Judge Holland joins Judicate West following a distinguished legal career and drawing upon his 45 years of diverse experience as a trial judge, discovery referee, civil litigator and mediator to help parties find resolution. He has handled more than 300 mediations and been a part of thousands of resolutions, settlements and verdicts.
Following more than 22 years of service, Judge Holland retired from the San Joaquin County Superior Court in 2019. During his judicial tenure, he was elected as the Presiding Judge in 2014 and previously served as the court’s first Supervising Judge for the Civil Division in 2011. He has spent the last several years as Of Counsel at Herum Crabtree Suntag Attorneys, devoted to alternative dispute resolution services in civil matters with emphasis on probate/trusts and estates, business/contractual, construction, employment, professional malpractice, real estate and personal injury disputes. He began his career in private practice, trying commercial, products liability and construction defect matters for 18 years.
His wealth of legal acumen, coupled with his exceptional ability to listen and connect with all parties, creates a foundation for understanding and resolution.
Practice Areas
- Business/Contractual
- Construction Defect
- Employment
- Environmental
- Personal Injury
- Probate/Trust and Estates
- Products Liability
- Professional Malpractice
- Real Estate
Hobbies & Interests
Judge Holland enjoys spending time with his family, especially his five grandchildren. Additional interests include history, music, and hiking.
Legal Career
- Full-time Neutral, Judicate West (2024-Present)
- Of Counsel, Herum, Crabtree, Suntag; Practice devoted to alternative dispute resolution services in civil matters with emphasis in trusts, estates, contract, business, construction, employment, medical malpractice and personal injury disputes (2019-2024)
- Judge, San Joaquin County Superior Court (1996-2019) o Served in probate (2015-2019), civil (2007-2014), criminal trials (2003-2007), general criminal and civil (2000-2002), juvenile dependency (1996-2000) o Served as Presiding Judge (2014-2015), Assistant Presiding Judge (2012-2013), Supervising Judge – Civil Division (2011-2014) o Sat on numerous court committees including the Executive, Civil, ADR, Judicial Liaison, and Local Rules Committees, and the Superior Court Appellate Panel o Participated in Judicial Branch Committee Assignments including the Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee, Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee, TCPJAC/CEAC Joint Rules Subcommittee and TCPJAC Jury Working Group
- Partner, Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson; Focused on commercial disputes, products liability defense, and construction defect litigation (1987-1996)
- Partner, Neumiller & Beardslee; Focused on civil litigation with emphasis in commercial disputes and products liability defense (1979-1987)
Education & Professional Affiliations
- J.D., University of California, College of Law, San Francisco (1979)
- B.A., cum laude, Occidental College (1976)
- ‘Mediating the Litigated Case’, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine (2019)
- California Judges Association; Member (1997-Present); Executive Board (2017-2019)
- Judge Consuelo M. Callahan Inn of Court; Member (2006-Present); President (2012-2014)
- Association for Conflict Resolution (2019-Present)
- San Joaquin, Sacramento and Stanislas County Bar Associations
Achievements & Awards
- Presented on a myriad of legal matters to a number of prominent organizations including California Judicial Education & Research (CJER), San Joaquin County Bar Association, Association of Defense Counsel, and Consumer Attorneys of California
A respected trial judge for over 22 years, with over four decades’ experience litigating, adjudicating, and settling civil and probate cases, Judge Holland draws upon extensive experience. He has successfully mediated, managed, refereed or arbitrated a wide range of disputes: trust, probate, and conservatorship; contract and business matters; personal injury, products liability and professional malpractice; real estate and construction defect; and individual, class and PAGA employment claims. Below is a sampling of this experience.
Contractual
- Judge Holland has resolved a wide range of commercial disputes: breach of contract claims including claims arising from failed real estate transactions, dissolution/partition of business entities, and business-to-business disputes re express or implied warranty, and unfair business practices.
- Arbitrated action in which capacity, validity of power of attorney, and buyer performance were all in issue – seeking specific performance as against owner of sizable farm acreage in Northern Sacramento Valley.
- Successfully mediated a dispute between a county agency and charitable non-profit concerning rights and obligations pertinent to management of and fund-raising for a local zoo.
- Successfully mediated a complex contract dispute between a large metropolitan public school district and a national provider of IT/software products.
- Successfully resolved a contentious business dissolution/partition matter between former business partners.
- Arbitrated and case-managed a complex breach of contract matter between a real estate developer and public water district.
- As a judge, managed the litigation and presided over a jury trial of a complex contract/business case.
- As a judge, he successfully used amediator’s proposal to resolve a case brought by an engineer/contractor hired to design/build new infrastructure at a reservoir.
- As a judge, he managed and adjudicated a lengthy, complex commercial dispute between a grower and sand/gravel extractor.
Hostile Environment
- Mediated a non-monetary resolution – an agreed code of conduct – between a school district’s superintendent and elected board member. The agreed code was designed to set conditions whereby they might reduce frictions, mend a serious rift, and reestablish a professional working relationship.
Prevailing Wage
- As a judge, case-managed and adjudicated complex hours,classification and prevailing wage litigation.
Sexual Harassment
- Arbitrated an action by former employees of a small business/manufacturer alleging sexual harassment by supervisors.
Sexual Harassment And Retaliation
- Mediated the settlement of a sexual orientation discrimination claim by a former on-site manager against a real estate owners/property management entity.
Wage and Hour
- He has mediated, arbitrated or served as special master for all types of employment disputes.
- Served as a special master, appointed to assist trial court regarding litigation brought by a former city manager against a municipality.
Wrongful Termination
- As a judge, case-managed and presided over a jury trial involving a wrongful termination claim.
Environmental Issues
- As a judge, adjudicated challenge to EIR and development agreement.
Educational Disputes
- As a judge, in a matter of first impression, adjudicated a teacher’s mandamus action seeking attorneys’ fees following school district’s decision to withdraw disciplinary charges
Public Policy
- As a judge, adjudicated a school district’s lawsuit challenging CIF’s authority concerning player eligibility.
Regulatory
- As a judge, adjudicated the legality of an incumbent mayor’s re-election bid.
- As a judge, managed the litigation between police and fire unions and the city during the run-up to the city’s municipal bankruptcy.
- As a judge, adjudicated five consolidated lawsuits challenging the legality of a Water Board decision.
Estates/Trusts
- Judge Holland has successfully resolved countless trust, probate and conservatorship estate claims encompassing validity/interpretation of instruments, duties owed by fiduciaries, administration and accountings, capacity/undue influence, as well as claims concerning ownership of property.
- Successfully mediated division of trust assets – hundreds of acres of farm land and control of related business/operations entities plus other valuable assets – between siblings/beneficiaries along with resolution of long-standing litigation
- Arbitrated dispute between feuding high-income adult siblings concerning a verbal arrangement whereby they were to contribute money for care for their conserved mother.
- Mediated settlement of drawn out litigation between settlor’s children and settlor’s grandchildren re validity of amendments executed before settlor’s death in light of alleged breach of fiduciary duty, undue influence and elder abuse.
- Mediated resolution of litigation among family members concerning successor trustee’s management of deceased settlor’s businesses (which settlor had operated illegally), adequacy of accountings, and perceived dilatory administration.
- Successfully mediated litigation among five sibling/beneficiaries against eldest brother/trustee concerning his management of valuable San Francisco real estate.
- Successfully mediated acrimonious litigation between two siblings – one of whom was subject of investigation for attempted battery of the other sibling – concerning division of assets including a valuable collection of cars and motor vehicles.
- Special master tasked with case-managing, mediating and arbitrating petitions stemming from conflicts among beneficiaries concerning winding-up or continued operation of inter-related trusts’ sizable real estate/business portfolios.
- As a judge, he managed and adjudicated a complex trust dispute among siblings/beneficiaries of a well-known family.
- A as judge, he managed and adjudicated cross petitions amongdescendants of a renowned conservationist concerning terms of a trust created to manage his legacy – including handwritten journals and drawings; his notes, photosand personal correspondence; along with his personal library and mountain cabin.
Medical Malpractice
- Mediated the settlement of a malpractice case involving an elderly patient who, despite safeguards, got up from the hospital bed and fell.
- As judge, presided over a jury trial of a physician malpractice claim.
Personal Injury
- As a judge, presided over a lengthy jury trial of serious personal injury claims.
- As a judge, presided over a jury trial of a FELA claim.
PI Auto
- In an auto/injury case – featuring disputed injuries, significant pre-existing medical history, allegedly unnecessary post-accident surgery and problematic liens and, finally, a reluctant umbrella insurer – Judge Holland guided the parties to comprehensive settlement.
- Following a multi-car pileup in which many were injured (some fatally), for which the primary and excess insurers for the negligent commercial truck operator tendered policy limits,Judge Holland successfully mediated an allocation agreement among the competing claimants.
- Successfuly mediated a UIM matter of a car collision one foggy night on a highway; plaintiff’s injuries, extensive treatment and wage loss were disputed.
Premises Liability
- Mediated the settlement of a serious personal injury claim arising from a complex workplace environment occupied by employer along with numerous vendors and independent contractors, overlaid with unsettled insurance issues.
When the situation requires an opinion as to the likely range of outcomes if a case were to proceed beyond mediation, Judge Holland speaks with authority. At the same time, he is a practical, nuanced, and creative problem-solver. He understands the importance of listening – carefully and with an open mind – to those before him. This quality, which requires humility bred from experience, further instills confidence and makes him an especially effective mediator. He is able to quickly grasp the underlying dynamics of even the most complex disputes. More colloquially, he can “read the room” as only a mediator steeped in civil litigation can.
- Principal Attorney at a Prominent Northern California Law Firm
Judge Holland was pleasant, well-prepared, and very effective. It was a pleasure working with him. I will definitely ask for his assistance on future matters.
- Attorney on a Construction Breach of Contract Case
Judge Holland is excellent. He has a commanding presence without being overbearing.
- Attorney on a Real Property Breach of Contract Case
When appearing before him in the courtroom, I was always impressed with Judge Holland's judicial temperament. More recently, I've used him as a mediator in several complex civil cases. He is able to understand the complexities quickly, and goes the extra mile to get the case resolved.
- ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year
Judge Holland is a knowledgeable and effective mediator. He offers a unique blend of patience and directness that has been an asset to the litigants wishing to reach a resolution at mediation. Judge Holland must be on your list of proposed mediators at all times.
- Partner at a Trust & Estate Litigation Firm in Northern California
I have had several different matters mediated by Judge Holland, including trust disputes, property disputes and contract disputes involving both small estates and multimillion dollar matters. In every case, Judge Holland spent time before the mediation to investigate the procedural history, the alleged factual issues and the personalities involved in the matter. During mediation, he was able to communicate effectively with the parties and counsel and was successful in helping all sides understand the benefit of compromise and settlement. He made the parties feel heard and empowered, and his professionalism and perspective about the matters, including the emotional and economic costs of continued litigation was extremely helpful. His experience in the courtroom as a judge and with juries made my clients more open to his suggestions. Additionally, I have found that he is always willing to work long hours to get matters resolved.
- Shareholder at a Premiere Firm in San Joaquin County
Judge Holland is one of the most effective mediators I’ve worked with. The case we worked on together involved many challenging factors and parties, but Judge Holland took a measured and consistent approach to the process. His work did not end at mediation. He was committed to following up with all parties until a resolution was reached. If you have a complex case (or any case for that matter), you should feel confident in relying upon Judge Holland’s skill and experience.
- Trial Attorney at a Top Southern California Personal Injury Firm
I have mediated and arbitrated with Judge Holland on many occasions. He has quickly risen to be one of the most sought-after trust and estate mediators in California, and for good reason. Not only does he possess the subject matter expertise from sitting on the probate bench for many years, he is innately skilled at dealing with the more sensitive aspects of these matters. He helps the emotionally invested parties feel heard (because I think he truly cares). He has an unoffensive way of being candid and evaluative when the situation calls for it. He is creative and clever in his approach to settlement structures. I would highly recommend Judge Holland for any type of alternative dispute resolution process!
- Shareholder at a Premier Trust & Estates Firm with a Statewide Presence
