Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Michael J. "Sam" Sandmire
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Michael J. (Sam) Sandmire Partner 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.
Representative Matters
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.
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
Overview
- Stanford University, J.D., graduated 1990
- Stanford University, graduated 1985
- Oregon, Oregon State Bar
- Washington, Washington State Bar Association
- Oregon Association of Defense Counsel - Director
- Oregon, Oregon State Bar
- Washington, Washington State Bar Association
- Oregon Association of Defense Counsel - Director
- Stanford University, J.D., graduated 1990
- Stanford University, graduated 1985
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Portland, OR (2025)
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Portland, OR (2025)
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Portland, OR (2023)
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Portland, OR (2023)
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Portland, OR (2021)
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Portland, OR (2019)
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Portland, OR (2018)
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Portland, OR (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Product Liability Litigation
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