Jeremy Abay Files Additional Claims in Bound Brook, NJ Flooding Class Action

2023/09/06

Pietragallo partner Jeremy E. Abay spoke with NJ.com again following the filing of additional claims on behalf of 17 property owners affected by the Bound Brook, NJ flooding that occurred in September of 2021. The documents, filed in state Superior Court in Somerset County, amends the original suit that was filed in February 2023. The original suit names NJ Transit and Somerset County and claims that the county and NJ Transit were “unreasonable and grossly negligent” in planning for the flood, leading to NJ Transit train 5451 becoming stuck in the floodgates intended to prevent flood damage in the area. This new filing asks the court to consider allowing a class action suit by all defendants instead of as separate court cases. “As Ida’s two-year anniversary approaches, know that our commitment to the people of Bound Brook remains unwavering,” said Mr. Abay, attorney for the property owners. “While local, county, and state officials might hope to let this tragedy fade into the past, we won’t rest until the people of Bound Brook secure the answers and compensation they rightfully deserve.” To read the full article, click here: https://www.nj.com/news/2023/09/nj-transit-county-left-gate-open-during-ida-leading-to-a-damaging-flood-lawsuit-claims.html Read More

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP and Gentile, Horoho & Avalli, P.C. to Merge

2023/08/01

Business and Commercial Litigation Firm Adds Family Law and Estate Administration/Orphans’ Court Practice AUGUST 1, 2023 – Two established Pittsburgh law firms have agreed to merge, bringing a highly-experienced family law and estate planning, administration, and litigation practice to a nationally-recognized business and litigation firm. Effective August 1, 2023, Gentile, Horoho & Avalli, P.C (GHA) will merge with Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP (Pietragallo). All seven GHA attorneys, well-known for their experience in complex and high net-worth divorce and custody disputes as well as intricate estate/trust cases will now join Pietragallo, a multi-disciplined business and commercial litigation firm, with offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Sharon, PA, Steubenville, OH, Weirton, WV, and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The merger comes on the heels of Pietragallo’s expansion into Palm Beach Gardens in 2022. Pietragallo’s clients range from Fortune 200 and large privately-held companies to municipal entities and entrepreneurial businesses in a broad diversity of industries and business sectors. Gentile, Horoho & Avalli brings to Pietragallo more than 30 years of experience in providing exceptional legal counsel in the areas of family law and estates and trusts as well as complex orphans’ court litigation. “We are excited to engage with these outstanding practitioners in a new sphere of domestic-business litigation,” said Pietragallo chairman William Pietragallo II. “Our practices share a common commitment to achieving results.” “The lawyers at Pietragallo have distinguished themselves as leaders in our profession and in the communities they serve,” said Kenneth J. Horoho, Jr. “The blending of our two firms will provide our current clients with experienced business litigation attorneys who are known for problem-solving and results.” The family law/estate litigation attorneys joining Pietragallo include: Kenneth Horoho, Jr., Partner Charles Avalli, Partner Kerri Lee Cappella, Partner Carla Schiff Donnelly, Partner Lorraine W. Mervan, Special Counsel Robert D. Weinberg, Associate Adam J. Read More

23 Pietragallo Lawyers Named in 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

2023/05/19

Pietragallo is pleased to announce that 22 lawyers have been named to the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list and one lawyer has been recognized in 2023 Florida Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a service of Thomson Reuters legal division which compiles a list of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas. Each year, a research team at Super Lawyers conducts a multi-phase selection process reviewing independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations.  Five percent of lawyers are selected to Super Lawyers and two and a half percent to Rising Stars. The following were recognized in the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list: Gaetan J. Alfano Joseph J. Bosick Mark Gordon Brennan Hart Christopher A. Iacono Michael A. Morse Shelly R. Pagac William Pietragallo, II Francis E. Pipak, Jr. Kevin E. Raphael Marc S. Raspanti (Top 100 in Pennsylvania and Top 100 in Philadelphia) Lourdes Sánchez Ridge Douglas K. Rosenblum Eric G. Soller Clem C. Trischler Paul K. Vey The following was recognized in the 2023 Florida Super Lawyers list: Tama Beth Kudman The following were recognized in the 2023 Pennsylvania Rising Stars list: Jeremy E. Abay Rebecca Johnson Barksdale Ashley Kenny John Kettering Alexander M. Owens Peter St. Tienne Wolff To read more, click here. About Pietragallo Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and commercial litigation firm headquartered in Pittsburgh with six offices throughout Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we are able to serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.   Read More

Let the Record Reflect, There Are No “Usual Stipulations”

2023/02/23

By The Legal Intelligencer’s The Young Lawyer Editorial Board Let’s set the record straight. There are no “usual stipulations” that apply to depositions. Although some attorneys may share a vague understanding about the usual stipulations, the phrase has no established meaning. In fact, there is no rule, case, or statute that defines the usual stipulations. “Everyone purports to know without asking the content of the ‘usual stipulations’ until a dispute arises; the ephemeral nature of the parties’ understanding is then quite apparent.” See United States v. Liquid Sugars, 158 F.R.D. 466, 473 n.8 (E.D. Cal. 1994). Because the phrase has no accepted meaning, an attorney should respond to a proposal for the usual stipulations by asking, “What do you mean by the usual stipulations?” The question might elicit shock, anger, or some patronizing retort like, “I’m surprised you don’t know what the usual stipulations are.” You may feel tempted to agree to the usual stipulations without any clarification. This is especially true for newer lawyers, who fear that asking for an explanation will reveal their inexperience. But there is no reason to be embarrassed. In all likelihood, the attorney proposing the usual stipulations has no idea what the phrase means. Many attorneys simply mimic what they perceive to be a common practice without questioning whether the practice makes sense. These same attorneys might argue, “I’ve done hundreds of depositions, and no one has ever refused the usual stipulations.” That may be true, but a prevalent practice can still be a flawed practice. Consider these two common versions of the usual stipulations: “reserving all objections until trial or there is an attempt to use the deposition” or “reserving all objections except to the form of a question.” While neither helps the taking attorney, both give the defending attorney a strategic advantage beyond what the rules provide. Read More

Jeremy Abay Files Class Action for Bound Brook, NJ Flooding

2023/02/02

Pietragallo Partner Jeremy E. Abay spoke with NJ.com following the filing of a lawsuit on behalf of 17 individuals and businesses affected by the Bound Brook, NJ flooding that occurred in September of 2021. During the flood, NJ Transit train 5451 became stuck in the floodgates intended to prevent flood damage in the area. The suit claims that NJ Transit should never have dispatched train 5451 during the flooding. The suit also names Somerset County and the county public works department due to their alleged failure to close the floodgates before and during the flooding. “When Train 5451 left Newark Penn Station for Bound Brook at about 8:45 p.m., the Middle Brook already exceeded its flood stage by over two feet,” Mr.Abay said. “In fact, the Middle Brook began to flood an hour before NJ Transit sent Train 5451 to Bound Brook. Train 5451 should have never left Newark Penn Station.” To read the full article, click here: https://www.nj.com/news/2023/02/stranded-train-in-partially-closed-flood-gate-damaged-our-properties-residents-say-in-suit.html Read More

Jeremy E. Abay welcomed to The Legal Intelligencer’s Young Lawyer Editorial Board

2022/11/09

Pietragallo is pleased to announce that partner Jeremy E. Abay has been named to The Legal Intelligencer’s new Young Lawyer Editorial Board. Their goal in creating this board is to develop a board that’s eager to stake out positions and shine a light on the most consequential issues facing young lawyers today. The Young Lawyers Editorial Board will be sharing their first editorial in 2023. Jeremy was one of twenty-one selected from a large pool of applicants from across Pennsylvania. The members of the Young Lawyers Editorial Board come from a variety of legal backgrounds, including Big Law, midsize and small firms, as well as an assistant city solicitor for the Philadelphia Law Department. A full list of the new Young Lawyer Editorial Board members can be found here: https://www.law.com/thelegalintelligencer/2022/11/07/meet-the-legal-intelligencers-new-young-lawyer-editorial-board/ Read More

Pietragallo is recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report

2022/11/03

U.S. News & World Report recognizes Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP as a 2023 Tier 1 Metro “Best Law Firm” in twelve practice areas in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. These twelve practice areas are: Commercial Litigation (PGH & PHL) Employment Law – Individuals (PHL) Health Care Law (PHL) Insurance Law (PGH) Litigation – Labor & Employment (PGH & PHL) Litigation – Health Care (PGH) Litigation – Insurance (PGH) Litigation – Trusts & Estates (PGH) Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs (PGH) Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (PGH) Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (PGH) and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (PGH) In addition to the Tier 1 Metro ratings, Pietragallo was named: Tier 2 Metro in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in the practice areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Intellectual Property, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants. Tier 3 Metro in Pittsburgh and West Palm Beach in the practice areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Criminal Defense: General Practice, and Criminal Defense: White-Collar Pietragallo has also been named as Tier 2 across the nation in Litigation – Labor & Employment and Tier 3 nationally for our work in Commercial Litigation and Health Care Law. The U.S. News & World Report’s “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 Elevates Two New Partners for 2022

2022/10/12

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce the internal promotion of two lawyers to partnership: Jeremy E. Abay in Philadelphia, PA and Melissa B. Catello in Pittsburgh, PA. The announcement follows on the heels of the firm’s recent string of new litigation associate hires. “Adding these two talented and vibrant lawyers to the ranks of our Partnership is particularly gratifying for our law firm,” said William Pietragallo, Managing Partner of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP. The new partners: Jeremy E. Abay practices in the field of Qui Tam & False Claims Act, Government Enforcement, Compliance, & White Collar Litigation, and Class Actions. Jeremy represents whistleblowers, employees, consumers, and corporations in high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts. His practice covers healthcare fraud (qui tam), wage litigation, and consumer fraud. He has obtained multimillion-dollar settlements for taxpayers, misclassified workers, and victims of consumer fraud. Melissa B. Catello practices in the field of Product Liability. Melissa represents international, national, and local corporations and companies. Her practice focuses on the defense of manufacturers of recreational vehicles and other automobiles in strict liability cases filed across the country. She has specialized knowledge of the claims, theories, and nuance arguments and cases in the area of strict liability law. About Pietragallo Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and litigation law firm headquartered in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia with six offices throughout Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we are able to serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

24 Pietragallo Lawyers Named in 2022 Pennsylvania and Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

2022/05/23

Pietragallo is pleased to announce that 24 lawyers have been named as 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, including partner Marc Raspanti who was recognized in the Top 100 in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. Super Lawyers is a service of Thomson Reuters legal division which compiles a list of outstanding lawyers from more than 74 practice areas. Each year, a research team at Super Lawyers conducts a multi-phase selection process reviewing independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. With the objective being to provide a reliable, wide-ranging list of attorneys that can be used as a source for finding exceptional legal counsel. Pietragallo partner in our new Florida office, Tama Beth Kudman, was chosen as a 2022 Florida Super Lawyer as a top rated White Collar Crimes attorney in Palm Beach Gardens. The following were chosen as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers: Gaetan J. Alfano Joseph J. Bosick Mark Gordon P. Brennan Hart Christopher A. Iacono James W. Kraus Michael A. Morse Shelly R. Pagac William Pietragallo, II Francis E. Pipak, Jr. Kevin E. Raphael Marc S. Raspanti (Top 100 in Pennsylvania and Top 100 in Philadelphia) Lourdes Sánchez Ridge Douglas K. Rosenblum Eric G. Soller Clem C. Trischler Paul K. Vey The following were chosen as Pennsylvania Rising Stars: Jeremy E. Abay Rebecca Johnson Barksdale Ashley J. Kenny John W. Kettering Alexander Owens Peter St. Tienne Wolff   About Pietragallo Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and commercial litigation firm headquartered in Pittsburgh with six offices throughout Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we are able to serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

When Work-Life Balance is Underwater

2022/05/13

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