Case Manager: Mikaela Schmidt
David J. Stock, Esq.’s extensive 45-year legal career has uniquely positioned him as a highly experienced mediator. With a primary focus on civil litigation, his expertise includes handling of diverse personal injury cases involving a wide range of issues, including vehicle accidents, premises liability, public entity liability, industrial accidents, and product liability. He has also handled numerous landlord/tenant, homeowners’ association, construction defect, business, commercial contract, and insurance bad faith matters.
For over 35 years, Mr. Stock has served as a private mediator, specializing in resolving the same types of cases he litigated. His track record includes successful resolutions of hundreds of cases. He has volunteered as a pro tem settlement officer for the courts and as a neutral party in early settlement conference programs, showcasing his knack for facilitating settlements. Moreover, Mr. Stock has served as an arbitrator in over 75 uninsured/underinsured motorist matters, handling them with skill, precision, and attention to detail. His commitment to alternative dispute resolution extends to his service as a court-appointed discovery referee. Mr. Stock’s wealth of experience and proficiency in alternative dispute resolution matters make him a trusted and capable mediator for a wide array of legal disputes.
Mr. Stock’s law practice emphasized general personal injury defense, although he has handled and tried multiple plaintiff personal injury matters as well. His litigation portfolio encompasses a wide spectrum of injuries and issues, including catastrophic injuries, brain injuries, and wrongful death claims. He has represented numerous public entities in the greater Bay Area, successfully handling cases involving alleged civil rights violations, excessive force claims, and severe injuries stemming from rail accidents, roadway issues, and other public property defects, including enforcement and pursuit of statutory and contractual defense and indemnity obligations. Mr. Stock has tried over 30 cases to jury verdicts in both state and federal courts. He has been a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) since 2008.
Rankin | Stock | Heaberlin | Oneal. Partner/Shareholder, Managing Partner, 1997-2023 2013-2023
Civil litigation on behalf of public entities, insurance carriers, self-insured defendants (individual and corporate) in addition to business and personal injury litigation on behalf of defendants and plaintiffs. Issues litigated included catastrophic injury claims, wrongful death, real estate disputes, condominium conversion and HOA board claims, hotel liability claims, various commercial claims, first party claims (uninsured, underinsured motorist claims, first party property claims in catastrophic losses), construction, mold-related claims, landlord-tenant disputes, police misconduct, civil rights violations, insurance coverage, trusts and estates. Representation included commercial lines and personal lines of coverage. Over 30 jury trials to verdict in State and Federal courts.
Office of the City Attorney, San Jose. Senior Deputy City Attorney 1996-1997
Civil litigation involving issues pertinent to the public entity, including police misconduct, employment disputes, civil rights violations, land contamination and remediation cost recovery, code enforcement, planning commission issues, personal injury litigation involving City entities.
Mitchell & Stock. Partner 1979-1996
Civil litigation, primarily for self-insured defendants and various insurance carriers. Issues litigated included personal injury, first and third-party insurance coverage and insurance bad faith litigation, land subsidence, construction defect litigation, real estate disputes, hotel liability representing large national chains and entertainment venues. Representation included commercial lines and personal lines of coverage. Public entity defense included police misconduct and personal injury matters. Trial experience also included representation of plaintiffs in personal injury and business disputes, as well as bad faith.
Judicial Externships
Judge William Ingram, United States District Court, Northern District of California
Judge J. Barton Phelps, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
Mr. Stock has served as a lecturer and as a panel participant for a number of legal and professional groups including the California Continuing Education of the Bar and the Association of Defense Counsel, on topics ranging from basic training for civil defense attorneys to fundamentals of civil litigation and punitive damages.
“I thought Dave did a really good job and he was a really good mediator. He definitely got the job done.”
“We were quite pleased with Mr. Stock as a mediator in our matter. Although it did not settle during the regular session, the matter did settle a few days later. His input was invaluable.”
“Dave Stock is a great mediator. His vast experience as a trial lawyer and part-time mediator/arbitrator over the years positions him to be an excellent full-time mediator. He listens to attorneys and parties in a way that facilitates the best chance for a case to settle. Because of his calm demeanor and excellent listening skills, Dave is particularly skilled working with difficult parties and cases with sensitive or emotional issues. His experience handling just about every kind of case imaginable means he does not need a lot of time to get up to speed on even the most complex cases. It is extremely helpful to have a mediator direct from the “trenches” for just about any kind of case amenable to mediation.”
“Dave Stock has been a member of the Northern California legal community for over 44 years and, having tried numerous cases in the state and federal courts, there are few of his peers with the depth of knowledge needed to be an effective mediator/neutral. Dave has been a mediator in a variety of cases in which he has been able to assist parties in reaching fair settlements. Not only does Dave bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, but he also is a compassionate and thoughtful listener. He is one of the finest neutrals with whom I have been associated.”
“Counsel attended a Settlement Conference and utilized the services of Judge Pro Tem David J. Stock. By 4:30 in the afternoon when the Court was closing, the case was not even close to settling. Mr. Stock recommended that we adjourn to his office nearby. After four hours of additional negotiation, supervised and orchestrated by Mr. Stock, we successfully settled this case. I wish to commend Mr. Stock for his efforts and for going above and beyond the call of duty. He deserves not only the parties’ appreciation and counsels’ appreciation but also deserves the court’s appreciation for conserving considerable judicial resources.”
