Forbes-Roberts Law is a California law firm dedicated to one purpose: fighting for families who have been failed by the people and institutions entrusted to protect them.
We represent victims of elder abuse and neglect, institutional misconduct, financial exploitation, and catastrophic injury — people who were let down by the very facilities, organizations, and individuals responsible for their safety and care. Our clients are often families in crisis, facing situations they never anticipated and systems that can feel overwhelming and indifferent. We are here to change that.
What sets us apart is not just our results — though, as attorneys working in this important field, we are proud to have recovered millions of dollars for our clients — it is our commitment to treating every case as the deeply personal matter it is. We take the time to understand what happened, we work tirelessly to uncover the truth, and we don’t back down when powerful institutions push back.
We became lawyers to fight for people. That is still the only reason we do this work.
Samuel Forbes-Roberts
Attorney | Founder
Since 2012, Sam Forbes-Roberts has spent more than a decade fighting for victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, elder abuse, and child sexual abuse. He built Forbes-Roberts Law on the belief that vulnerable people deserve passionate, experienced advocates — and that institutions which put profits ahead of people must be held accountable.
Sam came to the law through an unconventional path. He served in the U.S. military in Germany during the Cold War, earned a Bachelor of Arts from Western Washington University — where he was named Outstanding Journalism Graduate of the Year — and spent over a decade working as a Crane Operator in California and Hawaii. It was a deep desire to fight for people’s rights within the legal system that eventually led him back to school, earning his law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2012 and passing the California Bar that same year.
Sam began his legal career at Fitzpatrick, Spini and Swanston, where he spent nearly four years immersed in a broad spectrum of civil litigation — both defense and plaintiff work — including large class action lawsuits throughout the Watsonville and Salinas Valley area. Working at a smaller firm gave him hands-on experience in every aspect of the litigation process: preparing pleadings, conducting discovery and depositions, writing and arguing motions, arbitration, mediation, trial preparation, and removal to federal court. It was an education he describes as unsurpassed by any other in his life.
In 2016, Sam made the move from employment law to personal injury law, joining Cartwright, Scruggs, Fulton and Walther — a successful personal injury firm in Santa Cruz County — where he carried his own caseload, assisted partners trying major cases, and gained exposure to catastrophic injury litigation, elder abuse, and child molestation cases. It was there, working alongside lawyers who shared his passion for seeking justice for victims, that his focus sharpened. He came to understand that much of the harm suffered by elderly residents in care facilities stems from a single, deeply troubling philosophy — profits over people. That recognition became a calling.
In 2024, Sam went on to establish Forbes-Roberts Law as a sole practitioner in order to focus his advocacy on fighting physical abuse and neglect of elders and dependent adults in skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and assisted living facilities. After working up these cases in various venues around California as “of counsel” for larger firms, Sam began expanding his team to meet the increasing demand for skilled, dedicated advocacy in this area. Today, he and his team primarily focus on representing families across California who need someone willing to uncover the truth and go all the way to deliver justice.
Education
- Santa Clara University School of Law, J.D., 2012
- Western Washington University, B.A., 1993
Member
- California State Bar (No. 286586)
- Santa Cruz County Bar Association
- Santa Cruz County Trial Lawyers’ Association
- California Association of Consumer Attorneys
- California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
- Santa Cruz County Advocates
Shahla Aneesah Khan
Associate Attorney
Shahla Aneesah Khan brings a decade of litigation experience to her role as Associate Attorney at Forbes-Roberts Law, where she has focused on elder abuse litigation since joining the firm in July 2025. A seasoned courtroom advocate with more than 20 jury trials and more than 50 argued motions, she combines deep trial experience with a genuine commitment to fighting for people who have been wronged.
Shahla earned her Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2015, where she was an active member of the trial team and competed in national trial advocacy competitions. She holds a dual Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
She began her legal career in indigent criminal defense, spending more than five years at Biggam Christensen & Minsloff handling criminal defense matters in Santa Cruz. That work gave her an exceptionally strong foundation in courtroom procedure, motion practice, evidentiary issues, and trial advocacy — skills she has carried into every role since. She subsequently served as a Deputy Public Defender at the County of Santa Cruz, continuing her commitment to representing those who needed an advocate most.
From 2023 to 2025, Shahla broadened her practice at Peck-Law Employment & Civil Rights, where she handled plaintiff-side employment litigation — conducting client intakes, drafting and arguing motions, appearing in court, taking and defending depositions, participating in mediation, and negotiating settlements. That experience sharpened her skills as a plaintiff’s advocate and deepened her understanding of how institutions and employers cause harm to the people they are supposed to serve.
At Forbes-Roberts Law, Shahla applies that breadth of experience to elder abuse litigation, bringing tenacity, strategic thinking, and a deep respect for her clients to every case. Outside the courtroom, she has volunteered as an attorney coach for a high school mock trial team and has participated in pro bono and community-based programs throughout her career — reflecting a long-standing commitment to advocacy that extends well beyond her professional obligations.
Education
- Santa Clara University School of Law, J.D., 2015
- University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A. — Psychology & Philosophy (dual degree)
Member
- California State Bar (No. 305466)
- Santa Cruz County Bar Association
Alfredo Silva
Legal Assistant/Office Manager
Alfredo Silva began his legal career in 1997 with Cartwright, Fulton & Adams. Over the course of nearly three decades, he remained with the firm through multiple transitions, growth, and name changes, ultimately concluding his tenure with Scruggs, Spini & Fulton in 2024 before joining Forbes-Roberts Law.
Alfredo is an experienced legal assistant with a strong background in elder abuse, nursing home neglect, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury litigation throughout California. He works closely with clients, attorneys, medical professionals, and experts to help guide cases from intake through resolution. Known for his compassionate and client-focused approach, Alfredo is committed to providing clear communication, diligent case support, and steady guidance to families during difficult and often emotional circumstances. Fluent in Spanish, he is also able to effectively assist and communicate with Spanish-speaking clients and families throughout the legal process.
Why We Do This Work
Every case we take on represents a real person — a mother, a father, a grandparent, a child — who was harmed by someone who should have protected them. Many of our clients come to us after being ignored, dismissed, or worn down by powerful institutions with teams of lawyers and limitless resources. They come to us because they have nowhere else to turn.
We take that responsibility seriously.
Elder abuse and neglect in care facilities is far more common than most people realize. Facilities that cut staff to increase margins. Caregivers who don’t have the training or staffing numbers to protect residents from harm. Administrators who cover up falls, infections, and injuries rather than report them. The families of victims are often left with unanswered questions, mounting grief, and a system that seems designed to protect the institution rather than the people inside it.
We built this firm to push back against that system — to be the advocate that families need when the stakes are highest and the opposition is strongest. We don’t take cases to settle them quickly. We take them to win, and we are prepared to go all the way to trial to do it.
If your family has been affected by abuse, neglect, or institutional misconduct, you deserve to know what your options are. That conversation costs nothing. It could change everything.
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Learn more about the mission behind Forbes-Roberts Law and why we launched this firm to advocate for vulnerable residents, patients, and families facing abuse or neglect.
Ready to Talk to Our Team?
If you believe a loved one has been harmed, don't wait. The sooner we can review the facts, the better positioned we are to help.The first conversation is free. So is everything after it — unless we recover compensation for you and your family. You have nothing to lose by calling us.
Serving families throughout California. Se Habla Español.