Judge Swartwood has successfully arbitrated and mediated a wide variety of disputes including many business/commercial matters since joining JAMS in 2006. Judge Swartwood has more than 50 years of experience including 29 years as a trial lawyer where he primarily tried complex business related cases in both state and federal courts. Followed by his role as a Federal Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for 12 years, Judge Swartwood presided over cases in virtually all areas of the law and for seven years, he actively participated in settling cases through the Federal District Court’s ADR program.
Representative Matters
- Arbitrated breach of employment contracts
- Arbitrated dispute concerning rights of condominium owners
- Arbitrated fraud and misrepresentation allegations in connection with a stock purchase agreement in a closely held corporation
- Arbitrated numerous corporate/ partnership cases involving alleged breach of good faith, loyalty and fair dealing
- Mediated a dispute arising over the meaning of a sophisticated term used by the parties in an agreement for investment services
- Mediated bankruptcy dispute over question of whether pre-petition payment was for a pre-existing debt or toward purchase of mortgage assignment
- Mediated dispute over alleged violation of employee covenants including non-compete and other tortuous acts
- Mediated multiple party commercial disputes
- Mediated settlement of claims in several landlord/tenant disputes
- Mediated several cases involving public utilities
- Mediated the “set aside” of a leverage buyout
- Mediated two commercial disputes that have resulted in over $20 million settlements
- Mediation of a contract dispute between owner and architect for alleged negligence
