Partner Marc S. Raspanti will be presenting virtually at the American Bar Association’s 2024 Civil False Claims Institute on June 4-5, 2024. His panel will be on “Litigation: From Seal Lift to Final Pretrial Conference — 9(B), Touhy, Claims, Experts, and More”.
Marc’s panel will cover advanced perspectives on drafting a complaint, motions to dismiss, all aspects of fact and expert discovery, and pre-trial practice. This program includes some of FCA bar’s most experienced litigators that will explain how to effectively litigate an FCA case, whether declined or intervened. Read More
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce the promotion of three lawyers to partnership: Rebecca Johnson Barksdale in Pittsburgh, PA, and Alexander M. Owens and Mark T. Sottile in Philadelphia, PA.
“We are pleased to recognize the professional excellence of our newest partners, Rebecca Johnson Barksdale, Alexander Owens, and Mark Sottile. These lawyers represent the best of the long-range future of our law firm,” said William Pietragallo, Managing Partner of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
New partners:
Rebecca Johnson Barksdale focuses her practice on Construction, Commercial Litigation, and Insurance Coverage. She holds numerous leadership and volunteer roles, including currently serving on the Western PA March of Dimes Young Professionals’ Board, the Pennsylvania Women Work Volunteer and Ambassador Council, and as a Young Lawyer Fellow for the Allegheny County Bar Foundation. She also mentors through the Harvard Law School Committee on the Sports and Entertainment Law Mentorship Program.
Alexander M. Owens focuses his practice on the False Claims Act, Commercial Litigation, White Collar Litigation, and Class Action matters. He has tried multiple cases to verdict in state and federal courts. Beyond litigation, he counsels clients on regulatory issues arising under federal and state healthcare laws.
Mark T. Sottile focuses his practice on Employment Litigation and Counseling and Commercial Litigation. He has tried multiple cases to verdict in Pennsylvania and New Jersey state and federal courts and obtained summary judgment victories in countless high-stakes employment and commercial litigation matters. He has litigated hundreds of employment and commercial law claims under a number of federal statutes.
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, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we are able to serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is delighted to announce the opening of our newest office in Marlton, New Jersey. Pietragallo currently has ten attorneys barred in New Jersey to serve our clients throughout the Garden State, with additional attorneys in the process of becoming members of the State bar. Their practices cover several specialties including government enforcement and white collar litigation, qui tam and False Claims Act litigation, internal investigations, employment, health care, commercial litigation, professional liability, and Title IX and sexual misconduct.
Our New Jersey office will be led by Scott A. Coffina, former Burlington County Prosecutor from 2017-2022, and former Senior Deputy Chief Counsel to Governor Chris Christie. Scott is the co-chair of our Government Enforcement, Compliance, & White Collar Litigation practice group. Scott also has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Philadelphia and served as Associate Counsel to the President under President George W. Bush.
“We are very excited to expand into New Jersey with our new Marlton office,” said Pietragallo founding partner and Chairman, William Pietragallo, II. “Our firm already serves a number of clients in New Jersey,” he added. “Although our Philadelphia office is nearby, New Jersey is a different legal market and court system, and we are confident that we and our clients will benefit from our physical presence in the Garden State.”
The Marlton office is located at 50 Lake Center Drive, Suite 110, Marlton, NJ 08053. The office’s main number is 856-817-2600. Scott can be reached at 856-817-2601 or by email at SAC@Pietragallo.com.
About Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP
Pietragallo is a multi-disciplined litigation and business law firm headquartered in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with six offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and now New Jersey. Read More
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. In addition, Founding Partner William Pietragallo II has received “Lawyer of the Year” award for his work in Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants in Pittsburgh. He was also recognized for his work in Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Plaintiffs, and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants. Partner Douglas K. Rosenblum has also received “Lawyer of the Year” award for his work in Corporate Compliance Law in Philadelphia.
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The following were chosen as The Best Lawyers in America:
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
Construction Law
Litigation – Construction
Pamela Coyle Brecht
Qui Tam Law
Kerri Lee Cappella
Family Law
Phillip R. Earnest
Construction Law
Insurance Law
Litigation – Construction
Mark Gordon
Insurance Law
Litigation – Insurance
Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
Kenneth J. Horoho, Jr.
Family Law
David E. Lamm
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
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 – Lawyer of the Year
Francis E. Pipak, Jr.
Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
Marc S. Raspanti
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Health Care Law
Qui Tam Law
Lourdes Sánchez Ridge
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Douglas K. Read More
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. This appointment is a three-year term.
Mr. Rosenblum serves as the Co-Chair of the Government Enforcement, Compliance, and White Collar Litigation Practice Group. He routinely represents entities and individuals under investigation or indictment for a variety of allegations from health care fraud to violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. These representations include, but are not limited to, the former Attorney General of Pennsylvania, a former CEO of an American subsidiary of a multi-billion dollar manufacturer, physicians, pharmaceutical sales representatives, and defense contractors.
The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is dedicated to protecting the public, maintaining the integrity of the legal profession, and safeguarding the reputation of the courts. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania established the Disciplinary Board in 1972. Hearing Committee members serve the Board as volunteers in their respective districts to conduct hearings and act as a formal reviewing body to determine if a case might move forward in pursuit of a particular course of discipline. Read More
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Josh Hill to the firm’s Philadelphia office.
Mr. Hill has joined Pietragallo as a partner in the Government Enforcement, Compliance, & White Collar Litigation and the Qui Tam & False Claims Act Practice Groups. Mr. Hill focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, and government investigations and white collar criminal defense matters. He handles cases involving health care fraud, securities fraud, tax fraud, export violations, pharmaceutical marketing fraud, municipal corruption, defense procurement fraud, and public finance fraud.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Hill was a member at a national law firm where he focused his practice on complex civil litigation, and government investigations and white collar criminal defense matters. He also spent four years as a public defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia. He previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Mark Bernstein (ret.) of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
Learn more about Josh 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, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP has been recognized by Chambers and Partners USA in its 2024 Guide in the areas of False Claims Act (Band 2) in USA-Nationwide, White Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 2) in Pennsylvania, and General Commercial (Band 3) in Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds. 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.
While partners William Pietragallo II, Marc Stephen Raspanti, and Douglas Rosenblum were ranked once again, attorneys Pamela Coyle Brecht, Peter St. Tienne Wolff, and Lourdes Sánchez Ridge joined the list of firm lawyers who have been ranked by Chambers.
Our attorneys were ranked in the following practice areas and regions:
William Pietragallo— Litigation: General Commercial— Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds (Band 1)
Marc S. Raspanti— Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations— Pennsylvania (Band 1) & False Claims Act: Plaintiff-USA: Nationwide (Band 1)
Douglas Rosenblum—Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations— Pennsylvania
Pamela Coyle Brecht– False Claims Act: Plaintiff—USA: Nationwide (Band 1)
Peter St. Tienne Wolff– Litigation: General Commercial— Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds
Lourdes Sánchez Ridge– Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations
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, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we are able to serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More
Pietragallo is pleased to announce that 24 lawyers have been named to the 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list.
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, Super Lawyers select attorneys based on peer nominations and evaluations combined with their own independent research. Selections are made on an annual, state by state basis to develop an extensive list of remarkable attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and individuals seeking legal assistance. Only five percent of lawyers are selected to Super Lawyers and two and a half percent to Rising Stars.
The following were recognized in the 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list:
Gaetan J. Alfano (Top 100 in Philadelphia)
Charles Avalli
Joseph J. Bosick
Kerri Lee Cappella (Top 100 in Pennsylvania, Top 50 Women in Pennsylvania and Top 50 in Pittsburgh)
Mark Gordon
Brennan Hart
Kenneth J. Horoho, Jr.
Christopher A. Iacono
Michael A. Morse
William Pietragallo, II
Francis E. Pipak, Jr.
Marc S. Raspanti (Top 100 in Philadelphia)
Lourdes Sánchez Ridge
Douglas K. Rosenblum
Clem C. Trischler
Paul Kenneth Vey
Robert D. Weinberg
The following were recognized in the 2024 Pennsylvania Rising Stars list:
Rebecca Johnson Barksdale
Ashley Kenny
Alexander Owens
Peter St. Tienne Wolff
John B. Zappone
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 five offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia from which we are able to serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More
An excerpt written by partner Douglas Rosenblum about his personal experience with pro bono work.
Pro bono representations have been critical to my development, both personally and professionally. I left my role as a prosecutor 15 years ago to pursue a career in private practice. From the day I left the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, I decided to volunteer my time as a child advocate. At all times since transitioning to private practice, I have represented at least one pro bono client under 18. I have represented children who have been victims of abuse and neglect, and I have represented children who were witnesses to horrific crimes. My clients have ranged from newborn babies to high school graduates. Donating my time free of charge has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.
Pro bono representations, including child advocacy, require perspective and empathy. Many of my young clients have no concept of what a lawyer does, let alone how the justice system works. We, as attorneys, especially those in private practice, often take for granted that our clients have a fundamental understanding of our role and the legal process. We cannot and should not make such assumptions. I have learned that we should take the time necessary to ensure that our clients – including those who pay for our services and those who do not – understand what we are doing and why we do it. Clients come to us because they have a problem they would like to fix or a difficult issue they need to deal with. No matter the age of the client or size of the client’s bank account, we should educate them in a compassionate and empathetic manner.
Nothing quite compares to the relief I see on the faces of my young pro bono clients when I explain that I represent them – not their parents, aunts, uncles, teachers, or coaches – just them for as long as it takes, day or night. Read More
I. Introduction
Pandemics have been a catalyst for quackery.1 During the Russian Flu, considered the first modern influenza pandemic, newspaper ads plugged balsams, troches, and elixirs to fortify against the “Russian invader.”2 Doctors even promoted drinking brandy and eating oysters as the key to staving off infection.3 One dubious remedy — the carbolic smoke ball — had a notorious legal outcome.4
In November 1891, the Pall Mall Gazette advertised a “carbolic smoke ball” that, when squeezed, sent a puff of acidic smoke up a tube inserted into the user’s nostrils. The ad promised £100 to anyone who contracted influenza after using the product. To show its “sincerity in the matter,” the Carbonic Smoke Ball Company deposited £1,000 with Alliance Bank in London.
Enticed, Louisa Carlill bought one of the balls and used it three times daily. After contracting the flu, she demanded to be paid £100. When the Carbonic Smoke Ball Company refused to pay, Carlill sued.
At trial, the company argued that its promise to pay £100 was only puffery, not an enforceable contract. The trial and appellate courts rejected the argument. Pointing to the company’s £1,000 deposit, they held the ad was more than “mere puff.”
Undeterred, the inventor, Frederick Roe, sought to capitalize on the product’s sudden notoriety. New ads touted, “Many thousand Carbonic Smoke Balls were sold … but only three persons claimed the reward of £100, thus proving conclusively that this invaluable remedy will prevent and cure” diseases.5 Roe’s company also increased its guarantee from £100 to £200, subject to new restrictions.
History’s epidemiological record is filled with profiteers like Frederick Roe, who saw public health crises as an opportunity to monetize. The 1918 Spanish Flu, for example, ushered in another wave of questionable remedies:
From the Times of London to the Washington Post, page after page was filled with dozens of advertisements for preventive measures and over-the-counter remedies. Read More
April 4, 2025
On April 10, in Miami, FL, partner Marc S. Raspanti will be co-hosting “False Claims Act Enforcement Roundtable” for the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section Qui Tam Subcommittee. 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
