Masters of Dispute Resolution

Season 03 Episode 12                                           45:47 Since 1987, Sanford Jossen has mediated and arbitrated thousands of cases across a broad spectrum of civil litigation matters.  In this episode, Sandy shares the story of a musician who, in the middle of the pandemic, left his rent-controlled apartment to act as caretaker for his ailing mother in another city, returning to the apartment a year later only to find the building was being renovated and all his belongings were missing.  A trial of the issues was to commence between the musician, the elderly owner, her daughter, and an insurance company in four days when Sandy was called upon to mediate the matter.

Season 03 Episode 10                                           45:50 Eric Galton has been a Texas attorney for 47 years and a full-time mediator for 35 years and has mediated nearly 8000 cases in 22 states and 16 foreign nations. He is a Distinguished Credentialed Mediator with the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association and a past president of the International Academy of Mediators. In this episode, Eric tells the story about the mediation of a case involving 450 hemophiliacs, a blood transfusion product manufactured by four of the largest pharma companies on the planet that infected the parties and loved ones with HIV, and how setting up the mediation for success led to resolution. 

Season 03 Episode 08                                         45:00 Michael G. Balmages, Esq. is an accomplished mediator and discovery referee with extensive experience as a trial lawyer, general counsel, and transactional lawyer. As a mediator and neutral, he has had great success in helping litigants resolve their disputes in more than 1,000 cases.  In this episode, Michael tells the story of a litigated matter, its effect on the parties’ long-term relationship, the price paid in both monetary and non-monetary respects, and why two mediations failed to result in settlement.

Season 03 Episode 06                                         43:03 Jeff Trueman, Esq., is an experienced, full-time mediator and arbitrator. Specializing in interpersonal conflict, he is well known as a manager of difficult conversations. Jeff joins Len Levy to tell the story of a family reunion suddenly becoming transformed from a joyous occasion to one of life-changing injury and grief and how the mediation Jeff conducted was instrumental in removing the impediments preventing the injured parties from obtaining the help they needed to cope with their injuries and help them heal.  

Season 03 Episode 04                                         44:05 Lee Jay Berman became a full-time Los Angeles mediator 28 years ago and has since mediated over 2,500 cases.  As an AAA Master Mediator panelist for employment matters and on AAA’s national roster for commercial and construction disputes, he trains mediators through the American Institute of Mediation locally and worldwide.  In this episode, Lee Jay tells the story of a successful business, embezzlement, and whether the parties could agree to a business dissolution without killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

Season 03 Episode 02                                          45:36 Mark Baer is an attorney who works as a mediator, conflict resolution consultant, coach, trainer, and educator on implicit bias and emotional intelligence.  His approach to conflict recognizes that emotion impacts decision-making and that the litigation process itself often incites rather than calms harmful emotions.  In his conversation with Len, Mark conveys the story of a married couple who are also business partners, how bias caused conflict in both their business and personal relationship, and what it took to change that trajectory.

Season 02  Episode 12                                          43:20 Caroline C. Vincent, Esq., a pioneer attorney neutral in Southern California, has mediated and arbitrated well over 2,700 matters during her distinguished 27-year neutral career.  Her broad legal background with some of California’s most prestigious firms, superb interpersonal skills, keen intellect, and perseverance make her a preferred choice for both plaintiff and defense attorneys in a wide variety of practice areas.  Caroline’s conversation with Len delves into resolution of cases where personal and business concerns are driving the conflict. 

Season 02 Episode 10                                           40:48 Phyllis W. Cheng, Esq., has excelled at every stage of her career.  For nearly seven years, Ms. Cheng was Director of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the largest state civil rights agency in the United States, where she oversaw the largest settlements in DFEH history.  In this not to be missed episode, Len and Phyllis discuss creative approaches to resolution and what mediation participants can accomplish if they enter into the process open to a problem-solving approach.

Season 02 Episode 08                                         40:38 Mark LeHocky is a mediator and arbitrator with ADR Services, Inc. who previously served as general counsel to Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. and Ross Stores, Inc., spent two decades litigating commercial, IP, antitrust, class action, and other disputes for clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, and began mediating over twenty years ago.  In this discussion with Len, Mark helps you understand what you need to do in mediation when a general counsel is involved in the decision-making process.

Season 02 Episode 06                                          43:36 Randy Even brings over 40 years of legal experience (with a specialty in medical malpractice, elder abuse, and complex medical issues) to his dispute resolution practice, acting as a mediator, arbitrator, or settlement officer in over 1,000 cases with an impressive rate of resolution.  In this conversation with Len, Randy draws on his extensive experience to provide insights that will help anyone representing clients in medical malpractice, elder abuse, and other medically related cases achieve better results.

Season 02 Episode 04                                         42:29 Jeff Trueman, Esq., is an experienced, full-time mediator and arbitrator.  Specializing in interpersonal conflict, he is well known as a manager of difficult conversations.  Jeff joins Len Levy for an enlightening discussion of important considerations for attorneys and mediators alike to avoid potential pitfalls when participating in mediations that might be governed by the rules and statutes of different jurisdictions.

Season 02 Episode 01                                          50:00 Mayra Fornos brings her considerable expertise as a neutral and accomplished litigator with three decades of experience handling a wide range of civil matters, including catastrophic personal injury. In her conversation with Len, Mayra discusses, among other things, the use of experts and how to prepare the most effective presentation in a mediation context, preparing your client, and how to get the other side to see things through a different lens.

Season 01 Episode 12                                             40:18 Alan Saler has enjoyed a thriving practice as a neutral since founding Alan Saler Mediation Services in 2003.  He has mediated more than 3,000 civil cases and disputes and consistently achieves resolution through his legal analysis, evaluative skills, meticulous preparation, and tenacity.  Alan joins Len for an informative discussion that includes parties’ expectations and how attorneys can best provide the information needed to obtain optimal results for clients.