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CONTACT CASE MANAGER

Hon. John M. Mott (Ret.)

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    Biography
    General Biography
    Practice Areas & Industries
    Employment Law
    Business/Commercial
    Construction
    Professional Liability
    Personal Injury
    Higher Education
    International
    Probate
    Family Law
    Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
    Background and Education

    Hon. John M. Mott (Ret.) has successfully mediated, arbitrated, and served as a neutral case evaluator at JAMS in multiple matters since 2018, following more than 18 years of distinguished service as a judge for the District of Columbia Superior Court, including the last seven years presiding over trials and conducting judicial mediation in a wide array of complex civil disputes. His fairness, patience and deep understanding of the legal process, legal issues and possible outcomes combined with his three decades of experience as a judge, litigator and trial advocacy professor have served Judge Mott as an ADR professional.

    Judge Mott has settled a wide variety of disputes, including employment, business, commercial, insurance, construction, medical malpractice, personal injury, civil rights, consumer, probate, family and many others. Judge Mott has gained a reputation for facilitating the settlement of an extremely high percentage of his cases, including the most difficult and intractable matters. He has handled mediations and arbitrations across the country and has also developed a neutral analysis practice that allows him to draw on his vast legal experience and business acumen.

    As an arbitrator, Judge Mott is thoughtful to coordinate with counsel on a comprehensive case management order to ensure the proceedings move forward fairly and efficiently. Judge Mott also serves as a court appointed neutral/Special Master and has handled numerous discovery disputes (traditional and electronic), privilege and work product issues, and various types of projects and investigations, working closely with counsel to develop a plan to streamline case management of these matters. 

    Judge Mott draws on his experience, sense of fairness, emotional intelligence, and creativity to help parties achieve resolution. Judge Mott is a tenacious mediator that believes in the importance of pre-session discussions; he takes care to review party submissions and prepares thoroughly for mediations so he can quickly get to the essence of the matter and understand the priorities of the parties. Using an evaluative approach, Judge Mott discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the parties’ positions with counsel in advance of—and during—the mediation. 

     

     

    ADR Experience and Qualifications

     
    • A sought-after speaker and thought-leader, Judge Mott has presented to various bar associations, courts, law schools, organizations, and firms, about mediation and ADR.
       
    • As a neutral evaluator, Judge Mott provides a clear and balanced perspective—informed by 30 years of trial experience—regarding presentation of matters to judge, jury, or arbitrators including assessing the strengths and weaknesses of cases, witnesses, arguments and litigation strategy and consideration of likely outcomes.
       
    • Judge Mott served for almost 15 years as an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University School of Law School, and since 2011 at Harvard Law School, teaching courses on the American Jury and Trial Advocacy, respectively. 

    Representative Matters

    • Employment Law
        • Mediated discrimination cases involving national and local corporations, organizations, and other employers involving allegations of wrongful termination, retaliatory discharge, sexual harassment, hostile work environment and discrimination based on age, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, family status, and other categories
    • Business/Commercial
        • Mediated a variety of disputes involving construction, real estate and technology contracts; insurance; contract interpretation; fraud; partnership; noncompete agreements; construction defects; property damage; condominium associations; attorneys’ fees; and others

        Religious Institutions
         

        • Mediated cases involving religious institutions and allegations of fraud, mismanagement, violation of bylaws and composition of boards 
    • Construction
        • Mediated cases involving issues relating to construction defects, workmanship, change orders, disputes between general contractor and subcontractors, the “Little Miller Act” and overpayment
    • Professional Liability

      • Legal Malpractice
         

        • Mediated cases against small, medium, and large law firms involving allegations of malpractice in a variety of fields and issues, including conflicts of interest, litigation advice, settlement advice, and trial decisions

        Medical Malpractice
         

        • Mediated medical malpractice claims against health care providers and institutions of various types; mediated multiple personal injury and wrongful death cases involving a variety of medical specialties; regularly addressed issues relating to informed consent and the national standards of care and requests for monetary and nonmonetary relief
    • Personal Injury
        • Mediated matters dealing with automobile collisions, Amtrak, WMATA, products liability, construction site accidents, allegations of wrongful death, negligent infliction of emotional distress, lost wages and medical expenses
    • Higher Education
        • Mediated a range of university disputes including those involving denial of tenure and allegations of various forms of discrimination and retaliation
    • International
        • Mediated international disputes involving multinational corporations and foreign companies
    • Probate
        • Mediated matters involving disputes between family members and others over property, holdover tenancy, quiet title and partition, among other issues
    • Family Law
        • Mediated and presided over complex, contentious, and emotional family matters involving issues of child custody and property distribution, assessment of marital versus non-marital property, valuation, contribution, visitation and other parenting issues, spousal and child support

    Honors, Memberships, Professional Activities, and Presentations

    • Member, New York, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia Bar Associations
       
    • American Bar Association
       
    • National Association of Women Judges
       
    • Hispanic Bar Association
       
    • Former Steering Committee Co-Chair, Courts Lawyers and the Administration of Justice Section, D.C. Bar Association
       
    • Former Member, Charlotte E. Ray American Inn of Court 
       
    • Completed training, Virtual ADR training, and ethics and security training conducted by JAMS and the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS
       
    • Adjunct Professor, George Washington University School of Law School, The American Jury, 2001-2018
       
    • Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy, Harvard Law School, 2011-2025
       
    • Speaker and Lecturer on mediation best practices, neutral case evaluation, and various aspects of ADR at multiple sessions for the DC Superior Court, the DC Bar, various bar associations, and multiple law firms, 2016-2025

    Background and Education

    • Associate Judge, District of Columbia Superior Court, 2000-2018; Senior Judge, 2018-2021
       
    • Acting Chief, Deputy Chief and Senior Trial Attorney, Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, U.S. Department of Justice, 1995-2000
       
    • Public Defender Service, 1988-1995
       
    • J.D., Northeastern University School of Law, 1988
       
    • B.A., History, Dartmouth College, 1981
    Counsel Comments
    • "If I could choose one person to help settle a difficult case, it would be Judge Mott. His fairness, patience, compassion and understanding of the legal process and outcomes make him an excellent mediator."
      - D.C. Litigator
    • “I am writing to express my deepest appreciation for the exceptional work you did as a mediator in our recent case. Your dedication, professionalism, and skill were instrumental in bringing the parties together and achieving a successful settlement. I was particularly impressed with your masterful use of “shuttle diplomacy” between the two sides of the dispute. With each iteration, it was clear that your efforts were perceptibly bringing the parties closer together. Your ability to navigate the complexities of the situation and foster an environment of open communication was truly remarkable. Once again, thank you for your exceptional mediation services. It has been a privilege to benefit from your wisdom and experience, and I hope to have the opportunity to work with you again in the future.” 
      - New York Litigator
    • "Judge Mott was the best mediator I ever had. He evaluated the issues, helped both sides see the weaknesses in their cases, and did not just press both sides to move to the middle or just go back and forth relaying offers. I thought he was terrific."
      - Virginia Litigator
    • “Judge Mott is a superb mediator.  He quickly evaluates both sides of a case and through a series of discussions with both sides, is able to develop a working theory of where the case could settle.  Unlike other judges who have to use their authority over the parties to force a settlement, Judge Mott is able to evaluate from a neutral vantage point how a case is likely to play out in a trial, and from that vantage point, speak to both sides about the strengths and weaknesses of their cases.  He is also able to take into account intangible factors that may influence a party or a party’s counsel.   Judge Mott is known throughout the DC Courthouse as one of the best mediators, if not the best.  I would recommend him to plaintiffs’ and defense lawyers alike.”
      - Washington Partner
    • “I have been involved in several contentious settlements overseen by Judge Mott.  He was incredibly skilled at keeping the parties focused on reaching an appropriate outcome, and was adept at communicating to clients the likely outcomes (and potential downsides) of continuing with litigation.”  
      - D.C. Plaintiff's Attorney
    • "Judge Mott is a fabulous mediator. I have been involved in unsettle-able cases that he was able to resolve."
      - Defendant's Counsel
    • Virtual Mediation Feedback: "Judge Mott is an excellent virtual mediator and I highly recommend him.  He mediated a settlement conference in a survival and wrongful death case in which I served as plaintiff’s counsel.  The case involved multiple defendants and claims arising under federal and District of Columbia statutes and common-law.  Before the mediation, Judge Mott quickly grasped the facts of the case, the law governing the claims and the position of the parties regarding the merit of the claims and the case’s settlement value.  During the mediation, Judge Mott firmly guided the parties toward settlement.  It was not easy -- at the outset all parties were deeply entrenched in their positions. Nevertheless, after twelve hours of tireless work Judge Mott got the case settled."
      - Washington Metropolitan Area Litigator
    • “I can offer my highest recommendation for Judge John Mott who recently served as a mediator in a complex legal matter for our organization. Judge Mott demonstrated an impressive ability to understand the intricacies of the dispute and the underlying issues that needed to be addressed. Throughout the mediation process, Judge Mott showed the ability to ask insightful questions and provide thoughtful guidance that helped clarify key issues and steer discussions towards productive outcomes. 

    • Above all, his calm and composed demeanor created an environment where all participants felt heard and respected. This was instrumental in easing tensions and fostering a collaborative atmosphere conducive to finding mutually acceptable solutions. In the end, our matter was resolved saving us quite a bit in legal fees.”

      - CEO of a Consulting Firm
    • "Judge Mott has the intellect, patience, and perseverance necessary to assist the parties in resolving complex civil cases.  He was one of the most effective judges on the court in terms of working to resolve cases.  He is a fantastic addition to the JAMS stable of excellent neutrals."
      - D.C. Trial Attorney
    • “I handled a difficult and hard-fought case before Judge Mott last year that settled at the pretrial conference as the result of some tenacious and creative work on his part to bridge what had seemed an insurmountable gap between the parties.  On the basis of his performance there, I have no doubt he will be a first-rate mediator for JAMS.”
      - D.C. Partner
    • “I have had the pleasure of appearing before Judge Mott for many years, with him acting as a Judge but also as a mediator.  Numerous times, other Judges referred difficult cases to Judge Mott due to his skills in settling cases and he was able to resolve those cases.  In one case, Judge Mott while sitting as a Judge worked with counsel during the weekend on his own time still attempting to settle the case.  While the case did not settle that weekend when the parties got to Court that Monday the case settled “on the Courthouse steps” due to Judge Mott’s perseverance.  I would recommend Judge Mott to anyone who needs a skilled mediator to assist in resolving their case.”
      - Washington Metropolitan Area Litigator
    • "Judge John Mott was the best mediator I have worked with.  He reads what is given to him and he listens to the parties very carefully."
    • "Judge Mott has no prejudice or bias regarding women or minorities and is deeply respectful of the parties."
    • He grasped the issues quickly and was able to achieve a settlement of a 7-year-old case when no one else could.”
      - Washington D.C. Counsel
    • "I practiced before Judge Mott many times.  He was always prepared and had both a keen judicial temperament and a firm grasp of the legal issues at hand.  I won and lost cases in which Judge Mott was on the bench, but I always knew I would get a fair outcome.  I also know that Judge Mott excels as a mediator, as I have seen him act in that capacity on multiple occasions.  He successfully had parties examine their cases introspectively, which is not easy.  My clients reached amicable settlements in multiple cases that were adversarial to that point and I do not believe those results would have been achieved without Judge Mott's role in mediation."
      - D.C. Litigator
    • "Judge Mott is the most capable mediator I have ever seen. His patience, diligence, and empathy towards all parties he works with allow him to achieve settlements/resolutions in the most challenging and adversarial situations. If I needed contentious or complex matter resolved, Judge Mott would be my first choice."
      - Washington Metropolitan Area Litigator
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