SternLaw

11/10/2025

My tips for successful mediations!

11/10/2025

My first ADR Professional Reel!!

02/13/2020

PLEASE REGISTER TO VOTE. YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU.

01/05/2020

Vacation is over. The Grandson is now a few days shy of his 3 month birthday, so plans being made for first college campus visit. His parents are tanned, rested (ok, perhaps not) and fabulous; the spouse is nearly ready to return to the slopes, the daughter and her beau are settled in their Redondo flat; the denizens of RB are prepared for them.

As for me: returning to my work helping the Superior Court settle cases, mediating a variety of cases, moving my own cases to successful conclusions; completing a ghost written family autobiography for a good friend, two legal articles and an outline for a planned presentation to high school seniors preparing for their first votes.

SternLaw is also tanned, rested and ready for whatever 2020 has in store for us all.

08/09/2019

As I prepare to dive head first into the deep end of the mediation “pool”, I was recently reminded that the old school of my lawyer youth is more than ever in danger of closing. I hope not and one of my many goals is to restore the luster of that old school.

In June, the Calif Fourth Appellate District published its decision in LaSalle v. Vogel. The opinion by Justice Bedsworth is both important and entertaining. You don’t need to know the details to know why it caught my eye and why I share with you:

(The Court states a principle found in a Calif statute: “all parties shall cooperate” when it comes to moving a lawsuit to a conclusion);

“Yet the principle...has somehow become the Marie Celeste of CA law - a ghost ship reported by a few hardy souls but doubted by most people familiar with the area in which it’s been reported...civility and cooperation “is a custom, More honor’d in the breach than the observance (citing Hamlet, Act I, Scene 4). In this case, we deal here with more evidence that our profession has come unmoored from its honorable commitment to the ideal expressed in (the law)....”

08/09/2019

Dear Reader:

As you know by now, I am working hard toward becoming a full time mediator. Mediation is one form of “ADR;” Alternative Dispute Resolution. But I rather like another phrase to describe the role of the mediator: “Conflict Resolution.” The difference? Perhaps none at first blush. But let’s dig deeper. Typically, we think of a dispute as a disagreement between A and B. The mediator is but one of many persons who can be called upon to address or resolve the dispute. He or she might be a judge, commissioner, arbitrator, volunteer Settlement Officer or even Cowboy Joe West (veteran MLB umpire who has come between more than his share of disputants!) Conflict? Ah, that is something different and something the mediator hopefully considers in carrying out his or her assignment. For conflict may exist between the lawyer and her own client. Conflict may even exist within the mind and heart of the individual lawyer or party. The trained mediator must be prepared to resolve “conflict,” not merely a “dispute.”

08/01/2019

I am now a proud, inspired graduate of the Pepperdine University School of Law Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. I am changed in ways I did not think possible. For that I will be forever grateful to Professor Peter Robinson, Denise Madigan, Nina Meierding, Retired Judge Jackie Connor, other great guests and finally, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Ben Davidian, supervising judge of that Court’s groundbreaking settlement program, who gave one of the most rousing closings about conflict resolution and what it means to be human I have ever seen or heard.

I hope over the next week or so, you will honor me by visiting my web site, www.sternlaw.org, which highlights my increasing emphasis on my professional career as a mediator and arbitrator.

I’m hoping to play a small part in helping people to come together when conflict threatens to take over their lives.

MEDIATION * ARBITRATION CLAIM AND LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES

07/11/2019

My work as a volunteer settlement officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court continues to be challenging, rewarding and validates my decision to work hard toward an eventual full time career as a private mediator and arbitrator.

Along with my colleague from the defense bar, this morning we resolved another case that was as difficult as any case we've handled. In the process, I was reminded of a valuable lesson regarding our system of civil justice. No matter who you are, no matter your fame, your victories, your defeats, the honors bestowed on you, or whether you live a quiet life of anonymity, when you enter a courtroom or submit to a legal process, you are no better than the next guy; entitled to no different form of justice or special treatment.

Today's case involved a very well known and accomplished former professional athlete; someone known to millions of sports fans, someone who had a long career that included multiple championships. Today's case was a highly emotional and bitter legal fight between two people.

We resolved the case over a nearly 4 hour session. We wrote up special non-monetary terms to go with the monetary resolution. But most important, it was very important to us that the famous guy be treated exactly the same as the not so famous opponent. We listened to the stories each person told and respected each side the same. The legendary athlete received no special consideration or assumption of credibility by virtue of his past.

It was a case that I just knew required an amicable resolution and it was a thrill to be able to make it happen.

04/11/2019

Almost four months into my new law practice, I can report that the variety of cases I am working on is as exciting as any time in my 38 year career. I have a select number of clients as primary litigator for the plaintiff in the areas of elder abuse, premises liability, auto and medical malpractice. In a rarity for me; I am defending a business in an accident case and fighting the State of CA on behalf of a former client regarding an unjust health care lien claim. I am handling special projects such as opposing a summary judgement motion and challenging an overbroad subpoena directed to a doctor.

And I am honored to be a frequent settlement officer for the LA Superior Court where I’ve helped to settle 90% of the cases assigned to me; all just days before those cases were to proceed to trial.

03/19/2019

In recent days, you’ve heard about a presidential “veto.” Did you know that word appears nowhere in The Constitution? And, that the power of “veto” is not an enumerated presidential power described in Article 2 of America’s governing document?

There is only one place in The Constitution that describes how a federal law is made and that is Article I. In Section 7, lots of detail but here’s the basics: “Every Bill which (passes both houses of Congress) before it becomes a Law, (must be ) presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections...(Congress can then reconsider the Bill and if 2/3 of both Houses want it passed, it will become law no matter the Presidential “objections”).”

In other words, the role of the President is part of the power of Congress; and it is Congress that has the last and final word on what becomes law in the USA.

There have been senators and House members who have voted against a bill but on Reconsideration have voted for the bill, NOT because they personally liked the bill but because they wanted to honor The Institution and the action its majority took in the first instance. Rare for sure; but can happen.

03/11/2019

I am thrilled to report that my colleagues and friends have responded with enthusiasm to my new form of law practice. I have been open about my long term goal to transition to a full time mediation practice. I am committed to a two year process by which I serve as an advocate for a select number of clients and cases, an advisor and counselor through freelance and joint venture projects and a mediator and arbitrator. As to the latter, I am returning to pro bono service as Settlement Officer and Judge Pro Tem, while sharpening my skills and training in alternative dispute resolution.

After 38 years as a California lawyer, I have never been more excited for my future in my chosen profession.