Annual Dinner Recap, Law.com, and Introducing the Family Mediation Panel
We are so thrilled and thankful to the incredible community of mediators, attorneys, and judges that joined us for our 2nd Annual Dinner. Many congratulations to the incredible keynote speaker, honorees and mediators awarded for their commitment to ADR and expanding access to justice.
Why Judges Are Harnessing Mediation to Address Case Backlog in Nation’s Largest State Trial Court
Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia II says the court expects to route 3,000 civil unlimited cases to mediation this year through its referral program with the Mediation Center of Los Angeles.
3,000 court dates.
$10 million in costs.
According to Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia II, this is what the heavily backlogged state court system in the county can expect to save in 2026 through referrals of civil cases to the Mediation Center of Los Angeles alone.
“Now, [alternative dispute resolution] is not just a tool for efficiency; it is a cornerstone of access to justice by reducing and easing pressure on our courts,” said Tapia during his keynote address last month at the MCLA’s second annual dinner.
With the official launch of our Family Mediation Panel, we want to introduce our community members to the incredible dedicated team of family professionals that are now available to serve our clients in their most private family disputes.
New State Law Aims to Reduce Family Court Conflict through Joint Divorce Filings: Insight from Devin Tucker
As of January 1, Senate Bill 1427 introduces a more collaborative option for married couples seeking divorce in California. The new law allows couples to file a joint petition, provided they resolve key issues in advance, shifting the process away from a traditionally adversarial model.
In a recent Vanguard interview, Devin Tucker of the Mediation Center of Los Angeles shares how this change may reduce conflict, lower costs and encourage families to pursue mediation before entering the court system.
David Coher
This month we welcome spring by spotlighting mediator and arbitrator David Coher. Specializing in real estate, employment, and cybersecurity/privacy law, we were thrilled to talk to David about his practice and how his time outdoors supports his dedication to his clients.
David Coher is a mediator, arbitrator, Georgetown University graduate, and licensed attorney in California, New York, and Washington D.C. He served 10 years as Chair for the Committee on Group Insurance Programs with the State Bar of California. He has also served the City of Pasadena on the Redistricting Task Force, Planning Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals.
He is an arbitrator recognized by the American Arbitration Association and member of the AAA Commercial, Construction, Energy, and Technology Panels. David serves as a mediator and arbitrator for a wide range of case types for the Mediation Center of Los Angeles.
“Mediation requires deep focus and emotional bandwidth; nature has a way of recalibrating both.”