Rob Peccola is an attorney with the Institute for Justice. He also serves as counsel to IJ’s development department. He joined the Institute in September of 2014 and litigates cases promoting property rights and economic liberty in state and federal court.
Rob specializes in defending tenants and landlords from invasive and unconstitutional rental inspections across the country. Rob was also co-counsel in IJ’s first class-action lawsuit, Sourovelis v. Philadelphia, in which IJ dismantled Philadelphia’s unconstitutional civil forfeiture program.
In his development role, Rob manages IJ’s charitable gift annuity program and IJ’s portfolio of mature estates. He also responds to donor inquiries about complex gifts to IJ, and ensures that IJ is in a position to receive and close more planned and complex gifts without exposing IJ to undue risk.
Prior to joining the Institute for Justice, Rob was an attorney with the international law firm Duane Morris LLP. In private practice, Rob represented primarily individuals and litigated a wide variety of probate and commercial matters at the trial and appellate levels. In addition to securing victories for his clients, Rob was actively involved in community outreach and business development for the firm. Prior to entering private practice, Rob worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Sally D. Adkins of the Maryland Supreme Court and the Honorable Jacqueline H. Nguyen of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. He received his law degree from the George Washington University Law School and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.
Robert's Cases
4th Amendment Project | Private Property | Rental Inspections
Orange City, Iowa, Rental Inspections
Landlords and tenants in Orange City, Iowa are forced to open their doors to government officials without a warrant, simply because the property is a rental. This intrusive rule violates the Fourth Amendment, and that’s…
Code Enforcement | Fines and Fees | Private Property
Memphis Residents File Lawsuit Against Shelby County Environmental Court for Affording No Real Due Process
When a court proceeding may result in a person losing their home, the U.S. Constitution demands a fair process with rigorous safeguards against erroneous deprivation. But the process is Shelby County, Tennessee, is anything but…
4th Amendment Project | Private Property | Rental Inspections
Landlord and Tenants Sue Illinois City Challenging Unconstitutional Home Inspections
Josefina Lozano and three of her tenants have joined with IJ to file a federal lawsuit to shut down the city of Zion’s warrantless inspection program, which allows the city to intrude on the privacy…
4th Amendment Project | Private Property | Rental Inspections
Class Action Lawsuit Challenges Seattle’s Mandatory Rental Inspection Law
A group of landlords and tenants worked together with IJ to challenge a Seattle law that allows city officials to inspect rental properties without a warrant. Unfortunately, after minor reforms were made, a court allowed…
Economic Liberty | Food Freedom
New Jersey Bakers Challenge State Ban on Selling Home-Baked Goods
Up until 2021, New Jersey was the only state in the country that prevented home bakers from selling homemade baked goods. After years of litigation from IJ and several home bakers, New Jersey finally ended…
4th Amendment Project | Private Property | Rental Inspections
Pennsylvania Tenants and Landlord Challenge Unconstitutional Inspections of Homes
Pottstown, Pennsylvania has a rental inspection law that forces landlords and tenants to open their properties and homes to submit to intrusive inspections. On behalf of multiple tenants and a landlord, IJ is challenging this…
Vindicating the Right to Earn an Honest Living Under the Florida Constitution: IJ Files Suit on Behalf of Vendors in Hialeah, Fla.
Street vendors are a core part of the American Dream. But Hialeah, Fla., needlessly makes it difficult for street vendors to earn an honest living.
