Hon. Robert E. May (Ret.) is recognized as a specialist in managing complex multiparty cases and is respected by counsel and their clients for his fairness and extraordinary capacity to keep the most contentious cases on track. He is sought after as a mediator, arbitrator, and special referee.
ADR Experience and Qualifications
- While on the bench, he was involved in implementing electronic filings in construction defect cases and was instrumental in organizing and working with construction litigation attorneys in formulating standardized case management orders
- Presided over numerous settlement hearings during his 16 years on the San Diego Superior Court and his tenure as an assignment judge with the Fourth District Court of Appeals
Representative Matters (Mediations, Arbitrations, and Discovery Matters)
- Complex Business Commercial: breach of contract, fraud, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of lease, and class action wage dispute
- Construction Defect: defective construction issues including soil, grading, structural framing, window, roofing, HVAC, stucco, plumbing, shower/tub enclosures, tile, mold, delay, and retention claims, and related insurance issues
- Real Estate: commercial and residential cases involving breach of commission agreement, misrepresentation, conversion, leasing disputes, undisclosed defects, easements, landlord/tenant disputes, fraud, eminent domain, and negligence of real estate agents
- Insurance: breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, subrogration claims, and contribution claims
- Personal Injury: wrongful death, automobile accidents, boating accidents, and slip/trip and fall
- Professional Negligence: attorney/client, realtor/client, dentist/patient and physician/patient
- Notable cases presided over while Judge of Superior Court:
- Aas v. Superior Court, 24 Cal 4th 1265 (2000)
- Heppler v. J.M. Peters Co., 73 Cal App 4th 1265 (1999)
- Ranchwood Communities Ltd. Partnership v. Jim Bent Construction Company, 49 Cal App 4th 1397 (1996)
- Scott v. City of Del Mar, 58 Cal App 4th 1296 (1997)