Mediator Resume

Accomplished civil litigator and dispute resolution professional with 27+ years of experience in state and federal courts and over 40 years as an arbitrator and mediator. Recognized for leadership in civil rights and constitutional litigation, including successful class actions advancing due process and institutional reform. Experienced lead trial counsel in hundreds of cases across consumer protection, corporate liability, real estate, and administrative law. Known for strategic insight, balanced judgment, and delivering efficient, fair resolutions.

Associates in Dispute Resolution LLC - Managing Member and Co-Founder

Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator, Hearing Officer; Adjunct Law Professor

Managing Member and Co-Founder, Associates in Dispute Resolution LLC, 1999 - Present; Adjunct Professor - Alternative Dispute Resolution (Interviewing & Counseling, Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration), Washburn University School of Law, 2007 - 2010; Special General Counsel/Legislative Liaison, Midland Group, 1990 - 2003; General Counsel/Litigation Director, Kansas Legal Services Inc., 1973 - 2001; Litigation Director, Farmer Assistance Counseling and Training Service (FACTS), 1984 - 2001; Director/Mediation Coordinator, Midland Mediation & Settlement Services, 1995 - 2001; Officer, United States Air Force, 1966 - 1970 (Bronze Star).

Has more than 27 years’ of civil litigation experience in state and federal courts. Primary areas of practice include civil rights, constitutional law, and general civil litigation. Has successfully litigated several class action civil rights matters in both state and federal court, including the establishment of due process rights for individuals facing mental health commitment, and conditions-of-confinement in state and local institutions. Has served as lead trial counsel in hundreds of federal and state trial proceedings and administrative law matters including: civil rights, contract law, consumer fraud, consumer protection violations, corporate liability issues, constitutional law, domestic relations, fair debt collection practices, fair housing, material and latent defects, lemon law, Native American law, residential contract and construction, real estate law, truth-in-lending, Section 1983, and special education disputes.

Served as a Mediator/Arbitrator in more than 5,000 matters arising in federal, state and administrative agencies. These matters include civil rights, commercial law, consumer fraud, consumer protection violations, contract law, constitutional law, construction law, corporate dissolution, domestic relations, domestic relations division of assets, employment law, environmental law, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, fair housing, Federal Trade Commission, FSLA, insurance claims/bad faith, international disputes, material and latent defects, malpractice, labor law, lemon law, personal injury, public policy residential construction, real estate, truth-in-lending, workers' compensation, Section 1981 and 1983, toxic tort, Truth in Lending Act, regular education/special education disputes, securities, water law issues, wills, trusts and estates, Uniform Commercial Code, zoning disputes, and design and development of internal dispute resolution systems. Settlements have ranged from a few thousand dollars to several million dollars. Approved by the Kansas Supreme Court as a mediator and mediator trainer in all categories. Serves on arbitration panels for Associates in Dispute Resolution, LLC, the American Arbitration Association. Certified by the Kansas Department of Education as an approved special education mediator and due process hearing officer.

Employment Law: Covenants Not to Compete, Title VII, Section 1981 and 1983, ADEA, ADA, Fair Housing, Equal Pay Act, FMLA, FSLA, Rehabilitation Act and Retaliation. Consumer law: Fair Debt Collection Practices, Consumer Protection Act, Consumer Fraud, Merchandising Practicing Act Violations and Truth in Lending Act. Construction law: Contract violations. General: Bad Faith Insurance, Care Homes, Contract Disputes, Constitutional Law, Legal and Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Public Policy Disputes, Regular/Special Education Disputes and Toxic Torts.

I consider myself to be extremely fortunate as I truly enjoy the work that I do. It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to work with the brightest attorneys and the most interesting legal issues. As each mediation is unique, I attempt to approach each new opportunity with an open mind. For example, I do not insist on nor do I reject opening statements by the participants to mediation. When I receive a new mediation assignment it is generally my practice to contact the representatives of both parties individually to determine their relative experience with medication, obstacles that they see to settlement and utilize the information provided to structure a mediation experience and process with the greatest likelihood of a success. I am often asked whether I am a facilitative, evaluative or transformative mediator. When I answer, I almost inevitably say "yes." This is because one or all of these techniques may be utilized during the course of the mediation. I think that it is always best to build upon success. From time to time, I will endeavor to utilize negotiation techniques that have proven to be successful, but I am not a mediator that will use the same technique or techniques in every mediation.

Regularly attends AAA Cyber Security Presentations. Cyber Secure online mediations and arbitrations are available.

University of Washington School of Law (LLM-1976); Washburn University School of Law (JD-1973); Washburn University (BBA-1966).

Admitted to the Bar: Missouri (2009), Kansas (1973); Kickapoo Tribal Court; U.S. District Court: District of Kansas and Western District of Missouri; U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

American Bar Association (Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Past-Chair); International Academy of Mediators (Distinguished Fellow & Governor); Heartland Mediators Association; International Mediation Institute; Kansas Bar Association (Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Two-Time Past President); Missouri Bar; Kansas Association for Justice; National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (Charter Member); Topeka Bar Association (Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Past Chair); Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association; Kansas Association of Counsel for Children (Past President).

PUBLICATIONS: Author, "Successful Settlements that Last: How Mediation Best Practices Techniques Can Improve Your Settlement Strategy," Trial Tort & Insurance Section Committee News, Fall 2011; Author, "The Evolution of Commercial Mediation in the Midwest: Best Practices, Confidentiality and Good Faith," Journal of the Kansas Bar Association, January 2010; co-author, "The Changing Face of Arbitration: What Once Was Old is New Again," Journal of the Kansas Bar Association, August, 2003; co-author, "Mediation Round Table: Improving the Quality and Effectiveness of Mediation," KTLA Journal, vol. 26, no. 4, March 2003; co-author, "Discrimination in the Workplace: How Mediation Can Help," Dispute Resolution Journal, American Arbitration Association, February-April 2000. SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Adjunct Professor, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Washburn University School of Law 2026 Dispute Resolution: Mediation & Child Advocacy, Washburn Law School, January 15, 2026. The Ethical Negotiator, Topeka Bar Association, March 10, 2026. The Ethical Negotiator, National Employment Lawyers Association, April 10, 2026. 2025 Washburn University School of Law, Dispute Resolution: Mediation & Child Advocacy, Topeka, Kansas, January 18, 2025. Navigating Immigration Issues in the New Administration, Kansas Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, Lawrence, Kansas, April 16, 2025. Confidentiality & Bad Faith in Mediation, Statutory Requirements, Case Law & Ethical Rules, Associates in Dispute Resolution Annual Training, November 21, 2025. The Ethical Negotiator, Associates in Dispute Resolution Annual Training, November 21, 2025. 2024 Washburn University School of Law, Dispute Resolution: Mediation & Child Advocacy, Topeka, Kansas, January 12, 2024. What Should Lawyers Be looking out for this Legislative Session, Topeka Bar Association, Topeka, Kansas, January 23, 2024. Professional Responsibility in Dispute Resolution: Mediation, Negotiation & Arbitration, Heartland Dispute Resolution Association, Lawrence, Kansas, February 21, 2024. A Spotlight on Dispute Resolution Practice & Practitioners, Associates in Dispute Resolution LLC, Topeka, Kansas, November 15, 2024. Professional Responsibility in Dispute Resolution: Mediation, Negotiation & Arbitration, Heartland Dispute Resolution Association, Lawrence, Kansas, February 21, 2024. Ethical Consideration in Settlement Negotiations, Topeka Bar Association, Topeka, Kansas, April 9, 2024. CLE by the Hour, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri, June 14, 2024. 2023 Washburn University School of Law, Dispute Resolution: Mediation & Child Advocacy, Topeka, Kansas, January 14, 2023. Associates in Dispute Resolution Advocating in the Best Interests of the Child, Topeka, Kansas, April 11, 2023. 2022 Washburn University School of Law, Dispute Resolution: Mediation & Child Advocacy, Topeka, Kansas, January 14, 2022. Johnson County Bar Association Annual Herbert W. Walton Bench/Bar Conference, The Rise and RISE of Mediations, Overland Park, Kansas, April 6, 2022. Associates in Dispute Resolution LLC Family Law Arbitration with a Focus on Uniform Family Law Arbitration, A Practitioner’s Guide to Arbitration, Topeka, Kansas, April 29, 2022. Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Arbitration 101, Kansas City, Missouri, June 15, 2022. Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Negotiation Ethics - CLE by the Hour, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, June 30, 2022. Heartland Dispute Resolution Association, Family Law Arbitration, Webinar, December 21, 2022.

Topeka and Kansas City

Hourly Rate: $525.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $525.00/hr Cancellation: $500.00/Day Cancellation Period: 5 Days Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Topeka, Kansas