FN-2524346 MN-2524346 LN-2524346, Esq.
Attorney, Retired Judge, Arbitrator, Mediator, Private trials and Mock Trials.
Fresno, California
Wanger Jones Helsley PC - Attorney
Available for virtual and in-person hearings.
Available for virtual and in-person hearings.
Attorney, Retired Judge, Arbitrator, Mediator, Private trials and Mock Trials.
Attorney, Wanger Jones Helsley PC., 2011 – Present; United States District Judge, U.S. District Court (E.D.Cal.) 1991 – 2011; Senior Partner/Head of Business Litigation group, McCormick Barstow Sheppard Wayte & Carruth, 1974 – 1991; Partner, Gallagher Baker & Manock, 1969 – 1974; Deputy District Attorney, Fresno County, 1967 – 1969; Contract City Attorney (City of Mendota).
Co-founder/former Dean, President and Chairman of Board of Trustees, San Joaquin College of Law (Fresno, California), 1970 – 1994 & 2011; Adjunct Professor of Law, Humphreys College of Law, 1968 – 1969.
Co-founder/former Dean, President and Chairman of Board of Trustees, San Joaquin College of Law (Fresno, California), 1970 – 1994 & 2011; Adjunct Professor of Law, Humphreys College of Law, 1968 – 1969.
More than 20 years service as a United States District Judge in the Eastern District of California, hearing numerous complex cases focused on water rights and environmental law, civil rights and constitutional tort cases; employment cases, class actions; construction law, including Miller Act cases, contract disputes, and enforcement of bonds and surety responsibilities; copyright, patent and trademark; lender liability, financial institution, and mortgage fraud; labor and employment, business litigation, federal and state; agri-business (PACA, and AMAA cases); antitrust and unfair competition; insurance coverage and bad faith litigation cases; and securities cases. Real estate disputes, including commercial and landlord-tenant liability and franchise cases. Tried or presided over more than 600 jury trials to verdict.
Case experience includes class certification decisions, management and resolution of numerous class actions involving wage and hour and conditions of employment disputes; financial institution and lender liability claims; securities claims under 10b-5; unfair practices, mass torts, and other class action cases.
Trial Achievements recognized by fellowship in American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates (former President, San Joaquin Valley Chapter, National Director); Litigation Counsel of America (rank of Centurion). Founder and First President of San Joaquin Valley Inns of Court. 2019, 2021 Top 100 Registry, Professional of the Year. Top 100 Registry 2018 Professional of the Year; Super Lawyers; Best Trial Lawyer in America. National Institute of Trial Lawyers, Civil Litigation 2021. American Institute of Trial Lawyers, Litigator of the Year 2021. Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achievement Award.
Extensive experience in RICO, cyber-crime, environmental crimes, mail and wire fraud and public corruption cases provides broad perspective. Bankruptcy appeals and a broad range of debtor's and creditor's rights cases were decided. Extensive experience as a trial lawyer in agricultural, business and corporate litigation, professional liability of accountants, architects, attorneys, and engineers and unfair competition. Cannabis cases.
Case experience includes class certification decisions, management and resolution of numerous class actions involving wage and hour and conditions of employment disputes; financial institution and lender liability claims; securities claims under 10b-5; unfair practices, mass torts, and other class action cases.
Trial Achievements recognized by fellowship in American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates (former President, San Joaquin Valley Chapter, National Director); Litigation Counsel of America (rank of Centurion). Founder and First President of San Joaquin Valley Inns of Court. 2019, 2021 Top 100 Registry, Professional of the Year. Top 100 Registry 2018 Professional of the Year; Super Lawyers; Best Trial Lawyer in America. National Institute of Trial Lawyers, Civil Litigation 2021. American Institute of Trial Lawyers, Litigator of the Year 2021. Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achievement Award.
Extensive experience in RICO, cyber-crime, environmental crimes, mail and wire fraud and public corruption cases provides broad perspective. Bankruptcy appeals and a broad range of debtor's and creditor's rights cases were decided. Extensive experience as a trial lawyer in agricultural, business and corporate litigation, professional liability of accountants, architects, attorneys, and engineers and unfair competition. Cannabis cases.
Since 2011, active practice as arbitrator and mediator. Over 20 years experience in conducting settlement conferences as U.S. District Judge and six years presiding over settlement conferences as a State Superior Court Judge Pro Tem. 25 years of practice as a mediator. 70 total number of cases mediated. Prior to being commissioned as a District Judge as advocate of party, experience was focused on court annexed settlement conferences and arbitrations. Cases in business and commercial litigation, class action in antitrust, securities, unfair competition, oil and gas, real property, water law, and environmental disputes. Damages sought in millions to over one billion dollars. A myriad of cases as a District Judge and Superior Court Judge Pro Tem involving multi-parties, including plaintiffs, defendants, intervenors and third parties; class actions in wage and hour cases, with over 100,000 members in different sub-classes, employment cases, toxic tort cases with over 2048 individual members, not amenable to class treatment. Wide experience involving direct claims, cross-claims, counter-claims and third-party complaints in all aspects of Federal cases; cross-complaints in the State system; extended work on indemnity and/or contribution issues, subrogation, and suretyship liability issues.
In hearing and deciding cases and conducting settlement conferences for over 25 years, there are no issues not encountered in all areas of law described above. These issues were handled as a judge, not a mediator per se; however, mediation skills were used.
The mediation process works effectively when the mediator is comprehensively prepared, knows the parties' case, provides interactive, courteous, and responsive services to attorneys and participating parties. The general approach to mediation followed, is to engage the parties with the expectation that they will provide honest evaluations and participate in the process in good faith. It is expected attorneys will allow their client or representative to be educated and in appropriate cases, to permit direct communication with their consent and participation. It is expected that once comprehensive knowledge of the case has been fed back to the parties with their agreement as to seminal issues to be resolved and the ultimate points on which resolution turns, the parties will provide a candid appraisal of their best and worst case. The parties are entitled to a clear and honest evaluation of their case, witnesses, likely outcome of seminal disputed legal issues, likelihood of admissibility of disputed evidence that will be addressed by motions in limine in the trial process, and an analysis and valuation of damages claims, remedies, and any other forms of relief that are sought.
Open communication with the parties individually and without the other side present, and to the extent permission is granted, the sharing of information with parties jointly in the mediation process is facilitative of case resolution.
Open communication with the parties individually and without the other side present, and to the extent permission is granted, the sharing of information with parties jointly in the mediation process is facilitative of case resolution.
University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall (LLB-1966); University of Southern California (BS-1963).
Admitted to the Bar: California, 1967. Thoroughbred Owner, California Horse Racing Board.
American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow); International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Fellow); American Board of Trial Advocates (Past President, San Joaquin Valley Chapter, National Director); Litigation Counsel of America (Rank of Centurion); American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (Founder-Diplomate); San Joaquin Valley Inns of Court (Founder, First President); FedArb (arbitration organization of former federal judges); National Board of Trial Advocacy (Certified Civil Trial Specialist).
Numerous Federal Court decisions published over more than 20 years in all the fields of law described above, including sitting by assignment on Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. A frequent speaker on the subjects of water law, environmental law, federal jury trial practice and procedure, and trial evidence.
$520 Per Hour
English
United States of America
Fresno, CA
The AAA’s Rules provide the AAA with the authority to administer a mediation including, mediator appointment, general oversight and billing. Accordingly, mediations that proceed without AAA administration are not considered AAA mediations, even when the parties select an mediator who is on the AAA’s Roster.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.
