Civil Rights and the Case of the Viral Video
Season 04 Episode 03
Phyllis W. Cheng, Esq., has excelled at every stage of her career. As the former Director of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the largest state civil rights agency in the United States, she oversaw some of the largest settlements in DFEH history. In this episode, Ms. Cheng joins Len to tell the story of a viral video of an arrest in the aftermath of the May 2020 protests, a civil rights lawsuit by the citizen who created the video, who claimed police retaliation for her having done so, and the unique opportunity to accomplish, through mediation, what both parties could not have achieved through a trial.
The Duet Hits a Sour Note: Getting Back in Tune
Season 04 Episode 02
Jeff Trueman, a two-time guest on Masters of Dispute Resolution, and Len Levy switch roles in this episode. Jeff interviews Len as he tells the story of two musicians who split up and no longer communicated after the cancellation of a television show featuring a theme song composed and sung by the two. Many years later, the show was picked up in syndication, and they could not agree on the division of royalty payments. Did mediation solve their dispute? The answer may surprise you.
The Unprincipled Principal
Season 04 Episode 01
Steve Sepassi is a highly accomplished professional in handling a wide range of legal matters, including personal injury, school liability, real estate, landlord-tenant, commercial, and insurance cases. We begin our fourth season with Steve sharing the story of a mediation between a school district and a former student, almost 40 years after a principal entered into a sexual relationship with him, the effect of that molestation, and how the matter was resolved in mediation.
What Do You Mean, I Don’t Live Here Anymore?
Season 03 Episode 12
Since 1987, Sanford Jossen has mediated and arbitrated thousands of cases across a broad spectrum of civil litigation matters. In this episode, Sandy shares the story of a musician who, in the middle of the pandemic, left his rent-controlled apartment to act as caretaker for his ailing mother in another city, returning to the apartment a year later only to find the building was being renovated and all his belongings were missing. A trial of the issues was to commence between the musician, the elderly owner, her daughter, and an insurance company in four days when Sandy was called upon to mediate the matter.
Heroic Deeds
Season 03 Episode 11
In January 2003, Alan Saler launched what quickly became a thriving mediation practice. He has always enjoyed the luxury of being an independent, full-time provider of mediation services. As a mediator, he draws on his considerable prior legal experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of litigation matters. In this episode, Alan shares the story of two heroic people who died attempting to rescue the driver of a car involved in an accident, how their deaths impacted their families, and how Alan was able to help the families through mediation
Is it Safe?
Season 03 Episode 10
Eric Galton has been a Texas attorney for 47 years and a full-time mediator for 35 years and has mediated nearly 8000 cases in 22 states and 16 foreign nations. He is a Distinguished Credentialed Mediator with the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association and a past president of the International Academy of Mediators. In this episode, Eric tells the story about the mediation of a case involving 450 hemophiliacs, a blood transfusion product manufactured by four of the largest pharma companies on the planet that infected the parties and loved ones with HIV, and how setting up the mediation for success led to resolution.
De-Escalate: The Power of Emotional Listening
Season 03 Episode 09
Douglas E. Noll, JD, MA, left a successful career as a trial lawyer to become a peacemaker. His calling is to serve humanity on many levels, doing so as an award-winning author, teacher, trainer, and highly experienced mediator. In this episode, Doug tells the story of a divorced couple engaged in a dispute ostensibly about the use of money that had been in a trust fund, how their emotions had escalated the conflict, and the discovery of the power of affect labeling not only to resolve their dispute but also to change people’s lives.
Was Litigation a Worthwhile Business Investment?
Season 03 Episode 08
Michael G. Balmages, Esq. is an accomplished mediator and discovery referee with extensive experience as a trial lawyer, general counsel, and transactional lawyer. As a mediator and neutral, he has had great success in helping litigants resolve their disputes in more than 1,000 cases. In this episode, Michael tells the story of a litigated matter, its effect on the parties’ long-term relationship, the price paid in both monetary and non-monetary respects, and why two mediations failed to result in settlement.
Overcoming a Wrongful Accusation and Denial of Due Process Through Mediation
Season 03 Episode 07
Phyllis W. Cheng, Esq., has excelled at every stage of her career. For nearly seven years, Ms. Cheng was Director of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the largest state civil rights agency in the United States, where she oversaw the largest settlements in DFEH history. In this episode, Phyllis joins Len to tell the moving story of a university student whose life was disrupted by a false accusation of sexual assault, a denial of due process by the university, and his suspension as a student. Through an agreement reached in mediation, he was able to move forward with his life.
The Collapsed Deck Caused Catastrophic Injuries: Overcoming Impediments to Address the Needs of the Injured Parties
Season 03 Episode 06
Jeff Trueman, Esq., is an experienced, full-time mediator and arbitrator. Specializing in interpersonal conflict, he is well known as a manager of difficult conversations. Jeff joins Len Levy to tell the story of a family reunion suddenly becoming transformed from a joyous occasion to one of life-changing injury and grief and how the mediation Jeff conducted was instrumental in removing the impediments preventing the injured parties from obtaining the help they needed to cope with their injuries and help them heal.
