Criminal defense attorney Bruce Cutler, whose courtroom infamy was eclipsed only by his larger-than-life client client John Gotti, died on Monday,

He was 77. His death was confiremd by noted attorney Eddie Hayes, who teamed with Cutler on several high-profile cases.

While it was Gotti who earned the nickname of Teflon Don after a string of acquittals in the 1980s before he was finally convicted, it was Cutler plotting the strategy and making the arguments that got Gotti off.

“In his prime, he was really something,” Hayes said.

“He was a really tough guy, physically. He had big balls, and was a great cross examiner. He had a jury in his hands.” 1989

Cutler, who graduated cum laude from Hamilton College, where he starred in football and lacrosse, was influenced by his father, Murra

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