Hon. Rosalyn Chapman (Ret.) has enjoyed a long and well-established career as a federal judge. She served as Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California for almost 16 years, and then was recalled to serve in the District Courts for the Northern District of California and Arizona.

As a Magistrate Judge, Judge Chapman had an active and diverse civil case load. She conducted bench and jury trials (with the parties’ consent), issued myriad written opinions on summary judgments, motions and discovery, and conducted more than four hundred settlement conferences.

Prior to her appointment to the federal bench, Judge Chapman served as an administrative law judge for the State of California. She presided over thousands of professional and vocational licensing hearings on behalf of numerous public agencies, including the Medical Board, the Department of Real Estate, the Contractors State License Board (construction defects), and the Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control, as well as public and private employment cases.

Additionally, Judge Chapman recently served part-time as a Judge on the United Nations Appeals Tribunal. She also has been a certified labor arbitrator, a lecturer on the UCLA School of Law faculty, and a public interest attorney.

Judge Chapman is a neutral panelist for Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). She is available for mediation, arbitration and as a Special Master and discovery referee.

Representative Matters

• Business Commercial
• Dispute between supplier and purchaser of COVID-related services worth $25 million. 
• Dispute between licensees and FINRA and financial services provider. 
• Investors' action for fraud and elder financial abuse against precious metals investment company 
• Collection action by major manufacturer against retailer's guarantors 
• Cross-actions for breach of fiduciary duty by co-managers of California limited liability company 
• Law firm's collection action for fees against former client 
• Partner's dispute relating to obligations upon dissolution of partnership 
• Rule 10b-5 securities fraud and common law fraud action against corporation and its founders 
• Derivative action for breach of fiduciary duty against co-manager of LLC 
• Action between partners in Joint Venture over access to and ownership of investments
• Numerous breach of contract actions in various industries, such as construction, transportation, engineering, recycling and entertainment
• Investors’ securities fraud class action against pharmaceutical company and individual officers 
• Several actions for breach of non-competition clauses, non-disclosure agreements, and theft of trade secrets against former employees 
• Multiple breach of fiduciary duty actions challenging the operators of ERISA plans 
• Maritime actions for lost or damaged cargo 
• Law firm’s breach of contract action against former partner, with cross-claims 
• Attorney fees dispute involving guarantor in bankruptcy proceedings 
• Dispute over severance package between former CEO and non-profit corporation 
• Physician’s action for breach of contract against medical management company 
• Theft of company's trade secrets action, resolved by multi-million dollar corporate acquisition of other company 
• Homeowners' action against general contractor for substandard performance 
• Breach of contract action by quasi-government contractor 
• Dispute over arbitrability of opt-out named plaintiff in class action litigation's right to pursue arbitration claims 
• Arbitrability dispute over class claims under the Federal Arbitration Act 
• Fiberoptics Internet Service Provider (ISP) action against company constructing fiberoptics network in California city 
• Attorney fee claims as part of litigation or arbitrations otherwise resolved 
• Aerospace company’s dispute with subcontractor about whether contact was properly terminated at gating event for design of satellite antenna 
• Dispute between joint venture partners engaged to assist in decommissioning nuclear power plant 
• Cross-actions by global company and consulting firm hired to enter American markets over fees owed and termination of agreement
• Consumer
• Appellate review of Arbitrator’s award to consumer under Electronic Fund Transfer Act 
• Consumer class action against services company for failure to disclose fee in contract 
• Arbitrability dispute over aggregating consumers' claims for purposes of arbitration 
• Unfair business practices actions by consumers and competitors 
• Class actions under the Consumer Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act against various businesses 
• Consumers’ Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) lawsuits against debt collectors 
• Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) cases against vehicle dealerships 
• Consumers’ actions for damages against private trade school 
• Depositor’s action under Electronic Fund Transfer Act against bank 
• Class action against vehicle distributor for defective part 
• Consumer action leasing company under California Vehicle Leasing Act and California Credit Reporting Agencies Act
• Employment Law
• Disability claims against employers under Fair Employment and Housing Act 
• Harassment claims against individuals and employers based on gender, gender identity, nationality and other grounds under Fair Employment and Housing Act 
• Disability claims against employers and placement agencies under California Family Rights Act 
• Former partner's action for age and disability discrimination and wrongful termination against major accounting firm 
• “On-duty” wage and hour actions against residential care facility and other types of employers 
• Secretary of Labor's action for violation of Fair Labor Standards Act 
• Race, sex, and age discrimination actions (Fair Employment and Housing Act) in many industries, such as airlines, telecommunications, medical devices, hotel, and public sector 
• Employee’s sexual harassment by third party (customer) action against employer 
• National origin-based class action by employees against hotel chain 
• Wage and hour class action by mechanics against automobile dealer 
• Military reservists’ employment discrimination action (USERRA) against employer 
• Employees’ plant closure class action under state and federal law 
• Numerous wage and hour actions by employees under Labor Code 
• Challenges to reduction in force actions by private and public employers 
• Wrongful termination and other disciplinary challenges by employees in various industries, such as retail sales, transportation (buses and airlines)
• Religious discrimination actions against various employers 
• Actions for disability discrimination and violation of Family Medical Leave Act against employers 
• Former employee’s breach of severance contract action with cross-claims by former employer for breach of employment contract 
• Actions challenging independent contractor classification 
• Former professor’s action contesting denial of tenure against private university 
• Special Master re faculty member’s retaliation action against private university 
• Teacher’s action against private school contesting firing on grounds of discrimination/violation of freedom of association 
• Wage and hour action by nursing aide against hospital 
• Physician's action against hospital for termination and failure to support outside grant 
• Action by vehicle salespersons against dealership for retaliation and termination for whistleblowing re sales practices 
• Workers’ actions to enforce Prevailing Wage Law on public works projects
• Home rule doctrine defense to Prevailing Wage Law claims 
• Whistleblower retaliation claims against employers under Labor Code § 1102.5.
• Actions challenging private university’s firing of non-tenured faculty member and discipline of tenured professor 
• Numerous actions challenging terminations and other disciplinary actions under collective bargaining agreements in the retail food industry 
• Action by air traffic controller challenging disciplinary action under collective bargaining agreement 
• Multiple actions by school teachers challenging reductions in force or lay-offs by school districts 
• Class action under federal and state plant closure statutes 
• Numerous actions by public employees or civil servants challenging terminations and other disciplinary actions
• Entertainment & Sports
• Action by contractor against talent agency for breach of contract 
• Action by employee against employer for violation of Labor Code § 232.5 
• Action by employees against talent agencies for breach of contract and violation of California Business and Professions Code § 16600 and Labor Code § 925 
• Cross-action by talent agencies for breach of confidentiality and violation of Talent Agency Act
• Concert promoter's action against musical artist for breach of contract and counterclaim 
• Dispute over royalties between production company and entertainment conglomerate 
• Game show creator’s copyright infringement action against competitor for use of protected game show elements 
• Entertainer’s action for breach of confidentiality agreement 
• Popular musical band’s copyright infringement action against advertising company for illegal use of song in television commercial 
• Writer’s and production company’s cross-actions for trademark infringement and merchandising rights attendant to theatrical film and potential television series 
• Songwriter’s action for copyright infringement against music publishers and performers 
• Sports photographer’s action against publisher for copyright and trade dress infringement 
• Music composers’ action for illegal incorporation of copyrighted compositions and sound recordings into musical album 
• Professional boxer’s breach of contract action against boxing promoter 
• Amateur athlete’s claims of sexual abuse against teammates 
• Production company’s action for recovery of foreign royalties 
• Sexual harassment action by back-up singer against tour manager 
• Panel Chair for United States Anti-Doping Agency action against known athlete
• Action by reality show participants against producer for breach of contract 
• Breach of contract brought by an individual against a television network related to an alleged promised finder’s fee for his role in kickstarting negotiations for television rights to air a boxing match. 
• Breach of covenant/breach of implied covenant of food faith and fair dealing related to secondary audio-visual rights for film and television 
• Breach of contract related to agreement to jointly pursue certain Anime film titles for release on streaming platforms 
• Action under Delaware law against multi-media corporation to enforce contract provision providing specific number of hours of free radio advertisin
• Health Care
• Action by physician against health care agencies for unlawful practices affecting patient care in violation of Health and Safety Code § 1278.5. 
• Private hospital's action to disaffiliate from major health care system or hospital chain 
• Public hospital's action against several health care insurance providers relating to rates of reimbursement for emergency and other services rendered to members 
• Third party beneficiary action by health care insurance provider against public hospital for reimbursement for services rendered 
• Private hospitals' actions against HMO for reimbursement for services rendered to HMO's members 
• Multiple contract disputes between hospitals and health care insurance providers over reimbursement for services to patients under health care plans, and counterclaims 
• Qui tam action against health care insurers for $ billion Medi-Care fraud 
• Contract dispute between medical specialty group and referring physicians over reimbursement for services to referred patients 
• Action by physician against former medical partnership 
• Action to remove physician from partial ownership of surgical specialty center 
• Physician’s action against Independent Physicians Association (IPA) for refusal to terminate contract 
• Physicians/investors/shareholders’ (alter ego) action against IPA’s officers for breach of contract, implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and fiduciary duty 
• Dispute over timeliness of hospital’s arbitration demand against health care insurance provider for non-payment of claims
• Insurance
• Payor/provider disputes between hospitals and health insurance companies
• Entertainment conglomerate’s dispute with insurer for breach of contract (coverage) and covenant of good faith and fair dealing
• Insurers’ action for indemnification and recall expenses against international food processing company
• Shipper’s action against land carrier for Insurance Code violations
• Bad faith actions by homeowners against insurers
• Coverage action by commercial general liability carrier regarding application of employment-related practices exclusion
• Insurance coverage action against foreign insurance carrier with English law provision
• Action by policy holder’s family regarding life insurance coverage
• Intellectual Property
• Trademark infringememt action by athletic apparel manufacturer against rehabilitation facility
• Chinese company's action against American company for infringing use of name and logo
• Copyright infringement actions in dozens of industries, such as fashion, publication, telecommunications (Internet), and entertainment (TV, movies, music)  
• Numerous trade dress infringement actions in various industries, such as jewelry design, athletic shoes, bathrobes, shampoo, and the like
• Multiple trademark infringement actions in various industries, such as adult entertainment, hair products, baby and infant products, fabric design, and automotive parts
• Trademark infringement dispute between two restaurant chains over advertising “tag line”
• Counterfeiting actions in cigarette, computer software and automotive parts industries
• Numerous patent infringement actions in various industries, such as automotive accessories, lighting fixtures, luggage and mechanized window coverings
• Licensee’s patent infringement action against major global positioning service provider
• Copyright infringement action by well-known clothing manufacturer contesting illegal use of protected name on professional sports team’s merchandise
• Pop artist/designer’s breach of license action, with cross-claims
• Artist’s copyright infringement action against Internet merchandiser
• Photographer’s copyright infringement action against event promoter and merchandiser
• Toy manufacturer’s action for theft of trade secrets
• Retail beverage chain's theft of trade secrets and trade dress action against competitor 
• Dispute between business partners re theft of trade secrets and breach of fiduciary duty 
• False designation of origin and other claims against major Korean corporation 
• Panel Chair, legal malpractice action based on attorney’s failure to recognize potential liability for copyright infringement
• Litigation Services
• Referee in Los Angeles County Superior Court civil action for all purposes, resulting in decision granting summary judgment being affirmed by California Court of Appeal in unpublished opinion. 
• Member of appeals panel reviewing Arbitrator’s award 
• Special Master in District of Columbia action by Kenyans working for the United States Embassy against Republic of Iran related to bombing of United States Embassy
• Special Master in class action against Dept. of Justice and Dept. of Homeland Security regarding immigration detention hearings
• Case management of multi-district litigation discovery in investors’ bond fraud litigation, commercial airplane crashes, and national ERISA litigation
• Case management of discovery in numerous pre- and post-class action certification cases
• Special Master in civil RICO action against law firm and others 
• Discovery Referee in District Attorney's class action against national debt collection company for violation of TCPA
• Attorney fees and expenses dispute in class action settlement
• Bankruptcy court’s attorney fees dispute
• Chair of appeal panel reviewing arbitration award in entertainment industry breach of contract case
• Declaratory relief action for interpretation of arbitration agreement’s provision regarding emergency relief
• Action to compel arbitration under employment agreement
• Mock Trial panelist re dispute over valuation of company involved in corporate merger
• Special Master in Department of Labor wage and hour action
• Special Master in “whistleblower” action re Medicare health insurance companies
• Special Master to calculate damages for victims of terrorist attack under FSIA action in federal court against foreign country 
• Product Liability
• Actions under “Lemon Law” against vehicle leasing companies and/or manufacturers
• Special Master re mesothelioma tort claim against various respiratory and other product manufacturers
• Product liability action by consumer against distributor and retailer of kitchen appliance
• Mediated class action against major vehicle manufacturer relating to defect that led to recall
• Public Sector and Civil Rights
• Qui tam action under False Claims Act against health care insurers for $ billion Medi-Care fraud 
• Deaf patient's action against hospital under Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act 
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) cases against private businesses and public entities 
• False arrest and use of excessive force actions against public entities 
• Inmates’ civil rights actions against private corporations and public entities 
• Taxpayers’ action against private contractor and public entity for violating Vehicle Code when issuing parking tickets 
• Citizens’ challenges to Government forfeiture actions 
• Parents’ actions under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) against school districts 
• Religious discrimination action by physician against public agency 
• Taxpayer action against municipality and others for entering into public contracts without competitive bidding
• Real Property
• Dispute over obligation to buy parcel of unimproved land 
• Dispute related to sale of gasoline service stations and lease of land on which the stations were located. 
• Homeowners' action against building contractor for substandard home improvement project 
• Home buyer's action against developer for defects in new home 
• Real property investors’ class action against former attorney for fraud 
• Homeowners’ action against mortgage lender for delay in modifying home loan 
• Breach of home loan (mortgages) actions against lenders 
• Housing discrimination actions against owners and managers of rental property 
• Actions challenging sufficiency of environmental impact reports under CEQA and NEPA 
• Super Fund actions under CERCLA to clean up real property 
• Cross-claims related to sale of real property owned by general partnership

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Memberships & Professional Activities
• Member, arbitration panel of Japan Commercial Arbitration Association 
• Member, arbitration panel of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
• Member, arbitration panel of United States Center for SafeSport
• Member, International Association of Women Judges, 2006-present
• Board of Directors, Federal Magistrate Judges Association, 2008-2010
• Advisory Group of Magistrate Judges, Administrative Office of United States Courts, 2000-2006
• Board Member, Federal Bar Association (Los Angeles Chapter), 2002-2005
• Executive Committee & Board of Directors, Boalt Hall School of Law Alumni Association, 1993-1997
• ADR Profiles
  • "Digging Deeply," ADR Profile, Daily Journal, August 26, 2016

Background and Education

• Judge, United Nations Appeals Tribunal, 2012-2017
• United States Magistrate Judge, United States District Court, Central District of California, 1995-2012
• Administrative Law Judge, Office of Administrative Hearings, State of California, 1977-1995
• Labor Arbitrator Certificate, Institute of Industrial Relations, University of California at Los Angeles,1979
• Lecturer, School of Law, University of California at Los Angeles, 1972-1973
• Public Interest Lawyer, 1967-1972, 1973-1977
• J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall)
• B.A. cum laude, University of Michigan