LAW OFFICE OF GARY N. STERN Alternative Dispute Resolution
Mediator Arbitrator
- HEALTH CARE MALPRACTICE
- ELDER CARE ABUSE
- PERSONAL INJURY
- MEMBER, CA BAR SINCE 1980
Office (818) 710-2717; Mobile: (213) 399-0283
GARY N. STERN: CALIF. LAWYER SINCE 1980
THE IDEAL NEUTRAL
CHIEF JUSTICE CHARLES EVAN HUGHES ONCE SAID OF JUSTICE BRANDEIS THAT HE WAS A MASTER OF BOTH THE MICROSCOPE AND THE TELESCOPE.
THEREIN LIES THE SECRET OF EFFECTIVE WORK IN MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION
sternlaw: alternative dispute resolution
MEDIATION... ARBITRATION... NEUTRAL EVALUATION
I am proud to be an alumnus of the Pepperdine University School of Law
Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.
I have served the legal community with all forms of dispute resolution services since 2019 after over 20 years serving the courts as a volunteer dispute resolution officer.
I am a proud member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) panels for both the United States District Court, Central District of California and the Los Angeles Superior Court. I also serve as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles Superior Court.
I am available for private mediation and arbitration as well as neutral evaluation of personal injury, medical malpractice and elder abuse cases.
I offer my services for matters from all over California, both in person and via Zoom. The virtual platform is ideally suited for effective ADR service, with its virtual and joint "rooms" that can be occupied while in the comfort of your home or office.
Representative cases i have mediated
Plaintiff was exposed to asbestos over many years as an enlisted man on board ship in the Navy and thereafter as a civilian employee of the Army at Camp Pendleton He developed severe lung disease and was permanently disabled within 5 years from his retirement. As the asbestos manufacturer had long since gone bankrupt, Plaintiff focused his attention on 25 separate companies all of whom were alleged to have known of asbestos in their machines and fixtures but failed to warn or remove the deadly material. At a series of Zoom mediation sessions over three days, with approximately eight defendants at each session, Gary was able to resolve Plaintiff’s claims with 17 of the 25 defendants.
Plaintiffs claimed substantial property damage losses and bodily injuries they sustained in a fire loss incident which occurred at their residence in the middle of the night. Defendant railroad owned and operated the railroad tracks that ran through the property immediately adjacent to plaintiffs’ residential property. Prior to the subject incident, Defendant had stacked and stored huge piles of combustible, chemically treated railroad ties up against the wall (18 feet in height) separating the railroad property form plaintiffs’ yard and residence. According to the fire incident report, in the middle of the night, a fire broke out on the ties, which burned over and through the wall and onto plaintiffs’ property.
A U.S. Postal Service driver was stopped at a traffic light. He was behind a privately owned small sedan that was waiting to make a right turn. The private car began moving forward and the postal vehicle followed. Suddenly, the car stopped short, and the postal vehicle struck it from behind. There was almost no damage to the postal vehicle and a minor scuff mark to the private car. There was no police report.
Plaintiff motorcyclist suffered severe injuries when he was involved in a major impact accident with a CHP officer. The officer encountered Plaintiff initially on a nearby freeway. Plaintiff was riding with a number of other cyclists and during this freeway ride, the CHP officer came alongside the group of motorcycle riders who were driving dangerously and weaving through lanes of heavy motorcycle traffic. At some point during this time, the officer targeted Plaintiff within the group of motorcycle riders. The officer enabled his patrol lights and sirens and accelerated his vehicle in an allegedly unsafe fashion towards the group of riders. The officer’s speed and erratic driving was alleged to have created an unreasonably dangerous condition for the numerous motorcycle riders who were in the area. As the officer continued to accelerate past the posted speed limit and approached Plaintiff, he nearly caused a collision with Plaintiff’s cycle. In fear for his life, Plaintiff exited the freeway and traveled a short distance on surface streets. The officer followed Plaintiff and soon, Plaintiff noticed that the officer was following him with his patrol lights on and thus, began applying his brakes and “downshifting” his motorcycle. It was at this point when the officer allegedly intentionally rammed his patrol vehicle into the side of Plaintiff’s motorcycle. This caused Plaintiff to violently fall off his motorcycle and land on the pavement.
Plaintiff and Defendant were both in Northern California for a youth football game to take place the following day. Plaintiff had a young son who was a member of a local youth team sponsored by the Defendant who financed the trip for the team. A discrepancy about particular room assignments lead to the Plaintiff and his Mother being asked to leave. As the discussion gained momentum the Plaintiff and Defendant moved to the parking lot to further discuss this issue. Plaintiff alleged that Defendant intentionally and without warning or provocation punched Plaintiff with a closed fist causing him to lose consciousness and collide with the concrete. Plaintiff suffered physical damages to his person, along with serious emotional distress.