Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP

Join partner and global Chair of our Qui Tam and False Claims Act Practice Group, Pamela Coyle Brecht, Esq., on July 17, as she shares an insider’s view into the whistleblowers counsel perspective at the Federal Bar Association’s “Qui Tam Section: The False Claims Act: A Practitioner’s Perspective”.   This program is tailored to law students, law clerks and new lawyers to share knowledge on the practice of civil enforcement law in the False Claims Act and the other whistleblower statues with perspectives from the bench, the government, the whistleblower counsel, and defense counsel.   Interested in attending? Register here:  https://lnkd.in/eNbkDXbE

Parental alienation is growing more common in various custody cases which can complicate matters with all involved parties. Partner Carla Donnelly will be moderating “Parental Alienation: What It Is, What It Isn’t and What to Do About It”, on July 13 at this years Family Law Section Summer Meeting hosted by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.   This course will cover the necessary tools to identify parental alienation in its various forms as well as strategies and resources for navigating parental alienation issues and reunification remedies through judicial, psychological, and practitioner perspectives.

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!

Congratulations to partner Douglas Rosenblum on being appointed a Hearing Committee Member serving the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board! This three-year appointment is effective July 1, 2024. The Disciplinary Board is comprised of 12 members (10 attorneys, 2 non-attorneys) appointed by the Supreme Court for a term of six years. Hearing Committee members serve the Board 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.

The Physician Payments Sunshine Act (PPSA) took effect in 2013, which requires medical product manufacturers to disclose to the CMS payments or transfers of value made to physicians or teaching hospitals including meals, travel reimbursement, and consulting fees. The PPSA continues to evolve in order to effectively discourage fraudulent behavior in the industry. On June 30, 2024, data from Calendar Year 2023 will reflect updates that were finalized in the Calendar Year 2022 Physician Fee Schedule. This includes the addition of a mandatory payment context field for records attributed to teaching hospitals, and also requires reporting entities to update their contact information. Covered entities must stay up to date on the evolution of the PPSA in order to remain in compliance with their reporting obligations each year. Attorneys Mary Kate McDevitt and Marc Raspanti recently authored “ Physician Open Payments June 30th Data Publication to Incorporate New Final Rule Changes” for The Federal Bar Association’s Qui Tam Section Summer 2024 Turning Square Corners Newsletter.   To read more on the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, click here: https://lnkd.in/ezRbZWuh

Pietragallo is pleased to announce the addition of our new partner, Joshua Hill!   Joshua has joined our Government Enforcement, Compliance, & White Collar Litigation and the Qui Tam & False Claims Act Practice Groups in the Philadelphia office. He focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, government investigations, and white collar criminal defense matters and parallel civil actions where he regularly handles cases involving health care fraud, securities fraud, tax fraud, export violations, pharmaceutical marketing fraud, municipal corruption, defense procurement fraud, and public finance fraud.   Please join us in welcoming Joshua to the firm! (https://lnkd.in/gFkxkUpw)

Whether it is from TV shows, movies, or stories from friends, people who are unacquainted with the divorce and custody process often come to initial consultations with attorneys holding certain expectations that are simply based on myths. Attorney Robert Weinberg is an expert in debunking these myths and managing all aspects of the process including alimony, assets, and custody.   Read about Rob’s top 5 divorce and custody myths here: https://lnkd.in/ef8CnQti

On June 20th, partner Shelly Pagac will be moderating “Homeruns and Strikeouts in Employment Law 2024” at this year’s Professional Liability Attorney Network Regional Meeting in New York. This session features a panel of employment lawyers and claims professionals who will be discussing the latest trends in employment law across the country. Some topics covered will include reverse discrimination issues, AI, and more.   The Professional Liability Attorney Network is a national organization of independent, AV-rated law firms, specializing in all aspects of professional liability and related-industry law. Attorneys work in partnership to deliver client resources such as representation, education and information providing contemporary expertise and practice.

The Office of the Attorney General for D.C. announced a $40 million settlement with Bitcoin billionaire Michael Saylor and his company, marking the largest income tax recovery in D.C. history. The resolution arose from a qui tam lawsuit filed under the D.C. False Claims Act related to allegations of a longstanding income tax evasion scheme. Unlike the Federal False Claims Act and most (but not all) similar state laws, the D.C. False Claims Act allows qui tam relators to file cases involving tax evasion. Read more on this settlement and the new D.C. qui tam law here: https://lnkd.in/e9d4u9V9

Our founding partner, William Pietragallo, II, was honored last month as this year’s History Maker in Law by the Senator John Heinz History Center at their 31st Annual History Makers Award Dinner. This event honors individuals whose achievements have significantly contributed to the history and culture of Pittsburgh. Bill receiving this award is a testament to his outstanding contributions to the field of law and his unwavering commitment to excellence within our community.   Since 1992, the Heinz History Center has honored different individuals in industries ranging from Healthcare to Sports and Law. This year’s fellow honorees included Charlie Batch and Latasha Wilson-Batch, Diane Holder, Manny Sanguillén, and Velma Scantlebury–White, MD. The History Makers Award Dinner provides funding for the History Center’s educational programs while celebrating the achievements of individuals accomplishments that go beyond our city. This year’s fundraiser raised $400,000 in support of those efforts.   Please join us in congratulating Bill on this well-deserved recognition!