PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

A lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, law professor/trainer and author. Partner and co-founder of Associates in Dispute Resolution LLC, 1999-present; Adjunct Professor, ADR, Washburn University School of Law, Spring Semesters 2007-2010; Special General Counsel/Legislative Liaison, Midland Group, 1990-03; General Counsel/Litigation Director, Kansas Legal Services, Inc., 1973-01; Litigation Director, Farmer Assistance Counseling and Training Service (FACTS), 1984-01; Director/Mediation Coordinator, Midland Mediation & Settlement Services, 1995-01; Officer, United States Air Force, 1966-70.

EXPERIENCE

Has mediated hundreds of federal, state, and administrative agency matters. These matters include civil rights, commercial law, consumer fraud, consumer protection violations, constitutional law, construction law, corporate dissolution, domestic relations, employment law, environmental law, fair debt collection practices, fair housing, material and latent defects, malpractice, labor law, lemon law, personal injury, public policy residential construction, real estate, truth-in-lending, workers' compensation, Section 1981 and 1983, toxic tort, regular education/special education disputes, water law issues, zoning disputes, and design and development of internal dispute resolution systems. Has served as a mediator in over 2,225 employment discrimination matters; over 500 personal injury and/or malpractice matters; over 75 regular education/special education disputes; over 100 consumer law disputes; over 30 commercial construction disputes and over 700 family law disputes relating to parenting time and/or division of assets. Settlements have ranged from a few thousand dollars to several million dollars. Approved by the Kansas Supreme Court as a mediator and mediator trainer in all categories. Certified by the Kansas Department of Education as an approved special education mediator and due process hearing officer.

GENERAL LITIGATION EXPERIENCE

More than 27 years' civil litigation experience in state and federal courts. Primary areas of practice include civil rights, constitutional law, and general civil litigation. Has successfully litigated several class action civil rights matters in both state and federal court, including the establishment of due process rights for individuals facing mental health commitment, and conditions-of-confinement in state and local institutions. Has served as lead trial counsel in hundreds of federal and state trial proceedings and administrative law matters including: civil rights, contract law, consumer fraud, consumer protection violations, corporate liability issues, constitutional law, domestic relations, fair debt collection practices, fair housing, material and latent defects, lemon law, Native American law, residential contract and construction, real estate law, truth-in-lending, Section 1983, and special education disputes.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION TRAINING