Sam Clawson, Jr.

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.

• Boating Accidents
• Dram Shop
• Day Care Abuse and Neglect
• Premises Liability
• Wrongful Death

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted
• Contingent Fees

South Carolina

Since 2008

Author

Seaways: The International Journal of the Nautical Institute

Current

Author

Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry

Current

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

State University of New York - Maritime College at Ft. Schuyler

M.S. (2010) | International Transportation Management

Honors: Graduated with honors.

University of South Carolina School of Law

J.D. (2007) | Law

Honors: Cali Award for Academic Excellence in Products Liability

University of South Carolina - Columbia

B.A. (2003) | History and Political Science

Award for Academic Excellence

CALI

2005

South Carolina Bar Association

Member

2008 - Current

Charleston County Bar Association

Member

2008 - Current

Propeller Club of Charleston

Member

2008 - Current

Maritime Association of South Carolina

Member

2008 - Current

Nautical Institute

Member

2008 - Current

“When Meeting, Take Care to Assess Other Vessel’s Bearing, Course”

Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry,

August, 2015

Starboard Quarter Approach: don't assume you know what the other vessel is thinking"

Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry

June, 2013

"Coast Guard's STCW policy letters provide window into future of rest hours, endorsements, ECDIS"

Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry

May, 2013

"Introducing the SEEMP: What does the introduction of the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan mean in practice?"

Seaways: International Journal of the Nautical Institute

April, 2013

"MARPOL Should be Trained in STCW's Mandated Rest Hours Before U.S. Implementation"

Professional Mariner: Journal of the Maritime Industry

October, 2012

Terrestrial Navigation and Rules of the Road

January 1, 2012

The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina

Second Mate Any Gross Tons Oceans

United States Coast Guard