Contra Costa
LAWYER
Volume 28, Number 5 | September 2015
Alternative Dispute Resolution
The headline says one thing. The story says something else. You want someone to help you make sense of it all.
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5/2015
Contra Costa 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nicholas Casper President Elva Harding President-Elect Philip Andersen Secretary James Wu Treasurer Stephen Steinberg Ex Officio Ericka Ackeret Dean Barbieri Oliver Bray Mary Carey Wendy McGuire Coats Michelle Ferber
Peter Hass Reneé Livingston David Marchiano Laura Ramsey Katherine Wenger
LAWYER Volume 28 Number 5 | September 2015
The official publication of the
B A R A S S O C I A T I O N
FEATURES THE FUTURE OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION IS HERE
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by S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour
UPPING OUR GAME: MINDFULNESS AND MEANING IN MEDIATION
CCCBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Theresa Hurley | 925.370.2548 | thurley@cccba.org CCCBA main office 925.686.6900 | www.cccba.org
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by Barbara S. Bryant, Esq.
Barbara Arsedo Emily Day
LRIS Coordinator Systems Administrator and Fee Arbitration Coordinator
RESOLUTION OF HIGH CONFLICT DISPUTES
Dawnell Blaylock
Communications Anne Wolf Coordinator Education and Programs Coordinator
by Ron Mullin
Jennifer Comages
PROPOSED RULE CHANGES FOR THE DISCOVERY FACILITATOR PROGRAM
Membership Coordinator
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by Margaret J. Grover
CONTRA COSTA LAWYER CO-EDITORS EDITORIAL BOARD Harvey Sohnen Suzanne Boucher
925.258.9300 925.933.1500 Nicole Mills Patricia Kelly 925.351.3171 925.258.9300 BOARD LIAISON David Pearson 925.287.0051 Candice Stoddard 925.942.5100 Samantha Sepehr 925.287.3540 COURT LIAISON James Wu Stephen Nash 925.658.0300 925.957.5600
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ARBITRATOR DISCLOSURE
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A MEDIATOR’S DILEMMA: COMPETING INTERESTS IN THE SAME ROOM
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by Paul Dubow
by Malcolm Sher
PRINTING Steven’s Printing
THE PERFECT MEDIATION
925.681.1774
by Hon. Richard J. Flier (Ret.)
PHOTOGRAPHER Moya Fotografx
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510.847.8523
DEPARTMENTS The Contra Costa Lawyer (ISSN 1063-4444) is published 12 times a year - 6 times online-only - by the Contra Costa County Bar Association (CCCBA), 2300 Clayton Road, Suite 520, Concord, CA 94520. Annual subscription of $25 is included in the membership dues. Periodical postage paid at Concord, CA. POSTMASTER: send address change to the Contra Costa Lawyer, 2300 Clayton Road, Suite 520, Concord, CA 94520. The Lawyer welcomes and encourages articles and letters from readers. Please send them to contracostalawyer@cccba.org. The CCCBA reserves the right to edit articles and letters sent in for publication. All editorial material, including editorial comment, appearing herein represents the views of the respective authors and does not necessarily carry the endorsement of the CCCBA or the Board of Directors. Likewise, the publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or service offered unless it is specifically stated in the ad that there is such approval or endorsement.
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INSIDE | by John Cavin
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | by Nick Casper
20 CENTER | All Sections’ Summer Mixer [photos] Gala Reception Invitation MCLE Spectacular SAVE THE DATE 2015 Sustaining Law Firms 27
STUDENTS LEARN THE REALITY OF LAW IN GJELL’S SUMMER PROGRAM | Andrew R. Gillin
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PRO BONO IN CONTRA COSTA
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ETHICS CORNER | by Carol M. Langford
34 CALENDAR 38 CLASSIFIEDS
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inside John Cavin
Maggie Grover’s article looks at pending changes to the Contra Costa Superior Court Discovery Facilitator program, and Paul Dubow summarizes recent developments in arbitrator disclosure, and the potential impact of failure to disclose relevant information. “A Mediator’s Dilemma: Competing Interests in the Same Room,” written by Malcolm Sher, addresses the practical and ethical questions faced by a mediator when a litigant and her attorney are at odds.
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elcome to the 2015 Alternative Dispute Resolution edition of the Contra Costa Lawyer magazine. The ADR Section of our Bar Association consists of lawyers and retired judges who litigate, mediate and arbitrate, as well as serve as special masters, early neutral evaluators and settlement neutrals for the courts in Contra Costa County, and often in our neighboring counties. Collectively, these dedicated individuals donate hundreds of hours of pro bono time and service to our legal community every year. I am extremely proud to serve the CCCBA and to represent these dedicated members as Chairperson of the ADR Section this year. Together, we share a common passion for helping litigants, litigators and the court by facilitating resolution of disputes. This month’s Contra Costa Lawyer magazine features articles written by seven of our section members. Several of these articles will introduce you to some areas of the ADR practice field that you may not have encountered or even considered. In her article entitled, “The Future of Dispute Resolution is Here,” Lucia Kanter St. Amour describes how mediation principles are being applied in some of our public schools using the Restorative Practices method. Barbara Bryant’s article, “Upping Our Game: Mindfulness and Meaning in Mediation,” discusses the effects of stereotypes and biases in mediation and how a mediator can minimize those effects. In his article, “Resolution of High Conflict Disputes,” Ron Mullin provides helpful pointers in moving emotionally charged situations to a mutually satisfactory resolution.
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I am also thrilled to have the Honorable Richard Flier (ret.) provide his perspective on “The Perfect Mediation.” We think you will enjoy reading about these updates on our practice and some of the lesser known corners of ADR world. A little more about the ADR Section: In addition to regularly interacting with court staff and judges, the board has taken an active role in following the California Law Revision Commission’s two-year study of mediation confidentiality as the commission decides whether or not to propose legislation that would make certain exceptions to the mediation confidentiality provided by California Evidence Code Section 1119. In May, our section’s annual Spring ADR Roundtable featured a presentation and discussion on the implication of possible changes to mediation confidentiality. The ADR Section’s annual calendar of events typically includes a Self-Represented Litigant Brown Bag seminar and our Fall Annual Lunch Meeting, which will be held on Friday October 16, 2015, featuring Steven G. Mehta, a well-known mediator, author and public speaker from Southern California as our guest speaker. The section also actively participates in the annual CCCBA MCLE Spectacular in November. We invite everyone interested in the realm of ADR to join us at our Fall luncheon and get to know your ADR section. s John Cavin is a Shareholder with Hoge Fenton in Pleasanton. His practice focuses on litigation and mediation throughout Northern California. He currently is completing his second term on the CCCBA ADR Section Board and serves as its 2015 Chairperson.
president’s message
The Jury Trial
A
s this issue of the Contra Costa Lawyer is devoted to Alternative Dispute Resolution, I thought I would examine the natural endpoint after one common form of ADR—mediation—fails: The jury trial. For litigators, the jury trial is the most exalted and noble proceeding in the practice of law, marking the critical milestones and turning points that delineate our careers. It is also something that is to be avoided, if at all possible. The number one reason we work so hard to avoid trials is uncertainty. This is often a prominent touchstone for mediators when they discuss why a case should be settled: You never know what a jury is going to do. Having tried a number of cases as lead counsel myself, and having my finger on the pulse of jury verdicts since I began practicing, I would heartily agree with this assessment. Generally, juries “get it right,” finding for (or against) the side that has met (or not) its burden of proof. But sometimes juries get it wrong, based on a misapprehension of the evidence, failure to follow the law or hidden biases.
of trial. Often, costs double or triple in a matter of days due to jury fees, expert witness costs, the expense of creating demonstrative evidence, etc. This can lead to a situation of diminishing returns: A verdict in a plaintiff’s favor could be equal to a settlement for considerably lesser sums months earlier due to the mere avoidance of trial costs. Being on the other side of the bar, it is also easy to lose sight of what trials are like from the juror’s perspective. One of the great American rites of passage, lamented along with trips to the DMV, is jury service. Even lawyers can relate to the annoyance of sifting through the mail and coming across a juror summons. Some of the complaints are warranted: No other civic duty has the potential to be so disruptive, requiring you to turn aside your daily obligations for days, weeks or even months at a time. Heck, these days you can even do most DMV tasks online, or at worst, make an appointment. Not so with jury duty. You can’t appear for jury duty by way of social media, follow the evidence in a live stream and tweet in your verdict.
Jurors also can reach the right decision, but for the wrong reasons. I have spoken to a number of jury forepersons post-verdict, and the adage that jury decisions are like making sausage can be uncannily accurate.
But jury duty is also an extraordinary experience once the process begins. You can witness the transformation with most juries. During voir dire through opening statements, jurors shuffle in and out of the courtroom with annoyed expressions.
The other obvious reason we strive to settle cases is the expense
As the evidence comes in, something remarkable tends to happen:
Nick Casper CCCBA Board President Jurors become invested in the outcome. Suddenly, jurors are as thick as thieves in the hallways, laughing, sharing personal histories and trading phone numbers. Like any intense experience within a small group, trials have a strong coalescing effect. The jury trial is rightfully the cornerstone of our judicial system—a brilliant conception millennia old in which average citizens decide critical issues that affect people’s liberties, rights or matters of great public import. But there is considerable downside for both litigators and lay people alike. ADR is also a brilliant contrivance that allows us to avoid the jury trial whenever possible. s As an associate with Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook since 2007, Nick Casper represents injured individuals in cases involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, employment discrimination/harassment and civil rights violations. Nick has been lead counsel in five civil jury trials.
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The Future of Dispute Resolution is Here by S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour
O
ne morning, when my youngest son was in the second grade, I was barking at him to hurry up getting dressed so we wouldn’t be late. I wasn’t particularly friendly about it. My son became visibly upset and announced, “I feel nervous and anxious when you rush me to get dressed using a mean voice.” And then he drove it home, his face flushed with emotion and choking back tears: “And that’s my ‘I Statement,’ Mommy!” Two weeks earlier, teaching the Mediation Clinic at UC Hastings, I had been training law students— adults, mind you—on “I Statements” and re-framing technique; they had not even heard of “I Statements,” much less practiced them in real life. My reptilian-brained 1970s Illinois-bred internal voice wanted
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to retort, “I don’t care how you feel about it; just get it done!” But I didn’t (because even I have evolved beyond the draconian Midwestern conflict approach of my youth). Indeed, I found myself feeling thoroughly impressed—and schooled— by my son. Instead, I offered a conciliatory smile and calmly inquired, “Where did you learn about ‘I Statements?’” He shrugged and answered, “In school.” How does this conversation shed light on the future of mediation? Thirty years ago, few people were familiar with mediation. Today, although many laypeople and lawyers alike still cannot differentiate between mediation and arbitration (which are very different forms of ADR), we see mediation used more prominently as a mechanism for dispute resolution and litigation settlement.
Becoming a full-time mediator is now an accepted career and mediation certification courses are regularly offered by local bar associations, community dispute resolution groups and other dispute resolution organizations. Clients now commonly demand an opportunity to mediate as a means of managing costs. In short, mediation has become mainstream. In the future, we can expect that mediation methodology will not to be relegated exclusively to the process of legal conflict resolution, but will be incorporated into everyday life. Based on the Restorative Practices (RP) method now being taught in some public schools, including those in the San Francisco and Oakland Unified School Districts, our children are learning conflict resolution techniques as early as kindergarten.
Remember when you were in middle school? Remember when someone got into a fight in the hallway, cheated on a test or stole another student’s Sony Walkman from their backpack? The response was swift and punitive: The offender was sent to detention (at a minimum). No discussion, no excuses—no one cared how anybody felt about the situation. The offender had committed a transgression of social behavior and that was that. Moreover, when he/she got home later, the parents grounded the offender from watching “Remington Steele” for three weeks. Thus, he/she was shamed both publicly and privately. The offender had done a bad thing, and perhaps was even told that he/she was a bad person. Well, times have changed and education policy and pedagogy have changed along with it. When you enter the upper yard at Grattan Elementary School in the
Cole Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, you are greeted by the following poster at the building entrance:
pairing harm that may have been caused by their own actions,” and still includes “a healthy place for consequences.”
“When responding to conflict, a restorative approach consists in asking the following key questions:
Robertson opined that “the hardest part is reshaping belief systems and practices of our adults who tend to resort back to ‘old school’ practices [of blaming and shaming].”
1. What happened, and what were you thinking at the time? 2. What have you thought about since? 3. Who has been affected by what happened and how? 4. What about this has been the hardest for you? 5. What do you think needs to be done to make things as right as possible?” Jean Robertson, a veteran teacher and long-time principal in the San Francisco Unified School District, now serving at the helm of Glen Park Elementary, describes RP as “a gift.” It teaches students “the skills necessary for de-escalation and re-
Northern California Mediator / Arbitrator 18 years as Mediator 27 years as Arbitrator 35 years in Civil Practice
Roger F. Allen 510.832-7770 Ericksen, Arbuthnot 155 Grand Avenue, Suite 1050 Oakland, CA 94612
rallen@ericksenarbuthnot.com
• Training includes Mediation Course at Pepperdine University 1995 • Serving on Kaiser Medical Malpractice Neutral Arbitrators Panel • Settlement Commissioner, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties • Experienced in all areas of Tort Litigation, including injury, property damage, fire loss, malpractice, construction defect
In response to parent questions about discipline during a group orientation, A.P. Giannini Middle School Vice Principal Tai Schoeman briefly explained the RP approach. He revealed that if a student steals an iPod from another student’s backpack, RP is more effective at molding desirable behavior and discouraging repeat transgressions; RP invites everyone to slow down and examine the problem, as opposed to slapping a superficial and temporary punishment on the student. While such “slowing down and examining” may seem like more work up front, Schoeman noted that it pays in dividends—not just with the individuals involved in an isolated conflict, but in “a culture” that arises through regular use of RP. This culture also promotes a sense of empowerment (a cornerstone of mediation, which we mediators call “self determination”) that students are competent to resolve their own problems without necessarily requiring an authority figure to dictate terms. Ted Wachtel at the International Institute for Restorative Practices, sums up the fundamental premise of RP: “People are happier, more cooperative and productive, and more likely to make positive changes when those in authority do things WITH them, rather than TO them or FOR them.” The teaching of RP in schools creates interesting questions for mediators: If our children are learning sophisticated and nuanced communication and conflict resolution skills during their formative years in school, will we even need
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The Future of Dispute Resolution cont. from page 7
Elder Law is
mediators in the future? Is our job security at risk? Or will mediation skills become so conventional that the profession will expand?
Until there’s a cure, people with the disease will need caregiving and legal advice. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately one in ten families has a relative with this disease. Of the four million people living in the U.S. with Alzheimer’s disease, the majority live at home — often receiving care from family members.
In any event, if these public school programs provide a glimpse of the future, mediation could be seamlessly woven into the tapestry of everyday social and professional interactions because our children are learning the language and the skills of mediation as part of their fundamental education. s S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour serves on the CCCBA ADR Board, is Principal of Pactum Factum Dispute Resolution based in Walnut Creek and is Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Autism family support organization, Spectrum Strategies.
The average survival rate is eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s — some live as few as three years after diagnosis, while others live as long as 20. Most people with Alzheimer’s don’t die from the disease itself, but from pneumonia, a urinary tract infection or complications from a fall.
If the diagnosis is Alzheimer’s, call elder law attorney
Michael J. Young
Estate Planning, Disability, Medi-Cal, Long-term Care & VA Planning Protect your loved ones, home and independence.
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Upping Our Game: Mindfulness and Meaning in Mediation by Barbara S. Bryant, Esq.
W
hether you are a relatively new mediator or have been mediating for decades, you may ask yourself on occasion why a mediation didn’t settle, or even when it did, why one or more sides was unhappy with the result even when it made economic sense for all.
pathize, and/or how we measure the personal or professional harm a plaintiff has experienced.
From this author’s own experience and that of various colleagues, it seems evident we all can improve our mediation skills and results by bringing greater awareness to our inner resources, and greater attention to the various interpretations assigned by participants and ourselves to the statements and actions leading to an underlying conflict.
Happily, there are steps we can take to minimize the impact of any such biases on our mediation process and outcome. One is to familiarize ourselves with the online Implicit Association Test created by researchers at Harvard University, which focuses on uncovering and measuring our hidden biases, including those based on race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, weight, age, disability and Arab-Muslim status. (www.implicit.harvard.edu).
Implicit Bias One of the defining characteristics of mediation is that the mediator is an impartial person to all participants (or “multi-partial,” as it is sometimes stated). Most of us take this role seriously and apply it to the best of our ability, putting aside biases we know we have, such as those based on our politics or personal histories. At the same time, we are learning more about biases we may have but not know about. Not only are they unconscious, but often antithetical to what we consciously believe. These “implicit” biases can unknowingly impact our mediation filters, for example, in who we feel is more credible, with whom we most em-
These implicit biases may be based on protected categories, such as sex, race, gender, religion, disability or age. They also may be based on other criteria, such as a person’s physical appearance, speaking style or emotional affect.
Another useful step is to read more about prejudice—how we learn it and what we can do to minimize it. Many resources are compiled by UnderstandingPrejudice.org and are available at www.understandingprejudice.org.
Emotions in Mediation There was a tongue-in-cheek saying in the 1970s women’s movement that “When women feel hurt, they cry; when men feel hurt, they start wars.” Stereotypical and hyperbolic to be sure, but thought-provoking as well. All too often, stereotyped sex/
gender roles are reinforced—even today. Boys and men still are taught not to cry or show what are considered “vulnerable” emotions. Anger and pride are the more accepted forms. Crying is still considered more appropriate for women, with anger still more criticized. As mediators, to what extent have we internalized this double standard? To what extent are we comfortable with the emotions of others in a mediation setting? Are we more comfortable with others’ anger and indignation than with their tears or other expressions of sadness? Or are we comfortable with tears but immobilized by anger? How comfortable/aware are we with our own emotions in mediations? Do we suppress them to remain neutral or to feel in charge? Or are we comfortable feeling or being perceived as feeling empathy with the anger or sadness being expressed by others? Can we use it as a way of validating the work participants have done? Why or why not? There are no correct answers to these questions. But as mediators, we need to be mindful of not only the ideas and emotions of the participants, but also how we are reacting to them. Such awareness can help us acknowledge and address the needs and interests of the parties, as well as reduce the chances that our implicit biases are interfering with our effectiveness in understanding and supporting the parties in ways they need.
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Upping Our Game,
tive and react in kind. Not all, but many conflicts arise from a similar dynamic and thus take on a life of their own (including at times pre-mediation litigation between opposing counsel).
cont. from page 9
When we are clear about our feelings, and their source, we can be more skillful in generating questions and ideas for participants, and for moving beyond a potential impasse. For example, when we are told by a party representative, “It’s just a business decision,” do we believe that is so and talk only about numbers? Or do we sense deeper personal feelings going on within the representative, and find skillful ways to work with these feelings and move the parties not only beyond impasse, but to a more satisfying result for all? To some extent, a fear of emotions, or of being unable to handle them, is at the heart of the current trend to avoid a substantive joint session at the beginning of a mediation. Often there is a concern that each side will just blame the other and cause more resentment. While this is a valid concern, and does happen at times, a mediator or attorney well-trained in working with negative emotions can turn these sessions into ones of greater understanding and commitment to forging a positive outcome. Indeed, some forms of mediation, including those involving business or employment matters, take place almost exclusively within the same room, with the parties talking in front of one another with guided mediator intervention. But even without a substantive joint session, the mediator’s ability to acknowledge and work with negative feelings on both sides can bridge the most intractable dispute and get it resolved.
Overcoming the Intent-Impact Duality
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Ultimately, a sensitivity to implicit bias, an awareness of our own feelings, emotions and judgments, and a facility for learning and conveying different meanings among the parties, serve us well in defusing hostility, increasing our rate of settlement and enhancing the satisfaction level of all those for whom we mediate. s Barbara S. Bryant is a full-time mediator and mediator coach, focusing on employment law and discrimination/harassment in employment, housing, educational and business settings. She teaches Sexual and Gender Harassment Law at UC Berkeley Law, and is an Executive Committee Member of the State Bar’s Labor & Employment Section, and Board Member of the CCCBA ADR Section.
ConServAtorShiPS ProBAteS CriMinAl DefenSe David B. Pastor
CCCBA MeMBer SinCe 1977
Many of the conflicts we mediate arise from a simple intent-impact duality. In essence, this duality arises when we measure an act of ours by our intention, and the act of another by its impact on us. If our intent is good, we expect our action to be received as such, and may resent it when it isn’t. Conversely, the act of another may be motivated by a good intention, yet it feels negative to us when received, so we assume a bad mo-
Mediation then involves learning about each side’s intentions and reactions of the other, reducing resentments by translating the divergent meanings that have arisen back to each side, and finding mutually agreeable terms for resolution.
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Law Offices of Candice E. Stoddard 1350 Treat Blvd., Suite 420 Walnut Creek, CA 94597
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Resolution of High Conflict Disputes by Ron Mullin
Many times, mediators are brought into high conflict situations involving personal relationships, such as family law matters or estate administration after the parents have died.
W
hat is conflict? It seems like a simple term. Most of us know it when we see it. Just observing conflict can raise our blood pressure, make us sweat and raise our heart rates. But an analysis and definition of the term is helpful to set the stage for a common understanding of its components and to examine some processes that may be available to diffuse conflict, so that the parties can move toward a resolution. Conflict can be defined in many ways, but for our purposes of exploring the types of disputes that come before a mediator, the definition propounded by Dean Pruitt and Jeffrey Rubin, social scientists who focused on conflict resolution, may be the most helpful. They found that “conflict” means “perceived divergence of interest, or a belief that the parties’ current aspirations cannot be achieved simultaneously.”1 “High” conflict is an exacerbated form of conflict usually driven by high levels of anger or other non-cooperative types of behavior that include avoidance, competitiveness, antagonism and coercion.
It is vitally important for mediators to know how to handle high conflict situations if they are going to be able to successfully facilitate a resolution that ends the conflict and allows the disputants to move forward with the rest of their lives. Cooperative conflict resolution strategies work only when both sides share a willingness to pursue mutually favorable solutions. In other words, if a disputant is looking only to win or to punish, selfishness will likely be met with selfishness, force will be met with more force, avoidance of the conflict all together or even just walking away and surrendering.2 Often it is necessary for very angry disputants to “vent” so that the mediator can listen and attempt to go behind the anger and find out what that disputants’ concerns or interests are. As Fisher and Ury pointed out in their book, “Getting to Yes,” “Your position
is something that you have decided upon. Your interests are what caused you to decide.”3 It is always better for “heavy venting,” involving heated accusations and insults, to take place outside of earshot of the adversary. To allow otherwise might poison the relationship of the parties irremediably. Providing a safe opportunity to vent is one of the roles of the private caucus. Initially, when parties present at a mediation, they will have a position. Sometimes we call these demands and offers or counter-offers. But only after the mediator has been able to bond with the individual parties will they learn the concerns or interests that are behind those positions. Inability to tease out those concerns will lead to the inevitable titfor-tat positional negotiation that almost always ends in impasse. A mediator might use active listening to echo back to an angry party what the mediator may have heard the party say. This helps the party to grasp fully that the mediator really
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High Conflict Disputes cont. from page 11
does understand where the party is coming from. A mediator might also use reframing to summarize what she or he is hearing from the party, including an assessment of how that made the party feel. The goal is the same, to diffuse intense emotions including anger, betrayal or antagonism so that the party will be able to rationalize about what is really important to them—their interests, their concerns. Asking open-ended questions following reframing can also be helpful. The goal is to redirect disputants from conflict and distress to relief and resolution. Danger lies in the mediator not acknowledging those intense feelings or somehow making the party feel that it is wrong that they have those feelings. This puts the mediator in opposition to the party and potentially affects the neutrality of the mediator. When that happens, whatever the mediator asks or hints at may be subject to reactive devaluation because the party may perceive that the mediator doesn’t agree with it, has taken the position of the other side or has judged it to be “out of line” or just simply wrong. As a result of that assessment, anything that the mediator says will be devalued in reaction to those feelings. Many attorneys hate emotional outbursts, and are very uncomfortable with their clients losing control. As a mediator, one does not mind the anger so long as it does not lead to physical violence. Sometimes we just have to recognize that people have to cry out with anger to tell everyone, and most pointedly the mediator, “Hey, listen to me! Nobody understands the reason why I feel like I do!” This is when the skilled mediator will use different tools to make sure that the person really under12
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stands and feels that she or he has been heard. And sometimes, it is as simple as that—just an acknowledgement that someone hears the participant and understands what is of importance to her or him. So, what then is a resolution of a conflict? Looking behind the positions, there must be recognition by all parties of the concerns or interests of the other. Sometimes it is wise to request that a party try and put itself into the shoes of the other party in an effort to understand what that other party’s concerns might be. Only when such an understanding is realized can there be an exploration of the underlying concerns, followed by choice and implementation of a plan of action. The role of the mediator in high conflict dispute resolution is essentially always the same: (1) obtain an expression of initial positions; (2) help the parties explore the un-
AND
derlying concerns; and (3) coach the parties to negotiate an optimal winwin solution and launch effective action. Along the way, it is essential to help people adopt a more benign perspective that will allow them to make choices in their own selfinterest. s Ron Mullin, J.D., is a Past President of the CCCBA and the founder of the ADR Section. He is an elder law attorney, arbitrator and mediator, with a practice in Concord. 1
Dean G. Pruitt & Jeffrey Z. Rubin, “Social Conflict: Escalation, Stalemate, and Settlement,” 4 (1986). 2
Susan M. Heitler, “From Conflict to Resolution: Skills and Strategies for Individual, Couple, and Family Therapy” (1990). 3
Roger Fisher and William Ury, “Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving in” (1983).
MEDIATION CENTER
“A unique and effective style a great mediator” Candice Stoddard Ron Mullin
Willows Office Park p 1355 Willow Way, Suite 110 Concord, California 94520 Telephone (925) 798-3413 p Facsimile (925) 798-3118 Email ronald@mullinlaw.com
Proposed Rule Changes for the
Discovery Facilitator Program
B
efore filing a discovery motion, litigants in the Contra Costa Superior Court are required to participate in the Discovery Facilitator Program. This program has been in effect since early 2013. According to the Honorable Steven K. Austin of the Contra Costa Superior Court, the program has “saved our bacon.” As the result of budget cuts, court staffing has been severely reduced, and Contra Costa no longer has a Discovery Commissioner. To respond to concerns raised by litigants and discovery facilitators, many changes have been proposed to Local Rules governing the Discovery Facilitator Program. These changes are designed to streamline the process and alleviate the burden on the discovery facilitators. Proposed changes include: • Clarification that certain matters are exempt from the Discovery Facilitator Program, for example: - Discovery disputes in which there has been no response to discovery requests. - Cases within 60 days of trial. - Motions to compel a third-party’s refusal to comply with a subpoena. - Disputes specifically exempted by the trial judge. • Specifying that a discovery facilitator is to handle only one assignment per case without compensation. Upon agreement of the parties, the facilitator may accept
court may also set a date for hearing on a discovery motion, or impose issue or monetary sanctions, as appropriate.
by Margaret J. Grover subsequent assignments in a case, in which case he or she will be paid for his or her time. If the parties do not agree, subsequent requests in the case will be assigned to different discovery facilitators. • Verifying that a discovery facilitator is not expected to spend more than four hours on a case. If the discovery facilitator estimates that a case may take more than four hours, he or she may decline the case by sending a completed Notice of Termination of Appointment of Discovery Facilitator form to the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Office, stating that the matter is expected to take longer than four hours. When that occurs, the matter will be set for an Order to Show Cause hearing or a Discovery Conference within 60 days. The court will preview the issues with the parties, give guidance on alternatives, encourage meaningful meet-and-confer sessions and discussion of the need to appoint a discovery referee. The
• Expediting the process for rejecting a discovery facilitator. Rejections must now be made within 10 calendar days, as opposed to 10 court days. If the discovery facilitator is rejected, a second discovery facilitator will be appointed. Objections to the second or succeeding discovery facilitators may only be made by ex parte application setting forth good cause for the Objection. • Authorizing the discovery facilitator to extend the 30-day window in which to conduct the hearing, if there is good cause for the extension. • Specifying that discovery facilitator hearings may be conducted by telephone or video conference. • Allowing the parties to bring an ex parte application to exempt the matter from the program. According to David Miller, of Miller Mediation, and one of the attorneys who helped draft both the original rules for the program and the proposed revisions, many of the rules respond to concerns that the discovery facilitator process was excessively time consuming. If discovery disputes did not resolve with the assistance of a discovery facilitator, the parties had often waited a month or two before being allowed to file a motion. The volunteer discovery facilitators were, in some cases, being asked
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER
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Discovery Facilitator Program, cont. from page 13
to take the role of a discovery referee, spending hours of time without compensation. The proposed rule changes set up a process by which the court can be notified of complex disputes and appoint a discovery referee, if one is warranted. Jay Chafetz, who was instrumental in crafting both the original Discovery Facilitator Program rules and the proposed amendments, commented that one anticipated result of the changes is ensuring that not too much time is burned at the front end of resolving a discovery dispute. Chafetz, who is retired from private practice and now works for the Contra Costa Superior Court, also noted that some types of cases do not belong in the Discovery Facilitator Program. For example, there is not adequate time to go through the process when the case is within 60 days of trial. Where there has been no response to discovery, there is little likelihood that a discovery facilitator will add value; the party propounding the discovery wants answers or an order to compel. If the proposed changes are adopted, they will become effective on January 1, 2016. Judge Austin says the Discovery Facilitator Program is “working very well.” In his opinion, it provides a useful opportunity for the parties to sit down with a third party and evaluate the dispute; many discovery disputes have been resolved through participating in the program. What does the court do with the discovery facilitator’s opinions, in those rare cases when the dispute is not resolved? The opinion must be attached to the moving papers. Judge Austin noted that he found it useful to see how a third party
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analyzed the dispute. The judges “always look at and consider the opinion, but make independent determinations in each case.” Judge Austin emphasized that the Contra Costa Superior Court judges recognize and appreciate the time and effort contributed by the volunteer discovery facilitators. For more information on the Discovery Facilitator Program, visit the court’s website at www.cc-courts. org. s
Maggie Grover is an employment lawyer with the Oakland firm of Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, LLP. In her over 30 years of practice, she has represented employers and employees and served as a mediator, discovery referee and discovery facilitator. She is on the board for both the ADR and Employment Law sections of the Contra Costa County Bar Association.
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Recent Developments in Arbitrator Disclosure by Paul Dubow
I
n the olden days (the 20th century), the main way by which an attorney could glean information about a potential arbitrator was through the disclosures made by the arbitrator or by contacting colleagues who may have known or tried cases before the arbitrator. But today, thanks to the magic of Internet searches, attorneys can unearth undisclosed, lurking biases.
pealed. The respondent law firm argued that the claimants’ constructive knowledge of the resume barred them from raising it to show arbitrator bias. The Court of Appeal determined that the arbitrator was not biased in favor of or against any party in the arbitration. Despite this conclusion, the court reversed because a reasonable person aware of the facts could reasonably doubt whether the arbitrator could be impartial.
But what happens if the attorney chooses to accept an arbitrator, relying on the arbitrator’s disclosures or information provided by colleagues and then, after the arbitrator rules for the other side, finds undisclosed facts about the arbitrator that suggest a possible bias?
The court stated, “[A] party to an arbitration is not required to investigate a proposed neutral arbitrator in order to discover information, even public information, that the arbitrator is required to disclose. Instead, the obligation rests on the arbitrator to timely make the required disclosure. The fact that the information is readily discoverable neither relieves an arbitrator of the duty to disclose nor precludes vacating the award on the nondisclosure.”1
Given that most information on the Internet is public and the undisclosed facts could have been unearthed before the arbitration, is the attorney stuck with the award and the possibility of a malpractice claim by the client, or can the attorney move to vacate the award? For the moment, the answer is that vacatur is still available. Mt. Holyoke Homes, L.P. v. Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, LLP, 219 Cal. App. 4th 1299 (2013), arose following arbitration of a malpractice claim against the law firm that had represented the claimants in a real estate transaction. The parties chose an arbitrator who was a retired judge with an impeccable reputation. The selected arbitrator provided extensive disclosures about his prior contacts with members of the firms that represented both parties in the matter. However, after the arbitrator ruled against the claimants and awarded substantial attorney’s fees to the law firm, the attorney for the claimants conducted an Internet search and discovered a 10-year-old resume of the arbitrator that listed the named partner of the respondent law firm as a reference. The claimants thereupon moved to vacate the award. The trial court denied the motion and the claimants ap-
Does the Mt. Holyoke decision allow parties to an arbitration to obtain allegedly disqualifying information about the arbitrator, proceed with the arbitration and come forward with the information only if disappointed by the arbitrator’s award? Probably not. In Mt. Holyoke, there was no evidence that the claimants had discovered the undisclosed information before selecting the arbitrator. If a party was aware of the information before the arbitrator’s appointment, then the party is estopped from asserting bias after the decision.2 In Johnson v. Gruma Corp., 614 F. 3d 1062 (9th Cir. 2010), the court declined to vacate a decision based upon undisclosed information that the attorney had known more than one year before the dispute was decided. The 9th Circuit noted that the delayed disclosure suggested two things: Either the attorney did not believe the applicable standards required disclosure of the information, or the attorney may have held his objection in reserve,
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Arbitrator Disclosure, cont. from page 15
as a hedge against an unfavorable arbitration decision. Other rulings chip away at Mt. Holyoke by holding that a party who had information that should have led to further inquiry waived the right to object to an arbitrator’s service by not pursuing the inquiry. In Dornbirer v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., 166 Cal. App. 4th 831, 842-44 (2008), the arbitrator disclosed at the outset that he had presided over 15 matters involving Kaiser’s counsel and “previously presided over eleven other matters involving Kaiser.” However, he failed to provide certain information about these matters that was required by Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.9. After the arbitrator ruled against the claimant, she moved to vacate the award because of the arbitrator’s failure to provide the required information and because she learned that he had presided over 26 Kaiser arbitrations, not eleven. The motion to vacate was denied, because the disclosure provided sufficient information for the claimant either to request that the arbitrator provide additional information about the prior arbitrations or to seek disqualification based on the information provided. In United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley, Inc. v. Superior Court, 229 Cal.App.3d 63, 8385 (2014), the claimant’s counsel agreed to the service of an arbitrator after the respondent’s counsel disclosed that he had used the arbitrator in several prior arbitrations. The claimant’s counsel never received disclosures from the arbitrator and claimed that he presumed the arbitrator had nothing to disclose. The arbitrator had made disclosures, but the disclosure letter did not comply with Section 1281.9,
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because it was sent only to the respondent’s counsel. The evidence showed that the claimant’s counsel had received the disclosure letter from the respondent’s counsel before the arbitrator was selected. After the arbitrator ruled for the respondent, the trial court granted the claimant’s motion to vacate the award based on the arbitrator’s failure to comply with Section 1281.9. The Court of Appeal reversed, holding that, while an arbitrator is bound to disclose all details required under Section 1281.9, a party who knows a disclosure is defective cannot passively reserve the issue for consideration after the arbitration has concluded. At least one decision reached an opposite conclusion about postaward Internet searches than the court did in Mt. Holyoke, although the ruling is arguably dicta.3 In that action, after losing, the claimant searched the Internet and discovered that the arbitrator was of German Jewish heritage, had lost family members in the Holocaust and was a member of the 1939 Club, an organization dedicated to preventing future holocausts. The claimant’s father had served in the German army during World War II and his wife’s father had served in the SS, a major paramilitary organization under the Nazi Party. The claimant moved to vacate the award, arguing that the arbitrator had “punished” him because of his family background. The motion was denied, as there was no evidence the arbitrator knew of the claimant’s family background or had a bias against Germans. The Appellate Court added that, if the claimant was concerned about the cultural and religious background of the arbitrator, he should have “done his Googling prior to the arbitration, rather than sit back and wait and only raise the issue when an unfavorable outcome resulted.”4
The bottom line is that while counsel may successfully vacate an arbitration award after a post-hearing Internet search reveals negative undisclosed information about the arbitrator, the better practice would be to conduct that search before the arbitration. The best prospect faced by a party who successfully moves to vacate an award based on information gleaned in a post-award Internet search is to try the case again. That party would have been far better off doing a pre-hearing Internet search and trying the case just once before an arbitrator who did not have an appearance of bias. s Paul Dubow is an arbitrator and mediator who specializes in securities, employment and commercial law matters. He is a past president of The Mediation Society of San Francisco and the California Dispute Resolution Council and is a former co-chair of the Arbitration Committees of the ABA Dispute Resolution and Litigation sections. Paul is also a member of the board of directors of the CCCBA ADR Section. 1
Id. at . 1313.
2
Cobler v. Stanley Barber Southard Brown & Associates, 217 Cal. App. 3d 518, 526 (1990). 3
Rebmann v. Rohde, 196 Cal. App. 4th 1283 (2011). 4
Id. at 1292-93.
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A Mediator’s Dilemma:
I
Competing Interests in the Same Room
t’s one thing, when despite being prepared, reading everything that is submitted, listening attentively, exhibiting patience, engendering trust and coming up with a smorgasbord of options, a mediator’s efforts are unsuccessful in bringing about a settlement. It’s quite another where the case won’t settle and the impasse is not caused by the parties, themselves, who are only too keen to settle and put the whole unfortunate experience behind them. So, you might ask, who or what gets in the way? The answer is, one “who” and two “whats.” In many types of cases, the “who” is the plaintiff’s lawyer and the two “whats” are the attorney’s fees and a fee-shifting statute or contract that provides for recovery of fees. These barriers to resolution can arise in cases involving civil rights, consumer protection, employment, landlord-tenant disputes and breach of contract, to name a few.
by Malcolm Sher
Take for example, the plaintiff who had purchased a used “muscle car” from a dealership. The CARFAX allegedly stated that the vehicle had never been involved in an accident. When damage was found, the plaintiff sued under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, Civil Code Section 1750 et seq., and the Consumer Warranty Protection Act, Civil Code Section 1790 et seq. Both of these acts include fee-shifting provisions, where, among other remedies, a prevailing plaintiff “shall” recover reasonable attorney fees. The mediation seemed to be progressing nicely. As part of a mediated resolution, the dealership agreed to take back the car, re-purchase the plaintiff’s loan and pay something towards his attorney’s fees and costs. The plaintiff and dealership were ready to close the deal!
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Indeed, the plaintiff was particularly motivated, having driven several hundred miles to attend the mediation, and incurred travel, hotel and food expenses. The plaintiff recognized that these costs would multiply significantly if the case went to trial in a couple of months. Further, he was facing the costs of expensive expert depositions that remained to be taken. So, what could be the problem? The plaintiff’s attorney sought over $100,000 in legal fees and over $7,000 in deposition costs and expert fees prosecuting the case, and wasn’t about to give up any of it! In our example, when his attorney went to make a phone call, the plaintiff started crying. He could not afford to continue with the case, much less take it to trial. The plaintiff badly wanted, indeed needed, to settle on the terms offered at mediation.
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A Mediator’s Dilemma, cont. from page 17
The litigation stress and expenses were jeopardizing both his job and his marriage. Referring to his attorney as a “greedy [person] who thinks it’s her case,” the plaintiff begged the mediator to “make” the attorney accept the offer, even though there would be little paid towards the attorney’s fees. As in most contingency fee agreements, the plaintiff was responsible for costs, but not for fees, if he did not recover at trial. What an ethical dilemma for a mediator! The mediator is not able to give legal advice, nor should a mediator cause a rift between an attorney and her client. Does Rule 2-100 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct, governing communication with a represented party, apply? Probably not, as the mediator is not acting as an attorney representing another client. Rule 2-100 would certainly not bar the communication if the mediator were not an attorney. The Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators provide some guidance, as they require mediations to be conducted based on the principle of party self-determination. In this case, the plaintiff desperately wanted resolution. ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2, although not applicable in California, also provides good guidance in requiring an attorney to “abide by a client’s decisions concerning objectives of representation.” With this guidance in mind, the mediator may ask to speak privately with the plaintiff’s counsel, with the plaintiff’s knowledge and consent. The conversation should be tactful, and may include an explanation to counsel that the client is desperate to settle the case and may believe that the lawyer does not fully understand the client’s concerns. The mediator may discuss whether there is a conflict between the lawyer and her client. Or are there external pressures that will result in the client making a poor witness at trial? In this setting, it may be useful to convey
information provided by the defendant or defense counsel about the plaintiff—information not revealed directly to the plaintiff, to avoid emotional reactions—but which the attorney may find useful. Ask the attorney to assess the necessary future investment of the attorney’s time and money, the risks associated with going to trial and the risks associated with making a fee application. In our example, the mediator could compare the $25,000 paid for the muscle car with the attorney’s fees. Defense counsel would almost certainly oppose a request for fees and costs totaling more than five times the amount at issue on the grounds that it is not “reasonable.” In most cases, attorneys on a contingency fee will recognize that proceeding to trial carries risks, even when a client is eager to try the case, but perhaps more so when the client is reluctant to try the case. Sometimes the divergent interests between a plaintiff and counsel cause the plaintiff to reject a settlement offered at mediation that, at least objectively, appears to be in the plaintiff’s best interests. Especially in contingency fee cases, where the plaintiff has no real “skin in the game,” a plaintiff will sometimes attempt to force the attorney to trial, even where the offer is fair, the likelihood of prevailing is uncertain, and it may even be too late for counsel to withdraw, because to do so would arguably “prejudice” the plaintiff’s case and counsel would lose the ability to recover a contingency fee. In these circumstances, the most a mediator might be able to do is reiterate the risks of going to trial and emphasize the “bird in the hand” argument. Or demonstrate that, unless the plaintiff wins, recovering an amount, which, after deducting contingency fees and costs, is way above the amount, offered at mediation, the plaintiff might never be fully compensated. Then, mention the time-value of money now, the plaintiff’s time in court, away from work and family, the emotional costs or other non-quantifiable items.
Divisions between client and counsel can ruin the prospect of reaching a reasonable resolution. Mediators who are sensitive to the internal relationships, and use a variety of tools to address the situation, can overcome the hurdles and allow the parties and counsel to MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS, SALES AND PLANNING FOR BUSINESS OWNERS reach an acceptable, and amicable, resolution. s
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MIXER All Sections’ Summer
June 24, 2015
Hosted by the Barristers/Young Lawyers Section
Mona Sanaei, Kosta Demiris, David Pastor and Mike Low
Marjorie Wallace, Patanisha Davis-Jenkins, Hannah Weiss and Michael Pierson
Anthony Ashe and Theresa Hurley
For more photos, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/CCCBA! 20
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Section Information Tables
Elizabeth Meyer, Indy Colbath and Jillian Atuegbu
YOU K N ORS THA S N SPO R U TO O PLATINUM
The Contra Costa County Bar Association presents:
GALA
Archer Norris Estate Planning & Probate Section
RECEPTION
GOLD
in support of the
FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER'S Legal Incubator Project
Thursday, October 1, 2015 Lafayette Park Hotel | 5:30 - 7:30 pm Master of Ceremonies Hon. Richard Flier (Ret.)
Honoring Comm. Josanna Berkow (Ret.) Contra Costa Superior Court
Tickets
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Single Ticket Price: $85 | Law Students: $60 Individual Sponsor: $100*
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Mr. | Mrs. | Ms.: Will Attend. Please reserve (number of) tickets at $85 per person; $60 for Barristers & Law Student Members. (Please list additional guest names on the back of this card.) Will Attend as an Individual Sponsor. Please reserve (number of) tickets at $100 per person. (Purchase two or more to be listed on the program.) Will Buy Raffle Ticket(s): Instant Wine Cellar (one for $25 | five for $100) $ Would like to Contribute $ Please charge to my: Card #
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Please RSVP by Sept. 24th. Return this card to: CCCBA | 2300 Clayton Rd., Ste. 520 | Concord, CA 94520 Fax: (925) 686-9867 | Email: thurley@cccba.org CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 21 Your contributions are tax-deductible | Tax ID #94-3213100 Tides Center (FJC Fiscal Sponsor)
SAV PROUDLY PRESENTS
E TH ED ATE !
21st Annual
MCLE Spectacular! Friday, November 20, 2015 Walnut Creek Marriott | 2355 N. Main Street
Event Sponsor JAMS Premium Sponsors
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Cindy Cohn
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Luncheon Speaker
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Ear
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2015 SUSTAINING LAW FIRMS Brown Church & Gee, LLP | Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook | Cooper, White & Cooper, LLP
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We gratefully acknowledge our
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The Perfect Mediation by Hon. Richard J. Flier (Ret.)
W
hat makes a perfect mediation? What pieces, when cobbled together, give the parties the best opportunity to settle their dispute, and even if unsuccessful, will give them the most informed perspective of the litigation process? In this author’s view, below are the important parts of this process.
1. Pre-Mediation Preparation Starting at the beginning, both sides prepare, exchange, and deliver briefs at least a week before mediation. The attorneys understand that mediation is their opportunity to communicate the salient facts and law both to the mediator and to opposing parties, attorneys and claims adjustors. The brief is more “journal-
ism” than written advocacy; its tone is professional, never condescending. The brief contains a history of settlement discussions and all parties’ most recent settlement positions. The ideal brief educates, rather than advocates, and provides an information bridge to assist settlement. Client preparation is the next critical segment of pre-mediation preparation. Counsel may need to encourage an attitude adjustment in their clients. Clients often think their attorneys are warriors, fighting to vindicate their position. In the settlement process, parties must honestly identify the goals of litigation (usually paying or receiving money), the attendant cost and time of full blown litigation (including
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possible appeals) and the net result of settlement versus litigation. The attorney may need to dispel the common feeling that newspaper accounts, television shows and cultural gossip are an accurate measure of a case. If sensitively done, the client will understand that mediation provides an opportunity to gain immediate results without the risks and costs of trial. Hopefully, this can be achieved without the client losing confidence in the warrior’s willingness to fight! Another important part of the pre-mediation preparation is a conference with the mediator, which is often a one-on-one with each attorney after briefs have been exchanged. The mediator can use this conversation to identify efficient and productive ways to organize the mediation and to seek additional briefing regarding special issues or anticipated problems. Attorneys are often most comfortable with the “settlement conference model” in which the parties stay in private caucuses, while the mediator moves to communicate offers and develop consensus. However, joint sessions may be more effective in certain types of cases. For example, in personal injury cases, a joint session gives the
claims adjustor a firsthand opportunity to evaluate the plaintiff. This has proved invaluable in obtaining better results for the parties. The plaintiff becomes a real person rather than a name in a report. The claims adjustor can personally evaluate the plaintiff as a witness. The claims adjustor becomes the face of the insurer. In some cases, the claims adjustor is able to diffuse feelings of outrage, frustration or vindictiveness by heartfelt comments of empathy, etc. A joint session may also be fruitful in resolving family or neighborhood disputes, probate/trust situations or adjoining landowner problems. Clients may need to vent
difference between mediation and trial, rules of decorum, the need for patience with the process, the goal of understanding the opponent’s view, and ultimately the need to make a business decision that will resolve the case. Not to sound trite, but this is tantamount to an operatic overture. It prepares people for the process, keeps them engaged through the middle exchanges and is a watershed that can be tapped to close negotiations. Most experienced attorneys understand its significance; however, inexperienced or naive counsel may unwittingly undermine this important process by inattention or conduct.
money; however, the resolution can involve terms, future projects or restating contract conditions. The underlying philosophy is quite simple. A plaintiff wants to receive the maximum recovery possible: “I don’t want to leave anything on the table.” A defendant (or carrier), wants to pay no more than is reasonably necessary. The Dance begins with the plaintiff proposing an opening offer. This typically should be in the high, reasonable range for the case. If it is too high, the defense will balk and won’t truly engage. If it’s too low, the plaintiff may be unable to maximize the settlement amount. For example, if the likely jury verdict on a case would never exceed $50,000, it’s counter-productive to open with a $300,000 offer. Similarly, if one hopes to settle in the $50,000 range, one shouldn’t open with $55,000. The defense will then provide a counter offer. This will be in the low range. In the simplest negotiation, the initial moves establish the settlement range. The parties often look toward the midpoint and adjust their responses to raise or lower that midpoint.
and, if the dispute is based upon a factual misunderstanding, joint sessions can provide clarity. Pre-mediation conferences help the mediator and attorneys evaluate options for structuring the day. In the perfect mediation, no technique should be considered off limits.
2. The Mediator’s Opening Comments The perfect mediation begins with the mediator setting the tone. This generally involves discussing the process of mediation, selfdetermination, confidentiality, the
For example, attorneys often tap away on laptops, text on cellphones or display disinterest or ennui. One attorney even walked out of the opening meeting entirely! Clients take cues from their lawyers. One can almost hear them thinking, “Well, if this isn’t important to my lawyer, I must not worry about it.” In the perfect mediation, everyone understands that the mediator’s opening remarks can help attitudes shift from advocacy to negotiation.
3. The Dance The negotiation or “Dance” is the heart of the mediation process. In most civil cases, the major topic is
During the Dance, many tools will be used to further the process. Some tools are analytical, some are emotional, some add new terms that may be at the heart of the dispute. Obviously, the only limit to these techniques is the participants’ imagination. The important thing is to keep moving, even if the steps are small, and to have patience with the process and the mediator. In the perfect mediation, the parties reach a point where splitting the difference seems appropriate to everyone. If this does not happen, and the parties have sincerely reached their respective ends, the parties may ask the mediator to make a settlement proposal. This is usually an end-of-session technique. The mediator’s proposal
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER
25
The Perfect Mediation, cont. from page 25
is communicated to both sides separately. If both sides accept the proposal, there is a settlement. If any party does not accept the proposal, that party will not know whether the other parties accepted the proposal. This way, no party is forced to give up the last communicated position unless the case will settle. In the perfect mediation, the mediator relies upon the participants’ good faith. When this reliance is misplaced, it truly undermines the process. For example, if a party represents that a certain amount will resolve the case, declining that offer when it is presented is the height of dishonesty and gamesmanship. Another common problem is negative attitudes. Early on, it is rarely productive to report that, “We are leaving unless [blank].”
4. The Job is not Complete Until the Paperwork is Done Any agreement should be reduced to writing before leaving the mediation. Because “buyer’s remorse” is too common, memorializing the agreement while all participants agree is critical. Experienced attorneys commonly bring a form agreement they can use to capture
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basic settlement terms. Most ADR providers have a fillin-the-blanks form to document agreements. In the perfect mediation, reducing the settlement to writing is a given. Even though the hour is late, it is a disservice to the clients to say you will prepare the written terms later. While capturing everything in the moment may be impossible, failure to write out the essential terms will create opportunities for future problems. The perfect mediation is a goal. In the final analysis, every mediation seeks to provide a process where disputing parties can discuss and resolve disputes. The selfdetermination aspects make the process more satisfying than trial. Being sensitive to the elements of a perfect mediation increases the likelihood of resolution. Even without resolution, the process will give both litigants and attorneys significant insights, and will allow them to present a better, more focused trial. s Hon. Richard S. Flier (ret.) served on the Contra Costa Superior Court for 20 years. His assignments as a Superior Court Judge included Civil Fast Track, General Trials, Family Law, Criminal Calendar and Appellate Department. Now with ADR Services, Inc., Judge Flier is recognized as a patient, courteous and perceptive judge who has a tremendous capacity to quickly grasp issues, and is very effective in guiding parties toward resolution.
Students Learn the Reality of Law in GJELL’s Summer Program by Andrew R. Gillin
I
n July 2015, Gillin, Jacobson, Ellis, Larsen & Lucey (GJELL) sponsored its third annual program for high school students, entitled “Introduction to Careers in Law.” Sixteen students from various East Bay high schools attended. The program responds to a concern that high school students appear to have no real grasp of legal and paralegal career opportunities, and that what perceptions they do have come from movies and television, not reality. The program began with GJELL partner Andy Gillin’s talk on “What’s a Law Firm.” Partner Ralph Jacobson followed with instruction on “Civil Procedure 101.” Jacobson
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discussed the role of lawyers in dispute prevention and resolution, the sources of legal authority in state and federal courts, and the phases of civil litigation from pleadings to verdict. Through plain good luck, GJELL learned about an exciting one-hour panel at the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office in Martinez that same day, and the students were invited to attend. Panel members, including the Presiding Judge Steven K. Austin, District Attorney Mark Peterson, Jonathan Laba (with the Public Defender’s Office) and Nick Casper (President of the CCCBA), addressed how lawyers and judges deal with the stresses of daily work.
Back at GJELL’s Orinda office, two subsequent speakers presented the students with a stark contrast in the types of law careers available. Attorney Kathryn Korn talked about her love for her conservatorship and probate practice, in part because of the personal involvement and satisfaction she feels in helping her clients overcome their legal problems. Then attorney Anthony Jones described drafting patents for his technology clients, and the advantages he gained in this field with his electrical engineering degree and prelaw school industry experience.
GJELL partner Kristin Lucey next presented both popular media reports and the true facts and damage claims from the infamous 1994 “McDonald’s Coffee Case” (Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants). The students examined the case from the perspective of an associate who had been asked to evalu30 years experience Probate-Trust Paralegal ate whether her firm should 3445 Golden Gate Way agree to repreLafayette, CA 94549 sent the plaintiff. (925) 283-6998 l.neiger@mac.com
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER
27
GJELL’s Summer Program,
fectiveness of demonstrative videos and exhibits at settlement and at trial.
cont. from page 27
mock jurors, hearing evidence and then “deciding” the apportionment of a wrongful death settlement between divorced parents. This presentation was made by GJELL partner Jim Larsen, based on a recent case. The next event was watching a case in court, in the courtroom of Judge Robert McGuiness of the Alameda County Superior Court. The students witnessed direct and cross examinations of both a plaintiff’s economist regarding loss of earnings and a treating health care provider in a personal injury case where liability was admitted, but damages remained at issue. The opportunity to view a civil trial dovetailed into a presentation by GJELL partner Luke Ellis concerning investigation of a catastrophic injury claim and the impact and ef-
Still smiling after duking it out for many years, Deputy DA Scott Swisher and Deputy PD Bob Mertens, both from Alameda County, next presented a criminal law forum, discussing substantive, ethical and lifestyle issues that face lawyers in the criminal justice system. GJELL paralegal Miguel Hernandez then explained how his career had evolved, and provided materials focusing on paralegal careers.
program, “This week was a lot more meaningful (not to mention engaging) to me than my previous classes and books on constitutional law.” Additionally, multiple students exited the program with a strengthened interest in the law. One participant said he was “more interested in law than ever due to this program,” and another remarked that one speech, in particular, “definitely inspired [her] to pursue a career as a lawyer.”
On the final day, Google attorney Laura Mastrangelo gave her perspective of working in “big law,” and about her transition to work in high-tech litigation.
This program was designed to spark and cultivate an interest in the law. Those that shared their time to make this program possible were pleased with the feedback from this year’s outstanding group of students. s
With much help from the judiciary, local attorneys and the Bar Association, the students got about as long a look into the reality of the legal field as they are likely to get in their high school years. As one student wrote at the conclusion of the
Andy Gillin is the managing partner of Gillin, Jacobson, Ellis, Larsen and Lucey, a plaintiff’s firm handling catastrophic injury cases. He began his career in legal services for the poor.
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Will & Trust Litigation Financial Elder Abuse Conservatorships Estate Planning Trust Administration Probate Mediation
3220 Blume Drive, Suite 200 Richmond, CA 94806
Ruth Koller Burke, Of Counsel Vahishta Falahati, Of Counsel Nicole Morrill, Paralegal Jill Olivier, Paralegal
THANK YOU
to CCCBA’s Free Legal Workshop Volunteers The CCCBA offers many different free legal workshops to the public every month, everything from bankruptcy to family law, wills & trusts to immigration and more. We are only able to offer this wonderful public service because of the many attorney volunteers who generously give their time and talent to the residents of Contra Costa. We would like to express our gratitude to these volunteers: • Amy Alvis
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Interested in volunteering for a Free Legal Workshop? Contact Theresa Hurley at thurley@cccba.org or (925) 370-2548 for more information.
Download today:
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29
pro bono
How You Can Help Our Community:
Pro Bono in Contra Costa Are you interested in pro bono opportunities in Contra Costa County, but don’t know what is available? Join us for a Pro Bono Mixer on October 28, 2015, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek. We’ll provide appetizers, a drink ticket and most importantly—the nonprofits who need your assistance! You’ll have the chance to speak to legal service providers from a host of local agencies and find out about how you can help Contra Costans in need. Participating agencies include: • Bay Area Legal Aid • Contra Costa Family Justice Center • Rubicon Legal Services • Contra Costa County Law Library • Congress of Neutrals • Social Justice Collaborative • Contra Costa Senior Legal Services • CCCBA’s Legal Workshops To register or for more information, please contact Anne Wolf at at (925) 370-2540 or awolf@cccba.org. Sponsored by Ferber Law and The Derby Law Firm
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SEPTEMBER 2015
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ethics corner
Secret Settlements by Carol M. Langford
M
any of the issues that arise in mediation have been touched on before in this column; confidentiality, conflicts of interest and negotiation tactics among them. But mediation brings a new spin to these issues, particularly because of a lack of enforceable black-letter rules. There are policy considerations as well—both advocates and mediators engage in balancing acts between the parties and, on occasion, between the client and the public welfare. For instance, sometimes a mediation settlement is offered only on the condition of secrecy. When a mediator sees a disparity in power between the parties or a litigator sees a danger in “secretizing” a settlement about an issue that endangers the public, mediators must reconcile a personal morality and their professional obligations. Historically, ADR was used by stipulation of the parties. As a result, formal ethics rules governing the process of mediation were slow to develop. The American Bar Association largely shied away from developing extensive rules about
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mediation, even during the Ethics 2000 revisions. But over the last dozen or so years and after some false starts during the 1990s, extensive rules of conduct for mediators have been developed and adopted by several organizations and some states. Why was it so hard to do? Because the rule drafters lumped arbitration and mediation together as “ADR,” even though the two are very different. There was already the federal Arbitration Act of 1954 that requires courts to recognize and enforce arbitration awards that are fundamentally fair, and the Uniform Arbitration Act adopted in 49 states.
Because mediators were not judges and had no decision making power, codified regulations were slower to develop. But we now have the Uniform Mediation Act and the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators. States are free to take whatever portions they want from the Act. Like most rules that attempt to govern the conduct of all lawyers in all matters at all times, there are ethical dilemmas that are unaddressed. For example, what happens when a mediator calls an attorney in for a “private chat without the client.” The mediator then says the opposing party has made a one-time offer
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of $3 million dollars because there are “smoking gun” documents showing that the breast cancer treatment drug that killed the plaintiff’s wife was tainted, and directly responsible for the deaths of several other people and the near-death poisoning of others. The offer is dependent on the plaintiff’s lawyer not giving any specifics to the client, and on the parties entering into a settlement agreement in which neither the amount nor the information about the other adverse incidents may be revealed. Is it ethical for the plaintiff’s lawyer to meet with the mediator without her or his client? May the lawyer recommend settlement while keeping the specifics about adverse incidents from her or his client? Would a totally confidential settlement be ethical even if the attorney could tell the client what she or he knows? All hard questions, not answered by our Rules.
many attorneys believe their duty of advocacy trumps any possibility of disclosing the potential harm to the public even if it is permitted under our confidentiality rules. So long as the agreements are “ethical,” they will be entered into regardless of any danger to the public, on the theory that the client’s interests (usually considered by lawyers to be financial ones) come first. A sea change on the issue of secrecy is likely to occur only when lawyers are widely prohibited from contracting away their ability to disclose known, discovered dangers to the public so that their sole client may benefit. If there is a real hidden danger to the public, such settlements should be disallowed. s Carol M. Langford is an attorney specializing in State Bar defense and attorney conduct matters. She is also a lecturer in Law at UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law.
Secret settlements can come in several forms. Protective orders like those in the Big Tobacco cases were once 1 routinely granted by Judge Lee Sarokin, who later statJaffe, “Public Good vs. Sealed Evidence,” Star-Ledger (Newark), ed, “I must confess that for a considerable period of time, Sept. 2, 1990. as a routine matter I signed consent orders on the theory that since the parties agreed and the lawyers agreed, there was no reason for us to examine the agreement. But I slowly came to the realSince 1949 ization that there were other interRated AV by ests involved.”1 Those interests, of course, belong to the public. Martindale-Hubbell Stipulated reversals and depublication are the worst of secret settlements in this author’s opinion; those involve agreements to wipe the trial court’s judgment in favor of the plaintiff off the books by stipulating to reverse that judgment on appeal in return for immediate payment, usually of a large sum of money. In this gold-from-dross procedure, the loser of the case becomes the de jure winner, and can trumpet that “victory.” Secret settlements have been entered into in clergy abuse matters, the Bridgestone Tire cases, legal malpractice cases involving major misappropriations and several pharmaceutical cases. The problem with the current lack of ethics standards relating to secrecy is that
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33
CALENDAR UPCOMING EVENTS | OVERVIEW Sept 8 | Family Law Section
Prescription Drugs and Child Custody Issues more details on page 35 Sept 10 | CCCBA
Job Search Strategies for Success
more details on page 21 Oct 6 | CCCBA
Bench/Bar Roundtable
Sept 11 | Family Law Section
more details on page 36
more details on page 35 Sept 16 | CCCBA
Cybersecurity: What You Need to Know, Part 5 of the 2015 Law Practice Management Series more details on page 35 Sept 17 | Women’s Section
Women’s Section Annual Luncheon more details on page 35 Sept 22 | Employment Law Section
LEAVE LAW SUMMIT more details on page 35 Sept 23 | Family Law Section
Tracing: Where the Facts Meet Finesse more details on page 36 Sept 25 | Barristers/Young Lawyers Section
Barristers Night Out: A’s vs. Giants Battle of the Bay Social more details on page 36 Sept 26 | CCCBA
Practice Area Expo more details on page 36 Sept 30 | Estate Planning & Probate and Tax Sections
Regulations on Portability of Unused Spousal Estate Tax Exclusion more details on page 36
SEPTEMBER 2015
Gala Reception in Support of the Family Justice Center Legal Incubator Project
more details on page 35
Child Development
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Oct 1 | CCCBA
Oct 6 | Estate Planning & Probate Section
Brown Bag Lunch with Judge Sugiyama more details on page 36 Oct 21 | CCCBA
This is Not Your Parents’ Law Firm, Part 6 of the 2015 Law Practice Management Series more details on page 37 Oct 23 | Family Law Section
Cognitive Bias: A Threat to Objectivity more details on page 37 Oct 28 | Bankruptcy Law and Estate Planning & Probate Sections
How to Avoid Exposing Your Clients’ Assets to Creditors in an Estate Plan more details on page 37 Oct 28 | CCCBA
Pro Bono Mixer more details on page 37 Oct 29 | Women’s Section
Women’s Section Scholarship Dinner more details on page 37 Nov 5 | Diversity Committee
Judicial Appointments Workshop more details on page 37 Nov 21 | CCCBA
21st Annual MCLE Spectacular more details on page 22
September 8 | Family Law Section
September 10 | CCCBA
September 11 | Family Law Section
Prescription Drugs and Child Custody Issues
Job Search Strategies for Success
Child Development
Learn how to put your best foot forward when looking for a legal position! Join us for an informative session where our experienced panel members will cover the following:
Speakers: Robert L. Kaufman, Ph. D S. Margaret Lee, Ph. D
Speakers: Alex Stalcup, M.D. David Kan, M.D. MIchael Levine, M.D. Time: 1:30 pm – 4:45 pm Location: Contra Costa County Country Club 801 Golf Club Rd., Pleasant Hill MCLE: 3 hours family law specialization MCLE credit Cost: $100 for section members, $125 for CCCBA members, $150 for non-members Registration: Online at www.familylawsectioncontracosta.org More Info: Contact Therese Bruce at (925) 930-6789 or fls.cccba@gmail.com
• Resume and cover letters; what works and what doesn’t • Interviewing do’s and don’ts • The importance of networking • The job search process • Trends in legal jobs Q & A to follow the panel presentation. Speakers: Audrey Gee, Brown, Church & Gee Jennifer Shin, Robert Half Legal Nandor Krause, Archer Norris
Time: 1:30 pm – 4:45 pm Location: Contra Costa County Country Club 801 Golf Club Rd., Pleasant Hill MCLE: 3 hours family law specialization MCLE credit Cost: $100 for section members, $125 for CCCBA members, $150 for non-members Registration: Online at www.familylawsectioncontracosta.org More Info: Contact Therese Bruce at (925) 930-6789 or fls.cccba@gmail.com
Time: 5 pm – 6:30 pm Location: JFK University 100 Ellinwood Way, Room S304, Pleasant Hill RSVP: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar More Info: Contact Anne Wolf at (925) 370-2540 or awolf@cccba.org
September 16 | CCCBA
September 17 | Women’s Section
September 22 | Employment Law Section
Cybersecurity: What You Need to Know, Part 5 of the 2015 Law Practice Management Series
Women’s Section Annual Luncheon
LEAVE LAW SUMMIT
SAVE THE DATE!
Co-sponsored by the CCCBA and the ACBA.
Time: 12 pm – 1:30 pm
When does it become your legal obligation to safeguard information? Discover security challenges, rewards and best practices for protecting data. Topics include:
More info coming soon.
Baffled by all the rules and regulations on the protected LEAVES guaranteed to Employees? Concerned about whether you and your clients are up-to-date on recent statutory and regulatory changes? Want to know what NEW regulations are likely to be coming? Don’t miss this Summit and get all the information you need to advise your clients! Light breakfast included.
• • • • • • •
Types of Private Information The Truth About Hacking Virtual Private Network (VPN) Multi-Factor Authentication Securely Conducting Virtual Depositions Implications of Using the Cloud Password Policies
The presenters are a panel of experienced employment attorneys, with employee’s counsel, employer’s counsel and neutrals.
Speaker: Mike Murray, Veritext
Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Time: 4:30 pm – 6 pm
Location: Wendel Rosen Black & Dean, 1111 Broadway St., 19th Floor, Oakland
Location: JFK University 100 Ellinwood Way, Room S209, Pleasant Hill MCLE: 1.5 hours general MCLE credit Cost: $20 for CCCBA members, $10 for law student members, $30 for non-members Registration: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar
MCLE: 3 hours general MCLE credit Cost: $60 for section members, $40 for law students, $75 for CCCBA members, $85 for non-members (Discount for registering before Sept. 15) Registration: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER
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September 23 | Family Law Section
Tracing: Where the Facts Meet Finesse Speaker: James T. Schaefer,CPA/CFF MS-Tax, Schaefer & Co., CPA Time: 12 pm – 1:15 pm Location: Contra Costa County Country Club 801 Golf Club Rd., Pleasant Hill MCLE: 1 hour family law specialization MCLE credit Cost: $50 for section members, $75 for CCCBA members, $100 for non-members (Fees increase after Sept. 16)
September 25 | Barristers/Young Lawyers Section
Barristers Night Out: A’s vs. Giants Battle of the Bay Social Join the CCCBA and ACBA Barristers Sections for a night out at the Oakland Athletics game against the SF Giants. The Battle of the Bay is a great opportunity to socialize and network with your peers while enjoying a fantastic evening of baseball. Please join us for a pregame tailgate with food and drinks before the game in Section 130. Time: 5:30 pm – 10 pm
September 26 | CCCBA
Practice Area Expo Law students and new attorneys: Join us for an opportunity to learn from experienced attorneys about what it is like to practice law! Attendees will have the opportunity to meet practitioners from a variety of practice areas who will speak about what it’s like to work in their field, tips on finding employment, internship opportunities and presentation skills specific to those practice areas. Practice Area Roundtables include: • • • • • • • •
Public Attorneys Transactional Employment Litigation Probate/Estate Planning Family Criminal Solo/Contract attorneys
Meal Choice: Poached Salmon, Chicken Picatta or Vegan
Location: Oakland Coliseum 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland
Registration: Online at www.familylawsectioncontracosta.org
Cost: $50 for section members, $55 for CCCBA members, $65 for non-members
More Info: Contact Therese Bruce at (925) 930-6789 or fls.cccba@gmail.com
Tickets: Contact the Alameda County Bar Association at (510) 302-2201
Time: 10 am – 12 pm
More Info: www.acbanet.org/Calendar/ Signup.aspx?EventNo=2642
Location: JFK University 100 Ellinwood Way, Room S209, Pleasant Hill RSVP: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar
September 30 | Estate Planning & Probate and Tax Sections
Regulations on Portability of Unused Spousal Estate Tax Exclusion Speaker: John Hartog Time: 11:45 am – 1:30 pm Location: Scott’s Seafood Restaurant 1333 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek MCLE: 1 hour EP&T probate specialization/ 1 hour tax specialization MCLE credit Cost: $40 for sponsoring section members, $20 for law students, $45 for CCCBA members, $50 for non-members Registration: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar More Info: Contact Anne Wolf at (925) 370-2540 or awolf@cccba.org
October 6 | CCCBA
Bench/Bar Roundtable Members of the CCCBA are invited to attend a meeting with Civil Division Supervising Judge Craddick and other civil judges to discuss issues of general interest or concern. The judges would like to know what’s on your mind. Please submit discussion topics to the Bar Association by September 30 via email to Anne Wolf at awolf@cccba.org. Speakers: Hon. Barry Goode, Presiding Judge Hon. Judith Craddick Hon. Jill Fannin Hon. George Spanos Time: 12 pm – 1:15 pm Location: Wakefield Taylor Courthouse Dept. 9, 725 Court St., Room 320, Martinez MCLE: 1 hour general MCLE credit Cost: Free for section members, $10 for non-members Registration: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar More Info: Contact Anne Wolf at (925) 370-2540 or awolf@cccba.org
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SEPTEMBER 2015
October 6 | Estate Planning & Probate Section
Brown Bag Lunch with Judge Sugiyama Speaker: Hon. John H. Sugiyama Time: 12 pm – 1 pm Location: Contra Costa Superior Court Dept. 14, 725 Court St., Martinez Registration: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar More Info: Contact Anne Wolf at (925) 370-2540 or awolf@cccba.org
October 21 | CCCBA
October 23 | Family Law Section
This is Not Your Parents’ Law Firm, Part 6 of the 2015 Law Practice Management Series
Cognitive Bias: A Threat to Objectivity
Areas of discussion will include potential alternative models and how they work in practice in comparison to traditional models of managing a law firm. In addition, the panelists will discuss the pros and cons of various alternative and traditional management practices. Speakers: Harry Stern, Rains Lucia Stern, PC Marie Barnes, Ad Astra Law Group Renee Livingston, Livingston Law Firm
Speaker: Dr. Philip Stahl, Ph. D, ABPP (Forensic) Time: 12 pm – 1:15 pm Location: Contra Costa County Country Club 801 Golf Club Rd., Pleasant Hill MCLE: 1 hour elimination of bias MCLE credit Cost: $50 for section members, $75 for CCCBA members, $100 for non-members (Fees increase after Oct. 16)
October 28 | Bankruptcy Law and Estate Planning & Probate Sections
How to Avoid Exposing Your Clients’ Assets to Creditors in an Estate Plan Speaker: Mark Bostick, Partner, Wendel Rosen Black & Dean Time: 11:45 am – 1:30 pm Location: Scott’s Seafood Restaurant 1333 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek MCLE: 1 hour EP&T probate specialization MCLE credit
Meal Choice: Grilled Salmon, Roast Sirloin or Vegetable Risotto
Cost: $40 for sponsoring section members, $20 for law students, $45 for CCCBA members, $50 for non-members
Registration: Online at www.familylawsectioncontracosta.org
Registration: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar
More Info: Contact Therese Bruce at (925) 930-6789 or fls.cccba@gmail.com
More Info: Contact Anne Wolf at (925) 370-2540 or awolf@cccba.org
October 28 | CCCBA
October 29 | Women’s Section
November 5 | Diversity Committee
Pro Bono Mixer
Women’s Section Scholarship Dinner
Judicial Appointments Workshop
Sponsors: Ferber Law & the Derby Law Firm
SAVE THE DATE!
Interested in pro bono opportunities in Contra Costa County? We’ll provide appetizers, a drink ticket and most importantly—access to the nonprofits who need your assistance! You’ll have the chance to speak to legal service providers from a host of local agencies and find out about how you can help those in need. Participating agencies include:
Please join us for the Women’s Section’s Annual Scholarship Dinner, awarding the Hon. Patricia Herron and Hon. Ellen James Scholarship. Topic will be on gender and racial bias on corporate boards and what we can do about it.
Please join the CCCBA and the State Bar of California’s Council on Access and Fairness for the popular Demystifying Judicial Appointments program.
Time: 4:30 pm – 6 pm Location: JFK University 100 Ellinwood Way, Room S209, Pleasant Hill MCLE: 1.5 hours general MCLE credit Cost: $20 for CCCBA members, $10 for law student members, $30 for non-members Registration: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar
• • • • • • • •
Bay Area Legal Aid Family Justice Center Rubicon Legal Services Contra Costa County Law Library Congress of Neutrals Social Justice Collaborative Contra Costa Senior Legal Services CCCBA’s Legal Workshops
Speakers: Kim Clancy Jennifer McClanahan Flint Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
A panel of judges will explain how judges are appointed under the current administration and will shed light on the particular qualifications and attributes the Governor seeks in judicial candidates.
Location: Scott’s Garden 1333 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek
Speakers: Hon. Marguerite Downing Patricia Lee, CA State Bar Robin Pearson
MCLE: 1 hour elimination of bias MCLE credit
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
More info coming soon.
Location: JFK University 100 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Cost: $10 for CCCBA members, $25 for non-members
Location: Pyramid Alehouse 1410 Locust St., Walnut Creek
RSVP: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar
RSVP: Online at www.cccba.org/attorney/calendar
More Info: Contact Anne Wolf at (925) 370-2540 or awolf@cccba.org
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER
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Beautiful offices w/ 7 solos. Networking poss. Single story converted house w/ pillars, built in’s, FP, molding, kit., conf rm, lg treed rear deck, etc. Corner w/ skylight & built-ins. Perfect for working hard and relaxing at end of long day! Very congenial. No smoking. Call Paul at (925) 938-8990.
advertisers index
ADR Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Roger F. Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 David A. Arietta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Barr & Young Attorneys . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Bingham Osborn & Scarborough, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Bray & Greenwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Dean A. Christopherson . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Diablo Valley Reporting Services . . 40 Eikenberry Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Lenczowski Law Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Morrill Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Mullin Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Perry A. Novak , UBS Financial Services, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 David B. Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Pedder, Hesseltine, Walker & Toth, LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 27
Advertise
in the Contra Costa Lawyer DISPLAY AD PRINT MEMBER RATES: Full page: Full page Color: 2/3 page: 1/2 page: 1/2 page Color: 1/3 page: 1/6 page: Business card: 1/12 page:
$ 550 $ 690 $ 500 $ 415 $ 520 $ 350 $ 215 $ 165 $ 125
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Law Offices of Reed K. Scott . . . . . . . . 14 Scott Valley Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Candice Stoddard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ONLINE AD RATE:
Trustcare Fiduciary Services . . . . . . . 29
$165/ month for members. Substantial discounts available for three or more insertions.
Lisa M. West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
CLASSIFIEDS ONLINE: $50/ month flat fee. In addition to text, you may add photos or graphics at no additional charge.
CLASSIFIEDS - PRINT: Member rates are $15 per line for a one-time insertion and $12.50 per line for three or more insertions.
Reliable Receptionist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Call Dawnell Blaylock at (925) 370-2542 or email dblaylock@cccba.org.
Michael J. Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Youngman & Ericsson . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 24 Zandonella Reporting Service . . . . . 31
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER
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DIABLO VALLEY REPORTING SERVICES Certified Shorthand Reporters
Serving the entire Bay Area • Deposition Reporting • Experienced Professional Reporters • Computerized Transcription • Deposition Suites Available • Expeditious Delivery • BART Accessible
2121 N. California Blvd. Suite 290 Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925.930.7388
dvrs2121@yahoo.com
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SEPTEMBER 2015