Robin B. Snyder

Director, Health Care Department
Shareholder

    Robin is the Director of the firm's Health Care Department, and is responsible for the day-to-day operations and supervision of our health care attorneys. She is also a member of the firm's Board of Directors. 

    Robin concentrates her practice in the defense of medical malpractice, dental malpractice and school civil rights, including education and employment law. This skill set gives Robin a unique perspective in handling mental and behavioral health cases. Throughout her 25-year career with Marshall Dennehey, Robin has tried more than 40 cases to verdict, including medical malpractice and civil rights cases.

    Following graduation from The Pennsylvania State University in 1987, Robin worked with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and attended law school at Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware. During her last year of law school and for a short period of time immediately following graduation in 1993, Robin clerked for Judge Jacobs in the Court of Chancery in Wilmington, Delaware.

    Robin is an elected associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges that works to enhance the civil trial jury system. She is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as well as the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

    Significant Representative Matters

    Represented a hospital-based laboratory and its pathologists in an alleged misdiagnosis of breast cancer case. As a result of the diagnosis, which was interpreted as ductal carcinoma in situ, plaintiff underwent a lumpectomy and removal of lymph nodes resulting in mobility limitations and radiation which damaged her breast. A jury returned a verdict in favor of the laboratory and its pathologists. 

    Obtained a defense verdict after a nine-day trial in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. The 52-year-old plaintiff presented to the emergency department with chest pain and stroke-like symptoms. She was administered 25 mg Phenergan IV in her hand, twice, and when her symptoms resolved and the MRI was clean, she was discharged. She returned two days later complaining of swelling in her hand and was diagnosed with infiltration. She claimed she developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and that she was disabled and unable to continuing working. Phenergan carries a Black Box warning that subcutaneous injection or perivascular extravasation may cause necrotic tissue. The jury found that the doctor, nurse and hospital did not breach the standard of care.

    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.

    Classes/Seminars Taught

    A Comparison of the Damages Awarded and Key Issues in Various Healthcare Jurisdictions, ILG360º London Annual Conference 2023, March 15, 2023

    Business and Practice of Law Post-COVID-19: How Will It Change?, Pennsylvania Bar Association webinar, November 11, 2021

    Civil Litigation Updates in COVID-19 Litigation – Where Do We Stand One Year Later?, Marshall Dennehey Webinar, May 2021

    Telehealth and Documentation in the Time of COVID-19: Information and Best Practices to Protect Patients and Clinicians webinar, April 23 and May 14, 2020 

    The Pitfalls of Pressure Ulcer Litigation, Marshall Dennehey Health Care and Health Law Seminar, November 9, 2017

    Taking a Closer Look at how Student Records are Defined, National Business Institute's Lawfully Managing Student Records Without Violating Privacy Rights Seminar, Scranton, Pennsylvania, June 7, 2013

    The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act, National Business Institute's Lawfully Managing Student Records Without Violating Privacy Rights Seminar, Scranton, Pennsylvania, June 7, 2013

    Defending the Electronic Medical Record Deposition, ASHRM Annual Conference & Exhibition, National Harbor, MD, October 9, 2012

    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

    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

    Admissions
    Pennsylvania
    1993
    U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania
    U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
    Education
    Widener University School of Law (J.D., 1993)
    Pennsylvania State University (B.A., 1987)
    Honors & awards
    The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation - Health Care
    2023-2024
    Associations & memberships
    American Board of Trial Advocates, 2022-present
    Lackawanna County Bar Association - Board of Directors, 2016-2018; Civil Rules Committee, 2015-2018
    Year joined
    1994