Experience includes serving as a court-appointed mediator in a wide variety of civil cases (personal injury, medical malpractice, business disputes, securities disputes, real estate); arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the former Pacific Stock Exchange; over 80 hours of formal training as a mediator and arbitrator, including mediator training through American Arbitration Association, Humboldt Mediation Services, and arbitrator training through FINRA; hearing officer for the California Housing Finance Agency and private non-profits; facilitated meetings for non-profit organizations.
LITIGATION ATTORNEY & ARBITRATION ADVOCATE
Civil litigation and appellate practice emphasizing securities arbitration, litigation involving arbitration, and consumer/employee law, in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration and mediation before the FINRA, NFA, AAA and JAMS. Also experienced in general business litigation in state and federal court, legal ethics, and representation before the California State Bar Court.
EDUCATION
University of California, Hastings College of the Law San Francisco, CA
J.D., May 1990 Moot Court Board Member Technical Editor, Constitutional Law Quarterly
University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX
B.G.S., Public Administration (1981) Graduated cum laude
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Mentor Attorney, Teen Court Volunteer mentor attorney to the Humboldt County Teen Court Program, through the Boys and Girls Club of the Redwoods, which provides a peer-based alternative to the traditional juvenile court system for youths who are first-time offenders
Committee On The Administration Of Justice. State Bar of California Review and prepare recommendations to State Bar Board of Governors regarding proposed legislation and rule changes.
Pro Bono Attorney, Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program Pro bono representation of low income clients in family law disputes, such as child custody and child support issues.
Advocate, Board Of Directors Paid staff, volunteer and board member with non-profit corporation, assisting impoverished clients obtain General Assistance and Food Stamps.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS:
Admitted to Practice Law: California (1990)
U. S. District Court, N.D. Cal. (1990) U. S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit (1990) U. S. District Court, C.D. Cal. (2001) Wisconsin (1994)
Member:
Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California Humboldt Mediation Services;
State Bar of California State Bar of Wisconsin Humboldt County (Cal.) Bar Association
Published Decisions & Articles:
Richard L. Sacks v. Sec. & Exch. Comm’n, --- F.3d ----, 2011 WL 590308 (9th Cir. 2011) Broadcort Capital v. Dutcher, 859 F.Supp. 1517 (S.D.N.Y. 1994) Petrie v. Pacific Stock Exchange 982 F.Supp. 1390 (N.D.Cal. 1997) Reed v. MSC, 106 Cal.App.4th 1359, 131 Cal.Rptr.2d 524 (2003)
Fiduciary Duty in California, PIABA Bar Journal, December 2000 Editor, PIABA Bar Journal Panelist: Choice of Law in Arbitration; Elder Abuse Remedies in Securities Arbitration; and The Problem Arbitrator.
