Anthony Cottone

Experience

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  New York City Council

  Jun 1980 - Dec 1983

  Public Information Officer

  Wrote daily press releases and informed the media on events ranging from pending legislation to the ticker-tape parade thrown in honor of the freed Iranian hostages and the United States Supreme Court's review of the City Council's redistricting plan under the Voting Rights Act.

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  HUGHES, HUBBARD & REED (after merger with Sage, Gray, Todd & Sims)

  Sept 1985 - May 1988

  Associate Attorney

  At Sage, Gray, Cottone worked with John F. X. Peloso, former Chief Trial Counsel for the New York Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and assisted in the legal action by the Estate of Bob Marley to recover funds that had been embezzled by Marley's accountants and lawyers. See Bingham v. Zolt, 683 F.Supp.965 (S.D.N.Y. 1988).

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  CORRENTE, BRILL & KUSINITZ, LTD.

  Oct 1992 - Jan 1996

  Partner and Associate Attorney

  Acted as lead and second chair trial attorney in a wide variety of complex civil litigation.

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  WISTOW & BARYLICK, INC.

  May 1999 - May 2004

  Associate Attorney

  Acted as lead and second chair trial attorney in a wide variety of complex civil litigation.

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  City of Providence, Rhode Island

  May 2004 - Jul 2012

  DEPUTY CITY SOLICITOR, CHIEF OF LITIGATION

  • Litigation supervisor responsible for all case assignments in seventeen-attorney municipal law department• Successfully defended legality of various ordinances, including measures:(1) curbing youth addiction to nicotine. See Nat'l. Assoc. of Tobacco Outlets, Inc. v. City Providence, 731 F.3d 71 (1st Cir. 2013)(2) protecting workers displaced due to hotel ownership changes. See Rhode Island Hospitality Ass’n. v. City of Providence, 667 F.3d 17 (1st Cir. 2011) (3) making “honorable service” a condition precedent to the receipt of a municipal pension. See Ryan v. City of Providence, 11 A.3d 68 (R.I. 2011) (4) regulating the tow truck industry. See Grasso Serv. Ctr. Inc. v. Sepe and City of Providence, 962 A.2d 1283 (R.I. 2009)(5) requiring mediation and counseling prior to the institution of residential foreclosure proceedings. See Deutsche Bank Nat'l. Trust v. City Providence, C.A. No. PC 10-1240 (R.I. Superior Court 2010) • Successfully defended challenges to changes in the role of seniority in the hiring, transfer and assignment of teachers. See Providence Teachers' Union v. Brady, C.A. No. 09-356 (D.R.I. 2009) Show less

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  CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. HOUSING AUTHORITY

  Nov 2007 - May 2012

  HEARING OFFICER,

  • Conducted informal and evidentiary hearings with respect to contested actions by the Housing Authority terminating assistance or denying benefits.

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  R.I. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

  Sept 2013 - Mar 2020

  LEGAL COUNSEL/HEARING OFFICER

  • Represented the Department in civil litigation and internal administrative proceedings, and successfully defended a challenge to the Commissioner’s authority to prohibit provisions in collective bargaining agreements that use seniority as the sole basis for personnel decisions relating to teachers;• Served as hearing officer and conduct evidentiary hearings involving disputes over public education, including challenges to teacher terminations, charter schools, funding disputes with respect to residential and other out-of-district placements, and challenges to school disciplinary actions• Prepared legal advisories and review proposed legislation on a wide array of topics relating to public education• Represented Department in labor grievances and disputes Show less

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  R.I. Department of Education

  Mar 2020 - now

  Chief Legal Counsel

  Serves as top legal advisor to the R.I. Commissioner of Education and represents the State Department of Education in matters related to educational policy and law and labor relations;Manages four-attorney Legal Office which adjudicates all manner of complaints related to public education; responds to allegations of teacher and administrator misconduct and adjudicates petitions for annulment of professional certifications; reviews and drafts responses to requests for documents pursuant to the State’s version of the Freedom of Information Act; oversees the State Complaint and Due Process Complaint procedures pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; drafts and reviews contracts and other forms of agreements for the Department; provides legal advice with respect to the State intervention in the Providence Public School District;Represents Department in actions pending in the state and federal courts, including the successful defense of the Department:(1) in a case alleging that Rhode Island failed to provide adequate civics education in its public schools in violation of equal protection, due process, and the privileges and immunities clauses, and the constitutional guarantee of a republican form of government, see A.C. by WAHU v. McKee, 23 F.4th 37 (1st Cir. 2022); and (2) against a claim brought in Federal District Court that the closure of a high school in Providence was in violation of the Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1974. See Ysaura Mezon, et al. v. RIDE, et al., C.A. No.24-cv-00161-JJM-LDA (Settled July 18, 2024). Show less