Your Ultimate Partner in Dispute Resolution
Alimonti Law Offices, P.C.
Alimonti Mediation Services
Frederick (Rick) Alimonti founded Alimonti Mediation Services in 2012,
emphasizing personal injury, insurance coverage, product liability, premises
liability, aviation law, employment/workplace discrimination, and commercial
disputes.
Rick’s mediation approach is hybrid facilitative and evaluative, and he takes great
pride in the work he puts into the mediation process, long before the mediation
session begins, including studying the pleadings and submissions and extensive
pre-mediation teleconferences with the parties. These teleconferences have
proven to be invaluable opportunities to work with the parties and develop a path
toward resolution. MORE...
Mediation
Mediation with Preparation since 2012
Since its founding in March 2001, Alimonti Law
Offices, P.C., has focused its practice on serving
the litigation needs of the aviation community.
Since then, our firm has grown from a “one man
shop” to an internationally recognized team of
lawyers and consultants. Our worldwide clients
including airlines, flight schools, fixed base
operators, manufacturers, repair stations, charter
operators, and their respective insurers.
Serving the Aviation Community
and its Insurers since 2001
Insurance Coverage
Mediation
Product Liability
Airline Representation
Practice Areas
Aviation Litigation
Throughout my three decades of experience, I have encountered a few remarkable mediators who have
truly mastered the art of mediation, successfully resolving even the most challenging cases. Among these
exceptional mediators is Mr. Alimonti. I have engaged Mr. Alimonti in several of my toughest cases, all of
which were settled. While not every case can be resolved, dedicating 100% of your time, focus, and energy to
settlement is achievable. This commitment is something Mr. Alimonti wholeheartedly provides. From the
initial contact to the final resolution, Mr. Alimonti is actively engaged in the process. Though I cannot
pinpoint exactly how he achieves it, I can attest that his work is outstanding. I wholeheartedly recommend
Mr. Alimonti for any mediation without hesitation, and I am happy to offer further information if needed.
-Ian B. Lane, Partner
The Team
Frederick (Rick) Alimonti is a
Mediator and Litigator. He has been
litigating primarily in the fields of
Aviation Litigation since 1990. Rick’s
broad mediation practice includes
torts, civil rights, insurance coverage,
and employment litigation. MORE...
Frederick ‘Rick’ Alimonti
- Founder and Mediator
Laurie brings a diverse background in all
aspects of insurance defense litigation to
ALO. Her practice areas emphasize airline
law, insurance coverage, international air law,
and contractual indemnity. She handles all
aspects of civil litigation from pleadings
through motion practice, ADR, and appeal.
Laurie E. Dallos
Associate Attorney
Camie Tobias handles all manner of civil
litigation defense. Her practice emphasizes
premises and airline liability, including, as to
the latter, the application of contracts of
carriage and the Montreal Convention (in
cases of international travel by air).
Camie Tobias
Associate Attorney
Elizabeth brings more than 20 years of
marketing industry expertise, aiming to
elevate our company while keeping us
relevant with the evolving times.
Elizabeth Danks
Marketing Coordinator
- Adriana is our detail-oriented office manager
and bookkeeper. She excels in managing
administrative tasks, coordinating schedules,
and fostering a productive work environment,
making her an invaluable asset to our team.
Adriana Sanchez
Office Manager
Tracy has experience in various areas of
law, such as probate, trust and estate,
medical malpractice, aviation, trial
practice, and appellate work.
Tracy Berhens-Chin
Sr. Paralegal
Resources
A look inside Court-
Annexed ADR and
Settlement Conferences
with U.S. Magistrate Judge
Cheryl L. Pollak (ABA)
May 2024
March 2024
Interview with
Neuropsychologist Dr.
Alexandra Stone on PTSD
and Litigation (ABA)
June 2024
From The Center Seat
Episode Two
Pre-Mediation Caucus
August 2024
From The Center Seat
Episode Three
Tips for Mediation Submission
Some Lessons on What NOT
to do in Observing the
Mets/Alonso Negotiations -
LinkedIn Article 5 minute read
January 2025
The Road to Becoming a
Mediator, Including the
Speed Bumps
October 2024
The Mediation Mindset -
LinkedIn Article 4 minute read
April 2025
The Postmortem to Article
Mets/Alonso Negotiations -
LinkedIn Article 7 minute read
March 2025
Frederick P. Alimonti
Founder and Senior Partner
Rick Alimonti
His professional association positions include:
- American Bar Association, Torts, Trial, and Insurance Practice Section, Scope Liaison to Dispute
Resolution Committee (2024-25) - American Bar Association, Torts, Trial, and Insurance Practice Section Chair, Immediate Past Chair,
Dispute Resolution Committee (2023-24) - National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (2024 Inductee)
- Co-chair of the ABA, Litigation Section’s Standing Committee on Aviation Litigation for three-year
term (1995 -1998; August 2007–2009) - New York State Bar Association - Member, Dispute Resolution Committee
- Mediation Panel Member, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Since 2011)
- Miracle League of Westchester, Trustee and Coach – Teaching and coaching baseball to children
and adults with learning and other disabilities (2021-Present) - Hope Rising Farm, Inc. President of Board of Trustees for an Equine Therapy Facility in Dutchess
County, New York (2019-2020) - Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey, Past Trustee, President, and Development
Director (various) - Division Co-Director, ABA Section of Litigation Section (2001)
- Member, Lawyer Pilots Bar Association
Founder Partner Rick Alimonti is both litigator and mediator. He has been practicing law since 1990 and mediating since 2011.
Martindale-Hubble lists Rick as an “AV” peer-reviewed lawyer, the highest rating awarded by the organization. Active in aviation law
throughout his career, Mr. Alimonti has represented numerous aviation clients from litigation through trial and appeal. Mr. Alimonti’s
academic contributions to the field of aviation law include the formation and launch of the American Bar Association’s highly
successful seminars on Aviation Litigation in New York that ran for over the ten years. Mr. Alimonti has twice served as chair of the
ABA’s Aviation Litigation Committee and continues to be an active member of the Leadership of the American Bar Association.
Mr. Alimonti’s mediation practice includes torts, product liability, insurance coverage, premises liability, employment discrimination,
aviation law, and §1983 Civil Rights Litigation. Settlements have ranged from five figures to eight figures, and Rick is quick to point out
that there is no relationship between the amount issue and the efforts needed to resolve the matter. Rick is a regular author and
speaker on Mediation, Mediation Ethics, and Mediation Advocacy and his presentations are highly reviewed by national and
international audiences. He has published numerous articles on aviation litigation topics and administers CLE’s throughout the year
on a variety of topics relevant to the aviation, insurance, and legal communities.
His recent publications include:
- The Road to Becoming a Mediator, Including the Speed Bumps (ABA TIPS August 2024)
- Raising the Next Generation of Mediation Advocates and Mediators (ABA TIPS July 2024)
- How Being a Mediator has Changed How I Advocate in Mediation (ABA TIPS, Summer 2023)
- “Confrontation” in Mediation: Making Your Case in Mediation Without Alienating (ABA TIPS 2022)
- When Mediations Fail and What They Teach Us (ABA 2022)
Mr. Alimonti is a graduate of Fordham University and St. John’s University School of Law, where he served as an Associate Editor of St.
John’s Law Review. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and
Northern Districts of New York, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, and Eleventh Circuits.
The proud father of two daughters and a son. Mr. Alimonti is also an active private pilot. He currently serves as a Trustee and Coach
for the Miracle League of Westchester, a non-profit corporation and sports league for special needs children and adults.
Send Us A Message
Alimonti Law Offices, P.C.
and Mediation Services
8 Madison Avenue
2nd Floor
Valhalla, NY 10595
Tel. (914) 948-8323
Email: fpa@alony.com
Aviation Litigation
Rick Alimonti’s mediation approach is hybrid facilitative and evaluative, and he takes great pride in the work he puts into the mediation process, long before the mediation session begins, including studying the pleadings and submissions and extensive pre-mediation teleconferences with the parties. These teleconferences have proven to be invaluable opportunities to work with the parties and develop a path toward resolution.
Practice Areas - More Information
ALO continues to represent all aspects of general aviation in litigation. Our clients include Fixed Based Operators, Airframe and Powerplant shops, Flight
Schools, Charter Operators, and other providers of airport services. We also represent GA clients in transactions and appearances before the FAA and
NTSB. Our GA cases include both commercial disputes as well as personal injury and death and injury claims. Our GA clients include Signature Aviation,
Meridian Aviation, American Flyers, and Air Fleet Training Systems
ALIMONTI LAW OFFICES, P.C. (“ALO”) has represented insurers and insureds in numerous coverage disputes, negotiations, and litigations. ALO has successfully represented insureds prevailing upon insurers to defend and indemnify them despite initial denials. ALO is also regularly called upon by insurers to issue opinion letters, reservations of rights, and denials relating to General Liability, Product Liability, Aviation, and Environmental coverage. ALO takes particular pride in the clarity of its opinions to our clients [and their insureds] as well as the plain English in which they are expressed. See our Client Pledge. ALO’s presentations on the ethical obligations of insurance defense counsel has been well received by national and international audiences.
Insurance Coverage
Airline Representation
ALIMONTI LAW OFFICES, P.C. (“ALO”) has represented various airlines in all aspects of litigation. Our clients include international carriers, “legacy carriers,” newer lower-cost carriers, and regional airlines. Matters with these airlines include premises liability, onboard incidents, insurance coverage analysis, and Warsaw/Montreal Convention injuries and losses. We are proud to represent JetBlue Airways Inc., regularly in New York litigation, both insured and uninsured.
ALIMONTI LAW OFFICES, P.C. (“ALO”) offers the unique perspective of handling product liability claims from both the defense and “plaintiffs” perspective.
In addition to our defense work on behalf of the aviation manufacturers and their insurers, ALO is frequently called upon to represent insurers in
subrogation actions against manufacturers of aircraft and their sub-assemblies. This dual perspective helps us to better anticipate [and rebut] opposing
arguments and to more accurately evaluate our cases.
ALO has extensive experience with the “Economic Loss Doctrine” as applied in jurisdictions throughout the United States. Rick Alimonti and ALO are also
active in counseling clients on how to avoid liability and exposure, through presentations to manufacturing clients on “Product Integrity” and related issues
of document creation and management. Our Product Liability clients include Messier-Dowty, Messier-Bugatti, SNR Bearings, and V&L Tool Company.
- Product Liability
Mediation
Alimonti Mediation Services
Emphasizing Employment, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Premises Liability,
Aviation, Insurance Coverage, Commercial Litigation, §1983 Civil Rights Claims.
Our Approach
We approach mediation from both a facilitative and evaluative perspective. First and foremost, our goal is to bring the parties together and facilitate a better
understanding of a claim and the needs of the opposing side. This may be difficult or impossible without engaging in an appropriate and discreet discussion of a
given claim’s strengths and weaknesses. This is why the mediator’s preparation is so important, and this is where the evaluative component of our approach comes
into play.
And of course, we want to conduct the mediation in a comfortable environment under the highest ethical standards. Mr. Alimonti is proud to lecture frequently on
ethics and ethics in the mediation context. As frequent advocates in mediation, it is our goal to bring all the lessons, good and bad, from our mediation background,
and treat you as we would like to be treated in your chair.
Our Job is Not Over with the Mediation
Inevitably, not all cases will settle at the mediation. This does not mean the mediation was not productive. Several things often occur at the mediation that plant the
seeds for settlement thereafter. Ideally, the parties are closer together after seeing the other side a bit more clearly. Sometimes, one or more parties need to process
the mediation events and positions, and this may take time. If the parties agree, we will often provide a settlement recommendation. More often than not, these
recommendations, with the benefit of some time for reflection, press the case toward eventual settlement.
Sometimes, some additional discovery will help get the settlement on track, and we will continue to work with the parties to try and resolve the case as this process
continues. These follow-ups, if necessary, are part of the process, and there is no charge for them unless excessive and agreed upon in advance.
What Makes A
Mediator Effective?
Mediation Basics:
The Format
Mediation: It’s Not
Always About The
Money
Mediation CLE Seminar:
Closing Comments and
Tips for your First
Mediation.
Our work together starts well before the mediation. Once we accept a mediation assignment, we will immediately download the pleadings to learn the gist of the
claim and defenses. More importantly, we require extensive submissions from the parties in advance of the mediation: one set to be shared between the parties, and
a short ex parte settlement memorandum for the mediator’s eyes only. These materials are typically exchanged about two weeks before the mediation takes place.
Once the submissions are shared and exchanged, we get to work. First, I review everything. Then, I conduct a series of teleconferences with counsel for the parties.
Although there is no script for these discussions, common topics include discovery status and needs; status of negotiations; perceived obstacles to settlement;
misunderstandings; any lawyer/client tensions; and expectations for the mediation itself. If the case seems ripe, exchanges of demands and offers may also take
place. Indeed, some cases settle in the course of these teleconferences, sparing the parties the time and cost of the mediation itself. More often, issues are resolved
at this stage that, if left uncorrected, would significantly hamper the mediation process. Just as importantly, as these pre-mediation conferences proceed and
continue, we establish a rapport with the attorneys that carries over to the mediation itself.
A few examples of critical issues resolved before the mediation itself include clarifying something as basic as what has already been offered and demanded,
arranging for the informal discovery of documents and information to facilitate settlement, discussing the expectations of the party participants and where they may
differ from those of his/her counsel, and determining whether opening joint sessions are appropriate (we generally favor them). We cannot overstate the role that
these initial teleconferences have played in facilitating eventual settlements. We truly hit the ground running at the mediation session itself, and you will feel this
momentum when we begin. Moreover, your client will see and appreciate the thought and effort that all participants have put into the proceedings.
In our view, even the most gifted mediator cannot rely on skill alone. He or she must work to
understand the case, the parties’ positions, motives, and motivations.
As such, we believe the biggest differentiation between Alimonti Mediation Services and others is the
extent to which we work to properly prepare for your mediation – thereby maximizing the settlement
potential. And, candidly, we ask our participants to do the same.
If you have ever been disappointed by the level of preparation of a well-paid and reputable mediator
or felt that while you retained a mediator, you were delivered a calculator, we offer an alternative.
It’s All About the Work
When Mediations Fail
and What They Teach
Us (ABA)
Copyright 2024. ALONY. All rights reserved
Alimonti Law Offices, P.C.
Alimonti Mediation Services
8 Madison Avenue
2nd Floor
Valhalla, NY 10595
Tel. (914) 948-8044
Email: fpa@alony.com