Since joining the firm in 1980, Sam has developed a broad litigation practice encompassing products liability, mass torts and commercial disputes of all kinds. Sam is experienced in all aspects of complex litigation, class actions and alternative dispute resolution, and he has tried jury cases in all three of Tennessee's Federal Districts and in state courts throughout Tennessee and in other states.
Products Liability and Mass Torts: Sam represents a wide variety of manufacturers in matters ranging from single cases to large, complex multi-district litigation and class actions. In pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, he has been involved in many of the national mass torts including fen-phen, orthopedic implants, Zyprexa, gadolinium, Avandia, PPA, heart pacemakers and Prozac. Sam has extensive experience with a wide variety of products ranging from construction materials and electronic devices to heavy equipment and chemical exposure.
Commercial: During the course of his career at the firm, Sam has been involved in significant commercial litigation, involving insurance coverage, securities fraud, breach of contract, theft of trade secrets, defamation and intellectual property. In those cases, Sam has developed extensive experience and expertise with large document cases involving e-discovery.
Alternative Dispute Resolution: In addition to litigation and trial skills, Sam has extensive knowledge and experience in all forms of alternative dispute resolution to suit the client’s needs. Many of Sam’s major cases have been resolved through mediation and court-directed settlement proceedings. Sam also represents clients in arbitration proceedings involving securities claims and other commercial disputes.
Representative Matters:
- Defended a major pharmaceutical company in diet drug litigation in Tennessee, consisting of 2,500 Federal Court lawsuits in all three judicial districts. Assembled and managed a team of 45 attorneys and legal professionals to conduct fact discovery in the individual cases, expert selection and retention for nation-wide litigation, and discovery of plaintiff’s experts.
- Represented large Japanese insurance company in an insurance coverage suit filed by Bridgestone Firestone of North America seeking recovery of cost of defending hundreds of suits filed over alleged defective tires and roll-overs. The case was resolved in mediation.
- Defended brokerage firm in multiple, complex arbitration proceedings alleging broker malfeasance and securities fraud.
Sam is active in the community serving on the Metro Nashville Board of Health, the Brooks Fund board and the Human Rights Campaign steering committee. For many years Sam has competed in triathlons throughout the world.
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