Stephen P. Booth, Esq.

TO LITIGATE OR TO MEDIATE

Some cases deserve to go to trial, or at least to the courthouse steps for the best settlement. And there are times when there is nothing more rewarding than trial before a jury ending in a just verdict.

However,  for many cases, mediation, with a qualified and devoted mediator is simply the most efficient means of achieving lasting peace.

The proceeding can be entirely confidential and your dispute may be resolved with a level of speed and dignity not obtainable in court. Our lives are truly short; undue time and money spent in litigation may prevent you from going forward with truly important life endeavors.

The underlying facts of a dispute are the same now as they will be two years from now, after having committed huge resources to depositions, written discovery, court hearings and trial preparation. After all of this investment, trial could result in unfavorable verdict. Even a favorable jury verdict will be significantly discounted by fees for attorneys, experts fees, as well as the value of your time.

Disputes are over events that happened in the past. Resolution now, achieves peace, and in many cases is an opportunity to create a template for resolving future differences, for example, where you will have a continuing business or personal relationship.

As a mediator, I present an environment where adversaries go immediately to the merits of the dispute in an analytically rigorous fashion. While the process is low-risk, i.e., without courtroom formalities, evidentiary objections and cross-examination, a thorough and exhaustive examination is made of the realistic and likely outcomes through trial.

Mediation will be the vehicle to: (1) clearly identify the interests of the respective parties, (2) rigorously analyze the respective sides according to the objective legal standards, and (3) seek to develop a range of possible solutions which would serve the parties’ real interests. You, rather than strangers, control the conflict resolution process in a confidential environment.

WHY YOU SHOULD ENGAGE STEPHEN BOOTH AS YOUR MEDIATOR

Stephen Booth is a devoted and experienced Mediator who has been able to resolve the vast majority of cases he has mediated. Stephen Booth draws on his 27 years experience as a civil litigator and 8 years experience as a Judge Pro Tem to assist the parties in understanding that settlement, reached informally, is far superior to continued litigation, in most cases.

Stephen Booth focuses on business, consumer and family disputes. With respect to all disputes, Stephen Booth maintains an environment where all parties are treated with dignity. With respect to family law matters, Stephen Booth is particularly sensitive to the interests of the children and the confidentiality and privacy concerns of the disputants.

A 1986 Graduate of Hastings College of the Law, Stephen Booth has been a practicing attorney for 27 years. Stephen Booth started with a large San Francisco law firm (Severson, Werson Berke & Melchior) and has handled, mediated, and tried a wide range of complex business, real estate, insurance, landlord-tenant and family law matters. Stephen Booth draws on that experience to promote the parties’ understanding of the true costs of proceeding with extended litigation.

Stephen Booth has had 8 years experience hearing and settling cases as a Judge Pro Tem in San Francisco Superior Court and has been a Settlement Commissioner in the Alameda County Superior Court. Stephen Booth has completed 40-hours of training and received a Mediator Certificate from Mediator Ron Kelly in the Mediation & Conflict Resolution Training program, at the University of California, Berkeley, Extension.

Stephen Booth has successfully prepared for trial, tried and/or mediated the following types of matters and brings that knowledge and experience to mediation:

Real Estate Litigation, including lender liability, disputes over title, insurance, commission and real estate contracts, complex buy-sell transactions, construction defect and failure to disclose;

Insurance Litigation, including Bad Faith, Coverage, Contract Interpretation, Interpleader and Declaratory Relief, Expertise in Accidental Death / Dismemberment, Pre-existing medical and health conditions;

Labor and Employment, including Employment Contracts, Discrimination based upon Gender, Race, Age, Sexual Preference, Failure to Accommodate, Reduction in Workforce;

General Business Torts including Fraud, Breach of Contract, Anti-competition covenants and agreements, Misappropriation of Trade Secret and Unfair Competition and Unfair Business Practices (B&PC 17200 / 17500);

Landlord-Tenant Litigation, Unlawful Detainer, Ellis Act, Owner Move-In, Premises Renovation, San Francisco and Berkeley Rent Ordinances, as well as affirmative actions for wrongful eviction, retaliation, discrimination, and improper/dominant motive.

Environmental Clean-Up and Asbestos Cases.

Family Law, including Dissolution, Custody and Support, Division of Assets including Homes, Investments and Businesses.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

JUDGE PRO TEM, San Francisco County Superior Court, 1997-2005; Eight years experience as Settlement Judge Pro Tem with the San Francisco County Superior Court

SETTLEMENT COMMISSIONER, Alameda County Superior Court; Formerly a Settlement Commissioner with the Alameda County Superior Court

MEDIATOR PANELIST, Bar Association of San Francisco, Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Program,
2009-Present, San Francisco, CA

MEDIATOR’S CERTIFICATE, Mediation Training and Certificate from leading Mediator Ron Kelly, May 2006, Berkeley, California

FAIR HOUSING OFFICER, Not For Profit Entity, providing advice and negotiating resolution to fair housing disputes, Presently engaged, Oakland, CA

CORPORATE COUNSEL, Not For Profit Entity, 2011-present, providing advice, counsel and negotiation  for a wide range of conflicts and disputes.

HOW TO CONTACT STEPHEN P. BOOTH

You may call: (415) 515-2980 or write: sboothesq@aol.com