William Pietragallo, II

Partner

(412) 263-1818 (412) 263-4200
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WPII
Practice Areas

Pennsylvania
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court – Western District of Pennsylvania

J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law
B.A., John Carroll University & Loyola of Rome

Geness v. AOPC of the PA Supreme Court – Successfully represented the Pennsylvania Supreme Court – Administrative Office – in defense of a civil rights claim presented under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The case was brought by an individual alleging 15 years of wrongful imprisonment due to the failure of the PA Supreme Court to act or to promulgate effective procedures relating to incarcerated individuals with mental disabilities. No. 16-cv-00876, U.S. District Court, Western District of PA, Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; Cert. denied, U.S. Supreme Court No. 20-1288

Insys Therapeutics, Inc. v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – Successfully litigated a contract dispute between Mylan and Insys wherein Insys claimed $54 million in damages relating to an alleged breach of a supply and distribution contract. No. 2:13-CV-01112-DGC, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona; AAA Commercial Arbitration.

City of Pittsburgh v. UPMC – Successfully litigated the charitable tax exemption for UPMC in a claim brought by the City of Pittsburgh to disallow the tax-exempt status of UPMC. Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. GD-13-5115.

Air Crash Disaster near Pittsburgh, PA – In the aftermath of the crash of USAir #427, resulting in 132 deaths, represented USAir and successfully litigated legal liability and financial responsibility for the claims of crash victims families as between USAir (allegations of pilot error) and Boeing and Parker-Hannifin (allegations of a defective servo valve in the aircraft rudder). After a month-long trial, the jury found for our client, US Airways, Inc. No. 94-1014, U.S. District Court, Western District of PA.

Bill Pietragallo is the founding partner and Chairman of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP. He is recognized as one of the country’s top litigators with more than 100 successful civil jury trial verdicts in lawsuits ranging from airline disasters, product liability, professional negligence, antitrust, corporate takeovers, and class actions.

More than litigation, Mr. Pietragallo is a trusted advisor and mentor to both business executives and community leaders.

Mr. Pietragallo is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Diplomat of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is recognized by Chambers and Partners for General Commercial Litigation. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for over 25 consecutive years and named “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh for both Personal Injury Litigation and Bet-the-Company Litigation. He was listed by The BTI Consulting Group as one of 113 lawyers nationally who have been designated by Fortune 1000 companies as providing “superior client service.”

Active in community service, Mr. Pietragallo serves as the Chairman of the Board of UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital of Pittsburgh and has received the Spirit of St. Anthony Award for promoting philanthropy and a culture of giving and volunteerism, and the Newman Fellowship Award for service to the Pittsburgh Oratory. Mr. Pietragallo also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Law, Brain and Behavior at Harvard University and is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. He was also recognized as the 2024 History Maker in Law by the Heinz History Center.

Mr. Pietragallo is a past chairman of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and before that a member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Civil Rules Committee. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, teaching Litigation Planning and Strategy. In 2012, the University of Pittsburgh School of Law named Mr. Pietragallo a “Distinguished Alumni” for his exceptional service to the Law School and to the legal community.

Testimonials:

“Bill Pietragallo’s cross of plaintiff’s expert witness was the most effective I have ever seen or read. This was a masterful cross-examination and I was highly impressed, which as you know is not a common thing.”
– Thomas W. Eagar, Prof. of Materials Engineering and Engineering Systems, MI

“When a colleague referred me to you, he reassured me that you and your practice are the “best of the best.” He knew I needed counsel that does not shy away from the deeper end of the pool. ‘Thank you’ hardly captures the depth of respect, gratitude, admiration and appreciation I feel for you and the rest of your team.”
– Dr. Thomas L. Pearcy, Joint Historian (Ret.) C.I.A. U.S. Dept of State

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