Sara M. Peters - San Francisco, CA

Overview

Sara attended Stanford Law School, obtaining her J.D. in 2008. She joined Walkup the same year.

At the Walkup Firm, Sara prosecutes personal injury cases on behalf of severely injured individuals in cases involving defective products, aviation crashes, dangerous conditions of property, medical negligence, vehicular negligence, nursing home abuse, and other wrongdoing.

When she isn’t representing clients, Sara coaches mock trial at Stanford and serves as Co-Director of ABC (Attorneys Bettering the Community) a local nonprofit composed of attorneys who want to volunteer in a hands-on way. She is a contributing editor of the Rutter Group “Claims and Defenses” Guide. She also serves as CLE Vice Chair of the Bar Association of San Francisco Barristers Litigation Section. She teaches CLE (continuing legal education courses) on litigation-related topics. She is an active member of CAOC (Consumer Attorneys of California), SFTLA (San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association), and the San Francisco Bar Association.

Sara was peer nominated as a Northern California Super Lawyers 2013, 2014, and 2015 Rising Star — a distinction given to fewer than 2.5 percent of the state's lawyers.

Sample Verdicts and Settlements:

Severely Injured Grandmother v. Winery
(Winery's vicarious liability for negligent undocumented driver)
$4,750,000 Mediated Settlement after defeating summary judgment

Paralyzed Passengers of Speeding Driver v. Delivery Truck
(Apportionment of joint and several liability to delivery truck that struck indigent driver who sped through red light and fled scene)
$4,500,000 mediated settlement shortly before trial

Developmentally Disabled Man v. Caltrans
(Dangerous condition case for failure to mark and protect crosswalk across freeway onramp, resulting in permanent debilitating injuries to disabled man)
$4,250,000 mediated settlement shortly before trial

Young burn victim v. Construction company
(Joint venture analysis applied to homeowners’ construction company, after house fire)
$3,300,000 settlement after defeating summary judgment

High School Student v. Helmet Manufacturer
(Product liability for helmet contributing to cervical spine injury)
$2,190,000 settlement

Respected Psychiatrist v. Medical Group
(Medical negligence for failure to diagnose ovarian cancer, allowing it to progress to an incurable stage)
$2,000,000 settlement

Suicide Victim v. Health Plan
(Fraud claim for plan’s failure to inform regarding risks/benefits of drug that causes suicidal tendencies)
$1,750,000 settlement after defeating summary judgment and extensive motion practice

Survivors of Young Mother v. California Hospital
(Medical negligence, failure to recognize sepsis in emergency room)
$1,400,000 mediated settlement

Grad student v. ATM Service Company
(Vicarious liability for road rage attack)
$1,250,000 settlement after defeating summary judgment

Brain Damaged Man v. Negligent Driver
(Vehicular negligence)
$1,250,000 settlement

Passenger v. SF Taxi Company
(After fare dispute, taxi driver attack on passenger causes major eye trauma)
$1,000,000 settlement after overcoming summary judgment on vicarious liability

Sauer v. Farmers Insurance
(Insurance coverage dispute)
$985,000 verdict

Surviving Parents v. Medical Center
(Medical negligence & battery, without economic damages)
$900,000 settlement after defeating summary judgment

Young girl v. Fast food chain
(Scald injury from spilled hot water)
$750,000 mediated settlement

Woman v. Bay Area Laparoscopic Surgeon
(Medical malpractice causes permanent abdominal pain)
$750,000 mediated settlement

Bicyclist v. City and Utility Company
(Dangerous condition case for bicyclist thrown from bike by “sink hole,” sustaining fractures)
$575,000 mediated settlement

Pedestrian v. Transportation Company
(Vehicular negligence causes knee injury)
$550,000 mediated settlement

Italian Vacationer v. Employer of Drunk Driver
(Course and scope issue as to whether employer was responsible for drunk driver)
$500,000 mediated settlement

Elderly woman v. California Healthcare Provider
(Unnecessary colonoscopy causes stroke and permanent disability)
$500,000 settlement

Elderly man v. California Healthcare Provider
(Misuse of surgical instruments destroyed kidney function)
$475,000 settlement

Survivors of 104-Year-Old Man v. Nursing Home Chain
(Elder neglect and wrongful death)
$475,000 Settlement

Survivors of Elderly Woman v. Nursing Home Chain
(Elder Neglect With Repeat Falls)
$447,500 Settlement

Driver v. Commercial Truck
(Rear-end collision with big rig causes diplopia [double vision])
$450,000 settlement

Oncologist v. Mercury Insurance
(Minor impact rear-end collision causes herniated disc, and lasting limitations, for rock star oncologist)
$421,389.22 arbitration award