Pietragallo partner Lourdes Sánchez Ridge was recently published in For The Defense, a publication of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL). Her article, entitled The Hyde Amendment- A Seldom Used, Seldom Granted But Powerful Tool, has been published in Vol. 7, Issue 4 of the editorial, a link to which can be found below.
The article provides a detailed description of the Hyde Amendment, a tool available to criminal defendants to claim attorneys’ fees following a vexatious and frivolous prosecution.
Lourdes’ article can be read here. Read More
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
I. University of Pittsburgh’s Handing of NIL Change
The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) has taken a progressive stance on its Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy; choosing to assist its student-athletes rather than hinder them in pursuit of these newfound opportunities. The recent change in the NCAA’s stance on student-athlete compensation has given the players the opportunity for personal financial gain and the ability to partner with charities.
“As it relates to providing our student-athletes with the most extraordinary experience at Pitt, our goal is to be progressive, innovative and helpful in every aspect of their student-athlete experience and the world of name, image and likeness is no different…We look forward to helping our student-athletes learn more about this topic and build a transparent relationship with them and their families so we can assist in their efforts or aspirations to maximize compensation and opportunities involving their name, image and likeness,1” said Heather Lyke, Pitt’s Athletic Director.
One of Pitt boosters’ first major foray into NIL came in the form of a traditional NIL collective, Alliance 412. Per NCAA guidance, Alliance 412 seeks to support all Pitt athletics without a formal relationship with the University itself. Instead, the collective hopes to connect Pitt student-athletes with businesses and strategic partners while maintaining transparency and compliance.2
On Aug. 10, 2021, the Steel City NIL Club began operation through a partnership with YOKE. This organization offers a unique approach for members of Pitt’s football team to engage in a variety of NIL opportunities. In contrast to Alliance 412, which engages in more traditional NIL deals, the Steel City NIL Club is a more direct revenue stream for the players. The YOKE platform creates a paywalled community granting paying members special access to the participating players in the form of Q and A’s, and exclusive player created content.3 The profits from these memberships are then split evenly among the participating players. Read More
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of a new associate to the firm’s Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Offices.
Megan E. Young joins our Employment & Labor team in our Philadelphia Office. Megan completed an externship in the City of Philadelphia’s Law Department where she handled a multitude of aspects of the litigation process including initial responsive pleadings, written discovery, depositions, pre-trial motions, municipal court, and arbitration hearings. She also spent time at a public healthcare technology company. Megan is a graduate of Temple University Beasley School of 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
With the appointment of Gurbir Grewal as enforcement director of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), 2022 has, as expected, seen more stringent oversight into public companies. Grewal formerly served as attorney general of New Jersey until 2021. The SEC selected Grewal to be tougher on Wall Street than his predecessors.
Between 2019 and 2021, SEC enforcement actions against public companies dropped by nearly half due to the pandemic and changing leadership. Grewal, along with other top SEC officials, outlined a list of new priorities for the agency, many of which focus on deterrence against corporate misconduct. Five main types of SEC enforcement actions have taken center stage with the new administration and are expected to continue to be top priorities throughout the year and beyond. Here, we examine these five main types of enforcement actions.
Read the full article .
Copyright 2022 CEP Magazine, a publication of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). Read More
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce that 22 lawyers have been named as 2023 The Best Lawyers in America and 2023 Ones to Watch.
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review.
The following were chosen as The Best Lawyers in America:
Gaetan Alfano
Pamela Coyle Brecht
Phillip R. Earnest
Mark Gordon
James W. Kraus
James F. Marrion
Richard J. Parks
William Pietragallo, II
Francis E. Pipak, Jr.
Kevin E. Raphael
Marc Stephen Raspanti
Douglas K. Rosenblum
Clem C. Trischler
Peter St. Tienne Wolff
The following were chosen as The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch:
Lee K. Goldfarb
John Kettering
Alexander M. Owens
Stephen F. Raiola
Mark T. Sottile
Frank H. Stoy
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
On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded the scope of the government’s burden of proof of a defendant’s mental state, or mens rea. The Supreme Court held that in a statute that provided an exception or exemption to prosecution, that is a clause stating “except as authorized,” the government must now prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant knew that he did not fall within the scope of that exception. Although the case related to a federal criminal statute prohibiting the dispensing or distribution of controlled substances by a physician, the ruling can be applied to myriad criminal statutes that carve out exceptions or exemptions to prosecution. This article explains the Supreme Court’s decision and focuses on the ramifications as it pertains to other criminal statutes. It also raises questions regarding the reasonableness standards of the exclusionary rule under United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897 (1984).
In Ruan v. United States, 597 U.S. (2022), two physicians in two distinct cases were convicted of dispensing or distributing controlled substances by issuing opioid prescriptions in violation of 21 U.S.C. Section 841(a). Section 841 makes it a federal crime “except as authorized, … for any person knowingly or intentionally … to manufacture, distribute, or dispense … a controlled substance.” The Supreme Court consolidated the cases for purposes of the opinion. The defendants asserted that they were authorized to issue the prescriptions under 21 CFR Section 1306(a)(2021), which allows physicians to write prescriptions for controlled substances only “for a legitimate medical purpose … acting in the usual course of his professional practice.” They further asserted that even if they failed to comply with such standard, they believed they did. In other words, they asserted a good faith defense. The government in both trials argued that the prescriptions issued by the defendants did not comply with the standards set forth in 21 CFR Section 1306(a). Read More
Pietragallo partner Lourdes Sánchez Ridge has been recognized in Pennsylvania’s 2022 Law Power 100. This list recognizes “the legal eagles influencing Pennsylvania politics from local to national levels” published by City and State Pennsylvania.
The 2022 Law Power 100 takes an in-depth look at the district attorneys, federal prosecutors, white-collar defense attorneys, public interest lawyers, law school deans and bar association leaders who are shaping the direction of the state politically, legally and otherwise.
Read through the entire list here.
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
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to be recognized by Chambers USA in its 2022 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 Pietragallo team “is extremely knowledgeable about every facet of the work they are performing. In addition, they are very reliable, responsive and provide an excellent work product.” Clients and peers are quoted as saying, “They are reliable and straightforward. They certainly pay attention to me and keep me informed on matters referred to them.”
Additionally, the following partners are ranked:
William Pietragallo— Litigation: General Commercial— Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds
Marc S. Raspanti— Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations— Pennsylvania
Kevin E. Raphael— Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations— Pennsylvania
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
The Medicare and Medicaid programs are exceedingly complex, and navigating the myriad statutes, regulations, rules, and guidance presents significant challenges for all healthcare providers and compliance professionals—even the United States Supreme Court has recognized that the Medicare program is a “complex and highly technical regulatory program.”[1] This job is sometimes made even more difficult because program regulations can be ambiguous, and government officials are often unable or unwilling to provide further clarification. Add to the mix that failure to comply with Medicare and Medicaid regulations can result in False Claims Act (FCA) liability, and many healthcare providers can’t help but express frustration. A new battle emerging in the courts may afford healthcare providers some relief when confronted with ambiguous Medicare and Medicaid regulations.
In United States ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc., decided on August 12, 2021, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that a defendant does not knowingly submit a false claim “if (a) it has an objectively reasonable reading of the statute or regulation and (b) there was no authoritative guidance warning against its erroneous view.”[2] In it, the Seventh Circuit joined the Third, Eighth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits in endorsing an objective reasonableness standard under the FCA. However, the Seventh Circuit, over a vigorous dissent, went further than the other courts, which have recognized an objective reasonableness standard, setting up a battle that could significantly affect future FCA cases.
Read more here,
Copyright 2022 Compliance Today, a publication of the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA). Read More
October 16, 2024
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. 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
