We Work Hard To Protect Your Priorities.
Samuel J. Cordes
Attorney
Practice Areas
- Employment Law
Education
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- J.D. - 1988
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: Order of the Coif
- Honors: W. Edward Sell Award for Highest Grade in Corporations
- Honors: Herman L. Forman Award for Highest Grade in Labor Law
- Point Park College
- M.A. - 1985
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Point Park College
- B.A. - 1980
- Honors: magna cum laude
Professional Associations
- National Employment Lawyers Association, Co-Chair, Trial Practice Committee
- Allegheny County Bar Association, Member
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
Honors
- Top 100 Super Lawyers in Pennsylvania, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019
- Top 50 Super Lawyers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Employment Law and Litigation, since 2004
- 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers - Law Dragon, 2018, 2019 and 2020
- Three Best Rate, Top 3 Employment Lawyers in Pittsburgh, 2019
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law
- Pittsburgh Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year - 2012, 2017 and 2021 from Best Lawyers in America®
- eBossWatch nationwide list of Top Employment Lawyers
- Fellow of National College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- Academy of Trial Lawyers Allegheny County
- AVVO. Highest Possible Rating, Superb
- AVVO Clients' Choice Award Employment Law, 2015
Representative Cases
- Karlo v. Pittsburgh Glass Works, 849 F.3d 61, 2017, 3d Cir. 2017
- Wingard v. Allegheny County, 2017 WL 1755974 , 2017, W.D. Pa. May 3, 2017
- Sharbaugh v. West Haven Manor, 2016 WL 6834613, 2016, W.D. Pa. Nov. 21, 2016
- Roman v. McGuire Memorial, A.3d 26, 2015, Pa. Super. 2015
- Bertani v. Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Supp.3d 564 , 2014, W.D. Pa. 2014
- Risk v. Burgettstown Borough, PA, 364 Fed.Appx. 725, 2010, 2010, 3rd Circuit
- Davila v. Victory Sec. Agency, 2010 WL 2636067, 2010, W.D.Pa.
- Salisbury v. City of Pittsburgh, 2010 WL 654490, 2010, W.D.Pa.
- Kellerman v. UPMC St. Margaret, 317 Fed.Appx. 290, 2009, 3rd Circuit
- Snooks v. Duquesne Light Co., 314 Fed.Appx. 499, 2009, 3rd Circuit
- Kirby v. J.C. Penney Corp., Inc., 2009 WL 5206027, 2009, W.D.Pa.
- Trefelner ex rel. Trefelner v. Burrell School Dist., 655 F.Supp.2d 581, 2009, W.D.Pa.
- Dohner v. Clearfield County, Pa., 2009 WL 2762548, 2009, W.D.Pa.
- Truman v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates, Inc., 2009 WL 2015126, 2009, W.D.Pa.
- Jarzabek v. UPMC Passavant Hosp., 2009 WL 693251, 2009, W.D.Pa.
- Risk v. Burgettstown Borough, Pa., 2008 WL 4925641, 2008, W.D.Pa.
- Smith v. Specialty Pool Contractors, 2008 WL 4410163, 2008, W.D.Pa.
- Stager v. Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services, Inc., 2008 WL 3165837, 2008, W.D.Pa.
- E.E.O.C. v Aldi, Inc., 2008 WL 2329603, 2008, W.D.Pa.
- Day v. Bethlehem Center School Dist., 2008 WL 2036903, 2008, W.D.Pa.
- E.E.O.C. v. Aldi, Inc., 2008 WL 859249, 2008, W.D.Pa.
- Lennex v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LP, 2008 WL 763740, 2008, W.D.Pa.
- Conto v. Norfolk Southern Corp., 2007 WL 4370906, 2007, W.D.Pa.
- Stewart v. Amazing Glazed, LLC, 2007 WL 3334973, 2007, W.D.Pa.
- Wargats v. Pittsburgh Technical Inst., 2007 WL 81056, 2007, W.D.Pa.
- Fowler-Nash v. Democratic Caucus of Pa. House of Rep., 469 F.3d 328, 2006, 3d Circuit
- Pennsylvania v. Ostrosky, 909 A.2d, 2006, Pa.
- Heller v. Elizabeth Forward School District, 182 Fed. Appx. 91, 2006, 3d Cir.
- Colussi v Woodruff Family Services, 173 Fed. Appx. 91, 2006, 3d Cir.
- Heller v. Elizabeth Forward School Dist., 182 Fed.Appx. 91, 2006, 3rd Circuit
- Greene v. MPW Indus. Services, Inc., 2006 WL 3308577, 2006, W.D.Pa.
- Kaufer v. UPMC Health Plan, Inc., 2006 WL 1984636, 2006, W.D.Pa.
- Kreger v. Baldwin Borough, 2006 WL 456249, 2006, W.D.Pa.
- Bradley v. Kemper Insurance Co., 121 Fed. Appx. 468, 2005, 3rd Cir.
- Straub v. First Media Radio, LLC, WL 3158042, 2005, W.D.Pa.
- Fiscus v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 385 F.3d 378, 2004, (3rd Cir.)
- Armour v. County of Beaver, 271 F.3d 417, 2001, 3d Cir., 2001468539
- Hopp, et al. v. City of Pittsburgh, 194 F.3d 434, 1999, 3rd Cir.
- Pivirotto v. Innovative Systems, Inc., 191 F.3d 344, 1999, 3d Cir., 1999205745
- Boyle v. Allegheny County, 139 F.3d 386, 1998, 3d Cir., 1998075483
- Ryder v. Westinghouse Elect. Corp., 128 F.3d 128, 1997, 3d Cir., 1997198327
- Sherback v. Wright Automotive Group, 987 F.Supp. 433, 1997, W.D.Pa
- Murphy v. Dalton, 81 F.3d 343, 1996, 3d Cir., 1996090945
- Brewer v. Quaker State Oil Refining Co., 72 F.3d 326, 1995, 3d Cir., 1995245426
- Roach v. American Radio Systems Inc., 80 F. Supp 2d 530, 1995, W.D. Pa., 2000042046
- Defranks v. Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County, 66 Fair Emp. Prac. Cases (BNA) 1306, 1995, W.D. Pa.
- Pennsylvania v. Flaherty, 983 F.2d 1267, 1993, 3d Cir., 1993031114
- Quirin v. City of Pittsburgh, 801 F.Supp. 1486, 1992, W.D. Pa., 1992167724
- Patterson v. American Bosch, 914 F2d 384, 1991, 3d Cir., 1990131157
- Roney v. Allegheny Intermediate Unit, 568 Fed.Appx. 172 (3d Cir. June 12, 2014)
- Roehrig v. W.G. Tomko, 2016 WL 2755177 (W.D. Pa. May 12, 2016)
- Abrams v. CNB Bank, 2016 WL 1169544 (W.D. Pa. March 22, 2016)
- Schilling v. Napleton's Ellwood City Dodge, 2015 WL 6509436 (W.D. Pa. Oct. 28, 2015)
- Spencer v. Pennsylvania State Police, 2015 WL 5714411 (W.D. Pa. Sept. 29, 2015)
- Cestra v. Mylan, Inc., 2015 WL 2455420 (W.D. Pa. May 22, 2015)
- Brown v. Am. Sintered Technology, 2015 WL 917293 (W.D. Pa. March 3, 2015)
- Shepherd v. Gannodale, 2014 WL 7338714 (W.D. Pa. Dec. 22, 2014)
- Malaspina v. UPMC, 2014 WL 4925173 (W.D. Pa. Sept. 30, 2014)
- Stuby v. Bedford Cty., 2013 WL 5724065 (W.D. Pa. Oct. 21, 2013)
- Seretti v. Morrow Ford, 2012 WL 933058 (W.D. Pa. May 5, 2012)
- Rector v. Blair County, 2011 WL 5439165 (W.D. Pa. April 12, 2011)
- Rector v. Blair County, 2011 WL 5439165 (W.D. Pa. April 12, 2011)
- Gaus v. Norfolk Southern, 2011 WL 4527359 (W.D. Pa., Sept. 21, 2011)
Classes/Seminars
- Sexual Harassment Evidentiary Issues, Duquesne University, Employment Law Forum, Pittsburgh, PA, 1994
- Negligent Employment Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 1996
- Sexual Harassment Litigation: A Plaintiff's Perspective, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 1996
- Hot Topics In Employment Law: Surviving Summary Judgment in Employment Discrimination Cases, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 1996
- Trying A Sexual Harassment Suit, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 1996
- Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 1996
- Speaker, Employment Discrimination Law and Litigation, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, 1996 - 2010
- Third Annual Employment Institute: Sending A Message: Trying Punitive Damages Issues, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 1997
- The Trial Of A Sexual Harassment Lawsuit, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pittsburgh, PA, 1997
- Evidence Issues In Employment Litigation, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 1997
- Trial Of Sexual Harassment Lawsuit , Pennsylvania Bar Institute, broadcast throughout Pennsylvania over closed-circuit radio, won an award for excellence in continuing education, 1998
- Fourth Annual Employment Law Institute: Motions Practice In Employment Litigation, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 1998
- Motions Practice In Employment Litigation: Retaliation Claims, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 1998
- Fifth Annual Employment Law Institute: Surviving Summary Judgment In Employment Discrimination Actions, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 1999
- Evidentiary Issues In Employment Litigation, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, 1999
- Employment Law In Pennsylvania, Practicing Law Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 2000
- Sixth Annual Northeast Employment Law Institute: Trying A Pretext Case , Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 2000
- Sixth Annual Northeast Employment Law Institute: Ethics And The Media For Employment Lawyers, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 2000
- Summary Judgment In Employment Litigation, Allegheny County Academy of Trial Lawyers, Pittsburgh, PA, 2000
- Ethics and the Media For Employment Lawyers, Pennsylvania Bar Institute: Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, 2000
- Trying A Pretext Case, Pennsylvania Bar Institute: Employment Law Institute (West), 2000
- Education Law In Pennsylvania, Practicing Law Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 2001
- Use and Abuse of Expert Witnesses in Employment Litigation, Pennsylvania Bar Institute: Seventh Annual Northeast Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 2001
- Trial Of Age Discrimination, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 2001
- Punitive Damages After Kolstad: The Trial Issues, Pennsylvania Bar Institute: Seventh Annual Northeast Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 2001
- Interference or Retaliation: Litigating Under the FMLA's Confusing Remedial Scheme, Pennsylvania Law Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 2001
- Surviving Summary Judgment In Employment Discrimination Actions, Pennsylvania Bar Institute: Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, 2001
- "Litigating against government employers under the Constitution." "Interference or Retaliation: Litigating Under the FMLA's Confusing Remedial Scheme", Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Annual Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, April 2002
- Sexual Harassment Update, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh PA, July 2002
- "Motions in Limine in Employment Litigation", Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2002
- "Surviving Summary Judgment in Employment Discrimination Actions", Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Ninth Annual Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, April 2003
- Trial of Sexual Harassment Lawsuit, Broadcast throughout Pennsylvania over closed-circuit video, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, November 2003
- Litigating employment issues under the U.S. Constitution, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, December 2003
- “New and Evolving Damage Issues in Employment Discrimination Cases”, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Tenth Annual Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, April, 2004
- “Wrongful Termination in Pennsylvania”, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, June 2004
- Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2004
- Evidence for Employment Lawyers, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, June 2005
- Course Planner, Summary Judgment Motions in Employment Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, PA, July 2005
- “Update on Americans with Disabilities Act;” “Surviving Summary Judgment in ADA Cases: Global Warfare on Paper", Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2005
- Basics of Employment Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, January 2006
- Wrongful Termination in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, PA, June 2006
- Sexual Harassment Update, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Harrisburg, PA, August 2006
- Suing the Government: Constitutional Litigation under 42 U.S.C. §1983, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2006
- Employment Law Update, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, February 2007
- Summary Judgment in Employment Litigation, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, April 2007
- Program Coordinator, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2007
- Trial Advocacy for the Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyer; Themes and Values in Employment Discrimination Cases, National Employment Lawyers Association, Washington D.C., March 2008
- Managing Intermittent Leave and Other Hot FMLA Issues, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, August 2008
- Fire at Will, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, July 2009
- Valuing Employment Cases, Federal Bar Association, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2009
- Surviving Summary Judgment in Employment Litigation, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, October 2009
- Program Coordinator, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2009
- Handling the Sexual Harassment Case, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, March 2010
- Employment Law Basics, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, August 2010
- Program Coordinator, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2010
- Fire at Will in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2010
- Summary Judgment in Employment Discrimination, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 17 Annual Northeast Regional Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, April, 2011
- Fire at Will in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, October 2011
- Trying a Plaintiff’s Employment Law Case, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2011
- Navigating the Rising Tide of Retaliation Claims, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, December 2011
- The Summit for Workers' Rights, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2013
- Trying A Pretext Case, National Employment Lawyers Association, National Convention, Denver, CO, June, 2013
- The Next Big Fight in Employment Discrimination Law: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2013
- Gross and Nassar: Supreme Court Rejects “Motivating Factor” Standard and Applies “But-For” Causation Standard to Age and Retaliation Claims, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2013
- Pregnancy Discrimination: Determining the Legal Boundaries, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (West), Pittsburgh, PA, November 2014
- Avoiding Summary Judgment in Employment Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA, February 2015
Published Works
- "Employers Minefield, Employees' Opportunity; Courts Now Give Teeth to Employer's Burden in Employment Discrimination Actions", Pa. Law Weekly 12, July 3, 2001
- "Replacement No Longer Element of Employment Discrimination Prima Facie Case", Lawyers J., Vol. 2, No. 22, 2000
- "Third Circuit Slowly Expanding Scope of Relevant Discrimination Evidence", Pennsylvania Law Weekly, June 3, 1997
- "Congress Overrules Leading Supreme Court Case on Admissibility of Evidence in Sexual Harassment Litigation, Pittsburgh Legal Journal, November 1, 1994

Contact Samuel
Phone
Bar Admissions
- Ohio, 1988
- Pennsylvania, 1989
- U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 1989
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 1990
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1989
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1989
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1998
Current Employment
- Attorney
Past Employment
- Schwartz Kelm Warren & Rubenstein
- U.S. Army, SP4, 1970 to 1972