In another significant expansion of the firm’s litigation practice, Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of new associates to the firm’s Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Offices.
“Despite these challenging times, we remain fully committed to providing our clients with top flight service. We are thrilled to welcome this talented and diverse group of litigators to our team,” said Pietragallo Chairman William Pietragallo, II.
The group of four new associates includes:
Angela L. Velez joins our Employment and Labor team in our Philadelphia office. Angela brings over 10 years of experience with the New Jersey Department of Education and New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. As a Deputy Attorney General, she has represented the Department of Education and State universities in complex legal matters in federal and state administrative, trial, and appellate court. She is a graduate of The University of North Carolina School of Law.
Quintin DiLucente joins our Commercial Litigation team in our Pittsburgh office. While attending law school at Duquesne University School of Law, Quintin worked for the Court of Common Pleas in the Criminal and Family Divisions.
About Pietragallo
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and commercial litigation firm headquartered in Pittsburgh with five offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More
Pietragallo partner Timothy Hazel has been appointed the Board Chair of the Allegheny County Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review (BPAAR). Tim will serve as the Board Chair for a one-year term.
The BPAAR is oversees assessment appeals and certify assessment appeal decisions concerning: the valuations of real property used by taxing authorities within the County for the purpose of levying taxes, and whether real property is exempt from real property taxation based upon the applicable law. The board is composed of seven members who are all appointed for three year terms. The BPAAR hears and decides all appeal hearings pursuant to the Board’s Rules (authority under the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter Article X Section 5).
Tim’s practice is centered in the real estate, construction, housing, retail, hospitality, and oil and gas industries. For nearly two decades, he has represented lenders, borrowers, developers, contractors, design professionals, big box retailers, landlords, and tenants in a myriad of transactions including:
land acquisition and divestiture;
project financing;
zoning and land use;
construction, project and design contracting;
leasing (industrial, commercial, retail and office);
organization and equity structuring;
oil and gas contracting and acquisition at all levels (upstream, mainstream and downstream); and
franchising.
About Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and commercial litigation firm headquartered in Pittsburgh with five offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More
Part 1 of this article series, published in the November 2021 issue of Compliance Today, outlined in general the American and Italian healthcare systems. Part 2, published in the December 2021 issue, outlined America’s primary healthcare fraud laws. Part 3 of this series outlines the Italian healthcare enforcement regime, criminal law, and the Anti-Corruption Act.
Italian enforcement against fraud and corruption, including in the healthcare field, has traditionally been reserved to criminal courts, with no specific effort to coordinate or combine these actions through civil remedies. In light of the largely state-funded healthcare system in Italy, government corruption is in the foreground of efforts to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in healthcare. Egregious scandals erupted in Italian healthcare sectors, especially in the 1990s. Perhaps the most notorious case involved Dr. Duilio Poggiolini, the Ministry of Health’s general manager of the pharmaceutical department whose fortune included gold, jewels, and paintings of enormous value.[1] Poggiolini was charged and arrested for using his position for personal benefit, and his sentence of seven and a half years in prison was reduced on appeal.[2] The scandal surfaced during an investigation, called “mani pulite,” by a pool of public prosecutors operating out of the Milan criminal court. They were able to pierce the veil of silence that long protected government corruption. While its success resulted from significant cooperation and solidarity among the prosecutors, their coordination was not officially structured as an institutional team.
Italy’s criminal law
Italian criminal law always has included crimes of government corruption. The Italian Criminal Code has been amended periodically, not only to increase the sanctions (as, for example, in the latest “Spazza-Corrotti” amendments in 2019), but also with the aim of criminalizing more subtle corruption than an outright offer of cash in exchange for favorable treatment by a public official. Read More
Part 1 of this article series, published in the November 2021 issue of Compliance Today, outlined in general the American and Italian healthcare systems. Part 2 outlines America’s primary healthcare fraud laws. Part 3 of this series, to be published in the January 2022 issue of Compliance Today, will outline Italy’s fraud and abuse laws.
In America, the enforcement landscape is ever evolving. Compliance within this thicket of criminal, civil, and administrative laws and regulations can prove especially challenging. The most used fraud and abuse prevention tools include the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), the federal False Claims Act (FCA), state false claims acts (FCAs), Stark Law, and more recently the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. In addition to these laws, there are two important industry codes of conduct that govern behavior: the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Health Care Professionals, which covers the pharmaceutical industry, and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics, which covers the medical device industry.
Anti-Kickback Statute and its growing exceptions
The AKS is a powerful federal law that seeks to prevent financial considerations from interfering with the independent medical judgment and purchasing decisions of healthcare providers.[1] In general, this law prohibits a company or individual from offering a healthcare provider, such as a doctor or hospital, incentives (referred to as “inducements”) to encourage use of its products or services.More specifically, the AKS imposes criminal penalties on any person who knowingly and willfully solicits, receives, offers, or pays any “remuneration” (including any kickback, bribe, or rebate) directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to any person to induce that person to either:
refer an individual to a person for the furnishing of an item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part under a federal healthcare program, or
purchase, lease, order, or arrange for or recommend the purchasing, leasing, or ordering of any good, facility service, or item for which payment may be made in whole or in part under a federal healthcare program. Read More
This is Part 1 of a three-part series discussing the similarities and differences between the US and Italian healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse laws. Part 2 of this series will be published in the December issue of Compliance Today, and Part 3 will be published in January 2022 issue of the magazine.
The United States of America and the Italian Republic share many common ideals. America was named after Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer.[1] The American Constitution is based on the principle of government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” The Italian Constitution embodies this same principle in the ideals of sovereignty to the people: “La sovranità appartiene al popolo.” As of 2003, almost 16 million Americans claimed to have had Italian heritage.[2] With shared values, our two countries have forged an indelible alliance. These allied nations work together as world leaders in responding to a wide variety of economic, political, medical, technological, and scientific challenges that confront a rapidly changing world.
A major challenge confronting both America and Italy is providing a healthcare system that extends medical treatment that is effective, innovative, devoid of fraud, and cost efficient. While the healthcare systems in America and Italy differ in many respects, they suffer from the same obstacles: fraud, waste, and abuse. Both countries take these problems seriously. For example, in America, the federal government recovered more than $2.2 billion in 2020 alone from healthcare fraud and false claims,[3] while in Italy the National Anti-Corruption Authority (Autorità Nazionale Anticorruzione) is actively monitoring, preventing, and responding to corruption, as well as issuing anti-corruption plans.
This article highlights laws enacted in America and Italy to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, showing important similarities as well as differences between these enforcement efforts. Given the close historical and commercial ties between America and Italy, including healthcare companies that regularly operate in both countries, all stakeholders involved in healthcare (i.e., Read More
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to be recognized by Chambers USA in its 2021 guide in the area of Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Pennsylvania. Chambers ranks leading law firms and attorneys across the U.S. based on the opinion of their clients and peers, and by the quality of their work.
Chambers USA acknowledges that the team has experience “handling actions brought under the False Claims Act and tackling significant cross-border mandates.” Clients and peers are quoted as saying, “Pietragallo Gordon has an excellent securities and white-collar practice” and as having “a good statewide footprint.”
Additionally, the following partners are ranked:
William Pietragallo— Litigation: General Commercial— Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds
Marc S. Raspanti— Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations— Pennsylvania Read More
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce the internal promotion of one lawyer to partnership: John W. Kettering in Sharon, PA. The announcement follows on the heels of the firm’s recent string of new litigation hires.
“We are extremely proud and excited to welcome John to the partnership. His dedication to continued outstanding client service and their commitment to teamwork represent Pietragallo’s core values,” said William Pietragallo, Chairman of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
The new partner:
John W. Kettering practices in the field of Business & Corporate, Commercial Litigation, and Bankruptcy. John has experience in all areas of business, from transactional to litigation, with a focus on the enforcement of creditors’ rights.
About Pietragallo
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and commercial litigation firm headquartered in Pittsburgh with five offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More
What to Know about Returning to an In-Person Environment
Please join us as we provide guidance to employers ensuring their employees, and customers, feel safe in returning to an in-person environment. The presentation will address various topics such as:
Workplace Safety
Transitioning Back to the Office
Alternative Work Arrangements
Updating & Revising Policies and Procedures
Establishing a Clear Communications Plan
Click here to register.*
Zoom details to follow.
*Attendance is limited.
When
Thursday, May 6, 2021
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Host
Leslie A. Mariotti, Partner
Joseph L. Gordon, Senior Associate
Credit
CLE credit in PA is currently pending approval.
Leslie A. Mariotti works closely with public, private, and government entities to help them improve their corporate culture, increase employee morale, strengthen customer loyalty, and enhance their relationships with stakeholders.
Joseph L. Gordon regularly counsels businesses on strategic initiatives designed to minimize the threat of employee lawsuits. He has been intimately involved with counselling businesses on a variety of Coronavirus-related issues since the start of the Pandemic. Read More
In a significant expansion of the firm’s litigation practice, Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of four new associates to the firm’s Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Offices.
“This is an exciting time for our firm as we continue to expand our litigation team and attract top talent in the legal market,” said Pietragallo Chairman William Pietragallo, II. “We are fully committed to providing our clients with the best possible talent and we are delighted to welcome this young and talented group of associates.”
The group of four new associates includes:
Stephen Raiola joins our Commercial Litigation team in our Pittsburgh office. Stephen brings our clients mid-level expertise in litigation and investigations, including product liability and mass tort, class actions, and commercial litigation. Before making the decision to return to Pittsburgh, Stephen spent five years with a leading international law firm in Washington D.C. Prior to Stephen’s move to D.C., he was an associate at an international law firm in New York City and clerked for Judge D. Michael Fisher on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Georgetown University Law Center.
Daniel P. Wotherspoon joins our Government Enforcement, Compliance, and White Collar litigation team in our Philadelphia office. Daniel brings our clients mid-level experience in white collar criminal defense and government investigations related to securities and False Claims Act matters. He joins us from a nationally based law firm and clerked for Judge Jane Richards Roth on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Daniel graduated cum laude from Villanova University School of Law.
Christin M. Roberts joins our Government Enforcement, Compliance, and White Collar litigation team in our Pittsburgh office. Christin completed an internship in the Legal Department and Compliance Department at a leading global pharmaceuticals company where she concentrated her research on the False Claims Act and Whistleblower laws. Read More
Unfortunately fraud, waste, abuse, and of course, criminal activity do not take a vacation during a pandemic. In fact, targets and methods of fraudsters can and will evolve much like a virus. When the normal checks and balances that have been put in place by compliance, general counsel, security, internal audit, and other mechanisms that keep Corporate America safe are shuttered at home, criminal activity will increase. Obviously, with travel bans and advisories – domestically and abroad – traditional investigations using standard time-honored interviewing techniques cannot proceed. However, there are a number of things that can be done to preserve the investigative trail until robust measures can be put back in place to conduct an appropriate investigation.
Modified Procedures
Most defalcations can be detected through the normal means of analysis of emails, text messages, and electronic signatures. It is important to be in touch with your clients’ IT departments and internal audit staff to be able to preserve evidence until such time as in-person investigation can occur. There are a number of other things than can be done remotely to determine whether or not problematic anomalies are occurring or have occurred. Things that may be secondary in the normal investigative check list now become primary. Electronic communications, swipe-in logs and surveillance videos need to be reviewed and preserved. Phone interviews are certainly better than no interview at all, but utilizing video conferencing of witnesses who may have relevant information is the preferred method to assess affect, attitude, and potential deception of a witness.
Subjects of Investigation
There is a critical distinction to observe in conducting an investigation in the midst of a pandemic. Wrongdoers thrive both on the underlying medical crisis, as well as the vulnerabilities created by the reaction to the medical crisis. Beginning with the medical crisis itself, creative fraudsters will sell fake vaccines, remedies, and attempt to swindle naïve and generous people into donating to fake charities. Read More
August 15, 2024
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce that 27 lawyers have been named as 2025 The Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch.Read More
July 1, 2024
Partner Douglas K. Rosenblum of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP has been appointed as a Hearing Committee Member serving the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania effective July 1, 2024. Read More
