Mediator Resume

Unusual level of proficiency in business matters and litigation developed through more than three decades of practice in large firms and small as well as an extraordinarily diverse in-house practice, enabling a unique and valuable perspective grounded in legal analysis with a sensitivity to practical business outcomes.

Mediation Matters - Principal Mediator

Attorney; Mediator

Principal Mediator, Mediation Matters, 2024-Present; General Counsel, Luciani Enterprises, LLC, 2017-2024; Vice President/Chief Business Development Officer, Bankwell, 2016-2017; Of Counsel, Parrett Porto, 2002-2016; Principal, Joseph A. Aceto, LLC, 1992-2002; Law Clerk, United States District Court, District of Connecticut, Chambers of Honorable Robert C. Zampano, USDCJ (deceased).

Trial practice representing individuals and business entities in all phases of litigation, including trials in state and federal court and various administrative agencies. Representative trail matters include partnership disputes, breach of commercial contracts, real estate specific performance, insurance coverage, fraud, unfair practices and bad faith claims, tortious interference with real property rights, negligent misrepresentation in commercial claims and personal injury claims (plaintiff and defendant). Wide ranging business practice. Representative matters include all aspects of commercial contract work in the context of the residential construction and remediation fields; purchase and sale of middle market companies; general day-to-day business advice with eye to risk mitigation, compliance, customer satisfaction. Handling of general HR questions and matters as well as intra-corporate disputes.

Previous service as a state court-appointed mediator and arbitrator; federal court Special Master; "Settlement Day" mediator for national insurance carrier. Mediation Panel member, Connecticut Human Rights and Opportunities Commission; ongoing matters as received through Mediation Matters, a Connecticut-based mediation only company. Informal mediation while working in house on a near weekly basis of matters particular to the business of a middle market construction and remediation company, including customer claims and issues, matters and issues arising from intersection with the insurance industry, competitors in the field, customers, and various administrative agencies, including OSHA, Connecticut Office of Consumer Protection, Department of Labor and the US Treasury Department. Regularly occurring informal mediation of company-related matters as they arose.

Customer disputes; breach of contract involving performance, workmanship, scope of work, change orders; specific performance of real estate contract where parties asserted competing claims of ownership; allocation of rights and obligations in partnership dissolution; product liability claim against global tool manufacturer; discrimination claims and personal injury cases.

I employ a facilitative style focused on encouraging the parties to present their perspectives fully to satisfy their need to be heard, and to foster a sense that all participants are engaged in a voluntary, collaborative process the outcome of which will be a result of their decisions, thus eliminating the uncertainty, time, anxiety and cost of litigation. I devote whatever time is necessary to prepare for the mediation, including review of the parties submissions, court filings (where matter is in suit) and pre-mediation, private discussions with counsel regarding exploration of sensitive matters that could arise as well as expectations regarding process. My process is to begin with introductions, a few minutes of "housekeeping" issues, followed by a discussion of my role as mediator and the mediation process generally. That is followed by a joint session, if the temperaments will allow and the matter would benefit from such an exchange. Private sessions follow, typically beginning with the claimant in order to isolate and discuss issues, priorities, strengths and weaknesses and moving to private caucus with the opposing party to explore the same. At the time when there is agreement, or something close to it, I reconvene the parties in joint session to double check the parties understanding and move to memorialization of the agreement to avoid re-trading the deal after the fact. I make the parties aware that I remain available to work further on the matter if it has not resolved at the end of the session, or if there are loose strings that need to be addressed.

Zoom and Teams

Boston College Law School (JD, cum laude - 1987); Yale College (BA, English, magna cum laude - 1984). Quinnipiac School of Law (Mediation Skills Training Certificate - 2025).

Admitted to the Bar: Connecticut; admitted in all state and federal courts for Connecticut.

New Haven County Bar Association; Connecticut Italian-American Bar Association.

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: Not provided Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: Not provided Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Hamden, Connecticut