Hon. Kevin M. Seibert (Ret.)
Hon. Kevin M. Seibert (Ret.) brings to JAMS his experience from the Tuolumne County Superior Court, where he served as both assistant presiding judge and presiding judge. Appointed to the bench in 2015, Judge Seibert presided over civil trial calendars (trials, settlement conferences, and law and motion) during each of his 10 years on the bench and earned a reputation for fairness, thorough preparation and a practical approach to case management and settlement. He successfully resolved the vast majority of the hundreds of cases he handled in mandatory settlement conferences during his 10 years overseeing all aspects of the civil calendars for the Tuolumne County Superior Court.
Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Seibert built a 30-year career in private practice focused primarily on commercial and civil litigation. He was a partner and served on the executive committee at Downey Brand LLP, handling a wide range of commercial, real estate, construction and agriculture litigation. Before that he was a partner at Steinheimer, Riggio, Haydel & Mordaunt in Stockton, where he handled personal injury and medical malpractice matters before focusing his practice on commercial litigation. He was elected as an associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2014.
As a jurist, Judge Seibert earned a reputation for diligence, intelligence and even-handedness. Known for his thorough preparation and reasoned decision-making, he brings to each case a steady temperament and a commitment to fairness. Colleagues and counsel have described him as respectful, thoughtful and deeply attuned to the realities of trial and settlement.
At JAMS, Judge Seibert focuses his practice on mediation, arbitration and neutral analysis across a broad range of civil and commercial matters, including business and contract, construction, personal injury, professional liability, employment, banking, agriculture and real property cases. He brings to dispute resolution the same balance, thorough preparation and integrity that defined his years on the bench and in private practice.
Representative Matters
- Agribusiness & Food Law
As an attorney, handled crop damage cases involving misapplication of chemicals and fertilizer
As an attorney, represented numerous agricultural companies, including packing facilities, dairies, wineries, and row and orchard crop growers
- Banking
As an attorney, handled judicial and non-judicial foreclosures of commercial property, as well as debt collection matters involving repossessions of automobiles, aircraft and manufacturing equipment
As an attorney, handled numerous debt collection matters
As a judge, presided over hundreds of debt collection matters
- Business Commercial
Presided over and settled commercial contract disputes involving breach of contract claims, unfair business practices, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud
Presided over contract disputes involving declaratory relief and issues relating to performance and damages, including liquidated damages
As a judge, presided over and/or resolved partnership dispute litigation and accounting claims
As an attorney, handled dozens of matters arising from the purchase and sale of businesses, as well as corporate and partnership dissolutions and shareholder disputes
As an attorney, represented dozens of automobile dealers in matters involving Lemon Law claims and Truth in Lending Act issues
As an attorney, handled upwards of 100 claims involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair business practices and fraud
- Construction
As an attorney, handled construction defect claims involving large residential subdivisions
As an attorney, represented developers, general contractors, architects, engineers and subcontractors in a wide range of construction defect matters
Presided over construction defect cases
- Employment Law
As a judge, presided over wrongful termination/constructive termination claims
Approved multiple class action and California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) wage and hour settlements
As a judge, handled numerous employment cases involving alleged Labor Code violations, including, but not limited to, failure to pay overtime, failure to reimburse expenses, failure to timely pay, failure to provide wage statements and failure to provide required breaks
As an attorney, handled numerous cases involving wrongful termination, sexual harassment and embezzlement
As an attorney, handled several cases involving allegations of trade secret violations and unfair business practices
- Governmental & Public Agency
Presided over several cases against school districts involving allegations of sexual abuse of students
As a judge, presided over water rights claims, including a lawsuit seeking to force the removal of Hetch Hetchy Dam located in Yosemite National Park
As a judge, presided over numerous matters involving government tort claims
As an attorney, handled dozens of cases involving water rights and the enforcement of shoreline management agreements
- Personal Injury
Presided over trials involving premises liability and motor vehicle accidents, and settled dozens of these matters while serving as a settlement judge
Presided over numerous trials involving medical malpractice and elder abuse claims arising in care facilities
As an attorney, handled premises and product liability cases
As an attorney, handled medical malpractice matters involving doctors and hospitals
- Professional Liability
Presided over trials involving claims of medical malpractice
As an attorney, handled claims of professional negligence involving accountants, attorneys, medical professionals, hospitals, engineers and architects
- Real Property
As a judge, presided over litigation involving violations of covenants, conditions and restrictions
As a judge, presided over and resolved numerous matters involving easements, boundary line disputes, eminent domain and adverse possession
As a judge, presided over and settled cases involving the sale of residential and commercial property, including claims of failure to disclose defects
As an attorney, represented landlords and tenants of large commercial properties, including shopping malls
As an attorney, represented buyers and sellers of commercial property in disputes arising out of purchase and sale transactions
As an attorney, represented commercial property owners in matters involving ADA violations
Honors, Memberships and Professional Activities
Memberships and Affiliations
- Elected Associate Member, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2014
- Member, Tuolumne County Bar Association, 1999–2015
- Member, San Joaquin Bar Association, 1985–2015
- Member, Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee, 2023–2024
Background and Education
- Tuolumne County Superior Court, 2015–2025
- Presiding Judge, 2021–2025
- Assistant Presiding Judge, 2019–2020
- Civil Law and Motion and Trials, 2015–2025
- Misdemeanor Pretrial and Trial, 2015–2017
- Felony Arraignment, Pretrial, Preliminary Hearing and Trials, 2017–2025
- Strauss Institute, 2005
- Partner, Downey Brand LLP, 2000–2015
- Steinheimer, Riggio, Haydel & Mordaunt, 1985–2000
- Partner, 1991–2000
- Associate, 1985–1990
- J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1985
- B.S., Economics, Brigham Young University, 1982
Home Office
HOME OFFICE
Sacramento, California
1415 L Street, Suite 700, Sacramento, CA 95814
San Francisco, California
Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94111
Santa Rosa, California
50 Old Courthouse Square, Suite 600, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Silicon Valley, California
160 W. Santa Clara St., Suite 1600, San Jose, 95113 CA
Walnut Creek, California
1255 Treat Blvd., Suite 700, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Disclaimer:
This page is for general information purposes. JAMS makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or completeness. Interested persons should conduct their own research regarding information on this website before deciding to use JAMS, including investigation and research of JAMS neutrals. See More
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