Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Salvatore J. “Sam” Tornatore and Michael M. Cabonargi were the guests of honor when the Justinian Society of Lawyers hosts its annual installation and awards dinner on Sept. 26 at the Palmer House Hilton. (708-338-0760)
The Hon. Salvatore J. “Sam” Tornatore
The recipient of this year’s Award of Excellence, Tornatore has served as a DuPage County Commissioner since 2012 and a DuPage County Health Department board member since 2015. He was appointed by Governor Pat Quinn and reappointed by Governor Bruce Rauner to serve on the board of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, where he also serves as its secretary. He was a member of the Roselle Zoning Board of Appeals from 2001 to 2003, a Roselle village trustee from 2004 to 2009, and a Bloomingdale Township trustee from 2009 to 2012. The president of the Roselle Chamber of Commerce from 2003 to 2005, he was honored as the chamber’s Man of the Year. Tornatore earned his undergraduate degree from DePaul University and his Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School, and has received the school’s Distinguished Service Award. He has served as an assembly member of the Illinois State Bar Association and a Judicial Evaluation Committee member for the Chicago Bar Association. A past Justinian president, he received the organization’s Mentoring Award in 2008 and its Leadership Award in 2011. The president of the Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization from 1993 to 1999, he was honored as CIACO’s Man of the Year. A past president of the National Italian American Bar Association, he is a founding board member of the Italian American Political Coalition and a recipient of its Distinguished Service Award.
The Honorable Michael M. Cabonargi
The recipient of this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award, Cabonargi has served as a Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review since 2011 and currently serves as Chair. Previously, Cabonargi was a senior attorney and prosecutor at the Securities and Exchange Commission, where he investigated and litigated cases involving insider trading, offering fraud, pay-to-play and pyramid/Ponzi schemes. He received the SEC Director’s Award for Excellence for combating financial fraud targeting seniors, and the Chairman’s Award for bringing the largest private offering fraud case filed by the commission to a successful conclusion. Prior to joining the SEC, Cabonargi was a private attorney with a concentration in complex commercial and regulatory litigation. Before entering private practice, Cabonargi was an aide to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and to U.S. Sen. Paul Simon. Cabonargi has served as a board member of the Loyola Academy Bar Association, the District 39 Educational Foundation and the Milan Committee of Chicago’s Sister Cities program; a fellow with Leadership Greater Chicago; and member of the Illinois Comptroller’s Ethics Commission and the University of Illinois College of Law Alumni Board. He received a dual B.A. in political science and foreign affairs from Miami University, and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. Cabonargi and his wife Erin have two sons and live in Wilmette.
2018 Officers
The following officers will be formally installed at the event: Vincent R. Vidmer (president), Natalie M. Petric (first vice president), Judge Regina A. Scannicchio (second vice president), Dion U. Davi (third vice president), Bruno R. Massaro (treasurer) and Michael D. Pisano (secretary).
Vincent R. Vidmer — President
Vincent Vidmer has been practicing law since 2008. Since launching his firm in 2011, the Law Office of Vincent R. Vidmer has served its clients with personal attention afforded by small firms and professional services offered by larger law firms. As a practicing attorney in Chicago, Vincent is involved with various legal matters, however his focus is on real estate law, real estate-related litigation, estate planning and general legal drafting. A part of the practice resides with the Liquor and Allied Workers Union, assisting in collective bargaining, fringe benefits, plan administration and the grievance and arbitration process.
Vincent attended Fenwick High School, received his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University and his law degree from The John Marshall Law School. While attending law school, he was named to the Dean’s List, studied Roman Law at the Vatican, earned the privilege and opportunity to be selected as one of two students to study international law in Prague, Czech Republic, and was the recipient of numerous scholarships. While in Prague, Vincent worked at an international law firm, conducting research to assist in the legal rights of former property owners who were stripped of their land by the government during the communist era.
Vincent is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association and currently serves on the Real Estate Section Council. He serves as President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers for the 2018-2019 term. He has been recognized multiple times by Illinois Superlawyers as a Rising Star, and he has been recognized by the Law Bulletin as an Emerging Lawyer, a distinction earned by fewer than 2 percent of all licensed lawyers to practice law in Illinois.
A Chicago-area native who lives in the West Loop, Vincent maintains an active role with various civic organizations and local chambers of commerce.
Natalie M. Petric — 1st Vice President
Natalie M. Petric serves as Manager, Enforcement Counsel in the Legal and Market Regulation Department of CME Group. She is responsible for litigating cases involving market participants before the exchange’s disciplinary committees. Prior to joining CME Group, Natalie worked as a civil defense trial attorney and prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Natalie graduated cum laude from Tufts University with a bachelor’s degree in international relations. She received her Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law. She is married, has three young daughters, and is the proud granddaughter of past Justinian President Anthony J. Fornelli.
Regina A. Scannicchio — 2nd Vice President
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Regina A. Scannicchio sits in the Domestic Relations Division. Prior to taking the bench in 2011, her practice focused on the area of family law. She is a graduate of The John Marshall Law School and DePaul University. Regina served as the President of The John Marshall Alumni Association in 2013-14 and received the Distinguished Service Award from The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association and the Spirit of John Marshall Award from The John Marshall Law School Board of Trustees. Regina is active outside of the legal community and currently serves on the Executive Council of The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii and received the da Vinci Award for Community Service from the Order Sons of Italy in America.
Dion U. Davi — 3rd Vice President
Dion U. Davi is the founding attorney of Davi Law Group, LLC, which concentrates in the areas of family law, criminal law, estate planning, and motorsports Law with offices in Wheaton, Joliet, Chicago, and Warrenville. Dion received his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School after attending DePaul University to receive his B.A. in psychology. He has served as an officer, including the President, of the DuPage Justinian Society of Lawyers. He has also served on the Board of Governors of the Illinois Statement Bar Association and the Board of Directors of the DuPage County Bar Association.
Bruno R. Marasso — Treasurer
Bruno R. Marasso is a Senior Associate Attorney at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, where he focuses his practice in the areas of automobile collisions, wrongful death, premises liability, police misconduct and institutional misconduct. Bruno has served on the Assembly of the Illinois State Bar Association and is an active member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Chicago Bar Association and American Association of Justice. He was named as an Emerging Lawyer by Law Bulletin Publishing Company for 2017 and 2018, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyer in 2018. While a law student at Chicago-Kent, he was a four-time recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award.
Michael D. Pisano — Secretary
Michael D. Pisano is an associate in Ice Miller’s Litigation Group who prosecutes and defends civil litigation matters with an emphasis in representing owners and construction professionals in claims for breach of contract, defective construction, construction delay, personal injury and property damage. He received his Juris Doctor magna cum laude from The John Marshall Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review. Among his many scholarships and awards were the Lupel & Amari Scholarship and the Justinian Society of Lawyers Scholarship. He has been an active Justinian since law school, serving on the Executive, Newsletter, Membership, Website and other committees. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” from 2014 to 2018.
