James McKanna, Esq.

T: 310.203.8200
F: 310.203.8211

With over thirty years of experience as a civil litigator and seasoned trial attorney, James McKanna now devotes the majority of his professional life to alternative dispute resolution which includes mediation, arbitration and early neutral evaluation. James McKanna is firmly committed to the non-threatening, mutual and amicable resolution of disputes by the parties inherent in the mediation process. James McKanna believes that mediation can and should be a win/win proposition for all involved to the extent the parties pro-actively control the outcome of their case. In order to attain that objective, James McKanna uses his legal skill to quickly evaluate matters while employing a facilitative approach designed to create a calm environment conducive to settlement and closure. James McKanna's honesty, congenial demeanor and interpersonal skills allows him to diffuse any animosity which may have developed during the course of the dispute. His primary goal in mediation is to cultivate the trust and confidence of the participants. If that happens, a settlement is more than likely to occur.

EDUCATION:

(l976) J.D., Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles
(l972) B.A., Political Science, Cum Laude, University of California, Los Angeles

LEGAL CAREER:

Harrington Foxx Dubrow & Canter, Orange, California
High-exposure litigation matters such as commercial trucking, products liability, commercial and residential premises liability, landlord tenant, mold infestation, construction defect, E. coli contamination, residential real property disputes, HOA, lemon law, subrogation, fraud, and Plaintiffs personal injury. Cases were venued in Los Angeles, Orange, Madera, Fresno, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County State Courts.

Law Offices of James Patrick Zurawski, Orange, California
Caseload in excess of 40 construction defect matters on behalf of subcontractors from preparation of pleadings, through discovery and mediation.

Borton Petrini & Conron, Bakersfield, California
Partner with statewide civil practice firm. High-exposure construction defect, personal injury, and wrongful death matters as well as cases pertaining to automobile and uninsured motorist; premises and product liability; medical and dental malpractice; toxic torts; Federal tort claims litigation; public entity work; attorney, architect, engineer and real estate broker malpractice; cargo and inland marine claims; wrongful termination; property damage matters; business litigation; first and third party insurance claims; fraud investigation; and collection disputes.

Somers Hall Verrastro & Kern, Torrance, California
Coordinated and developed on a nationwide basis strategies and case plans for Honda Motor Co., Inc in order to achieve uniform case handling of Honda's all terrain vehicle litigation. Managed litigation through inter-facing with local trial counsel. Provided input to Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding guidelines for all terrain vehicles

Early Maslach Leavey and Nutt, Los Angeles, California
House Counsel for Farmers Insurance Group, responsible for numerous litigated cases involving personal injury, property damage, premises liability, uninsured motorist and subrogation.

ADR EXPERIENCE:

First Resolution Services, Inc.
(2006-2008) Mediated approximately 175 matters and arbitrated approximately 65
Pro-Bono and Per-Pay ADR Panels of Los Angeles Superior Court
Riverside County Superior Court Arbitration Panel
Orange County Superior Court Mediation Panel
American Arbitration Association (commercial and construction defect panels)
San Bernardino Superior Court Arbitration Panel
Certificated arbitrator and mediator for State of California Contractors Licensing Board
Seminar speaker for Los Angeles Superior Court ADR panel
Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles list of approved mediators

ADR TRAINING:

Completed preliminary and advanced mediation skills training at Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California.
Ongoing ADR training through Los Angeles and Orange County Superior Courts, American Arbitration Association, State Contractors Licensing Board, and Orange County Bar Association.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Personal injury, wrongful death, construction defect, premises liability, professional liability, toxic torts, mold infestation, commercial/business disputes, breach of contract, real estate, subrogation, insurance, defamation, public entity matters and products liability.

MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS:

Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA)
ADR Section of the American Bar Association
Orange County Bar Association, ADR and litigation sections
UCLA Bench and Bar Association
Eagle Scout Award
UCLA Scholarship Committee

INTERESTS:

Reading, bicycling, camping, traveling, UCLA athletics

AVAILABLE:

Throughout Southern California

Download James McKanna's Profile (PDF)