Morris E Fischer

In the course of my near thirty year legal career, I have visited 47 of the 50 states. I have handled cases from as far west as Guam and as far east as Boston. I have the unique ability to communicate effectively with all kinds of people from all walks of life and solve legal problems in creative and efficient ways.

I will fight wherever and no matter how long I have to on behalf of my clients. I have litigated cases in New York, Massachusetts, Arizona, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Texas, and Mississippi, where I and local counsel obtained a successful $870,000 federal jury verdict. In 2012, I won a case against the Secret Service (Department of Homeland Security) for a federal employee; a case that had been previously litigated for 19 years, winning a total of $458,000. I am admitted to practice law in two states, the District of Columbia and 15 Federal Courts. I have won appeals in nine different Appeals Courts.

Our law firm has also garnered national media attention. In Hayes v. Napolitano, Civil Action No. 12-825 (ABJ) (2012), I represented New York City, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) Chief against DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano's Chief of Staff. in a sexual harassment case which was covered by NBC, CNN, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post. The case resulted in the Chief of Staff resigning and a $175,000 settlement without Mr. Hayes being forced to resign.

In Keegan v. Social Security Administration, MSPB No. PH-1221-15-0121-W-1, I represented my client Michael Keegan before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Mr. Keegan’s testimony pertained to the Social Security Administration misleading Congress as to the need for $500,000,000 to replace the National Computer Center, when no such outlay was needed and the actual building was never replaced. The case made national news as well.

In another national case, Taylor Johnson v. Department of Homeland Security, M.S.P.B, Case No: SF-0752-16-0320-I-1, we represented Senior Immigration and Enforcement Agent, Taylor Johnson, who reported extensive abuse of the EB-5, USCIS Immigrant Investor Program regarding the refurbishing of a Las Vegas casino, headed by an investor group, represented by Rory Reid, Esq., son of U.S. Senate Minority leader, Harry Reid (D-NV). Ms. Johnson testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs regarding her whistle blower matter. The matter was resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.

We also represent businesses in employment and business litigation. I have won jury trials both representing the employee and the employer. Between 2015 and February 2020, I represented Ergo Solutions, Inc., against two former employees who asserted sexual harassment and retaliation claims. After years of litigation, we obtained two Defendant’s Verdicts, in 2018 and 2019 respectively. I was also successful in getting a class action suit dismissed against my client. I am thankful to Ergo for selecting my law firm to represent them in this matter.

Having worked on employment law cases from both the employer and employee end, provides me with a unique ability to understand how each of the sides develops its case strategy. We take the time to listen to our clients, understand their frustrations and help them from a legal and financial perspective.

In August, 2019, I won a major appeal in Mount v. DHS, 18-1762, a ground breaking decision in which The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held for the first time that a Federal whistleblower exhausts his perceived whistleblower claims before the Office of Special Counsel if he includes sufficient factual basis to enable the agency to investigate. This opinion effectively makes it more difficult for MSPB Administrative Judges to dismiss perceived whistleblower claims.

In the last few years, 2022-2025, our law firm has had a serious concentration in cases involving disability discrimination and failure to accommodation a reasonable accommodation request. We have had some significant positive results on major federal cases in this area. These have included:

Leland L. Cogdell, Jr. v. Murphy, United States District Court, District of Columbia, No: 19-2462 (RC) (2023), we represented a GSA employee with multiple disabilities including severe ADHD and autism who was denied a job coach as a reasonable accommodation request submitted by his psychotherapist. The government failed to respond to the request and contended that its other accommodations satisfied the request. Prior to retaining Morris E Fischer, LLC, Mr. Cogdell litigated his case, with a well-known, competitor law firm and lost before the EEOC at hearing. The federal case, the case in which we provided representation, involved four expert witnesses, including two psychiatrists, who each provided very complicated medical testimony on psychiatric testing and treatment, and two Summary Judgment motions made by the government that were both successfully defended. After defeating Summary Judgment twice, the case settled in the six figures.

Annette Dixon-Brown v Haaland, United States District Court, District of Columbia, Civil Action No. 22-1448 (2024), we represented National Park Service employee Annette Dixon-Brown, who spent years seeking telework accommodations to manage the effects of her osteoarthritis. Despite medical documentation showing that her condition limited her ability to walk and climb stairs, the agency repeatedly denied her requests for full-time or partial telework. These denials ultimately forced Ms. Dixon-Brown into Leave Without Pay status and contributed to her early retirement.

Our office aggressively conducted depositions of key Agency witnesses, including her supervisors and human resources representatives. Ultimately, we were able to break the Agency’s contentions that telework for any part of the job was an undue burden. One witness in particular admitted to warning the supervisors of potential liability for failing to grant the accommodation. After these depositions and the U.S. District Court’s denial of the Agency’s dismissal motion, the case settled in the six figures.
Actively involved in the legal community, I am a member of both the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, where I served on the Judicial Nominations Committee and I have served on the Solo Practice Committee for the New York Employment Lawyers Association. I have testified before the Maryland House of Delegates, House Ways and Means Committee on the Maryland Civil Rights Tax Relief Act (CRTRA), with the aim to prevent the taxation of non-economic damages in the employment law settlements and awards. That testimony helped produce legislation exempting pain and suffering damages in employment cases from state tax.

In 2017, Expertise, a national ranking company, reviewed 150 Employment Lawyers in the Washington, DC Metro area and selected my firm for an award as a top 16 Employment Lawyer. I have won this award six more times between 2018-2023. I have offices in New York City and Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside of DC. I have won Appeals in eight different Appeals Courts. In 2020, I was selected to be in 2020 Top 100 Attorneys Magazine.

I have also served as an expert witness in legal malpractice cases on both the Plaintiff and Defendant sides.

In addition to employment litigation, my law office has reviewed, drafted and negotiated hundreds of employment contracts as well as many high dollar sales commission agreements, separation agreements, restrictive covenants, employee handbooks and offer letters. We provide clients the necessary confidence to navigate the challenging waters of job change and solid advice to companies so as to avoid legal pitfalls when unfortunately they have to dismiss employees.

We also have negotiated shareholder agreements involving complicated issues of Trust Transfer Rights, Share Buyback Programs, Board Representation, Minority Protection Clauses and the Right of First Refusal.

Licensed in the following states:
• Maryland (2001)
• New York (1996)
• Washington, DC (2003)

Admitted to Practice in these following Federal Courts:
The Supreme Court of the United States; The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Armed Services; The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; The United States Court of Federal Claims; The United States District Court, District of Maryland; The United States District Court, District of Columbia; The United States District Court, Southern District of New York; The United States District Court, Eastern District of New York; and The United States District Court, District of Colorado

I have also published several books, including, Maximize Your Employment Lawsuit With My Top Secrets, which guides enabling clients to maximize the attorney-client relationship to give their cases the best chance of winning.

Tough, aggressive and vigorous litigation are the qualities I utilize on a daily basis to fight and achieve justice for my clients.