Robin B. Snyder

Significant Representative Matters

• Tried a First Amendment political retaliation/freedom of association case in which she represented a school district. Plaintiffs alleged they suffered economic loss as a result of their political activities in supporting board members who ultimately lost the election. More significantly, plaintiffs alleged the retaliation occurred because they were friends with one another. Although we lost the case, after filing post-trial motions, the judge ordered a new trial, agreeing that his charge incorrectly implied that plaintiffs had a protected right of association for the purely social aspects of their relationships. We ultimately settled the case. 

• Successfully secured summary judgment in a case where plaintiff, a student at the University of Scranton/Wyoming Valley Healthcare System School of Nurse Anesthesia, was placed on academic probation and dismissed from the university. His complaint contained four causes of action, which were all dismissed: 1) breach of contract; 2) breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; 3) denial of due process; and 4) tortious interference with contract. Plaintiff appealed, and the Third Circuit affirmed. 

• Involved in a major case involving alleged abuse of seven minor autistic students. Through their parents, they claimed they were assaulted by their teacher in violation of their constitutional rights, resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder. Represented the school district where the alleged abuse occurred and its administrators. Successfully had the 14th Amendment claim against the individuals dismissed. The school district had an indemnification clause in its contract with the entity that employed the teacher, and, ultimately, the case settled for multi-millions, none of which was paid by the school district. 

Published Works

• "Recent Appellate Court Cases Applying Pennsylvania's Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law," Civil Litigation Update, Winter 2000 

• "Recent Appellate Court Cases Applying Pennsylvania's MVFRL," Defense Digest, Dec. Vol. 5, No. 6, 1999 

• "ERISA Subrogation: Who Pays The Litigation Expenses?" Defense Digest, Vol. 2, No. 6, 1996 

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Remedies: IDEA v. Section 504, Panel Discussion - 38th Annual Education Law Conference, Lehigh University College of Education, May 2010 

• Charting Pitfalls, NOR - PANPHA, An Association of Pennsylvania Nonprofit Senior Services, Continuing Education Conference, April 2009 

• Americans with Disabilities Act Update, New Realities in Employment Law, April 2009 

• Overview of Legal Issues Confronting School Districts, Tunkhannock Area School District, January 2009 

• Charting Pitfalls, University of Scranton / Wyoming Valley Healthcare System, Inc. School of Nurse Anesthesia, February 2006

• Updates to IDEA, National Business Institute, January 2006 

• Medical Malpractice Update, Marshall Dennehey Healthcare Seminar, November 1999 

Education

• Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware, 1993 J.D. 

• Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 1987 B.A.

  Major: Foreign Service and International Politics