ROBERT COVIELLO - VICE PRESIDENT

During the past fifteen years as a mediator, Robert Coviello, Esq. has worked on a number of cases involving a variety of complex issues. Relying on his extensive negotiation and trial experience, Mr. Coviello has mastered the art of bringing parties together to resolve their conflicts.  He has mediated hundreds of cases in nearly every type of employment-related dispute, including: wage & hour class actions; PAGA claims; numerous FEHA matters, including sexual harassment; all forms of discrimination and retaliation claims; a variety of written employment contract disputes and commission claims; and numerous overtime, exempt/non-exempt misclassification disputes, and equal pay actions.

Mr. Coviello has over 37 years of employment litigation experience.  His civil litigation practice quickly evolved into specialized representation of individuals and management in employment-related matters.  He has conducted hundreds of depositions in employment cases and is personally responsible for the litigation of several hundred employment-related harassment/discrimination civil suits.  He has extensive jury trial experience through verdict and appeal in matters involving harassment, discrimination, breach of contract, wage claims and other related employment torts and class action claims.

MARIA RULLO - SECRETARY

Maria M. Rullo has practiced law in Southern California for 43 years. She specializes in transactional matters including 15 years as General Counsel. Currently, Maria serves as “Of Counsel” to Fitzgerald Kreditor Bolduc Risbrough LLP in its litigation practice handling employment practices, personal injury, and commercial and eminent domain cases. She also serves as a Temporary Judge facilitating MSC’s and hearing Small Claims trials.

MIKE SANTONI - TREASURER

Back in 1975 when he finished college, Mike Santoni knew that he was going to be a detective. After realizing he didn’t want to go into the public sector, he became an apprentice as a private investigator. Ever since, he has used his analytic mind to crack case after case. After over 40 years experience, there are few cases that can stump him. He is a mentor to his colleagues and plays an instrumental role in the planning of execution of cases at Santoni Investigations.

JOSEPH S. D'ANTONY - CONSIGLIORE

Spending 33 years litigating cases from both a plaintiff's perspective and from a defense perspective, Joseph S. D'Antony believes that cases are handled more efficiently through alternative adjudication. He has seen the anguish and the turmoil experienced by his clients commencing with either the serving of the complaint or from experiencing an injustice and ending several months later with a contested trial or settlement. With a civil trial, each party has to relive the experience over and over again. He believes that the mediation/arbitration process can resolve matters more expeditiously and usually with a better and more satisfying result for both parties. After 33 years as a successful civil trial litigator for both the defense and plaintiff's bar, My. D'Antony has retired to become an arbitrator/mediator. Not only does he have have a strong background in civil matters, but he also brings his experiences as a registered pharmacist in the states of Ohio and California.

Mr D'Antony has settled and resolved difficult cases acting as a pro temp settlement conference judge in the Orange County Superior Court and as a mediator on the Los Angeles County Mediation Panel. In addition, Mr. D'Antony has acted as a neutral in arbitrations and this experience lends itself to mediating cases from a non-adversarial position. Mr. D'Antony's experiences in the many variables of a lawsuit have prepared him for ADR.

The majority of Mr. D'Antony's experience has been in the field of medical malpractice, personal injury, and general liability matters. His concern for the parties is conveyed in his approach in working to bring the parties to a position of conclusion. The uncertainties of litigation as well as the expense, emotional and financial concerns for the future are a heavy burden for the parties as they approach a civil trial.

DIANA CIMINO - PARLIAMENTARIAN

Diana Cimino is a first generation Italian-American, and grew up in upstate New York.

She attended Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Business, and earned her Juris Doctorate from Western State University College of Law. Her firm, Cimino Law Offices, located in Laguna Beach, focuses on business and employment law, including business transactions, contract and business disputes, employment law, and complex business transactions including as mergers and acquisitions.

Diana has been a member of Italian America Lawyers of Orange County for 14 years, where she serves as the Parliamentarian. She is also on the Board for Rotary International of Laguna Beach. Additionally, she is a member of the California Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association, the National Italian American Bar Association, the American Association of University Women, and the Laguna Beach Business Club. Her other activities include the Orange County Girl Scouts, where she is the troop leader, and she serves as a delegate on the Board of the Orange County Girl Scout Council.

Diana previously lived in Venice, Italy and is fluent in Italian. She lives in Laguna Beach with her husband Tom, and her two teenage daughters.

SHERRY D'ANTONY - HISTORIAN

Sherry Graybehl D’Antony is a partner at the law firm of Bohm Wildish, LLP. Her areas of practice include Employment Law and Family Law. Prior to joining the law firm of Bohm Wildish, LLP, she was a partner at the law firm of D'Antony, Doyle & Moore. Prior to that, Ms. Graybehl D'Antony was at the law firm of Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo for nine-and-a-half years where she handled all matters relating to family law and employment law.

Ms. Graybehl D'Antony is a California Certified Family Law Specialist since 1995. She was rated one of the top Family Law attorneys in Orange County by Martindale-Hubbell. She was also hailed by the National Association of Professional Women as having “Outstanding Excellence and Dedication to her Profession.” One of Ms. Graybehl D’Antony’s more notable cases includes a $360,000 damages award for a client bringing a battery case against her ex-husband who infected her with a sexually transmitted disease. In another case, Ms. Graybehl D’Antony was granted a nonsuit in favor of her client, ITT Cannon, in a wrongful termination case.

Ms. Graybehl D’Antony served as a Board Member for the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists for 2 years. She also served as President of IALOC in 2011 and again in 2012. Additionally, she is has been a proud IALOC Board Member since 2006.

Ms. Graybehl D’Antony is an avid runner and has completed over 14 marathons and 4 half marathons. To relax and recuperate from the stress of her profession, she and her husband Joseph D’Antony travel to their home in the Abruzzo region of Italy. There, they enjoy a slower pace of life along the peaceful Adriatic coastline.

Frank Licata had a 47-year career in the areas of personal injury defense, civil litigation and appellate work from 1977 to present, including both private firms (1977 to 1995) and house council (1995 to 2018). Retiring from full time practice in 2018 he presently acts a legal consultant and contract attorney for the Rizio Lipinsky Heiting PC in Santa Ana, California.

MICHAEL D'ANGELO - DIRECTOR AT LARGE

As a graduate from University of California, Irvine and Loyola Law School, Mr. D’Angelo has over 23 years of experience litigating eminent domain, inverse condemnation, and other complex real estate matters. Mr. D’Angelo worked predominantly for private property owners and business owners in eminent domain and inverse condemnation matters.

Mr. D'Angelo enters his fourth year on the Board and has been a long-standing member, sharing his love for his Italian heritage with others. 

CHRIS WATERS - DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Chris Waters has distinguished himself as a visionary leader in the legal and technology sectors, notably through his entrepreneurial ventures. In 2023, he founded Trials and Tech, a company at the forefront of combining trial support with advanced legal technology to enhance litigation processes. Prior to this, in 2017, Chris established Lit Support 365, a company specializing in eDiscovery, document review, and comprehensive litigation support, serving AM Law 100 and large law firms.