Robert N. Peirce, III
About
For Robert N. Peirce III (Rob), being an integral part of the family business is an honor. As Owner and Managing Partner of the firm, Rob works closely with his father Robert N. Peirce Jr. (Bob), the founder of Robert Peirce & Associates. Together, they have built one of the area's most respected and dominant law firms.
Rob earned a degree in Communications from Michigan State University. During his time at Michigan State, he played Lacrosse and was a 4-year letter winner. Following in his father’s footsteps, Rob graduated from Duquesne University Kline School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1995.
Upon joining the firm, Rob litigated hundreds of personal injury and accident cases. He also began making a significant impact by pursuing lead paint poisoning cases. By doing this, he represented children across the nation who were exposed to lead-based paint in government housing. This experience resulted in the firm taking on a growing number of both new pharmaceutical and product liability cases, helping thousands of clients who have suffered due to corporate negligence. Rob is recognized as a seasoned litigator who has built a remarkable reputation in skillfully navigating clients through these complex cases.
A respected leader in his field, Rob is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation, the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). He is a former member of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors. Most notably, he is admitted to and able to practice law in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. Keeping abreast of legal issues and trends are all part of Rob’s ongoing commitment to the legal profession. He is a member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Lawyers of Distinction 2020-2024, and a National Trial Lawyers top 100 Civil Plaintiffs. As a proud alum, Rob currently serves on the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University’s advisory board.
Media outlets, both local and national, rely on Rob as an expert source. He is frequently invited to give his expert opinion on legal issues that arise as part of a news story. NBC News, People Magazine, USA Today, Fox News, ABC News and CBS News are just a few of the prominent media outlets that have featured Rob as an expert. In Pittsburgh, Rob regularly appears as a source for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tribune Review, Washington Observer-Reporter, KDKA TV, WPXI TV, and WTAE TV. He has been a featured guest on multiple radio stations and has a recurring interview role on KDKA Radio’s Marty Griffith Show.
Robert Peirce & Associates is a law firm built on generational values of trust and integrity that were passed down in the Peirce family and are the fundamental principles that resonate within the firm today. Hiring like-minded attorneys who share a similar work ethic is of utmost importance. Rob considers staff to be family and affords them the flexibility and creativity to determine how to best move their own cases forward. He encourages collaboration and support among the greater team. The attorneys consider the firm as a home away from home— a great testament to excellent leadership.
Rob and his wife, Stephanie, have two sons— Neill, a third-year student at Duquesne University Kline School of Law, and Chris, a Calvary Scout in the US Army. Outside of work, Rob enjoys spending time with his family and visiting the family hunting camp.
Education
- Duquesne University Kline School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- J.D., 1995
- Fellowship
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
- B.A., Communications, 1992
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania, 1995
- West Virginia, 1996
- Ohio, 2001
- Kentucky, 2010
- U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 1995
- U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia, 1996
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1996
Representative Cases
- Diggs v. UPMC (2010)- Represented family of hospital patient allowed to wander onto hospital roof and died of hypothermia
- McCrea v. Nationwide Ins. Co. (2009) - Represented driver in auto accident who suffered TMJ, dental injuries, torn rotator cuff, ankle ligament damage, and cervical sprain
- Stevens v. Kantanka (2008) - Represented plaintiff in semi tractor-trailer collision
- Ondrako v. State Farm Ins. Co. (2004) - Represented plaintiff who suffered a cervical vertebra fracture in accident where other driver at intersection negligently waved her through the intersection
- Meyer v. Union Railroad (2002) - Represented railroad brakeman who sustained torn ligaments in elbow and a herniated cervical disc in FELA action against railroad for failure to maintain railroad control levers in a safe condition
- Borowski v. CNA Ins. Co. (2001) - UIM claim for negligent operation of a motorbike - represented minor plaintiff who suffered fractured nose, foot, and ankle
- Saulka v. State Farm Ins. Co. (2001) - Represented plaintiff passenger in UIM claim against driver who made a negligent left turn and hit plaintiff’s car.
- Felinczak v. Brennan (2001) - Represented passenger in auto accident who sustained facial scarring and ruptured ligament in the right knee, requiring reconstructive surgery and insertion of orthopedic screws, against defendant driver who was served alcohol by defendant bar.
- Ramsey v. State Farm Ins. Co. (2001) - Represented plaintiff driver who suffered chronic myofascial pain syndrome, cervical and thoracic strain syndrome associated with muscle tension headaches, and thoracic radiculopathy in UIM claim against driver who rear ended plaintiff.
- McClung v. Clark (2000) - Represented driver who was rear-ended against tortfeasor and in UIM claim against own insurance carrier; driver suffered fibromyalgia and depression.
- Parker v. City of Pittsburgh (2000) - Represented plaintiff who fell on crumbling city sidewalk and suffered wrist fracture and torn ankle tendons.
- Romitz v. Erie Ins. (1999) - Represented pedestrian who required arthroscopic surgery after being struck by uninsured motorist
High Profile Cases
- Excessive Force / Officer Michael Rosfeld (2018) - Two adults alleging wrongful arrest.
- Ford / Takata Airbag (2018) - Plaintiff died from defective exploding Takata airbag.
- Opioid Litigation (2017) -Represented numerous PA Counties against opioid drug manufacturers for role in opioid epidemic that has resulted in record overdose deaths and increased public spending.
- US Steel/Clairton Coke Works (2017) - Represented plaintiffs in class action lawsuit against US Steel for injuries from pollution.
- Polygrip (2010) - Represented plaintiff in products liability action against manufacturer of Poligrip denture cream.
- Allegheny County Jail (2010) - Pursued a civil rights class action against the Allegheny County Jail alleging that the jail's practice of conducting blanket strip searches of misdemeanor detainees before they go to trial is unconstitutional. Obtained a preliminary injunction, which prohibited the jail from continuing this practice until the case was resolved.
- MileyWorld (2007) - Filed lawsuit against online fan club MileyWorld, on behalf of Miley Cyrus fan club members who were misled by the website’s promise to provide preferred access to concert tickets.
- Peter Pan/Great Value Peanut Butter (2007) - Represented family of woman who died of salmonella from Peter Pan/Great Value peanut butter.
- Chi-Chis’s (2003) - Represented clients who had fallen ill from hepatitis A outbreak at Chi-Chi’s restaurant.
Honors and Awards
- Lawyers of Distinction in Personal Injury Law, 2024
- Academic All-Big 10 Award, 1989-1990
- Academic All-Big 10 Award, 1991-1992
- Duquesne University School of Law Fellows, Class of 2015
- Allegheny County Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Ohio Bar Association, Member, 2001 - Present
- West Virginia Bar Association, Member, 1996 - Present
- Allegheny County Bar Association, Member, 1995 - Present
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member, 1995 - Present
- Duquesne University Kline School of Law Advisory Board, Member, 2024
- Bell Acres Civil Zoning Board, Member, 2022-2023
- Bell Acres Service Commission, Member, 2021
- Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (WPTLA), Board of Governors
- Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- American Association for Justice (AAJ), Member
- Duquesne Society Founders Circle, Member
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
Classes/Seminars
- Guest lecturer, Hazards of Lead-Based Paints, National CLE Conference, 1989-1990
- Lecturer, Las Vegas Ticket Brokers Con, Encore Hotel
In The News
- GlaxoSmithKline to pay $3 billion for health fraud
- Business workshop: Employers can be liable for tick bites
- Gig economy drivers, including those for Uber and Lyft, need protection
- Don't drive certain Rangers, Ford warns after Takata air bag death
- Suit claims Allegheny County Jail inattention caused miscarriage
Media & Radio Appearances
National
- CBS News
- CNN
- ESPN Radio
- Entertainment Tonight
- Fox Business
- Fox News
- Good Morning America
- JURIST
- MotherJones.com
- MTV
- National Public Radio
- NBC News
- New York Times
- People
- USA Today
- Vox
- World News Tonight
Local
- 90.5 WESA
- 93.7 The Fan
- CBS Pittsburgh
- KDKA
- Pittsburgh City Paper
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- The Pennsylvania Record
- Washington County Observer Reporter
- WISH 99.7
- WJPA
- WPXI Pittsburgh
- WTAE Pittsburgh
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation