Hon. Joyce K. Fahey (Ret.)
Mediator | Arbitrator | Judicial & Discovery Referee
“I strive to bring calm to parties who have experienced scorched earth tactics prior to mediation. This is particularly true in legal battles between former business partners and family members whose plans of achieving financial success have been thwarted by allegations of fraud and deceit. My goal is to help attorneys shine in front of their clients, while at the same time privately and candidly sharing my analysis of each party’s case. Regardless of the nature of the allegations, I always show respect for the parties so they have the emotional strength to stop fighting.”
Case Administrator
Practice Areas
- Business & Commercial Contracts
- Construction
- Construction Defect
- Employment
- Fee Dispute
- Fraud
- Legal Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice
- Personal Injury
- Property Disputes
- Real Estate
- Sexual Assault Claims
- Sexual Harassment
- Wrongful Death
Education
- J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law
- B.A., Northern Illinois University
Biography
Judge Fahey has served as a mediator, arbitrator, trustee and discovery referee for the past 19 years in a vast array of civil disputes. Judge Fahey’s 14 years as a senior trial attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and 7 years as a Judge on the Superior Court have given her an extraordinary ability to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of complex litigation, leading to settlements in the majority of her cases. Judge Fahey has received high praise for her ability to work with contentious litigants in emotionally charged cases. She is tenacious and perseveres until each case is resolved.
Real Estate
Judge Fahey served as a trustee, arbitrator, hearing examiner, mediator and discovery referee in all types of real estate matters including:
- Sale of residential and commercial property
- Disputes between neighbors, brokers and buyers, buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants
- View ordinances
- Harassment, boundaries
- Inheritance of property
- HOAs
- Construction defect
- Discrimination
- Purchase and sale agreements, disclosures
- Mold intrusion
- Inter-Family Business and Real Estate Disputes
- Neighbor Disputes
Employment
Judge Fahey has served as an arbitrator, mediator and discovery referee in employment matters such as:
- Wrongful termination
- Sexual harassment
- Independent contractor/employee issues
- Wage and hour class actions
- Harassment
- Discrimination
- Disability issues
- Injury in the workplace
- Retaliation
Business and Partnership Disputes
Judge Fahey has served as a mediator and discovery referee in litigation involving all aspects of business and partnership disputes, including:
- Joint ventures
- Dissolutions
- Trade secrets
- Breach of contract
- Fraud
- Unfair competition
- Oil and gas easements/franchise agreements
Wrongful Death, Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice
Judge Fahey has served as a mediator and arbitrator in disputes involving:
- Suicide or death at the hand of others in residential treatment facilities
- Sexual and physical abuse in residential treatment facilities
- Sexual Assaults in Prisons including cases at FCI Terminal Island and Lompot
- Neglect in residential treatment facilities and medical centers
- Negligence by medical professionals
- Legal Malpractice
- Invasion of privacy
Experience
- Mediator, Arbitrator, Discovery Referee, Trustee, Alternative Resolution Centers (ARC) (2006–2018)
- Executive Advisor, E&B Natural Resources (2013–2016)
- Board Member, Manhattan Beach School District (2008–2009)
- Mayor and City Council Member, City of Manhattan Beach (1999–2007)
- Judge, The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (1991–1997)
- Assistant United States Attorney (1977–1991)
CIVIC AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
- Executive Advisor to national oil and gas company
- Mayor of Manhattan Beach
- Trustee of Manhattan Beach School Board
- Los Angeles County Commissioner
- Senior Litigation Counsel for the Department of Justice
- Chief of Major Crimes for the U.S. Attorney’s Office