Facts
Full Name: Melinda Nicole Lombardi
Date of Birth: April 13th, 1971
First Appearance: 3.12 “Leave The Pieces”
Current Occupation: Lawyer, Joplin & Maverick Law Firm
Master of Law Degree, Columbia Law School
Previous: Lawyer, Harvey & Sons Law Firm
Hometown: Atlantic City, New Jersey
Current Residence: 813 Crystal Hill St., Stone Creek. [Bayou Oaks Condos #15]
Previous: 2634 W. Parker St., Stone Creek. [Callahan Condos #15]
Somewhere in New York City
Student Housing, Columbia Law School
Somewhere in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Relations
Parents: Hugo & Gina Lombardi
Siblings: Vincent Lombardi
Children: None
Significant Other(s): None
Previous: Holden Joplin, Dated in 2008; Broke-up in late 2008
Jason Clarke, Married in 1993; Divorced in 1998
Others: Dr. David Schmidt [Friend]
Diem Joplin [Friend]
History
Hugo and Gina Lombardi the owners of a small grocery store welcomed their second and last child, a baby girl named Melinda Nicole Lombardi into the world on April 13th, 1971. From that day on they raised her to work for everything she was given. Her older brother, Vincent, was troubled and constantly got in with the wrong crowds and it wasn’t until he was falsely accused of second degree murder that Melinda opened up to her true calling. After graduating High School, Melinda applied for and got into Columbia Law School. Although her parents refused to let her leave New Jersey, she left for school anyway.
In 1991 while attending Columbia Law Melinda met her future husband, Jason Clarke, and the two became close for the remainder of their studies. He proposed to her in 1993 and three days later they got married and moved to New York City where she started working for Harvey & Son’s Law Firm. Jason started working for the state. Their marriage sailed for five years without a hitch until her brother came back into her life. Newly released from prison after finally being found not guilty for the murder he was sentenced for, Vincent Lombardi, came to live with his sister and her husband. But Jason was hostile towards Vincent while Melinda kept sticking up for him. It wasn’t until after Jason filed for divorce that Melinda saw the error of her ways and caught her brother holding up a small liquor store. She later turned him in and in 1998 she left New York and her crumbled marriage behind.
Melinda started working for the Joplin & Maverick Law Firm, she settled into Stone Creek and became close friends with Diem Joplin who was also working at the Law Firm. When Diem wanted to start her own Private Investigations Service, it was Melinda who encouraged her to follow her dream and helped Diem get started. Melinda briefly dated Holden Joplin but decided that her career was more important than the stress of a relationship and ended their relationship, both leaving on good terms.
Dr. David Schmidt wanted to divorce his wife, Helen Tyree Schmidt, in 2012 and he asked Melinda to represent him. Although she wanted to play dirty to win the case he insisted they not stoop to Helen or William Maverick’s level.
Portrayed by: Marisa Tomei [2012-Present]
