Hon. Paul A. Bacigalupo, Ret., joined ADR Services, Inc. in 2024 after 22 years as a Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. As a mediator, Judge Bacigalupo is characterized by his persistent curiosity to achieve resolution and his ability to ask the right questions at the right time. His reputation as an active, empathetic, and intense listener precedes him, and he is known to work tirelessly with the parties to develop creative pathways to settlement. In this episode, Judge Bacigalupo shares the story of a woman’s death in a skilled nursing facility and the dynamics of a mediation between the family of the woman and that facility, complicated by the family dynamics between the deceased woman’s adult children. Resolution of the dispute was reached, assisted by Judge Bacigalupo’s skills in knowing which mediation tools to apply. You will learn how the application of those skills was made even more effective by the actions of the parties’ counsel.
During his tenure on the bench, Judge Bacigalupo was assigned to the Van Nuys courthouse, where he conducted mandatory settlement conferences full-time for the last four years of his judicial career. He previously presided over an independent calendar civil and trial court and various criminal assignments.
What further sets Judge Bacigalupo apart is his deep understanding of multicultural nuances and business and insurance decision-making processes that play a pivotal role in the settlement process. Having lived and worked in Europe, Asia and Mexico, and his familiarity with all the courts throughout California, Judge Bacigalupo has an unparalleled perspective of the diversity of litigants, attorneys, jury pools, insurance carriers, businesses, partnerships, government entities and injured parties. He is respected and sought after for his ability to accomplish resolution.
Judge Bacigalupo’s legal career spans both the public and private sectors. Prior to becoming a Judge of the Superior Court, he was a Judge of the California State Bar Court. During his legal career, he practiced public and private complex construction law, business litigation, employment law, insurance, product liability, personal injury, and immigration law in both state and federal courts. He was a founding attorney mediator and arbitrator of the JAMS/Endispute Los Angeles and Santa Monica offices in 1995. In 2017 he was named Judge of the Year by the San Fernando Valley Bar Association and was awarded the Judicial Excellence Award by the Mexican American Bar Association PAC.
Judge Bacigalupo may be contacted through his Case Manager Chelsea Mangel by email at [email protected] or (310)201-0010.
