DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided by the mediator and has not been independently verified by the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. The Court provides this list of mediators as a public service. The Court does not endorse, recommend, or make any warranty pertaining to the qualifications or competency of any provider on this list. Inclusion on the list is based on the representations of the mediator. The Court assumes no responsibility of liability for any act or omission of any mediator on the list.
Soon after completing her initial mediation training in 2000, Suzanne began providing private mediation services as part of her law practice. She currently serves on the respective mediation panels of the United States District Court, Central District (since 2003), the Riverside County Superior Court (since 2010), and the Orange County Bar Association fee arbitration program (since 2001). She previously served on the mediation panels of the California Court of Appeal (Second Appellate District), the Orange County Superior Court, and the Orange County Superior Court’s small claims court mediation program attaining the designation of “senior mediator.” A former arbitrator for FINRA, she regularly served as panel chair and as sole arbitrator for over 17 years. Suzanne presently serves as an arbitrator in attorney-client fee disputes for the respective fee arbitration programs of the Orange County Bar Association (since 1993), and of the State Bar of California (since 1998). She conducted mandatory settlement conferences for over ten years as a temporary judge for the Orange County Superior Court.
Plantiff Representation: 0%
Defendant Representation: 0%
As a full-time mediator, Suzanne offers mediation services for disputes involving contract, business, and commercial issues of various types and all sizes. She has over 30 years of civil practice experience in litigation (state/federal) and transactional work gained in the prior private practice of law while a principal member of Chamberlain and Viau, a professional law corporation. In the course of her legal career, she negotiated and litigated all types of contracts, leases, and interests concerning business, real estate, and employment. She regularly represented both Plaintiffs and Defendants, and her clients included entities engaged in a variety of industries and businesses, as well as individuals. She served as a temporary judge for the Orange County Superior Court from 2001 to 2018, sitting small claims court and conducting mandatory settlement conferences.
J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles B.A., University of California, Irvine
Advanced Mediation Training: Closing Techniques; Mediator Ethics (3.0 hours, 2022) United States District Court, ADR Program; Advanced Mediation Training: Communication Techniques; Insurance Review (3.25 hours, 2022) United States District Court, ADR Program; Knowledge is Power: Know Thyself, the Law, and Others (6.25 hours, 2022) Association of Attorney-Mediators; Mediators on the Front Line: Tools to Disrupt Disruption (6.25 hours, 2021) Association of Attorney-Mediators; Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training: Best Practices and Ways to Address Difficult Situations in Mediation (6.25 hours, 2021) Association of Attorney-Mediators; 2020 Annual Advanced Mediation Training (6 hours, 2020) United States District Court, ADR Program; Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training: Remote But Together (5.5 hours, 2020) Association of Attorney-Mediators; Implicit Bias Training (1.5 hours, 2020) United States District Court, ADR Program; Advanced Mediation Training: Impasse, Settlement, and Culture Issues (6 hours, 2019) United States District Court, ADR Program; Current Practices and Techniques for the STAR Approach to Mediation (5.5 hours, 2017) RCBA Dispute Resolution Service; Settlement Building; Ethics of Influence; Peace in the Mediation Room (6 hours, 2017) United States District Court, ADR Program; Mediating the Settlement of Monetary Disputes (6 hours, 2016) United States District Court, ADR Program; Analyzing Interests to Facilitate Settlement (2.25 hours, 2013) United States District Court, ADR Program; Advanced Mediation Training (6 hours, May 2013) United States District Court, ADR Program; Impasse (13 hours, 2011) RCBA Dispute Resolution Service; Mediating the Litigated Case (42 hours, 2011) Straus Institute, Pepperdine University School of Law; Complex Commercial Cases (13 hours, 2010) Straus Institute, Pepperdine University School of Law; Advanced Mediation: Skills (13 hours, 2009) Straus Institute, Pepperdine University School of Law; Multiple Party/Culture Issues (13 hours, 2008) Straus Institute, Pepperdine University School of Law; Advanced Mediation: Trends/Concepts (13 hours, 2007) Straus Institute, Pepperdine University School of Law; Advanced Mediation: Decision Dynamics (13 hours, 2006) Straus Institute, Pepperdine University School of Law; Basic Mediation Training (fulfilling California DRPA requirements) (27.5 hours, 2000) University of California, Irvine, Extension.
License to Practice Law - State Bar of California; Broker’s License – California Department of Real Estate
It is important that participants understand and are comfortable with the mediation process, and Suzanne works with the participants to determine what they expect of the mediator in connection with the mediation of their case. Accordingly, the process and her mediation style are adaptable depending on such things as the desires of the parties or the particulars of the dispute. Often times, evaluative and facilitative mediation styles may be used in varying combinations and at different times in the course of a mediation in order to facilitate communication and keep the parties talking, engaged, and moving forward.
For mediation to be successful, preparation on the part of the mediator and by the parties is essential. As part of this preparation, Suzanne often makes use of pre-mediation phone calls to counsel or party, as the case may be, and active participation is encouraged. Further, it is strongly recommended that a statement of the case be provided, whether in the form of a brief, letter, or informal memo. This statement should set forth (a) a description of the dispute; (b) the facts which support a party’s position as to disputed issues, together with relevant legal authority; (c) the status of discovery; and (d) the history of any settlement discussions which should include the last offer/demand and the basis for such. It is preferred that the statement not exceed 15 pages in length and be emailed to Suzanne at least 7 days prior to the mediation.
Rate Per Hour: $$400
Rate Per Half Day: $$1600/4 hours
Rate Per Day: $$3200/8 hours
$400 per hour. Please note, for mediations which are not in the court’s program, advance fees, charges for travel, and minimums may apply. Value Mediation Participant.
Western Region (Riverside, Corona); at the Orange County facilities of the mediator or counsel; at the Riverside County facilities of counsel; or at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. Mediations are also available by phone or by Zoom. Please call to discuss these options. This arbitrator/mediator offers their services remotely (over phone/video conferencing technology).
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided by the mediator and has not been independently verified by the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. The Court provides this list of mediators as a public service. The Court does not endorse, recommend, or make any warranty pertaining to the qualifications or competency of any provider on this list. Inclusion on the list is based on the representations of the mediator. The Court assumes no responsibility of liability for any act or omission of any mediator on the list.