Sara Youngdahl’s Bio
Sara Youngdahl has proudly represented injured railroad workers and their families for over 25 years, and was the first woman in the United States selected as Designated Legal Counsel for a rail union.
Currently, Ms. Youngdahl serves as National Coordinator for Designated Legal Counsel (DLC) for The International Association of Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transportation workers (SMART-TD) union.
Ms. Youngdahl also serves on the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys (ARLA) Board of Managers.
In her long tenure as a Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) attorney, Ms. Youngdahl has recovered hundreds of substantial verdicts and settlements for railroaders and their families who have been injured in in crossing collisions; as well as in cases involving railroads’ violations of the Locomotive Inspection Act, Safety Appliance Act, and related federal safety regulations.
She has represented generations of injured railroad workers in cases involving serious bodily injury, and death. Ms. Youngdahl has also represented railroaders who have suffered on the job retaliation under OSHA whistleblower laws.
Ms. Youngdahl comes from a family of union organizers and lawyers representing working people all over this country. Dedication to values such as fair wages, the right to organize, equal access to justice, and the notion that railroads must honor their legal and ethical obligations has been the cornerstone of Ms. Youngdahl’s practice.
Employment
- Managing Partner, The Youngdahl Law Firm, P.C. (2003-Present)
- Provost Umphrey, L.L.P./ Youngdahl & Sadin, P.C. (2001-2003)
- Youngdahl & Sadin, P.C. (1997-2001)
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Texas – Legal Intern to Federal Magistrate Judge Nancy K. Johnson (1997)
Education
- J.D., South Texas College of Law (1998) – Highest Honors: Toxic Torts, Legal Research and Writing
- M.S.W., Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri (1990)
- B.A., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico (1986)
Rail Designations
- First Woman in the United States Designated to Represent a Rail Union
- National Coordinator of SMART-TD Designated Legal Counsel
Legal Practice Areas
- Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA)
- Personal Injury
- Complex Civil Litigation
- Labor
Bar Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
Affiliations
- Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys, Board of Managers
- American Association for Justice
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- State Bar of Texas
- Houston Texas Lawyers Association
- American Rail Labor Academy- Board of Managers
Publications
- Protect Yourself – Protect Your Family – “The Personal Injury Report: One of the Most Important Documents in Your FELA Case”
- LexisNexis - "Overview of Emerging Issues in FELA Law Cases"