Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky Show: Ep. 23 – Jordan Howell and Sam Haaz

Host Joe Dougherty interviews Jordan Howell and Sam Haaz for the Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky Show on WWDB Talk 860. They discuss the similarities and differences between representing victims of crime and victims of negligence, as well as the importance of building trust with clients, the role of investigations in criminal and civil cases, and the pursuit of justice for victims.

 

Joe Dougherty:
Ladies and gentlemen around the Delaware Valley, welcome to the Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky show here on WWDB Talk 860. We have a fantastic broadcast. We have Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky partner Jordan Howell on the program. How are you, Jordan?

Jordan Howell:
I’m doing well today. Thanks for having me on, it’s a pleasure.

Joe Dougherty:
And we have Sam Haaz, an associate here at Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky. How are you, Sam?

Sam Haaz:
Great, pleasure to be here.

Joe Dougherty:
You’re making your debut on the show, and it’s great to have you. Jordan, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself and your career?

Jordan Howell:
Sure. So I’m a partner here, and I handle trucking cases, product liability cases—really, any type of accident where someone is seriously hurt and needs help. I think one of the things we’re going to talk about today is where Sam and I both started our careers, which was at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. It’s an important foundation that has led both of us to where we are today.

Joe Dougherty:
Absolutely, it’s going to be a great conversation. Sam, can you share a bit about your background?

Sam Haaz:
Sure, Jordan and I both went to Drexel Law School. I think I graduated maybe a year or two ahead of him. After that, we both worked at the DA’s office. I left the DA’s office and joined a large firm called Fox Rothschild, where I worked for about four years before joining Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky. I’ve been here since November, and I’m thrilled to be part of the team.

Joe Dougherty:
Fantastic, it’s great to have you on the broadcast. Let’s talk about your time at the DA’s office and the parallels between being a prosecutor and representing victims in civil cases now. Jordan, if you could, explain the similarities and the differences between representing a victim of a crime versus a victim of negligence.

Jordan Howell:
It’s a privilege to represent people during the darkest times in their lives, and that’s something you learn right away at the DA’s office. Whether it’s holding a defendant responsible for a crime or a civil wrong, it’s about getting justice for someone who has been wronged. The parallel is that burden of responsibility. In both jobs, we have to keep our clients’ best interests at heart and ensure that the responsible party is held accountable.

Joe Dougherty:
Sam, you’ve also mentioned how important that first meeting is when dealing with an injury victim or their family. Could you talk about the dynamic between meeting someone who has been injured versus someone involved in a criminal case?

Sam Haaz:
Sure. The common thread is that you’re meeting with someone who has had the worst day of their life. You need to show compassion and build trust by listening to them, being patient, and spending time with them. That’s critical, whether you’re dealing with a victim in a criminal case or a civil case. The major difference is that, in the criminal world, the best you can do is make sure the bad guy goes to jail. In the civil world, we can obtain compensation for victims to help them recover financially for their injuries or loss.

Joe Dougherty:
Justice is served in different ways, isn’t it? In a civil context, justice means ensuring that victims and their families are compensated for their losses—whether it’s pain, suffering, or the loss of a loved one. Can you talk a bit about how civil attorneys can sometimes do more for victims than prosecutors?

Sam Haaz:
Yes, absolutely. In a criminal case, you’re limited in the sense that the most you can do is get the bad guy off the street. But in civil cases, the justice system allows us to provide compensation that can help victims get their lives back on track, even though they will never be made whole again. That financial recovery can cover medical expenses, lost wages, and the loss of time with a loved one. It’s not just about punishing the wrongdoer—it’s about trying to give victims some semblance of their life back.

Joe Dougherty:
And what about the investigative process? How does it differ between the DA’s office and a civil case?

Jordan Howell:
That’s one of the big differences. At the DA’s office, police investigators bring the case to you—they collect the evidence, and you work with what you have. In the civil world, we don’t have police out there gathering the facts for us. We conduct our own investigations, sometimes using experts, and it’s up to us to build the case from the ground up. But that investigative mindset is something we learned early on in the DA’s office. The best prosecutors are the ones who don’t just rely on what the police give them—they go out and find additional evidence to strengthen their case. That’s what we do here at Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky.

Joe Dougherty:
That’s fascinating. It sounds like you’re always looking for ways to make the case stronger, whether you’re prosecuting a crime or working on a civil case. Now, how often do you see a criminal case that also has a civil component?

Sam Haaz:
It happens more often than people think. For instance, Jordan recently had a case involving an assault at a Dunkin’ Donuts, where there were issues of negligent security. In many criminal cases, there’s often an angle to pursue civil liability as well—whether it’s negligent supervision, safety procedures, or premises liability. Sometimes, victims don’t realize they can seek civil damages, and that’s where we come in.

Jordan Howell:
Absolutely. And that’s why it’s so important for victims of crimes to consult with civil attorneys. Often, they’re not aware of the civil remedies available to them. At Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, we take on those investigations at no cost to the victim to determine if there’s a case. And many times, there is.

Joe Dougherty:
So when you were both at the DA’s office, was there an awareness of the possibility for a civil case while you were handling criminal matters?

Jordan Howell:
Not really. In a city the size of Philadelphia, with over 300 lawyers in the DA’s office, it’s hard to say that DAs across the board are aware of potential civil cases. It’s not really part of their job. That said, I do remember a particular tragic case where I handled the prosecution of two teenagers who shot a cab driver in the eye with a paintball gun. It ruined his life—he couldn’t work, and his family struggled financially. A civil lawyer reached out to me during the criminal case, and I provided them with as much information as I could. But in general, victims shouldn’t rely on the DA’s office to inform them about civil claims—that’s outside the DA’s role.

Joe Dougherty:
Now that you’re in the position you’re in, do you think it’s something criminal prosecutors should be more aware of?

Sam Haaz:
I think it’s a good idea for criminal prosecutors to have some awareness of civil justice options, but it’s really a different area of law. Their job is to make sure the criminal is convicted and off the streets. That’s why we step in on the civil side. For example, in civil sexual assault cases, we’re fighting not only to hold the perpetrator accountable but also those who may have enabled the crime, whether it’s an employer, property owner, or other party. It’s about finding all the avenues of justice.

Joe Dougherty:
Sam, I know you’ve worked on a case involving a Lyft driver and a sexual assault. Can you tell us more about that and how it ties into what you’re saying?

Sam Haaz:
Yes, I’m currently representing a victim in Philadelphia who was sexually assaulted by a Lyft driver. She was intoxicated and reported the incident to Lyft, but unfortunately, like many victims of sexual assault, she didn’t immediately go to the police. Lyft’s own statistics show that only about 8-10% of victims report to the police. We’ve filed a motion to keep her identity confidential, and we’re pursuing the case to make sure Lyft is held accountable. It’s an example of how civil cases can provide a different form of justice than criminal cases.

Joe Dougherty:
Thank you both for sharing those insights. We’re going to take a quick break and return with more from Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky. Stay tuned.

Joe Dougherty:
Welcome back to the Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky Hour here on WWDB. We’ve been having a fascinating discussion with Jordan Howell and Sam Haaz about the intersections of criminal and civil law, and how they’re working on behalf of injury victims. Jordan, you mentioned earlier that you often see clients who are not just seeking compensation but also want to ensure what happened to them doesn’t happen to others. How common is that?

Jordan Howell:
It’s very common. Our clients often tell us they’re not just looking for a payout—they want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to anyone else. One of the best ways to prevent future tragedies is by holding negligent parties accountable, and a large part of that involves hitting them financially. When companies face significant financial consequences, they’re much more likely to change their behavior.

Joe Dougherty:
That’s so important, especially when it comes to workplace safety or product liability. Can you give us an example where a case you worked on led to changes that help prevent future tragedies?

Jordan Howell:
Absolutely. We represented a young woman who was hit and killed by a trash truck while riding her bike in Philadelphia. The truck driver made an illegal left turn and didn’t check the intersection properly, which led to the accident. As part of the settlement, the company not only compensated the family, but they also made changes to their driver training and donated to a bike safety organization. The victim’s parents were able to give talks to the trash truck drivers to emphasize the importance of safe driving. So not only was the family compensated, but there were changes that could potentially save lives in the future.

Joe Dougherty:
That’s incredible. It’s good to hear that the legal system can push for those kinds of changes. Now, Sam, you’re a dad, right? Your little guy is into baseball, isn’t he?

Sam Haaz:
Yeah, he’s obsessed. I actually coach his tee-ball team, and Jordan even umpires at the field where we play.

Joe Dougherty:
That’s great! Well, I wanted to bring up a case that Bob Mongeluzzi mentioned. He talked about a baseball helmet case he worked on that impacted safety regulations for young athletes. A high school player was hit in the head, and the helmet didn’t protect him properly. Bob was able to prove the helmet was defective, and as a result, the safety standards for helmets were improved. Now, those improvements protect kids like yours. Did you know about that?

Sam Haaz:
I didn’t, but it’s incredible to think that the work we do here can impact safety standards like that. It’s just another example of how trial lawyers play a key role in ensuring that products and practices are safer for everyone.

Joe Dougherty:
Exactly. It’s not just about winning cases—it’s about making sure these tragedies don’t happen to other families. Jordan, how often do you hear from clients who are just as concerned about preventing future accidents as they are about their own case?

Jordan Howell:
We hear it all the time. Our clients will often tell us, “I don’t care about the money; I just don’t want this to happen to someone else.” We explain to them that financial compensation is the primary way to hold companies accountable and make them change their practices. Sometimes, as part of a settlement, we can even get companies to agree to change their policies and procedures directly. We’ve had cases where companies revamped their safety measures after a lawsuit, which makes a huge difference.

Joe Dougherty:
It’s truly remarkable. I think people often don’t realize the role civil attorneys play in creating safer communities. You’re not just representing victims—you’re helping to prevent future tragedies. How does that make you feel when you look at the bigger picture?

Sam Haaz:
It’s one of the most rewarding aspects of the job. We’re not only getting justice for our clients, but we’re also making the world a safer place. Whether it’s requiring companies to install better safety equipment, changing policies, or improving product standards, it’s about protecting the public and making sure that what happened to our client doesn’t happen to anyone else.

Joe Dougherty:
Absolutely. And what’s great is that, through the contingency fee structure, you’re able to represent people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford top-tier legal help. That really evens the playing field, doesn’t it?

Jordan Howell:
It does. The contingency fee system allows everyday people to access the best legal representation without worrying about upfront costs. We only get paid if we win the case, so it aligns our interests with those of our clients. We’re able to take on big corporations and insurance companies, which have endless resources, and fight for the little guy.

Joe Dougherty:
That’s a huge benefit. I’ve heard that in some countries, like Italy, they don’t have contingency fee agreements, and it really limits who can access justice.

Sam Haaz:
Exactly. I’ve spoken to lawyers from other countries who are shocked by how the contingency fee system works here. In Italy, for example, if you’re injured and can’t afford a lawyer, you have to petition the court for a court-appointed attorney, like a public defender. But the best lawyers won’t take those cases because they’re not being paid well. So, if you’re poor, you don’t have access to the same level of justice as someone who can pay. The contingency fee system here in the U.S. really levels the playing field.

Joe Dougherty:
It’s an incredible system when you think about it. It allows people who are struggling to get top-notch representation. Now, before we wrap up, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the importance of communication with clients, especially when a case can take years to resolve. How do you manage expectations?

Jordan Howell:
Communication is key. We’re very upfront with clients about the process. Civil cases can take years, and it’s important to manage their expectations from the beginning. We explain that while we’re fighting for them, these things take time, and we’ll be there every step of the way. It’s crucial to keep them informed throughout the process so they understand what’s happening behind the scenes, even if they don’t see it every day.

Sam Haaz:
Exactly. And that’s especially true in complex cases where there are multiple defendants or extensive investigations. We make sure to update our clients regularly, so they know we’re working on their behalf. Managing those expectations early on makes all the difference.

Joe Dougherty:
It’s clear that you both are passionate about what you do, and it shows in the work you do for your clients. Unfortunately, we’re out of time, but I want to thank both of you, Jordan Howell and Sam Haaz, for joining us today.

Jordan Howell:
Thank you for having us.

Sam Haaz:
It was a pleasure to be here.

Joe Dougherty:
And to all of our listeners, thank you for tuning in to the Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky Hour. We’ll be back next week with more insightful conversations. On behalf of Jordan Howell, Sam Haaz, and everyone here at Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, I’m Joe Dougherty. Thanks for listening.