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Samuel C. Taylor

Partner

Sam Taylor is a partner in the firm’s Products Liability Group. His 32 years of practice have been devoted almost exclusively to litigation and trial of product law, environmental and toxic tort cases. Sam’s early products experience includes case management and trial responsibilities over drug defect claims for pharmaceutical industry clients and, for several years thereafter, fuel tank and “park/reverse” transmission defect cases for a “Big Three” automobile manufacturer. His combined scientific, engineering and medical experience from these engagements led to his representation of clients engaged in industries involving the manufacture or distribution of specialty chemicals, industrial and high-technology equipment, firearms, medical devices and automotive parts.

Sam served for many years as regional trial counsel for a major oil company on all statewide property contamination disputes, and as national coordinating and trial counsel for a Fortune 100 company in its automotive asbestos product litigation. He leads the “go to” trial team for an Ohio-based Fortune 100 manufacturer of high-current electrical switchgear on all burn injury and wrongful death product cases in California; serves as trial counsel for a major appliance manufacturer on high-exposure defect actions; and leads the environmental cost recovery trial team for the largest school district in the country.

Representative Experience

  • A three-week jury trial to defense verdict of a product defect claim brought by a plaintiff who alleged his severe birth defects were caused by teratogenic effects of prescription medication ingested by his mother shortly after conception.
  • A jury trial to defense verdict of a design defect claim brought by plaintiffs who alleged personal injuries from flaws in a hydraulic powerlift product.
  • A jury trial to dismissal of a wrongful death lawsuit brought by plaintiffs whose decedent was alleged to have been injured by a defect in the passenger restraint system contained in the client’s automobile product.
  • Co-counsel for an entertainment industry member in a copyright claim against Warner Bros. Studios over the movie Watchmen – a theatrical release for which the client claimed distribution rights and other copyright interests.
  • Co-counsel for a client engaged in clinic-based radiation therapy systems in patent litigation over proton beam medical treatment technology.
  • Lead trial counsel for an international engineering and architectural firm in the defense of a consolidated action by over 1,000 plaintiffs alleging personal injury, wrongful death and property damage claims arising from chronic exposure to residual contaminants from a former oil storage facility.
  • Lead counsel in the defense against numerous personal injury, property damage and wrongful claims from product operation, exposures, and fugitive air toxics emissions.
  • A one-month jury trial to defense verdict of a design defect claim brought by a plaintiff who sustained severe burn injuries from an explosion and fire while working on a high-voltage, electrical-distribution panel designed by the client.
  • A three-week jury trial to defense verdict of a personal injury, handicap discrimination and retaliation claim involving environmental health and safety allegations pertaining to the client’s oil refinery facilities.
  • A multimillion-dollar recovery from a large computer manufacturer whose production activities at a client-owned facility resulted in residual lead dust contamination.
  • A defense judgment in favor of a solvent and radiochemical manufacturing client whose products were alleged by two pharmacists to have caused cancer induction and death through long-term, work-place exposure.
  • A dismissal after three weeks of jury trial for a chemical supplier client in an action that alleged terminal pulmonary injuries sustained from inhalation exposure during end-product manufacturing.
  • A four-month jury trial to a liability verdict in favor of a client whose penstock fabrication was alleged to have caused a $130 million structural failure at a hydroelectric facility, leading to a $14 million recovery by the client prior to the damage phase of trial.


Related News
January 12, 2009
Who Watches the Watchmen’s Film Rights?

Samuel C. Taylor

333 South Hope Street
16th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071-3004
Phone: 213-576-1143
Fax: 213-576-1100

Services

Education

  • Harvard College
    (J.D., 1978)
  • Stanford University
    (B.A., 1975)

Admitted to Practice

  • California
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