Bio
Sandra J. Densham is a partner in the firm’s Grand Rapids office who focuses her practice in the area of general defense litigation, including product, premises and motor vehicle liability, as well as marine and recreational boating law.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Densham spent over 20 years as a paralegal specialist with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Grand Rapids where she worked to defend the United States in a variety of civil cases. In 2004 the U.S. Attorney nominated her for the prestigious Department of Justice Director’s Award.
Ms. Densham earned her law degree at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, where she received numerous academic awards and graduated magna cum laude in 2005. She served as Senior Associate Editor of the Law Review for which she received the John D. Voelker Award for Outstanding Contribution. While in law school, she was selected as one of the Top 10 Best Advocates in the First Year Criminal Procedure Moot Court competition.
Representative Client Work
- Obtained a directed verdict at trial on a plaintiff’s claim against a home delivery service, arising from a motor vehicle accident
- After extensive briefing, obtained an order dismissing plaintiff’s complaint filed in federal court, finding that the plaintiffs had failed to allege sufficient facts to create a plausible inference that racial discrimination was the motive for the defendants’ complaints about the plaintiffs’ performance under the terms of the contract
- Obtained a no-cause jury verdict for a major national retailer on personal injury damage claims of $500,000
- Obtained summary disposition in numerous cases, including a wrongful death action and a federal court employment discrimination action, and cases involving issues of successor liability, premises liability, construction law, and legal malpractice
- Successfully represented employers by obtaining summary disposition in wrongful termination claims
- Following a federal court bench trial in a breach of contract action, obtained a judgment for the full amount of costs sought for repairs to marine diesel engines, plus interest
- Obtained a directed verdict at trial on claims for triple damages resulting from water trespass; successfully defended client on the remaining claims asserted
- Obtained a favorable jury verdict in federal court on a premises liability claim for a major national retailer
- Acted as second-chair in several state and federal court jury trials
- Successfully defended a foreign corporation on claims brought by two national corporations, by obtaining summary disposition for lack of personal jurisdiction
- Successfully defended national car rental firms in liability and personal injury protection claims
- Successfully represented national nonprofit organization in defense of premises liability claim
- When appropriate, negotiated early settlements favorable to clients, including settlement of ADA claims against a golf and ski resort and settlement of a governmental agency claim against a director of a non-profit agency
- Obtained favorable results for several clients represented pro bono through referrals from Legal Aid of Western Michigan
Professional Affiliations
- Grand Rapids Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Federal Bar Association
- Women Lawyer's Association
- Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
Areas of Practice
Credentials
Education
- Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, magna cum laude, J.D., 2005
- Davenport University, summa cum laude, B.B.A., 1992
Admissions
- Michigan, 2006
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2006
Honors/Awards
Honors & Recognitions
- Influential Women of Law honoree, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2023
- Director’s Award, U.S. Department of Justice, Nominee
- Law Review, Senior Associate Editor (John D. Voelker Award for Outstanding Contribution)
- Top 10 Best Advocates, First Year Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition
- Honors Scholarship
- Outstanding Graduate Award, Davenport University
- Numerous law school academic awards