Meet the Team
Paul Goyette
RN Guardian was created as the nursing license defense practice area of Goyette, Ruano + Ulmer, offering nurses the same level of protection and legal advocacy traditionally reserved for other licensed professionals. As one of the founding figures in dedicated nursing license defense, Paul built RN Guardian to ensure nurses always have a knowledgeable and committed team in their corner.
Jennifer Coalson-Perez
Jennifer serves as Executive Director of RN Guardian. Her deep understanding of the challenges nurses face led her to join the firm and dedicate her work to nursing license defense. RN Guardian's mission is to stand beside every nurse with the support, guidance, and experienced legal defense they deserve.
Our Legal Team
Janelle Crandell
Practicing law for 22+ years
Janelle Crandell is a seasoned attorney with a diverse legal background spanning over two decades. Currently serving as an associate attorney at Goyette, Ruano + Ulmer since September 2021, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her practice. Janelle earned her Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2002 and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of South Florida in 1999. She is a member of the State Bar of California and the State Bar of Texas, showcasing her dedication to upholding the highest standards of legal professionalism across multiple jurisdictions.
Amanda Malucchi
Amanda Malucchi is an Associate whose practice includes labor and employment law, civil litigation, and professional license defense. She advocates for public sector employees across a spectrum of legal matters, including grievances, internal affairs investigations, administrative hearings, disciplinary actions, and critical incidents. Amanda also represents clients in civil employment matters, including discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, and wrongful termination claims. In addition, she represents licensed professionals in professional licensing and disciplinary matters, with a particular focus on representing nurses in investigations and proceedings before the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).
Amanda earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lincoln Law School, where she received several awards for trial advocacy and moot court. Amanda is a dedicated legal professional committed to protecting the rights, careers, and interests of her clients.
Eric Acevedo
Eric R. Acevedo has been an Attorney with the Goyette, Ruano + Ulmer teams since 2009 and previously worked as a legal research clerk for the team while attending law school since 2006. Eric temporarily left the firm in 2013 to move closer to his family and opened a private practice in South Lake Tahoe, California. In 2015, Eric became the Public Defender in Alpine County, California. During his time in the South Lake Tahoe area, Eric also worked as the self-help attorney for both Alpine and El Dorado Counties, where he assisted parties without legal representation in filing and responding to legal actions, including dissolution of marriages, child custody, unlawful detainers, and other small claims and civil actions. Eric returned to Goyette, Ruano + Ulmer in the fall of 2020, where he now focuses on the firm’s renowned Labor & Employment Department and Criminal department.
Eric has a vast amount of experience in the representation of public employees, specifically public safety employees, in a full range of areas, including but not limited to pre-disciplinary investigations and hearings, employee grievances and appeal hearings before local government committees, private arbitrators, and the State Personnel Board. Additionally, Eric continues to practice as a criminal defense attorney with experience in misdemeanor and felony cases.
Our Commitment is to You
At RN Guardian, the nursing license defense practice area of Goyette, Ruano + Ulmer, protecting your nursing license is more than legal work. It is personal. As one of the founding firms in nursing license defense, our team has spent years standing beside nurses facing some of the most stressful moments of their careers. Led by Paul Goyette, Jennifer Coalson-Perez, and a dedicated team of experienced attorneys and professionals, we provide focused, informed support for nurses facing license-related issues. We understand that your license represents more than a career. It is your livelihood, your passion, and your purpose. That is why our mission is to stand beside you with committed support and thoughtful legal strategies, every step of the way.