Normal Litigation Tactics and Strategy Don’t Apply in Custody Cases

2026/04/16

Partner Robert D. Weinberg, Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, authored “Normal Litigation Tactics and Strategy Don’t Apply in Custody Cases” for the AAML’s Pennsylvania Chapter Blog. Rob’s article explores how custody negotiations differ from traditional approaches, emphasizing strategies that prioritize the child’s well-being and support healthier, more stable outcomes. Read the full blog here. Read More

Homemaker or Breadwinner -Will I need to get a job after my divorce?

2026/02/12

Stay-at-home parents and homemakers often ask whether they will have to get a job after divorce. The short answer is no — the court cannot order you to get a job. However, the reality is more nuanced. Depending on the support you receive and your financial needs, working may become necessary. Importantly, the court has the authority to assign an earning capacity to a spouse or parent who is not working or who is underemployed. Under Pennsylvania Rule 1910.16-2, if a party has willfully failed to obtain or maintain appropriate employment, the court may impute income equal to that party’s earning capacity. In practical terms, this means the court looks at what you are capable of earning, not just what you actually earn. For example, if you earn $10/hour part time, the court could impute to you a 40-hour work week to you instead. Or, if you have a degree or certification, the court could impute an income commensurate with your training. When determining earning capacity, the court considers a number of factors, including age, education, training, health, work history, past earnings, and childcare responsibilities. In cases where earning capacity is heavily disputed and has a meaningful impact on support, vocational experts may be retained to evaluate employability and income potential. Even without significant work history or skills, a court may assign a minimum-wage earning capacity. Earning capacity plays an important role in support. In Pennsylvania, support is based on each party’s income or earning capacity. During the separation period, spousal support or alimony pendente lite is calculated using a formula that considers the difference between the parties’ incomes or earning capacities. After divorce, the court considers earning capacity, financial need, and equitable distribution of assets when determining alimony. The court may project that the dependent spouse’s earning capacity will increase over time due to further training or retraining and experience. Read More

Robert D. Weinberg Admitted to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

2025/11/25

We are proud to announce that partner Robert D. Weinberg became a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). This prestigious membership is reserved for accomplished family law practitioners who demonstrate exceptional skill and are seen as leaders in their local communities. A thorough and competitive selection process highlights the high level of excellence required for admission. Rob is a partner and member of the Family Law Practice Group and Estate & Trust Litigation; Estate Planning and Administration Practice Group. He assists clients in all facets of family law including collaborative law and multiple forms of dispute resolution. His main passion is prioritizing and protecting the needs of children involved in custody matters, often litigating cases in and out of Pennsylvania. The AAML has been operating as a non-profit since 1962, as an association of Family Lawyers who have experience and concentrate in all issues related to marriage, divorce, child custody and visitation, annulment, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, matters affecting unmarried cohabitants, business valuation and property distribution, alimony, and support.   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, New Jersey, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

Pietragallo recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®

2025/11/06

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®, receiving National rankings in Tier 2 and 3, as well as Regional rankings in Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Under the Regional Tier 1 ranking, Pietragallo was recognized for 18 practice areas in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, including: Commercial Litigation (PGH & PHL) Corporate Compliance Law (PHL) Criminal Defense: White-Collar (PGH & PHL) Employment Law – Individuals (PHL) Employment Law – Management (PHL) Family Law (PGH) Health Care Law (PHL) Insurance Law (PGH) Litigation- Insurance (PGH) Litigation – Labor and Employment (PHL) Litigation – Trusts and Estates (PGH) Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs (PGH) Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (PGH) Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (PGH) Trusts and Estates (PGH) Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers (PGH) Pietragallo received six Tier 2 and Tier 3 Regional rankings: Tier 2 Regional in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for the  practice areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Real Estate. Tier 3 Regional in Pittsburgh for the practice areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Corporate Law, and Litigation – Construction. Pietragallo has been named as a Tier 2 National firm for Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor & Employment and a Tier 3 National firm for our work in Health Care Law. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. Clients were asked to provide feedback on firm practice groups, addressing: expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, and whether they would refer another client to the firm. Lawyers also voted on expertise, responsiveness, integrity, cost-effectiveness, whether they would refer a matter to a firm, and if they consider a firm a worthy competitor. Read More

Pietragallo Expands with Four New Associates

2025/10/20

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of four new associates to the firm’s Pittsburgh Office. The group of four new associates includes: Cameron T. Gallentine joins our Estate & Trust Litigation; Estate Planning and Administration Practice Group. He previously served as a law clerk at Pietragallo, gaining experience in litigation and transactional matters focused on estate & trust litigation, and was also a law clerk with Lawyers for Nonprofits. He earned his J.D. from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and his B.A. from The Ohio State University. Madison G. Lawrie joins our Commercial Litigation Practice Group. She previously served as a law clerk at Pietragallo, gaining experience in commercial litigation, assisting with matters from case development through resolution and supporting clients in navigating complex business disputes. She earned her J.D. from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and her B.A. from PennWest Edinboro. Eleanor M. Miller joins our Family Law Practice Group. She previously served as a law clerk at Pietragallo, assisting clients in a wide range of family law matters and disputes. She was also a law clerk for Judge Ranjan of the U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania. She earned her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and her B.S. from Juniata College. Brooklyn A. Thomas joins our Product Liability Practice Group. She previously served as a law clerk at Pietragallo, gaining experience in complex product liability matters. She was also a legal extern with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General in the Conviction Integrity Unit. She earned her J.D. from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and her B.S. from The Pennsylvania State University.   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, New Jersey, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

Pietragallo Strengthens Leadership Team with Two New Partners

2025/10/15

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce the promotion of two lawyers to partnership: Matthew R. Barnes and Robert D. Weinberg. “We are pleased to recognize the outstanding professionalism and legal abilities of our newest partners, Matthew Barnes and Robert Weinberg. They are and will be a part of our bright future,” said William Pietragallo, Managing Partner of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP. Both partners are members in the firm’s Pittsburgh office. Matthew R. Barnes focuses his practice on Commercial Litigation, with deep expertise in Class Actions. He has tried multiple cases to verdict as lead trial counsel and has obtained notable dismissals of his clients from state and federal court cases.  He became the first attorney to successfully argue in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania that online-only businesses cannot be sued for website accessibility under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) in federal courts located within the Third Circuit. Robert D. Weinberg focuses his practice on Family Law and Estate & Trust Litigation; Estate Planning and Administration. He has worked on complex cases, including multi-day hearings and trials dealing with the valuation of businesses, complicated asset distribution, tax matters, and protracted discovery disputes. A devoted advocate for children, Mr. Weinberg regularly handles custody matters both within and outside Pennsylvania, always centering the best interests of minors. He describes his approach as “aggressively reasonable”—favoring resolutions that balance pragmatism with principled advocacy, while retaining the willingness to litigate when necessary.   About Pietragallo Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and litigation law firm headquartered in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia with five offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia from which we are able to serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

Adam Garret to Present CLE for Allegheny County Bar Association

2025/11/05

Join attorney Adam Garret as he co-presents “Bridge the Gap,” a virtual CLE for the Allegheny County Bar Association, virtually on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Making the change from a law student to a practicing lawyer is not something that comes without difficulty. This program was designed to help recent law school graduates transition from law student to practitioners and ensures that new lawyers help to sustain Pennsylvania’s strong and principled legal profession. Registration is open! Click here. Read More

23 Pietragallo Lawyers Named in 2026 The Best Lawyers In America and Ones to Watch

2025/08/21

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce that 23 lawyers have been named as 2026 The Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch. In addition, partner Douglas Rosenblum has been named “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in Criminal Defense: White-Collar in Philadelphia. Best Lawyers recognition is determined entirely through peer review, aiming to reflect the consensus of leading attorneys on the professional excellence of their colleagues within the same region and practice area. The following is a full list of our 2026 honorees: Gaetan Alfano Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Employment Law – Individuals Employment Law – Management Litigation – Labor and Employment Charles J. Avalli Family Law Litigation – Trusts and Estates Trusts and Estates Joseph J. Bosick Commercial Litigation Construction Law Litigation – Construction Pamela Coyle Brecht Health Care Law Qui Tam Law Kerri Lee Cappella Family Law Scott A. Coffina Criminal Defense: White-Collar Mark Gordon Insurance Law Litigation – Insurance Transportation Law Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers Kenneth J. Horoho, Jr. Family Law Latia R. J. Hubbard Railroad Law James F. Marrion Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Michael Morse Criminal Defense: White-Collar Richard J. Parks Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law Corporate Law Litigation – Real Estate William Pietragallo II Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Francis E. Pipak, Jr. Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers Marc S. Raspanti Corporate Compliance Law Criminal Defense: White-Collar Health Care Law Qui Tam Law Douglas K. Rosenblum Corporate Compliance Law Criminal Defense: White-Collar – Lawyer of the Year Clem C. Trischler Commercial Litigation Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Robert D. Weinberg Family Law Peter St. Tienne Wolff Commercial Litigation Litigation- Trusts and Estates Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Plaintiffs Trusts and Estates The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch®: Matthew Barnes Commercial Litigation Quintin DiLucente Commercial Litigation Ashley Kenny Criminal Defense: White-Collar 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, New Jersey, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

Kenneth Horoho Appointed President-Elect of Neighborhood Legal Services Board of Directors

2025/08/15

Pietragallo is proud to announce that partner Kenneth Horoho, Jr., has been appointed President-Elect of Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) Board of Directors. Ken began his one-year term as President-Elect in June 2025 and will be elevated to President of NLS in June 2026. This marks his third consecutive year on the Board of Directors. NLS, established in 1966, is a private, nonprofit corporation that was created to provide high-quality, free civil legal services to low-income individuals, the elderly, and the abused of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler & Lawrence Counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Since their establishment, NLS has provided civil legal aid to more than 1.2 million residents in need of legal assistance.   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, New Jersey, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

Can Your Therapist Opine About Your Custody Case?

2025/06/19

Parents often tell me that their individual therapist, former marriage counselor, or even their child’s therapist should have an opinion about the outcome of their custody case. They’ll ask why the judge cannot just speak to the therapist themselves so that they can let them know what they think is best. Certainly, if the parties agree to listen to the therapist’s opinion, it could theoretically help them resolve the custody case. When it comes to the Court deciding on the custody issue, the treating therapist’s role is not nearly as direct and their opinion not as welcome as the parents may feel it should be. Psychologists and other mental health professionals generally cannot wear multiple hats. Meaning that they either treat or they evaluate, but not both. When they treat, they base their treatment plan on what their patients tell them. In my experience, therapists advocate for their patients. On the other hand, when a psychologist or other forensic professional does a custody evaluation, they use additional information including testing data, information from third parties, the other parent, and corroborating documentation such as school documents, correspondence between the parties, and medical records. A treating therapist who only hears one side of the story doesn’t have a full perspective on the issues. One can imagine that if the treating therapist had this additional information, their opinion about the outcome of a custody matter might differ from an opinion based only upon their patient’s reporting. It is vital for parents to understand the limitations of a treating therapist’s role in custody battles. For courts to decide in the child’s best interest, they require a full and comprehensive picture that cannot be provided by the child’s treating therapist alone. Parents often tell me that their therapist diagnoses the other parent based on their assessment with the child, but this should be taken with a grain of salt. Read More