Stacy L. La Scala, Esq.

Stacy L. La Scala, Esq. is a a nationally recognized JAMS mediator, arbitrator, and construction strategist who transforms high-stakes, emotionally charged disputes into durable settlements. With decades of experience spanning the full lifecycle of construction and insurance conflicts—from first-party property claims to multi-party litigation—Mr. La Scala brings a rare combination of inside-industry insight and neutral credibility that resonates with attorneys, insurers, and construction entities alike.

Why Attorneys, Insurers, and Construction Leaders Choose Stacy 

• Insurance Experience from the Inside Out: As a former regional director and national litigation director for a major national property-casualty insurer, Stacy knows how carriers evaluate exposure, allocate reserves, and make settlement decisions. He leverages that experience daily to cut through coverage noise and align parties around realistic, policy-driven outcomes.
• Construction Fluency: His docket spans private and public works projects of all sizes and types, including complex delay, loss of productivity, unforeseen conditions, extra work, and payment disputes; design and construction defect claims; and soils/landslide matters. He is equally at home with emerging energy infrastructure disputes, including solar arrays/fields (construction, tracking, deficient production, thermal and wind events) and BESS (battery energy storage systems) claims.
• Depth in Insurance Coverage: Most of his mediations involve layered insurance programs—towers, syndicates, multiple policies, surety, CGL, builders’ risk, and property forms —alongside bad faith, contribution, subrogation, and allocation issues. Stacy’s authorship of the insurance tort chapters in Thomson Reuters’ California Civil Practice: Torts (2013–2026 editions) reflects the depth he brings to coverage-driven settlements.
• Wildfire & Catastrophe Credibility: He served as an Appellate Neutral for the Pacific Gas & Electric Fire Victims Trust, handling appeals arising from the 2015 Butte, 2017 North Bay, and 2018 Camp Wildfires—experience that translates directly to today’s complex wildfire and catastrophe claims. 
• Professional Liability & Real Estate: Beyond construction and insurance, he regularly mediates architectural and engineering professional liability matters and real estate agent/broker liability claims.

Recognized Leadership: The “Ollie” Award

In 2026, Mr. La Scala received the Jerrold S. Oliver “Ollie” Award of Excellence, a distinguished honor bestowed within the construction defect and ADR communities for outstanding contributions, leadership, professionalism, and commitment to effective dispute resolution. The award is widely respected among mediators, arbitrators, insurers, and construction litigators—and signals to all parties that Stacy operates at the highest level of construction ADR. 

Beyond Mediation: Arbitrator, Owner, and Board Director

• HIWU Arbitrator: Stacy serves as an arbitrator for the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), which administers nationwide anti-doping regulations for Thoroughbred horse racing—an appointment that underscores his credibility in high-stakes, rules-intensive arbitration. 
• JAMS Owner & Board Director: He is an Owner of JAMS and currently sits on its Board of Directors, reflecting both his standing within the ADR industry and his commitment to shaping the future of dispute resolution. 

Approach That Moves Cases

Stacy is known for a dedicated, creative, and highly prepared style. He excels at managing difficult personalities and reframing emotionally volatile, technically complex disputes into structured pathways for settlement—helping parties avoid the cost, delay, and uncertainty of trial while preserving business relationships and insurance program integrity.