Hon. Steven J. Stone (Ret.) is known for creative settlements on resolving complex matters. He has extensive experience in the resolution of complex multi-party disputes in all areas of civil litigation. Justice Stone has handled all types of civil disputes and litigation by way of trial, review and alternative resolution.
ADR Experience and Qualifications
- Significant expertise in construction defect, inverse condemnation, professional liability, employment (wrongful termination and sexual harassment), business, insurance, product liability matters, and personal injury
- Also available as a consultant in trial strategy and appellate review
- Emphasized settlement conferences, whether requested by the parties or on his own motion, and used his considerable expertise in settlement techniques whenever possible at the appellate level
- Successfully mediated many serious and complex high stakes cases in the area of employment, business, insurance, HMO and high tech litigation
- A lecturer in civil law and procedure for the CEB and Rutter Group, he has taught all aspects of litigation and has spoken to legal associations and business and civic groups about the judicial process and settlement techniques
- Successfully mediated to resolution numerous cases involving the California Voting Rights Act ("CVRA"), including the first of these cases to go to trial
Representative Matters
- Experience handling cases involving contracts, intellectual property, and related financial disputes in music, film, and entertainment fields
- Handled complex multi-party, multi-million-dollar trust and will dispute
- High-tech business and commercial dispute involving contract and intellectual property claims
- Mediated class actions, including mass torts and product liability claims
- Multi-million-dollar motor vehicle product liability claims involving catastrophic injuries and death
- Multi-million-dollar patient claim against HMO
- Numerous high-stakes insurance bad faith claims
- Resolved several multi-million-dollar real estate disputes
- Toxic tort claims involving landfill operation brought by nearby residents