Joseph G. Sauder

Joseph G. Sauder is a nationally recognized plaintiffs’ lawyer with more than two decades of experience litigating complex cases against major corporations and institutions throughout the United States. He represents survivors of sexual abuse, consumers, employees, small businesses, and families and has served as court-appointed lead and co-lead counsel in class actions and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country.

Mr. Sauder recovered more than $1 billion for clients and class members. His practice spans institutional sexual abuse, consumer protection, product defects, environmental and mass-disaster litigation, civil rights, employment, and complex commercial disputes. His experience includes cases against major universities, financial institutions, manufacturers, healthcare companies, and other large corporate and institutional defendants.

Representative Results and Leadership

Mr. Sauder has served as lead or co-lead counsel and in other leadership roles in significant class actions, mass torts, and complex litigation throughout the United States. Representative matters include:

• Ohio State University — $100 Million Settlement. Mr. Sauder has been at the forefront of litigation involving sexual abuse by former Ohio State University physician Dr. Richard Strauss since 2018, representing former students and athletes. The litigation continued for more than eight years through significant trial court and appellate proceedings, including Ohio State’s unsuccessful effort to obtain review by the United States Supreme Court. In 2026, Ohio State and 279 of the 280 remaining survivors involved in the pending litigation reached settlements in principle totaling $100 million.
• University of Southern California — $215 Million Settlement. Mr. Sauder together with co-counsel, represented former patients of USC gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall in litigation concerning allegations of sexual misconduct. The litigation resulted in a $215 million federal class action settlement, together with institutional reforms concerning the reporting and investigation of sexual misconduct at USC.
• Viking Group — More Than $30 Million in Settlement Value. Serving as Class Counsel, Mr. Sauder obtained a nationwide class action settlement valued at more than $30 million involving allegedly defective Viking fire sprinklers installed in residential and other properties. The settlement established a nationwide replacement program at no cost to qualifying property owners and provided additional compensation for certain property damage and other losses resulting from non-fire sprinkler activations.
• Harvard Medical School — $53 Million Settlement. Mr. Sauder represented families whose loved ones donated their bodies to Harvard Medical School’s Anatomical Gift Program and whose remains were implicated in a scheme involving the theft and sale of human body parts. The litigation was initially dismissed, but the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court reversed that decision in part and permitted the families’ claims to proceed. In 2026, Harvard agreed to a proposed $53 million class action settlement, together with significant non-monetary commitments to donor families and the Anatomical Gift Program.
• Stericycle — $295 Million Nationwide Class Action Settlement. Mr. Sauder represented dentists, physicians, veterinarians, and other small businesses in nationwide litigation challenging Stericycle’s alleged practice of imposing automated price increases in violation of its contracts with certain customers. The litigation resulted in a $295 million nationwide class action settlement covering more than 246,000 customers.
• Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant Litigation — Earlier in his career, Mr. Sauder was part of the litigation team that tried the landmark class action involving alleged plutonium contamination from the former Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant outside Denver, Colorado. Following trial, the jury returned a $554 million verdict, including $200 million in punitive damages. After subsequent appellate proceedings, the litigation ultimately resulted in a $375 million settlement.
• In re Checking Account Overdraft Litigation (S.D. Fla.) — Mr. Sauder helped obtain a $55 million settlement with U.S. Bank in multidistrict class action litigation challenging the assessment of overdraft fees on checking-account customers.
• Cole v. NIBCO, Inc. (D.N.J.) — Serving as co-lead counsel, Mr. Sauder obtained a $43.5 million nationwide class action settlement on behalf of property owners alleging defects in NIBCO PEX tubing, fittings, and clamps.
• Physicians of Winter Haven v. Steris Corp. (N.D. Ohio) —Mr. Sauder helped obtain a $20 million nationwide class action settlement on behalf of surgical centers seeking reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses associated with a recalled medical device.
• Ajose, et al. v. Interline Brands, Inc. (M.D. Tenn.) — Serving as co-lead counsel, Mr. Sauder obtained a $16.5 million nationwide class action settlement involving allegedly defective DuraPro plumbing supply lines.
• In re Checking Account Overdraft Litigation (S.D. Fla.) —Mr. Sauder helped obtain a $14.5 million settlement with Comerica in multidistrict class action litigation challenging the assessment of overdraft fees on checking-account customers.
• Klug v. Watts Regulator Co. and Ponzo v. Watts Regulator Co. (D. Neb.) —Serving as co-lead counsel, Mr. Sauder helped obtain a $14 million joint settlement on behalf of homeowners alleging defects in Watts toilet and water-heater connectors.
• Outer Banks Power Outage Litigation — Mr. Sauder and co-counsel obtained a $10.3 million settlement arising from a massive power outage and evacuation on North Carolina’s Outer Banks caused when construction activity damaged electrical transmission lines. The settlement provided compensation to businesses and others affected by the outage.
• Traxler v. PPG Industries, Inc. (N.D. Ohio) —  Serving as co-lead counsel, Mr. Sauder helped obtain a $6.5 million class action settlement on behalf of homeowners who purchased and used allegedly defective deck stain.
• Generac Home Standby Generators — Mr. Sauder helped obtain relief for approximately 230,000 current and former owners of Generac home standby generators, including free safety inspections and reimbursement of qualifying out-of-pocket expenses.
• Allison v. The GEO Group — Serving as co-lead counsel, Mr. Sauder helped obtain a $2.9 million settlement on behalf of pretrial detainees whose civil rights were violated at the Delaware County prison.
• Kurian v. County of Lancaster — Serving as co-lead counsel, Mr. Sauder helped obtain a $2.5 million class action settlement on behalf of pretrial detainees.
• WARN Act Litigation. Mr. Sauder has represented employees in class litigation arising from mass layoffs and has obtained recoveries for hundreds of workers terminated without the advance notice required by the federal WARN Act.

Former Philadelphia Prosecutor

Mr. Sauder began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia, serving from 1998 to 2003. During his five years as a prosecutor, he tried hundreds of criminal cases to verdict, including cases involving sexual assault. That extensive courtroom experience continues to inform his approach to complex civil litigation and his representation of individuals confronting powerful corporate and institutional defendants.

Professional Recognition

Mr. Sauder’s work has been recognized by his peers and leading national legal publications. He was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and was named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America.

In 2023, The National Law Journal selected Mr. Sauder for its Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazers, describing him as a “born leader” and “true agent of change.” He was the only Pennsylvania attorney among the 51 lawyers selected nationwide.

Lawdragon has recognized Mr. Sauder among its 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers since 2022 and its 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers since 2023. The American Lawyer named him a Northeast Trailblazer in 2021, and The Legal Intelligencer named him a Pennsylvania Trailblazer in 2020, citing his work in institutional sexual-abuse litigation and advocacy on behalf of women and children.

Mr. Sauder has been selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2011, including recognition among the Top 100 lawyers in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

Education and Public Service

Mr. Sauder earned his B.S. in Finance, magna cum laude, in 1995 and his J.D. in 1998 from Temple University, where he was a member of the Temple Law Review. His scholarly publications include How a Criminal Defendant’s Death Pending Direct Appeal Affects the Victim’s Right to Restitution Under the Abatement Ab Initio Doctrine, 71 Temp. L. Rev. 347 (1998), and Enacting and Enforcing Felony Animal Cruelty Laws to Prevent Violence Against Humans, 6 Animal L. 1 (2000).

Mr. Sauder has remained committed to public service throughout his career. He has taught trial advocacy to Philadelphia high school students participating in mock-trial competitions, served on the Executive Committee of the Temple Law Alumni Association, and served as Vice President of the Philadelphia District Attorneys’ Alumni Association. His pro bono work has included representing children through the Support Center for Child Advocates, assisting clergy-abuse survivors, and advising local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He and his wife established a scholarship endowment at a local community college to support first-generation college students.

Outside the courtroom, Mr. Sauder enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. A lifelong ice hockey player since age four, he has coached the sport and also played internationally.