Since Maureen Summers became "Of Counsel" to the firm she founded, Summers & Shives, APC, in 1995, she focused on her mediation career. She had mediated over 6,000 disputes involving a variety of subject matters, but primarily focused on personal injury, including serious injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death matters. She has extensive experience with the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and Unfair Business Practice under Business & Professions Code section 17200 as well as employment, construction, and insurance matters. Prior to withdrawing from the program in 2001, Ms. Summers was one of the most requested mediators on the court's pilot program.
One attorney commented, "Maureen was so impressive as a mediator and knowledgeable on product defect and warranty issues that I continued utilizing her in that capacity despite being opposing counsel in an ongoing matter." One plaintiff attorney noted, "She is one of the best mediators in town, especially for personal injury cases." Many other plaintiff and defense attorneys have concurred. Ms. Summers' abilities as a mediator were acknowledged by the San Diego legal community when they selected her as one of three "Top Lawyers" in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Field in San Diego Magazine (2007-2018) and as one of Daily Journal's Top Neutrals (2008-2009).
- All types of Personal Injury
- Business/Contractual
- Construction Defect
- Employment
- Insurance Coverage
- Products Liability
- Real Estate
- Warranty Law
In her spare time, Maureen enjoys reading biographies, traveling, hiking, and water coloring historic landscapes. She belongs to numerous community groups in San Diego and sits on the Board of Directors for the Point Loma Association. This organization raises funds to complete art projects in the Point Loma area, designs and installs landscape projects, and provides funding for various community projects.
- Full-Time Mediator (2011-2019; 2021-Present)
- Of Counsel, Summers & Shives, APC; Focused on mediation services, personal injury defense and consumer warranty matters (1995-2011)
- Judge Pro Tem, San Diego Small Claims Court (1997-2002)
- Arbitrator, California State Bar, Attorney/Client Fee Disputes (1992-2002)
- Mediator, San Diego Superior Court - Court Mediation Program (1997-1999)
- Principal, Summers & Shives, APC, General Civil Litigation (1991-1995)
- Associate, Higgs, Fletcher & Mack, General Civil Litigation (1984-1991)
- J.D., University of California, Davis School of Law (1984)
- B.A., San Diego State University (1979)
- ABA TIPS sections Committee on ADR, Former Member
- San Diego Chapter of ACR (formerly SPIDR), Former Member; Past President; Board of Directors
- Southern California Mediation Association, Former Member
- California Dispute Resolution Counsel, Former Member
- California Super Lawyers in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (2012-2018)
- Best Lawyers in America in the Practice Area of Mediation (2014-2018)
- "Top Lawyers" - Alternative Dispute Resolution Field, San Diego Magazine (2007-2018)
- Best Lawyers San Diego Mediation "Lawyer of the Year" (2018)
- Women of Influence - Best Lawyers Business Edition (Spring 2017)
- Daily Journal's "Top 40 Neutrals in California" (2008 & 2009)
Lemon Law
- She represented many home manufacturers as a defense attorney. She has tried these cases and argued the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act before the California Supreme Court and prevailed. Murillo v Fleetwood (1998) 17 Cal 4th 985. She has mediated hundreds of Song Beverly Warranty Act matters as a mediator, including cars, trucks, and boats.
Constr. Defect/Real Property
- As an attorney, Maureen represented all types of sub-contractors, including rofers, plumbers, electricians, and many others. She also represented general contractors. As a mediator, she has successfully resolved cases involving all of these areas.
Personal Injury
- A middle-aged worker was driving a construction truck hauling stones from a construction site. The tractor loading the stones lost control of the multi-ton stone and dropped it in the plaintiff's truck, which caused him to strike his head on the interior roof of the truck causing multiple head, neck and spinal injuries.
PI Auto
- As a litigator and mediator, the majority of Maureen's 6,000+ mediations have been personal injury matters, including wrongful death involving negligent driving and product liability. Cases include but are not limited to: automotive and trucking, planes, commercial buildings, high school and college sports, family, and work place incidents. Some are minor cases where those involved made a full recovery, and others are catastrophic incidents involving paraplegics, quadriplegics, brain injuries, and wrongful death.
- Mediated a case involving a head-on collision at freeway speeds. The plaintiff sustained multiple fractures requiring surgical repairs, rods, plates and screws.
- Mediated a case where the plaintiff was riding in a taxicab when the cab struck the rear of a parked SUV. The seatbelt failed and the plaintiff needed facial surgery.
- Mediated a case involving a serious automobile accident with the plaintiff sustaining complex brain injuries, as well as back and neck injuries with sugeries completed and more surgeries recommended.
PI Sexual Assault
- Mediated a case involving sexual abuse in a high school setting between a male teacher and freshman student.
Product Liability
- Mediated a case in which a plaintiff had a partially amputated ring finger. After 7 hours of in-person negotiating, the case settled.
