Board of Directors | LifeWallet

John H. Ruiz is the Founder of MSP Recovery and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since the company’s inception. Mr. Ruiz was named one of Lawyers of Distinction’s “2020 Power Lawyers”, for his accomplishments in healthcare law. He was also named “2019’s DBR Florida Trailblazer”, for his work in integrating data analytics into the practice of law, and for its positive impact on healthcare recoveries across the mainland U.S. and Puerto Rico. Over the course of his 30-year legal career, Mr. Ruiz has gained national recognition in class action, mass tort litigation, MDL consolidated cases, medical malpractice, products liability, personal injury, real estate, and aviation disaster cases. Recently, Mr. Ruiz led the legal strategy in the landmark victory handed down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, in MSP Recovery Claims Series v. Ace American (11th Circuit). In addition, he has certified more than 100 class actions and led MSP’s participation in Humana v. Western Heritage (11th Cir), MSP Recovery v. Allstate (11th Cir.), and MSPA Claims 1, LLC v. Kingsway Amigo Ins. Co. (11th Cir.). Mr. Ruiz has been involved as counsel in cases that have totaled more than $20 billion in settlements. These class actions resulted in some of the largest awards in Florida against major insurance companies. In total, Mr. Ruiz has certiﬁed class actions against major car insurers in the State of Florida, resulting in the current and potential redistribution of billions of dollars in improperly paid claims spanning a period of more than 10 years. Starting as early as 1996, Mr. Ruiz ﬁled class-action lawsuits on behalf of more than 30,000 Miami-Dade County residents against the Florida Department of Agriculture for trespassing onto the private properties of homeowners and chopping down their citrus trees without any compensation. The case was ultimately certiﬁed and the Department of Agriculture directly compensated all members of the aggrieved class. In 2001, Mr. Ruiz represented consumers in a class action lawsuit against Firestone that resulted in dozens of fatalities and thousands of serious blowouts. Mr. Ruiz was also hired as local counsel by numerous out of state law ﬁrms that had pending cases in Florida courts. The cases in aggregate settled for more than $30 million. Mr. Ruiz also represented the families of crash victims in a wrongful death suit against Chalk’s International Ocean Airway. Mr. Ruiz was the ﬁrst lawyer to ﬁle a limited fund class action. The case settled for a conﬁdential agreed amount. Mr. Ruiz is licensed to practice before the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the Florida Supreme Court. Mr. Ruiz has a proven track record of leadership, business entrepreneurship, and IT innovation.

Frank C. Quesada is the Co-Founder of MSP Recovery and has served as the Chief Legal Officer since its inception. Mr. Quesada is also a partner at MSP Recovery Law Firm. With over 15 years of healthcare and complex commercial litigation experience, Mr. Quesada oversees in-house attorneys and several nationally recognized law firms that assist the MSP Recovery Law Firm in their efforts. Additionally, he develops the company's legal strategies and spearheads execution. Notably, Mr. Quesada led the execution of federal appellate strategies in MSP cases resulting in landmark legal victories and new Medicare Secondary Payer Act precedent benefitting Medicare entities across the country. These legal victories include MSP Recovery v. Allstate (11th Circuit), MSPA Claims 1 v. Tenet (11th Circuit), MSPA Claims 1 v. Kingsway Amigo (11th Circuit), and MSP Recovery Claims Series v. Ace American (11th Circuit). Mr. Quesada currently serves on the Board of Directors of USA Water Polo, Inc.

Mr. Sternberg is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Miami-based Lionheart Capital, founded in 2010. Mr. Sternberg began his career assembling, acquiring and developing properties in emerging neighborhoods in New York City, which established his reputation for identifying assets with unrealized potential and combining innovative partnerships with efficient financing structures to realize above average returns. Mr. Sternberg came to the United States in 1993 after completing three years of military service within an elite combat unit for the Israeli Defense Forces. Under Mr. Sternberg’s leadership, Lionheart Capital executed numerous prominent real estate transactions and repositions, including The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Miami Beach, which resulted in a total sell-out value in excess of $550 million, as well as purchase of the development’s site, the former Miami Heart Institute. Additionally, Mr. Sternberg led the $120 million sale of The Seagull Hotel, making it the highest grossing hotel sale of 2020 in Miami Beach. Mr. Sternberg and Lionheart Capital are currently in development on a number of other projects, including retail properties in Miami’s fashion and culture epicenter, The Design District. In addition to The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach, Lionheart Capital also developed The Ritz-Carlton Residences Singer Island, Palm Beach, cementing a reputation for developing high-end luxury branded properties. In 2017, Mr. Sternberg founded Out of the Box Ventures, LLC, a Lionheart Capital subsidiary, to acquire and reposition distressed retail properties throughout the United States. With 19 properties in 14 states, Out of the Box Ventures currently controls over 5 million square feet of big box stores, shopping centers and enclosed regional mall properties with plans to improve and expand upon these acquisitions. Mr. Sternberg and Lionheart Capital are dedicated to working with best-in-class operators and partners such as Marriot International. Lionheart Capital has been able to execute numerous, marquee transactions due largely in part to Mr. Sternberg’s extensive industry relationships particularly with key institutional investors. In March 2020, Mr. Sternberg became Chairman of Nasdaq-listed OPES, which on June 30, 2020, announced a definitive agreement to merge with BurgerFi International LLC. The OPES-BurgerFi merger closed on December 16, 2020 to form BurgerFi International Inc.

Beatriz (Betty) Assapimonwait has over 38 years of experience in the managed healthcare industry. Ms. Assapimonwait was, up until August 2021, Regional President for the South Florida region at Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM), one of the largest private insurance health insurers in the U.S. with a focus on administering Medicare Advantage plans. In her role at Humana, Inc., Ms. Assapimonwait was responsible for developing market strategies and leading all market operations for all Medicare lines of business, including HMOs and PPOs for the South Florida region. Prior to her role at Humana, she served as CEO of Family Physicians of Winter Park, Inc., until its acquisition by Humana, Inc., where from December 2016 to July 2019, she led the strategic and operational efforts of a global risk MSO with 22 primary clinics in the Central Florida Region. Additionally, she served as the Vice President of Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans at Aetna, Inc. from November 2014 to November 2016; Chief Operations Officer at Innovacare Health, from January 2014 to October 2014; Founder and President of Seven Stars Quality Healthcare, from July 2013 to December 2013; and Regional President for the North Florida region at Humana, Inc., from January 2009 to June 2013. Ms. Assapimonwait was appointed to serve on the board of directors of CareMax Inc. (Nasdaq:CMAX) in September 2021 and also served as the Chair of the Strategy and Operations Committee. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida International University in 1983, and is certified in Healthcare Compliance by the Health Care Compliance Association and in HIPAA Compliance from Kennesaw State University. She has won several awards and commendations, including being a Stevie Award Finalist of the American Business Awards for Best Customer Service Organization in 2004 and appointed Preceptor and Clinical Adjunct Faculty for the Healthcare Administration Program in 1997 at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Michael Arrigo is a co-founder and the chief executive officer of No World Borders, Inc., a healthcare data, regulations, and economics firm with clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device, hospital, surgical center, physician group, diagnostic imaging, laboratory and genetic testing, health information technology and health insurance markets. In his role at No World Borders, Inc., Mr. Arrigo advises MAOs who provide health insurance under Part C of the Medicare Act and serves as an expert witness regarding medical coding and medical billing, fraud damages, HIPAA privacy, and Electronic Health Record software. Prior to his current role, Mr. Arrigo served as Vice President at First American Financial (NYSE: FAF) from October 2002 to February 2007, overseeing eCommerce and regulatory compliance technology initiatives for top mortgage banks; Vice President of Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF) from 2002 to 2003; chief executive officer of one of the first cloud-based billing software companies, Erogo, from 2000 to 2002; Vice President of Marketing for an email encryption and security software company until its acquisition by a company that merged into Axway Software SA (Euronext: AXW.PA) from 1999 to 2000; CEO of LeadersOnline, an online recruiting venture of Heidrick & Struggles from 1997 to 1999; management consultant to Hewlett Packard, Oracle and Symantec from 1994 to 1997; Vice President of Marketing for a software company acquired by a company that merged into Cincom Systems from 1992 to 1994; Product Manager at Ashton-Tate from 1987 to 1992 responsible for database software products including Microsoft / Sybase SQL Server. Mr. Arrigo earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1981. His post-graduate studies include biomedical ethics at Harvard Medical School, biomedical informatics at Stanford Medical School, blockchain and crypto economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and training as a Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA).

Thomas Hawkins has completed hundreds of transactions including acquisitions of publicly traded and private companies, financings, divestitures, complex joint ventures and partnerships resulting in significant positive financial impact for investors. With experience in multiple industry verticals, Mr. Hawkins has served on boards, board committees and as board secretary in public and private corporations, advising boards on sophisticated transactions, risk and crisis management in highly regulated industries and developing corporate governance infrastructure. Mr. Hawkins helped develop the legal division of Blockbuster, beginning his tenure there when there were only 23 stores, and was promoted to General Counsel early in his tenure. As General Counsel, he led the $8.5 billion sale to Viacom in 1994, with 5500 stores in 14 countries, and other film, production and distribution businesses, and the related tender for Paramount Communications. Mr. Hawkins also helped build the Corporate Development department at AutoNation that delivered over 300 transactions, $5 billion in acquisitions, and grew into the largest publicly traded automotive retailer. Acquisitions formed AutoNation’s dealer network and subsequent spin off companies including ANC Rental Corp., owner of National Car Rental and Alamo Car Rental, and Republic Services, a solid waste company. Mr. Hawkins also drove strategic alignment as member of the executive leadership team for Mednax Health, a high growth, high margin healthcare company which experienced a 500% + market cap increase and 300% increase in revenue over 9 years, and Mr. Hawkins also initiated the Government Relations function for this highly regulated business and partnered in the launch of new service lines to fuel additional growth. In 2020, Mr. Hawkins served on the board of directors of a newly established private equity management company providing oversight for businesses engaged in the automotive retail, healthcare, technology enabled services and waste management industries. Mr. Hawkins currently serves on the board of directors of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan and Jumptuit Inc., a data analytics technology company. Mr. Hawkins also serves on the board of directors of Lionheart III and Lionheart IV. Mr. Hawkins received his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University in 1986 and his A.B. in Political Science from the University of Michigan in 1983. Mr. Hawkins is qualified to serve as a director due to his previous board and committee service across multiple industries.

Roger Meltzer has practiced law at DLA Piper LLP since 2007 and has held various roles: Global Co-Chairman, since 2015, and currently as Chairman Emeritus; Americas Co-Chairman, since 2013; Member, Office of the Chair, since 2011; Member, Global Board, since 2008; Co-Chairman, U.S. Executive Committee, since 2013; Member, U.S. Executive Committee, since 2007; and Global Co-Chairman, Corporate Finance Practice, 2007 through 2015. Prior to joining DLA Piper LLP, Mr. Meltzer practiced law at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP from 1977 through 2007 where he was a member of the Executive Committee from 1987 through 2007, Co-Administrative Partner and Hiring Partner from 1987 through 1999, and Partner from 1984 through 2007. Mr. Meltzer currently serves on the Advisory Board of Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession (May 2015—Present); Board of Trustees, New York University Law School (September 2011—Present); and the Corporate Advisory Board, John Hopkins, Carey Business School (January 2009—December 2012). He has previously served on the board of directors of: The Legal Aid Society (November 2013 to January 2020), Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (December 2000 to February 2020) and The Coinmach Service Corporation (December 2009 to June 2013). Mr. Meltzer has also received several awards and honors and has been actively involved in philanthropic activity throughout his career. Mr. Meltzer received Juris Doctor degree in law from New York University School of Law and an A.B. from Harvard College. In December 2021, Mr. Meltzer joined the board of directors of certain subsidiaries of Nordic Aviation Capital, an international aircraft leasing company that filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in December of 2021. In February 2021, Mr. Meltzer joined the board of directors and the audit committee of Haymaker Acquisition Corp. III (NASDAQ: HYAC) (“HYAC”), a special purpose acquisition corporation, and Ubicquia LLC, a privately-held smart lighting solutions provider. Mr. Meltzer also serves on the board of directors of Lionheart III and Lionheart IV. Mr. Meltzer is qualified to serve as a director due to his experience representing clients on high-profile, complex, and crossborder matters and his leadership qualities.