Joseph DiNovo graduated magna cum laude in 1975 from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law in Syracuse, New York in 1980. Mr. DiNovo is admitted to the practice of law in the States of New York, Ohio and Florida. He is also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and the District Courts for the Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida and Southern District of Ohio. Mr. DiNovo served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable A. William Sweeney, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio where he assisted the court in the certiorari review of a broad range of civil and criminal cases.
While practicing in the State of Ohio, Mr. DiNovo was engaged in both civil and criminal appellate advocacy as well as environmental law and policy - particularly in the areas of water quality and resource protection. In this capacity, Mr. DiNovo successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Ohio for a more equitable and protective allocation of water rights in the case of Cline v. American Aggregates Corporation, 15 Ohio St. 3d 384, 15 OBR 501, 474 N.E. 2d 324 (1984). The resulting decision of the Supreme Court overruled a judicial precedent dating to 1861. Mr. DiNovo further served as co-counsel in litigation concerning the anti-degradation rule implementing the federal Clean Water Act in Rivers Unlimited, Incorporated, et. al. v. Schregardus, 86 Ohio Misc. 2d 78, 685 N.E. 2d 603 (1997). In recognition for these and other efforts, Mr. DiNovo received the Conservationist of the Year Award from the Izaak Walton League of America and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Environmental Council.
While practicing in the State of Florida, Mr. DiNovo has served as Appellate Staff Attorney for the Florida Circuit Court for the 19th Judicial Circuit and as an Assistant Hernando County Attorney focusing on environmental, land use and waterways issues as well as representing the interests of the county in real estate foreclosure proceedings. Mr. DiNovo has also served as Putnam County Attorney advising the Board of County Commissioners with respect to a variety of legal issues and providing legal guidance to county departments - particularly with respect to procurement issues, contractor licensing issues, transactional matters and emergency management issues arising as a result of Hurricane Dorian.
Mr. DiNovo primarily advises and represents Monroe County in the areas construction law, contracting, permitting and procurement.