Bio
Daniel S. Altschuler is a Principal and Chair of the Firm’s Casualty Litigation Department. He has extensive trial experience in the areas of casualty litigation, including products liability, motor vehicle liability, construction liability, and toxic tort liability.
Mr. Altschuler's practice involves cases with complex fact patterns, catastrophic circumstances and injuries, and significant financial and reputational exposure. These include cases involving complex engineering issues, child safety issues, hazardous and toxic substance exposure, and fatalities.
His clients include public utilities, durable medical equipment (DME) manufacturers, national non-profits, commercial transportation and trucking companies, dialysis providers, and security companies.
Mr. Altschuler defends public utilities in a wide range of liability issues, including matters involving multiple fatalities, property damage, and serious injuries. These matters include alleged gas line explosions and, electrocution. Mr. Altschuler also defends a variety of non-profit human services organizations and childcare facilities in cases involving highly sensitive and tragic circumstances and trauma.
His experience in these areas includes:
- Representing and defending Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in matters involving abuse/sexual abuse in the Philadelphia region for the last 10 years. Cases involve allegations of abuse going back decades. In addition, Mr. Altschuler presented on sexual abuse issues at the organization’s national conference with BBBSA’s National Safety Representative in 2015.
- Representing and defending the YMCA in matters involving allegations of sexual abuse.
- Representing a large public utility in multi-fatality actions.
Mr. Altschuler has successfully argued cases before the Pennsylvania Superior Court and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He serves with the Investigative Division of the Judicial Commission of Selection and Retention of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
From 2004 to the present, Mr. Altschuler has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer by his peers as published in Philadelphia magazine. The Best Lawyers in America™ recognized Mr. Altschuler in its 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions in the Product Liability Litigation - Defendants category. In 2022, Mr. Altschuler was named by City & State Pennsylvania to its Law Power 100 list. For information about these selections and an overview of common third-party publications, rankings, and list methodologies, click here.
Education
-
J.D., Villanova University School of Law, 1987
Member, Moot Court Board and National Moot Court Team - B.S. in Economics, Cum Laude, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1983
Bar Memberships
- Pennsylvania (1987)
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Affiliations
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute (Products Liability Committee)
- Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel (PID)
- Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
- Former Volunteer Assistant Coach, Saint Joseph’s University Lacrosse Team
- Past President, Philadelphia Lacrosse Association
Speaking Engagements
- "Public Utility Investigations," Post & Schell CLE Webinar (October 12, 2023)
- "Evolution of Social Media Investigations – Then, Now, and in the Future," Insurance Society of Philadelphia's (ISOP) 2018 Philly I-Day Philadelphia, PA (April 12, 2018)
- "Managing a Catastrophic Loss: From Accident Response Through Litigation," Continuing Education Seminar Co-Sponsored by Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of RIMS, Dallas, TX (June 11, 2015)
- "Analysis of a Child Sexual Abuse Case: Lessons Learned," Big Brothers Big Sisters National Conference, Philadelphia, PA (June 3, 2015)
- "Optional Safety Equipment and Potentially Opening the Door to Liability," 2015 International Seating Symposium (ISS), Nashville, TN (February 27, 2015)
- "Managing A Catastrophic Loss: From Accident Response Through Litigation," Temple University Fox School of Business Insurance Operations Class, Philadelphia, PA (November 5, 2014)
- "State of Law: Pennsylvania Products Liability," Philadelphia Bar Institute's Tort Law Update, Atlantic City, NJ (August 14, 2014)
- "Anatomy of the Plaintiff's Deposition," Dispute Resolution Institute's DEPOS for P.I. Lawyers, CLE Seminar, PA Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA (July 23, 2013)
- "Taking the Offensive," PA Retailers' Association and Post & Schell, P.C. Joint Seminar (June 2006)
- "Products Liability Law," SFS Intec Annual Sales Meeting (February 13, 2005)
- "Potpourri -- Special Evidentiary Issues," Philadelphia Bar Institute Seminar
- "Evidence in Personal Injury Cases," (June 10, 2004)
- Course Planner, National Annual Products Liability Conference of the Defense Research Institute (February 13, 2003)
- "Challenging the Foundation/Admissibility of Expert Testimony," National Annual Conference of the Defense Research Institute (February 14, 2002)
- Presenter, Products Liability Topics, Philadelphia Bar Institute's Tort Law Update, "Down the Shore," Atlantic City, NJ (August 15, 2002)
- Presenter, Products Liability Seminar to the footwear industry, Consulting Engineers and Sciences (May 2001)
- "Accident Reconstruction," Post & Schell, P.C.'s Casualty Department Seminar, Adam's Mark Hotel, Philadelphia, PA (April 2001)
- "Bad Faith," Post & Schell, P.C.'s Coverage Department Seminar, Radisson Twelve Caesar's Conference Center (March 2000) (with John C. Sullivan and Richard L. McMonigle, Jr.)
- "First Party Benefits; UM/UIM; Limited Tort; MIST; Bad Faith; Fraud," "From Arbitration to Bad Faith," Post & Schell, P.C.'s Casualty Department Seminar, Adam's Mark Hotel, Philadelphia, PA (November 1999)
News & Insights
Education
-
J.D., Villanova University School of Law, 1987
Member, Moot Court Board and National Moot Court Team - B.S. in Economics, Cum Laude, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1983
Bar Memberships
- Pennsylvania (1987)
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Affiliations
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute (Products Liability Committee)
- Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel (PID)
- Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
- Former Volunteer Assistant Coach, Saint Joseph’s University Lacrosse Team
- Past President, Philadelphia Lacrosse Association