How to Have a Successful Mediation
Do You Really WANT to Settle this Case?
A practical review of the common impediments to settling probate/trust/conservatorship litigation and ways the mediator and the attorneys can work together to overcome them.
PRESENTERS
Hon. Melinda A. Johnson (Ret.), JAMS
Hon. Glen M. Reiser (Ret.), JAMS
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Hon. Melinda A. Johnson (Ret.) tried and settled complex probate cases over the 20 years she served on the Ventura Superior Court. Since joining JAMS, she has mediated the complex and emotional issues that dominate probate and trust law.
-- Presided over the probate calendar, handled ex partes, initial petitions, and contests in all aspects of decedents’ estates, trusts, and conservatorships, including LPS conservatorships and guardianships
-- Served as a member of the Judicial Council task force that created a separate Probate Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council
-- Conducted Continuing Legal Education for the Probate Bar in topics of interest such as Gerontology and Pharmacology
-- Oversaw the redrafting of local Probate rules of court
Full bio for Hon. Melinda A. Johnson (Ret.)
Hon. Glen M. Reiser (Ret.) has vast experience adjudicating and resolving thousands of complex commercial, real property/environmental, trust and family law disputes as a respected trial judge and litigator. Judge Reiser spent more than 20 years on the Ventura County Superior Court, serving as both supervising probate judge and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) judge for more than a decade. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he litigated hundreds of civil cases to successful conclusion in trial and appellate courts throughout California.
Judge Reiser regularly teaches California judges trust and probate orientation, conservatorships and advanced courses through the Judicial Council of California’s Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER).
Judge Reiser is known for using his thoroughness, intellect, attention to detail and breadth of knowledge to develop creative solutions to disputes of all types.
ADR Experience and Qualifications
-- More than a decade of exclusive assignment to trust and estate matters on the bench
-- More than a decade serving as the only assigned CEQA judge in Ventura County, following years of land use experience as a private attorney
-- Handled large-scale civil and appellate litigation, including environmental and real property, land use, water, complex banking and commercial litigation, real property secured transactions, mass toxic torts, trust litigation, insurance coverage and contract law as a litigator
