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Sam Clawson, Jr.

Sam Clawson, Jr.

Charleston Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Personal Injury, Maritime Law
  • South Carolina
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Biography

A native of Charleston, Sam graduated from Porter Gaud School and matriculated to the University of South Carolina, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, as a history major and political science minor. He remained at the University of South Carolina for law school, where he received the CALI award for academic excellence in Products Liability and obtained a Juris Doctorate. Sam moved to New York City following law school to continue his education at New York Maritime College, where he graduated with honors with a Master of Science in International Transportation Management and Merchant Marine deck officer’s license.

Sam has sailed deep sea as a deck officer on unlimited tonnage vessels for leading international container liner Maersk. He currently holds United States Coast Guard licenses as a Second Mate Any Gross Tons Oceans and as a Master Not More Than One Hundred Tons Near Coastal. Sam has also served as an Adjunct Professor in the Naval Science Department at The Citadel, instructing senior Naval ROTC cadets in terrestrial navigation and the nautical Rules of the Road.

Sam has been licensed since 2008. He practiced for a number of years at Clawson & Staubes, LLC, a leading multi-state insurance defense firm, giving him significant insight into how insurance companies handle claims. Sam co-founded Clawson Fargnoli, LLC in 2017 and now represents only plaintiffs in personal injury cases, with a focus on litigating claims involving serious bodily injury or death arising in the context of boating and personal water craft accidents, dram shop / liquor liability accidents and daycare facility abuse and neglect, prescription errors, major trip and falls, motor vehicle accidents and wrongful death.

Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
Maritime Law
Additional Practice Areas
  • Boating Accidents
  • Dram Shop
  • Day Care Abuse and Neglect
  • Premises Liability
  • Wrongful Death
  • Assault & Battery
  • Brain Injury
  • Complex Business Litigation
  • Construction Accidents
  • Defamation
  • Malicious Prosecution
  • Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
  • Trucking Accidents
  • Wrongful Arrest and False Imprisonment
Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Contingent Fees
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
South Carolina
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Author
Seaways: The International Journal of the Nautical Institute
Current
Author
Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry
Current
Education
State University of New York - Maritime College at Ft. Schuyler
Merchant Marine Deck Officer License (2010) | Navigation, Collision Avoidance, Rules fo the Road, Vessel Operations
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State University of New York - Maritime College at Ft. Schuyler
M.S. (2010) | International Transportation Management
Honors: Graduated with honors.
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University of South Carolina School of Law
J.D. (2007) | Law
Honors: Cali Award for Academic Excellence in Products Liability
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University of South Carolina - Columbia
B.A. (2003) | History and Political Science
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Awards
Award for Academic Excellence
CALI
Professional Associations
South Carolina Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Charleston County Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Propeller Club of Charleston
Member
- Current
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Maritime Association of South Carolina
Member
- Current
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Nautical Institute
Member
- Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
“When Meeting, Take Care to Assess Other Vessel’s Bearing, Course”
Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry,
Starboard Quarter Approach: don't assume you know what the other vessel is thinking"
Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry
"Coast Guard's STCW policy letters provide window into future of rest hours, endorsements, ECDIS"
Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry
"Introducing the SEEMP: What does the introduction of the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan mean in practice?"
Seaways: International Journal of the Nautical Institute
"MARPOL Should be Trained in STCW's Mandated Rest Hours Before U.S. Implementation"
Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry
"Mandated Rest Hours: the compliance conundrum"
Seaways: International Journal of Nautical Institute
Speaking Engagements
Terrestrial Navigation and Rules of the Road
The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina
Certifications
Second Mate Any Gross Tons Oceans
United States Coast Guard
Websites & Blogs
Website
Clawson Fargnoli & Utsey, LLC
Contact & Map
Clawson Fargnoli & Utsey, LLC
The Presqu’ile House
2 Amherst Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Telephone: (843) 408-0599
Fax: (843) 970-1780
Monday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Thursday: 9 AM - 6 PM (Today)
Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed