Alternative Dispute Resolution
Apr. 15, 2026
Achieving success in complex litigation mediation
In complex litigation, successful mediation turns chaos--multiple parties, shifting liability theories, and insurance battles--into resolution, but only when counsel come prepared, stay flexible and commit to collaboration instead of trial.
Stuart M. Rice
Neutral
JAMS
Northeastern University School of Law
Hon. Stuart M. Rice (Ret.) recently retired from the Los Angeles Superior Court after 22 years on the bench, with the last four as a complex civil judge. He is a former president of the California Judges Association and is currently a neutral at JAMS, handling mediations, arbitrations and neutral evaluations on a wide range of civil matters.
Mediation has become an increasingly important part of the litigation process, particularly in complex cases. Each matter presents its own challenges--often involving class actions or Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings (JCCPs)--as well as multiple parties, evolving dynamics among counsel, competing theories of liability and the involvement of insurance.
Feelings of satisfaction and a sense of relief occur when a case of this magnitude resolves wi...
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