John C. Meringolo
- Professor
Education
BS, C. W. Post
MS, C. W. Post
JD, New York Law School
LEGAL CAREER
Mr. Meringolo has represented hundreds of clients in corporate, trusts and estate litigation, and criminal matters nationwide. He has gained recognition as one of the preeminent trial attorneys in New York by having over 100 weeks of federal trial experience, which includes high profile RICO trials in which he represented clients, including Gregory DePalma, Thomas Carbinaro, Edmond Boyle, John Gotti, Jr., and Frank DiMattina. He has also represented clients in large-scale narcotics trafficking cases, including Stephanie Shepard and Benito Del Rosario.
In addition to his extensive trial experience, Mr. Meringolo has argued numerous motions on Constitutional issues concerning violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. He has authored and argued appeals to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Meringolo’s litigation experience includes notable cases, such as:
- Mr. Meringolo negotiated a historical $10,000,000.00 settlement for the Estate of Joseph P. Graffagnino, a New York City firefighter, who died in the infamous Deutsche Bank Building fire. The building had been damaged during the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. The New York Daily News reported, “A document filed in court states that Meringolo will take 23% of the settlement, much less than the usual one-third cut.”
- In United States v. Ofer Biton, Judge Nicholas Garaufis denied the Government’s direct appeal and affirmed the magistrate’s order granting bail to Mr. Biton, an Israeli national, after seven bail hearings.
- In United States v. John Venizelos, Mr. Venizelos pled guilty in the Eastern District of New York to participating in a $1 billion international drug trafficking enterprise, which had been in existence for more than a decade.
- In United States v Yesid Rios Suarez, Mr. Rios Suarez pled guilty in the Southern District of New York to participating in an international conspiracy to distribute cocaine from Colombia to Venezuela, Mexico, and the United States.
- In United States v. Armando Rea, Mr. Rea was charged in a RICO indictment with the murder of Gerard Papa, a notorious member of the Genovese Crime Family; conspiracy to murder; and extortion. After extensive motion practice and defense investigation of the charges, the Government dropped the murder count. Most importantly, after jury selection, the Government dropped the RICO charges against Mr. Rea, who then pled guilty to a single count of extortion and received a sentence of probation.
- After three weeks of trial in People v. Dr. Richard Lucente, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office capitulated and dropped 151 C-Felony counts against Dr. Lucente, who subsequently pled guilty to a single count and received a non-incarceration sentence.
- On December 1, 2009, the jury trial in United States, v John A. Gotti ended in a mistrial, which ended Mr. Gotti’s four-trial saga. In the fourth and final trial, Mr. Gotti, for the first time, was charged with two murders and faced life in prison. After the mistrial on the murder counts, the Government declined to bring these murder charges or any other charges against him.
Meringolo & Associates, P. C. represents a number of corporate clients. The law firm has been instrumental in successfully negotiating contracts for the respective companies.
ADJUCNT PROFESSOR OF LAW
Mr. Meringolo began teaching Trial Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy at Pace Law School five years ago. In 2013, he proudly co-founded an intensive four-credit class entitled Federal Criminal Practice Simulation, in which students simulate an entire Federal criminal case, from bail hearings, pleas, evidentiary hearings, as well as all aspects of sentencing. The course provides students with the theoretical knowledge, and the practical skills to properly handle Federal criminal cases. Students also enjoy guest lectures from notable practitioners.
Mr. Meringolo has coached, and continues to coach arbitration and trial teams for Pace Law School. In 2013, the Pace Law arbitration team was a National Finalist, placing sixth out of 56 schools. In 2014, for the second year in a row, Pace Law’s arbitration team won a spot as a National Finalist for the American Bar Association competition in Chicago, once again finishing sixth out of 56 competing teams.
Since 2006, Mr. Meringolo has participated in externship and internship programs at Brooklyn Law School, New York Law School and Pace Law School. In 2010, Mr. Meringolo began teaching a Trial Advocacy Seminar at New York Law School, as an adjunct professor. In 2010, he spoke at New York Law School as part of a conference titled “The Media and Criminal Law: Fact, Fiction, and Reality TV.” The event also featured legal and media experts, including David Klass, a writer for NBC’s “Law & Order,” and Howard Gordon, the executive producer and writer of Fox’s “24.”
Also, in 2010, New York Law School’s Alumni Exposé profiled Mr. Meringolo, and interviewed his former and current student externs concerning the extensive Federal criminal defense experience that they had gained while at Meringolo & Associates, P.C.
Since 2010, Mr. Meringolo has taught each summer at the Outreach Program, instructing inner city high school students on various legal skills in the context of criminal law.
Mr. Meringolo has also taught a continuing legal educational course on trial practice at New York Law School’s alumni weekend. He continues to mentor students from Brooklyn Law School, New York Law School, and Pace Law School. He has been the faculty advisor for the Italian American Association at Pace Law School since 2012.
BUSINESS CAREER
Mr. Meringolo was involved in a number of successful business ventures. In 1999, Mr. Meringolo served as Associate Counsel and Special Projects Coordinator for football legend Joe Montana’s magazine, “Joe Montana’s In the Redzone.” At the age of 26, from 2000 to 2001, Mr. Meringolo served as Chairman and CEO for Premier Sports Media and Entertainment Group, Inc., the New York parent company of Explosion Promotions, which promoted boxing events on ESPN and HBO.
In 2002, Mr. Meringolo published” the collectible magazine, “Muhammad Ali, The Greatest,” which was authorized by Muhammad Ali. The magazine, which highlighted the career of Muhammad Ali, was hailed as a “one of a kind publication” and “the perfect gift for Ali fans, memorabilia collectors, fans of Will Smith and the ‘Ali’ movie, as well as the millions of young people who never had the opportunity to see Ali fight or understand the impact he had on society.”
In 2003, Mr. Meringolo founded a company promoting short track racing and rock concert events in conjunction with NASCAR drivers, branded as “Driven to Rock.” At the 2003 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week, Jay Rutherford, president of the Speed Truck Challenge at the time, stated “after much due diligence, we realized ‘Driven to Rock’ is the real deal and the opportunities for the Speed Truck Challenge, its owners and drivers and sponsors made present by this promotion are phenomenal.” On November 5, 2003, NASCAR Winston Cup drivers Michael Waltrip, Sterling Marlin, Jimmy Spencer, and Kenny Wallace raced in a Speed Truck Challenge “Driven to Rock” event at the 3/8-mile high-banked oval bullring at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.