Like a true crime thriller, the story of a gas station’s tragic indifference unfolds as Michigan attorneys David Christensen and Sarah Kime share with host Michael Cowen how they secured a $9.5 million verdict after a clerk refused to call 911 for a stabbing victim. Shocking surveillance footage revealed the underage employee’s callousness as the 30-year-old customer bled to death outside the store. Despite having only non-economic damages, the duo’s masterful trial preparation—including expert testimony, focus groups, and compelling family witnesses—convinced jurors of the gas station’s liability for failing to train the overnight employee.
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Featured Guest
Name: David Christensen
About: David began his legal career handling corporate legal matters but later became interested in personal injury law. He worked at a large firm for about two decades before branching out on his own, founding Christensen Law in 2014.
Name: Sarah Kime
About: Sarah is the managing partner at Christensen Law, where she recently celebrated her 12th anniversary. She has been working alongside founder David Christensen since 2009, partnering on major trials to advocate for accident victims.
Company: Christensen Law
Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Episode Highlights
[03:18] A Firm Is Born: David and Sarah share their backgrounds as Michigan personal injury attorneys who started Christensen Law with the mission of providing a firm where clients aren’t “just a number.” With a staff of 35, the firm is about as big as it’s going to be.
[04:48] Culture First: Before “culture” became a buzzword in law firms, David and Sarah were building a workplace that prioritized positive relationships and avoiding the toxic traditions common in many firms.
[06:06] Trial Partners: David explains how trying cases with Sarah transformed his practice after years of handling trials completely alone, leveraging her natural communication abilities and organization skills.
[12:19] Team Dynamics: The duo discusses the benefits of trying cases as a team, including dividing labor by strengths and connecting with different juror personalities during trial.
[19:44] The Case: A 30-year-old man with schizophrenia was stabbed near a gas station at 4:30 am, then entered the store bleeding heavily and asking for help—only to be turned away by a 17-year-old clerk who didn’t call 911 until nine minutes later.
[27:16] Video Tells a Story: When the case first came in, they weren’t sure if it was viable until they saw the surveillance video, which showed the clerk’s shocking indifference as customers stepped over the victim’s body.
[34:02] Seconds Count: Through expert testimony and creative use of police dash cam footage with a timer, they demonstrated emergency responders could have reached the victim within 90 seconds and saved his life with a tourniquet.
[39:07] Damages Challenge: With no economic damages, they relied on compelling testimony from family members about lost relationships, with a psychiatrist explaining how schizophrenia patients often reconcile with family after stabilizing in their 30s.
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