Overview
Sanford is a Member in the Litigation Department at McDonald Hopkins. An experienced trial attorney and arbitrator with real-world experience, Sanford focuses on finding the best ethical and practical business solution for his clients. His practice includes litigating business disputes and products liability cases in federal and state court.
Sanford also guides clients in matters related to eminent domain and contract disputes. In addition to extensive civil litigation experience, he served as a prosecutor and then Chief Prosecutor for the City of Cleveland, where he tried numerous jury trials to verdict and hundreds of bench trials, supervised and trained assistant prosecutors, reviewed internal affairs and use of deadly force investigations, and issued criminal charges where appropriate.
Beyond his expertise in the courtroom, Sanford also provides practical business counsel to clients involved in real estate appropriations cases, commercial arbitration and administrative law issues. A former Director of Public Safety for the City of Cleveland, Sanford’s clients benefit from his experience administering government contracts, negotiating mutual aid agreements and consent decrees, developing law enforcement policy, and hearing collective bargaining unit grievances and disciplinary matters.
Sanford has been recognized as a leader for his dedication to diversity and inclusion efforts in the Northeast Ohio legal community.
Sanford earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and his B.A. from Morehouse College.
Representative Cases & Matters
- Represented municipalities and property owners in multiple eminent domain cases and counseled public finance clients regarding appropriations issues
- Represented municipality and served as trial counsel in eminent domain case to determine just compensation (jury trial)
- Represented corporation in real estate case and obtained favorable declaratory judgment (bench trial)
- Represented property owners and tenants in multiple commercial lease disputes.
- Represented transportation agency in government contracts case and successfully secured summary judgment on all claims.
- Represented corporate and government clients in internal investigations involving employment issues, including employee misconduct and/or racial discrimination claims
- Represented and counseled government entities regarding public safety issues, law enforcement best practices, and public policy
- Represented medical device company in several product liability MDL involving hip implant system; defended company sales leadership, distributors, and national sales force in discovery depositions in federal and state courts; and served on trial team in six-week jury trial resulting in defense verdict (jury trial)
- Represented pharmaceutical company in product liability MDL involving birth control products; defended company sales leadership and national sales force in discovery depositions in federal and state courts
- Represented municipality in tort liability claims and successfully secured summary judgment on the basis of governmental immunity
- Represented hospital in breach of contract action arising out of the sale of a medical practice (jury trial)