Karl left his partnership with a prominent downtown firm in 2000 to start his own firm. OBD has grown from Karl and a skeleton crew to 25 employees in the administrative level Social Security disability claims, long-term and insurance-based disability claims, and nationwide Social Security federal appeals departments. Having turned over the reins of managing partner, Karl now concentrates on ever improving and growing the appeals department, OBD’s marketing efforts, and had a Board membership at NADR and NOSSCR in 2023. Karl lives near the office in Oakmont, and shares custody of his son, Vincent. When Karl has the time, he tries to get better at playing guitar and writing songs.
Area of Practice
- Appellate
- Social Security Disability
Education
- Duquesne University School of Law, J.D. - 1987
- Geneva College, B.A., Cum Laude - 1980
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania - 1987
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit - 1987
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit - 1997
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit - 1999
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas - 2014
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas - 2014
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado - 2013
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia - 2003
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois - 2012
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois - 2013
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois - 2013
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana - 2014
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana - 2013
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland - 2003
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan - 2013
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan - 2013
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri - 2013
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York - 2014
- U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota - 2016
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma - 2014
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio - 2016
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania - 2016
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania - 1987
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee - 2013
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas - 2013
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas - 2014
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas - 2014
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin - 2013
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin - 2014
Professional Associations & Memberships
- National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR), Board Member
- National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR), Board Member
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association