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PRACTICE AREAS
Co founder of Wolfe & Wyman LLP, Sam's practice focuses on litigation and dispute resolution, with a particular expertise in insurance, construction and real estate matters. The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process is of particular interest to Sam. In addition to mediating hundreds of claims as a litigant, he has earned a post-graduate certificate in mediation from Pepperdine University School of Law, the top post-graduate ADR program in the nation. He has litigated numerous high-profile cases to verdict before juries, judges and private arbitrators throughout the state. Some recent cases tried to verdict include:
Defense of a toxic exposure claim at the Manetta San Jose International Airport control tower. Facing a $7 million claim by former and current air traffic controls, Sam obtained a complete defense jury verdict after three and a half weeks of trial (Daniel Helm , et al. v. Lincoln Air Conditioning, et al., Alameda County Superior Court No. RG07346948 )
Prosecution of an action for Specific Performance and Tortious Interference with Contract involving a $2.4 million real estate sales contract and related claims for damages of $24 million (Gray v. New Urban West, et al., San Diego Superior Court No. GIN 032170)
Defense of an action for trespass, subsidence and compromise of lateral/subjacent support during construction of a 24,000 sq. ft. residence in Holmby Hills (Alan "Bud" Yorkin v. Beverly Hills Development Corporation, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court No. SC 067115)
Defense of the Orange County Swap Meet in a premises liability claim. A favorable defense jury verdict was returned after just 31 minutes of deliberations: a firm record! (Harrison v. TelPhil Industries, et al., Orange County Superior Court No. 02CC06564)
Defense of an action for Premises Liability involving catastrophic injuries when a second floor balcony collapsed (Ferguson v Rev. Cecil Harris, Los Angeles County Superior Court No. BC290656)
EDUCATION
UC Davis, B.A., Economics, 1989
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D., 1992
- National Moot Court competition finalist
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
California State Bar
All California Federal Courts
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Sam received the coveted "AV" rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating available by this prestigious organization. In 2004, Sam was named a Southern California "Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics and Los Angeles Magazine, which recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in each state as chosen by their peers and through independent research. He has also been selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America; an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society consisting of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.
Sam has served as adjunct professor at California State University, Long Beach in their expert witness certification program and has been a frequent lecturer to clients and industry groups, including Lorman Education Services (California Construction Defect Claims) and NBI (Getting Expert Evidence in at Trial). He is a member of the American Bar Association (Litigation and Construction Sections), the Orange County and Los Angeles County Bar Associations (Litigation Section), the Southern California Association of Defense Counsel, and the Defense Research Institute.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Sam is the president of the Board of Directors at Tarbut V' Torah Community Day School, and the founder and chairman of the Family Philanthropy Venture Fund. He also enjoys skiing, tennis, food & wine and music.
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