Biography
Danielle L. Dietrich, Shareholder in the Pittsburgh Office of SMGG, focuses her practice in the areas of women and diverse-owned businesses, healthcare, elder law and litigation. She has a broad range of experience in providing legal counsel and advice to her clients (both large and small), as well as having handled a wide range of disputes and litigation in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
A large portion of Ms. Dietrich’s practice focuses on the representation of women and diverse-owned businesses. That practice includes assisting these businesses with obtaining and maintaining diversity certifications such as Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) through the U.S. Department of Transportation. She helps companies prepare for the certification process and appeal denials. She also functions as “outside general counsel” for businesses that are not large enough to require their own full-time attorney, but that still have a variety of legal needs. She assists with such issues as contract matters, intellectual property issues, collections, employment issues and corporate governance and growth.
Ms. Dietrich also represents medical providers, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, personal care homes and private medical practices. She assists these clients with a variety of issues, including Medical Assistance-Long Term Care advice and appeals, guardianships, disputes with agents under power of attorney, collections, and Orphan’s Court litigation. Ms. Dietrich also assists health care clients with drafting policies, Medicare and Medicaid audits and appeals, and HIPAA compliance issues.
In the realm of litigation, Ms. Dietrich has obtained favorable verdicts for her clients in federal and state bench and jury trials, arbitrations and administrative and regulatory proceedings. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, as well as multiple federal district and bankruptcy courts and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Ms. Dietrich residents in South Fayette with her husband and two daughters and is a college sports fan.
Experience and Representative Matters
Represented a Women-Owned Business in successfully appealing a denial of its application for DBE Certification through the PA-UCP certification program.
Appealed DBE denials to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Representation of several large chains of skilled nursing facilities in recovering millions of dollars owed for care provided to their residents via Medical Assistance-Long Term Care (Medicaid) appeals and private collections.
Represents physicians and medical practices in responding to subpoenas for medical records.
Assists physicians and medical practices with opioid litigation support
Obtained a jury verdict in excess of $1,000,000 for a developer due to a decrease in the value of his development due to actions of the neighboring landowners.
Successfully obtained dismissal of over $400,000 in mechanic's liens on a commercial project.
General liability defense work for several large electric and telecommunications companies including, but not limited to Pennsylvania One-Call Act claims, accidents, construction claims and other tort litigation.
Representation of healthcare providers in defending against Medicare, Medicaid and insurance audits.
Speaking Engagements
- April 2020, speaker, Women in Manufacturing, Western Pennsylvania Chapter, "Equipping Small Businesses to Navigate the Effects of COVID-19”
- April 2020, speaker, Omicelo Cares, "Equipping Small Businesses to Navigate the Effects of COVID-19”
- March 2020, speaker and author, Pennsylvania Health Law Institute, “Investigations and Litigation: How you respond can affect your livelihood, your bank account and your freedom."
- September 2019, speaker, PACAH (Pennsylvania Coalition of Affiliated Healthcare and Living Communities), “HR Compliance in an Opioid World.”
- March 2018, speaker, PACAH (Pennsylvania Coalition of Affiliated Healthcare and Living Communitie), Legal Issues for Long Term Care Business Office Managers: Everything from Admissions to Discharge and In-Between
- September 2017, speaker, PHCA (Pennsylvania Health Care Association), “Handling Substance Abuse and Addiction Issues Within Your Community.”
Professional Affiliations
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Women in Law Division, past Chair
- Allegheny County Bar Association Board of Governors
- Allegheny County Bar Foundation
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Community Activities
- South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) Board of Directors
- Pittsburgh Chapter of the Global Association for VR/AR (Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality), Advisory Board
- 360Access, Corporate Advisory Board
Publications
- December 2018, author, Allegheny County Medical Society Bulletin, “Opioid Update: New Federal Law and Physician Subpoenas for Records and Depositions.”
From Our Blog
- Electrical Contractor to Pay $3.2 Million for DBE Fraud
January 21, 2021
- Government Lightens Enforcement of HIPAA Rules to Aid COVID-19 Vaccinations
January 20, 2021
- Excellus Health Pays $5.1 Million to Resolve HIPAA Breach Involving Over 9 Million People
January 19, 2021
- Denied Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification? How to Appeal a WBE Denial Through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Counsel
December 30, 2020
- When Your Disadvantaged Business Enterprise is No Longer Considered Economically Disadvantaged
November 13, 2020
- HIPAA Breach by Aetna Results in $1,000,000 Payment to Resolve
October 29, 2020
- How to Challenge Another Company’s DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) Certification
October 19, 2020
- Who is considered “disadvantaged” for purpose of a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification? The answer may surprise you.
October 19, 2020
- Why Failing to File Your No-Change Affidavit Will Cause Your Business to Lose Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification
October 7, 2020
- Denied DBE Certification? Why it could be better to reapply than appeal.
September 30, 2020
- Premera Blue Cross’s $6.85 Million Settlement is the Second-Largest HIPAA Settlement to Date
September 28, 2020
- Orthopedic Clinic Pays $1.5 Million for HIPAA Breaches
September 22, 2020
- Options for Certification as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Under the New SBA Rules
July 29, 2020
- Applying for DBE Certification? Technical Competence is Required.
July 27, 2020
- What is the HUBZone Contracting Program?
July 17, 2020
- What Your Attorney Wants You to Know About the Certification Process
July 15, 2020
- How Your Business Can Get DBE Certification in Other States
June 29, 2020
- Recent Small Business Administration Ruling Agrees with Protest that Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business was Not Controlled by Service-Disabled Veteran
June 26, 2020
- Pivoting Your Business in the Age of COVID-19 – Changing Your DBE Certification to Reflect Your New Areas of Business
June 24, 2020
- Do Owners Have to Contribute Money to Their Company in Order to Get DBE Certification?
June 23, 2020
- New SBA Rules for Women-Owned Small Businesses and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business
June 17, 2020
- Know Your Rights: What To Do If Your Company’s Application For DBE Certification Is Denied.
June 15, 2020
- What is a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise? How Can My Company Become a DBE?
June 10, 2020
