Masters of Dispute Resolution

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-related services for more than seven years and lived in the mansion rent-free during that time, the guru claimed he was owed wages. How was Phyllis Cheng able to assist the parties to reach resolution?

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 complete resolution by creatively utilizing a tool acquired through his many years of successfully mediating cases.

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 violations of the applicable wage and hour laws following the death of the woman.

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
Willhite, in his role of mediator, guide the parties to a settlement by
overcoming significant monetary and emotional impediments standing in the
way?

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 subject matter expertise, especially in professional liability cases within family law.