Civil Rights

Mark Mario Esposito, Esq., J.D., T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond, VA (1984); B.S., James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va. (1980 Summa Cum Laude; Outstanding Student in Public Administration); "av" rated in Martindale-Hubbell; American Bar Association; Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (Elected Board of Governors (1998)); Henrico Bar Association; Richmond Bar Association (Judiciary Committee (2002-05)); United's Who's Who in American Law; member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum (2002 to present); admitted to practice in all courts in Virginia; United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; Untied States Supreme Court. Mr. Esposito has consistently and aggressively defended the civil rights of individuals, unions, and small businesses against the negligent or intentional wrongdoing of corporations, governments, and other powerful interests. He has been recognized as a powerful and effective advocate and trial lawyer for his clients. He has successfully handled personal injury cases in states from California to Virginia and won significant awards and settlements. His successful defense of a small businessperson against an unconstitutional local taxing scheme was deemed one of the most significant appellate decisions in the state of Pennsylvania in 1997. Mr. Esposito's client was nominated for the Liberty Bell Award, which goes to the most significant case promoting civil liberties, in the state of Pennsylvania. Another successful case that same year in the Virginia Supreme Court, Walter Atkinson, Admin. v. Scheer, MD, et al, was deemed one of the most important medical negligence decisions for the plaintiff's bar in Virginia. Currently, Mr. Esposito handles significant motor vehicle/tractor-trailer accidents, professional negligence cases, traumatic brain injury cases, defective product and defective pharmaceutical cases, as well as other catastrophic loss cases. Mr. Esposito is married to the former Suzanne Daley. They have two sons, ages 20 and 24. They reside in Henrico County, Virginia, where he is actively involved in youth recreational sports and civic associations and boards. He is a frequent speaker at local area schools advocating greater exposure of the law and courts to young people.

Ronnie was born and raised in New York. He has always had a passion for the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Throughout high school, college, and law school he made many trips out west to spend time on the ski slopes. During that time he also discovered a love for business and the law. He attended Cornell University for their excellent business program, and received his Bachelor's of Science in Business Management and Marketing in 1999. While attending Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law he was able to spend a summer at the Central European University where he concentrated his studies on alternative dispute resolution techniques including arbitration, mediation, and negotiation. He received his Juris Doctorate with a concentration in alternative dispute resolution and intellectual property in 2003. With a law degree in hand, Ronnie moved to Colorado to be nearer to the mountains he loves. He was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 2003. Since then, Ronnie has focused his legal career to assist clients in the areas of intellectual property (i.e., copyrights, trademarks, and patents), business, real estate, personal injury and probate law. When Ronnie is not working, he is happily enjoying all the wonderful outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer: skiing, mountain biking, tennis, white water rafting, and four-wheeling.

A native of Decatur, Illinois. Mr. Rowden graduated from University of Illinois in 1969 and received his Law Degree from University of Iowa in 1972. He is licensed to practice law in the States of Illinois, Iowa, and in United States Federal Courts. Mr. Rowden served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Sangamon County, Springfield, Illinois, from 1972 - 1974. He has been in continuous private practice of law with McCarthy, Rowden & Baker and its predecessors since 1974. He is a member of Breakfast Sertoma and serves on the Decatur Salvation Army Advisory Board. He is a member of the Decatur Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and serves on the Illinois State Bar Association Committee on Civil Practice and Procedure. He represents clients in Trial and Appellate Courts and before the Illinois Industrial Commission. Mr. Rowden's practice is concentrated in Adoption, Estate Planning/Wills, Family Law, Personal Injury, Probate, Real Estate, and Worker's Compensation.

Ms. Austin Dominick joined Pearson & Paris, P.C. as an associate attorney in December 2020, and will focus her skillset in the areas of family law, probate, and general civil litigation. She received her Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law. While in law school, Ms. Dominick served as president for the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, and was a member of the Environmental Law Society, Health Law Society, International Law Society, and the Women’s Law Caucus. Ms. Dominick also participated in the Washington Moderate Means Practicum where she worked on matters related to family, housing, and consumer law for those who cannot afford a full fee attorney yet exceed the low-income qualifications for free legal assistance. Having been born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, Ms. Dominick is an ardent supporter of the Colorado community. She comes from a long line of distinguished lawyers and is eager to continue the family legacy of helping those in need. Ms. Dominick has experience working with diverse clients at the Seattle Civil Rights Office, the Washington Moderate Means practicum and has experience in workers compensation as well as personal injury law. Ms. Dominick understands the complex nature of the law, has an exceptional eye for detail, and will work hard to ensure her clients receive the legal representation and compassion they deserve. Ms. Dominick is passionate about protecting the environment, defending animals, and advocating for meaningful change that will promote social equity. When Ms. Dominick is away from the office, she enjoys spending time outdoors skiing, traveling, swimming, and playing with her cat and other animals. Ms. Dominick is also an avid wooden jigsaw puzzler.

Jim Bergenn's practice is comprised of complex criminal and civil litigation, including white collar crime and government investigations, personal injury and wrongful death cases, and other trials involving significant consequences. With more than 40 years trial lawyer experience and a trial skills teacher at UConn Law for over 35 years, other lawyers and clients call Jim regularly to seek his trial skills, and experience with investigations and experts, in many different kinds of contested cases. Jim’s wide range of criminal cases includes representing targets of investigations, criminal defendants, grand jury and other witnesses, and crime victims. Because he handles personal injuries, he often helps victims during and after criminal cases are brought to obtain the right compensation for their harm. He works in cases prosecuted by all the various federal, state and local authorities, such as the US Attorney’s Office, The Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, State and Federal Grand Juries, the FBI, the State Police, the SEC, the DEA, the ATF, the DOD, the IRS, the FDA, the FTC, the Office of Inspector General for various Federal Agencies, state regulators such as the Attorney General, the DEP, the DOH, the DMR, the DCF, and the Office of Consumer Protection, and local police.

A second generation attorney, Ben returned home to his native Lawrence County in April 1986 to practice law with his father, William E. Boston (1926–2000). Since that time, Ben has carried on the Boston legacy and strong reputation within the legal community. He is not afraid to take on insurance companies, corporations, or big Nashville defense firms. Ben has extensive experience in state and federal courts, trying numerous jury trials and obtaining multi-million dollar verdicts, while also successfully negotiating and mediating large settlements, brokering real estate and business transactions, and defending clients who have been wrongfully charged with a crime. Ben will help you develop a winning strategy, whether personal injury, employment discrimination, or complex business disputes. He is rated by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV Preeminent attorney and certified as a specialist in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Ben is also committed to his community, chairing the Lawrence County Education Foundation and serving as City Judge for Lawrenceburg. He has raised four successful adult children (two third generation lawyers) with his wife, Shelley, and is the proud grandfather to two beautiful grandchildren.

David H. Schwartz and his firm focus on providing cost-effective, expeditious and results-driven legal service, representing California clients in a wide range of commercial disputes. The firm has extensive experience in complex litigation, including securities and shareholder disputes, trade secrets litigation, and business torts.

A sole practitioner, Ian W. Thompson handles a variety of legal matters through his Indianapolis law office. He is known throughout the state of Indiana for his far-reaching legal knowledge, as well as his aggressive courtroom demeanor and effective legal strategizing. He consistently goes above and beyond, for he desires nothing more than to secure the favorable legal outcomes his clients desire. Whether you require criminal representation or assistance with a personal injury, social security disability or workers’ compensation claim, you can count on Ian W. Thompson Attorney at Law for high-quality legal service. Ian W. Thompson’s law office is located in downtown Indianapolis, but his clients include those residing throughout Marion County and all of Central Indiana. Clients speak highly of Mr. Thompson’s extensive understanding of the local legal system and ability to explain the legal process in terms that are easy for his clients to understand. A lifetime Indiana resident, he completed both his undergraduate and graduate education at the esteemed Indiana University — and he remains passionate about the local community to this day. Notoriously versatile, Ian W. Thompson has a firm grasp of several practice areas, including both criminal and civil law. He works extensively as a criminal lawyer, providing superior defense for those who have been accused of committing misdemeanor and felony crimes. His aggressive representation has helped numerous clients achieve favorable outcomes. In addition to criminal cases, Ian Thompson handles a variety of civil matters. As a personal injury attorney, he helps those who have been injured by the negligence of others to secure compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering. He also handles workers’ compensation cases, representing those injured on the job in Indiana. If you require high-quality legal support, you can benefit greatly from a FREE one-on-one initial consultation with Ian W. Thompson. A passionate, results-driven attorney, Ian Thompson offers a range of legal services. The counsel he provides his clients is always compassionate, but in the courtroom, he is notoriously aggressive. He will fight to ensure that your rights are respected, both in and out of court.

Steve Benedetto's legal career began with the promise and expectations of someone who had done "all the right things" educationally. He went to a prestigious private university, double-majoring in Political Science and English while building his resume with internships in government. He graduated cum laude from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, serving as a staff writer on the Law Journal and a member of the Moot Court honor society. He secured a competitive judicial clerkship with an Arizona Supreme Court Justice. And, as judicial clerks do, he received a litany of opportunities to work for prestigious national law firms at the expiration of that one-year term. For five years, Steve followed the obvious path carved out for him. He worked at three of the largest corporate law firms in Arizona, learning the ins and outs of litigation from senior lawyers who were charged with defending large companies in 7, 8, and 9-figure lawsuits. He defended railroads from debilitating injury claims brought by injured employees; healthcare companies from medical malpractice actions brought by injured patients; white-collar executives against fraud and embezzlement allegations; and multinational corporations against just about every type of wrongdoing one can imagine. In little time, he developed trust in the partners he worked for as a top-notch writer and legal analyst who could win difficult arguments. And he was paid very well for what he did. But the money wasn't enough. In 2009, Steve left corporate practice to create a new kind of law firm. One that would represent real people against the powerful interests whose playbook he'd spent a half-decade learning. So he spent the next five years representing people against criminal charges, and prosecuting civil claims on behalf of people injured by others’ recklessness. Though he had more passion than business acumen, he worked tirelessly to help build a five lawyer, seven-figure law firm from scratch.​ By 2014, though, it became clear that something was missing. The news cycle was being dominated by police officers shooting civilians. Social media birthed hashtags that spurred movements. Everyone was talking about police violence. But few lawyers were actually doing anything about it, including his own law partners. After a series of difficult conversations, Steve decided to start fresh: He left the law firm he had founded to construct an entirely new practice -- one that would be focused on representing people at ground zero of the new civil rights struggle. Over the past 6 years, The People's Law Firm has provided substantial legal muscle to the movements for systemic change. The Firm has fought for accountability on behalf of countless survivors of police violence, and has stood in solidarity with the movements to reform our unjust and inequitable systems, with specific focus on the Movement for Black Lives. We continue to do so today.

Paul F. Oliveri proudly serves as Director Emeritus in the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, whose organizational mission is “to promote a safer and healthier society, to assure access to the civil justice system by those who are wrongfully injured and to advance representation of the public by ethical, well-trained lawyers. ”Mr. Oliveri has served on several of its committees, including the New York State Trial Lawyers Association’s Judicial Screening Committee. Mr. Oliveri has addressed legislators and lectured before citizen groups about issues facing accident victims, consumers, the civil justice system, and has actively fought to preserve the rights of the injured. He is also a member of the American Association for Justice, the National Crime Victims Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the New York County Lawyers Association and several other Bar groups and associations. Mr. Oliveri has been honored on various occasions by being featured in Who’s Who in American Law and has been recognized by the respected legal services company of LexisNexis® in its Martindale- Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™ with an “AV” rating in the practice areas of Motor Vehicle law, Premises Liability Law, Medical and Dental Malpractice law, Personal Injury Law. Less than 5% of all law firms qualify for this rating, making Oliveri & Schwartz, P.C. one of the most distinguished and respected law firms in the country.