A Trial Lawyer’s Perspective. A Neutral’s Discipline.

When selecting a mediator, counsel and adjusters are evaluating more than personality or the legal experience on a resume. They are assessing judgment, credibility, and whether the mediator can meaningfully move a case.

Connie S. Ditto is an actively practicing trial attorney with more than 17 years of litigation experience. She brings real-time courtroom perspective to every mediation, grounded in how cases are actually evaluated, tried, and decided.

Her mediation philosophy is three-fold:

  • The path to settlement is paved by a thorough assessment and discussion of strengths, weaknesses, and risks of all parties
  • Honest discussions informed by historical and ongoing litigation, trial, and mediation experience can provide the parties the information each needs to reach a resolution
  • Zealous advocacy and settlement are not mutually exclusive

Connie Ditto

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Connie’s Bio

Rate Sheet

Because Connie continues to litigate complex matters, she understands:
  • How judges approach dispositive motions and evidentiary issues
  • How juries respond to liability and damage themes
  • The economic (and emotional) realities of trial preparation
  • The internal budgetary, reporting and authority structures that can affect settlement

She is comfortable engaging directly on strengths, weaknesses, exposure ranges, and trial risk.

Counsel can expect preparation, command of the issues, and a mediation day that is structured, efficient, and focused.

Connie has represented:
  • Plaintiffs and Defendants
  • Employers and Employees
  • Insureds and Businesses

That balanced background allows her to understand how each side evaluates leverage, risk tolerance, and settlement posture. She is deliberate about neutrality and maintains credibility with all participants in the room.

Prior to her legal career, Connie was a Registered Nurse in the ICU and Emergency Department at Parkland Hospital (now part of UT Southwestern Medical Center). Her training at Purdue University included caring for patients at the Veteran’s Administration and the Mayo Clinic.

From a young age, she was often required to share unwelcome information in a non-judgmental, compassionate way, without denigrating the truth. That experience shaped her ability to remain composed in high-pressure situations and to communicate clearly when the stakes are high.

  • Thorough pre-mediation review
  • Respect for counsel’s strategy and client relationships
  • Direct but professional risk analysis
  • Persistence when negotiations stall
  • Follow-up when cases need continued effort after mediation day

Her objective is not to force agreement, but to facilitate informed decision-making that leads to durable resolution.

Virtual and in-person mediations available statewide.

If you are evaluating neutrals and want a mediator who understands trial dynamics, respects the litigation process, and can assist parties in reaching practical resolution, Connie welcomes the opportunity to serve.