Hon. Ken M. Kawaichi (Ret.), JAMS Mediator and Arbitrator

ADR Experience and Qualifications

Almost three decades of experience handling all types of civil cases, including national and international commercial disputes

Over fifteen years of experience managing mass tort litigation, including hundreds of multi-party civil cases

Trained in, used and taught various dispute resolution techniques, including mandatory and voluntary court settlement conferences, grouped or consolidated case settlement conferences, early disposition programs, supervised negotiations, court trials and arbitrations, mediation, summary trials, mass action settlements, class action settlements, phased settlement conferences, and others

Representative Matters prior to joining JAMS

Adams v. State of California

Buttram v. Fibreboard Corp.

Byrd v. Lew

Ciampaglia v. Rasco

Dillingham Construction v. California State Board of Equalization

Gomes v. Karol

Hackett v. Swanson

Complex Asbestos Litigation

Jones v. California Trust Deeds, Inc.

Kaiser Air v. Port of Oakland

Kaminski v. Western MacArthur Co.

Kiddie v. Fibreboard Corp.

Leticia A. v. Regents of the University of California

Loshse v. Lakeland Village Homeowners' Assoc.

Newwald v. Dean

Ruiz v. Port of Oakland

Turner v. Union Pacific Railroad

Western MacArthur Company v. General Accident and Insurance Company

Widergren v. Everest & Jennings, Inc.

Representative Matters

Bankruptcy

Currently serves as Trustee for the following asbestos bankruptcy trusts: Combustion Engineering 524(g) Personal Injury bankruptcy trust, Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical 524(g) Personal Injury bankruptcy trust, Federal Mogul 524(g) Personal Injury bankruptcy trust

Business Commercial

Mediated and arbitrated a wide variety of complex business and tort cases, commercial disputes, contract disputes, consumer claims, banking disputes, collection, and financial cases

Construction Defect

Mediated and arbitrated construction cases and real property cases involving unlawful detainers and landlord/tenant matters

Employment Law

Heard cases involving discrimination charges, labor disputes, and Americans with Disabilities Act claims

Personal Injury

Mediated and arbitrated many personal injury suits, asbestos claims, railroad hearing loss claims, products liability cases, defamation claims, and healthcare disputes

Public Entities

Involved with disputes involving schools, colleges, and universities, as well as state and local government claims

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Completed Virtual ADR training conducted by the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS.

Benjamin Aranda III Access to Justice Award, 2003

Judge of the Year Award, Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, 1989

Member, California Judges' Association; Past President, California Asian/Pacific Judges' Association

Member, California Judicial Council Committees: Civil Forms; Civil and Small Claims; Task Force on Complex Litigation; Task Force on Race and Ethnic Bias; Chair, Access and Fairness; Chair, CJER Fairness Planning

Member, University of California, Berkeley, Community Advisory Board

Member, American Bar and Alameda County Bar Associations; American and California Trial Lawyers' Associations

Chair Elect, National Judicial College Faculty Council

Founder, Asian Law Caucus

Background and Education

Judge, Alameda Superior Court, 1980-2003

Judge, Oakland-Piedmont-Emeryville Municipal Court, 1975-1980

Partner, Yonemura, Yasaki & Kawaichi, Oakland, CA, 1969-1975

Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley, 1970-1973

Associate, Yonemura & Yasaki, Oakland, CA, 1966-1969

Faculty, CJER Judges' College, National Judicial College, CEB, NITA, PLI, Judicial courses in China, Russia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Micronesia, California, Nevada, Utah, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Washington, and Hawaii

LL.B., University of California, Berkeley School of Law (formerly Boalt Hall School of Law), 1966

A.B., Pomona College, Claremont, CA, 1963