The Platt Group, Inc. – Managing Member, Mediator and Arbitrator

Willing to conduct Arbitrations and Mediations either in person or via Zoom, pursuant to the choice of parties and counsel.

Mediator, Arbitrator, Neutral Case Evaluator, Senior Judge

Founding and Managing Member/Mediator and Arbitrator, The Platt Group Inc., 2007 – Present; Alternate Federal Land Commissioner, U.S. District Court for District of Maryland, 2009 – Present; Judge, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County Maryland, 1990 – 2007; Judge, District Court of Maryland for Prince George’s County Maryland, 1986 – 1990; Judge, Orphans Court (Probate Court) for Prince George’s County Maryland, 1978 – 1986; Managing Partner, Platt & Risner, 1976 – 1986.

Served as a judge in the Maryland Courts for over 25 years, with 17 years on the Circuit Court. While serving as a Circuit Court Judge, responsible for management of all "Complex Civil Non-Family Cases" in the Court, which included the supervision of all settlement conferencing, mediating and scheduling of these medical malpractice, legal malpractice, business litigation, construction litigation and products liability cases. Has also presided over many of these cases. Acknowledged architect of the Maryland Businesses Technology Case Management Program, which was cited as a model for the nation in articles appearing in The Business Lawyer, a publication of the Section of Business Law of the American Bar Association, in Case In Point, the periodical of the National Judicial College, and in The Maryland Bar Journal.

Substantial and substantive training and experience in resolving e-discovery issues both privately and as a Court-Appointed Special Magistrate in both Federal and State Courts.

Brings a unique perspective to the resolution of e-discovery issues and the utilization of Special Magistrate for that purpose. Has both appointed Special Magistrate in as a Judge of the Seventh Circuit of Maryland and as a full-time Judge been appointed as a Special Magistrate himself by other Judges in numerous cases in multiple courts.

Instructs on issues of “E-Discovery” and “The Use of Special Magistrates” to other judges for The National Judicial College in a course taught around the country entitled “Managing the Complex Commercial Case".

With regard to mediation, has served as a mediator in the following types of cases in the past two years: (1) 25 legal malpractice cases - at issue in these cases was the alleged negligence of the lawyer in conducting real estate transactions, the drafting of documents, the drafting of wills, and missing a statute of limitation; (2) 16 medical malpractice cases; (3) 30 business disputes - one was a bankruptcy case relating to the value of intellectual property, licenses, distributor's rights and market shares. Another case involved a breach of contract claim between a publicly held homebuilding company and an advertising agency involving claims of fraud, commissions due, and owing and accountings; (4) nine class action cases involving credit card issuers, car dealerships, and physicians billing; (5) four construction disputes between owners, builders and subcontractors; and (6) many personal injury cases involving motor torts in which insurance coverage issues and the interpretation and ability of statutes in different states were at issue and totaling in excess of $12 million dollars over eight years.

Property disputes with issues relating to boundary disputes, and fraud in the inducement. Medical malpractice cases mediated included issues related to violation of standard of care by an OB/GYN, a general surgeon, and referral physicians. Legal malpractice cases mediated included issues raised by disputes over the applicable standard of care - when is a duty by an attorney owed to a non-client; how is a duty to a client or non-client created; and when does a duty to a client end. Extensive experience with cases in which private parties litigate with county and state governments regarding allegations of police misconduct and excessive force. Educational issues including employment disputes and allegations of child abuse and neglect. Settlements have ranges from $20M to nuisance value.

When I act as a Settlement Facilitator, I draw upon my quarter-century of experience as a trial judge, formal training as a mediator, and experience with facilitating thousands of Settlement Conferences in complex cases as a lawyer and a judge for over 25 years, to become a facilitator for the parties to reach an agreement. The methods involved in resolving the dispute may include mediation, neutral case evaluation and neutral fact-finding. Ultimately, in Settlement Facilitation, I may recommend the terms of an agreement. Settlement Facilitation is my predominant style.

American University, Washington College of Law (JD-1973); University of Virginia (BA, Government and Public Administration-1969).

Admitted to the Bar: Maryland (1975), District of Columbia (1976-inactive); U.S. District Court: District of Maryland (1976); U.S. Supreme Court (1981).

National Association of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN); American College of Business Court Judges (Past President); American Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section; Business Law Section; Judicial Administration Section); Maryland State Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section; Business Law Section; Judicial Administration Section); Prince George's County; Maryland Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section; Business Law Section; Judicial Administration Section; Past President); Prince George's County Bar Association (Past President); Marlborough Inn of Court (Past President); AEI/Brookings Institute Joint Center for Regulatory Studies Judicial Education Program Judicial Education Program Advisory (Past Board Member); American Bar Foundation (Fellow); Maryland Bar Foundation (Lifetime Fellow); Prince George's Bar Foundation (Charter Fellow); Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs; International Mediation Institute (IMI) Certified Mediator.

“Managing the Complex Commercial Case“, National Judicial College, Reno, Nevada; Miami, Florida; Newark New Jersey – 2014 & 2015; San Antonio, Texas – 2016
“Making the Most of ADR in the Business Litigation Context: Putting the Counsel Into Counselor”, MSBA Litigation, ADR and Business Law Sections Joint Program at 2014 MSBA Annual Meeting, June 12, 2014. “The Case Settled Years Ago. How Can We All Be Liable? (The Medicare Morosse)”, MSBA Litigation Section Program at 2014 Annual Meeting, June 13, 2014.
“The Use of ADR in Business Disputes”, National Judicial College, Reno, Nevada, April 2013
“Effective Advocacy in Mediation Strategy, Issues and Pointers”, Maryland State Bar Association Annual Meeting – June 14, 2012
“The Role of the Judiciary in Resolving International Commercial Disputes”, the Judicial Development Institute, Iraqi Higher Judicial Council, with the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) – U.S. Department of Commerce & Dubai Courts – Dubai, UAE, April 22-26, 2012
“Ethics and Professionalism for Maryland Lawyers,” Maryland State Bar Association, August 19.2011
“Handling of Legal and Medical Malpractice Cases,” Judicial Institute of Maryland, April 2007
“Health Courts and Administrative Compensation,” Harvard School of Public Health and Common Good Foundation, November 2006
“Maryland Business and Technology Case Program,” Institute for Legal Reform – US Chamber of Commerce, July 2006
“Two Opposite Worlds Coalesce – Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program,” Conference of Circuit Court Judges, December 2001
“Dispute Resolution in the 20th Century- A Judge’s Perspective,” National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts – Maryland Chapter, June 1997
“Financial Forensics and Expert Witness” – National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, November 2016.
“The Judges Tell All – How Valuation Experts Build and Lose Their Credibility” Keynote Address, National Association of Certified Valuation Analysis, June 2017.

(see website www.theplattgroup.com).

Annapolis, MD

$450 Per Hour

English

United States of America

Annapolis, MD