Thomas G. (Woody) Sampson, II

Bar / Professional Activity

• Georgia Bar, 1995
• State Bar of Georgia, Member
• National Bar Association, Member 
• Gate City Bar Association, Member
• Gate City Bar Association, President, 2008
• American Trial Lawyers Association, Member 
• Fulton County Ethics Board, General Counsel
• Atlanta Public Schools Ethics Commission, General Counsel, 2012
• State Bar of Georgia Investigative Panel and Disciplinary Board, 2011

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• In Stafford v. MARTA, I represented a MARTA police officer accused of using excessive force and shooting and killing a teenage boy. The case resulted in a defense verdict.
• MARTA v. Maloof, 304 Ga. App. 824. This was a court of appeals decision that created case law on whether the tolling provision of O.C.G.A. Section 9-3-33, which tolled the ability to appoint an administrator for an estate, tolled the statute of limitations for a wrongful death action. The Court ultimately held that it did not toll the statute of limitations for a wrongful death action.
• Sampson v. Ga. Dep't of Juvenile Justice, 328 Ga. App. 733. This was a successful court of appeals decision that created case law on the issue of res judicata and standing.
• Dale v. Kolb, 61 So. 3d 251. This was a Supreme Court of Alabama action that created case law on whether the judge has the discretion to grant a continuance for a party to obtain additional discovery once a summary judgment motion has been filed.
• MARTA v. Mitchell, 289 Ga. App. 1. This was a court of appeals decision that created case law on the ability of a plaintiff to obtain attorney's fees under O.C.G.A. Section 13-6-11.
• Wolfpack Enters. v. Arrington, 272 Ga. App. 175. This was a Court of Appeals decision that created case law on when a case can be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to O.C.G.A. Sections 9-11-41(b) and (c).
• D.M. v. Howell et al. This was a 1983 action for violations of the 8th Amendment in a juvenile youth detention center. My client was sexually assaulted because of a lack of adequate supervision. The case settled for 1.24 million dollars.
• Gunn v. Family Dollar Inc. et al. - This case was a premises liability case where a customer was physically assaulted by a stock boy. The case resulted in a three million dollar verdict for my client.
• A 650,000 dollar settlement against a nursing home for the death of an 83-year-old woman.

Representative Clients

• Fulton County
• Atlanta Public Schools
• MARTA
• Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority
• City of Atlanta

Special Licenses / Certifications

• Certified Mediator, Bay Mediation and Arbitration Services, LLC, 2013

Pro bono / Community Service

• Gate City Bar Foundation, Chairman, 2009
• Lawyers Foundation of Georgia, Fellow, 2007
• Child Advocate Board of Fulton County, Board Member
• 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Member
• A Crystal Stair, Board Member
• Sponsor and supporter of the One Prayer Foundation Annual Shoe Box Party, 2014 and 2015.
• Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, a professional fraternity and community service organization, Member

Educational Background

• Morehouse College, B.A., Class of 1991

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• Speaker, Ten Practical Tips for Closing Arguments, Gate City Bar Association CLE, 2014
• Speaker, Ten Practical Tips for Closing Arguments, National Black Lawyers Association Masters in Trial Seminar CLE, 2014
• Speaker, NFBPA Ethics Leadership Presentation, Fulton County Government, 2012
• Strayer University, Speaker, Strayer University Presentation on Small Law Firms, 2011
• Gate City Bar Association CLE Presentation, Speaker, Discovery Tactics, 2008
• Speaker, Discovery Tactics, Gate City Bar Association CLE Presentation, 2006

Honors

• Named one of 50 men of influence in Atlanta, Men of Influence, The Atlanta Business League, 2008
• Charter Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Barrister, Logan E. Bleckley American Inn of Court
• Best Lawyers in America since 2018
• Named one of the top 50 leaders in the law in Atlanta, The Power Book, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, 2008
• Named one of the top trial lawyers in Georgia; Member, American Trial Lawyers Association, 2009
• Super Lawyers, 2009–2013, 2017–2023

Industry Groups

• Ethics Organizations
• Fortune 500 Companies
• Governmental Entities
• Hospitals
• Insurance Companies
• Public School Systems
• Public Transportation Systems

“AN EXCELLENT LAWYER WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE”