Hon. Tricia A. Bigelow (Ret.)

Hon. Tricia Bigelow (Ret.) has led a distinguished career defined by a caring approach and a commitment to justice. From her tenure as a deputy attorney general, Municipal Court Judge and Superior Court Judge to her appointment as a Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, she’s gained a reputation throughout California for her ability to authentically connect with people. She serves as a neutral mediator, arbitrator, and appellate consultant to help parties resolve any type of legal dispute.

As a mediator, Justice Bigelow takes the time to get to know each party’s story and provides fair, empathetic decisions that help parties avoid a jury trial. After 35 years as an attorney and judge, Justice Bigelow is more than a legal expert—she’s a calming force who uses her people skills to resolve even the most hostile disputes. With remarkable proficiency, she effortlessly resolves an average case, showcasing her exceptional skills in mediation. Her talent truly shines when dealing with disputes involving challenging parties and intricate facts that have proven insurmountable for other mediators. Her thorough preparation and in-depth understanding of the law and underlying facts of each case set her apart as a highly capable and gifted mediator.

During her time on the bench, Justice Bigelow presided over complex cases involving high-profile companies and public figures. She has authored three books on California law and procedure and lectured extensively on judicial ethics and fairness, civil motions and trials, and other topics. Justice Bigelow chaired the Los Angeles Superior Court Civil Education Committee and served on the CACI jury instruction committee, which creates standardized jury instruction for the state’s judges. From 2006 to 2008, she was the Dean of the Bernard E. Witkin California Judicial College, where she oversaw the education of all new judges in the state of California.

Justice Bigelow serves on the Board of Advisors at Pepperdine University School of Law and has served on the Board of the Association of Business and Trial Lawyers, and the Commission on the Future of California’s Court System. She received the Bernard S. Jefferson Judicial Education Award from the California Judges Association and the Ronald M. George Award of Excellence (formerly the “Jurist of the Year Award”) from the California Judicial Council. She received the Alumnus of the Year Award from Pepperdine Law School in 2018.

Justice Bigelow has led a distinguished career defined by a caring approach and a commitment to justice. From her tenure as a deputy attorney general, Municipal Court Judge and Superior Court Judge to her appointment as a Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, she’s gained a reputation throughout California for her ability to authentically connect with people. During her tenure on the Court of Appeal she authored approximately 1,300 cases and was on the panel for approximately 4,000 cases.

Several of Judge Bigelow’s published and unpublished Court of Appeal decision cases be viewed below, displaying her experience across a few different practice areas.

BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL

Aghaian v. Minassian II (5/24/2021 64 Cal.App.5th 603)

Holistic Supplements, LLC v. Stark (3/2/2021 61 Cal.App.5th 530)

Dalessandro v. Mitchell (12/17/2019 43 Cal.App.5th 1088)

United Farmers Agents Assn., Inc. v. Farmers Group, Inc. (2/22/2019 32 Cal.App.5th 478)

SingerLewak LLP v. Gantman (7/29/2015 241 Cal.App.4th 610)

MacQuiddy v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (1/2/2015 233 Cal.App.5th 1036)

Oak Springs Villas Homeowners Assn. v. Advanced Truss Systems, Inc. (6/14/2012 206 Cal.App.4th 1304)

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. v. Superior Court (9/29/2011 199 Cal.App.4th 1367)

Cowan v. Krayzman (6/20/2011 196 Cal.App.4th 907)

Cohen v. DIRECTV, Inc. (9/28/2009 178 Cal.App.4th 966)

 

CIVIL RIGHTS

Boermeester v. Carry (5/28/2020 263 Cal.Rptr.3d 261)

Saheli v. White Memorial Medical Center (3/14/2018 21 Cal.App.5th 308)

Hall v. Goodwill Industries of Southern California (3/16/2011 193 Cal.App.4th 718)

 

CLASS ACTION

Edwards v. Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (11/30/2018 29 Cal.App.5th 725)

Schoshinski v. City of Los Angeles (3/14/2017 9 Cal.App.5th 780)

Alexander v. Farmers Ins. Co., Inc. (9/23/2013 219 Cal.App.4th 1183)

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. v. Superior Court (9/29/2011 199 Cal.App.4th 1367)

Futrell v. Payday California, Inc. (12/16/2010 190 Cal.App.4th 1419)

Cohen v. DIRECTV, Inc. (9/28/2009 178 Cal.App.4th 966)

 

EMPLOYMENT           

Foroudi v. Aerospace Corporation (11/24/2020 57 Cal.App.5th 992)

Saheli v. White Memorial Medical Center (3/14/2018 21 Cal.App.5th 308)

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (10/14/2016 4 Cal.App.5th 194)

Saffer v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (4/29/2014 225 Cal.App.4th 1239)

Esparza v. County of Los Angeles (2/6/2014 224 Cal.App.4th 452)

Hall v. Goodwill Industries of Southern California (3/16/2011 193 Cal.App.4th 718 )

Neily v. Manhattan Beach Unified School Dist. (1/27/2011 192 Cal.App.4th 187)

 

INSURANCE COVERAGE        

United Farmers Agents Assn., Inc. v. Farmers Group, Inc. (2/22/2019 32 Cal.App.5th 478)

Alexander v. Farmers Ins. Co., Inc. (9/23/2013 219 Cal.App.4th 1183)

Hodjat v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. (10/19/2012 211 Cal.App.4th 1)

Baker v. National Insterstate Ins., Co. (12/30/2009 180 Cal.App.4th 1319)

Washington Mutual Bank v. Jacoby (11/24/2009 180 Cal.App.4th 639)

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY     

Coast Hematology-Oncology Associates Medical Group, Inc. v. Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (12/15/2020 58 Cal.App.5th 748)

Brighton Collectibles, LLC v. AIF Corporation (3/18/2020 2020 WL 1283149)

Shame On You Productions, Inc. v. Lakeshore Entertainment Group (10/1/2018 2018 WL 4690884)

Ryder v. Lightstorm (3/25/2016 246 Cal.App.4th 1064)

Amay’s Bakery & Noodle Co., Inc. v. Hom (5/29/2015 2015 WL 3452427)

Young Lee v. Seung Tchul Ahn (12/30/2009 2009 WL 5127793)

 

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY/MALPRACTICE

Grafilo v. Cohanshohet (1/22/2019 32 Cal.App.5th 428)

Nemecek & Cole v. Horn (7/23/2012 208 Cal.App.4th 641)

Vafi v. McCloskey (3/22/2011 193 Cal.App.4th 874)

Gerbosi v. Gaims, Weil, West & Epstein, LLP (3/9/2011 193 Cal.App.4th 435)

Porter v. Wyner (4/8/2010 107 Cal.Rptr.3d 653)

 

REAL ESTATE

Aghaian v. Minassian II (5/24/2021 64 Cal.App.5th 603)

Starview Property, LLC v. Lee (10/17/2019 41 Cal.App.5th 203)

de la Carriere v. Greene (8/28/2019 39 Cal.App.5th 270)

Aghaian v. Minassian I (2/17/2015 234 Cal.App.4th 427)

West Washington Properties, LLC v. Department of Transportation (10/10/2012 210 Cal.App.4th 1136)

Nemecek & Cole v. Horn (7/23/2012 208 Cal.App.4th 641)

Oak Springs Villas Homeowners Assn. v. Advanced Truss Systems, Inc. (6/14/2012 206 Cal.App.4th 1304)

Ginsberg v. Gamson (4/30/2012 205 Cal.App.4th 873)

Santa Monica Properties v. Santa Monica Rent Control Bd. (2/16/2012 203 Cal.App.4th 739)

Western States Petroleum Assn. v. Board of Equalization (1/19/2012 137 Cal.Rptr.3d 272)

Rogel v. Lynwood Redevelopment Agency (5/2/2011 194 Cal.App.4th 1319)

Sakhai v. Zipora (12/21/2009 180 Cal.App.4th 593)

Washington Mutual Bank v. Jacoby (11/24/2009 180 Cal.App.4th 639)

Alberstone v. California Coastal Com. (12/29/2008 169 Cal.App.4th 859)

 

TORT

Pasternack v. McCullough (6/7/2021 65 Cal.App.5th 1050)

Safechuck v. MJJ Productions (1/3/2020 43 Cal.App.5th 1094)

Dickinson v. Cosby (7/26/2019 37 Cal.App.5th 1138)

Doe v. Los Angeles County Dept. of Children & Family Services (6/20/2019 37 Cal.App.5th 675)

Stokes v. Muschinske (3/14/2019 34 Cal.App.5th 45)

Velasquez v. Centrome, Inc. (1/30/2015 233 Cal.App.4th 1191)

Ginsberg v. Gamson (4/30/2012 205 Cal.App.4th 873)

Lefebvre v. Lefebvre (9/28/2011 199 Cal.App.4th 696)

Vafi v. McCloskey (3/22/2011 193 Cal.App.4th 874)

Gerbosi v. Gaims, Weil, West & Epstein, LLP (3/9/2011 193 Cal.App.4th 435)

Weinberger v. Morris (9/24/2010 188 Cal.App.4th 1016)

Baker v. National Insterstate Ins., Co. (12/30/2009 180 Cal.App.4th 1319)

Sakhai v. Zipora (12/21/2009 180 Cal.App.4th 593)

Doe II v. MySpace Inc. (6/30/2009 175 Cal.App.4th 561)

A.N. v. County of Los Angeles (3/5/2009 171 Cal.App.4th 1058)

 

WAGE & HOUR   

Edwards v. Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (11/30/2018 29 Cal.App.5th 725)

United Parcel Service Wage & Hour Cases (6/2/2011 196 Cal.App.4th 57)

Futrell v. Payday California, Inc. (12/16/2010 190 Cal.App.4th 1419