Todd J. Horn

Partner
Todd Horn

Todd Horn is a seasoned labor and employment attorney who represents clients in employment-related litigation. Todd has been repeatedly recognized by his peers and clients for his skill, professionalism, and confident presence, honed by decades of courtroom experience. Todd also is a co-author of the comprehensive legal treatise, Maryland Employment Law (Lexis 2020), a book that federal and state courts and other lawyers have cited as a leading reference for more than two decades.

In his practice, Todd covers a wide range of industries, including healthcare, government contracting, financial services, retail, hospitality, construction, biotechnology, food service, and telecommunications. He regularly handles cases involving "whistleblowing," discrimination, compensation, disability accommodations, retaliation, sexual harassment, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), wrongful discharge, and defamation.

Todd also has significant experience successfully defending employers against class action wage and hour lawsuits under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Maryland law. In addition, he helps clients avoid employee lawsuits and obtain strategic advantages in sensitive investigations, workforce reductions/reorganizations, disgruntled employee issues, and American Disabilities Act (ADA)/Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) compliance.

Experience

Representative Matters

  • After a four-week jury trial in 2013, Todd and his team obtained a defense verdict in a 13-plantiff, multi-million-dollar age discrimination lawsuit.
  • Served as a lead defense counsel in one of the nation's largest employment discrimination class action lawsuits
  • Led a litigation team that won decertification of a nationwide class action for the U.S. Forest Service, a victory that saved the agency an estimated $8 million; Sedillo v. Visack
  • Litigated one of the few cases in Maryland resulting in the complete denial of class certification under the FLSA; Syrja v. Westat, Inc., 756 F. Supp. 2d 682 (D. Md. 2010)
  • Served as representation in cases that include:
    • Milo v. CyberCore Technologies, LLC, Civil Case No. SAG-18-3145 (D. Md. 2020)

    • Johnson v. Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., 2018 WL 5298394 (D. Md. 2018), aff’d, 2019 WL 2642926 (4th Cir. 2019)

    • Amaya v. DGS Construction, LLC, Civil Action No. TDC-16-3350 (D. Md. 2019)

    • Gurbani v. Johns Hopkins Health Sys. Corp., 237 Md. App. 261, 306, 185 A.3d 760 (2018)

    • Harbourt v. Maryland Live! Casino, 2018 WL 3660167 (D. Md. Aug. 2, 2018)
    • Gurbani v. Johns Hopkins Health Sys. Corp., 237 Md. App. 261, 185 A.3d 760 (2018)
    • Hanan v. J.J. Haines & Co., Inc., 291 F. Supp. 3d 640 (M.D. Pa. 2018)
    • Sewell v. Westat, Inc., 2016 WL 6600533 (D. Md. 2016)
    • Burke v. Anne Arundel Med. Ctr., 2015 WL 2227914 (D. Md. 2015)
    • Adedje v. Westat, Inc., 214 Md. App. 1 (2013)
    • Rashad v. WMATA, 945 F. Supp. 2d 152 (D.D.C. 2013)
    • Walters v. Transwestern Carey Winston, LLC, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60380 (D. Md. 2012)
    • Panagodimos v. CNS, Inc., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31013 (D. Md. 2012)
    • Mwabira-Simera v. Sodexho Marriott, 786 F. Supp. 2d 395 (D.D.C. 2011)
    • EEOC v. WSSC, 631 F.3d 174 (4th Cir. 2011)
    • Smith v. Westat, Inc., 09-CV-140-CAP (N.D. Ga. 2009)
    • Montgomery v. General Dynamics, 2008 WL 4546262 (S.D. Ohio 2008)
    • King v. Marriott International, Inc., 160 Md. App. 689, 866 A.2d 895 (2005)
    • Covance Laboratories, Inc. v. Orantes, 338 F. Supp. 2d 613 (D. Md. 2004)
    • Sherman v. Marriott Hotel Services, Inc., 317 F. Supp. 2d 609 (D. Md. 2004)
    • Higgins v. Food Lion, Inc., 197 F. Supp. 2d 364 (D. Md. 2002)
    • King v. Marriott International, Inc., 337 F.3d 421 (4th Cir. 2003)
    • Arbabi v. Fred Meyers, Inc., 205 F. Supp. 2d 462 (D. Md. 2002)
    • Lane v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13935 (D. Md. 2002)
    • Aheart v. Sodexho, Inc., 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 7779 (4th Cir. 2000)
    • Hogue v. Sam's Club, Inc., 114 F. Supp. 2d 389 (D. Md. 2000)
    • Gedeon v. Host Marriott Corp., 1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 16903 (4th Cir. 1998)
    • Milton v. IIT Research Institute, 138 F.3d 519 (4th Cir. 1998)
    • Farasat v. Paulikas, 32 F. Supp. 2d 249; (D. Md. 1998), aff'd, 166 F.3d 1208 (4th Cir. 1998)
    • Cline v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 144 F.3d 294 (4th Cir. 1997)
    • Steinacker v. National Aquarium, 114 F.3d 1177 (4th Cir. 1997)
    • Spriggs v. Citibank (Md.), N.A., 103 F.3d 120 (4th Cir. 1996)
    • Gaskins v. Marshall Craft Associates, Inc., 110 Md. App. 705 (1996)
    • Webb v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 57 F.3d 1067 (4th Cir. 1995)
    • Borza v. Hallmark Cards, Inc., 45 F.3d 425 (4th Cir. 1995)
    • Fusco v. GE Government Services, Inc., 897 F. Supp. 926 (D. Md. 1995)
    • Glocker v. W.R. Grace, Inc., 68 F.3d 460 (4th Cir. 1995)
    • Riggle v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 755 F. Supp. 676 (D. Md. 1991)

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law 1987
    • Moot Court
  • B.S. Economics with honors University of Mary Washington 1984
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Member, American Bar Association, Sections of Labor and Employment Law and Litigation
  • Member, Maryland Association of Defense Trial Counsel
  • Member, Maryland State Bar Association
  • Co-author of the comprehensive legal treatise Maryland Employment Law (Lexis 2017), a book that federal and state courts have cited as a leading reference for more than two decades
  • Contributing author to Employment Discrimination Law, the official book of the ABA on the subject; the book has been cited by the courts of every circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court
  • In 2005, coached the University of Maryland School of Law's trial advocacy team in the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section's Student Trial Advocacy Competition

Recognition
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Chambers USA has reported that Todd “is admired as a fantastic litigator – one of the best in the courtroom, with a tremendous presence.” He is “very professional and efficient,” and is “particularly sought out for high-stakes litigation.”

  • The Best Lawyers in America
    • Employment Law, Management and Litigation, Labor and Employment, 2009 – 2018, 2020 – 2024
    • Lawyer of the Year, Labor and Employment, Litigation, Baltimore, 2021
    • Lawyer of the Year, Employment Law, Management, Baltimore, 2011, 2016, 2019
  • Super Lawyers
    • Employment and Labor, Baltimore, 2013
    • Maryland, 2009 – 2018, 2021 – 2023
  • Chambers USA
    • Labor and Employment (Band 1), Maryland, 2007 – 2023
    • Employment: Mainly Defendant (Band 2), Maryland, 2006
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2023
  • The Daily Record, Leadership in Law Award, 2006
  • Baltimore SmartCEO, Maryland’s Legal Elite, 2006
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rated
  • Sodexo, Inc., Outstanding Large Firm Outside Counsel (Recognized by one of the largest companies in the United States)

Community
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Pro Bono

  • Provides employment advice pro bono to charities and nonprofit organizations

Personal Activities

  • Earned the rank of Eagle Scout while in high school