Mediator Resume

Full-time Arbitrator and Mediator with over 35 years of experience in construction, insurance, and real estate disputes. Since 2005, has mediated more than 1,000 cases and arbitrated over 250 matters, including claims valued from $1 million to $250 million. A former partner and head of a major construction litigation practice, widely recognized for expertise in complex defect, delay, and insurance coverage disputes. A frequent speaker and published author, known for persistence, practical approach, and skill in resolving emotionally charged, high-stakes cases.

Mediation Offices of Matthew W. Argue, dba "One Mediator, Inc." - Full Time Arbitrator, Mediator, Special Master, Dispute Review Board, Project Neutral

Arbitrator, Mediator, Neutral, Attorney

Full Time Arbitrator and Mediator, "One Mediator, Inc.", 2004 - Present; Partner and Head of Construction Law Group, Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, 1989 - 2001.

Over 35 years' experience in construction, insurance and real estate related litigation. Former partner and head of the construction litigation department at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch in San Diego, CA from 1997-2001. Has handled all types of construction litigation, real estate financing and real estate transactional matters. Representative types of cases included: residential and commercial construction defect cases, construction claims disputes for owners, general contractors and developers, hotel and hospitality construction, construction contracts and subcontracts, prompt payment, loss profits, delay claims, disruption claims, schedule analysis, insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, real estate fraud, real estate broker cases, real estate mortgage and loans, eminent domain, land use, landlord-tenant, mechanic's liens, unlawful detainer, leasing, property tax reduction, master plan development, easements, zoning appeals, and title insurance. Extensive insurance experience including, professional liability, primary and excess, insurance coverage (covered vs. uncovered, "ongoing operations", "occurrence", Additional Insured, contractual liability, supplementary payments), Large deductibles and self-insured retentions, Wrap, OCIP, CCIP, Commercial General Liability, Property/Casualty insurance, agency/broker issues, Errors and Omissions, Directors and Officers, and Legal Malpractice. Representative construction litigation matters handled include representing multiple owners in luxury single single-family residence cases involving $10-20 million in defect claims each, representing over 300 owners in mass single-family tract development for construction defects, representing owners in a commercial construction defect case versus general contractor and numerous trades, and representing California state-wide developer in defense of residential construction defect cases. Also, represented 84 plaintiffs in AAS v. Superior Court (2000) 24 Cal. 4th 627 that was appealed to California Supreme Court, dealing with the "economic loss rule."

Serves as a full-time mediator, arbitrator, and special master focusing exclusively on construction, insurance, and real-estate disputes. Since 2005, has mediated over 1,000 construction and insurance cases and arbitrated more than 300 matters throughout California and nationally. Regularly appointed as Special Master and Discovery Referee in complex, multi-party litigation involving 20 or more participants. Experienced in resolving disputes arising from major public and private works, including airports, port and harbor facilities, transit and railway projects, highways and roadway infrastructure, universities, public schools, data centers, hotels, commercial developments, shopping centers, high-rise residential buildings, and large-scale tract developments. Frequently mediates disputes involving Guaranteed Maximum Price contracts, change orders, cost overruns, scheduling and delay claims, defective construction, insurance coverage, bad-faith claims, and design-professional liability. Brings extensive trial experience to ADR, enabling parties to realistically assess risk, cost, and potential outcomes during negotiation.

Construction-defect and design disputes; delay, disruption, and acceleration claims; change-order, cost-overrun, and Guaranteed Maximum Price issues; termination and contract-performance disputes; insurance-coverage, additional-insured, and bad-faith claims; professional-liability claims involving architects, engineers, and design consultants; real-estate and land-use disputes including leasing, title, and zoning; multi-party construction and insurance matters involving complex scheduling, allocation, and coverage issues.

Perseverance is the most important attribute for a mediator. I approach every case with the goal of achieving resolution, combining patience, persistence, and practical insight gained from decades of trial and ADR experience. I believe mediation succeeds when parties are fully prepared and the process allows them to control their outcome. I work proactively to establish trust, clarify issues, and guide discussion toward realistic evaluation of risk, cost, and benefit. My method is both evaluative and facilitative - encouraging constructive dialogue while testing assumptions and settlement positions. In complex, multi-party matters, I drive the process forward with persistence and continued engagement, following up relentlessly until resolution is reached.

Successfully completed Clearbrief Academy, May 2025, and proficient in generative AI applications.

University of Southern California (JD-1989); San Diego State University (BA, Political Science-1986).

Admitted to the Bar: California (1989), Colorado (1999-inactive), Nevada (1999-inactive), Texas (2000-inactive), Washington (2001-inactive). California Real Estate Broker's License, (2006).

American Bar Association (Forum on the Construction Industry; Dispute Resolution Section); San Diego County Bar Association (ADR Section; Construction Section); Bar Association of Northern San Diego County (Real Estate Section, Past Chairman; ADR Section); Washington State Bar Association (Construction Section); Spokane County Bar Association; Justice Todd/U.S.C. Inn of Court; Oliver Wendell Holmes Inn of Court; California Dispute Resolution Council, CLM, Claims Litigation Management Professional Certification (CLMP), Society for Construction Law (North America).

Frequent speaker and attends multiple annual construction conferences for continuing education, networking and recreation with Colleagues including: AAA Neutral's Conference; AAA Construction Conference Annual; ABA Forum on Construction Annual, Mid-Winter and Fall Meetings; California Construction Law Update with John Dacey in Los Angeles, CA; SCL-NA Society of Construction Law Annual Conference; Perrin Construction Annual Construction Conference; CLM Annual Construction Conference; West Coast Casualty's Construction Defect Conference in Anaheim, CA; Construction Super Conference Annual. PUBLICATIONS: "Mediation Success: Strategies for Avoiding Prolonged Litigation and Getting to 'Settled', ABA FORUM ON CONSTRUCTION DISPUTE RESOLVER, 2025; "Mediating with Emotional Intelligence: The Interplay of Emotional and Rational Decision Making, AAA DISPUTE RESOLUTION JOURNAL, Vol. 72, No. 3, 2017; "Emotional Intelligence in Mediation: When IQ is not Enough", AAA DISPUTE RESOLUTION JOURNAL, FALL 2015; "Timing is Everything: When is the Best Time to Resolve a Construction Defect Case?", AAA DISPUTE RESOLUTION JOURNAL, August/October 2013; "Work-Life Balance After Two Types of Cancer," THE BENCHER MAGAZINE, American Inns of Court, 2010; "Do's and Don'ts Representing Clients in Mediation", AAA DISPUTE RESOLUTION MAGAZINE, 2009; "Business, Private Life Collide in Luxury-Home Mediations," LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL, 2007; "Renovating Recovery: In the Wake of the California Supreme Court's "AAS" Decision, Construction Defect Plaintiffs May Have to Rethink Damage claims," LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL, 2001; Co-author, "Recent Developments in 'Physical Injury Rule' to Construction Defect Cases," NEVADA LAWYER, 2000; "Stigma Damages and Construction Defects," CONDO MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE, 1998; "Real Estate Broker Disclosure Laws," NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL, 1995. SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Frequent speaker at San Diego County Bar Association Construction Law Section, Orange County Bar Association, West Coast Casualty Annual Construction Defect Conference, Construction Super Conference, Mealy's Construction Conferences, CLM Construction Conferences.

San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, El Centro, Palm Springs, San Bernardino, Fresno.

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $13,000.00 Study Rate: $1,000.00/hr Cancellation: $13,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 60 Days Comment: Per Hour rate charged for pre-mediation preparation, document review and after mediation Follow-up. Half Day Rate is $9,100.00; Full Day Rate is $13,000.00 Cancellation policy: if cancellation occurs less than 60 days' notice from the first scheduled hearing day, a refund shall be given for any hearing day which is rebooked to the extent of fees earned on that day.

English

United States of America

Escondido, California