Biography
Hon. Thomas Neal Thrasher (Ret.), the recently retired Orange County Superior Court sole designated mediation jurist, combines four decades of judicial and legal experience with his unique ability to bring about the successful resolution of complex, multi-party matters. Judge Thrasher has tried numerous civil cases and in the past three years as mediator for the court, has mediated and settled hundreds more. He has earned a reputation for bringing parties together in extremely difficult situations and getting them to reach consensus.
Judge Thrasher created the mediation program in the Orange County Superior Court in January 2002 and was its sole mediator. He has conducted more than 1,000 mediations including numerous employment cases involving a wide variety of matters including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and retaliatory termination.
Representative Matters
- Arbitrated a sexual harassment/wrongful termination 5-day case involving multiple motions, including motion for summary judgment which settled one week before hearing
- Mediated numerous disability discrimination and failure to accommodate cases
- Numerous hostile workplace cases involving sexual harassment, and racial, age, and gender discrimination
- Several claims of retaliatory termination of employees following sexual harassment
- Successfully mediated a multi-day wage and hour claim by seven employees who had opted out of a class action lawsuit
- Various wage, vacation, overtime, meal, and contract disputes
- Wrongful termination claim by administrative assistant of college, similar claim by administrative assistant of government program
- Wrongful termination of the CEO and stockholder of a mid-sized corporation
Completed Virtual ADR training conducted by the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS.
- Judge of the Year, 2004 (Hon. Jerrold Oliver Award), presented by the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
- Judge of the Year, Business Litigation Section, Orange County Bar Association, 1994
- Board of Governors, Orange County Association of Business Trial Lawyers, 1999-2001
- Supervising Judge, Orange County Superior Court Civil panel, 1992-1997
- Assistant Presiding Judge, Orange County Superior Court, 1998-2000
- President, Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court, 1995-1998
- Adjunct Professor ("Real Property"), Western State University College of Law, Fullerton, Orange County, 1967-1987
- Community Preservation Award, presented by the Santa Ana Historical Society, 2004
- For Courthouse Wall of Fame, historical photos, and planting orange trees
- Judge, Superior Court, Orange County, 1988-2004 (Supervising Judge, Civil Panel, 1992-1997; Assistant Presiding Judge, 1998-1999)
- Chair, Arbitration Committee; Chair, Judicial Education/Workshop Committee; Chair Bench/Bar Civil Case Management Committee; Rules and Forms Committee; State Chair of California Judges Association Civil Law and Procedures Committee (1996–1997)
Counsel Comments
- "If your clients are serious about settling difficult cases…, the best man to bring about resolution, many lawyers say, is Judge Thrasher."
- "He is an active listener, let the parties express themselves, gave clear and concise comments and was courteous to all parties. I would highly recommend him for mediations involving civil business litigation of all kinds."
- Southern California attorney
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- Arbitration
- Bankruptcy
- Business/Commercial
- Employment
- Insurance
- Personal Injury/Torts
- Real Property
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