Charles “Chas” Schoemaker, Jr.

chas
MC3-Certification-Mark
Mediator—Arbitrator
Retired Civil Trial Attorney (ABOTA)
Award Winning Mediator
Contact Information

Charles “Chas” Schoemaker, Jr.
(760) 413-0860
chas@camsmediation.com

Mediation/ADR Philosophy

Mediation provides an opportunity to resolve a dispute in a matter of hours, rather than languishing in the court system for months or even years. My ADR style is based upon a belief that the purpose of mediation is to assist the parties to find a resolution of their respective needs. My background and experience enable me to be either facilitative or evaluative as the circumstances require.

Background

My legal career as an attorney started at a firm that handled the defense of major injury and complex litigation cases for insured and self-insured clients. After leaving to start my own firm, I represented individuals, small businesses and public entities as plaintiffs in tort and commercial litigation. It was my privilege to represent one of the largest school districts in the country for thirty years. As an attorney, I have represented both plaintiffs and defendants.

My litigation experience includes:

  • General civil litigation
  • Business and contract disputes government tort liability
  • Real estate construction employment and personal injury matters of all levels for both the plaintiff and the defense.

Services Offered

  • Mediation
  • Arbitration
  • Case Evaluation

Areas of ADR Experience

  • General Civil Matters
  • Personal Injury (Simple to Catastrophic)
  • Employment Matters
  • Commercial disputes (Consumer and Inter-business)
  • Homeowner Association Issues
  • Government Entity Claims and Litigation Americans with Disabilities Act disputes
  • Real Estate (Commercial and residential)

Education & ADR Training

  • 1973 – B.A. Rutgers University
  • 1978 – University of West Los Angeles, School of Law J.D.
  • 2004 – Loyola School of Law, Conflict Resolution Training
  • 2007 – Pepperdine University, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution “Mediating the Litigated Case”
  • 2009 – Adult Resolutions and Mediation Services, Essentials of Elder Adult Mediation
  • 2020 – Advanced Mediator Training: RCBA/STRAUS INSTITUTE
  • 2020 – AOC Mediator Ethics On Line Training
  • Current – Yearly continuing legal education seminars for ADR topics

I was an Associate Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (since retiring from active practice I have been an inactive member) and have an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. My ADR experience started in the late 1980s as part of the Los Angeles Superior Court Arbitration Panel. My initial mediation training was Conflict Resolution Training at Loyola School of Law in 2004, after which I joined the ADR panel of the LASC. More and more of my time and practice became devoted to Alternative Dispute Resolution. Additional ADR training included the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University (2007) and Elder Adult Mediation Training from Adult Resolutions and Mediation Services (2009). Besides mediation cases through the LASC ADR program, I became involved with the Volunteer Settlement Officer Program, and then branched out to mediating cases in Riverside and San Bernardino. For the last few years I have been a full time mediator, and I now live and practice out of the Palm Springs area.

  • Admitted, State Bar of California
  • AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Riverside County Bar Association
  • Desert Bar Association
  • Southern California Mediation Association
  • ADR Panel of the Riverside Superior Court
  • Court of Appeal, 2nd District, Mediation Program
  • Court of Appeal, 4th District, Mediation Program
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • California Arbitration & Mediation Services (CAMS) ADR Panel
  • Mediation Certification Consortium of California: Certified Mediator

Interests

When not trying to resolve a dispute, I enjoy deep sea fishing, travel, golf and reading.