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Sam Sandmire's practice is focused on complex business, product liability, personal injury, and employment litigation and counseling.
Sam defends and prosecutes claims in a wide range of business disputes and defends insured and self-insured manufacturers in product liability, class action, consumer fraud, construction and mass tort litigation. He has litigated toxic exposure, catastrophic injury, and multi-state consumer fraud claims on behalf of manufacturers of medical, industrial, computer, construction, and consumer products such as pharmaceuticals, IUDs, tampons, disposable lighters, silicone implantable medical devices, metals, and construction materials. He has developed computer database programs to assist in the cost-effective and efficient defense of mass tort claims and other complex litigation.
Sam also defends insured and self-insured employers in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, with particular expertise in the defense of state and federal class actions. The claims include race, sex, age and disability discrimination, workplace safety, wrongful discharge, civil rights, federal contractor, wage and hour, and employment contract claims. He is experienced in drafting employment policies and manuals, and counseling companies on employment law matters.
Sam has experience representing tribal entities and has significant experience resolving disputes through mediation and arbitration when litigation is neither desired nor warranted.
Professional Experience
Ater Wynne LLP, Portland, Oregon, Partner, 1997 to present; Associate, 1990 to 1996; member, Management Committee
Education
Stanford Law School, J.D., 1990
Managing Editor, Stanford Law and Policy Review
Recipient, Matthew M. Goldstein Writing Award
Stanford University, B.A., with Distinction, 1985
Admitted to Practice
United States District Court for the District of Utah, 2008
Utah, 2008
Oregon, 1990
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1990
United States District Court for the District of Oregon, 1991
Professional Activities
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Member, Board of Directors, 2008 to present
Oregon State Bar, Litigation and Labor Regulations Sections
American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice, and Labor and Employment Law Sections and Products Liability Committee
District of Columbia Bar
American Affirmative Action Association
NWEEO/AA Association
Multnomah County Bar Association
Community Activities
Leader, Boy Scouts of America
Site Council and Parent Volunteer, Raleigh Hills School
Raleigh Hills Youth Leagues Coach
Representative Matters
Defeated class certification in wage and hour class action
Defended manufacturer of computer hard drives in consumer class action
Defended national class action on behalf of manufacturers of fire sprinkler pipe
Defended Fortune 500 information technology services company in employment class action suit
Defended nickel manufacturer in class action and individual personal injury, nuisance, and trespass lawsuits brought by nearby residents; defended class certification
Defended pharmaceutical companies in numerous wrongful death, mass tort and other product liability lawsuits
Represented manufacturers, in court and before Oregon OSHA, in catastrophic workplace accident, investigations and lawsuits
Defended aluminum manufacturer in personal injury trial brought by contractor who suffered serious electrical burns and head trauma
Represented pharmaceutical companies in large multi-state consumer fraud investigations
Defended "common law wrongful death" claims in civil court stemming from workplace exposure to chemicals, including successful Ninth Circuit appeal upholding trial court dismissal
Represented large Japanese corporation in contested dissolution proceeding and shareholder disputes
Represented window manufacturer in construction defect case
Defended businesses in state and federal employment discrimination claims and enforcement actions
Represented State of Oregon in Tobacco Litigation
Representative Publications and/or Presentations
Requests for Production; Inspection; Physical and Mental Examinations. Co-author. Oregon Civil Litigation Manual. Vol. 1, Ch. 18. 2004 and 2008 Revisions.
The Learned Intermediary Doctrine is Not a Defense to a Strict Product Liability Claim. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Winter 2004.
Punitives Redux: Yet More Guidance via Waddill v. Anchor Hocking, Inc. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Winter 2004.
The Ninth Circuit Weighs in on Differential Diagnosis Under Daubert. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Winter 2004.
The Economic Loss Rule in Products Liability and Construction Litigation. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Spring 2004.
Product Liability Statute of Limitations Applies to All Theories. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Winter 2003.
General Warnings Regarding Product’s Potential Dangers Held Not Sufficient. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Winter 2003.
Skier’s Assumption of Risk Statute Benefits Ski Facility Operators, but not Ski Product Manufacturer’s, Distributors, or Sellers. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Winter 2003.
Punitive Damages Cannot be Awarded Against a National Company as a Punishment for Nationwide Conduct. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Winter 2003.
Buildings Are Not Products in Oregon. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Summer 2003.
The Restatements of Products Liability: Which One Should Oregon Follow? Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Spring 2003.
Evidence: Manufacturer Not Allowed to Explain Fully Reasons for Product Design. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Summer 2003.
Statute of Limitations. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. Fall 2002.
Oregon Supreme Court Lays Down the Law on the Product Liability Statute of Limitations. Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. October 2002.
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