HON. BURTON S. KATZ (Ret.)

Judge Katz served as Judge of the Superior Court for Los Angeles County from 1981-1987; Judge of the Municipal Court, Los Angeles County, 1978-1981. He handled lengthy high-profile and complex cases. He is best known for his knowledge and legal acumen and as a Judge who treats lawyers and litigants with respect. He has always been a consensus builder and has personally assisted hundreds of litigants to settle their cases during his professional career. He now brings this wealth of experience and expertise to serve as a Mediator, Arbitrator, Special Master and Referee.

EXPERIENCE AND SPECIALTIES

In private practice as a 14-year trial lawyer, Judge Katz handled hundreds of bench and jury trials concerning breach of contract, fraud/misrepresentation, insurance/bad faith, seller nondisclosure, personal injury, intentional torts, standards of care and duty, and construction defects and real estate matters.

As a Mediator and Arbitrator, Judge Katz handles labor and employment/Title VII matters, personal injury, insurance/bad faith, real estate, construction defects, toxic mold disputes, landlord/tenant, wrongful death, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, business and transactional disputes, and other commercial litigated matters.

Judge Katz’s real estate and construction experience also includes:

• Owning, repairing, remodeling, and constructing residences and multiple family units;

• Moisture barriers, wood rot, mold, asphalt/concrete, balcony/deck failures, roof leaks, window flashing and other points of water entry;

• Certified Property Mold Specialist in Toxic Mold Remediation and Toxic Mold Inspection.

ADR TRAINING

Completed California Contracting State License Board Arbitration Program, 2003;

Negotiating Strategy Institute, "Cutting Edge Negotiating Strategy for Lawyers," 2003; Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution/Southern California Mediation Association, 15th Annual Interactive Conference-"Waves of Change," 2003;

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution/Southern California Mediation Association, 14th Annual Interactive Conference-"Mediating Goes Mainstream," 2002;

AAA Arbitrator I Training-"Fundamentals of the Arbitration Process," Atlanta, 2002;

Southern California Mediation Association/LA Superior Court Program, "Advanced Nonverbal ADR Communication and Negotiating Skills," 2002;

Southern California Mediation Association, "Mediating Employment/Workplace Disputes," 2002;

Southern California Mediation Association, "Mediating Elder Abuse Claims," 2002;

LA Superior Court, Early Mediation Pilot Program Orientation, 2002;

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Mediation: "The Art of Facilitating Settlement," May-June, 2001.

SPEAKER/LECTURER

Speaker, Bridgeport Toxic Mold Seminar, 2003

Speaker, "Employment Litigation and Insurance & Bad Faith Claims," California Judges' Association/Rutter Group, 2003

MSNBC Writer and Analyst, 1999-2000

"Judge and Jury," MSNBC Television Anchor, 1998-2000

"Justice Overruled," Time-Warner, 1997

"Terrel & Katz," KABC radio Talk Show Host, 1996-1997

Authored numerous articles on the justice system, and appeared on many television and radio programs

Adjunct Professor, Evidence and Trial Advocacy, University of San Fernando College of Law, 1976-1978

Lecturer, Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law, 2003

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Bar Association (ADR Section; State Judges Section)

Los Angeles County Bar Association (ADR Section)

Beverly Hills Bar Association (ADR Section)

Southern California Mediation Association

State Bar of California

AAA Commercial, Employment and Real Estate Panels

Department of Insurance Panel

Los Angeles Superior Court Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators

EDUCATION

LL.B, J.D., Loyola University, 1964