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OUR NEUTRALS

Hon. Herbert B. Hoffman, Ret.
Since October of 1998, Retired Superior Court Judge, Herbert B. Hoffman has utilized his experience as a judge and trial lawyer to build a very successful private dispute resolution practice serving as a mediator, arbitrator and private judge in a wide range of matters. Judge Hoffman has successfully mediated to resolution well over one hundred cases each year since his retirement. He has also handled many arbitrations in real estate, personal injury, professional liability, employment, medical malpractice, insurance coverage and bad faith plus business/commercial disputes including an international multi-million dollar case involving disputed royalties, before the International Court of Commerce in Paris. Judge Hoffman has also served as special master or discovery referee in numerous civil matters including the ‘coordinated latex glove litigation’ involving 50 separate cases pending in the San Diego Superior Court. He is well-known as a no-nonsense straight shooter and strong agent of reality. One prominent San Diego trial lawyer noted, “If the most important thing is truly to get your case settled, he’s the go-to guy in this town.” Many of our clients concur.
LEGAL CAREER & PRIOR EXPERIENCE
  • Full-Time Mediation, Arbitration and Private Judging Practice (1998-Present)
  • Judge, San Diego Superior Court (1985-98)
  • Senior Litigation Attorney, San Diego US Attorney’s Office (1980-85)
  • Adjunct Professor, University of San Diego Masters of Law Program (1979-86)
  • Litigating Attorney, Sachs, Greenbaum & Taylor in Washington D.C. (1973-74)
  • Assistant US Attorney, Washington D.C. (1969-73)
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • J.D., DePaul University School of Law (1967)
  • B.A., University of Iowa, Business Administration (1964)
  • Past President, San Diego County Judges Association (1994-95)
  • Member, California State Federal Judicial Council (1988-96)
  • Board Member Emeritis, American Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego Chapter
  • Master, William B. Enright American Inn of Court
  • Master, Clifford Wallace American Inn of Court
ADR EXPERIENCE & SPECIALTIES
  • Real Estate
  • Business/Commercial
  • Employment including Sexual Harassment
  • Professional Liability
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith and all types of Personal Injury matters
ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS
  • While on special assignment with the Fourth District Court of Appeal in 1995, Judge Hoffman developed an innovative settlement program for pending appellate cases.
  • Additionally, he has lectured on trial techniques at the Attorney General Trial Advocacy School, University of San Diego-School of Law, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the National College of District Attorneys.
  • He has also lectured on settlement techniques at various California Judicial education programs and other organizations in the legal community.
  • Judge Hoffman was selected by the Daily Journal as one of California’s Top Neutral’s in 2009.
  • He has been the recipient of numerous awards including the highly coveted, John Marshall Litigation Award (1983) and other awards from the United States Department of Justice for his outstanding service as a trial attorney.
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
  • In his spare time, Judge Hoffman enjoys golfing, thoroughbred racing and dancing.
LOCATIONS
  • Los Angeles County
  • Ventura / SB Counties
  • San Diego County
  • Inland Empire
  • Orange County
  • Northern California
RECENT ARTICLES


Hon. Herbert B. Hoffman, Ret.
Since October of 1998, Retired Superior Court Judge, Herbert B. Hoffman has utilized his experience as a judge and trial lawyer to build a very successful private dispute resolution practice serving as a mediator, arbitrator and private judge in a wide range of matters. Judge Hoffman has successfully mediated to resolution well over one hundred cases each year since his retirement. He has also handled many arbitrations in real estate, personal injury, professional liability, employment, medical malpractice, insurance coverage and bad faith plus business/commercial disputes including an international multi-million dollar case involving disputed royalties, before the International Court of Commerce in Paris. Judge Hoffman has also served as special master or discovery referee in numerous civil matters including the ‘coordinated latex glove litigation’ involving 50 separate cases pending in the San Diego Superior Court. He is well-known as a no-nonsense straight shooter and strong agent of reality. One prominent San Diego trial lawyer noted, “If the most important thing is truly to get your case settled, he’s the go-to guy in this town.” Many of our clients concur.
LEGAL CAREER & PRIOR EXPERIENCE
  • Full-Time Mediation, Arbitration and Private Judging Practice (1998-Present)
  • Judge, San Diego Superior Court (1985-98)
  • Senior Litigation Attorney, San Diego US Attorney’s Office (1980-85)
  • Adjunct Professor, University of San Diego Masters of Law Program (1979-86)
  • Litigating Attorney, Sachs, Greenbaum & Taylor in Washington D.C. (1973-74)
  • Assistant US Attorney, Washington D.C. (1969-73)
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • J.D., DePaul University School of Law (1967)
  • B.A., University of Iowa, Business Administration (1964)
  • Past President, San Diego County Judges Association (1994-95)
  • Member, California State Federal Judicial Council (1988-96)
  • Board Member Emeritis, American Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego Chapter
  • Master, William B. Enright American Inn of Court
  • Master, Clifford Wallace American Inn of Court
ADR EXPERIENCE & SPECIALTIES
  • Real Estate
  • Business/Commercial
  • Employment including Sexual Harassment
  • Professional Liability
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith and all types of Personal Injury matters
ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS
  • While on special assignment with the Fourth District Court of Appeal in 1995, Judge Hoffman developed an innovative settlement program for pending appellate cases.
  • Additionally, he has lectured on trial techniques at the Attorney General Trial Advocacy School, University of San Diego-School of Law, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the National College of District Attorneys.
  • He has also lectured on settlement techniques at various California Judicial education programs and other organizations in the legal community.
  • Judge Hoffman was selected by the Daily Journal as one of California’s Top Neutral’s in 2009.
  • He has been the recipient of numerous awards including the highly coveted, John Marshall Litigation Award (1983) and other awards from the United States Department of Justice for his outstanding service as a trial attorney.
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
  • In his spare time, Judge Hoffman enjoys golfing, thoroughbred racing and dancing.
LOCATIONS
  • Los Angeles County
  • Ventura / SB Counties
  • San Diego County
  • Inland Empire
  • Orange County
  • Northern California
RECENT ARTICLES