Biography

Mr. Deutsch has been involved in numerous major shareholder class action cases. He served as lead counsel in the Delaware Chancery Court on behalf of shareholders in a corporate governance litigation concerning the rights and valuation of their shareholdings. Defendants in the case were the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, the Exchange’s Board of Trustees, and six major Wall Street investment firms. The case settled for $99 million and also included significant corporate governance provisions. Chancellor Chandler, when approving the settlement allocation and fee awards on July 2, 2008, complimented counsel’s effort and results, stating, “Counsel, again, I want to thank you for your extraordinary efforts in obtaining this result for the class.” The Chancellor had previously described the intensity of the litigation when he had approved the settlement, “All I can tell you, from someone who has only been doing this for roughly 22 years, is that I have yet to see a more fiercely and intensely litigated case than this case. Never in 22 years have I seen counsel going at it, hammer and tong like they have gone at it in this case.”

Mr. Deutsch was one of principal trial counsel for plaintiffs in Fred Potok v. Floorgraphics, Inc., et al. (Phila Co. CCP 080200944 and Phila Co. CCP 090303768) resulting in an $8 million judgment against the directors and officers of the company for breach of fiduciary duty.

Over his 25 years working in securities litigation, Mr. Deutsch has been a lead attorney on many substantial matters. Mr. Deutsch served as one of the lead counsel in the In Re Sunbeam Securities Litigation class action concerning “Chainsaw” Al Dunlap (recovery of over $142 million for the class in 2002). As counsel on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, he served on the Executive Committee for the securities litigation regarding Frank A. Dusek, et al. v. Mattel Inc., et al. (recovery of $122 million for the class in 2006).

Mr. Deutsch served as lead counsel for a class of investors in Scudder/Deutsche Bank mutual funds in the nationwide Mutual Funds Market Timing cases. Mr. Deutsch served on the Plaintiffs’ Omnibus Steering Committee for the consortium of all cases. These cases recovered over $300 million in 2010 for mutual fund purchasers and holders against various participants in widespread schemes to “market time” and late trade mutual funds, including $14 million recovered for Scudder/Deutsche Bank mutual fund shareholders.

Mr. Deutsch has been court-appointed Lead or a primary attorney in numerous complex litigation cases: NECA-IBEW Pension Trust Fund, et al. v. Precision Castparts Corp., et al. (Civil Case No. 3:16-cv-01756-YY); Fox et al. v. Prime Group Realty Trust, et al. United States District Court Northern District of Illinois (Civil Case No. 1:12-cv-09350) ($8.25 million settlement pending); served as court-appointed lead counsel in In Re Inergy LP Unitholder Litigation (Del. Ch. No. 5816-VCP ) ($8 million settlement).

Mr. Deutsch served on a team of lead counsel in In Re: CertainTeed Fiber Cement Siding Litigation, E.D.Pa. MDL NO. 11-2270 ($103.9 million settlement); Tim George v. Uponor, Inc., et al., United States District Court, District of Minnesota, Case No. 12-CV-249 (ADM/JJK) ($21 million settlement); Batista, et al. v. Nissan North America, Inc., United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, Case No 1;14-cv-24728 (settlement valued at $65,335,970.00).

In addition to his litigation work, Mr. Deutsch has been a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee and also manages the Firm’s paralegals. He has also regularly represented indigent parties through the Bar Association’s VIP Program, including the Bar’s highly acclaimed representation of homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure.

Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Deutsch served in the Peace Corps from 1973-1976, serving in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Belize. He then worked for ten years at the United States General Services Administration.

Mr. Deutsch is a graduate of Boston University (B.A. 1973), George Washington University’s School of Government and Business Administration (M.S.A. 1979), and Temple University’s School of Law (J.D. 1985). He became a member of the Pennsylvania Bar in 1986 and the New Jersey Bar in 1987. He has also been admitted to practice in Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims as well as various jurisdictions across the country for specific cases.

Professional Leadership

  • Mr. Deutsch had been a member of the Firm’s Administrative Committee and also manages the Firm’s paralegals.

Business and Community Leadership

  • Board Member of the Koby Mandell Foundation (2011-2018)
  • Lower Merion Synagogue Treasurer, Board member, and program chairman (various roles 1985-2012)
  • Board Member of Tikvah Housing (2011-2012)
  • Friends of the Dominican Republic (Board member) (2009-2012)
  • Pathway Parents Association (President) (2005-2007)
  • Buildings Owners and Managers Association (member) (1979 – 1986)
schedule a free consultation

"*" indicates required fields

By clicking SUBMIT you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and you are providing express consent to receive communications from Berger Montague via calls, emails, and/or text messages.

Honors & Awards

  • Named a Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyer (2019 – 2020)
  • AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale Hubbell, representing the highest rating for professional excellence, 1995-2016
  • Designated a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” by Philadelphia and Law and Politics magazines, a distinction awarded to only 5% of the attorneys in the state in recognition of his extensive securitization experience, 2006- 2007, 2009-2019
  • First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Pro Bono Roll of Honor

Publications

  • Allocation Plan Upheld in PHLX Case, The Class Act (Feb. 20, 2009)
  • Evolution Toward Merits and Class Discovery, American Bar Association (Feb. 9, 2015)

Admissions

  • Member – Pennsylvania Bar
  • Member – New Jersey Bar
  • Admitted – Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • Admitted – First Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Admitted – Second Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Admitted – Third Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Admitted – Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Admitted – Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Admitted – United States Court of Federal Claims