Hon. Stuart M. Rice (Ret.) joins JAMS following more than two decades of distinguished service on the Los Angeles County Superior Court, where he earned a reputation as a thoughtful and decisive jurist with a deep command of complex civil law. During his tenure on the bench, Judge Rice presided over a broad range of matters, including complex commercial litigation, torts, employment, class actions, insurance coverage disputes and probate cases.

Before his appointment to the bench in 2005, Judge Rice built a distinguished career in private practice, first as an associate with Gottlieb, Gottlieb & Stein and later as the senior partner at Rice & Rothenberg, where he specialized in civil, tort and probate litigation as well as juvenile defense. His service to the profession included roles on the State Bar Board of Governors, the Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission and the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission. He also served as president of the California Young Lawyers Association, Long Beach Barristers and Long Beach Bar Association.

As a judicial officer, Judge Rice was elected as the president of the California Judges Association (CJA) (2017–2018) and served on the Judicial Council of California during the same time period. He is entering his fourth consecutive year as president of the California Judges Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CJA. He has also served as a member of the Judicial Council Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee and as chair of the Subcommittee on Rules of Court from 2023 until his retirement. He is also a member of the statewide task force on civility in the legal profession.

In addition to his judicial accomplishments, Judge Rice was deeply engaged in leadership within the court and the broader legal community. He served as chair of the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Temporary Judge Committee for 15 years and was a three-time member of the court’s Executive Committee. He also held leadership roles as assistant supervising judge of the criminal division and as president of the Benjamin Aranda III chapter of the American Inns of Court. In 2012, the South Bay Bar Association honored him with its prestigious MacFadden Judge of the Year Award in recognition of his service and dedication. He was also recognized as Judge of the Year by the Long Beach Bar Association in 2020.

Judge Rice is widely recognized for his fairness, efficiency and mastery of judicial procedure, as well as his ability to manage large caseloads, multifaceted settlement conferences and class action disputes with clarity and precision. Parties and counsel consistently remarked on his rigorous preparation, balanced evaluations and ability to create an environment where all voices were heard. Judge Rice’s judicial and private practice experience and professional leadership provide him with a uniquely well-rounded perspective that he now brings to his work as a neutral at JAMS.

Judge Rice has long been committed to mentorship and supporting the next generation of legal professionals. He established a needs-based scholarship in his son’s name, reflecting his dedication to advancing educational opportunities and fostering professional development for aspiring attorneys. Throughout his career, he has been a trusted mentor and teacher to colleagues, young lawyers and law students, offering guidance on both professional practice and the responsibilities of public service. His focus on mentorship has been highlighted in publications such as the Daily Journal, which recognized his commitment to cultivating leadership and integrity in the legal community.

Representative Matters

The experience list below is compiled from cases handled as a judge.

• Business Commercial
• Oversaw commercial contract litigation involving disputes over performance obligations, material breach and application of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing
• Managed pretrial motion practice in business tort matters, including intentional interference with contractual relations, misappropriation of trade secrets and fraud in the inducement
• Heard cases involving interpretation and enforcement of shareholder agreements, with legal questions concerning fiduciary duties of majority owners and the right to inspect books and records
• Resolved disputes involving the scope and enforceability of indemnification provisions and limitation of liability clauses in corporate and vendor contracts
• Adjudicated claims involving corporate dissolution and derivative actions, with analysis of standing, demand futility and the business judgment rule
• Resolved action against city for breach of contract and racial discrimination that included resolution of all creditors’ claims who challenged settlement by corporation and individual 
• Presided over complex action by a U.K. company involving hundreds of millions of dollars against a U.S. company and certain officers and directors over alleged diversion of commissions for COVID-19 tests purchased by the U.K. government
• Resolved complicated asset-seizure case arising from domesticated Netherlands judgment involving numerous attempts to attach U.S. assets of debtor
• Decided sections 11, 12 and 15 action by shareholders against AI-powered healthcare company, alleging false statements and fraud in offerings’ registration statements; overlapping criminal proceedings
• Class Action & Mass Tort
• Presided over class action matter against the Los Angeles Police Department for alleged excessive force at a street protest outside a city official’s residence 
• Coordinated multiple class action proceedings regarding municipal fees for health permits charged during COVID-19 pandemic when premises were allegedly forced to close and no inspections occurred 
• Decided data breach class action against major school district involving several thousand plaintiffs 
• Heard class action matter against city for miscalculation of sewer fee charges to property owners
• Coordinated mass tort proceeding against cosmetics manufacturer for cancer caused by alleged product exposure 
• Presided over mass tort claims against university for hundreds of sexual assaults by university OB/GYN 
• Heard mass tort claim against school district alleging sexually inappropriate conduct by elementary school teacher
• Resolved mass tort dispute against multiple schools and universities for sexual assault by water polo coach 
• Decided class action matter against community college for systemic underpayment and misclassification of adjunct professors; issued consequential declaratory relief 
• Adjudicated class action claim against medical device manufacturer over alleged defective insulin pump, involving complex analysis of premarket approval (PMA) process versus 510(k) substantial equivalence process 
• Decided class action against auction platform for using “runs and drives” label for salvage-title automobiles without keys or batteries 
• Heard class action case against mobile game company over addictive “dark patterns” involving “loot boxes” purchased with in-game currency
• Handled class actions and individual cases for property, loss of business and general damages arising from the Palisades Fire in January 2025
• Resolved class action dispute against national transportation company over unauthorized background checks on drivers
• Decided class action claims against alleged puppy mill for selling dogs that were allegedly bred illegally and were unhealthy and for charging unlawfully high adoption fees 
• Construction
• Decided complex lawsuit between owner, contractor and subcontractors over repairs to property built adjoining popular Los Angeles tourist destination
• Heard multiple class actions and individual actions involving massive apartment complex and renovations made, with allegations of negligent repairs, exposure to toxic substances and improper evictions; multiple hearings on requests for injunctive relief, anti-SLAPP motions and pleadings challenges
• Adjudicated complex lawsuit involving municipalities’ disagreement over propriety of water treatment plant and who should benefit
• Handled claim by subcontractor against general contractor for underpayment on $16 million public works project 
• Employment Law
• Oversaw class action brought by adjunct faculty alleging violations of California’s minimum wage laws, raising legal questions about whether tasks performed outside the classroom—such as grading and class preparation—constituted compensable time under applicable wage orders
• Managed claims involving whether nonexempt employees were properly compensated for rest and meal breaks, as well as whether employer timekeeping practices complied with California Labor Code provisions
• Addressed disputes concerning the scope of employer obligations under the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), including the permissibility of representative claims for systemic labor code violations
• Decided legal challenges to employee classification and overtime exemptions in industries with variable work conditions, including the applicability of administrative or professional exemptions under wage orders
• Ruled on motions in employment class actions involving disputes over the proper methodology for calculating regular rate of pay, expense reimbursement under Labor Code § 2802 and derivative penalty claims
• Presided over hundreds of wage and hour class action lawsuits addressing issues of enforceability of arbitration agreements, reasonableness of settlements, certification of class, analysis of alleged Labor Code violations, multiplicity of actions and attorneys’ fees awards
• Decided misclassification class action against major university based on job descriptions and duties
• Adjudicated claims for compensation for alleged underpayment to independent security company employees hired at retail stores for major electronic device manufacturer
• Heard lawsuit brought by caregiver claiming she was hired by elderly man whose children controlled his money and refused to compensate her
• Handled countless FEHA and related claims for employment discrimination/wrongful termination based on race, gender, national origin and gender identity 
• Entertainment & Sports
• Heard breach of contract claim by successful ’80s rock band against manager and record label for failure to pay residuals, including streaming income
• Decided breach of contract matter by author against multiple parties, including star of popular reality show, for not pursuing allegedly agreed-upon terms for writing celebrity diet book
• Presided over suit alleging all performers in Super Bowl halftime show were not properly compensated under California law
• Handled suit against popular talk show and production company for proper compensation involving, among other things, distinction between union and nonunion labor 
• Presided over multiparty action involving claims of fraud and breach of contract over utilization of land for construction of major sports complex 
• Estate Probate Trusts
• Resolved dispute between brother and sister over $50 million real estate portfolio inherited from parents. 
• Presided over trial involving inheritance between the decedent's wife and his brother; brother claimed Iranian law should apply, which would have negated the widow's right to inherit
• Heard conservatorship dispute between conservatee’s children and caregiver over utilization of funds
• Decided guardianship proceeding over whether a minor child should continue to live with a guardian or previously incarcerated mother 
• Handled dispute accusing trustee of embezzling funds from decedent’s estate, to the detriment of other heirs
• Heard contested probate proceedings involving will interpretation and testamentary capacity, with legal questions centered on undue influence and execution formalities
• Managed disputes over trustee conduct in trust administration, including alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, accounting irregularities and claims for surcharge
• Presided over conservatorship petitions requiring evaluation of statutory criteria for appointment, priority of nominated conservators and necessity of protective orders
• Oversaw litigation involving conflicting claims to estate assets, including community property tracing and spousal election disputes under California Probate Code
• Addressed legal and procedural issues in guardianship matters, including standing of petitioners, suitability assessments and minor’s best interest standards
• Presided over wide variety of estate and trust cases while handling general probate calendar, including asset distributions, breaches of fiduciary duty, conservatorships and guardianships
• Insurance
• Presided over declaratory relief action challenging enforceability of policy exclusions in residential property coverage, focusing on whether statutory minimum coverage obligations override contractually agreed terms
• Heard disputes involving scope of “direct physical loss” and whether policy language covering smoke or fire damage extended to indirect or latent harm caused by wildfire exposure
• Evaluated claims involving coordination of benefits between primary and excess insurance policies, addressing issues of policy exhaustion, notice and insurer obligations under the duty to defend
• Managed litigation involving disputes over policy interpretation, including the meaning of ambiguous terms in homeowner and commercial insurance contracts, and the application of regulatory guidance issued by the California Department of Insurance
• Handled first-party insurance coverage disputes requiring resolution of factual and legal questions concerning causation, coverage triggers and bad faith allegations
• Presided over complex, long-standing Superfund dispute involving multiple parties and insurers over whether alleged polluters were entitled to insurance coverage and recoupment of costs of defense; issued rulings on numerous motions for summary judgment/adjudication
• Adjudicated Knox-Keene Act complex lawsuit by emergency medical providers alleging systemic underpayment of “reasonable and customary” fees by defendant health plans, with claims in excess of $100 million 
• Resolved complex dispute over indemnity obligations for pollution at Superfund port site owned by municipality but variously divided, leased and subleased among numerous parties
• Handled dispute over handling of insurance claim after fire in which the FAIR Plan of California determined that there was no coverage for smoke damage in absence of obvious physical damage; granted summary judgment that FAIR Plan’s practice fell below minimum requirements for fire insurance coverage in California; no appeal was taken 
• Personal Injury
• Presided over suit for damages based on defective breast implant and lack of informed consent to procedure utilized
• Presided over trial regarding slip-and-fall on a city sidewalk resulting in traumatic brain injury
• Presided over wrongful death suit claiming negligence in not performing blood clot surgery after a stroke
• Resolved dispute involving negligent road design resulting in serious auto vs. pedestrian accident
• Handled wrongful death action against manufacturer arising from crash of private plane, resulting in death of four people 
• Heard wrongful death claim alleging medical negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress arising from death in hospital from postsurgery infection and requiring widow to identify body just after autopsy
• Adjudicated catastrophic injury matter arising from accident between an 18-wheel truck and a motorcycle
• Adjudicated asbestos/cosmetic talc wrongful death and survival action with 35 defendants; settled after several summary judgment rulings
• Heard asbestos personal injury case involving lighting technician with 47 defendants; settled after more than a dozen summary judgment rulings
• Presided over many tort claims occurring on major airport property
• Real Property
• Handled easement dispute involving neighbors who owned multimillion-dollar homes on a private road; settlement conference on-site resulted in a comprehensive resolution of the long-standing case
• Conducted three court trials involving former partners who filed multiple suits against each other over ownership and reimbursement claims surrounding a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio
• Resolved dispute between adult daughter and her parents regarding ownership of a luxury home
• Heard action involving property owners and municipality over whether an empty lot could be lawfully issued a building permit
• Heard slander of title action in which a third party attempted to interfere with sale of a multimillion-dollar residence.
• Adjudicated breach of contract action by restaurant owner against developer of strip mall for providing inadequate parking spots 
• Presided over trial involving dispute over sale of airport-adjacent commercial office tower and access to major parking facility

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Memberships and Affiliations

• Member, Judicial Council of California, 2017–2018
  • Member, Committee on Rules and Procedures
• Chair, Temporary Judge Committee, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2007–2023
• Member, Judicial Council Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee, 2006–2007, 2018–2025
  • Member, Subcommittees on Case Management, Rules and Forms, and Alternate Dispute Resolution
  • Chair, Subcommittee on California Rules of Court and Environmental Law, 2023–2025
• Member, California Judges Association, 2003–2025
  • President, 2017–2018
  • Vice President, 2016–2017
  • Member, Executive Board, 2015–2018
  • Chairperson, Commission on Judicial Performance Working Group, 2015–2017
  • Member, Civil Law Committee, 2011–2025
  • Vice Chair, 2019–2023
  • Member, Compensation and Benefits Committee, 2005–2011, 2019–2025
    • Chairperson, 2009–2010,
    • Vice-Chair, 2019–2025
• Board Member, California Judges Foundation, 2019–2025
  • President, 2022-2025
  • Founder, Adam Z. Rice Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Leader, Justice Norman Epstein Mentoring Program, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, 2017–2025
• President, California Court Commissioners Association, 2005

Selected Awards and Honors

• Justice Sandy Lucas Judicial Officer of the Year Award, Long Beach Bar Association, 2020
• Mentor of the Year Award, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, 2018
• MacFadden Judge of the Year Award, South Bay Bar Association, 2012

Selected Publications and Speaking Engagements

• Panelist, Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) National Conference, 2025
• Faculty, Evergreen Webinar on Informal Discovery Conferences, CJER, 2025
• “Informal Discovery Conferences,” Daily Journal, 2025
• “Summary Judgment Motion Deadlines Modified by New Legislation,” Daily Journal, 2024
• Faculty Member, Witkin Judicial College, 2004–2024
• Panelist, California Complex Law Symposium, 2023
• Judicial Panelist, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Conference (CAALA) Conference, 2022
• Panelist, National Asbestos Litigation Conference, 2021
• Trainer and Lecturer; Civil Procedure, Case Management and Demeanor; CJA, LASC and CJER
• Radio interviews on judicial elections and navigating small claims court

Background and Education

• Los Angeles County Superior Court, Judge, 2005–2025
• Complex Civil Litigation Panel, 2022–2025
• Court Commissioner, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2003–2005
• As-Needed Juvenile Referee, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2000–2003
• Partner, Rice & Rothenberg, 1982–2003
• Associate; Gottlieb, Gottlieb & Stein; 1978–1982
• J.D., Northeastern University School of Law, 1978
• B.A., magna cum laude, History, Tufts University, 1975