
Matthew D. Benedetto has more than 10 years’ experience representing clients in complex civil, criminal and administrative matters, often involving crisis management and public policy responses.
Mr. Benedetto is an active member of the firm’s False Claims Act Group and has extensive experience representing pharmaceutical companies, healthcare companies and financial institutions in both federal and state False Claims Act actions.
In the healthcare space, he has unique experience litigating California’s Insurance Frauds Prevention Act, a qui tam statute in the Insurance Code, including arguing before the California Court of Appeal.
In 2016, the National LGBT Bar Association named Mr. Benedetto to its list of “Best LGBT Attorneys Under the Age of 40.” He was also selected to be a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Before pursuing his law degree, Mr. Benedetto taught English at Phillips Academy, Andover, and pursued a PhD in English at The Johns Hopkins University.
Mr. Benedetto has represented clients before federal and state regulatory and law enforcement agencies, including the SEC, the California Attorney General’s Office, multiple US Attorneys’ Offices and Main Justice. Investigations have concerned allegations of: false claims act violations; securities, accounting and other frauds; consumer fraud; financial reporting and disclosure improprieties; and privacy–related violations.
Mr. Benedetto has led and participated in internal investigations concerning: sexual misconduct by an executive; consumer privacy–related improprieties; consumer fraud allegations; misrepresentations; misappropriation of assets; financial fraud; and non-compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.
Mr. Benedetto has litigated cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court. Matters have included: state and federal False Claims Act violations; securities fraud; consumer fraud; breaches of contract, unfair competition and other business torts; and consumer privacy actions.
Mr. Benedetto was the 2015 Co-President of the LGBT Bar Association of Los Angeles, an affinity group of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He was also on the Board of Directors of USC Lambda LGBT Alumni Association. He is a former elected member of the Young Professional Council (YPC), an educational outreach, fundraising and advisory group to the LGBT Center of Los Angeles.
Experience :
- Represented healthcare client in federal criminal and administrative investigations, state investigations and civil litigation relating to healthcare fraud, wire fraud and consumer fraud allegations.
- Secured dismissal of a series of False Claims Act cases against a major financial institution in federal and state courts.
- Represented major pharmaceutical company in novel suit brought under California’s Insurance Frauds Prevention Act by California Insurance Commissioner and whistleblowers; obtained dismissal of whistleblowers on summary judgment.
- Represent California–based technology company in a number of government investigations related to consumer privacy and securities disclosures.
- Represented technology company in sensitive internal investigation regarding sexual misconduct of an executive.
- Represent technology company in multi-district class action litigation involving Smart TVs and alleged violations of the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) and state law equivalents.
EDUCATION :
- JD, University of Southern California Law School, 2007
- MA, English, Johns Hopkins University, 2004
- BA, English, Dartmouth College, 2000
ADMISSIONS : California
Cost
Rate : $$$