Carmelo B. Sammataro
Sam Sammataro began his legal career as a judicial clerk to the Honorable C. Weston Houck, U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina. Following his clerkship, Sam joined Turner Padget, where his practice focuses primarily on the defense of product liability lawsuits. Most recently, his practice has grown to include defense of professional negligence claims, as well as product liability and workers’ compensation appeals.With a keen attention to detail, Sam is equipped to zealously defend a diverse client base in state, federal and appellate courts. Given his focus on complex product liability cases, he has developed an understanding of the importance of delivering the best possible outcome in an efficient and cost-sensitive manner. Sam moved to Columbia, S.C. to attend the University of South Carolina, and remains an avid Gamecock fan. He is also active in the Columbia community, where he is a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
“Clients know when their attorney is well prepared and ready to go the extra mile to obtain a favorable result. My commitment to this effort is exactly what my clients need in today’s competitive marketplace.”
Representative Matters
Appellate
- Obtained a significant ruling from the South Carolina Supreme Court reaffirming the traditional formulation of the economic loss rule in South Carolina outside of the residential construction arena that there is no liability in tort in a product liability action where the only injury is to the product itself. Going forward, manufactures, insurers and consumers involved in product liability actions will have a clear, workable framework for application of the economic loss rule in cases where the sole damage is to the product at issue.
- Obtained a favorable result in the South Carolina Court of Appeals for an employer in a workers’ compensation case where the claimant sought lifetime payments and a finding of total and permanent disability arising from workplace exposure to perfumes and cleaning agents. The court affirmed the denial of benefits because the risk of exposure was not unique to the claimant’s employment and, therefore, her alleged injury did not arise out of and in the course of the employment.
Personal Injury
- Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a major automotive manufacturer against a claim that a defective transmission allowed the plaintiff’s sport utility vehicle to engage the reverse gear and run her over. Sam’s thorough review of the plaintiff’s medical records was crucial in persuading the jury that she was not injured as she claimed.
- Prevailed in a maritime arbitration claim in which the insurer of an overtaking vessel sought over $50,000 for damages that the vessel sustained as it collided with a pontoon boat on Lake Murray.
Product Liability
- Successfully mediated an automotive products liability subrogation claim in which an insurer sought to recover damages resulting from a fire caused by an allegedly defective component.
Workers’ Compensation
- Prevailed on an emergency petition in the South Carolina Supreme Court to reverse a circuit court order requiring the payment of additional benefits following the remand of the claim to the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission.