Samsung is great, but Apple may successfully sue them out of the US. If you're elsewhere go for Samsung. The courts in other countries don't bend over so quickly to meet Apple demands. Samsung has better design, is cheaper,and doesn't try to lock you in to one company.
I have been reading updates that some of the results may be over turned. Plus, Samsung is suing Apple in the states.
With that said, the Galaxy III was high on the hit list of products to be banned in US, if the rulings stand.
The issue here is supposedly continued service BUT decreased functionality. Tech Crunch and WIRED have posted several articles on this. The decreased functionality could kill this phone as a MUST HAVE item. Those III's already in peoples hands may become as useful as a brick paperweight to make phone calls.
Samsung is fighting back but that, as you say, may be a mute point fighting Apple on their home turf in Cali.
If you are looking for a viable contender for the iPhone, look at the latest releases from HTC.