Our Team

“I appreciate all you did for us. You went above and beyond…. We trusted you and you took care of us.” Note of thanks from satisfied client

Daniel Cuddy concentrates his practice in the areas of civil and criminal defense. Whether representing a large company, small business owner, or an individual in a civil lawsuit or charged with a crime, Dan prides himself on earning the trust of his clients by being accessible, straightforward and determined to obtain the best result possible.

Since joining the firm in 2016, Dan has represented multiple companies, organizations and small business owners in cases including asbestos and toxic exposure suits, personal and/or sexual misconduct cases, and a variety of general injury cases. He has represented such clients in courts in both state and federal court.

Dan has also represented several well-known non-profit organizations in grand jury investigations and to render advice as needed. As part of this practice, he has also conducted several detailed internal investigations and is adept at advising corporate and organizational clients on urgent issues needing quick responses, professional discretion and tactful candor.

Dan also represents numerous criminal clients in both state and federal court, in issues ranging from routine charges to high stakes federal charges. As part of this practice, Dan has represented targeted individuals and witnesses in grand jury proceedings involving typical criminal cases, as well as white collar/fraud, public corruption and environmental crime investigations.

Education

• Undergraduate:

   University of Pittsburgh, B.A. 1990

• Law School:

   University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D. 1993

Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia
• United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Memberships

• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Allegheny County Bar Association

Venue Experience

• State trial courts in Pennsylvania
• Federal court in Western District of Pennsylvania

Previous Experience

Prior to joining Zimmer Kunz in 2016, Mr. Cuddy was in private practice representing individuals in criminal and civil matters. He also previously worked at a large local civil defense firm defending toxic exposure suits with a team serving as national counsel for several railroad companies in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Early in his career, Mr. Cuddy served for 12 years in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office where he handled all types of felonies and misdemeanors, including homicide and vehicular homicide cases. He also spent six years in the Child Abuse Unit, handling all varieties of crimes against children. During his time in the D.A.’s office he tried countless bench trials and over 70 jury trials to verdict, all as lead attorney. He finished his time as a Deputy District Attorney assisting in supervision of the General Trial, Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition and Statutory Appeals Units.

Additional Information

• Mr. Cuddy was recently featured in In the Midst of Winter, by Geoffrey W. Melada, published in Creative Nonfiction magazine, regarding a case he prosecuted while at the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. https://creativenonfiction.org/writing/in-the-midst-of-winter/
• Mr. Cuddy has served as an occasional legal analyst for local news outlets.
• During his undergraduate years, Mr. Cuddy was a four-year member of the soccer team and was elected to the school’s Athletic Director’s List from 1986 – 1990. He was also nominated for the Big East Conference’s Scholar Athlete of the Year in 1989.
• Mr. Cuddy has coached several cup level soccer teams and currently announces the Upper St. Clair High School boys’ soccer games for a local cable network.

Significant Matters

• Successfully represented a local bar owner in civil negligence suit following a shooting in the bar’s parking lot.
• Successfully represented a school bus driver who was charged with several misdemeanors for allegedly failing to properly signal a stop, resulting in an injury to one of the students. Through dogged representation, Dan proved that the bus equipment had malfunctioned, compelling the District Attorney’s office to withdraw the charges prior to trial.
• Successfully represented a physician charged with felony drug charges. He successfully negotiated the withdrawal of all felonies, and the reduction of the remaining misdemeanor charges to a less punitive variety, enabling his client to receive a sentence of probation.
• Successfully defended client falsely charged with injuring her foster child. Convinced District Attorney’s Office to withdraw all charges. Successfully achieved an expungement of Childline report after hearing before Commonwealth Dept. of Human Services Bureau of Hearings and Appeals.