVICE
In 2012 The Philadelphia Bar Association awarded its Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award to Bourne and four other lawyers. This award was in recognition of work done in 1970 on behalf of the Philadelphia Bar Association. The five lawyers had been assigned to investigated state-wide procedures for admittance to the practice of law. Prior to 1970, charges of racial bias had been made; the ‘pass’ rate among black applicants was materially lower than among white applicants. The investigation was completed, and the Report was filed in late 1970. As a result of that report, the state-wide procedures for admission to practice law were changed.
Bourne also served as a member, and Chair, of the Committee of Seventy, a Philadelphia Election watchdog. In that role he testified before a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives on election fraud issues. He served on the Philadelphia Mayor’s Educational Nominating Panel. He also was Chair of the Philadelphia City Institute, a foundation dedicated to assisting the Free Library of Philadelphia. He served on the Board of the Philadelphia Montessori Charter School, in southwest Philadelphia. For many years, he served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
EDUCATION
Bourne graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964. He served as Editor of the Daily Pennsylvanian and was one of four elected Honor-men in his graduating class. He attended University of Pennsylvania Law School, graduating in 1967. In his senior year he was a winner of the Keedy Moot Court competition.
MILITARY SERVICE
From 1967—1973 Bourne served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, serving as Motor Sergeant for Troop A, First Squadron, 223rd Calvary, in Philadelphia.
PERSONAL
He lives with his wife Carolyn Wyeth in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; he has two children and four grandchildren. He is a member of Saint John Neumann Roman Catholic Church in Bryn Mawr.
