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Providence RI 02903-1345
TEL: 401.274.7200
FAX: 401.751.0604
Practice Areas
- Construction Law
- Intellectual Property
- Litigation
- Products Liability Law/Toxic Tort Law
- Technology Law
Education
- University of Virginia (J.D., 1989)
- University of Florida (B.S., with honors, 1986)
Bar & Court Admissions
- Florida
- Rhode Island
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Maine
- U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First, Third and Eleventh Circuits
- R. Bart Totten
Shareholder, Providence - Email
vCard - Full Bio
Bart Totten’s varied litigation clients—from to technology companies to government entities to asbestos toxic tort defendants—count on him for responsive and practical solutions, simplifying complex legal processes and getting them results.
A trained industrial and systems engineer as well as a seasoned litigator recognized for his skill and innovative legal strategies, Bart brings deep understanding to highly technical issues in intellectual property cases, commercial disputes, governmental matters and toxic tort defense, representing web design firms, worldwide IT service providers, multinational corporations, municipalities and others in state and federal courts.
Prior to joining AP&S, he practiced in the Miami office of one of the nation’s largest law firms, Holland & Knight, handling a wide range of commercial litigation, including representing major Florida banks, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC).
Significant Matters
- Bart represented the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) in a $100 million claim brought by port developers, based on the RIEDC’s rejection of their development plan. After a two-week arbitration under American Arbitration Association commercial arbitration rules, the arbitrator entered a defense award for his client.
- He defended the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, in a constitutional challenge to the city’s eminent domain power, with a multimillion-dollar city drinking-water system at stake. After a bench trial the court entered a judgment for the city, allowing it to continue its project and forestalling similar claims against other municipalities.
- Bart also successfully defended Woonsocket on a resident’s claim seeking access over city land for property adjacent to the city’s reservoir. After a two-week bench trial, the court ruled for Woonsocket, based in part on his citing a new Rhode Island statue not previously asserted in litigation. The verdict was upheld on appeal to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
- He defended Bechtel Corporation in a one of the biggest asbestos damage claims in Connecticut history. His team developed unique defenses and filed for summary judgment, which, if granted, would have had a highly detrimental effect on the plaintiff. As a result, he was able to negotiate a very favorable settlement for Bechtel.
Honors & Distinctions
- AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, highest rating given to attorneys.
- Nominee, Rhode Island Bar Association Dorothy Lohmann Award for Public Service.
- Honors graduate in industrial and systems engineering, University of Florida.
Professional Affiliations
- Member, Board of Directors, Jamestown Education Foundation
Community & Civic Activity
- Big Brothers of Rhode Island: Former Advisory Board of Directors member; Former Chair, Corporate Campaign and Planned Giving Program.
- Former Director and executive committee member, Rhode Island Red Cross.
Publications & Seminars
- Panel Speaker – RI Bar Association Annual Meeting.
- Author – ABA Journal on Antitrust Law.
- Author – Rhode Island Bar Journal.
