Sam Cullan, M.D., J.D.

Dr. Sam Cullan’s unique background as a medical doctor and trial attorney gives him a broad understanding of nursing home abuse and neglect from both a legal and medical perspective and enables him to more aggressively and effectively fight for his clients. The well-funded legal teams representing nursing home corporations and insurance companies often prey on the lack of medical knowledge and expertise of the party that brings suit against them. This often leads to minimal settlements and denied claims. The Cullan Family Law Firm knows how to fight these institutions.

Dr. Sam Cullan is Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Advocacy. He is also Board Certified in Legal Medicine by the American College of Legal Medicine. Dr. Cullan has also been awarded an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell. An AV certification means that the lawyers’ peers rank Dr. Cullan at the highest level of professional excellence in terms of ethics and competence in the courtroom. Dr. Cullan has offices in Phoenix and Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Cullan has been voted by his peers as one of the Top 10 Lawyers in Missouri and Kansas three times, 2009, 2011, and again in 2012. He has been voted a Super Lawyer by his peers from 2006 to the present. Dr. Cullan has been voted "Best of the Bar" as well as SuperLawyer in Missouri. These honors indicate his spot in the top 5% of lawyers in that state.

Education and Professional Experience

Dr. Sam Cullan’s education began at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York where he graduated with honors with a major in Marine Engineering. Soon after, at the age of 22, Dr. Cullan was elected and served two terms as a Senator in the Nebraska Legislature where he sponsored several bills protecting the environment, natural resources, and public health. He was the youngest senator in Nebraska history to chair the Health and Welfare Committee.

Dr. Cullan then went on to receive his law degree in 1982, and his medical degree in 1987, both from Creighton University. While in law school, he was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society, Dean’s List, Student Bar Association, Moot Court, and was invited on to Creighton’s Law Review. While in medical school, Dr. Cullan continued to work as an attorney. He was Senior Class President, and a recipient of the Upjohn Achievement Award presented by the Dean of the Medical School. He was also a member of the Legislative Commission of the Nebraska State Medical Association during this time.

Dr. Cullan opened his own practice in Nebraska in 1990, focusing on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. He is licensed to practice law in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. He dedicates all of his time to practicing law and is not licensed to practice medicine.

Dr. Cullan has several certifications and is a member of many professional organizations. Here are a few of them:

• Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
• Board Certified in Legal Medicine by the American Board of Legal Medicine
• American College of Legal Medicine
• American Association for Justice (AAJ)
• Arizona Bar Association
• Arizona Association for Justice
• Kansas Bar Association
• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
• Kansas Association for Justice (KSAJ)
• Missouri Bar Association
• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA)
• Nebraska Bar Association
• Maricopa County Bar Association