Sam’s practice includes a broad range of cases involving civil rights, wrongful death, employment, government and corporate liability, and catastrophic personal injury. Sam is a native of Tacoma and is grateful for the opportunity to serve his community through his work.

Sam earned his B.A. from St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX and his J.D. at the University of Washington School of Law. In law school, Sam worked on the Editorial Board of the Washington Journal of Law, Technology, and Arts and served as a Judicial Extern to The Honorable Judge Brad Maxa of the Washington Court of Appeals. Sam got his start with Connelly Law Offices as a Summer Associate during law school.

Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time with his wife and their children, getting outdoors whenever they can.

LICENSURE & ADMISSIONS

Washington State Courts, WSBA No. 52746 (2017)
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (2017)

MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association

• Active Member (2017-Present)
• Young Lawyers Section, Board of Trustees (2018-2021)

Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ)

• EAGLE Member (2017-Present)

RECOGNITION & AWARDS

• The National Trial Lawyers Association “Top 40 Under 40”
• South Sound Business Journal “Top 40 Under 40”

RESULTS

Stephen Molgard v. Strider Construction, LLC, King County Superior Court Cause No. 21-2-15077-9 (2023), 2023 WL 5762327 (Wash. Super.)—Obtained a $20 million ($10 million USD & $10 million CAD) settlement on behalf of a 30-year-old man who was catastrophically injured on a jobsite after a malfunctioning explosive detonated when he was handling it.

Estate of Michael Bailey v. City of Kent, King County Superior Court Cause No. 2021-2-13348-3 (2022), 2022 WL 19570710 (Wash. Super.)—Obtained a $2.5 million settlement on behalf of the family and Estate of a young man who died of a drug overdose in custody at the City of Kent Jail after Jail staff failed to medically assess him and respond to his signs of severe medical distress.

T.H., et al v. State of Washington, Department of Social and Health Services, Thurston County Superior Court Cause No. 18-2-06017-34 (2022) – Obtained a total of $3.34 million settlement for four adult women who had been victims of childhood physical and sexual abuse while in foster care and dependents on the State of Washington.

Roose v. Michaelis Trucking, et al­, Pierce County Superior Court, Cause No. 19-2-11421-1 (2021) – Obtained $2 million settlement for family whose home was crashed into and partially destroyed by a tractor-trailer after a drunk driver hit the tractor in a head-on collision, damaging its brakes and steering column.

C.G., et al. v. Confidential Defendants (2018-2021) - Obtained total of $3.025 million in settlement for two young women who were brutally sexually assaulted on an overnight school trip.

M.A., et al v. State of Washington, Dept. Social and Health Services (2019) – Obtained $2.4 million settlement for victims of childhood physical and sexual abuse at the hands of a foster family after being placed there by the State.

Hardy v. State of Washington, Pierce Co. Superior Court Cause No. 18-2-07083-5 (2020) – Obtained $294,502.49 award after a three-week jury trial regarding a maintenance supervisor at a state-run facility who was terminated for his efforts in trying to end an ongoing scheme of fraud and corruption among state workers.