Hon. Michael A. Latin (Ret.)
Mediator | Arbitrator | Judicial & Discovery Referee
“I retired from the bench over ten years ago to devote all my efforts and experience to help people resolve their differences. I am passionate about my role. I can’t imagine a more rewarding job than helping people enmeshed in conflict find closure and peace.”
Case Administrator
Practice Areas
- Business and Commercial Contracts
- Catastrophic Injury
- Class Action
- Elder Abuse
- Eminent Domain
- Employment
- Entertainment
- Fee Dispute
- Habitability
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- Landlord/Tenant
- Legal Malpractice
- Mass Tort
- Medical Malpractice
- Personal Injury
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Real Estate
- UIM
- Wage & Hour
- Wrongful Death
Education
- Advanced Mediation Training, Pepperdine University School of Law
- J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
- B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
Biography
As a mediator, Judge Latin settles most of his cases through a combination of deep knowledge of the law, his extensive experience, and his approachable and warm personality. During his eight years on the bench, Judge Latin successfully facilitated more than 500 settlements in addition to presiding over jury and bench trials. He also supervised seven unlimited jurisdiction courts.
Since retiring from the Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Latin has established himself as one of the most sought-after neutrals in Southern California.
Judge Latin began his career at one of the nation’s largest employment firms, specializing in wrongful termination, wage and hour, and discrimination claims in state and federal courts. He then served as a trial attorney in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for 16 years, where he was assigned to the elite Major Crimes Division, overseeing the D.A.’s most complex and high-profile cases. He prosecuted more than 150 felony jury trials, including Sara Jane Olson, real estate magnate Bruce Koklich, Judge Albert Garcia, and music producer Phil Spector.
In 2003, Judge Latin joined the bench as a Superior Court Judge in Los Angeles. In 2008, he was named the Supervising Site Judge for the Van Nuys Superior Civil Courthouse. He was also named to the Los Angeles Superior Court ADR Committee in 2009. In 2010, he was nominated for Trial Judge of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, a distinction bestowed on Judge Latin for his continued excellence in overseeing and resolving cases in a fair and impartial manner.
Experience
- Neutral, ADR Services, Inc. (2011–2017)
- Judge, The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (2003–2011)
- Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office (1987–2003)
- Associate, Littler Mendelson (1986–1987)
Professional Achievements and Memberships
- California’s Top Neutrals, Daily Journal (2012–2015)
- Judge of the Year, Constitutional Rights Foundation (2012)
- Nominee, Consumer Attorneys’ Association of Los Angeles (2012)
- Civil Trial Judge of the Year
- Lawyer of the Year, California Lawyer (2003)
- Southern California Super Lawyer, Los Angeles Magazine (2003)
- Special Commendation for the Advancement of Victims’ Rights, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (2003)
- Prosecutor of the Year, Century City Bar Association (2002)