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Hon. Chad W. Firetag (Ret.)

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Hon. Chad W. Firetag (Ret.) brings extensive judicial and legal experience to JAMS, serving as an arbitrator, mediator, referee and neutral evaluator. With a distinguished judicial career spanning a decade in the civil and family courts, combined with prior experience as a private practitioner and later an administrator in a public agency, Judge Firetag offers a comprehensive perspective in resolving complex disputes across a wide range of legal areas.

During his service as a judge on the Superior Court, Judge Firetag presided over a broad spectrum of civil matters, including employment disputes, commercial litigation, business conflicts, breach of contract cases, catastrophic personal injury claims and environmental matters, including CEQA writs of mandate, land use disputes and eminent domain cases. He also handled sensitive sexual abuse cases, reflecting his judicial temperament and skill in managing emotionally charged and legally complex matters.

Judge Firetag also served in several key leadership roles within the court. From 2022 to 2025, he was the supervising civil judge of the Riverside Superior Court, where he oversaw the administration and management of the civil division. Additionally, he served on the court’s Appellate Division from 2020 to 2025 and was appointed presiding judge of the Appellate Division between 2022 and 2025.

In his appellate role, Judge Firetag authored and joined in numerous opinions involving property-related disputes, including commercial and individual rental disputes. Many of these decisions involved high-conflict disputes between business partners and/or individuals.

Judge Firetag was honored by several bar associations during his time on the court. In 2021, he was named Douglas Weathers Judge of the Year by the California Attorneys of the Inland Empire (CAOIE) and, in 2024, Trial Judge of the Year by the San Bernardino-Riverside chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He is still active in the Riverside County Bar Association, having served as its president from 2014 to 2015.

Prior to his judicial service, Judge Firetag established himself as a skilled trial attorney, successfully taking more than 35 cases to verdict. In one of his largest cases, he served as counsel in a complex white-collar fraud case that resulted in a five-month trial with dozens of lay and expert witnesses. He was drawn to this case precisely because of its challenging nature, reflecting his commitment to handling complex legal matters that demand meticulous preparation, strategic thinking and sustained advocacy. This case and his many other trial cases provided him with valuable insight into the litigation process and the practical considerations that drive case resolution.

Judge Firetag's combination of trial advocacy experience, comprehensive judicial background and proven leadership in court administration uniquely positions him to serve those seeking efficient and effective resolutions to their disputes.

Representative Matters

Since joining JAMS in September 2025, Judge Firetag has been appointed as sole arbitrator in more than 140 matters and has served as mediator in a broad range of civil disputes.

Automotive

As a judicial officer, handled and managed hundreds of cases involving the largest automakers; resolved numerous discovery disputes through Informal Discovery Conferences (IDCs); ruled on many demurrers, motions for summary judgment and motions for judgment on the pleadings
Presided over a lengthy trial involving claims of fraud and the Song-Beverly Act with a major automaker

Business Commercial

Appointed as sole arbitrator in commercial breach of contract matters involving licensing agreements, including claims of fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation and violations of the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA)
Selected as arbitrator in matters between commercial freight brokers arising from alleged breaches of prior settlement agreements, including claims regarding the performance terms governing delivery of shipping containers
Appointed as arbitrator in business-to-business breach of contract disputes involving breach of express and implied warranties, unlawful liquidated damages provisions, and unfair competition claims under California Business & Professions Code section 17200
Selected as sole arbitrator in consumer credit matters involving claims under the CLRA, unfair business practices statutes and warranty law
Appointed as court-appointed referee in a commercial dispute involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty, interference with contractual relationships, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and declaratory relief
Mediated a breach of contract dispute arising from a technology licensing agreement involving claims of commercial loss and misrepresentation
Mediated a dispute between freight brokers involving a claimed breach of a previously negotiated commercial settlement agreement
Mediated a commercial dispute involving a breach of promissory note and related claims for money lent and money received
Presided over a large, multimillion-dollar commercial dispute involving numerous businesses that concerned the interpretation of land use rights and decades-old covenants
Presided over a dispute between general and subcontractor corporate entities involving a large government contract
Presided over numerous business disputes between business partners and corporate entities; in some situations, settled matters both pre- and mid-trial
Presided over dissolutions of partnerships, corporate entities and commercial organizations

Cannabis

Selected as arbitrator in matters involving commercial cannabis business disputes, including contract claims between business partners
As a judge, heard dozens of cases involving cannabis nuisance abatement
Presided over many contract disputes between cannabis business partners

Civil Rights

Presided over a trial involving civil rights/excessive force claims involving members of the public and law enforcement
As a judge, handled a writ of mandate proceeding in which a college professor alleged termination in violation of his First Amendment rights

Construction

Presided over construction disputes between contractors and owners involving defects and project delays

Elder Abuse & Fraud

Presided over a lengthy trial involving allegations of mistreatment against an assisted living facility by an elderly woman who suffered significant injuries from pressure ulcers that resulted in debridement surgery
Managed numerous cases involving elder abuse from various facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, residential care facilities for the elderly and assisted living facilities
As a judge, handled several matters alleging financial elder fraud

Employment Law

Wage and Hour

Appointed as sole arbitrator in numerous individual wage and hour disputes involving claims for unpaid minimum wages and overtime, meal and rest period violations, inaccurate wage statements, waiting time penalties, and unreimbursed business expenses under the California Labor Code
Named as arbitrator in matters involving PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) civil penalty claims in conjunction with individual wage and hour claims
Selected as arbitrator in complex wage and hour matters involving claims for unpaid overtime under the California Labor Code and applicable Industrial Welfare Commission wage orders, combined with related unfair business practices claims under California Business & Professions Code § 17200
Mediated a wage and hour dispute involving a former fitness industry employee asserting retaliation and multiple California Labor Code violations
Facilitated resolution of additional wage and hour matters involving claims of unpaid wages, denied meal and rest periods and improper wage statements
Tried numerous wage and hour cases, including PAGA and individual claims
Presided over motions for preliminary and final approval of class action settlements involving PAGA, wage and hour violations and allegations of unlawful governmental practices

Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation

Served as sole arbitrator in matters involving claims of disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, failure to engage in the interactive process, and retaliation under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
Arbitrated matters involving allegations of wrongful termination in violation of public policy under multiple FEHA theories, including race, national origin, age and disability discrimination
Selected as arbitrator in matters involving claims of workplace harassment and hostile work environment under FEHA, including matters involving senior management conduct and allegations of retaliation for reporting misconduct
Served as arbitrator in whistleblower retaliation matters, including claims arising under Labor Code section 1102.5 and the California Whistleblower Protection Act
Presided over a trial involving allegations of wrongful termination, retaliation and other FEHA claims against a Fortune 500 company
Presided over a trial involving the California Whistleblower Protection Act (Gov. Code § 8547.8(c)) against a large governmental entity
Tried several employment cases involving discrimination, sexual harassment and disability discrimination under FEHA and the California Labor Code

Wrongful Termination and Breach of Employment Contract

Appointed as sole arbitrator in matters involving wrongful termination claims grounded in public policy violations and breach of implied employment contract, including disputes concerning progressive discipline policies incorporated into employee handbooks
Arbitrated matters involving alleged breach of employment contracts, including commission disputes and equity compensation disagreements arising from separation of employment
Mediated a pre-litigation employment matter involving disputed workplace claims prior to the initiation of formal proceedings
Tried several employment cases involving wrongful termination

Entertainment

Served as arbitrator in an entertainment industry matter involving contractual claims between industry participants

Environmental Law

As a judge, handled cases involving land use issues, including short-term rentals, property disputes and conditional use permit matters
Presided over several CEQA matters, including litigation regarding the lawfulness of a city's general plan, disputes regarding warehouse construction and challenges to a public entity's environmental impact report

Family Law

Presided over numerous community property disputes, including valuation of family businesses (Van Camp/Pereira) and characterization/valuation of community/separate property (Moore/Marsden)
Determined high-conflict custody issues, including move-away orders, orders tailored to children with special needs and UCCJEA determinations
Presided over both temporary and permanent child support and spousal support determinations, including Family Code section 4320 trials
Facilitated custom-designed outcomes through settlement, including assignment by the presiding judge as one of two judges to mediate hundreds of family law cases during the 2020 pandemic-driven backlog

Governmental & Public Agency

Served as neutral in a DHCS Audit Reimbursement Hearing, facilitating resolution of a regulatory reimbursement dispute between a healthcare provider and a California state agency
As a judge, handled numerous lawsuits against state and local agencies under the Government Tort Claims Act, including land use challenges, personal injury lawsuits, sexual abuse allegations and civil rights
As a judge, handled eminent domain and condemnation proceedings between landowners and state and local governments
Presided over a trial involving wrongful death claims against the State of California for dangerous condition of public property.
As a judge, handled a challenge to a county assessor's valuation for tax purposes of a large shopping complex under the California Revenue and Taxation Code
As a judge, handled numerous writs of mandate involving public employees against public entities post-arbitration

Insurance

Designated as sole arbitrator in an underinsured motorist (UIM) matter involving disputed liability and damages
As a judge, handled cases involving insurance claims for property loss and bodily injury
As a judge, handled breach of contract, bad faith policy cancellation and unfair business practices cases against insurance companies

Personal Injury

Appointed as arbitrator in a bodily injury premises liability matter involving claims of serious physical injury sustained on commercial property
Mediated a product liability matter in which the plaintiff alleged a manufacturing defect in commercial equipment caused serious personal injury
Facilitated resolution of a motor vehicle product liability dispute involving an automobile versus an e-bike
Mediated multiple automobile accident matters, including disputes involving serious bodily injury
Presided over numerous trials involving serious bodily injury, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries and lifetime care planning and medical needs assessments
Presided over a case involving TBI allegations concerning a baby who fell from a shopping cart
Presided over a case involving a vehicle that rolled over after being struck by a semi-tractor trailer on the freeway
Presided over numerous cases involving auto accidents resulting in soft tissue damage, spinal paralysis and wrongful death

Sexual Abuse and Assault

Presided over a trial against a school district involving two students sexually abused by their teacher during middle and high school
Presided over a case involving a woman sexually abused by her stepfather who also alleged negligence by their church during the course of the abuse
As a judge, managed several cases involving sexual abuse allegations against community organizations, including churches, sporting and recreational associations and private individuals
Mediated childhood sexual abuse matters, including a case involving a faith-based institution, requiring sensitive management of both the legal and human dimensions of the disputes

Professional Liability

Retained as arbitrator in a professional liability matter involving claims against a professional service provider
Mediated a medical malpractice dispute in which plaintiffs alleged that defendant physicians negligently prescribed opioids over a fourteen-year period, causing serious harm
As a judge, handled multiple medical malpractice cases, including allegations of negligence during surgery, a misdiagnosis of a cancer patient and wrongful death
Presided over several matters involving legal malpractice claims

Real Property

Mediated a trespass dispute involving competing real property claims
Mediated a breach of contract and fraud dispute related to the sale and purchase of a 264-acre parcel of land, with claims including specific performance
As a judge, handled eminent domain cases involving state and local agencies
As a judge, handled actions regarding title disputes, easements and nuisance actions involving individuals, corporate entities and governmental entities

Chad W. Firetag