Mark D. Samson
Phoenix
3101 North Central Avenue, Suite 1400
Phoenix, AZ 85012
As a licensed veterinarian, Mark has the medical knowledge to help his clients get the results they deserve. Given his strong medical science background, Mark's practice focuses on tort law, including medical negligence, product liability, and other significant personal injury cases. He has nearly 35 years of experience litigating medical malpractice cases with victories including the landmark Edwards verdict and a transfusion-associated AIDS case that remains one of the largest personal injury verdicts in Arizona history. Mark was born in New York, but he moved to the Phoenix area in 1959 and grew up there. He practiced from 1986 to 1995 at Meyer, Hendricks, Victor, Osborn & Maledon, becoming a member in 1992. In 1995, Mark formed Dalton Gotto Samson & Kilgard, P.L.C. ("DGSK") and was one of the members of DGSK who formed Keller Rohrback P.L.C. in 2002.
Professional & Civic Involvement
Maricopa County Bar Association, Member
Arizona State Bar Association, Member
American Association for Justice, Member
Arizona Association for Justice, Sustaining Member
Articles & Presentations
Personal Injury Law in Arizona, Maricopa County Association of Paralegals (2018).
The Lawyer’s Role in Meeting 21st Century Changes in Veterinary Medicine, American Veterinary Medical Law Association (2018).
Health Law – Medical Malpractice in Today’s World, Arizona Paralegal Association (2016).
Health Law and Policy, Arizona State University College of Law (2016).
From the Heart: Letting Go in Front of the Jury, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (2015).
Medical Malpractice Seminar, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (2013).
Trial Masters: A Look Inside the Value Options Case & Tools for Difficult Cases, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (2011).
Comparing Veterinary and Legal Ethics, Arizona State Bar (2009).
Issues in FTCA Claims, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (2008).
Loss of a Chance in Med Mal Cases, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (2008).
Co-Chairman, Trial Practice - Damages, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (2007).
Co-Chairman, Liens, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (January 2006).
Negotiation, Blackwell's 5-Minute Veterinary Manager (2006).
Chairman, Rapid Fire on Litigation Issues, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (October 2006).
Arizona Appellate Update, Maricopa County Bar Association (2005).
Liens Again, Maricopa County Bar Association (2004).
Speaker, Changes and issues in Arizona's ethical rules for attorneys, Arizona Paralegal Association (2003).
Punitive Damages after Campbell v. State Farm, Maricopa County Bar Association (May 2003).
Chairman, New Ethical Rules in Arizona, Arizona State Bar (October 2003).
Speaker, Application of legal principles to veterinary medicine, Arizona Veterinary Medical Association (1999-2003).
Co-Chair, Anatomy of Pain, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (2002).
Speaker, Settlement conferences versus trial in medical malpractice cases, Arizona Paralegal Association (2002).
Chair, Seminar on Medical Malpractice in the Ages of Disclosure, Maricopa County Bar Association.
Speaker, New legal theories in medical malpractice, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association Medical Malpractice Seminar (1999).
Speaker, Use of medical literature in the courtroom, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association Medical Malpractice Seminar (1996).
Speaker, Tort and regulatory issues affecting veterinarians, National Meeting of American Veterinary Medical Law Association (1995).
Chairman, Seminar on Anatomy, Maricopa County Bar Association (1994).
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers in America®, Phoenix, Arizona, 2025 (Recognized since 2022):
• Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
• Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
• Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Selected to Super Lawyers list in Super Lawyers - Southwest, 2008 - 2021
Practice Emphasis
Education
Arizona State UniversityB.S., summa cum laude, 1976, Bio-Ag Sciences
Washington State University College of Veterinary MedicineD.V.M., summa cum laude, 1980
Washington State University College of Veterinary MedicineM.S., 1983, Veterinary Anatomy
Arizona State University College of LawJ.D., summa cum laude, 1986, Order of the Coif
Bar and Court Admissions
1986, Arizona
2008, Washington, D.C.
