Hon. Richard D. Aldrich, Ret.

Los Angeles

Business & Commercial, Class Action & Mass Tort, Construction Defect, Environmental Law, Insurance, Personal Injury, Product Liability

Hon. Richard D. Aldrich (Ret.) became a JAMS panelist following a distinguished 27-year judicial career, most recently serving as an associate justice on the California Court of Appeal, Second District. Earlier, he served on the Ventura County Superior Court, where he presided over a wide range of civil matters. During his time on the appellate bench, Justice Aldrich authored numerous significant opinions and participated in more than 8,000 appellate decisions, helping shape California law across multiple areas of civil litigation.

Justice Aldrich also played an important role in advancing ADR within California's court system. He was actively involved in developing approaches to complex case management and co-authored the Deskbook on the Management of Complex Civil Cases, a resource widely used by courts handling large and multifaceted litigation. His judicial experience gives him a deep understanding of both trial and appellate perspectives when assisting parties in resolving disputes.

Before joining the bench, Justice Aldrich spent three decades in private practice as a civil trial lawyer, handling a broad spectrum of complex civil matters, including medical malpractice, legal malpractice, class actions, products liability and catastrophic personal injury cases. He also handled disputes involving real property, construction defects and toxic torts, such as litigation related to the defective design of the Corvair automobile. In addition, he developed substantial experience in insurance coverage disputes and fair claims-handling practices, including numerous insurance bad-faith matters.

At JAMS, Justice Aldrich serves as a mediator, arbitrator, special master and appellate neutral, drawing on decades of judicial and litigation experience to help parties resolve complex disputes efficiently and thoughtfully.

Justice Aldrich has long been active in judicial education and ADR training. For nearly 20 years, he served on the faculty of the B.E. Witkin California Judicial College, teaching Civil Settlement Techniques and speaking regularly on dispute resolution and insurance-related issues.

raldrich@jamsadr.com
213-253-9784
www.jamsadr.com/neutrals/aldrich