CASE EXPERIENCE
More than 70% of the hundreds of alternative resolution disputes I have mediated involve parties from diverse cultural or ethnic backgrounds. Because much of my mediation practice focuses on the resolution of disputes involving real property, purchase and sale agreements, landlord/tenant, construction, business torts, partnership, contract and the professional liability of real estate brokers, lawyers and CPAs, I call it, “Dirt, buildings and the people who handle them.” I also specialize in wills/trusts, elder abuse, wrongful termination, workplace discrimination and sex harassment, wage-and-hour disputes and auto accidents. The following are some specific categories:
Buyer-Seller, Lender, Title and Escrow Disputes
- Formation of business and real estate contracts, including cross-cultural influences in negotiations
- Breach of contract
- Quiet title actions
- Non-disclosure and misrepresentation in contract, partnership and real property matters
- Rescission and other equitable remedies
- Lender and borrower rights and obligations
- Housing discrimination and ADA claims
- Title insurance and escrow liability
Co-owner Disputes
- Tenancy-in-common, joint tenancy and quiet title actions involving real property
- Partnership, joint venture formation, dissolution and accounting
- Partition actions and related accounting issues
- Family property and business disputes in the context of marital dissolution
- LGBTQ, common law/cohabitation and cross-cultural property disputes
- Inheritance disputes between siblings or involving unrelated parties
- Financial elder abuse
Landlord-Tenant Disputes
- Commercial, residential and industrial lease disputes and unlawful evictions
- Habitability cases involving residential and rent-controlled property
- Tenant improvements
Inheritance Disputes
- Probate, will contests and trust disputes
- Financial elder abuse and dependency cases
Professional Liability Claims Involving Real Property
- Real estate broker and mortgage broker negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud
- Attorney malpractice arising from transactions, contract/will drafting and real property litigation
- CPA malpractice and accounting claims arising from structuring real property transactions
- Broker/client and broker/broker commission disputes
Homeowner Associations, Condominiums and Planned Unity Developments
- Enforcement of CC & Rs, including HOA v. homeowners and disputes among homeowners
Construction Defects
- Claims against general and sub-contractors and related insurance and coverage issues
- Home Improvement Contract disputes between contractors and homeowners
Other Real Property and Related Tort Claims
- Easement, boundary, encroachment and trespass disputes involving neighbors
- Landslide and subjacent support claims
- Destruction of trees and elimination of views
- Slip/trip and fall and other personal injury occurring on real property
- Property damage claims