Masters of Dispute Resolution

Nationally respected mediator Len Levy explores the world of mediation with those mediators who have proven themselves to be true Masters of Dispute Resolution. These neutrals, including retired jurists, attorneys, and other pioneers in the field of mediation, will provide insights that will assist attorneys and other consumers of dispute resolution services to achieve optimum results and maximize client satisfaction in mediation.

75 episodes

12d ago latest

fortnightly cadence

English language

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Episodes 75

Two Wrongs — Making it Right
12d ago · 43:31
Season 07 Episode 02 Phyllis W. Cheng, Esq., has excelled at every stage of her career, and for nearly seven years was Director of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the largest state civil rights agency in the United States. In this episode, Phyllis tells the story of a deaf woman, in the United States illegally, in the process of self-deporting, arrested by ICE and detained in a city jail for five months. She was not given access to interpreters or provided with any means by which she could communicate, effectively cutting her off from her lawyers or family, and preventing her fr
The Bad Dad
1mo ago · 46:01
Season 07 Episode 01 Following a stellar career as a trial lawyer, Eric Ivary has resolved more than 1,000 cases across a variety of substantive areas during the course of his mediation career at ADR Services, Inc. To kick off Season 7, Eric relates the aftermath of a 9-year-old boy’s toy-related death, where the adults in his life had failed him, and the retailer and distributor of the toy had neglected to include any instructions relating to its use, a combination that proved fatal. His father, who had gone to prison early in the boy’s life with no contact after his release, sought to share
Trust
2mo ago · 51:31
Season 06 Episode 12 With over 25 years of experience, MyKhanh Shelton, Esq. brings a unique blend of legal acumen, practical business insight, conflict resolution expertise, and emotional intelligence to her full-time employment mediation practice. In this episode, MyKhanh conveys the story of a woman who moved across the country, enticed by a job offer with a company whose goals and values appeared to be in line with her own, only to find that not only was the reality far from her expectations, but that she was subjected to inappropriate behavior. After she brought the situation to the atten
Crossing a Line
3mo ago · 39:48
Season 06 Episode 11 Lindsey Bayman, Esq. is a mediator with a strong track record of resolving complex civil disputes, particularly in the areas of employment, sexual assault and misconduct, entertainment, business litigation, and personal injury. She is particularly effective in moving difficult cases to resolution, especially those involving high emotion, reputational risk, or entrenched positions. In this episode, Lindsey conveys the story of an employee subjected to unrelenting barrages of sexually infused language from a fellow employee, whose employer did nothing to remedy the situation
The Case of the Sexual Socialite
4mo ago · 48:58
Season 06 Episode 10 Brad Bening is one of the most effective and well-regarded neutrals in Northern California, acting in the role of mediator as well as Special Master in cases which present unique challenges to case management and resolution. He has successfully mediated more than 2,000 cases with a success rate of more than 98 percent. In this episode, Brad tells the story of a conflict that arose initially in the context of a construction case brought against a wealthy socialite and her interior designer, and the effect that a sexual experience between them impacted on that case and its r
Neighbors
4mo ago · 55:31
Season 06 Episode 09 Michael G. Balmages, Esq., is an accomplished mediator and discovery referee with extensive experience as a trial lawyer, general counsel, and transactional lawyer, and has resolved more than 1,000 cases as a mediator and neutral with ADR Services, Inc. In this episode, Michael tells the story of a dispute between two neighbors over a 20-foot piece of property owned by the purchasers of a large lot, which had been used by their neighbors for parking for almost half a decade. The new purchaser had no real use for the property, which contained a telephone pole and undergroun
Family Disunion
5mo ago · 47:27
Season 06 Episode 08 Judge Vedica Puri (Ret.) has served as a trial lawyer, a partner in private practice, and a San Francisco Superior Court judge—experience that places her among the few neutrals who have sat in every seat that matters when cases are evaluated, tried, and resolved. In this episode of Masters of Dispute Resolution, Vedica Puri shares the story of a family torn apart in a dispute over business matters, unable to overcome the considerable cultural and generational impediments standing in their way to resolution without her impressive insights, trust-building, and mediation skil
Friends and Business
5mo ago · 55:15
Season 06 Episode 07 Jeff Trueman, Esq., is an experienced, full-time mediator and arbitrator. He helps parties resolve a wide variety of litigated and pre-suit disputes and interpersonal problems concerning catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, professional liability, toxic and environmental torts, employment, business dissolution, and real property. Jeff joins Len Levy to tell the story of a business relationship between two women who had been friends since high school and had been operating a very successful hair salon business. Their business and personal relationship had deteriorated due
The Guru Squatter
6mo ago · 47:33
Season 06 Episode 06 Phyllis W. Cheng, Esq., has excelled at every stage of her career, and for nearly seven years was Director of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the largest state civil rights agency in the United States. In this episode, Phyllis relates the story behind a dispute involving a recovering addict, her father, and the guru who had helped the daughter achieve sobriety in exchange for free rent in a mansion owned by the very wealthy father, who had no knowledge of either the daughter’s addiction or the arrangement with the guru. Although he had performed no addiction
Cutting the Gordian Knot
6mo ago · 48:52
Season 06 Episode 05 Lance A. LaBelle, Esq., is a highly regarded mediator. Prior to joining ADR Services, Inc., and before embarking on a career as a full-time neutral, he practiced law as an AV-rated attorney for over 30 years, handling a wide variety of matters and specializing in insurance cases. In this episode, Lance and Len Levy discuss a dispute involving a seriously injured fireman, an injured security guard, insurance claims, limited resources, and a multitude of other issues. Hear how master mediator Lance LaBelle was able to guide the parties through a process that resulted in a co
The Case Without a Villain – Or Maybe Not
7mo ago · 53:05
Season 06 Episode 04 Claudia Hagadus Long is one of the leading alternative dispute resolution neutrals in the Bay Area. An exceptionally skilled mediator, Ms. Long has mediated over 3000 cases and is currently a member of the ADR Services, Inc. panel of mediators. In her return visit to Masters of Dispute Resolution, this master storyteller and mediator shares a story of a caregiver hired to assist in the care of an elderly woman, entrusted with not only the care of the woman, but also provided with financial and personal support, suing the woman’s estate and her charge’s daughter for violati
A Father’s Value
7mo ago · 48:40
Season 06 Episode 03 The Honorable Thomas L. Willhite, Jr., joined ADR Services, Inc. in February 2023 after a distinguished judicial career of more than 30 years, having served on the former Los Angeles Municipal Court, the Los Angeles Superior Court, and the California Court of Appeal. In this episode, Tom Willhite and Len Levy discuss the resolution of a wrongful death case concerning a father and husband who had served time in prison and had overcome mistakes he had made with the support of his family, who died after being struck on the head on the first day of a promising job. How did Tom
Stepping on a Legal Landmine
8mo ago · 1:04:46
Season 06 Episode 02 Hon. David A. Rosen (Ret.) serves as a mediator and arbitrator at ADR Services, Inc., drawing on over forty years of experience in litigation, the judiciary, and alternative dispute resolution. In this episode, Judge Rosen joins Len to discuss the aftermath of a marital dissolution where an initial amicable agreement was derailed by changing circumstances and an attorney's failure to file a crucial document—with severe consequences. Judge Rosen's guidance in helping the parties find resolution offers important insights into the significance of a mediator’s credibility and
Good Deeds
9mo ago · 50:46
Season 06 Episode 01 For over 27 years, Lee Mendelson, Esq. has been at the forefront of civil litigation, advocating for clients in high-stakes disputes across a broad spectrum of legal matters and seeking to achieve resolution outside the courtroom—not through contentious trials, but through the art of negotiation. In this episode, Lee and Len discuss mediation of a dispute between a property owner and the property manager she employed over his alleged responsibility for damage to property the owner had inherited from her mother. Overcoming seemingly intractable positions was key to reaching
Neighbors
11mo ago · 1:00:14
Season 05 Episode 12 Lee Jay Berman became a full-time Los Angeles mediator 30 years ago and has since mediated over 3,000 cases. He is an International Academy of Mediators’ Distinguished Fellow and a National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN) Charter Diplomate. In this episode, Lee Jay and Len discuss an escalating dispute between neighbors, owners of adjoining beach properties, which had devolved into issues and behaviors unrelated to the initial problem. Listen to one of the thought leaders in mediation, to whom other mediators have looked for guidance on how to change the dialogue
Bullies
1y ago · 42:36
Season 05 Episode 11 Raphael Lapin brings an extensive and unique background to his practice as a mediator. He has not only mediated more than 1,000 litigated disputes, but he has also mediated across a variety of sectors, and taught conflict resolution at Southwestern Law School and Whittier Law School. In this episode, Raphael talks about a multi-party dispute involving a school district, three teenage girls, and their parents, arising from a bullying incident in which two of the girls physically attacked another girl as they participated in a school sports event, inflicting physical and emo
A Stolen Life
1y ago · 46:38
Season 05 Episode 10 Now a member of the ADR Services, Inc. panel of neutrals, Debra Bogaards served as a private mediator for over six years, as well as a mandatory settlement conference officer in San Francisco for over five years and in Marin County for almost 30 years. In this session, Debra and Len discuss the mediation of a matter involving child molestation of both the victim and the molester’s daughter, also a victim of molestation, and the process of dealing with the considerable emotional impact of the molestation in reaching a resolution.
It’s Not My Dog
1y ago · 43:33
Season 05 Episode 09 Drawing upon a career spanning over four decades as both a mediator and trial lawyer, Mark D. Kramer, Esq., utilizes his extensive experience to assist parties in resolving disputes, bringing invaluable expertise to the mediation field. In addition to his litigation and trial expertise, Mr. Kramer distinguishes himself through his extensive mediation experience. In this episode, Mark and Len discuss the mediation of a case involving extensive facial injuries after a dog bite. Who owned the dog? What insurance would cover the injuries? How did Mark help the parties address
A Roof Leak
1y ago · 42:09
Season 05 Episode 08 Steven Abern, Esq., brings unparalleled expertise to ADR Services, Inc. His extensive legal career spans 34 years, during which he served as the Managing Partner at Haapala, Thompson & Abern, one of the preeminent insurance defense firms in the Bay Area. In this episode, Steve tells the story of a dispute between a long-term tenant and a landlord who had recently purchased a four-unit apartment building. Heavy rain had caused the collapse of the ceiling in the tenant’s apartment and extensive water damage, which required the tenant to vacate the unit. The tenant’s attempt
Tough as Nails
1y ago · 46:56
Season 05 Episode 07 Peter Linn, Esq. is a seasoned mediator and litigator with nearly three decades of expertise in the Bay Area legal landscape. In this episode, Peter tells the story of a dispute between competing businesses, two nail salons, one of which was owned by former employees of the other, who “poached” the employees of their former employer and opened its doors across the street. How did Peter help the parties overcome a highly emotional business situation with issues ranging from wage and hour, unfair competition, misappropriation of trade secrets, and others, with each side seek
The Horse Whisperer’s Eviction
1y ago · 47:35
Season 05 Episode 06 Geri Green, Esq. is a full-time mediator and discovery referee. Her straightforward approach and open-minded pragmatism generate the trust necessary for litigants to entertain the possibility of resolution and arrive at solutions. In this episode, Geri shares the story of a family, still dealing with the emotional trauma of their father’s death, being sued by their tenant, an equine psychologist and long-time friend, for habitability issues arising from the rental. Friendship, grief, hurt feelings, legal rights, and insurance issues presented formidable obstacles to resolu
The Angry Widow
1y ago · 43:01
Season 05 Episode 05 Irene Takahashi is widely recognized as one of the Bay Area’s leading mediators, and, since 2017, has been a member of the ADR Services, Inc. panel of neutrals. Building on a solid foundation of trial experience, she adds the insights gained while serving as a trial judge for both bench and jury civil and criminal cases. In this episode, Irene and Len discuss the mediation of a wrongful death case arising out of a collision between a car and a motorcycle. The widowed plaintiff’s continued anger at the defendant and the widow’s desire that the defendant suffer posed a subst
Peeling the Onion
1y ago · 45:11
Season 05 Episode 04 Carmen Alberio is a recognized expert in the field of Probate, Estates, and Trusts law, with 37 years of experience as a Probate Attorney for the Los Angeles Superior Court that has been invaluable in both her probate consultation and mediation work. In this episode, Carmen will share the story of a probate mediation about a dispute between a beneficiary and the successor trustee, and how she was able to guide the parties to resolution. Carmen refers to the process she went through in determining what it would take to settle this case as the process of peeling an onion.
A Caring Widow and Her Stepsons
1y ago · 43:51
Season 05 Episode 03 Bette Epstein, Esq. has been mediating trust and estate disputes since 2000, following a remarkable career as a trust and estate litigator, and is highly regarded as one of the Bay Area’s leading probate specialists. In this episode, Bette shares the story of a conflict between the widow of a wealthy man whose intent was to ensure that his widow (who provided all the necessary care for him in his lengthy last illness) would be able to maintain the lifestyle she had previously enjoyed with her husband after his death, and his sons from a previous marriage, who were the co-t
Betrayal of Trust
1y ago · 46:16
Season 05 Episode 02 Steve Cerveris is a full-time, independent mediator and principal of CERVERIS MEDIATION. Assisting his clients through the emotionally and economically draining, time-consuming challenges of litigation earlier in his 40-year career ultimately led Steve to pursue the field of alternate dispute resolution for the past 25 years. His goal was and is to help people embroiled in litigation find a more humane, positive way to resolve conflict. In this episode, Steve relates the story of children in a church school, their molestation by a trusted pastor, and the devastating effect