Mediator Resume

Fifty years as an experienced trial attorney as plaintiff or defense counsel in business, construction, insurance coverage, malpractice, personal injury, products liability and wrongful death matters. Represented governmental agencies, including the federal government, local city and school districts. Arbitrator since 1980 arbitrating in excess of 200 cases in numerous fields. Mediator since 1997, mediating in excess of 2,500 cases with a 98% settlement rate. Tried cases in California, Guam and Morocco.

Law Offices of Ivan K. Stevenson - Attorney at Law Confidential Mediation & Dispute Resolution (CMDR) - Mediator & Arbitrator

Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator

Owner/Attorney of Law, Law Offices of Ivan K. Stevenson, 1983 - Present; Mediator/Arbitrator, Confidential Mediation & Dispute Resolution, 2001 - Present; Partner/Claims Adjuster/Claims Auditor, Benefits Consulting Service/Tayson Insurance Administrators, 1983 - 2014; Partner/Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Martin & Stamp, 1978 - 1983; Technical Writer/Assistant Supervisor/Health Claims Adjuster, Occidental Life Insurance Company, 1969 - 1973; Unrestricted Line Officer/U. S. Navy Judge Advocate/Prosecutor/Defense Counsel/Claims Officer/Assistant Staff Judge Advocate/U.S. Foreign Trial Observer, United States Naval Reserves, 1967 - 1994.

Fifty years of extensive trial experience. Three years litigating federal criminal matters either as a prosecutor or a defense counsel for the U.S. Navy. Forty-seven years as a civil litigator either as a plaintiff or defense counsel. Served as a Foreign Trial Observer on behalf of the U. S. Embassy in Morocco, which involved handling trial matters in the Moroccan courts on behalf of military personnel. Forty seven years civil trial experience includes litigating matters on a state or federal court level. Litigated more than 75 construction cases representing general contractors and developers. Litigated matters involving all aspects of construction from the raw ground to single family and multi family houses, condominiums and large tract development, commercial buildings and structures of all types, including schools. Represented governmental agencies and school districts in the building of their facilities. Represented several United States and foreign insurance carriers regarding coverage issues. Also litigated against carriers on coverage and bad faith issues. Co-wrote and produced a two-volume health claims administration manual. Served as a co-owner of a consulting firm that audited claims adjusting companies in their handling of health claims. Co-owned a Third Party Administrating firm handling and adjudicating health, dental, disability and life claims for ERISA group insurance entities and insurance companies. Litigated more than 50 cases in the legal malpractice, medical malpractice and other professional malpractice areas. Litigated more than 75 cases in products liability involving aluminum products from raw materials to finished products used in a variety of applications including airplanes and construction products, boat manufacturing, commercial saw manufacturing, oil by-product matters, motor scooter manufacturing, auto manufacturing and medical devices. Represented and litigated more than 100 cases on behalf of governmental agencies, including cities, police departments and school districts, either as a plaintiff or defense counsel. Participated in police shooting investigation teams. Provided on site advice to the governmental agency and/or the police department in police matters including collisions, shootings and deaths. Litigated and defended numerous personal injury cases, including slip and falls, auto, train and truck accidents, and boating accidents. Served as an Attorney Fee Arbitrator for the State Bar of California, and as a Special Master for the State Bar of California.

Mediated in excess of 2,500 cases in all litigation fields such as construction, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, professional malpractice, personal injury, products liability, business disputes, probate and estate issues, real estate disputes, wrongful death, multiparty construction and personal injury matters and land subsidence cases, with a 98% settlement rate. Participated in mediations representing plaintiffs or defendants in more than 50 cases involving construction, contract issues and personal injury cases.

The issues presented as a mediator involved multiparty construction disputes involving soils, water infiltration, faulty plumbing, mold, concrete composition and degradation, soils subsidence and earth movement. Medical malpractice matters involved surgical interventions, failure to diagnose, improper medication dosage or contraindications, improper surgical techniques and failure of medical prosthetics used. Legal malpractice matters involved billing issues, failure to comply with Court orders, violating the statute of limitations. Personal Injury matters involved multiparty and wrongful death cases. Mediated small policy limits with multiparty claimants. Cases varied from auto, truck, bus, train accidents, slip and falls, trespass, gun shots, fisticuffs, and premises liability matters.

The mediation process begins by contact with the counsels and/or the pro per parties. This is followed with a letter to all counsels or pro pers outlining the time and date of the mediation with a schedule of information delivery dates in preparation for the mediation. A pre-mediation confidential brief outlining each party’s position, previous settlement discussions and position for settlement parameters is expected prior to the mediation, in order to assist in having the mediation move expeditiously. Confidentiality of the process is a key component of any mediation. The process is commenced with a joint session where the process is described to all participants and the role of the mediator explained. Shuttle diplomacy follows with each group in their own room and the mediator moving from room to room. Each mediation is closed with a joint session to explain the terms of the resolution or to discuss where the parties are in the process and what can be done to advance the mediation, including a cooling off period where necessary. Follow up in an unresolved mediation is standard.

Due to familiarity with online communications programs, willing to conduct arbitration hearings and mediations using online platforms such as WebEx (Cisco) and Microsoft Teams. Cannot use Zoom due to security concerns of current clients. Willing to conduct hybrid mediation or arbitration hearings` if parties desire. Willing to receive all submissions and evidence in electronic format such as Adobe Acrobat PDF.

University of California at Los Angeles (BA, English-1971); Southwestern University School of Law (JD-1974).

Admitted to the Bar: California (1974); Supreme Court of California (1974); U.S. District Court: Central District of California (1974), District of the Northern Mariana Islands (1978); U.S. Court of Appeals: Ninth Circuit (2005); California Department of Insurance, Third Party Administrator (1984); U.S. Federal Military Courts (1975); U.S. Court of Military Appeals (1976); U.S. Foreign Trial Observer (1976); U.S. Supreme Court (1981).

California Academy of Neutrals; Center for International Legal Studies (CILS); Judge Advocates Association (JAA); National Academy of Neutrals; State Bar of California; UCLA Alumni Association; United States Naval Institute; United States Naval Reserves (Inactive Ready Reserve).

Recent Speaking Engagements: Ethics in Mediation - University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law - January 2020 - Long Beach Confidentiality Update - UCLA School of Law - October 2018 - Los Angeles Mediation in the Real World - SCMA - October 2017 - Los Angeles Mediation and Private Judging - California Association of Paralegals - June 2016 - Riverside, CA The Other Bar - California Association of Paralegals - June 2016 - Riverside, CA

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $10,000.00 Study Rate: $750.00/hr Cancellation: $5,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 7 Days Comment: For all preliminary or interim hearings for arbitrations, the fee will be $1,500 per hour up to 4 hours, at which time it will convert to a full day rate noted above. Cancellation fee applies except for settlements, family matters or court trials. If air travel is required, then the flight, hotel, meals and ground transportation will be charged as incurred.

English

United States of America

Rolling Hills Estates, California