Hon. Dalila C. Lyons (Ret.)

After serving 18 years on the bench in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Hon. Dalila Corral Lyons (Ret.) is bringing her exceptional skillset to Signature Resolution. During her last three years on the bench, Judge Lyons was a highly regarded full-time settlement judge conducting mandatory settlement conferences, where she has proven success in resolving complex and challenging disputes. ​

Known for her persistence, innovative skills, empathy, and preparedness, Judge Lyons has a demonstrated ability to connect with litigants. She establishes trust by creating an environment that encourages open communication, enabling her to understand each party’s perspective and identify issues that impact settlement positions. Judge Lyons’ diverse experience as an attorney and as a judge gives her the unique ability to evaluate and flesh out the cases’ strengths and weaknesses in order to reach a resolution. Her aptitude in this space has inspired a true passion for mediation, leading her to continue her career in dispute resolution in the private sector. ​

Judge Lyons is a highly respected judicial leader, having been appointed to prestigious positions that enhance her mediator skills. She was appointed by the California Supreme Court Chief Justice as a voting member of the California Judicial Council, the policy making board for the judicial branch. The Chief Justice also appointed her as vice-chair of the Judicial Council’s Rules Committee, and member of the Judicial Council’s Executive and Litigation Committees. Furthermore, she was appointed by the court’s Presiding Judge as Site Judge of the Spring Street Courthouse, Assistant Supervising Judge of the Civil Division, and member of the Community Outreach Committee, Technology Committee, Chair of the New Judges Orientation, and Governing Board of the Judicial Education Seminars. ​

Judge Lyons has taught various classes to judicial officers and attorneys, including effective settlement techniques. As an attorney, she taught employment discrimination, motion picture finance, liability risk prevention and public safety legal issues. Additionally, Judge Lyons has been honored with numerous awards, including the Judicial Excellence Award by the Mexican American Bar Association. Prior to serving as a judge, she was the chief legal advisor for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a senior deputy county counsel for the Office of the Los Angeles County Counsel, and a litigation associate at both Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman and Pettit & Martin. ​

In these varied positions, Judge Lyons’ experience has spanned a wide range of practice areas including business disputes, employment, entertainment, civil rights, construction, government torts, and real estate, among others:

Eminent Domain/Inverse Condemnation
During her tenure with the Court, Judge Lyons adjudicated eminent domain and inverse condemnation cases dealing with a variety of public agencies and an array of public projects and infrastructure developments. These cases included a wide range of issues, such as determination of a “larger parcel”, property valuations, possession, standing to maintain an action for inverse condemnation, statute of limitations, etc.  As an MSC settlement judge and a private mediator she settled eminent domain cases, involving partial and full takings in a wide variety of contexts with diverse and unique issues.

Sample inverse condemnation cases:

• Construction of the Sepulveda Pass on the 405 freeway.
• Denial of development permits.

Sample eminent domain cases:

• Subsurface subway tunnel easements for extensions of the various subway lines.
• Construction project on Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1) in Pacific Palisades

Business Disputes ​
Judge Lyons has experience with a breadth of business disputes stemming from her time as a business litigator. She recently oversaw settlements involving high-profile breaches of contract, trade secret appropriation, and unfair competition. ​

Employment ​
Judge Lyons has extensive experience as a judge and an attorney in employment discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, and employment harassment litigation. In addition, as an independent calendar judge at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, she presided over employment trials, motions, and settlements. Judge Lyons has also adjudicated and settled employment class actions, including employee misclassification, wage and hour, and PAGA claims. ​

Entertainment ​
Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Lyons worked in entertainment litigation with Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman. She handled cases regarding net profits, licensing, intellectual property, royalties, breach of fiduciary, errors and omissions insurance on television and motion pictures, and music. She recently settled a high-profile royalties dispute between a producer and artist. ​

Personal Injury ​
Judge Lyons experience in personal injury cases include wrongful death, product liability, medical malpractice, and negligence. Months prior to her leaving the bench, she settled a case involving a gas pipe explosion causing personal and property damage. ​

Real Estate, Construction, Landlord/Tenant ​
Judge Lyons has handled disputes involving title to real property, landlord/tenant, property boundaries, easements, construction defect, habitability, commercial leases, inverse condemnation, and eminent domain. ​

Defamation ​
Judge Lyons has adjudicated and settled numerous cases alleging defamation, invasion of privacy, and false light involving media companies, influencers, and radio and TV personalities. ​

Healthcare and Residential Care Providers ​
Judge Lyons has adjudicated and settled healthcare industry, residential care and rehabilitation provider disputes involving reimbursement of claims, negligence, fraud, and wrongful death. ​

Sexual Assault ​
Judge Lyons has adjudicated and settled cases involving high-profile sexual abuse and assault of students. ​

Partnership Disputes, Corporate Governance ​
Judge Lyons has adjudicated and settled disputes involving partnerships, joint ventures, and governance of entities such as corporations and religious organizations.