Overview
The managing partner of the firm’s Orange County office, Sam’s litigation practice spans several different practice areas at both the state and federal levels, the majority of which involve complex construction, tort and environmental issues, as well as employment and transportation matters. As part of his practice, Sam is a trusted advisor to private construction companies and risk managers, and his experience is also well-suited to a wide variety of different industries, including co-ops, associations, small businesses, common carriers and public entities, often providing consultation on business, management, litigation, transportation and employment practice issues under both state and federal law. Sam’s litigation experience is also focused on aggressively representing construction and engineering firms in payment disputes, delay damages, design professional liability, architect and engineering professional liability, onsite injuries, construction defects, construction quality issues, as well as prevailing wage claims and workplace regulations. Additionally, Sam handles numerous matters involving sureties, including payment and performance bond claims, mechanic’s lien release bonds, litigation bonds, surety takeovers and defaults on construction projects.
Experience
- D’Orsay International Partners v. Superior Court (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 836 Rodriguez v. American Technologies (2006) 136 Cal.App. 4th 1110
Credentials
Education
- University of Southern California (J.D., 1995)
- University of San Diego (B.A., 1989)
Licensed to Practice in
- California
Newsroom
Events, Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- The New Reality of Construction Risk in a 3-D World, CLM Management and Professional Liability Conference, 2017
- Sorting It Out: Who Owns Design When CMAR, Design-Assist and BIM Come Together, AGC Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management, 2016
- Whose Design Is It Anyway?, West Coast Casualty, 2016; IRMI Construction Risk Conference, 2015; Construction Super Conference, 2015; AGC California Annual Conference, 2015
Community
Community Activities
- Actively involved in representing poor and disadvantaged litigants through the Public Law Center
- Recipient of the Wiley W. Manuel Award for excellence in providing legal services to the disadvantaged (2010)