I approach every mediation with patience, empathy and an abiding desire to bring the matter to a satisfactory resolution. Even as a litigator, I consistently tried to move my cases to resolution through Alternative Dispute Resolution, preferably by way of mediation. I am a very active mediator trained and able to employ a variety of approaches from the extremes of Facilitative and Evaluative. My most effective mediation tool is listening. I am able to tailor my approach to mediation to the desires of the parties and counsel. When I conduct mediation, it is for the purpose of resolving the matter and not “pro forma.” I take this process and my conduct, as well as my professional reputation as a conflict resolution professional, very seriously. I want the parties to any mediation I conduct to leave feeling as if they had accomplished something of value and were heard, even if the case does not settle. I am willing to work with the parties as long as it takes to come to a resolution; I will be the last person in the room; I will not give up until the case settles or all parties say they are done.
Services Offered
Mediation (Civil, Probate, Family)
Arbitration
Special Master/Referee
Case Evaluation
Areas of Experience
Business Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Unlawful Detainer Matters
Personal Injury
Professional Negligence & Organizational Disputes
Civil Rights
Cannabis Related Issues
Insurance Law
Commercial & Residential Real Estate
Eminent Domain
Quiet Title
Judicial Foreclosure
Wrongful Termination
Sexual Harassment
International Contract Disputes
Domestic Business Disputes
Construction Defects
Building Contractor Litigation
Medical Malpractice
Municipal Law
Education & Awards
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, West Oahu College – B.A. w/Distinction Psychology 1985
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW – J.D. 1988
Southwestern University School of Law: – Wildmon Merit Scholar
American Jurisprudence Award: Sales
California Bar Association Award for Pro Bono Work
Recognized by RCBA for Pro Bono Volunteer Work
One of Top Three Mediators for the Riverside Superior Court
Jane Addams Award for Family Law Mediation in the Riverside Superior Court
Solomon Award for Family Law Mediation in the Riverside Superior Court
ADR & Judicial Training
October 2020 – Virtual Employment Mediation People, Platforms & Processes
“Mediating the Litigated Case,” Mediation Training, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law
Mediation Training, RCBA Dispute Resolution Service, Inc.
“Mediating the Litigated Case,” Robert Tessier, Inland Valleys Justice Center
Formal training for Temporary Judges, training included: Judicial Conduct and Ethics
Fee Arbitration Training, California State Bar and Riverside County Bar associations
Co-sponsor, ADR Symposium, University of La Verne College of Law
Co-trainer, General Mediation Training, 40-hour course, Inland Valleys Justice Center
“Mediating the Litigated Case,” Robert Tessier and Donald B. Cripe, Inland Valleys Justice Center
“The Fallacy of Impasse,” Lee Jay Berman, American Mediation Institute
“Mediation in Litigation,” Donald B. Cripe, Inland Valleys Justice Center
Intensive Mediation Training, 32-hour course, The Center for Understanding in Conflict
American Arbitration Association University: Core Training
American Arbitration Association: Advanced Mediation Training
Dispute Resolution Services: The Difficult Party & Overcoming Impasse
24 Hr. CDPIE Intermediate Mediation Training
SBSC Judicial Conduct Training
OCMA Mediation Consortium
Trainer: 25 hr course for IVJC, Basic Mediation Training
American Arbitration Association Advanced Mediation Training
1999 – 2016 – Temporary Judge for Family Law, Civil and Criminal Departments, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
1999 – Present – Mediator with Riverside Dispute Resolution Service
1999 – Present – Mediator with Riverside Superior Court
2003 – Present – Mediator with Riverside Family Court
2006 – Present – Special Master, Riverside County Superior Courts
2009 – Present – Mediation Panel-Riverside Superior Court
2009 – Present – Mediator/Arbitrator for Inland Valleys Justice Center
2009 – 2011, 2017—Present – Kaiser Health Plan Independent Arbitrator (Medical Malpractice)
2009 – Present – Riverside Superior Court Family ADR Subcommittee
2009 – 2016 – Speaker: Loma Linda University Graduate School of Psychology “Mediation”
2009 – Present – Certified Mediator/Senior Mediator, Mediate.com Certification Program
2010 – 2011 – San Bernardino Courts Mediation “Triage” program developer for IVJC
2010 – Present – Special Master, San Bernardino Superior Courts
2010 – 2011 – IVJC Supervising Attorney
2010 – 2015 – IVJC Mediation Trainer for Staff, Interns and Mediators
2010 – Guest Speaker: University of LaVerne College of Law—Alternative Dispute Resolution
2010 – Present – Adjunct Professor of Law, University of LaVerne College of Law (ADR)
2011 – Present – Mediator, TAM Program, Riverside Superior Courts
2011 – Present – Southern California Mediation Association
2011 – Present – Association for Conflict Resolution
2011 – Guest Lecturer, CSU San Bernardino–Chinese Law Student Exchange Program: Mediation in California
2011 – 2012 – Associate Program Developer/Legal Advisor/Co-Author, C.A.R.E. Program, “Informed Divorce in California”
2012 – 2016 – Board of Directors, C.A.R.E. Counseling Center, San Bernardino, CA
2012—Present – American Arbitration Association: Roster of Commercial Arbitrators and Mediators
2012—Present – American Healthcare Lawyers Association: Mediator & Arbitrator
July 2012: – CSU San Bernardino: Presentation to students from the Chinese Southwest University of Political Science on the American System of Justice and the American Economic System and System of Finance
Sept 2012 – CSU San Bernardino: Presentation to Delegation of Senior Prosecutors from China on the administration of the Criminal Justice System in Inland Empire, California
March 2013 – CSU San Bernardino: Entrepreneurship Training—Conflict Management in Business
April 2013 – CSU San Bernardino: College of Education—Negotiation Skills
Sept 2013 – CSU San Bernardino: Presentation to Delegation of Senior Judges from China on the American Judiciary
October 2013 – Administrative Office of The Courts Discussion Group: Mediation
2013—Present – CSUSB College of Education: Lecturer-Basic Negotiation Skills; International Negotiation
2013–2015 – Claims Litigation Management Association
2014—2015 – Collaborative Divorce Professionals of the Inland Empire (Board)
2014—2017 – Consumer Attorneys Of California
March 2014 – CSU San Bernardino: Lecture to Sr. Delegation of Senior Administrators from Lower Mongolia, China: American Administration/Administrative Law Systems
2015—Present – Riverside Superior Court ADR Committee
2015—Present – BCS Mediation Training: Intermediate to Advanced Trainer
2016—Present – California Agriculture Mediation Program—Mediator
2019—Present – California Lawyers Association
Present – California Association of Realtors Mediation Panel
Present – Mediation Certification Consortium of California (MC3)
Published Articles
MEDIATION IN CIVIL & FAMILY CASES: The Care and Feeding of Trial Counsel;
MEDIATING THE CIVIL CASE: Great Expectations or Reality Check;
The ADR MYTH and other fictions;
THE ART OF MEDIATION IN THE REAL WORLD;
THE BOOGEYMAN OF FAMILY LAW MEDIATION;
Shhhh, it’s a secret! (Mediating Cases Involving Insurance Carriers);
MEDIATION IS ALWAYS VOLUNTARY—-NOT!;
MOM ALWAYS LIKED YOU BEST (or The Biased Mediator);
PATIENCE AND SOLITAIRE; and several more
Text Authorship: Contributing Author, Advanced Guide for Mediators, Susan Nauss Exon, West, 2014