Hon. R. Bruce Minto, Ret.

Sexual Harassment

• Mediated a case involving employment claims in the private jet leasing industry under a pre-litigation, contractually mandated mediation clause. Allegations included sexual harassment, retaliation, constructive termination, and whistleblower retaliation. The matter was resolved in full pre-litigation and pre-discovery, with a confidential settlement and mutual non-disparagement terms.

Wage and Hour

• Mediated a case involving a restaurant employee’s claims for unpaid overtime and failure to provide meal and rest breaks.

Whistleblower Wrongful Term

• Mediated a case involving a pre-litigation dispute between a major insurance carrier and a radiology services provider over alleged improper billing and coding of MRI services. Through an intensive mediation session, the parties evaluated the risks of protracted, high-stakes litigation and reached a resolution that avoided years of costly and time-consuming legal proceedings.

Wrongful Termination

• Mediated a case involving settlement of whistleblower and FEHA claims arising from the plaintiff’s termination after reporting accounting irregularities.
• Mediated a case involving a car salesman’s claims against his employer for unpaid commissions and wrongful termination following his complaint.

Coverage

• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims against insurance carriers for failure to defend the plaintiff in an underlying copyright and patent infringement lawsuit.

Property Damage

• Mediated a case involving claims for property damage and lost rental income arising from a plumbing repair that failed, resulting in ongoing leakage and subsequent damage.

Medical

• Mediated a case involving settlement of negligence and loss of consortium claims after a man sustained third-degree burns during an acupuncture treatment.
• Mediated a case involving claims against a healthcare provider after a boy lost vision in one eye following treatment for a growing facial lesion.

Breach Of Contract

• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from a commercial property seller’s undisclosed option and lease agreement with a third party during escrow, which imposed a burden on the plaintiff’s property without conferring any benefit.

Buy/Sell

• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from the sale of property in “as is” condition. Defendants believed code violations had been resolved, but the plaintiff later remodeled and resold the property, leading to the dispute.

Real Property

• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from a joint tenancy purchase of a residence, where the parties later disputed the use and sale of the property.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from a family dispute in which a nephew invested in his aunt’s condominium to assist with refinancing, then sought eviction after she fell behind on property tax payments.

Assault and Battery

• Mediated a case involving settlement of negligent security and assault and battery claims after a man was attacked and injured by a group of visitors he asked to leave for causing a disturbance.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of assault and battery claims arising from allegations that the defendant physically assaulted his mistress, resulting in injuries.

Catastrophic Injury

• Mediated a case involving settlement of negligence claims against the parents of a minor who hosted a party in their absence, during which the plaintiff was assaulted and stabbed.

General Negligence

• Arbitrated a case involving claims arising from injuries sustained when the defendant’s dog’s leash became entangled around the plaintiff’s legs, causing her to fall.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising when the plaintiff, while trying to protect her leashed dog from an attack by the defendant’s off-leash dogs on her property, was bitten and injured.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from the alleged mistreatment of a young child at school, where the child was kept in time-out for an entire day and later left alone in a classroom at night.

Personal Injury

• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from a truck driver’s trip-and-fall incident on a doorway mat at a convenience store.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising after the plaintiff tripped over an unseen backpack in a darkened walkway while picking up her grandchildren from school after hours, resulting in a broken elbow.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims against a shopping mall and a city government entity after a patron tripped and fell on the premises, sustaining a broken back.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from a slip-and-fall incident on a rainy day, when a market patron fell upon entering the premises.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims against a city and a restaurant after a diner exited the establishment and stepped into a hole, resulting in a broken ankle that required surgery.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of a claim against a restaurant after a patron slipped on a lemon wedge and fell, resulting in injuries.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims against a hospital after a visitor slipped and fell in the parking lot, sustaining injuries to her right hip, leg, and elbow.

PI Auto

• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from the sale of a stock chaser that was allegedly unsafe for its intended use.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from a hit-and-run collision in which the defendant, driving under the influence, struck the plaintiff’s vehicle and fled the scene.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of underinsured motorist claims arising from a multi-vehicle collision on the freeway involving the plaintiff.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from a freeway collision involving two tractor-trailer trucks and a passenger vehicle.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from a collision caused by brake failure in the defendant’s vehicle.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising from a collision in which a passenger on an uninsured motorcycle struck an automobile.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of uninsured motorist claims after the plaintiff’s vehicle was rear-ended by a hit-and-run driver.
• Arbitrated a case involving claims arising when a truck towing a boat made a wide right turn in front of the plaintiff’s vehicle, causing a collision that also involved a third party’s parked car.
• Arbitrated a case to determine the value of damages where liability was admitted, arising from a rear-end collision that occurred when the plaintiff stopped for a pedestrian and was struck by the defendant’s vehicle.
• Mediated a case in which the parties remained nearly $4 million apart following initial negotiations. As trial approached, Judge Minto issued successive proposals that significantly narrowed the gap, ultimately resolving the matter through a Mediator’s Proposal.

PI Sexual Molestation

• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims against the parents of a teenager accused of sexually molesting multiple children.

Premises Liability

• Mediated a case involving settlement of premises liability claims after a movie editor fell from a deck at a residence during film production.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims against a city after a teenager tripped and fell on a sidewalk, sustaining knee injuries that required two surgeries.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising when a security guard attempted to escort an intoxicated group to their apartment, resulting in a fight during which members of the group injured each other.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising after a country club patron slipped and fell on stairs that had been coated for protection but became slippery due to morning dew.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising after a tenant was injured while hanging laundry on common-area clotheslines in a quadplex with uneven ground.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of premises liability claims arising from an assault by an intoxicated patron on another customer at a bar.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of a claim by a tenant who stumbled and fell when a portion of a stair gave way beneath her foot.
• Mediated a challenging case involving disputed liability and damages regarding a landlord’s potential responsibility for a possibly intoxicated tenant’s fall from a third-story window.

Product Liability

• Mediated a case involving settlement of negligence and products liability claims against a gym and equipment manufacturer after an exercise machine broke during use, causing injury to the plaintiff.

Wrongful Death

• Mediated a case involving settlement of a wrongful death claim arising from a high-speed motorcycle crash in which a passenger wearing an ill-fitting helmet was ejected and killed after the motorcycle struck the rear of a car at over 90 miles per hour.
• Mediated a case involving settlement of claims arising when a woman slowed for freeway traffic and was rear-ended by a speeding semi-truck.
• Mediated a case involving a marathon negotiation between two wrongful death claimants after their mother was fatally struck in a crosswalk. Despite limited available insurance in the low five figures and a confidential City and driver as defendants, the matter concluded with a confidential settlement well in excess of policy limits.
• Mediated a complex multi-party personal injury case involving two fatalities and multiple serious injuries, including two minors. The case featured over seven figures in ERISA medical liens, pending felony criminal charges, and extremely limited insurance coverage. Achieved a global settlement after more than 10 hours of mediation.
• Mediated a highly complex wrongful death case involving unusual causation issues, three plaintiffs, eight defendants, multiple insurers, and several self-insured parties. The matter was resolved post-mediation through a global Mediator’s Proposal accepted by all parties.
• Mediated a large and complex auto wrongful death case involving multiple parties and an extended mediation process, culminating in a global settlement.