Bahram Samie

Bahram is an experienced civil litigator and trial attorney who has handled every stage of litigation from pre-suit investigations through trial.

Before joining Robins Kaplan, Bahram was the Deputy Civil Chief of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, where he investigated and litigated matters involving government healthcare and procurement fraud under the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute. Bahram also resolved multiple investigations into the mishandling of controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act. 

At the United States Attorney’s Office, Bahram coordinated the Civil Division’s civil rights practice, where he investigated unconstitutional policing, disability discrimination, housing discrimination, sexual harassment, and the unlawful infringement of religious assembly by local governments. Bahram negotiated court-enforceable consent decrees to remedy unlawful discriminatory conduct and secure financial recoveries for aggrieved persons. Bahram’s efforts earned him a United States Assistant Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award in 2023 and 2024, and recognition by Minnesota Lawyer as an “Attorney of the Year” in 2015 and 2021.

Bahram also defended the United States of America in civil matters while at the United States Attorney’s Office. These included challenges to agency action brought under the United States Constitution, the Administrative Procedures Act, the Federal Tort Claims Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Social Security Act.

Bahram earned his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and his B.A. from Cornell University. He previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Michael J. Davis in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. 

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, magna cum laude (2009)
• Cornell University, B.A. in Economics and Sociology, summa cum laude (2004)

Languages

Representative Matters

• Investigation into the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department: Investigated a pattern or practice of violating the United States Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Issued findings and negotiated a consent decree with the City of Minneapolis. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)
• United States v. City of Anoka, Minnesota: Consent decree to remedy the city’s administration of a nuisance ordinance that discriminated against tenants with mental health disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)
• U.S. ex rel. Fesenmaier v. the Cameron Ehlen Group, et al.: $43.6 million jury verdict resulting in a $216.6 million judgment under the False Claims Act against defendants found to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)
• United States v. Minnesota Department of Corrections: Consent decree to remedy discrimination by the Minnesota Department of Corrections against incarcerated individuals with disabilities who were denied opportunities to apply for or receive needed modifications on the General Educational Development exam. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)
• United States v. Reese Pfeiffer, et al.: Consent decree to resolve a pattern or practice housing discrimination case against a landlord who sexually harassed his female tenants, ordering monetary relief for 23 aggrieved women as well as a lifelong prohibition against the landlord from managing properties in the future. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)
• United States v. Greenbrier Village Homeowner’s Association, et al.: Consent decree to resolve a pattern or practice housing discrimination case against a condominium association that engaged in familial status discrimination by restricting children from playing in outdoor common areas, ordering monetary relief for six families. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)
• United States v. City of St. Anthony Village: Consent decree to remedy the city’s discriminatory denial of a permit for religious assembly. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)
• U.S. ex. rel. Health Dimensions Rehabilitation Inc. v. Rehabcare Group, Inc. et al.: $30 million settlement to resolve allegations that defendants paid and received illegal kickbacks related to the provision of rehabilitation service referrals reimbursed by Medicare. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP)

• Department of Justice, Assistant Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award (2023, 2024)
• Federal Bar Association, Younger Federal Lawyer Award (2020)
• Named an “Attorney of the Year” by Minnesota Lawyer (2015, 2021)

Professional

• District of Minnesota Public Outreach Committee, Disability Rights Subcommittee Member (2023-2024)
• Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Legal Education Committee (2022)

Speeches

• An Unfinished Journey: Civil Rights for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Role of the Federal Courts
  Panelist, District of Minnesota’s Public Outreach Committee (March 19, 2024)
• Special Education: Rights, Responsibilities, and Results.
  Panelist, Robins Kaplan’s 13th Annual Disability Justice Seminar (June 1, 2023)
• Demystifying and Destigmatizing Social Security Disability Appeals
  Panelist (June 27, 2018)