Samuel L. McDermott

The managing partner of the firm’s Orange County office, Sam’s litigation practice spans several different practice areas at both the state and federal levels, the majority of which involve complex construction, tort and environmental issues, as well as employment and transportation matters. As part of his practice, Sam is a trusted advisor to private construction companies and risk managers, and his experience is also well-suited to a wide variety of different industries, including co-ops, associations, small businesses, common carriers and public entities, often providing consultation on business, management, litigation, transportation and employment practice issues under both state and federal law. Sam’s litigation experience is also focused on aggressively representing construction and engineering firms in payment disputes, delay damages, design professional liability, architect and engineering professional liability, onsite injuries, construction defects, construction quality issues, as well as prevailing wage claims and workplace regulations.

Community Activities

Actively involved in representing poor and disadvantaged litigants through the Public Law Center

Recipient of the Wiley W. Manuel Award for excellence in providing legal services to the poor (2010)

Awards & Accomplishments

Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2004 - 2007

AV Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell

Events, Seminars & Presentations

The New Reality of Construction Risk in a 3-D World, CLM Management and Professional Liability Conference, 2017

Sorting It Out: Who Owns Design When CMAR, Design-Assist and BIM Come Together, AGC Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management, 2016

Whose Design Is It Anyway?, West Coast Casualty, 2016; IRMI Construction Risk Conference, 2015; Construction SuperConference, 2015; AGC California Annual Conference, 2015

Litigation in the Lumber Industry: Strategies for Success, ProDealer Conference, 2007

Construction Project Operations in California, Lorman Education Services, 2007

Defect Litigation: Risk Assessment in a New Era, Building Industry Show, 2006

Mold Litigation: Is the Fungus Still Among Us, Continuing Education of the Bar - California, 2006

Technology In the Courtroom, West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Conference, 2005

Toxic Mold - Risk Management, Orange County American Society of Safety Engineers, 2003

Defending the Toxic Mold Claim, Apartment Association of Orange County Annual Trade Show, 2002

Construction Litigation Management, Orange County American Society of Safety Engineers, 2001

Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California Law School, Real Estate Development and Finance course

Trial & Appellate Results

D’Orsay International Partners v. Superior Court (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 836 Rodriguez v. American Technologies (2006) 136 Cal.App. 4th 1110