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