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Hon. Michael E. Ballachey (Ret.)

T: 925-938-5060
F:925-938-6732
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"After twenty plus years presiding over trials, many of which I believed should have settled, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to use my energy creatively to assist parties in avoiding the pitfalls, expense, and frustration of unnecessary trials."

Case Manager

Cindy Cravalho
JAMS
1255 Treat Blvd.
Suite 700
Walnut Creek, CA  94597
925-975-5738 Phone
925-938-6732 Fax
Email:

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Hon. Michael E. Ballachey (Ret.) is highly regarded for his decisiveness and insight, and is accomplished at streamlining the case management process and focusing on the important issues in a case. He has nearly four decades of experience resolving a wide variety of cases. Judge Ballachey has mediated and arbitrated hundreds of multi-party cases and has served as a discovery referee in complex civil litigation on numerous occasions.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

  • Conducted thousands of case management and settlement conferences involving all types of civil litigation, including asbestos cases, class actions, family law, Federal Employers Liability Act, insurance bad faith, insurance coverage, medical malpractice, multi-party construction defect, personal injury, products liability, professional negligence, race and gender discrimination, and wrongful termination
  • Served as Presiding Judge; served as Law and Motion Judge; handled innumerable Civil Case Management Hearings and Settlemet Conferences; and presided over numerous complex civil jury trials
  • Extensive ADR training including Center for Dispute Resolution, Advanced Mediation Techniques; Harvard Law School, Mediation Training; Steven Rosenberg Mediation Training; AAA Commercial Arbitrator Training

Representative Matters

  • Alleged police misconduct involving claims for wrongful death and severe physical injuries
  • Dispute between governmental agencies regarding construction rights for planned projects
  • Law partnership dissolution involving allegations of misappropriation of partnership opportunities
  • Federal Employers Liability Act cases involving personal injuries and wrongful death due to asbestos exposure
  • Medical malpractice disputes, including wrongful death
  • Real estate buy-sell disputes involving claims of fraud and failure to disclose defects
  • Real estate disputes involving re-financing commissions

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

  • Trial Judge of the Year, Alameda Contra Costa County Trial Lawyers, 1986 and 1998
  • Trial Judge of the Year, Lawyers Club of Alameda County, 1986
  • Trial Judge of the Year, Southern Alameda County Bar Association, 1984
  • Member, California Dispute Resolution Council, 2002 to date
  • Member, California Judges Association, 1979 to date
  • Member, Alameda County Bar Association, 1965 to date

Background and Education

  • Alameda County Superior Court, 1979-1999; (Presiding Judge, 1988 and 1989)
  • Partner, Ballachey, Meade, Duane & Lyman, 1972-1979
  • Adjunct Professor of Law at Hastings College of Law, 1991-1999
  • Sole Practitioner, Berkeley, California , 1969-1972
  • Associate Attorney, Howell, Elson & Grogan, 1967-1969
  • LL.B., University of California at Berkeley, 1963
  • A.B., University of California at Berkeley, 1959