In The News

Attorney Sam Cordes has made an impact on Pennsylvania and it shows. Check out how his work has affected real people in real ways and then call us at 412-519-4663 or email us to get the help you need.



Jury to decide if assistant basketball coach was fired due to routine ‘overhaul,’ or because he was older and white
December 17, 2021, VitalLawTM

Pitt Can’t Shake White Ex-Coach’s Race, Age Bias Claims
December 16, 2021, Law360

Arconic Lawyer Hired Last Year Quits as Company Fights Bias Suit
November 24, 2021, Bloomberg Law

Sewickley Academy settles with Black former administrator who filed race discrimination lawsuit
October 26, 2021, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Metal Cos. Can’t Duck Ex-Counsel’s COVID-19 FMLA Claims
September 23, 2021, Law360

Pittsburgh Newspaper Can’t Get Quick 1st Amendment Appeal
September 15, 2021, Law360

Ex-Consol Coal Prez Settles Gender Bias, Retaliation Suit
September 13, 2021, Law360

Ex-Reporter Opposes Paper’s 1st Amendment Bid To 3rd Circ.
September 9, 2021, Law360

Paper Wants 3rd Circ. To Say If 1st Amendment Bars Bias Suit
September 1, 2021, Law360

A ruling against the P-G could further protect reporters against racial discrimination
August 23, 2021, Pittsburgh City Paper

Post-Gazette Can’t Duck Ex-Reporter’s Racial Bias Suit
August 17, 2021, Law360

Slur Against Biracial Relative Enough for Job Retaliation Suit
July 29, 2021, Bloomberg Law

Administrator Fired By Sewickley Academy Filing Federal Lawsuit Over Dismissal
July 29, 2021, KDKA-TV

Fired administrator sues Sewickley Academy on racial discrimination grounds
July 28, 2021, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lawsuit against Sewickley Academy alleges race discrimination
July 28, 2021, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Sam Cordes recognized as Pittsburgh Employment Lawyer of the Year
June 2021, Best Lawyers in America, The Employment Law Issue 2021

CNX Seeks To Duck Ex-Exec’s FLSA Retaliation Claim
June 9, 2021, Law 360

Insults, Shifting Stories End Bid To Sink Worker’s ADA Suit
April 5, 2021, Law360

Construction Co. Can’t Sink Laid-Off Exec’s Sex Bias Suit
March 11, 2021, Law360

Rental Co. Accused Of Illegally Denying Job Over Drug Charge
February 11, 2021, Law360

Pa. Paper Says 1st Amendment Bars Bias Suit, Investigation
February 11, 2021, Law360

In-House Lawyer Sues Former Company Over Alleged COVID-19 Sick Time Retaliation
December 15, 2020. Law.com

COVID, Quarantine, And Employment: How Can You Stay Safe And Still Make Ends Meet?
December 9, 2020, KDKA-TV

Attorneys Say Your Employer Can Require You To Get Coronavirus Vaccine
December 3, 2020, KDKA-TV

Alexis Johnson’s lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette could set precedent for media being immune against race-based discrimination
December 2, 2020, Pittsburgh City Paper

Post-Gazette Denies It Discriminated Against Black Reporter
October 19, 2020, Law360

Pa. University President Settles Virus Whistleblower Suit
October 9, 2020, Law 360

Atty Fired After Getting COVID-19 Seeks To Save FMLA Row
September 28, 2020, Law 360

30 years later, Americans with Disabilities Act still lauded but ‘work is never done’
July 26, 2020, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Legal experts: Mask requirements likely don’t violate Americans with Disabilities Act
July 24, 2020, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Cos. Say Atty Was Fired For Relocating, Not For Getting Virus
July 21, 2020, Law360

Alexis Johnson Files Lawsuit Against Post-Gazette
June 17, 2020, KDKA News

Black Reporter Sues Pittsburgh Paper, Alleging Unequal Treatment
June 17, 2020, Bloomberg Law

2 Sidelined Pittsburgh Journalists React: One Quits; the Other Sues
June 17, 2020, New York Times

Pittsburgh reporter barred from covering George Floyd protests sues own paper
June 17, 2020, Washington Examiner

Reporter Sues Newspaper After Barring Her From Covering Protests
June 17, 2020, Courthouse News Service

Post-Gazette Sued By Reporter Barred From Protest Coverage
June 17, 2020, Law 360

Reporter sues Post-Gazette on race and retaliation counts
June 17, 2020, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter sues newspaper over protest coverage ban
June 16, 2020, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Discrimination case filed against Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
June 16, 2020, Pittsburgh Business Times

Post-Gazette sued for allegedly violating civil rights laws when barring Alexis Johnson from protest coverage
June 16, 2020, Pittsburgh City Paper

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Post-Gazette Violated Civil Rights Laws In Treatment Of Black Reporter
June 16, 2020, WESA

Metals Co. Sued for Firing Attorney Who Contracted COVID-19
May, 19, 2020, Law 360

Sam Cordes discussing employment legal issues when returning to work during COVID-19 with Lynne Hayes-Freeland
May 6, 2020, KDKA-Radio

COVID-19 Email Caused Illegal Firing, University Director Says
April 22, 2020, Bloomberg Law

IUP facilities manager files suit, says school president fired him for warning about COVID-19
April 21, 2020, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Washington for-profit college targeted in employment lawsuit
March 16, 2020, Observer Reporter

Woodland Hill teacher passed up for promotion sues district for racial discrimination
December 18, 2019, KDKA Channel 2

White teacher sues Woodland Hills alleging racial discrimination
December 18, 2019, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Woodland Hills teacher sues district, says he was denied promotion because he is white
December 16, 2019, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Competing petitions seek class action lawsuits against Wood-Mode
May 16, 2019, The Daily Item

Samuel J. Cordes represented a former employee of the University of Pittsburgh
March 28, 2019, Best Lawyers

Pitt professors sue for age discrimination
March 20, 2019, Pitt News

Fired employee files gender discrimination lawsuit against Target
January 17, 2019, Penn Record

Hempfield woman’s lawsuit against Pitt claims racial discrimination
December 28, 2018, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Employee accuses Rand Corp. of gender and racial discrimination
October 31, 2018, Penn Record

Belle Vernon woman files race discrimination lawsuit against a Washington County casino
September 28, 2018, Herald Standard

Women in the workplace panel discusses diversity, equality at work
March 27, 2018, Pittsburgh Business Times

Religious freedom dispute resolved
March 3, 2018, Altoona Mirror

Wendy Bell, WTAE apparently reach settlement in discrimination lawsuit
February 8, 2018, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Rothman Gordon adds 3-attorney employment law firm
February 2, 2018, Pittsburgh Business Times

Phone evidence rules come into play in local drug investigation
October 27, 2017, WPXI

Central Greene, former principal settle sexual harassment lawsuit with teacher
February 21, 2017, Observer Reporter

Retired teacher wins spousal benefits lawsuit against Gateway School District
June 23, 2017, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Former Consol president sues coal company
March 26, 2018, Pittsburgh Business Times

If you’re tax delinquent, Allegheny County will no longer hire you
September 22, 2017, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Judge rules on information requests in Wendy Bell discrimination case
July 13, 2017, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Allegheny County settles with Air Force veteran who lost job while deployed
June 30, 2017, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Concordia of Wexford accused of firing whistleblower
December 23, 2016, Penn Record

At work on Christmas? It’s not just you
December 20, 2016, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Chicago Tribune

White TV anchor fired after racial comments fights back with discrimination lawsuit
June 21, 2016, Washington Post

Lawsuit claims former Mt. Lebanon volleyball coach behaved inappropriately
April 25, 2016 Pittsburgh Tribune Review

PA School Gets Stingy With Gay Teacher
April 12, 2016, The Daily Beast

Fired WTAE anchor Bell files suit for reinstatement
June 20, 2016, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Oil, gas firms faced dozens of discrimination suits in past decade
January 24, 2016, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Ex-director of day-care operation sues Behrend
October 28, 2015, GoErie.com

Fight for equal access continues 25 years after ADA signed
July 25, 2015, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

LCB manager wins workers’ compensation fight over robbery
January 26, 2015, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Norfolk Southern suing engineer over Sewickley train crash
August 13, 2014, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Discrimination lawsuit against Edward Marc Chocolatier resolved
July 12, 2014, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Former Kelly-Strayhorn employee sues theater, claims firing was retaliation
June 27, 2014, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Former Mylan executive sues over firing
June 24, 2014, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Former Blush dancer sues strip club over low pay
November 11, 2013, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Bad Check: Some restaurant owners get poor reviews when it comes to tip pooling
February 20, 2013, Pittsburgh City Paper

Firefighter claims city withheld pay over remarks
July 6, 2012, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Former Panera Bread manager’s racial retaliation case settled
June 6, 2012, WTAE

Melani hires employment rights lawyer
April 4, 2012, Pittsburgh Business Times

Female YMCA Executives say they should be paid same as men
March 27, 2012, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lawsuit: Bias against ‘fat, black or ugly’ at Panera franchisee
January 11, 2012, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Fired Panera Bread Manager: They Wanted ‘Pretty Young Girls’
November 4, 2011, WTAE

Pa. cafe boss: I made black man cashier, got fired
November 3, 2011, Deseret News

Taxgirl: With Job Losses Soaring, Ten Tax Tips for the Unemployed
July 10, 2011, Forbes

New batch of gender bias suits reflective of a glass ceiling that keeps women from the ranks of management
April 4, 2011, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lawsuit against Reed Smith law firm settled
May 6, 2011, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Attorney files pay equity suit against Reed Smith
December 7, 2010, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Discrimination Lawsuit Potpourri: Reed Smith and Akin Gump
December 7, 2010, Above the Law

City may settle in breach of worker’s medical data
September 3, 2010, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

City’s loss in EMS pension case could spur others
March 25, 2010, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Richland School District settles discrimination lawsuit
November 18, 2009, Tribune Democrat

Jury awards $1.8 million to Bethel Park woman fired while on maternity leave
November 20, 2008, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Parochial pupil can play in Burrell band, at least for now
August 26, 2009, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pa. Flight Attendant Sues Airlines Over Sexy Dress
July 17, 2009 NBC 10 Philadelphia

Judge sends EEOC case vs. Aldi to trial
April 4, 2008, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Ex-police officer awarded $100,000
March 28, 2008, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

City ordered to reinstate firefighter who had seizures
February 25, 2008, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Firefighter with epilepsy sues city after being suspended
February 20, 2008, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Slippery Rock U., West Middlesex settle with partially deaf woman
February 11, 2008, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Religion at work: A growing number of discrimination cases center on employees’ beliefs
August 27, 2007, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

District pays 3 teachers $666K over discrimination
August 23, 2006, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Officer wins bias suit against Baldwin Borough
March 7, 2006, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

IUP business school hit by lawsuits
May 3, 2004, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Women sue Greek Orthodox Diocese
December 5, 2003, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Former McFalls staffers each get $50,000 to settle suits
October 15, 2003, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Art teacher wins school bias case
July 24, 2003, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

McFalls’ whistleblowers staking out final claim
January 12, 2003, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Car dealer settles discrimination suits
December 12, 2002, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Council OKs settlement over officers
October 4, 2002, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

 Paul S. Fogle: Duquesne paramedic who went to New York to help
September 11, 2002, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Fired staff says alcohol impairing judge
December 6, 2001, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Trash collector gets $144,000 for demotion
April 28, 2000, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Fired paramedic sues city for job, claims retaliation
December 13, 2000, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Court upholds white police applicants in Pittsburgh case
October 19, 1999, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Fired aides sue Judge McFalls, claim he was often drunk
December 6, 2001, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette