Vance Andrus was named “Litigator of the Year” in 2021 by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers after his historic mass tort win over Monsanto/Round Up for the largest civil settlement in history. Vance is a 1972 graduate of the LSU Law School. Vance served as the law clerk for the Honorable Justice Al Tate of the Louisiana Supreme Court (who subsequently served on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals). Thereafter, he worked as a defense lawyer before founding the plaintiff firm today named Andrus Wagstaff, and has extensive trial experience both as plaintiff and defense counsel. Vance served as National Co-Lead Counsel of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in “In Re: Avandia Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation”, MDL no. 1871. He additionally served as a PSC member, as well as a member of the PSC executive committee in “In Re: Fosamax Products Liability Litigation”, MDL no. 1789. He also served as a member of the PSC in “In Re: Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch Products Liability Litigation”, MDL no. 1842. Vance presently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in “In Re: FLQ Products Liability Litigation”, MDL no. 2642 and also as a member of the PSC in “In Re: Actos Product Liability Litigation”, MDL no. 2299. Since 1980, Vance has been rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell the “Highest Rating in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards.” Vance is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by “America’s Top 100 Attorneys organization.” He also was chosen as one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by The National Trial Lawyers Association”. Vance is an Army veteran who achieved the rank of First Lieutenant and was awarded The Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Outstanding Achievement in the Reserve Officers Training Corps Program. He also was selected as a Lifetime Member of the Trial Masters Association.