Sanford Jossen, Esq.
SANFORD JOSSEN, ESQ., born in New York, New York, 1951; admitted to Bar, May 1982 as follows: State of California; U.S. District Court for all districts of California; U.S. Court of Appeal, Ninth Circuit; U.S. Tax Court; and U.S. Supreme Court.
RATING:
Martindale-Hubbell - “AV” Preeminent Rating (Highest available rating)
RECENT AWARDS:
2022: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2021: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2020: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2019: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2018: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2017: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2016: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2015: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2014: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2013: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2012: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2011: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2010: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2009: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2008: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
2007: President’s Award-Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles.
2005: President’s Award - Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles.
2005: Outstanding Citizen - City of Manhattan Beach -
(For Child Advocacy).
2004: Super Lawyer - Los Angeles Magazine.
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE:
Referee [As Needed]: Los Angeles Superior Court/Juvenile Division, 2000 - 2001. Reappointed January 2006 to present.
Sitting as Referee in both Dependency Court (2000-2001) and Delinquency Court.
STATE BAR COMMISSIONS:
Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission [JNE]: Commencing February 2006 to February 2009. Evaluate nominees for Judicial positions and report to Governor’s office.
JUDICIAL TASK FORCE (1999 - 2009):
Taskforce on Tort Reform of the Los Angeles Dependency Court. Appointed to this task force by the Honorable Michael Nash, Juvenile Court Judge Presiding. 827 Confidentiality of Records Committee, Los Angeles Superior Court-Dependency Division.
LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE:
Appointed July 2006-2007; Appointed January 2011 - Present.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND PERSONNEL HEARING EXAMINER FOR THE CITY
OF SANTA MONICA:
Appointed December 2008.
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR:
Pepperdine University School of Law: 2008 - Present. Courses Taught: Client Interviewing and Counseling Techniques. August 2008 - December 2008; August 2009 - December 2009; January 2010 - August 2010.
MOST RECENT VERDICTS:
October 2011: Ricardo Rosas; Kevin Rosas, a minor, by and through his Guardian Ad Litem, Magda Velez, John White; Does 1 TO 10, Case NO. VC 56977.
Auto vs. Auto accident. 100% liability against defendant. Verdict in favor of Plaintiffs.
July 2011: Barry Bryant vs County of Los Angeles L.A.S.C. Case Number: BC416994.
Dangerous Condition of Public Property Case. Nine-day Jury Trial, Verdict: $252,000.00 [with costs] for Plaintiff. 100% Liability against the County of Los Angeles.
APPELLATE DECISIONS:
Jazzmon R., etc. et al. vs. County of Los Angeles, etc. et al., Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Three
Case No.: B153854; (2002) 2002 Cal. Lexis 8658.
Jamal B., etc. et al. vs. County of Los Angeles, etc. et al., Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Three, Case No. B168175; (2005) 2005 Cal. App. Unpub. Lexis 2806.
Brandon S. etc. et al. vs. County of Los Angeles, etc. et al., Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 4, Case No. B196249; (2009) 2009 Cal. App. Lexis 1099 [Petition for Review to California Supreme Court, Denied].
AREAS OF CONCENTRATION:
Extensive litigation experience as well as mediation and arbitration in the following areas:
Governmental Tort Claims [all types].
Business litigation [all types, including partnership,
corporate disputes and dissolutions].
Personal injury [all types, including automobile,
motorcycle, uninsured motorist, insurance claims, and bad
faith, slip/trip, and fall].
Civil Rights violations [42 U.S.C. § 1983].
Legal Malpractice.
Attorney-Client Fee Disputes.
Real Estate matters.
Entertainment Industry matters [all types, including film
production and distribution, trademark and copyright
infringement].
EDUCATION:
Southampton College, Long Island University (B.A., English,
1974).
University of Hawaii [1977 - 1978].
University of San Diego, School of Law [J.D., 1980].
University of Southern California School of Law - Publishing
and Recording Aspects of the Music Industry [Certificate
received 1985].
Hastings College of Law, University of California - Advanced
Advocacy Program [Certificate received March 1991].
ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION:
Arbitrated/mediated over 3,000 cases for the following Courts and Associations:
Los Angeles Superior Court [1987 - Present].
United States District Court – Settlement Officer/Mediator Panel [2001 - Present].
California Court of Appeals - Mediation Panel [2002 -
Present].
American Arbitration Association - Arbitrator [1990 -
Present].
Los Angeles Bar Association - Attorney-Client Fee Dispute
Resolution Program [1987 - Present].
Beverly Hills Bar Association - Attorney-Client Fee Dispute
Program [1987 - 2008].
MEDIATION EDUCATION & TRAINING INFORMATION:
September 25, 2018: Coverage Basics for the Mediator by Mediators Peter K. Rosen and Philip E. Cook. Balance for Ourselves and Our Mediations: Tips for Becoming Mediators by Michelle Reinglass. Masters Mediation Workshop by Jeffrey Krivis and Christine Masters. U.S. District Court Central District Of California.
September 4, 2014: Advanced Mediation and Settlement Skills by the Honorable Jeremy Fogel, Claudia Bernard, Esq. And Howard Herman, Esq. U.S. District Court Central District Of California.
April 28, 2014: Advanced Mediation Training by Eric Galton and Tracy Allen. U.S. District Court Central District Of California.
November 2, 2012: Apology, Forgiveness and Reconciliation-Peter Robinson and others. Pepperdine University School of Law-Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.
June 21-23, 2012: Preventing Bad Settlement Decisions and Impasse by Don Philbin and Douglas E. Noll. Pepperdine University School of Law- Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.
June 2011: Teaching ADR in Law Schools including Multi-Party Negotiations; Pedagogy in Mediation Training; Lying in Negotiation; Negotiations and Emotions at Pepperdine University School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution [16 hours]; Strategic Negotiations taught by Randy Lowery, Pepperdine University School of Law- Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution [20 hours].
Mediating in the Red Zone presented by Eric Galton and Tracy Allen-Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, June 2010 [20 hours].
Pepperdine University School of Law: Improvisational mediation presented by Jeff Krivis - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, June 2009 [18 hours].
Los Angeles Superior Court Alternate Dispute Resolution: Voluntary Settlement Conference Orientation Program March 2009 [4 hours].
Los Angeles Superior Court ADR Committee: Los Angeles Superior Court Supplemental Training - “Sharpening your Mediation and Negation Skills” May 2012 [6 hours]; Ethical Quandaries for Court-Connected Mediators 2008 [3 hours]; Los Angeles County Bar Association - Dispute Resolution Services - Mediation Training Certificate received, 2001 [40 hours].
U.S. District Court: Advanced Mediation Training including: “Helping People Make Effective Decisions in Mediation” - Presented by Donald R. Philbin, Jr., and Douglas E. Noll; Demonstrating the benefits of working with the parties in joint session - Presented by Gary J. Friedman, of the Center for Understanding Conflict Advanced, July 25-26, 2012 [16 hours]. Mediation Training including: “Tools & Techniques for Mediators Dealing with High Conflict People” - Presented by Bill Eddy]; “Beyond Right & Wrong - Effective Decision Making for Mediators, Attorneys and Clients” - Presented by Ken Kiser; and “The Extent of Mediator Influence to Effect Settlement” - Presented by Neil Carmichael May 2011 [16 hours]. “Mediation Confidentiality: A Privilege or a Problem for Mediators?” - Presented by Jan Schau March 25, 2011; Ethical Issues in Mediation - Presented by Jan Schau January 2011 [2 hours]. Nuances and Complexities in Commercial Professional Practice - presented by Peter Robinson and Bruce Edwards - Straus Institution for Dispute Resolution May 5-6, 2010 [16 hours]; Advance Mediation Skills - Recent Developments in Stages of Mediation - presented by Peter Robinson, Dana Curtis and Dwight Golann - Straus Institution for Dispute Resolution (Pepperdine University) April 29-30, 2009 [13 hours]; Advanced Mediation Training - presented by Peter Robinson, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Pepperdine University), May 2008 [3 hours]; U.S. District Court - Advanced Mediation Training -The Activist Mediator: Rethinking the Place and Role of the Mediator presented by Peter Robinson and Robert Benjamin, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Pepperdine University) May 2007 [16 hours]; U.S. District Court - Advanced Mediation Training - presented by Peter Robinson, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Pepperdine University) March 2006 [16 hours]; U.S. District Court - Advanced Mediation Training - presented by Peter Robinson, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Pepperdine University) March 2005 [13 hours]; U.S. District Court-Advanced Mediation Training-Cross Cultural Training, March 2004 [16 hours]; U.S. District Court - Advanced Mediation Training - presented by Peter Robinson, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Pepperdine University), February 2003 [16 hours]; United States District Court, Mediation Refresher - presented by Peter Robinson of Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution (Pepperdine University), January 2002 [8 hours]; Mediating the Litigated Case - presented by Peter Robertson - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Pepperdine University), March-May 2002 [42 hours].
California Court of Appeal - Pre-conference Issues: Setting Up Mediation For Success; Facilitating Evaluation: Risk Analysis and Other Tools, June 22, 2006 [7 Hours]; Mediation Training presented by Dana Curtis, February 2002 [40 hours].
Beverly Hills Bar Association -(1999)[8 hours].
Economy and Efficiency in International Dispute Resolution [1.5 hours] January, 2011; American Arbitration Association - Mediation I, 24 hours October, 2002; American Arbitration Association-Arbitration II (16 Hours) June 2003; American Arbitration Association - Award Writing (8 hours) Dec. 2004. Numerous online courses.
COMMITTEES:
Los Angeles Bar Association - Lawyer Referral and Information Service-Advisory Committee [January 2006 - Present].
Los Angeles Bar Association - Attorney-Client Arbitration
and Mediation Service Executive Committee [September 2005 -
2007.
Beverly Hills Bar Association - Attorney-Client Relations
Committee [1987-2007].
Los Angeles Bar Association - Attorney-Client Relations
Committee [1987 - 2007]; Executive Committee [1996 - 1997].
State Bar of California - Alternative Dispute Resolution
Committee [2001-2002].
Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine - Editorial Committee [1987 -
1988].
JUDGE PRO-TEM:
Los Angeles Municipal Court-Central District, Beverly Hills Municipal Court, Santa Monica Municipal Court and L.A. Superior Court 1987 - Present: Small Claims Trials, Small Claims Appeals and Civil Non-Jury Trials. Judicial Demeanor Seminar - March 2009.
LEGAL PANELS:
L.A. County Tort Dependency Panel of the Los Angeles Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service: Have represented many minors in governmental and non-governmental tort claims [1990 - Present].
AUTHOR:
“Let There Be Light-Open the Foster care System” Daily Journal, November 22, 2011; “Law 2020 and Beyond”, Daily Journal August 2010; “Attorneys Must Fight Bad PR, Convey Virtues to Public” Daily Journal, March 18, 2005; “Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice” December 1998, Los Angeles County Bar Association Website. “Incorporating the Stars,” Volume 4, Number 5, Los Angeles Lawyer, 16 (July/August 1981); “Fiduciary Aspect of the Personal Manager’s Relationship with a Performing Artist,” 167 Cal. Rptr. 33 (Supp.) [Pocket Part] Number 4 (1980); Article of Special Interest reprinted in 11 Performing Arts Review, Journal of Law, Arts and Management 108 (1981). Panel of Editors, Los Angeles Lawyer, 1985 -1986. Numerous articles in Daily Journal and letters in Los Angeles Times.
HONORS:
United States Congress - Certificate of Appreciation, June 1997; California State Assembly - Certificate of Recognition, June 1997; County of Los Angeles - Commendation for Service to the Community, June 1997; City of L. A. - Certificate of Appreciation for Service to the Community, June 1997; Los Angeles Unified School District - Certificate of Recognition, June 1997; L.A. County Superior and Municipal Courts - Numerous Certificates of Appreciation for Pro Bono Services as Arbitrator/Mediator/Settlement Officer; Numerous other awards from the Los Angeles Superior and Municipal Courts.
I have been the subject of numerous articles in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, Daily Journal, Verdicts and Settlements, South Bay People, etc. [Samples available on request and on website]
SEMINARS GIVEN:
February 15, 2011: 317e Tort Notification Filings - What Are the Red Flags and How Do I Get My Case Proved-up. Presentation made to Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Court-Dependency Division.
June 18, 2008: Juvenile Dependency Court Tort Policy Training, prepared narrative for seminar; gave presentations on: Possible Tort Theories; Developing the Case, Mechanics of starting the case.
January 31, 2004: Welfare and Institutions Code § 317 Reports and Government Tort Claim [Juvenile Courts law and Procedure Seminar].
ARBITRATORS EVALUATIONS:
Rated by Consumer Lawyers of Los Angeles. [Evaluation available on request.]
OF COUNSEL RELATIONSHIP:
Serves as “of Counsel” to William Bloch and Associates, Beverly Hills [Employment Law firm].
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
Los Angeles County Bar Association; Beverly Hills Bar Association; Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles.
VOLUNTEER WORK:
First Impressions Project, 1997-2001. Have visited Elementary, Middle and High schools throughout Los Angeles but primarily inner city to speak to students about the law and give them courthouse tours. Constitutional Rights Foundation-2001 to present. Have been a Judge in annual Moot Court Competitions involving Middle and High School Students.
HOBBIES:
Marathon Runner - 38 Marathons started and completed. Bicyclist-San Francisco to Los Angeles, twice. Reading, music, scuba diving, sailing (have sailed from Hawaii to Tahiti), flying (private pilot-inactive), motorcycles, traveling, camping, hiking and mountain climbing. (Summiteer: Mount Kilimanjaro 2005, Mount Whitney, Summer and Winter).
REFERENCES:
The Honorable Dennis Perluss, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, State of California; The Honorable Michel Nash, Presiding Judge, L.A.S.C. Juvenile Division [Retired]; L.A.S.C.; The Honorable William Highberger, Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court; The Honorable Margaret Henry, Supervising Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court-Dependency Division; John Girardi, Esq. Numerous counsel, on request. Have mediated/arbitrated for over 700 law firms [List of law firms available upon request].
